Shadows of You by Catherine Cowles is live!

The fourth book in the Lost & Found series, this is a beautifully emotional story! Roan and Aspen stole my heart with their painful secrets and isolated lives, and I loved watching them come together in this suspenseful single parent/protective alpha romance.

 

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Blurb

It was supposed to be a fresh start. A small town where I could hide my little girl from the shadows that haunt us. A place where I could keep us safe.

The last thing I expected was him.

A surly, broody mountain of a man who helps me save an injured deer in a snowstorm.

Now, Roan Hartley keeps showing up with his glowers and grimaces. But they only make his rare smiles and the gentle way he talks to my daughter mean that much more.

When forces from my past find us, Roan is determined to keep us safe—even if that means sleeping on my ancient couch every night.

As days turn to weeks, his touch has my walls crashing down. But someone out there doesn’t want me to find happiness. He doesn’t want me left breathing at all…

 

 

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Review

5 stars

The fourth book in the Lost & Found series, this is a beautifully emotional story! Roan and Aspen stole my heart with their painful secrets and isolated lives, and I loved watching them come together in this suspenseful single parent/protective alpha romance.

Roan has been the most mysterious member of the Hartley family, showing up in previous books and quickly disappearing again, he keeps to himself as much as possible. We really haven’t learnt much about him other than he is a parks and wildlife ranger, and I’ve been so eager to really get to know him, and damn I fell so hard for the recluse with a huge heart!

Aspen works at the local coffee shop, and has been a side character in a number of the previous books as she grows close to the girls of the series. She’s run from a devastating past and she’s got some pretty huge secrets, but she’s got a new name and she’s created a good life for herself and her adorable 6-year-old daughter, Cady. And now, she’s started to be included into the Hartley fold, which puts her right in Roan’s path.

A protective guy by nature, Roan feels even more so over Aspen and Cady, and suddenly, he’s everywhere. And when Aspen’s past is brutally uncovered, he instantly steps in… actually moves in… to protect and defend. So now we get a close proximity situation which is all kinds of awesome, and which ramps up the intensity and the feels. For the first time in a long time, Aspen makes Roan feel something – comfort and unreserved acceptance as she and Cady warmly welcome him into their lives, and he finds peace in their happiness, which is so beautiful to see.

“I like them. Both of them. They make me feel…like I belong.”

They start to open up to each other and start to rely on each other, and as Roan goes all protective alpha, a friendship forms that very quickly develops into more. It moves at a great pace, but has the feeling of a wonderful slow burn as their attraction builds, and I loved watching them fall so hard for each other.

I was in love with Aspen Barlow, her daughter, too.

Roan cares so deeply for his girls, he protects and defends and gives Aspen the partnership she’s always wanted. And in return, they bring him back to life, giving him happiness, love and the closeness to somebody that he has been denying himself for so long. It’s a beautiful love story that is easy and effortless, passionate and emotional, and I was right there with them for all of it!

“You were the light in the shadows. A glimmer of hope when I felt like all mine had been burned out.”

But, as in the rest of the books of the series, danger is never far away. People have arrived in town looking to uncover Aspen’s past, and at the same time, a dangerous killer emerges in their small town. Yep, it’s all happening, and as usual, the Hartleys are right in the middle of it all. It’s exciting and suspenseful, and kept me guessing right up until the big reveal.

We get to see lots of the Hartley family, which is a real treat. They’re such a fabulous group, all very close and up in each other’s lives, and I love that we continue to see some progression for the couples in the earlier books. By his own design, Roan has existed on the outside of the family for so long, so the family’s reaction to seeing him come back to life is so entertaining and had me laughing out loud. And little Cady is a delight. So full of life, and so excited about everything, she’s adorable, and brings a lot to the story. Her relationship with Roan (her “Mr Grizz”) is ovary-melting, and I loved the little family together so much.

Cady burrowed deeper into Roan’s hold. “Will you stay with me for a while?”
“Always, Tiny Dancer. As long as you want.”

I loved this book. It’s sweet and romantic, with drama and intensity that had me hooked from start to finish. Next up is eldest Hartley brother, Lawson, and I am so freaking excited for his story.

5 stars.

I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Zachary Webber and Maxine Mitchell, and it was beautiful to listen to.

Note – I’ve seen comments about Cowles’ books being formulaic and unrealistic given the frequency of shootings, stabbings, kidnappings happening within a small group of friends or family. I get it, because it’s true. But the love stories that she tells around those events is what I love so much about her writing. I never fail to be completely swept up in her romance, and it’s exactly that which will keep me reading.

 

Lost & Found series

 

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About Catherine

Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she’s not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.

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Find more great reads in our Catherine Cowles Author Spotlight