A woman who’s lost everything. Taylor is looking for peace and quiet away from the memories of all she’s lost. A small mountain town where no one knows her seems like the perfect escape.A man battling the ghosts of his past.Walker loves his life just the way it is. His town, his family, his brothers in blue. Everything simple and easy–until a chance encounter changes it all.When Taylor’s … it all.
When Taylor’s solitude is interrupted by the rugged cop, they find that the very thing they were avoiding might be just what they both need. As their iron wills clash and passion flares…a killer lurks.
And you never know who might be caught in the crosshairs.
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Everyone deals with grief differently. Taylor tries to insulate herself from close human interactions to prevent the possibility of more soul wrenching pain. Walker turned his grief and pain into career in law enforcement. He recognizes Taylor’s pain and starts to tear down the walls she has built around her heart. The road to happiness is never straight and these two have to navigate the twists and turns while Walker investigates the mysterious deaths occurring in the woods outside his town. The writer does a wonderful job building the suspense concerning Taylor and Walker’s relationship and the growing number of dead bodies.
Beautifully written, BUT with way too many ‘f’ bombs.
Beautifully Broken Pieces is the first book I’ve read by Catherine Cowles, and I loved so much about it. For example, I loved Taylor and Walker. Their very steamy chemistry was only strengthened by their banter and grin-worthy humor. I loved their story and all of the characters who supported them. I even loved the mystery and danger which led up to a happy ending.
So why only three stars? It was the excessive (98 times) use of the “f” word. I’m not a prude and I can filter out a vulgarity when it’s properly placed within a story, like in the language of a villain during a heated moment. However, the repeated use of it as a normal way of speaking was just too big of a turn-off.
I would like to know what happens to the other residents of Sutter Lake, but I just don’t think I will be reading any more by this author.
Content 411: In addition to the “f” bombs, this book also contains a lot of swearing, both secular and religious. There are also sexually intimate scenes that are very descriptive.
Beautiful story
This is the first book I have read by Catherine and I enjoyed it very much. I look forward to reading more of her work and already have Jenson and Tuck’s story to read next.
I found this gem as a freebie. Unlike some freebies, this one is awesome. I fell in love with Walker and Taylor’s story. The setting is a quaint little town, but it sure isn’t a sleepy little town. There is a lot of action going on that puts Walker and Taylor right in the heat of things. The storyline was just wonderful. I kept reading to see how this was going to end. I loved the secondary characters. Dual point of view. No cliffhanger, but I see that it’s a series. I think I’ll go check the rest of them out.
This is the third book that I’ve read by Catherine Cowles and it certainly will not be the last. She is a new favorite author for me. I simply adore The Sutter Lake series. Beautifully Broken Spirt was the first book I read out of this series and it completely sucked me into Sutter Lake’s world. I knew I had to go back and read the first two books of the series (I know, I know. I tend to do things backwards sometimes). And Beautifully Broken Pieces did not disappoint at all. I adore this story with everything in me. Walker and Taylor were everything and I simply adore them!
Let’s start with Mr. Walker. Oh my goodness. This man is everything. He is fierce, loyal, overprotective, and sexy as all get out. At times, I could not handle this man but in a good way! The way he loves Taylor is something every person wants. To be loved so completely and honestly, even with all of our broken parts. He didn’t try to fix or minimize Taylor’s grief. Walker tried to help her work through that grief so she could remember all the good things in life and all the good things that can still come out of life. He is such a strong and drool worthy male lead character. I adore him. And that fact that he is a cop. Woo! I’m a goner. Add his passionate and strong love for his friends, family, work family, and Taylor. Stick a fork in me, I’m done! This man is everything. I need more of him!
