A woman trying to rebuild her life. Kennedy is doing all she can to escape, to prove that she’s not the monster her father was. A simple life of peace and service is all she needs. A man haunted by a past he can’t forget. Cain has buried his demons under layers of control and success. The only thing he needs is his company and his solitude. Certainly not a woman with captivating green eyes filled … captivating green eyes filled with ghosts so similar to his own.
He’s a reminder of the life she’s left behind. And she’s a threat to his tightly guarded control. As sparks fly between them, they discover that what they might need most is each other.
But with pasts like theirs…you never know when darkness might descend.
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I loved this book. The characters were just so REAL. Catherine writes beautifully broken characters who EARN their Happily Ever Afters! Read this!
REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
“Whether we like it or not, grief is sometimes our greatest teacher.”
Ahhh….for the final book in this series, I don’t think Catherine Cowles left anything out. It had emotion. It had peeks back at the other characters. It had drama. It really just made me smile while I read it. I knew of Cain from the previous books because he had “helped out” and he had a certain “set of skills” (I giggled at that) that had been useful in each of the previous storylines, so I knew his story was going to be a good one. Right, I was. It was good!! I barreled through this one and didn’t put it down. Pure smiles on my face.
This is one of those “knight in shining armor” books, but not one bit of it was boring and the words were so easy and fun to read. Smiling, laughing, easy-going and fun, this book had everything I needed for Cain and Kennedy’s story to resonate with me. But sadly, it’s the last in the series. As sad as that makes me, I feel like she did their story justice.
What do you do when morals trump loyalty and you’re chastised for it? Kennedy had that reality and it’s one that happens more often than not. I know from personal experience, so seeing her guilt and seeing her punish herself the way she did was all too real and very relatable. I felt so sorry for her but her character didn’t allow for that. She was so strong and so determined to do good in the world. There was not one thing I didn’t admire about her because she had some fierceness to her and I admired her tenacity. She was living the life she was because of something she had no control over – but I truly loved that she was so self sufficient and strong. She was also stubborn, and I probably loved that just as much as her strength. HA!
“She was a storm wrapped in beauty and grace.”
I loved seeing the softer side of Cain and I feel like Cowles did a really good job with him. His temperament and his confidence mixed really well with his business sense and sexiness. He was a visual that I didn’t mind having – that’s for sure! He had a way with his “suave” that most men merely attempt, and Cowles did him justice. No lie, having Kennedy bring out another side of him sure made me . Some of him was super soft, to the point of it sounding a little too soft, but I loved him all the same because he had his demons, but he was trying to keep them in check. I’ll hold my thumb and forefinger reeeeally close for this visual, because yes – it was a little feminine in the hero’s descriptive words to a certain degree, but not distractingly so. Sliiightly. Not jarringly.
“My control always seemed to slip a bit around Kennedy.”
I feel like Cowles sits down and thinks up the BEST characters and then writes her stories around them. The supporting cast of characters in this series made for an amazing round of stories. But that Gramma Irma…..she was a character that I could visualize and “hear” in every single book. She had me in stitches!!! OhMyGosh, she was hilarious. I loved her old world knowledge mixed with her woman’s intuition. She seriously was the best.
I don’t like to expect anything happening in a book, and sometimes these “romantic suspense” books are eerily predictable – only because we all know soooomething is going to happen to the heroine and we need someone to save the day. So the anticipation is out for the extra bit of drama added into these books, but I need to keep in mind this is the trope in its truest form, but I can sum it up with ease because her writing flows. It’s effortless and it reads really clean. The great thing is, I think Catherine Cowles is synonymous with “Small Town Romance” and I love that she can put me in that little mountain town in Oregon and I can relate with it all the way down to the little shops that know your name and your food order before you ever walk in. That small town feel is paraded through this book with comfort and knowledge. It has to be one of my favorite parts about her series.
Cowles has beauty and grace, an ease with her words. It’s always a joy to read her stories and she gives an honest, feel-good story about love triumphing a past that has too much control over the future. She gives me the emotions I crave in a lighter story I really enjoy her words and look forward to reading more from her.
“Kennedy lived with a joy I didn’t think I’d ever witness before. It was the simple things that gave her the most pleasure.”
BEE
I received an ARC for an honest opinion. Catherine’s book just get better and better. She writes great romance suspense and keeps you turning those pages to see what happens next. Cain and Kennedy’s story kept you on the edge. Both are running from things that happened in there pasts and trying to overcome them. Cain becomes protective of Kennedy after she has an accident and they start to grow closer. Cain is trying to overcome his mom deaths and some other events that have happened. It’s a slow burn that you won’t want to put down.
