Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Car accident
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Book 3 gives us Sutton & Copes story. Cope is one of the siblings this series is following, and we met Sutton in the previous books. She owns the cafe Thea the fmc of the last book works at. She is a single mum to Luca her adorable hockey loving little boy who is attending his very first hockey camp and guess who happens to be back in his hometown for the off season and volunteering at said camp... none other than Lucas' favourite player, The Reaper, aka Cope. Cope & Sutton meet, sparks fly, and the story goes from there.
Another thoroughly enjoyable instalment to this Romantic Suspense series, and it's for that reason this review is going to be vague so as to avoid spoilers. What I will say is I loved Suttons strength and determination to provide the best for Luca, I enjoyed the relationship development between her and Cope, and his interactions with Luca were really sweet. The found family vibes were strong in this with Sutton & Luca being welcomed into the Colton clan with open arms. The Suspense aspect of this one lacked something for me but I can't quite put my finger on exactly what as I was never bored or felt like the story dragged it just didn't have me wondering what/who the threat was going to be etc. I listened to this on audio, and both Erin Mallon & Connor Crais were excellent as always. To be fair, Connor could read the ingredients list from the back of anything and I would happily listen. š¤·āāļøš I'm buddy reading this series with my bestie and that only adds to the overall enjoyment as the messages we send back and forth amuse me, I'm already looking forward to us diving into the next book when we get chance. š¶š¶
"Life isnāt perfect. Itās not always sunshine and rainbows. Itās about finding people who will weather the storm with you. Who will find ways to dance in the rain."
"You gave us a safe place to land. A harbour in the storm."
Another thoroughly enjoyable instalment to this Romantic Suspense series, and it's for that reason this review is going to be vague so as to avoid spoilers. What I will say is I loved Suttons strength and determination to provide the best for Luca, I enjoyed the relationship development between her and Cope, and his interactions with Luca were really sweet. The found family vibes were strong in this with Sutton & Luca being welcomed into the Colton clan with open arms. The Suspense aspect of this one lacked something for me but I can't quite put my finger on exactly what as I was never bored or felt like the story dragged it just didn't have me wondering what/who the threat was going to be etc. I listened to this on audio, and both Erin Mallon & Connor Crais were excellent as always. To be fair, Connor could read the ingredients list from the back of anything and I would happily listen. š¤·āāļøš I'm buddy reading this series with my bestie and that only adds to the overall enjoyment as the messages we send back and forth amuse me, I'm already looking forward to us diving into the next book when we get chance. š¶š¶
"Life isnāt perfect. Itās not always sunshine and rainbows. Itās about finding people who will weather the storm with you. Who will find ways to dance in the rain."
"You gave us a safe place to land. A harbour in the storm."
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the third book in the Sparrow Falls series by Catherine Cowles. I've read all the available books in this series. I think Catherine Cowles is a talented small town romance writer. I like her twists at the end of the book. Thereās no third act break up, the strength and tenacity of the FMC was so good to read. My issue with this book is the number of times the name Cope was written. It was excessive. And I thought the little pet name for the FMC was corny. Aside from that, I enjoyed the book much better than Delicate Escape. There isnāt a ton of spice and the highlight from every book is Lolli. Lolli continues to be the brightest spot in these books, and I will miss her when this series is over. This book was good. It was heartwarming. It was fluffy and sweet. The book was well written with a well thought out plot. Some of the tropes in this book were:
Athlete
Protective
Single mother
Found family
3.5ā
1š¶
FMC and MMC
Without a doubt, the standout in this book was Sutton. She was well written. The angst of trusting someone new when youāve given your heart away to someone who disappoints you and hurts you. I understood Suttonās hesitancy with Cope. It was understandable and she had her baby to worry about. Cope was equally well written. The burden of carrying guilt and that guilt eating away at you, seeping into the fabric of everything you do.
For me, that guilt from both protagonists drove the story. Every decision they made separately and together was tied to their personal guilt and the pain of their pasts. Sutton and Luca were exactly what Cope needed. Cope needed to know and feel that he was more than the enforcer for his hockey team; that his life could mean more than the guilt he carried. Sutton needed to know that she could open her heart to love again.
As Catherine Cowles does in every book, there was a mystery at about 80% of the book, which doesnāt leave a lot of time to wrap that up. I liken it to a Scooby Doo mystery. There are easter eggs throughout, but in order to make it believable or to drive the mystery part of the story forward, I need better easter eggs. With that being said, I still enjoyed it.
Overall, this story is about finding family after losing the one you had. Itās about finding your way to each other through the guilt you carry.
I think about you with every other breath. I dream about you. And when I wake up, I swear I can still taste you on my tongue.
Athlete
Protective
Single mother
Found family
3.5ā
1š¶
FMC and MMC
Without a doubt, the standout in this book was Sutton. She was well written. The angst of trusting someone new when youāve given your heart away to someone who disappoints you and hurts you. I understood Suttonās hesitancy with Cope. It was understandable and she had her baby to worry about. Cope was equally well written. The burden of carrying guilt and that guilt eating away at you, seeping into the fabric of everything you do.
For me, that guilt from both protagonists drove the story. Every decision they made separately and together was tied to their personal guilt and the pain of their pasts. Sutton and Luca were exactly what Cope needed. Cope needed to know and feel that he was more than the enforcer for his hockey team; that his life could mean more than the guilt he carried. Sutton needed to know that she could open her heart to love again.
As Catherine Cowles does in every book, there was a mystery at about 80% of the book, which doesnāt leave a lot of time to wrap that up. I liken it to a Scooby Doo mystery. There are easter eggs throughout, but in order to make it believable or to drive the mystery part of the story forward, I need better easter eggs. With that being said, I still enjoyed it.
Overall, this story is about finding family after losing the one you had. Itās about finding your way to each other through the guilt you carry.
I think about you with every other breath. I dream about you. And when I wake up, I swear I can still taste you on my tongue.
Loveable characters:
No
4.75āļø 3š¶ļø
Cope and Sutton were absolutely perfect together! The pain that both of them went through really pulled on my heartstrings. Cope calling Sutton his warrior just melts my heart. Once again the found family in this whole series is just so good!
Favorite Quote: āLife isnāt perfect. Itās not always sunshine and rainbows. Itās about finding people who will weather the storm with you. Who will find ways to dance in the rain.ā
Cope and Sutton were absolutely perfect together! The pain that both of them went through really pulled on my heartstrings. Cope calling Sutton his warrior just melts my heart. Once again the found family in this whole series is just so good!
Favorite Quote: āLife isnāt perfect. Itās not always sunshine and rainbows. Itās about finding people who will weather the storm with you. Who will find ways to dance in the rain.ā
This gave me everything I wantedāangst, spice, a broody hockey player with a gooey center, and a strong-as-hell single mom who does not play about her kid. This is the third book in the Sparrow Falls series and trust me, the vibes are immaculate. Small town, slow burn, emotional healing... all wrapped in a suspense plot that had me clutching my metaphorical pearls.
Sutton is a single mom with trauma scars and steel in her spine. Sheās just trying to build a safe life for her son and keep her heart on lockdown.
Cope, the NHL player with some demons of his own, walks into town all hot, haunted, and unexpectedly wholesome. Like, he buys a booster seat for her son before he and Sutton even start dating š.
Sutton is a single mom with trauma scars and steel in her spine. Sheās just trying to build a safe life for her son and keep her heart on lockdown.
Cope, the NHL player with some demons of his own, walks into town all hot, haunted, and unexpectedly wholesome. Like, he buys a booster seat for her son before he and Sutton even start dating š.
āHe saw my bruises and didnāt flinchāhe just stayed, steady and warm, like maybe I didnāt have to be afraid anymore.ā
Cue the melting.
Their chemistry? DELICIOUS. š„ It's a slow simmer, but when it boils over? Girl.
āI wasnāt just falling for her. I was gone. There was no coming back from her.ā
Excuse me while I scream into a pillow.
Thereās some suspense woven through the story that adds tension without hijacking the romance. Honestly, the pacing was solidāthough Iāll admit, a few moments were a tiny bit predictable, which is why this isnāt a full 5-star moment for me. But the emotional payoff? Worth it.