Oh, Taylor. She honestly broke my heart. She lost so much in such a short time and didn’t know how to pick up the pieces again. She didn’t know how to move on from the one person who had always been there in her life to love and support her. To tell her that everything would be okay and that she is more than enough. This woman is a fighter though. She moved herself to a town where she didn’t know anyone to try and find some peace and to build a semblance of normal in her life. She tried to pick up the pieces of her life. She is so strong, fierce, beautiful, kind, generous, and overall is a really good person. I was rooting for this woman to find her happy and I was not disappointed. She is the absolute best and I love her character so very much.
Walker and Taylor together are fire! Their chemistry was amazing to watch unfold on the pages of this story. Taylor fought her attraction to this man until she couldn’t anymore. It’s just like girl what are you fighting this for?! I would have given in a lot sooner than she did to a dreamy, green eyed, dirty talking, sexy as heck cop. These two are perfect together. Seriously, I adore everything about them. Walker helps Taylor come to grips with her grief and shows her that it’s okay to let people into your life. There is always the possibility of losing them, but they will always be with you in your heart and soul. They will always watch over you. Never give up building beautiful relationships because of your fear of losing them one day. No matter what, these moments are worth it in the end. I simply adore these two together. He is hers and she is his. God. They slayed my heart and put it back together again. I need more of these two.
Overall, I rate this story a 5/5! I love it. There is a love connection, suspense with a little bit of mystery, and a glorious small town vibe that I simply adore. I could not put this story down and I cannot wait to read the next one. The Sutter Lake series is a new favorite for me.
I saw an AD on FB or Instagram and decided to see what this author was all about. Thank god for that ad, because I am hooked. This book reminded me so much of Devney Perry’s Jamison Valley series. I loved those books so much and miss the fact that they have ended. Catherine Cowles will be a one click author for me. With the way she writes, characters you can relate to and the slight suspense with sweet, but not sickening sweet romance.
Taylor Lawson has lost her mother and is struggling to move on. She has decided to leave LA for good and move to a little town in Oregon. While her friends are less than enthusiastic about her moving so far away, they also understand that she needs a new start. After getting a job at the local café and finding a place to live, she feels as if everything will be a ok.
“I don’t have my guard up.”
“Oh honey, your guard is up so high, you can’t even see over it. But, maybe one of these days, you’ll lower it enough to see that letting people really know you isn’t the worst thing.”
Walker Cole is the town’s Deputy Chief of Police. After meeting Taylor with his bomb ass nephew Noah, he experiences butterflies….something he hasn’t felt in over a decade! The entire Cole family takes Taylor underneath their wings and invites her to family movie night under the stars, tubing on the lake and dinner. The once sleepy town where everyone left their doors unlocked is rocked after several disappearances and bodies pop up.
Will Taylor be able to let her guard down and let her and Walker have a real chance? Will Walker be able to find the murderer before it’s too late?
I loved this book so much. I loved all the characters…including the not so good ones. Little Noah stole the show. He called Taylor “Tay Tay” like he had known her his whole life. Tuck was also amazing and I can’t wait to see what happens in his book. The chemistry Taylor and Walker had felt so real and made me tear up….yes I had little baby tears while reading this book. To hear Taylor falling apart and seeing how Walker was there for her was so heartwarming.
I do have to be honest. There was one point in the book that I really wanted to throw my iPad against the wall. I was getting frustrated with Taylor doubting herself AGAIN and pushing people away AGAIN. I think the reason I was so frustrated with that part is that I do that myself as well. As a protection coping mechanism. It has been something I have been trying to overcome and obviously not doing so well in. Of course, reading it in a book reminded me I am in a constant state of progress. At least I am still progressing and not regressing.
I did not read Farther to Fall before reading this book which features Carter and Austin. You don’t need to as well, but it couldn’t hurt! I did read it after this book as I needed to know how Carter and Austin came together. I HIGHLY recommend this book and hope you fall in love with it the same way I have.
