A review by the_coycaterpillar_reads
Whispers of You by Catherine Cowles

5.0

If you are currently trying to decide what book to pick up this weekend then please by the power of Zeus, let it be Whispers of You by Catherine Cowles.

I seem to be on a bit of a romance genre binge at the moment and when I feasted my eyes on this pretty book cover I was a goner. Goodbye, see you later, you won’t see my for-dust kind of entrapment. This book had me good, that prologue put paid to actually doing chores, let the dust gather – I was all in with this cute, second chance romance. There was just so much to love about it – the scenery – a little town in the mountains, with that strong outdoorsy scent (if you know, you know) and a town haunted by its violent demons. I love a strong romance story but when it is accompanied by a solid storyline then you just know I’m buckling that seatbelt quicker than Usain Bolt aiming for the finish line.

Catherine Cowles was a new author to me and I’m scratching my head at how she was able to slip under the radar for me. The writing, the descriptions and the emotions were everything I was looking for. I need the back catalogue and I need it now!

Wren and Holt. They had a love that could remain in the face of time. They were everything to each other, nothing was going to pull them apart. Wren and her attachment to Holt was cute. She was clinging on to him and his family with every breath. Her parents were useless and failed to see just what was under their nose all those years. A girl that had resilience and strength and had the ability to see the good in everyone even in the face of adversity. Her love for Holt would always anchor her but would it for Holt?

Holt is the hero of the story but borne out of fragile beginnings. The day Wren was shot during a killing spree forever traumatised him. Witnessing the one you love bleed out on her bathroom floor will forever change you- sometimes for the better and in Holt’s case for the worst. He made the decision to take off when Wren was fully rehabbed. He signed up to the military and then set up a private security firm when he left the military. It was decision he’s regretted for the last 10 years, I think we can all say that we’ve made some pretty crap decisions at that age but unfortunately his decision hurt a lot of people, his parents, his siblings, his best friends and worst of all, Wren. She was destroyed and she has never moved on from his betrayal, whilst he was putting himself in dangerous positions all over the globe she tried to rebuild the ashes of her life.

Holt returns to visit his family after his father has a heart attack. How is it going to be seeing Wren again? Can he convince her to give him the second chance that he believes he doesn’t deserve, or will she kick him to curb? Is there further disaster just awaiting around the corner with the ten-year anniversary of the shooting lying in wait.

Whispers of You is the whole damn package – seeping emotion and action. A raw story about grief, trauma and a love that can never die. WOW, I need a glass of something cold!