I loved him before I knew what the word meant. From skinned knees to first dates and everything in between. But he was never mine to love. I settled for friendship, even though I always wanted more. That was before. Before he ripped my world apart and didn’t bother sticking around to help me pick up the pieces. I knit every last shred back together all on my own. And I’ve all but forgotten his …
And I’ve all but forgotten his name.
Now, he’s back, and everything is torn apart once more.
But he’s not the only one doing the tearing this time.
And there might be no stopping the person who has it out for us both.
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OMG talk about going through the emotional wringer!! Catherine Cowles upcoming book happens to be the beginning of a new series and it was fantastic! I have loved all of the books in her Sutter Lake series so I was ecstatic when I heard she was starting a new one. Ford and Bell’s story is heartbreakingly beautiful. They had known each other since they were young and their connection was extremely strong. Bell had been in love with Ford since she was only fourteen years old but due to the circumstances there was no way to do anything about that. So Bell was satisfied with their deep friendship until tragedy struck and he was gone from her life. Bell’s home life was difficult to say the least, so with Ford completely shutting her out of his life and leaving her during the most difficult time of her life, anger and hurt was all she felt towards him now. Ford was only eighteen years old when his life changed, the only way for him to survive and not be faced with the pain, he left. He left his family, their business and hardest of all Bell. When his younger brother asks him to come home to assist with their floundering business he knew he could no longer hide. Now that he was back, he was faced with the past and realized what he needed and wanted more than anything was forgiveness. Unfortunately, pain, guilt and miscommunication did not make things easy. It took a bit but the way they were able to work through it all was wonderful.
Besides the emotional journey of Bell and Ford, the suspense portion of the book definitely kept me turning the pages. The danger added a little bit of spice and strength of their love for one another.
I am definitely looking forward to the next in this series, the secondary characters were just as fantastic and I would love to see their happily ever after.
Catherine hit this one out of the park! I will admit I had my doubts about Ford. But those doubts have all been cleared now. Thankfully! I hate when you don’t fall in love with the leading man. In case I’m not being obvious enough, I fell in love with him!
Ford and Bell have been friends forever. Maybe Bell had a crush on him when she was 16 and he was 18.
Too bad he was her sister’s boyfriend.
Too bad they were in a car crash that killed her sister.
Too bad Ford left town.
It’s been 11 years and now he’s forced to come back. Painful memories for him. Being here. Painful memories seeing him for her.
How’s that going to work???
You need to read this one to find out!
I loved this one very much and I feel you will love it as well. These characters were very lovable. Great supporting characters who will each (hopefully) be getting there own stories told.
Bell and Ford have known each other for years. Ford was her older sister’s boyfriend and the one person who seemed to understand her completely. When tragedy strikes and destroys life as they know it both must heal in their own way. 11 years later Ford is back for the first time. Will they be able to forgive each other for the pain caused or will they destroy any chance of rebuilding their friendship and more?
I am so glad the Ford got his own story despite its heartbreak. I love the way Catherine’s series are interconnected. Catherine will take you on an emotional ride from the very beginning! Reckless Memories will make you laugh and cry, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat suspense plays out. Love every word this woman writes and can’t wait to grab Perfect Wreckage to continue this series.
I was introduce to Catherine’s books about a year ago and ever since, she became one of my favorite authors, every time I read one of her books, I ended up loving it and this time she didn’t disappoint at all.
Reckless Memories is a second chance romance with some suspense built up through the book, it tell us the story of Bell and Ford and the hardships of a past the pulled them apart, but it show us the Ford and Bell have such a deep emotional bond that brings them back together to try to get over the hurt, the grieve, the guilt and the uncertainty of a present or future together and add to this mix some suspense to keep you at the edge of your sit.
So if you are a fan of small town, second chance romance like I am, you should definitely check Reckless Memories out. I absolutely loved it.
This is the firs book in the Wrecked Series and I can’t wait for the next one.
Catherine Cowles has yet again created the perfect small town romance full of angst, passion, heartbreak, forgiveness, hope, and love. I simply love everything about this book. Catherine created such a wonderful world in Anchor Island along with fantastic characters. I devoured this book in a matter of hours. I couldn’t get enough of Ford and Bell. Their story is one of such heartbreak, love, and forgiveness. Their bond is truly something amazing to watch be rebuilt throughout the course of this story. Reckless Memories is the perfect story to start off the Wrecked series. This story is everything.
