This is a definite summer MUST read! Liam and Tessa’s story was absolutely amazing. I was hooked from page one and could not out it down until I finished it. This is a book that stole my heart and I will remember always. I have loved each book in this series and BBL is now my favorite! I LOVE Liam! *Swoon* I highly recommend this book! You definitely want to grab a copy and read for yourself!
Author
caligalsbookblog
3 years ago
I couldn’t help but fall in love with this couple. Tessa, our girl in hiding and Liam our sweetheart of a rockstar. Tessa broke my heart with all she has had to endure. I also really like how Liam wasn’t portrayed as a selfish, jerk. Sometimes authors work so hard at making a rockstar an alpha male the turn him into a big turd. That was not the case here. Sigh. He is nummy.
This story has somewhat of a slow build where you really get to know the characters. Love it. The second half of this book ups the angst though. The message of becoming your own defender was beautiful. Getting more of the Cole family also touched my heart.
This author gives a predictability to her stories that I love in my romances. It has a flavor that reminds me of stories I read when I was younger. Well except they are a lot spicer, Thank Goodness. Haha. Wink.
Happy Reading!
Author
justmenicole
3 years ago
Incredible! Absolutely amazing! Beautifully Broken Life, the second book in the Sutter Lake series by Author Catherine Cowles, is such a heartfelt, beautifully written story. I had tears of heartbreak and happy tears, mystery and saving. This is such a fantastic love story!
Tessa is a quiet woman who keeps to herself, is running from her past, and hiding from her powerful and abusive ex-fiancé. She is a baker in the small-town, who is trying to keep a low profile and trying to keep to herself…why did he have to walk in…
“The smile that lit Liam’s face hit me right in the ovaries.”
Liam Fairchild is a delicious musician, struggling to write songs, and to decide how to continue with the fame and the requirements of his label. He has come to Sutter Lake trying to hide for a while.
“I don’t want to give them the power to dull my voice anymore.”
Once again, as in book one of this series (Beautifully Broken Pieces) the characters are fantastic. I love the mysterious addition to this series and the characters, and the storyline flows so well and makes it one of those books you don’t want to put down. Absolutely recommend Beautifully Broken Life and look forward to the next book in the series!
Author
bevbowman
3 years ago
Catherine Cowles keeps getting better and better! This is her third book, and the best one so far! Tessa is such a great character. Her life is shattered and her trust in men broken, but she’s strong enough to build a beautiful new life and learn to trust again. Liam is such a caring, patient man with Tessa. He helps her become confident enough to fight for her new life and stop running from her old life. It’s a wonderful slow burn relationship and you can’t help cheering for them because they make such a great couple. This is an emotional book with plenty of romantic suspense to keep the reader engaged. I read it in one sitting and it will definitely be on my re-read list! I can’t wait for the next books in the series! Cowles’ writing really draws you in. She’s able to seemingly effortlessly combine humorous scenes, poignant scenes, romance and suspense into a wonderful mix you won’t want to miss!
Author
chelsearichardson
3 years ago
Such a wonderful story! If you have read Beautifully Broken Pieces you have already met Tessa, and probably fell in love with her and want to know her story! Well here it is!!!! Don’t wait to dive Right in like all of Catherine Cowles other stories you will not be able to put it down!
Author
britt
3 years ago
Catherine Cowles you owe me SO MANY BOXES OF TISSUES! I happy cried, I ugly cried, I cried because my heart couldn’t handle the our beauty of Liam and Tessa. This book is EVERYTHING! I am continuously amazed with every new release at just how incredibly talented Catherine Cowles is. When it comes to delivering a story that will move you and live within your heart permanently. Not only will Beautifully Broken Life be a book I will read again and again it’s also of the best books I’ve read this year!
I love that Catherine did not hold back and sugar coat all Tessa went through. Her realistic and honest way of writing Tessa made her incredibly true to life. The slow build of trust and ultimately love that happened between Liam and Tessa not only made their relationship very believable but extremely beautiful. Liam’s patient and calm understanding only served to make me fall deeper in love with him. He is by far my absolute favorite of her heroes. The side of him that comes out with Tessa is something of pure beauty.