Taylor has just lost her mother and now lives in fear that loving someone means you will lose them, either they will leave by choice, like her father, or be ripped away like her mother was. She retreats to the small
town in Oregon to hide away from people. Problem is she moves into the cabin of the Cole family who refuse to let her hide especially Walker. The cop who also lost what he thought was his only chance at love is blindsided by Taylor. He thought he lost his chance at love turns out he has been waiting for her but a serial killer on the loose might just take everything away from him again. This boom is full of wonderfully developed character and I cannot wait for more. As a side note the audio boom is amazing and Maxine Mitchell and Aaron Shedlock are fantastic
I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read this beautiful book but not so much because now i get to binge the next book while I impatiently wait for Jensen and Tuck’s book. I fell in love with Sutter Lake as soon as it was described. I loved how the small town accepted Taylor and she was able to find Walker, a soul who understood her soul to the very depth. Both had loses in their past which shaped them into the people that were when they met. This was another beautiful story created by the very talented Catherine Cowles!
I give Beautifully Broken Pieces by. Catherine Cowles 5 stars. It is a wonderful small town romance full of suspense. It is the first book of a series, but can’t be read as a standalone. Although with the wonky writing and the amazing characters, I am not sure why you wouldn’t want to keep going.
Taylor needed something different after her pasted away, she wanted to be alone. When her friends took her on a vacation to Sutter Lake she decided to stay for a while. Little did she know what that decision would lead her too.
Walker is the town’s Deputy Chief of police and had dealt with a loss of his own. Although he is intrigued by the new girl in town, he knows he needs to tread lightly. I love the small town setting of Sutter Lake, it seems like a place I would want to visit. The storyline not on had romance but it was full of love and suspense. I could not put this book down, it gripped my attention the whole way through. This book had me smiling, gave me butterflies and parts of it even had me on the edge of my seat. I also love most of the secondary characters, they felt like family, definitely characters I would like to see more of. I am so glad I was introduced to this author!! I can not say enough good things about this book, and I would highly recommend it!!
This is my first read of Catherine’s. This story has a bit of everything. Small town romance, mystery/thriller (on the light side), and loss. I thought there was a wide range of characters and even with their development. I think at the 60ish% mark it started to drag just a tiny bit for me. The main couple at a few times were lacking a connection for me. But overall, I plan to check out more of her work.
Wow!
I can’t stop re-reading this book!
I found Ms. Cowels on a whim and could not be happier …. of course the laundry is backed up, but I. Don’t. Care!
This book is a must read; if you are looking for a new series, this is it! Here’s what I loved about this book: the characters, the storyline, the dialogue, the writing style.
Characters: Walker and Taylor. Walker is burdened by a love that was cruelly cut short; he’s fought, over the years, to put it in the past, but can’t seem to do it. Taylor is fighting to recover from loosing her mother after a long battle where she fought along side her only parent. She is profoundly impacted by the loss and only through the support of her friends is able to start to live again. Walker and Taylor find each other when Taylor takes a trip to Sutter Lake and decides to stay for a year. Quickly, Walker decides that he can’t get Taylor out of his mind, although it takes Taylor a while to give herself permission to be with him. In addition to Walker and Taylor, the supporting characters, make the story rich!
Storyline: This book has a solid storyline. Walker and Taylor are both fighting losses; although Taylor more recent and profound. There are other subplots woven through Walker and Taylor’s romance that make the story complex and realistic: Bryce and Jensen’s slow moving romance, Tuck’s personal life and tracking abilities, Sarah and Andrew, and Walker’s grandmother… all while the number of missing / murdered young women keeps growing.
The dialogue between the characters is what makes this book so good to me. Walker is nothing but honest with his feelings towards Taylor and how he shares that with Taylor really makes this book swoon worthy. Their romance, which sizzles in this book, goes well beyond the bedroom…. The dialogue really makes it much more complex and worthwhile.
This is my second book that I’ve read by Ms. Cowels but it won’t be my last one! I plan on downloading Further to Fall today and planting myself by the pool. The characters, dialogue and suspense really make this a solid book… it’s so much more than a typical “don’t hate me because I’m beautiful” romance. While this is a good “escape” book, it’s so much more. It’s a solid novel that happens to be a romance that will make you want to cancel plans and binge read!