The author keeps making this series better and better, all these books suck you in and bring you to this circle of friends and family and makes the reader feel like they are part of their tribe. Cain has been there for his friends Walker and Tuck through thick and thin just a s they were always there for him, but he is ready to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax plus he has someone in his company that is selling their secrets. Cain moves to Sutter Lake so he can spend time with his best friends and so he can figure things out with his company. This is where he meets Kennedy, he has an instant attraction to her, but he can see that she is hiding something in the same way he hides his demons. Kennedy has had a rough few years, she helped catch her father for running a Ponzi scheme and every since then her family hates her, people who were effected by the scheme hate her, and she has been spending every day since then trying to make up for what she thinks she should atone for even if none of it was her fault. She hides away trying to be grateful for the small things in life, she volunteers, she is the most kindhearted person and Cain recognizes this and has the incredible urge to always protect her. This was a journey of loving, understanding, forgiveness, and letting others into your life. I loved these two together and enjoyed their bond they had, and I loved we got to see the other characters we have all come to love and know. Beautifully Broken Control took me on an emotional rollercoaster and just like Kennedy I fell hard for Cain, demons and all.
I devoured this book from start to finish! I absolutely loved how Catherine weaved in elements of suspense into her storyline and had me guessing what would happen next. And Cain – wow. Just WOW. His character development was fantastic, and I absolutely felt every emotion he experienced right along with him. And Kennedy (Kenz) – truly loved her as well. Two beautifully broken people searching for control and they find so much more . . . Steller read!
I think this is the best book yet written by Catherine Cowles.
Both Kennedy and Cain are hiding things from their past. At first Cain thinks that Kennedy is just using Jensen and her family but not sure why. Then he sees something in her that makes him think she needs protection. He is the ever protector especially when it comes to a woman because of the loss in his past that he never overcame, he just buried it. When they go back to Portland for a gala that Cain must attend she runs into her brother who is very bitter towards her because of what she did to their father. Will Cain and Kennedy be able to work through everything from their past or will Cain screw things up with Kennedy beyond repair?
Kennedy and Cain are both running from their past. Kennedy is trying to atone for the sins of her family and Cain is trying to forget his family because of the heartache it caused him. But when their mutual friends bring them into each other’s lives they can’t deny their pull towards each other no matter how hard they try.
One of thing I love about this author is that she is able to create two characters that have their own issues that make them broken in their own way but their issues are comparable – so that they can relate even if they are both in denial. Both of these characters suffered loss but a different loss, both of them had parental issues but different issues but it made them able to connect because of that and as a reader I was able to see their connection on that level. This author has cemented herself as a one click author for me. I have been able to connect and related to everyone of her characters and books on some level. Her ability to make me swoon, laugh and cry all while keeping me on the edge my seat is remarkable.
Another beautiful and suspense-filled romance in the Sutter Lake series.
I loved Beautifully Broken Control and the struggles both Kennedy and Cain had to overcome. Both had pasts that kept them from opening up. And it isn’t until craziness stirs up their lives again that they open up with each other.
The hurt Kennedy and Cain harbor from their pasts is raw and emotional. Catherine wrote their story with such grace. And Chuck was so stinking cute! Also loved all the Murder, She Wrote references
Loved it!! So glad I found this author!! Fell in loved with her books instantly!
Ahhh, the final book in the Sutter Lake series! We get a glimpse of Cain in the previous books when he helps out Walker and Tuck from afar with some things that were going down in Sutter Lake. In Beautifully Broken Control, we get to see a lot more of him. We also see a whole lot more of Kennedy, who makes an appearance in Beautifully Broken Spirit. This slow burn, slight age-gap romance was inspiring and uplifting. Both of the characters went through something that broke them, but they held their heads high and helped each other through them. It was beautifully written and a great conclusion to the series. We get to see characters in past books make appearances and the epilogue was so great <3
Kennedy Charles came from money and realized that everything in her life was a lie and made a decision that cost her her family. They disowned her and she is now trying to start her life over. She ran from her past and settled in Sutter Lake and started working at The Tea Kettle, began teaching dance lessons, and volunteering. And then one day, Cain makes his way into her life.
“This man was slowly slipping behind every defense I had.”
Cain Hale is a businessman. After a loss that brings up memories, he realises he needs an escape from the big city life. He makes his way to Sutter Lake. He blames himself for the loss of someone very important to him years ago and it tore him apart, so he has legitimate reasons for looking out for and wanting to protect those he loves. There’s something about Kennedy that he can’t stay away from.
"She was a storm wrapped in beauty and grace. She held fierceness and gentleness in equal measure, and it eased something in me..."
Whose past will come to bite them?
Here we are, at the end of the Sutter lake series, and what a way to end it! I have all the feels from this book!
Cain is everything I love in a book boyfriend. He’s broken, he’s broody, he’s smart, strong, alpha and, bonus, he’s HOT!
Kennedy is trying her hardest to hold an independent life. She denies herself anything special, or new, to ease her guilt over things she did not do! She is one of those very rare, pure and beautiful souls. I just love her!