Author
carol
3 years ago
Beautifully Broken Life is book two in the Sutter Lake series by Catherine Cowles. This is my third book by Catherine and every single time I’m just blown away. This book was no exception. I loved every…single…page!!! We have met the two main characters in this book in the previous books, Liam Fairchild, the famous rock star, and Tessa, the very shy baker at The Tea Kettle. Now we get their stories!
Liam lived in Los Angeles. His face was known to almost everyone, and was constantly dogged by the paparazzi as well as some over zealous fans. The public felt like they owned a piece of him, that they had the right to the parts of him he wanted to keep private. Liam knew both sides of fame, the high he got when he performed, when he made music, and the dark side. When that dark side catches up to him, as well as his label pressuring him to write, he needed to escape. The music just wasn’t coming to him anymore. His friend Taylor now lived in Sutter Lake and he had loved the peace and quiet there when he visited her. So that’s where he headed. Maybe he could clear his head and the music would find him again.
“I was drowning in unmet expectations. I needed a change of scenery.”
Tessa was in hiding, from a past so volatile that if she was found, she would most definitely be dead. Sutter Lake held a connection to a past she knew nothing about. It was a beautiful small town where she could just blend in. She had two jobs, one as a baker in the little restaurant, The Tea Kettle, and one helping to take care of some horses. She kept her head down and didn’t talk unless she had to. But then Liam came in. There was something about him that drew her eyes to him. He didn’t scare her, he made her feel safe.
“Liam Fairchild was a potent mixture of hard lines and smooth edges. And I knew I was sunk.”
A funny thing happened when Liam was in the bakery near Tessa. The music started to tickle his brain again. Just little snippets trying to come back together. But he knew he had to be careful with her. That something had happened to make her so afraid. He was determined to do whatever it took so she would trust him.
“How could a simple touch undo me? Liam Fairchild must have magic in those fingertips.”
I loved watching Tessa bloom with the affection from both Liam and from their friends. Her feelings grew fast and strong for Liam. But, the most important thing for her survival was to stay hidden. Liam was famous, people trying to snap pictures of him wherever he went. If just one picture of her ended up in the tabloids, she was finished. How could this ever work?
Tessa and Liam together was such a beautiful thing. But both are hiding and trying to heal from the darkness of their pasts. And both of their pasts come back to haunt them. I had a feeling that this was going to be a nail biter and oh my gosh, it was!!! Catherine has such a way of blending together sweet romance, sexy, steamy scenes, and suspense! This book had it all. I loved these characters so much. I love this whole group so much. The next book in the series will be Jensen’s story, the owner of The Tea Kettle, in Beautifully Broken Spirit. Catherine Cowles can’t write the words fast enough as far as I’m concerned.
“You make this life so much more beautiful.”
Author
jaceyjeffrey
3 years ago
OMG this book….I can’t even put into words how this story made me feel. Liam and Tessa’s story was everything and I loved everything about it. Just when I didn’t think she could top the first book in the Sutter Lake series….she not only did so but cinched the top spot as my number one read of 2019 with this phenomenal story. From the very first page I was drawn in and hooked….I devoured it in hours. I was absolutely consumed with all things Liam and Tessa….I couldn’t put it down. I knew that Tessa’s story would break my heart and it did….absolutely shattered it. The things that she has been through, she is constantly on guard always looking over her shoulder. Swore that she would never let anyone in again especially a man. She didn’t count on Liam being there to knock down those carefully constructed walls and to be the man that she can count on and trust with her heart. Liam has his own demons to battle, tired of the LA life and the music scene he just wants to go back to his roots and make the kind of music he wants on his own terms. He knew that Tessa was someone special and that he would be the man she needs to make her feel safe again. I adored how patient, kind, selfless, and tender Liam was with Tessa. He won me over with his big loving heart. Liam was so good for Tessa and Tessa for Liam. She needed Liam as much as he needed Tessa. This was such a beautifully written story one that I highly recommend to all. I am a huge fan of this author and with every book she writes….it just keeps getting better and better and she has definitely a forever fan in me. I can’t wait for the next book in this phenomenal series. Another 5 star book from this talented author….well done!!!!