I’m Further to Fall, I got a glimpse of Ford and he was pretty awesome in that book. He is even more amazing in Reckless Memories. I’m fairly certain that I have completely fallen in love with his character. When he left Anchor Island at eighteen because of a tragic accident, he didn’t return home for over eleven years. He didn’t know how to handle the pain and heartache, but when his brother called saying his family business needed his help, he came. While he’s back home, he realizes that he never should have left in the first place. Anchor Island is a place full of heartbreak for Ford, but it’s also the place that gives him peace and will help him heal and move forward with his life. Ford is everything. This man completely owns my heart. He’s strong, protective, loving, and sexy beyond belief. His heartbreak about did me in, but his acceptance and understanding that the tragic accident was not his fault was liberating and amazing to read. He has so much guilt and pain about the accident and he hasn’t really been living his life to the fullest. Coming home and reconnecting with the people who mean the most to him helped him realize that he had been running from it all. It was time for him to stop running and face his fears. He did and now I’m more in love with him than ever!
Bell is an amazing character. Her strength and courage is everything. She picked up the pieces to her life after the accident that almost destroyed it all. She fought like heck to put herself back together and to heal. I can’t even imagine the pain that she went through after the accident and how she could be so strong. Bell is a warrior, a fighter, and a darn amazing survivor. She is also funny, smart, beautiful, courageous, strong, and just an overall amazing person. I truly love everything about her. Bell’s parents were something awful, mainly her mother. Her mother tried to turn her into someone she wasn’t. Bell is opinionated, strong willed, doesn’t go with the flow, and asks a million and one questions. Her mother hated every part of that. She wanted a daughter who does exactly what she tells her to do and not question a thing (her sister Violet was very much like that, which is why her mother pushed Bell to be like that so hard). That’s not Bell. Bell is her own unique person and will never be anyone else. I absolutely love that. Bell is such a fiercely independent and wonderful character. She wants the people she loves to accept her exactly as she is, but knows that it will never happen with her mother. She has her own family that loves her that includes the Hardys (Kara, Frank, Hunter and Ford), Kenna, and Caelyn. These are the people who love and accept her exactly as she is. And she is pretty darn amazing!
Ford and Bell have such an amazing bond with one another. They have known each other their entire lives. They were best friends growing up and understood one another in a way that no one else did. Even though Ford dated Violet, Bell’s sister, the friendship between Bell and Ford grew stronger. Bell has been in love with Ford since before she really knew what it meant to be in love. She didn’t think she could ever have him, so she settled for friendship. She wanted him in her life, in whatever form she could get. When Ford left after the accident, it ripped Bell apart. He broke her heart when he never came back. He was the one person who understood her and he left without ever looking back. These two about broke my heart. The tension and chemistry between these two is amazing. When they finally worked through years of heartache, pain, and hurt feelings, these two helped one another heal and their relationship became even stronger. I truly adore everything about Ford and Bell. They are so perfect for one another. He is her Cupcake and she is his Trouble (Gosh, I love those nicknames so much!). The angst and slow build of their romance just about killed me. When they finally reached the point of no return, I almost screamed with happiness! I truly love these two together and it makes me so happy that they found their way back to one another.
Overall, I give this story a 5/5! It is simply amazing. There is angst, heartbreak, healing, hope, and so much love. I felt all of the feels! I love that Ford and Bell found their way back to one another and got their second chance at happiness. I enjoyed everything about this story and all of the amazing characters. I can’t wait to learn more about Anchor Island and all of the characters. I’m excited to see where the next book takes us (hello Kenna and Crosby!).
Catherine Cowles is back with a brand new romantic suspense series and I am totally obsessed.
She has created a brand new small town romance on an island in the PNW. How does she always create these worlds that have been dying to go visit? These are fictional towns… but oh my the detail that the author has woven into these are amazing!
“I didn’t want to love you. And I feel so damn guilty, like it’s gnawing away at my insides because some part of me has always loved you…”
This story was absolutely beautifully and built a friends to lovers in the midst of tragedy. The details and character development is phenomenal. The stage has been set for an amazing series here. I can not even wait!
“I’d get hit with a memory of the two of us, the reckless kind, the kind that lit a fire in me to call her, to see her. Those reckless memories would almost bring me to my knees.“
Reckless Memories is a strong And has me preordering the rest of the series!