They are two lonely people, living solitary lives who are about to find their missing piece.
I could go on and on about the details, my favourite parts, picking quotes, but you will just have to read it yourself to really appreciate it’s magnificence.
From the very first page you are drawn in to the story. I could not put it down until I had finished. And then she throws in a bonus scene that had me absolutely bawling. It was a beautiful ending to this amazing series.
I absolutely adore Catherine’s writing style. She has this incredible ability to turn a romance into something so much more. Like a soap opera drama mixed with an episode of true crime. Her research is always on point and as accurate as can be.
I look forward to whatever she releases in the future.
Beautifully Broken Control is the fourth book in the Sutter Lake Series. We are introduced to Kennedy (the female protagonist) in the previous book, Beautifully Broken Spirit. Cain (the male protagonist) in Beautifully Broken Life when he helps Liam find Tessa. We learn Kennedy is rebuilding her life after escaping her family’s breakdown. She comes to Sutter Lake in hopes of a simple life and giving more than she takes. Cain also escapes to Sutter Lake from the demons that caught him living in the city. He runs a highly successful tech company and finds out someone in his company is betraying him. Cain has a haunted past that he can’t seem to shake. When Cain first meets Kennedy he senses right away something is off. Kennedy is guarded about her past just as much as Cain. Everyone around them can sense the sparks flying between the two of them as the story continues. There is a bit of danger lurking that I didn’t realize (but totally should have!) and a plot twist that shocked me! My favorite about these series is reading about the characters from the previous books and reading how they are progressing.
Another amazing 5 star read from Catherine Cowels. Wished I had read this book sooner so I could have fallen in love with Kennedy and Cain (can’t forget about Chuck!) I cannot put into words how much I loved this book.
This book contains a heart-wrenching story which has you hooked from start to finish.
I will always love Catherine’s story because she has the incredible talent to capture the reader from the very first sentence.
** spoiler alert ** Cain swore he would never allow someone into his heart again. Kennedy struggles with the guilt of her families mistakes. Will Kennedy realize it was out of her control? Will Cain let his walls down?
These two broke my heart and then glued the pieces back together! I have LOVED every book in this series and this one was no different. I definitely could feel for both characters, both loosing their families to different circumstances and loved how they showed how different each individual handles it. I loved seeing how these two healed each other and built their own family. Great read and cannot wait to see what this author comes out with next!
I dont want this series to be over! I loved this book so much! As with the others in this series I was hooked from the very beginning! I could not put this book down! You will get all the feels reading this one. After reading this book I will be adding a new jar to my bookshelf! Whether you come from a lot or nothing there is always something to be grateful for. Catherine Cowles was a new to me author before starting this series and she now in the must read category for me!
This is my first read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. I now must read the other books in the series.
Wonderful contemporary romance between two individuals that are themselves as broken. The main characters in this story are so well developed, they draw you into their lives. There is a long of angst and heartache as Kennedy and Cain try to bring their friendship into something more. I love the idea of gratitude jars. I received a complementary copy of this book via Hidden Gems and chose to write a review.I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Cowles.
I loved Kennedy and Cain’s story. They’re two beautiful people that are badly bent but not completely broken. Honestly, they’re perfect for each other. Their struggles to overcome the pasts that haunt them just broke my heart. Neither one wanted to fall but the pull between them was undeniable. Little by little a tentative friendship blossoms and before long love takes hold. Slowly it starts to fill the cracks and glue their shattered bits back together.
There were quite a few unexpected twists in their story. I especially loved the unconditional love from their friends. The people that both Kennedy and Cain have come to call family.
I would definitely recommend this book and if you choose to read it I’d also recommend tissues.
OMG!!!! Catherine has a way of creating these characters that will tear you up, and put you back together. She has such a way with words, that honestly is beautiful. I know that when I pick up one of her books I am in for a warm, complex, unforgettable and beautiful read that stays with me. She writes her characters with feeling, ones that have you feeling every emotion with them. Just a great writer.
In Beautifully Broken Control we have the main leads Cain Hale and Kennedy Charles. Cain is what every book boyfriend should be. He is alpha protective and Kennedy brings that out in him. Kennedy just wants to live her life with out any interference from anyone. Especially Cain, who makes her feel. But when someone shows up from her past, Cain is about to show Kennedy what he will do to protect her.
So, if you are looking for a heart felt read, one that will make you feel all kinds of emotions. Cain and Kennedy’s story will stay with you for a while, it is that good. Honestly if I could give Beautifully Broken Control more than 5 stars, I would. Catherine is a wonderful writer, one that if you have not read her yet, please do. She is wonderful, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Catherine Cowles what a wonderful job you have done with the Sutter Lake Series! I have loved every book in this series, and while I am sad to see it end, I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us readers next!