Author
lisa
3 years ago
I am completely blown away! Catherine Cowles is quickly becoming one of absolutely favorite automatic one-click authors. She completely sucked me into this heartbreakingly beautiful story, and had me falling head over heals in love.
For Liam Fairchild life as a rockstar had gotten incredibly complicated. After a run in with an obsessed fan he is laying low in Sutter Lake, visiting his friend Taylor. The time away from LA and the press is just what he needs to refresh and get back to writing music.
After meeting Tessa in the first book I knew she had been through something horrible in her past, but I never expected her story. My heart was ripped in two and I was completely raw with emotion as we learned all she had been through.
I couldn’t put this story down and I am not at all sorry about the missed sleep. Beautifully Broken life is an incredible story of healing and I highly recommend it. While it can be read as a standalone I do recommend you read the first in this series as it is just as wonderful!
Author
echawrylciw
3 years ago
Another GREAT story in this series! Absolutely loved Liam and Tessa deserves a really great guy to love her.
Author
lforte
3 years ago
4*+ ARC Review – Another great addition to the Sutter Lake Series
I was introduced to this author through the ARC program of Hidden Gems, but now I am a big fan! I enthusiastically requested this book from them in exchange for my review. The prior two books by this author have established some of the characters and the first book in the series introduced the reader to both the characters and town of Sutter Creek, a small town in Oregon.
This is the story of Tessa, who is a phenomenal baker who works in the tea shop in town, I have been craving scones since reading this book! She clearly has a secret past, but has found a place in this small town. This book takes us through her past and how she ended up being in Sutter Creek. While working in the shop and being friends with the Cole family, she meets Liam Fairchild, a rock star hiding out in this town. He is instantly intrigued by Tessa, but due to her background, she is resistant to engage with him.
Once they have several encounters, they start building a relationship and it is sweet how Liam just wants to be around her. For a man with all kinds of fame and money, he has to try to use other aspects of his personality to win her over. They are a great and it is great to watch and wait as they become a couple. Both their pasts come back to haunt them and try to destroy this life they have built. Overall I really enjoy this author’s writing and style. This book is a great addition to the series and I cannot wait for more from this author and series. Hoping Jensen and Tuck are up next!!
Author
anjasper
3 years ago
Yes, yes YES!! Beautifully Broken Life is the return to Sutter Lake that I was looking for. The opening alone made my chest ache and I was anxious to see what was in store next for Tessa.
Gosh Tessa, her life was a mess. She was skittish. Always on guard, ready to run at the drop of a hat. But she didn’t want to be. She wanted a normal life. Friendships where she could open up. Family. She quasi let herself have that in the small town but not fully. She didn’t think she could. Until Liam.
Swoon city with a cherry on top! I just loved me some Liam! He was kind and talented and a little lost. Struggling to find his voice. But what I liked the most about him was the way he saw Tessa and the gentle care he gave her. The way he eased her fears. He helped her see the strength she possessed and gave her the courage to share her story. And what a story it was. Heartbreaking. Painful.
The fear that Tessa lives with is never far from her mind. And when the threat comes calling, it was all hands on deck to try and find her. They just weren’t sure who exactly was targeting Tessa. I loved that it was Tessa who stepped up and took her future into her own hands. That final showdown was intense and a pinch gory (but not in a gruesome way) and had my heart pounding.
Full of danger and steam and romance, Beautifully Broken Life kept me glued to my kindle. Liam and Tessa were far from perfect. They were both a bit damaged by their pasts but they didn’t let that keep them from the future they wanted with each other. I am so glad I stumbled upon Catherine Cowles’ brand of small town romance with a suspenseful twist. I am so looking forward to getting Jensen’s story!!
Author
stephaniephillips
3 years ago
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Beautifully Broken Life is the second book in the Sutter Lake Series. This book can be read without reading Beautifully Broken Pieces but I would suggest reading it too. It’s a good book as well.