5 Heart Gripping Stars
One of the quickest books I have read because I could not put it down. Catherine Cowles did an amazing job with book 1 in her Wrecked series not that I am surprised at all. She gets better with every book.
This book put me through the emotional wringer with all the guilt Bell had for having crush on her best friend ‘Ford’ who also happens to be her sister’s boyfriend. There was a friends to lovers with a little taboo feel to it. There were so many hurtful situations to deal with, with family and friends. Both Bell and Ford were hurting and living with so much guilt and anger.
Get ready for a lot of surprises and an emotional ride that won’t let you go even after the book is over you are still feeling it in your heart.
Catherine Cowles at her best! Reckless Memories is a beautiful roller coaster of a ride that will take you through all the feels. I was wrecked and put back together in this story that had me holding my breath and cheering Ford and Bell toward their happy ending. I’ve been waiting for Ford’s story since he appeared Further to Fall and Catherine delivered more than I dreamt possible. Thank you, Catherine, for bringing Ford to life and telling his amazing love story.
ALL. THE. FEELS!
Catherine definitely outdid herself, I have been waiting (not so patiently) for Ford’s story since he was a secondary character in Further to Fall. She did not disappoint. The depth of emotion she is able to achieve with just written word is incredible. There were times I literally felt almost physical pain from how strong the emotional pull was. Her character depth and world building are amazing, I want to know the people and go to the places she writes about.
Reckless Memories is an emotional and suspenseful journey. The ups and downs and twists and turns take you through a roller coaster of heartbreak, anger, love and forgiveness with the perfect amount of suspense to keep you hanging onto every word. It’s a story that you can’t wait to finish but never want to end.
Ford was everything I hoped he’d be and more, he might just be my favorite hero that Catherine has written so far.
Bell is so strong and just an amazing person, I wish there were more people like her in the real world.
The secondary characters are awesome, I can’t wait for more in the Wrecked series so I can get to know them better.
And Anchor Island, I want to go to wherever inspired that place.
My sleep deprivation was well worth it with this book. Bell and Ford grabbed me from the very first pages of their story and they didn’t let me go until the very end. They’ve both got a lot of guilt and misery and anger that has built and festered for over a decade, so when they meet again, it’s only a matter of time before they either destroy each other or move forward together. The only problem is that someone doesn’t want them to forget or heal. Someone wants something so much worse for both of them. But who?
I spent most of the book guessing, wondering, picking up and tossing aside suspects, and breaking over the pain of survivor’s guilt that surrounds Bell and Ford that I’m surprised I made it out in one piece. This story was amazing and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. And when the bitter party is revealed? My jaw dropped at the history and secrets that trotted into the light. But the good part about dragging secrets out of the dark is that freedom is just around the corner. And thanks to these secrets coming out, Bell and Ford can finally live a life full of so much more than guilt and regret. And they can do that together.
I loved this new town and cast of characters and can’t wait to see what comes next in this series.
Another read that had me so emotionally invested, hanging on the edge with a hint of mystery. This author knows how to write characters that stick with you way after you have finished their stories and I love that I can think back and smile at the way things started and finished for each of them. I fell in love with Ford in Austin’s book and just knew behind his laid back attitude he had a story that we just needed to hear. Deep down Ford is still struggling with tragedy from his past and the guilt eats him alive. He just doesn’t know how to cope until he is forced to come face to face with Bells again. Bells is a strong willed, supportive, loving person but she still holds some anger and guilt towards Ford until she realizes she’s just happy to have him in her life again. Ford, even though he struggles, he is a fierce protector, lover, and friend and together can they help each other cope and move forward in life or will their pasts haunt their every step? This is another beautiful book by this author that sucks you into to the lives of the characters and refuses to let you go.
Reckless Memories is the first book in the Wrecked series by Catherine Cowles and it’s her best book to date.
I’ve been a fan of Ms. Cowles for a long time and love all her book but this one was beyond great. It’s not an easy love story. A story about friendship, heartbreak, lies, trust and letting go of the past.
Isabelle (Belle) and Ford’s story started when they were very young. They were always together and best friend. They understood each other. But Ford was Isabelle’s sister’s boyfriend.
Until something tragically happened and Isabelle lost two of the persons she loved the most in this world.
Belle and Ford’s chemistry was adorable when they were young and hot later when all grown up.
Love the storyline, the suspense and the secondary characters that I know there will be in the next upcoming books that I cannot wait to read.
I really hope hunter and the Sheriff will get their books too.
My Rating: STARS!