She’s always been his safe place to land.Jensen has shared a special bond with Tuck for as long as she can remember, their friendship a language that never needed words. But as life threw her one curveball after another, that secret language turned to stony silence. He’s always been her protector.Tuck has looked out for Jensen since the day she was born. As his best friend’s little sister, he’s … friend’s little sister, he’s tried to keep her firmly in the friend category. But she’s always been more.
All it takes is one moment of weakness to send Tuck’s fiercely guarded walls crumbling to the ground. As a new fire burns between them, someone watches. Someone who doesn’t like the new life Jensen’s building for herself.
And they’ll stop at nothing to keep her in the dark.
more
Catherine Cowles has knocked it out of the park yet again. I have yet to be disappointed in anything she has written. I agree with many others that this was the best one yet! I absolutely love Sutter Lake and all the characters she has created within it. I’ve been looking forward to Jensen and Tuck’s story ever since meeting them in the first book. The wait was certainly worth it. Jensen Cole is part of an amazing family that I would love to be a part of. Tucker has been her brother’s best friend since birth and is basically already a part of the Cole family. He and Jensen have always had a special bond but neither really felt that they belonged together. Tuck is a playboy who has vowed to never settle down, mostly because he didn’t want to become his father who was a terrible husband. Jensen has been betrayed and had her heart broken twice and doesn’t trust herself anymore. Tuck is determined to help her learn to really live again. One thing I loved was the love they had for wild horses and rescuing horses in need. They each bonded over that shared love. This leads to the mystery within this story because someone completely unexpected does not share that same affection for the horses. One thing this author excels at is creating a suspense that has the reader completely surprised by who the bad person ends up being in each book. I never expected the outcomes which is new for me because I can usually figure out how books will end. Jensen and Tuck circle closer and closer to each other until they finally give in and the chemistry between them is off the charts! Tuck is one sexy as hell character that has a swagger that you can feel come off the pages. There are a few more twists and turns that made this book impossible to put down. This was an epic love story three books in the making. I know without doubt that I will continue to revisit Sutter Lake for a long time to come. I just wish I could give it a whole lot more than 5 Stars!
I have been patiently waiting for Jensen and Tuck’s book for what seems like forever and let me tell you it was soooo worth the wait!!! OMG this book…..their journey to each other absolutely tugs at the heartstrings. All the feels with this story absolutely! Jensen and Tuck have been in each other’s lives since the very beginning. They have always shared a unique bond that made them closer than most. Tuck realizes that he sees Jensen as more but he carries so much baggage from his past that he knows that he will never be good enough for Jensen so he keeps her at arms length. Jensen has had bad luck with men….she swears off men keeping to herself. She holds so much guilt over her choices of men and what has transpired that her spirit is broken. What started out as a mutual agreement between friends turned out to be so much more…than any of them ever bargained for. Can they let the past go and grab onto the happiness they truly deserve and more. OMG this story it broke my heart for what they have been through….I just wanted to wrap them both in the biggest hug ever. I laughed, cried, swooned throughout their story. I was hooked from the very first page and hated to see it end. An absolutely phenomenal read from start to finish…one that I highly recommend to all. Catherine Cowles never fails to deliver a truly amazing…all the feels kind of story and this one is no different. You will not be disappointed…and I can’t wait until the next book in this amazing series is here. Easily a top read of 2019 hands down for me….well done!!
Cowles takes you on an emotional ride that will leave you breathless and completely satisfied. Jensen had me on her side from the start. I couldn’t help but root for her and hope for her to find some happy. And Tuck. Oh sweet, swoony Tuck, he has captured my heart and I don’t think I want him to let it go. I will forever have a place in my heart for him.
Beautifully Broken Spirit is an incredibly heartfelt story that will have you so swept up in the story you will not be able to put it down. It can be read as a stand alone but after you read this one you won’t be able to stop yourself from grabbing up the others in this series. It is amazing!
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
I adored this book! Tuck and Jensen are great characters and their love story is pretty sweet. Both of them are a little scarred by events in their lives. Jensen more so as Tuck is just adopting his perception of what might happen based on his parents relationship.
Anyway – Jensen second guesses herself at every turn. It’s a woman’s intuition that can save many if we just know how to listen to it. Since she’s had a couple if mishaps she doesn’t trust herself. Especially when she needs to trust it the most.
Have you ever had that connection with someone where you just feel at home when they’re around? Tuck and Jensen are that “home” for each other. When you read their POV’s you’ll see that they both express that thought for the other. I think this is what makes their relationship so special.
Out of the three books in this series, so far, this one is my favorite. These two characters are put through the wringer and it only helps to strengthen their relationship. One they’ve had since Jensen was born. What else can you say about her brother’s best friend? Definitely a match made.
GAH! I have been waiting for this book since I took my first trip to Sutter Lake. And let me tell you, Catherine Cowles did not let me down. Jensen and Tuck’s friends-to-lovers journey was rife with emotion and had me hanging on every word.
I’ll admit I was a bit nervous going in but only because I didn’t want anything else bad to happen to Jensen. She had been through a lot, most of it out of her control, but still found a way to push forward. She found solace in her work, her son and her horses. But when an unknown threat starts putting her and the things she loves most in danger, it was Tuck to the rescue.
Oh Tucker. What a strong and protective man. I loved how every rule he set for himself got broken with Jensen. How he couldn’t say no even when he tried. How he sacrificed his happiness to try and give Jensen what he thought was best for her (spoiler alert, it wasn’t). How when everything was on the line, he didn’t let anything stop him from getting to his woman.
This book had me on edge from page one. Full of suspense, mystery, steam and danger, Beautifully Broken Spirit kept me up all hours reading. I had an inkling early on about who was behind all the mayhem and misery that was playing out. But as the story wore on, I doubted myself and was going in a totally different direction. Talk about heart pounding. I was torn between angry and anxious as everything unfolded and the evil doer was revealed. I should’ve trusted my first instinct- I was right.
The journey that Tuck and Jensen take to finding love with one another is tender and downright touching. They way they battled the demons of their past to pursue their future together gave me belly flutters. And that ending! It was just perfect. My fingers are crossed that Catherine Cowles takes me back to Sutter Lake soon because Kennedy needs a book!
Overall Grade: +
“And wasn’t that the most precious gift? To know someone so deeply, so thoroughly that every detail of their skin was familiar. I loved this man.”
Everyone wants to be seen and accepted. Everyone. It’s as imperative as breathing air and nourishing one’s body. This becomes complicated when the one person who has seen and accepted you your whole life is your brother’s best friend. Or when your brother’s best friend has created a new family because his family is broken, and that family involves your own, so he does not want to potentially ruin his carefully constructed safe haven. Catherine Cowles’s newest book, Beautifully Broken Spirit, illustrates these ideas through the characters of Tuck and Jensen. Tuck is Jensen’s brother’s best friend, and he has been involved in her life since birth. Almost from the beginning, Tuck and Jensen understand each other’s hurts and needs in a way that no one else can. In their adulthood, this understanding morphs into an attraction and eventually, an abiding love, that seeks to complicate their lives. Is it possible to find love with the one person who seems off-limits to you? Should you even try for it?
Beautifully Broken Spirit is my first Catherine Cowles’s book. There was something about the cover and the blurb that called to my reader’s soul. To be honest, it reminded me of one of my favorite romance authors, Devney Perry. I knew I needed to read this book. It’s the third book in the Sutter Lake series, and, after reading it, it’s not imperative that you have read the first two in order to understand this one. Yes, there are instances that have occurred before this book that play into the development of Tuck and Jensen, specifically Jensen. Yet, Cowles does a brilliant job of giving the reader enough detail to enter this story without confusion. It also is enough detail that it will trigger you to read the first two books in this series. At least, that is how it worked for me. The reason that Cowles reminds me of Perry so much is the way in which she allows the landscape and surrounding community of her book to take up residence as its own character in the story. The forest and wild mustangs act as a way to connect Tuck and Jensen. They also play an important part in the story. Perry does something similar in her books where she, like Cowles, establishes stories that evoke a specific place and time. Just as Perry gives us Montana in romance, forested Oregon now finds its place in romance through Cowles’s books. The place becomes a landmark for Cowles’s storytelling, and she does it in a way that makes you feel like you are walking through its forested splendor with Tuck and Jensen.
In terms of the development of Cowles’s characters, Tuck and Jensen are such round characters. They are multi-layered and deep. Both of them carry hurts from their past that wreak havoc on their present and potential future. Tuck’s family is broken. His father is a philanderer, and he’s disparaged his son throughout much of his life. His treatment of Tuck has created wounds that emotionally stunt Tuck’s thinking about relationships. In fact, much of the drama between Jensen and Tuck revolves around his insistence that he’s like his father and cannot engage in a long-term relationship. Interestingly, in Cowles’s crafting of Tuck, the reader (and the rest of the characters in the book) see the real truth of Tuck: he is nothing like his father and his heart is bigger than anyone else’s in the story. He would sacrifice himself for the people he loves, and he nearly does. There is no way he could act like his father. His inability to see his strengths mar the story. As a reader, you want to reach into the story and shake him because he’s so absurd when it comes to his future with Jensen. But that also illustrates Cowles’s prowess at characterization. When an author uses a character to evoke intense feelings from their readers, you know the writing is stellar.
Similarly, Jensen’s journey is meant to remind us that we are not islands. Instead, a community surrounds us, willing to help. At the outset of the story, Jensen is recovering from deceit and mayhem caused by actions from the story of the second book in this series. Her shoulders weigh heavy with the guilt of her actions, and she’s taken to distancing herself from her family and friends. As a single mom, she has relied upon the help of her family to raise her son. Yet, in her guilt, she believes she’s responsible for taking care of everything without help; it’s her penance. This begins to create issues, and the reader starts to understand the depth of her friendship and connection with Tuck. At that moment, Tuck “sees” her, and he diligently works to unbind her from her guilt. It’s his compassion and tenacity towards her that allows her to accept help while letting go of her guilt. This becomes a turning point for these two, as they begin to acknowledge their attraction to each other. Even more, Tuck notes a wildness in Jensen, and he knows that he will always treasure it, allowing her to be true to herself. Just as Tuck is helpful with Jensen, she too acts as a beacon in Tuck’s life. She’s the impetus for “seeing” himself as more than temporary. Together, Jensen and Tuck are the epitome of friends becoming lovers, and Cowles’s talent lies in the development of their relationship. It’s the most beautiful part of this story.
Interwoven with Jensen and Tuck’s journey is a bit of romantic suspense. There is a baby daddy storyline and a mystery to solve about the killing of wild mustangs. The romance conspires with these plot points to elicit a tale that is timeless. That is what I kept thinking after I read Beautifully Broken Spirit. It feels as though Cowles has situated herself in the genre in a way that feels organic and truthful. Every word on the page, every feeling felt between the pages of her story captured my heart. It really did me in. I’m thankful that I found her as a writer. I know that I will continue to read her, and she’ll find a permanent place on my list of favorite authors. Beautifully Broken Spirit is a timeless romance of beginnings and forever afters between life-long friends.
“Being around Jensen was the most beautiful form of torture.”
I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving my review.
OMG I am not crying, my eyes are watering because there is something in it. LOL There are so many feelings that you will feel in this book. This is another wonderful book by Catherine Cowles. All I can say is that at times you will want to scream at Tuck for being an idiot but then he is so overprotective that you just swoon. Jensen is just trying to live her life but in reality she is hiding because of the bad decisions she has made in her life and doesn’t trust her own decisions anymore. They have been in love with each other since before they knew what love was. They have loved each other on so many different levels but because of their pasts neither believes they deserve the other. Will they be able to make it work and what will Walker (Jensen’s brother and Tuck’s best friend) have to say about it?
Catherine Cowles continues her small town romance Sutter Lake series with Jensen and Tuck’s story. Both were supporting characters in the first two books, and I was so glad to see them paired up here.
Tuck is best friends with Jensen’s older brother Walker, but he has been a close friend of hers too. Jensen is independent and strong, but still hurting after the events of the first book. Tuck has some of his own family issues to deal with, but is supportive and caring.
I think their history as friends and long standing attraction added a lot to the “older brother’s best friend” aspect of the story. It really showed they had a deeper connection than just knowing each other through Walker.
As with the other Sutter Lake books there is a suspense/mystery plotline. It fit in well with Jensen’s love of horses and felt organic to the story. Also, it didn’t overshadow the romance part of the plot, which I appreciated.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
This is such a fantabulous read! Friends to lovers at it best. Catherine Cowles is a phenomenal writer and she just keeps getting better and better! One click immediately!
Ok so we’ve waited for this book, learning about Jenson and Tucker through Beautifully broken piece and Beautifully broken life. This was eagerly anticipated by those that love Catherine’s books.
And Catherine did not disappoint!! BBS is absolutely brilliant.
It had it all, angst, romance, love, heartache, denial, and that twist!
Jenson is so tough, she’s been through so much. She put up these walls and she’s no intention of letting anyone through them, but that’s too late he’s already in and has been there for some time.
Tuck been keeping secrets that’s tearing him apart, he can no longer watch the damage it’s doing to his family, but that’s not the only secret he’s keeping!
It’s the love story we all want, but it’s not going to come easy. There’s always going to be people who get in the way.
“I love you just as you are, as you were meant to be. Wild and free.”
Perfection
This was the first book I read by this author and it won’t be the last. I am a sucker for this trope. It’s beautiful and the author… She just knew the right words!
Beautifully Spoken Spirit is a friends-to-lovers romance, and you can’t help but fall head over heels in love with these characters. Tuck and Jensen were a treat to read. I love this trope. It’s my life really. Having fallen in love with my friend of many many years so reading it always lovely and the author did this justice. I am not sure I can do it justice with a review but I will try.
Jensen is strong, she’s fierce, she passionate at whatever she does in life, and she is independent, almost down to a fault. She is a single mom and works hard to provide everything she needs to for her son Noah… She’s truly an amazing lead female.
Tuck? Well, I’m smitten as hell. He’s adorable in away. He works hard too, he’s loyal and for those lucky enough to be part of his life, he’s protective as hell about them. A lovely man but not one you would want to cross or cross anyone he loves and he loves Jensen and Noah. He’ll stop at just about nothing to protect them both.
These two have been through some rough times together which has made them form a bond… But when the realization hits them both that what they have maybe something more and that it could be something more… They try and avoid it, not wanting to risk the bond they have as friends… But of course, it’s never as easy as that. You don’t have an off switch you can flick…
Tuck and Jensen bring out the best in one another. Tuck isn’t perfect by any standard but I could see a different side to him, especially when it came to her son. He was a better person… But as much as they fight it, as much as they want things to remain the same. They can’t… This bond, these feelings are not going anywhere. So, is it worth the risk? Will they take that next step? Or will they miss out on what could possibly be the best thing to happen to them?
This book had so many layers to it, and I was hooked from page one. It was swoony, it was breathtaking, yet heartbreaking in some parts, it was beautiful and had a mixture of romance, suspense, angst, passion and held that familiar push and pull between the couple that I love so much.
I can’t give this anything less than 5 Stars! It was brilliant!
The whole sutter lake series. Lets start there. It will suck you in and hold your heart hostage. You will be begging for more and more!!! Catherine works absolute magic! But i must say beautifully broken spirit is my favorite of the series (so far!) Jensen and tuck are heart wrenching together yet have moments where you just want to knock them together! A must read if you love heart wrenching that pulls you in and will hold your heart forever!
These two are such a sweet couple!
They are both in denial most of the book about their feelings towards each other. They are friends who move to friends with benefits. Of course that wouldn’t work! Duh! What were they thinking?!?!?! I’ll tell you what they were thinking – Tuck thought he could get her out of his system and she thought she could just scratch an itch and move on. That never works though.
If you have read the previous books in the series then you already know Tuck is Walker’s bestfriend and Jensen is Walker’s sister. This story can be read on its own with no issues. Just letting you know in case you wanted to start here.
This book had me feeling all sorts of things. I highly recommend it!
An enjoyable third story in the Sutter Lake series. Jensen Cole has her busy life at the Tea Kettle café while raising her nine-year old son, Noah. Noah’s father, Cody, abandoned her when he found out that she was pregnant. Jensen loves the wild horses in the area, but someone has started killing them off. Her best friend Tucker Harris, with the forest service, has always been there for her and he is searching for the person responsible for killing the animals. Jensen knows that the area ranchers dislike the wild horses, but they wouldn’t just kill them, would they? Cody shows up claiming that he wants to see Noah, can she trust him? When she and Tuck find that there is more between them than long time friendship, can they move from friendship to love? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
Catherine Cowles is magic. No joke.
The woman is amazing with a laptop.
How does she do it?!
I have been looking forward to Jensen’s story since book one… because I love me some single parent books. And I was not disappointed!
Tuck and Jensen had so much emotion and depth. I absolutely adored them.
Honestly I didn’t want it to end so I tried to read slowly but I wanted to know their whole story so I gobbled it up quickly! #readerprobs
I honestly wish that I could give this book more than 5 stars! I absolutely LOVE everything that Catherine writes. She is definitely an instant one click author for me and this book is proof as to why. Tuck and Jensen’s story is everything I love in a romance! These 2 completely stole my heart! I highly recommend this book!
*3 hand squeezes, 2 amazing characters and 1 AMAZING story!*
Beautifully Broken Spirit is the third book in the Sutter Lake series—and I’m utterly obsessed. This is my first book that I’ve read by Catherine Cowles and holy hell why did I wait this long to read a book by her? I know I did it backwards by not starting this series in order, but as soon as I read the blurb I had to have it, and there was no way I was waiting to read this book. And obviously I’m going to go back and read the other two books in this series and every other book Catherine releases because after this book, I most certainly can’t get enough of her writing.
My heart felt for Jensen. She hasn’t had it easy lately—and she’s struggling with guilt after some of her life choices. That wildness and fighting spirit she’s known for is missing. But no matter what, her son and her wild mustangs bring the joy to her life.
Tuck, oh did my heart melt for him. He had me swooning left and right. Since a young age there’s always been a connection between him and Jensen, his best friends little sister. And now that they’re older that connection has only become stronger. But with fear of ruining their friendship and something that runs much deeper, Tuck knows if he wants to keep Jensen in his life it’s better to just remain friends. I love how Tuck was always there for Jensen though, no matter what, always protecting her and having her back. He honestly was everything sweet.
Jensen and Tuck are everything. Their friendship is pure and good—and the way they try to navigate what they feel and those new feelings they have for each other showed both their vulnerability and it just made them feel so much more real, it was amazing. They were perfect for each other. I loved their romance, but I loved their friendship even more.
Beautifully Broken Spirit is everything beautiful. It was the perfect mix of sexiness, sweetness and suspense. I was on the edge of my seat a few times wondering what was going to happen. Jensen and Tuck’s story was so much more than a best friend/little sister, friends to lovers romance. I loved this book, I loved these characters and I loved the wholesomeness of this entire family. I can’t wait for the next book and return back to Sutter Lake.
Catherine Cowles delivers such beautifully heartwarming stories. The Sutter Lake Series is hands down one of my top fave small town romances. I’ve always been fascinated with Tuck and Jensen’s relationship. The drama and love in this story will have you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I just loved the moments between Tuck and Jensen. Their love and connection is the sweetest. This friends to lovers, brothers best-friend, single parent, small town romance will have you consumed. Sutter Lake and the people are something else. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Catherine Cowles and her Sutter Lake series I highly recommend it.
I’ve enjoyed the 3 other books from this season so far and this one did not disappoint. It had such a small town, family-oriented, romance feel to it that is so Cowles. I had been waiting for Jensen and Tuck’s book ever since I first read about their chemistry in earlier books.
Jensen is trying to live again by closing off her heart after 2 disastrous relationship. Her and her brother’s best friend,Tuck wants to help Jensen and through this time, they both give in to their attraction and agree to be friends with benefits. But with Tuck’s present and Jensen’s past coming back, they both are pushed to make a real decision about each other.
I know I say this every time I read a Catherine Cowles book, but this one is now my favorite. These are two characters, Jensen & Tucker that I loved from the start of the series. As I was reading book two, Beautifully Broken Life, I kept thinking will Jensen ever get some happiness? I should have seen it in the form of Tucker. I loved this friend to lovers, slow burn, romantic suspense novel. Everything about this story touched my heart and my soul. If any one deserves happiness it’s Jensen. And can we talk about foxy Tucker?! This romance was off the charts! I can’t wait to see what Catherine Cowles gives us next. Each book is amazing. I highly recommend this series, this book! You will not be disappointed. Be prepared to be fully consumed.