In Beautifully Broken Life the main focus is on two newcomers to Sutter Lake. Tessa and Luke. Tessa rarely speaks to anyone. She comes to work and then goes up to her apartment above the bakery. She’s hiding a huge secret and tries to remain a loaner in order to stay safe.
Luke is a famous musician who’s hiding out from his public life before it overtakes him. His best friend moved to Sutter Lake recently and is staying in her husband’s guest house so he can focus on writing new music away from it all.
I can’t really tell you a lot more or it will spoil the whole book. Let’s just say Tessa is like a skittish cat and Luke is the tamer. She responds to him like she never has to anyone else before. Putting her trust in Luke is a huge deal. One she won’t regret.
I enjoyed reading about these characters and catching up with those from the first in the series. Looking forward to the next Sutter Lake story as well. The author, Catherine Cowles, has done a great job in creating this small town and the heart of the people there.
Author
wssbookblog
3 years ago
I finished the book quite awhile ago. This book is so good that I hate to write a review that won’t do it justice.
This is the second book in the Sutter Lake series and I
I loved it more than the first book..Beautifully Broken Pieces.
Romantic Suspense at its best.
Be prepared for all the feels! Have tissues ready. It’s so good!
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ Artistically beautiful
Series~ Sutter Lake Series
Source~ Kindle eBook – ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Author
abitsmuttybookblog
3 years ago
Catherine Cowles newest release Beautifully Broken Life, brings us a story of love and hope and home, all bound into the pages of a book. After falling in love with the first book in the Sutter Lake series, book two was everything I had hoped. It’s packed full of emotions as well as suspense but also a scorching slow burn that is well worth the wait. She takes care and grace with writing Liam and Tessa, giving them the story they deserve. Catherine has a way of wrapping you in the warmth of her words that make you lose yourself in her world. Make sure Beautifully Broken Life is at the top of your TBR list
Author
ryatsko
3 years ago
This is an emotional heart gripping story, with a mixture of sweet, suspense, funny, and steam. The characters are amazing, true, with super hot chemistry and playful banter that makes you swoon and giggle. ~wtmo
Author
leacoll
3 years ago
Loved this book so much! I highly recommend this one. It pulled me in from the first word. Couldn’t get enough of Tessa and Liam!!!! Love this world. Love these characters.
Author
dianesullivan
3 years ago
Beautifully Broken Life is a beautifully written story of two people who find themselves in the same place after running from two very different situations. Tessa was drawn to Sutter Lake with a vague hope of connecting with the past while building a new future for herself.
“There was a stigma around the word victim. Something that said you were powerless or had given up. I was a victim, but I was also a fighter. I had clawed my way to freedom.”
Liam has returned to Sutter Lake to escape the dark side of being in the limelight.
They both soon find that you can never really hide from your life or your past. It will eventually catch up to you.
“Your touch erases his. It’s more healing than you’ll ever know.”
The story starts out with a very slow almost rambling pace but by the end there is definitely enough action and suspense to get a heart racing!!
-4 Stars!-
Author
sswb135277
3 years ago
Wow! This was such an emotional, amazing book!
Liam is still in Sutter Lake, much to the dismay of his record label. He’s hit a bit of writer’s block and isn’t happy with the direction his label’s been taking with his work.
Tessa is the skittish, quiet girl who works at The Tea Kettle. No one really knows much about her, but a few people have some ideas of what she may have been through.
Can Tessa help with Liam’s writers block? Will Liam be able to break through Tessa’s walls? Read the absolutely fantastic book to find out. But, I must warn you. You will fall head over heels for Liam, Tessa, and Liam and Tessa together. It’s inevitable!
I’m dying for Tuck & Jensen to get a book of their own! Please!!!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Author
sharon
3 years ago
A beautiful and moving story about a young woman who not only survives an abusive relationship, but finds a better life. Tessa thought she was in love, but that love turned to pain and abuse. With the help of a close friend she escapes to Sutter Lake where she has lived for the past two years. She has a job she loves, but still looks over her shoulder in case her abuser finds her. She is wary of men, but over time will become attracted to rock star Liam Fairchild. Liam is in Sutter Lake to escape his life in Los Angeles and to write music for his next album. He knows that Tessa is running from something and gently tries to gain her trust and friendship. While Tessa is dealing with her own situation, Liam has a stalker who is obsessed with him. Will he and Tessa be able to survive those who threaten their happiness? Will Tessa realize that she is no longer alone, but has the town of Sutter Lake on her side? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
This is a definite summer MUST read! Liam and Tessa’s story was absolutely amazing. I was hooked from page one and could not out it down until I finished it. This is a book that stole my heart and I will remember always. I have loved each book in this series and BBL is now my favorite! I LOVE Liam! *Swoon* I highly recommend this book! You definitely want to grab a copy and read for yourself!
I couldn’t help but fall in love with this couple. Tessa, our girl in hiding and Liam our sweetheart of a rockstar. Tessa broke my heart with all she has had to endure. I also really like how Liam wasn’t portrayed as a selfish, jerk. Sometimes authors work so hard at making a rockstar an alpha male the turn him into a big turd. That was not the case here. Sigh. He is nummy.
This story has somewhat of a slow build where you really get to know the characters. Love it. The second half of this book ups the angst though. The message of becoming your own defender was beautiful. Getting more of the Cole family also touched my heart.
This author gives a predictability to her stories that I love in my romances. It has a flavor that reminds me of stories I read when I was younger. Well except they are a lot spicer, Thank Goodness. Haha. Wink.
Happy Reading!
Incredible! Absolutely amazing! Beautifully Broken Life, the second book in the Sutter Lake series by Author Catherine Cowles, is such a heartfelt, beautifully written story. I had tears of heartbreak and happy tears, mystery and saving. This is such a fantastic love story!
Tessa is a quiet woman who keeps to herself, is running from her past, and hiding from her powerful and abusive ex-fiancé. She is a baker in the small-town, who is trying to keep a low profile and trying to keep to herself…why did he have to walk in…
“The smile that lit Liam’s face hit me right in the ovaries.”
Liam Fairchild is a delicious musician, struggling to write songs, and to decide how to continue with the fame and the requirements of his label. He has come to Sutter Lake trying to hide for a while.
“I don’t want to give them the power to dull my voice anymore.”
Once again, as in book one of this series (Beautifully Broken Pieces) the characters are fantastic. I love the mysterious addition to this series and the characters, and the storyline flows so well and makes it one of those books you don’t want to put down. Absolutely recommend Beautifully Broken Life and look forward to the next book in the series!
Catherine Cowles keeps getting better and better! This is her third book, and the best one so far! Tessa is such a great character. Her life is shattered and her trust in men broken, but she’s strong enough to build a beautiful new life and learn to trust again. Liam is such a caring, patient man with Tessa. He helps her become confident enough to fight for her new life and stop running from her old life. It’s a wonderful slow burn relationship and you can’t help cheering for them because they make such a great couple. This is an emotional book with plenty of romantic suspense to keep the reader engaged. I read it in one sitting and it will definitely be on my re-read list! I can’t wait for the next books in the series! Cowles’ writing really draws you in. She’s able to seemingly effortlessly combine humorous scenes, poignant scenes, romance and suspense into a wonderful mix you won’t want to miss!
Such a wonderful story! If you have read Beautifully Broken Pieces you have already met Tessa, and probably fell in love with her and want to know her story! Well here it is!!!! Don’t wait to dive Right in like all of Catherine Cowles other stories you will not be able to put it down!
Catherine Cowles you owe me SO MANY BOXES OF TISSUES! I happy cried, I ugly cried, I cried because my heart couldn’t handle the our beauty of Liam and Tessa. This book is EVERYTHING! I am continuously amazed with every new release at just how incredibly talented Catherine Cowles is. When it comes to delivering a story that will move you and live within your heart permanently. Not only will Beautifully Broken Life be a book I will read again and again it’s also of the best books I’ve read this year!
I love that Catherine did not hold back and sugar coat all Tessa went through. Her realistic and honest way of writing Tessa made her incredibly true to life. The slow build of trust and ultimately love that happened between Liam and Tessa not only made their relationship very believable but extremely beautiful. Liam’s patient and calm understanding only served to make me fall deeper in love with him. He is by far my absolute favorite of her heroes. The side of him that comes out with Tessa is something of pure beauty.
Beautifully Broken Life is book two in the Sutter Lake series by Catherine Cowles. This is my third book by Catherine and every single time I’m just blown away. This book was no exception. I loved every…single…page!!! We have met the two main characters in this book in the previous books, Liam Fairchild, the famous rock star, and Tessa, the very shy baker at The Tea Kettle. Now we get their stories!
Liam lived in Los Angeles. His face was known to almost everyone, and was constantly dogged by the paparazzi as well as some over zealous fans. The public felt like they owned a piece of him, that they had the right to the parts of him he wanted to keep private. Liam knew both sides of fame, the high he got when he performed, when he made music, and the dark side. When that dark side catches up to him, as well as his label pressuring him to write, he needed to escape. The music just wasn’t coming to him anymore. His friend Taylor now lived in Sutter Lake and he had loved the peace and quiet there when he visited her. So that’s where he headed. Maybe he could clear his head and the music would find him again.
“I was drowning in unmet expectations. I needed a change of scenery.”
Tessa was in hiding, from a past so volatile that if she was found, she would most definitely be dead. Sutter Lake held a connection to a past she knew nothing about. It was a beautiful small town where she could just blend in. She had two jobs, one as a baker in the little restaurant, The Tea Kettle, and one helping to take care of some horses. She kept her head down and didn’t talk unless she had to. But then Liam came in. There was something about him that drew her eyes to him. He didn’t scare her, he made her feel safe.
“Liam Fairchild was a potent mixture of hard lines and smooth edges. And I knew I was sunk.”
A funny thing happened when Liam was in the bakery near Tessa. The music started to tickle his brain again. Just little snippets trying to come back together. But he knew he had to be careful with her. That something had happened to make her so afraid. He was determined to do whatever it took so she would trust him.
“How could a simple touch undo me? Liam Fairchild must have magic in those fingertips.”
I loved watching Tessa bloom with the affection from both Liam and from their friends. Her feelings grew fast and strong for Liam. But, the most important thing for her survival was to stay hidden. Liam was famous, people trying to snap pictures of him wherever he went. If just one picture of her ended up in the tabloids, she was finished. How could this ever work?
Tessa and Liam together was such a beautiful thing. But both are hiding and trying to heal from the darkness of their pasts. And both of their pasts come back to haunt them. I had a feeling that this was going to be a nail biter and oh my gosh, it was!!! Catherine has such a way of blending together sweet romance, sexy, steamy scenes, and suspense! This book had it all. I loved these characters so much. I love this whole group so much. The next book in the series will be Jensen’s story, the owner of The Tea Kettle, in Beautifully Broken Spirit. Catherine Cowles can’t write the words fast enough as far as I’m concerned.
“You make this life so much more beautiful.”
OMG this book….I can’t even put into words how this story made me feel. Liam and Tessa’s story was everything and I loved everything about it. Just when I didn’t think she could top the first book in the Sutter Lake series….she not only did so but cinched the top spot as my number one read of 2019 with this phenomenal story. From the very first page I was drawn in and hooked….I devoured it in hours. I was absolutely consumed with all things Liam and Tessa….I couldn’t put it down. I knew that Tessa’s story would break my heart and it did….absolutely shattered it. The things that she has been through, she is constantly on guard always looking over her shoulder. Swore that she would never let anyone in again especially a man. She didn’t count on Liam being there to knock down those carefully constructed walls and to be the man that she can count on and trust with her heart. Liam has his own demons to battle, tired of the LA life and the music scene he just wants to go back to his roots and make the kind of music he wants on his own terms. He knew that Tessa was someone special and that he would be the man she needs to make her feel safe again. I adored how patient, kind, selfless, and tender Liam was with Tessa. He won me over with his big loving heart. Liam was so good for Tessa and Tessa for Liam. She needed Liam as much as he needed Tessa. This was such a beautifully written story one that I highly recommend to all. I am a huge fan of this author and with every book she writes….it just keeps getting better and better and she has definitely a forever fan in me. I can’t wait for the next book in this phenomenal series. Another 5 star book from this talented author….well done!!!!
I am completely blown away! Catherine Cowles is quickly becoming one of absolutely favorite automatic one-click authors. She completely sucked me into this heartbreakingly beautiful story, and had me falling head over heals in love.
For Liam Fairchild life as a rockstar had gotten incredibly complicated. After a run in with an obsessed fan he is laying low in Sutter Lake, visiting his friend Taylor. The time away from LA and the press is just what he needs to refresh and get back to writing music.
After meeting Tessa in the first book I knew she had been through something horrible in her past, but I never expected her story. My heart was ripped in two and I was completely raw with emotion as we learned all she had been through.
I couldn’t put this story down and I am not at all sorry about the missed sleep. Beautifully Broken life is an incredible story of healing and I highly recommend it. While it can be read as a standalone I do recommend you read the first in this series as it is just as wonderful!
Another GREAT story in this series! Absolutely loved Liam and Tessa deserves a really great guy to love her.
4*+ ARC Review – Another great addition to the Sutter Lake Series
I was introduced to this author through the ARC program of Hidden Gems, but now I am a big fan! I enthusiastically requested this book from them in exchange for my review. The prior two books by this author have established some of the characters and the first book in the series introduced the reader to both the characters and town of Sutter Creek, a small town in Oregon.
This is the story of Tessa, who is a phenomenal baker who works in the tea shop in town, I have been craving scones since reading this book! She clearly has a secret past, but has found a place in this small town. This book takes us through her past and how she ended up being in Sutter Creek. While working in the shop and being friends with the Cole family, she meets Liam Fairchild, a rock star hiding out in this town. He is instantly intrigued by Tessa, but due to her background, she is resistant to engage with him.
Once they have several encounters, they start building a relationship and it is sweet how Liam just wants to be around her. For a man with all kinds of fame and money, he has to try to use other aspects of his personality to win her over. They are a great and it is great to watch and wait as they become a couple. Both their pasts come back to haunt them and try to destroy this life they have built. Overall I really enjoy this author’s writing and style. This book is a great addition to the series and I cannot wait for more from this author and series. Hoping Jensen and Tuck are up next!!
Yes, yes YES!! Beautifully Broken Life is the return to Sutter Lake that I was looking for. The opening alone made my chest ache and I was anxious to see what was in store next for Tessa.
Gosh Tessa, her life was a mess. She was skittish. Always on guard, ready to run at the drop of a hat. But she didn’t want to be. She wanted a normal life. Friendships where she could open up. Family. She quasi let herself have that in the small town but not fully. She didn’t think she could. Until Liam.
Swoon city with a cherry on top! I just loved me some Liam! He was kind and talented and a little lost. Struggling to find his voice. But what I liked the most about him was the way he saw Tessa and the gentle care he gave her. The way he eased her fears. He helped her see the strength she possessed and gave her the courage to share her story. And what a story it was. Heartbreaking. Painful.
The fear that Tessa lives with is never far from her mind. And when the threat comes calling, it was all hands on deck to try and find her. They just weren’t sure who exactly was targeting Tessa. I loved that it was Tessa who stepped up and took her future into her own hands. That final showdown was intense and a pinch gory (but not in a gruesome way) and had my heart pounding.
Full of danger and steam and romance, Beautifully Broken Life kept me glued to my kindle. Liam and Tessa were far from perfect. They were both a bit damaged by their pasts but they didn’t let that keep them from the future they wanted with each other. I am so glad I stumbled upon Catherine Cowles’ brand of small town romance with a suspenseful twist. I am so looking forward to getting Jensen’s story!!
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Beautifully Broken Life is the second book in the Sutter Lake Series. This book can be read without reading Beautifully Broken Pieces but I would suggest reading it too. It’s a good book as well.
In Beautifully Broken Life the main focus is on two newcomers to Sutter Lake. Tessa and Luke. Tessa rarely speaks to anyone. She comes to work and then goes up to her apartment above the bakery. She’s hiding a huge secret and tries to remain a loaner in order to stay safe.
Luke is a famous musician who’s hiding out from his public life before it overtakes him. His best friend moved to Sutter Lake recently and is staying in her husband’s guest house so he can focus on writing new music away from it all.
I can’t really tell you a lot more or it will spoil the whole book. Let’s just say Tessa is like a skittish cat and Luke is the tamer. She responds to him like she never has to anyone else before. Putting her trust in Luke is a huge deal. One she won’t regret.
I enjoyed reading about these characters and catching up with those from the first in the series. Looking forward to the next Sutter Lake story as well. The author, Catherine Cowles, has done a great job in creating this small town and the heart of the people there.
I finished the book quite awhile ago. This book is so good that I hate to write a review that won’t do it justice.
This is the second book in the Sutter Lake series and I
I loved it more than the first book..Beautifully Broken Pieces.
Romantic Suspense at its best.
Be prepared for all the feels! Have tissues ready. It’s so good!
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ Artistically beautiful
Series~ Sutter Lake Series
Source~ Kindle eBook – ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Catherine Cowles newest release Beautifully Broken Life, brings us a story of love and hope and home, all bound into the pages of a book. After falling in love with the first book in the Sutter Lake series, book two was everything I had hoped. It’s packed full of emotions as well as suspense but also a scorching slow burn that is well worth the wait. She takes care and grace with writing Liam and Tessa, giving them the story they deserve. Catherine has a way of wrapping you in the warmth of her words that make you lose yourself in her world. Make sure Beautifully Broken Life is at the top of your TBR list
This is an emotional heart gripping story, with a mixture of sweet, suspense, funny, and steam. The characters are amazing, true, with super hot chemistry and playful banter that makes you swoon and giggle. ~wtmo
Loved this book so much! I highly recommend this one. It pulled me in from the first word. Couldn’t get enough of Tessa and Liam!!!! Love this world. Love these characters.
Beautifully Broken Life is a beautifully written story of two people who find themselves in the same place after running from two very different situations. Tessa was drawn to Sutter Lake with a vague hope of connecting with the past while building a new future for herself.
“There was a stigma around the word victim. Something that said you were powerless or had given up. I was a victim, but I was also a fighter. I had clawed my way to freedom.”
Liam has returned to Sutter Lake to escape the dark side of being in the limelight.
They both soon find that you can never really hide from your life or your past. It will eventually catch up to you.
“Your touch erases his. It’s more healing than you’ll ever know.”
The story starts out with a very slow almost rambling pace but by the end there is definitely enough action and suspense to get a heart racing!!
-4 Stars!-
Wow! This was such an emotional, amazing book!
Liam is still in Sutter Lake, much to the dismay of his record label. He’s hit a bit of writer’s block and isn’t happy with the direction his label’s been taking with his work.
Tessa is the skittish, quiet girl who works at The Tea Kettle. No one really knows much about her, but a few people have some ideas of what she may have been through.
Can Tessa help with Liam’s writers block? Will Liam be able to break through Tessa’s walls? Read the absolutely fantastic book to find out. But, I must warn you. You will fall head over heels for Liam, Tessa, and Liam and Tessa together. It’s inevitable!
I’m dying for Tuck & Jensen to get a book of their own! Please!!!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
A beautiful and moving story about a young woman who not only survives an abusive relationship, but finds a better life. Tessa thought she was in love, but that love turned to pain and abuse. With the help of a close friend she escapes to Sutter Lake where she has lived for the past two years. She has a job she loves, but still looks over her shoulder in case her abuser finds her. She is wary of men, but over time will become attracted to rock star Liam Fairchild. Liam is in Sutter Lake to escape his life in Los Angeles and to write music for his next album. He knows that Tessa is running from something and gently tries to gain her trust and friendship. While Tessa is dealing with her own situation, Liam has a stalker who is obsessed with him. Will he and Tessa be able to survive those who threaten their happiness? Will Tessa realize that she is no longer alone, but has the town of Sutter Lake on her side? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)