Here’s what I didn’t like about this book:
……… nothing!
If you are looking for a new series and a new author, this is it! Download this book immediately.
I’m a new fan!
This is my first book by Catherine Cowles and it’s safe to say she’s got a new fan. I really loved everything about this book and can’t wait to read more of this series!
. From page one it had me and didn’t let me go until the last page!
Their journey was sweet to read, watching Tessa grow and become stronger, watching Liam find his muse all had my heart, though some drama caused me anxiety it was worth every word!
Tessa a woman hiding from an abusive ex, always looking over her shoulder ready to run, ending up in Sutter Lake feels right but she still stays in the background as the baker for Jensen’s tea house.
Liam has it writers block, a stocker, his record company all adding pressure where he can’t find his creative juices, hiding out at Sutter Lake he hopes to find it again.
Liam and Tessa’s first meeting wasn’t the best but slowly they become friends.
Reading their journey you wanted to root for both of them, both good and loving!
Wow this book has it all. It starts out about loss which as someone that has experienced it myself, well lets just say I felt like Taylor (heroine) and I could be kindred spirits. As the story progressed I didn’t always understand her thoughts and actions but I kept needing to know more.
Hunter (Hero) is our super sexy cop with a sweet side but he also has some alpha in him (wink). He too has experienced loss and we get more details as the story continues.
My goodness this story has all the elements. It starts out sad and sweet but then some spice between Hunter and Taylor get added.
The latter part of this book winds up being full of intrigue. It definitely kept my sitting on the edge of my seat. Eek I won’t say anymore but HOLY HECK. You have to read it to know what I am talking about. Yes you should feel teased.
Happy Reading! XOXO
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
What an amazing way to start a series! This is my first read by this author but it will definitely not be my last. I fell head over heals in love with Catherine’s writing, she definitely has earned herself a new fan!
The sweet sexy Walker Cole grabbed my heart from the start and I am still so so in love with him. I loved watching Walker and Taylor, two people whho have both been broken by loss, find a way to heal. I couldn’t put their story down and I loved every second of it!
I highly recommend this one! Beautifully Broken Pieces with break your heart but it will also heal you from the inside out. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this amazing new series!
Beautifully Broken Pieces is my first book by this author. I really loved the small town of Sutter Lake and the characters there.
Taylor is skittish after losing her mom
She has retreated into herself, into aloneness at even the slightest provocation.
“BECAUSE EVERYONE LEAVES!” The statement was torn from her throat so violently, that the words were left lying bloody on the floor.”
Walker wants to go slow and carefully so as not to scare her away, but he is also fighting some ghosts of his past.
“Just remember that when the time comes and things get hard or scary. It’s always worth the fight.”
This story is a great mix of mystery and suspense combined with a real emotional romance to tug at your heartstrings. You can’t help but root for Walker and Taylor to find a clear path to happiness together.
“… you can’t keep running. You can’t keep pushing everyone away.”
I let my head fall to my knees. “It’s the only way I know not to hurt.”
I loved visiting Sutter Lake in this story and can’t wait to return and read more about the characters who make up this wonderful small town.
-4 Stars!-
I was pleasantly surprise with the book. ‘Beautifully Broken Pieces’ was a story of Taylor Lawson grief from losing her Mother. The slow-burning romance had played the plot with suspense. The Sheriff Walker Cole with his past..I loved the loving warm family of Walker’s family.. The story had kept me engaged with the laughter and sorrow. It was written with care and emotional.
Wow wow. What a great second book by Catherine. Taylor and Walker what a story, both heartbroken by tragedy, struggling to heal. Thrown together in a small town, when things take a sinister turn. A wonderful story of how to find yourself through grief, learning to like yourself and let yourself feel again. With the town cop struggling to work out who is taking and killing girls, all too very close to home for Walker in more ways than one. A page turner I didn’t want to put this one down.