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Review
3.5 stars
An angsty and emotional friends-to-lovers/second-chance-romance with a bit of suspense, this is the debut novel from Catherine Cowles, and it’s an intense and captivating read.
After discovering Catherine Cowles and demolishing my way through her Sutter Lake and Wrecked series, I was so excited to go back to her debut and where it all began. This book forms an introduction to both future series, as we meet a wonderful group of friends including Taylor and Liam (who go on to have books 1 and 2 in the Sutter Lake series) and Ford (who is the hero in the first Wrecked book). Austin and Carter have appeared in both series, so I loved going back to meet them and see how they came together. And woah, what a ride!
MMA Fighter, Austin, and teacher, Carter, are introduced by their mutual best friend, Liam. Although there is an immediate attraction between them, initially they don’t get on at all, but they soon makes things right and form a fast friendship that easily and naturally develops into them spending pretty much all of their free time together. They share everything, and you can tell that their initial attraction is growing into something so much deeper, but Carter refuses to go there, leading to pounding hearts, meaningful stares, almost moments, and a wonderful sense of anticipation, waiting for the moment when things officially change.
I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I couldn’t help longing for more. Things were so effortless with us. I knew taking things to the next level might complicate things in the beginning, but I had no doubt we could end up in an amazing place.
But one night, one bad decision changes everything. The two best friends fall apart in heartbreaking circumstances, going their separate ways and living their separate lives. Until Austin gets a wake-up-call and realises exactly what he has let go and finally decides to fight his way back into Carter’s life.
I had been without my girl for way too fucking long. I was finally ready to fight for her, even if I had to defeat her and my own demons in the process.
This book is away angstier than I was expecting, and I was so furious with Austin and his ‘issues’. He behaved so badly, and I didn’t blame Carter for any of her actions or how she tried to move on. But when the man decides to grovel his way back to her… OMG, it’s epic! He is full of remorse and apologies, and his declarations are full of emotion and sincerity. There were so many scenes where he poured his heart out that I read over and over again just to take them in and bask in the feels, because it was just that gorgeous.
He pulled one of my hands to his mouth and kissed my palm. “I’ve missed you so fucking much. Every day, I missed you … It took me a long fucking time to realize I had never seen you as just a friend. You’ve always been more. You’ve always been everything.”
Eek!
It doesn’t take Carter too long to forgive him, though she is wary, which paves the way them to reconnect as friends, and then for us to get a gorgeous friends-to-lovers romance as these two finally get to explore everything that been building between them from the very beginning. It’s sweet, passionately sexy and mostly functional, and Austin proves to be a protective and gorgeously supportive boyfriend.
But someone isn’t happy that they found each other, and increasing threats and attacks put them both in danger. It’s chilling and suspenseful, and ties in nicely with the deepening relationship, both of which had me completely hooked.
Liam, Ford and Taylor are wonderful side-characters. They are funny, sweet and endlessly supportive of their friends, taking their backs, but also telling it to them straight and not letting them get away with anything. They add so much to the story, and I want to go back and reread their books now that I’ve had this introduction to them!
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are great, the love story is gorgeous, and I finished this book with a big grin on my face (especially with that bonus epilogue! So sweet!). I did think it was a bit longer than it really need to be, and it felt very much like a book in two parts – before and after, with a great build-up in the first part, and then the second part the romance and suspense. The second part felt a bit repetitive and probably could have been shortened while still keeping the integrity of the story. But still, it was a great read.
3.5 stars
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