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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
emotional
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:
Yes
fast-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:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Yes
I didn't want to lose the momentum I'd built up reading the Sparrow Falls series, so a week after I finished reading the first two books, I picked up BROKEN HARBOR. I still flew through this book (Catherine's writing is very readable) and I enjoyed it! But it didn't end up quite hitting the same personal sweet spot for me that the other two did.
Certain elements I've stated my praises for previously, and even specifically in the context of this series, are still present in a big way. First, the small town setting - we spend lots of time at Sutton's bakery (I seriously want to try her cupcakes and other baked goods) and Cope's home (which sounds pretty epic and let's be real, I'd love to just hang out there for a weekend), and of course, there's still a very strong sense of supportive community. Second, strong familial ties and friendships - I loved being with the Colson clan again, and just continuing to see how understanding, kind, funny and wonderful they were as a group (can I also be adopted into this clan?). I'm also a big fan of seeing both Sutton and Cope with Luca; it was so sweet to see another strong family tie in the story, and I adored Luca and how precocious and sweet he could be!
I liked Sutton a lot, especially how determined she was to be able to exist independently and through her own efforts, how hard she worked and her continued desire to give Luca everything she could to make sure he knew he was loved and seen. I also liked Cope, especially his kind heart, sense of humor and genuine care for those people he loves. Both are haunted by past trauma (Sutton's with her ex and Cope with a childhood accident), and both slowly work their way through it in this novel (and the experience is not without its low points and setbacks). Watching each of them slowly make their peace with the past and allow themselves to dream about and reach for the future was really nice. Getting to see them fall in love was wonderful as well, and I was definitely rooting for them to find their happy.
It's actually the suspense elements in this book that didn't work as well for me. While there were parts that did evoke those tense, fearful feelings for the characters, it wasn't quite as intense as I've experienced in other books by this author. I also found a particular part of the ending to feel almost a little too dramatic (almost on the borderline of feeling like a soap opera) for my tastes.
I can always rely on a Catherine Cowles novel to be readable and entertaining, and BROKEN HARBOR was definitely still both of those things. Despite the way I feel about the suspense, I did fly through this book very quickly and I enjoyed Sutton & Cope's romance.
Certain elements I've stated my praises for previously, and even specifically in the context of this series, are still present in a big way. First, the small town setting - we spend lots of time at Sutton's bakery (I seriously want to try her cupcakes and other baked goods) and Cope's home (which sounds pretty epic and let's be real, I'd love to just hang out there for a weekend), and of course, there's still a very strong sense of supportive community. Second, strong familial ties and friendships - I loved being with the Colson clan again, and just continuing to see how understanding, kind, funny and wonderful they were as a group (can I also be adopted into this clan?). I'm also a big fan of seeing both Sutton and Cope with Luca; it was so sweet to see another strong family tie in the story, and I adored Luca and how precocious and sweet he could be!
I liked Sutton a lot, especially how determined she was to be able to exist independently and through her own efforts, how hard she worked and her continued desire to give Luca everything she could to make sure he knew he was loved and seen. I also liked Cope, especially his kind heart, sense of humor and genuine care for those people he loves. Both are haunted by past trauma (Sutton's with her ex and Cope with a childhood accident), and both slowly work their way through it in this novel (and the experience is not without its low points and setbacks). Watching each of them slowly make their peace with the past and allow themselves to dream about and reach for the future was really nice. Getting to see them fall in love was wonderful as well, and I was definitely rooting for them to find their happy.
It's actually the suspense elements in this book that didn't work as well for me. While there were parts that did evoke those tense, fearful feelings for the characters, it wasn't quite as intense as I've experienced in other books by this author. I also found a particular part of the ending to feel almost a little too dramatic (almost on the borderline of feeling like a soap opera) for my tastes.
I can always rely on a Catherine Cowles novel to be readable and entertaining, and BROKEN HARBOR was definitely still both of those things. Despite the way I feel about the suspense, I did fly through this book very quickly and I enjoyed Sutton & Cope's romance.
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes