My past taught me to play it safe.To stay far away from handsome men who promised it all.My life was good without them. Stable, secure, predictable. But one kiss showed me that I’d been playing it safe for far too long.One night, and all I wanted was more of his wildfire.One challenge and my carefully constructed walls tumbled down.Amidst the rubble, I realized there was more to this man than I … there was more to this man than I ever dreamed.
When everything fell apart, he showed me what it meant to stay.
How to truly live.
But some demons don’t stay buried.
The past can come knocking when you least expect.
And the life he’s showing me might be shorter than either of us expected…
more
I was given this book as an ARC for a review. I really liked this book, it had characters with flaws, but those flaws made them more relatable and stronger. I hated Grant, he was just an awful human being. Harriet and Kenna’s relationship was so sweet. Kenna’s best friends were always there for her. Crosby, that hunk was just great. He brought Kenna out of her rigid routine, he made her feel alive again. He was an outdoorsy guy who love extreme sports. My heart broke for Kenna each time something bad happened, that girl needs a hug and stability. Harriet was Kenna’s adoptive mom, she gave Kenna the extremely nice house in her inheritance. Grant, Harriet’s grandson and his parents one of who was Harriet’s child were terribly selfish people. There then came a court case about who gets the house. There is so much sadness, but it’s those silver linings that make it great. Where you just sit there with tears streaming down your face. It was a melancholy ready, but it was defiantly worth it. Reckless Memories is the first book in this series, it is about Bell and Ford, I plan on reading that. There is another book coming out by this author in this series called Wrecked Palace about Caelyn and Griffin. I can not wait to read that one.
This the second novel in the Wrecked Series, with wonderful characters. Friends like family, twists and turns you don’t expect and a lot of tears!
After a childhood of turmoil, Kenna ended up being adopted by her grandmothers best friend Harriett, and living on Anchor Island. Finally someone who loved and cared for her. But Harriett couldn’t protect her from the heartache of the boy she loved throwing her away and the tragedy that follows.
Now years later she has settled into her life caring for Harriett, spending time with her best friends who are like sisters. Another friend has joined the group, his name is Crosby. He and Kenna are like oil and water, he loves to get under her skin. They are attracted to each other, but both have secrets they don’t want to share, but when Kenna needs his help with some legal problems, little by little they’re secrets need to be told.
I found this story very emotional. Seeing Kenna come out of her shell, and start to realize her own worth was very satisfying. The slow growing love story was perfect.
This novel can be read as a stand alone, but the first in the series is equally enjoyable.
Pat Fordyce
When Kenna Morgan was a high school senior, even though her childhood had not been pleasant, she believed in love and happy ever after. She and Grant were going to be forever…until they weren’t. Kenna has lived with Harriet, Grant’s grandmother, for years…loved her, took care of her and she was the mother Kenna never had. Her life was happy with her two best friends Bell & Caelyn until sadness once again found her (Harriet’s letter ). Crosby McCoy, local attorney, has been attracted to Kenna for years, but she thinks he is reckless. He shakes her up and encourages her to live and try new things, including him. When she learns of his work with Shelter Island Child Alliance, she sees the real Crosby. He, along with her friends, will stand by her through the difficult times ahead. A beautifully written and heartwarming story of love, recovery, second chances and true happiness. Loved it ! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author. (by paytonpuppy)
Catherine Cowles writes sweeping love stories that are so beautifully and tragically written that you are sad for them to end. McKenna and Crosby leap off the pages. Kenna has been hurt and wants the town to see her as the person she is now and what she came from. Crosby too has been hurt by family and those who once were. Together Kenna and Crosby go from not liking one another to living one another a whole lot. I loved their connection and the addition of Zoe. Crosby is swoon worthy, Kenna is a great heroine. A great read.
I can’t say enough great things about this book. This is a beautiful and heartfelt story of two people fighting to overcome their fear of the past and fight for their happily ever after. I freaking LOVED Crosby! He’s on my list of favorite book boyfriends ever! He’s so carefree and adventurous but also extremely compassionate when it comes to the people he cares about. I laughed out loud at the banter between him and Kenna. I love how Catherine throws a little suspense into her writing to keep us on edge and wondering what will happen next. I enjoyed this book so much and I can’t wait for Caelyn and Griffin’s story!
*ARC kindly provided by the author and I’m leaving an honest review*
5 “One day, this woman would see herself as I did. Strong because she’d been broken. Loving because she’d been hurt. Perfect in all of her imperfections.” stars
Perfect Wreckage is the second book in Wrecked series by Catherine Cowles. This was yet another deeply emotional, heartbreaking, suspenseful, sweet, charming and a swoon worthy story that just captures you from the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of it, and never wanted it to end. Catherine has a real talent to develop a small town setting with her effortless writing, awe-inspiring details, which takes us on an emotional journey of the characters and allows us into their minds and hearts; to see them who they were, what they have become and how much their growth can be amazing. She also has a capacity to pull your attention from the start, keep your interest and make you guessing what will happen next. It was written in first person, dual POV. It is very well written and developed with the simple yet powerful storytelling. The characters are complex, relatable; the plot is strong and it captures your attention immediately.
Passionate
Intense
Heartfelt
Emotional
All-consuming
Suspenseful
Small town
Once in a life time love
‘Cause all of me, Loves all of you
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you
You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
Crosby is the resident lawyer on Anchor Island. We find out here that he grew up privileged but that he didn’t like the person he had become because of wealth and power. So he moved to this little island and slowly began to build his life. The island became his anchor, safe place and his freedom/chance to become a man he could be proud of. Crosby is such a swoon worthy hero. He is charming, easy-going, fun-loving and witty. But underneath all that he is vulnerable and damaged from his past. That is why he doesn’t exactly do relationships and it isn’t easy for him to connect or trust someone.
Kenna is fantastic heroine. I was hurting for her and what happened to her. She might be quiet but she is so strong, resilient, loving, fierce and a fighter. She has her best friends Bell and Caelyn who support her through everything. Their friendship is so precious and amazing. Kenna is loving, caring, such a down to earth person and a planner.
Crosby and Kenna together are magic. Their snark, sassy, flirty banter was the highlight of my reading. They have such scorching chemistry. Even though they are opposite they are so similar too. Both were burned by the past and their trust was broken so it wasn’t easy for either of them to trust again. They don’t like to be vulnerable. They are effortless and familiar. There is also darkness and a dark cloud that follow them. He changed her. Actually, they changed each other. Crosby gave her back her voice and confidence. Crosby taught her that it’s okay to enjoy simple pleasures in life, to take a moment and live your life to the fullest. Kenna taught him how to love and trust again. He is drawn to her but can’t explain what is it about her that gets to him – makes him want to plan their future. I loved their off the charts chemistry and how patient he was with her, how slowly he brought her out of her shell. I loved how they blossomed and thrived even though life had thrown them quite a few obstacles. They are each other’s match. I love their moment, dialogues and banter; how they are just drawn to each other, how gradually they let each other in and began to trust each other. They simply understand each other. Maybe they don’t make sense but when they are together – they are just perfect and exactly what they need in order to heal and move on from the scars of their past. The epilogue was just beautiful, I wanted to last forever and to never let go of these amazing characters and world.
This book was simply wonderful and such a great read. It was flirty, sexy, fun, suspenseful, tender, touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming. It’s about forgiveness, leaving past behind and to start truly living; the author captures perfectly the friendship, loss and finding yourself – not letting other people or past define you. I can’t wait for Griffin and Caelyn’s story. I highly recommend it.
This crew is EVERYTHING!!
Catherine is bomb when it comes to small towns/love/a little mystery included. I love that all her books has backgrounds to each character. Because each of their backgrounds brings something to each of their relationships.
Kenna and Crosby are a little like frenimes to lovers. And I love how it evolves. Both of their painful pasts make their relationship. Hard to trust. Not wanting to get close to enough to start having any feelings. But there was always that little spark between them.
These two are my favorite. The wild card and the tight ass. haha. I love it.
Love how Crosby brings out the excitement in Kenna. Because Kenna needs it.
Her past hits close to home while shes in college! Catherine can hit the heart! Loved this book! Make sure you start with Reckless Memories to start the Crew!!
**Blessed to receive an ARC for an Honest review! Thank you Catherine!!**
This is the second book in this series but can easily be read as a standalone.
I can honestly say having read a few of this authors books that its always a total pleasure and i have never yet been disappointed.
Kenna’s life hasn’t always been good, a drug addict absent mother and neglect in her younger years. A cruel x boyfriend who abandoned her at a time when she needed him most. Life changed with her being lovingly taken in by Harriet and her life is now having to deal with her beloved Harriet’s Death.
Learning that her life is now secure with Harriet bestowing her family home “The Gables” into her care, Kenna life is turned upside down.
This author always gives more than romance, it comes with tension, danger, and twists you can’t ever predict!!
Crosby is a local lawyer and part of Kenna’s friend circle, he’s hot, handsome, but he’s a player and always seems to be so wreckless.
This changes for them both when circumstances and his becoming her Lawyer that brings forth a story that grips you from beginning to end.
Their love story grows, with the emotional and metal battles Kenna has to survive to keep Harriet’s family from destroying her. Can she survive, her growing relationship with Crosby amidst all the issues coming at her head first. Omg I really needed this couple to work, i loved them, Crosby was awesome even if he was a typical dumb man at times!! I loved this whole circle of friends, how they were there for each other through thick and thin.
That’s about all i can give away, because you just need to pick up this book and dive in. You will definitely not be disappointed !! I’m already craving more !!!
Every time I read a Catherine Cowles book I’m guaranteed to be floored. And that was exactly the case after reading Perfect Wreckage. From the very first page I was hooked with the prologue and it was only a matter of time before this story and the characters overtook me.
My heart was a complete mess over Kenna. Everything that she endured cut me to the core. Not only did I want, but I needed for her to find happiness. She was so strong and resilient—a true fighter. All she wanted was stability and love and to be enough to stay for.
Crosby is such an amazing man. I loved his playfulness and how he always seemed to get under Kenna’s skin. He too has been through some things that have made him hesitant on relationships and love. But once he starts spending time with Kenna those should he or shouldn’t he lines get blurred and it’s impossible not to feel things for her because he’s already falling.
Kenna and Crosby were something magical. I loved how Crosby helped Kenna out of her shell and made her see how much out of life she’d been missing. I loved the progression of their friendship and how it eventually turned into something more. Their banter had me giddy and them just being together had me swooning. They brought out the best in each other and were just so perfect together.
Perfect Wreckage was a beautiful and emotionally charged story about a second chance at love and finding happiness. With an abundance of tender moments and filled with hope. Kenna and Crosby’s romance was exceptional. Another marvelous addition to The Wrecked Series, Catherine did and outstanding job and I can’t wait for more and I can’t wait to return to Anchor Island.
Perfect Wreckage is book two of this series I haven’t read book one and I still found this very easy to follow although it would have given background knowledge to some of the other characters.
Kenna and Crosby made me giggle because boy does he like to wind her up I know I shouldn’t laugh but it was fun waiting to see how she would react. Kenna’s history is really sad but she was lucky to find some good friends who became her family. I loved how they supported even when her stubborn independant self tried to fob them off. Crosby may have had a privileged background but he has found a freedom to live by his own rules. I enjoyed the slow build of their relationship where the reader discovers more about them at the same time as they do. Being along for the ride when Crosby pushes Kenna to be adventurous and take risks was fun. There is some drama as well as a sweet enjoyable love story.
GAAAAAH! I love how Catherine builds Crosby and Kenna’s character, they both have their own past that was too traumatic to them so they guard themselves from others, they both build that thick and tall wall so others can’t make in their way as fast as they can, and how her side characters builds Crosby and Kenna’s story more importantly our Harriet, I’m thankful that she adopted and raise Kenna well, I love Harriet advice-every words.
And I feel bad on both of them because they didn’t feel the love of their own parents and when they find that “love” from other people, they crashed it, they trashed it. But once they find each other arms, the chemistry was there, the hope to build their own happy memories as a family, the love for each other, and how they respect their own freedom was everything.
Perfect Wreckage as it’s finest!
Wow, this second instalment in the Wrecked series was better than the first (and I loved Book 1)!
Kenna and Crosby initially seemed like an odd match, with Kenna not even liking the “slacker lawyer”. Once she discovers the kind of man Crosby truly is, all bets are off and the steam is on!!
The only constant in Kenna’s life was that everyone left, one way or another, and because of her past, she thrives on staying in control at all times, but Crosby decides to change that! Forcing her out of her boring and predictable life, she begins to discover what she’s been missing. Just as Crosby made Kenna swoon, he made me swoon too…”You showed me that my wreckage could be perfect in its own way, that all those little cracks in my soul just made me stronger, more beautiful. Truly and authentically me. You taught me what it means to truly live.”
Courtrooms, crazy exes, heat, angst, drama, tears, and an amazing ending…I was 100% in it from beginning to end.
This is book two in the Wrecked series and it was just as good as the first. The books are circulating through three best friends. First was Bell’s book. This one is about Kenna. The books could be read as stand alone’s since their based on a different person. But reading the series gives you more of the background on the town and the individuals in it. Kenna is a fortress. She has her walls so high, no one will be able to take them down. But she didn’t anticipate, Crosby. Kenna and Crosby were real good at banter. Kenna had it in her head that Crosby was a surfer who didn’t really have a care in the world. But she began to get to know him. And she learned how wrong she really was. Crosby wondered why she seemed so put together. Never a hair out of place and never just lived. Kept things in order and didn’t do anything that she couldn’t control. He was an adventurous person. Slowly he was able to get Kenna to open up and do things. Both of them have very unpleasant pasts. And those pasts seem to have come into the present. Crosby will do anything to help Kenna. But he’s not looking for a long term relationship. He is not a forever kind of guy. But when the two become close, the chemistry is off the charts. They slowly start climbing each other’s walls until they are finally at the top and knocking them down. But just when their making headway, that pesky past starts in again and it spooks Crosby. Kenna knows what she now wants and it’s him. Will he get his head on straight and figure out what he wants before it is to late? Kenna will be fine with her friends, but she want more. This book will have you laughing, crying and stomping your foot. This quote from Caelyn had me laughing so loud. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You tripped over the tassel on your shoe.” She gave a little shrug. “Who knew it was so dangerous to dress like a douchebag?” I really enjoyed this book. It is a definite must read.
I am struggling to find the perfect words to describe just how much I LOVED this book! I look forward to every book that Catherine publishes and this book is a perfect example of why. She has a way of putting so much emotion into her stories that I literally feel like I am an actual part of the story. Kenna and Crosby were so amazing together and have a special place in my heart forever. I am already looking forward to reading their story again. This is a book that I highly recommend!!!
Kenna started her young life with an alcoholic mother who didn’t care about her. She hit the jackpot with Harriet getting custody and raising her. She found a person to consider family and someone who truly loved her. Because of her past she guarded her heart. Crosby grew up wealthy and never wanted for anything. He is the everything she can’t trust. Can he prove to her that not everyone leaves?
Perfect Wreckage is such a perfect title for this book. Catherine made me laugh and cry with Kenna and Crosby’s story. Such a beautiful romance and just enough suspense thrown in to keep you wondering what would happen next. The author has a way with words that will pull you into the story and make you feel you are right in the middle of it all. Love Catherine Cowles and can’t wait for whatever she writes next.
I loved Kenna and Crosby’s relationship. There’s such a good battle between the 2 of them that it keeps me laughing and loving them. I also liked the pacing of their relationship. I liked both their backstories and how it led to who they are now. I liked all the side characters and loved the plotline. I’m loving reading about life in Anchor. 4.5 stars
To be honest, this one took me until about 35% into the book to really enjoy it as Crosby started to breakdown Kenna’s walls. However Catherine’s words were no less stunning and I ended up falling in love with Kenna and Crosby’s love story. Another perfect story by Catherine Cowles!
Catherine packed an emotional punch with this one and I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely LOVE Kenna and Crosby! Since I fall in love with all of her characters this is no surprise. I loved seeing their relationship go from frienemies to lovers and so much more. This small town romance got me in all the feels and I can’t wait for the next one!
“Perfect Wreckage” picks up where book one end, but now we are following Kenna and Crosby (and still getting appearances from the others from Reckless Memories). Crosby is the town lawyer, who has been lusting around the beautiful Kenna. While he comes across as the town playboy, he has a heart of gold and a fist ready to fight for those he loves most. Kenna, with her beautiful soul and sacrificial tendencies to help her friends and loved ones, just can’t get past the skeletons she has buried so deep in her closet. It’s only so long that she’s able to resist Crosby, and she knows he’s not giving up on her anytime soon; so with lines drawn in the sand, they decide to try casual. They both have loved and lost so much in life that we know it’s a matter of time before they decide instead of trying to control the winds of life, they just need to adjust their sails and let love guide them safely to shore.
I absolutely LOVED this book, and Catherine is a top author for me! Her character development, storyline, and ability to capture and maintain her readers’ attention is magnificent. There’s also plenty of suspense- with secrets, plotting, and a bit of violence. So hold on tight because you’re in for some perfectly reckless memories! Keep doing your thing, Catherine, you have a beautiful way to make heartache and loss into pivoting moments of learning and growth in love
Another beautiful book by the amazing Catherine Cowles.
Perfect Wreckage is the second book in the wrecked series and this is Kenna and Crosby’s story.
Love it so much. Everything about this book was perfect. Catherine has a way of breaking your heart and then put it back beautifully together.
Kenna Abbot had a heartbreaking childhood. But thank God for Harriet, her grandmother’s best friend that took her in.
Kenna is one of the strongest heroine’s by Catherine. She went through so much.
She has always put a strong front and showed little emotion. Always under control and everything planned.
Crosby McCoy is the opposite of Kenna. He loves to take risks, seeks trilling adventures and loves his freedom. He walked away from his trust fund and everything in Boston and doesn’t believe in relationships.
These two were hot together. Amazing chemistry from the start. Both had commitment problems. It all started with a friends with benefits arrangement. He knew that Kenna was putting a fake front and did everything he could to get the real Kenna.
Love the storyline. The angst and suspense had me at the edge of my seat. Oh I wanted to slap some characters in this book so freaking bad.
Thank God both took their head out of their @ss. Even though it took Crosby a little longer.
The epilogue was beautiful. Only one tiny thing is that I wanted to know more of Zoe. But I think we will get more of that in the next books.
I can’t wait for Caelyn and Griffin’s book. Love a brooding alpha man.
My Rating: