I loved him before I knew what the word meant. From skinned knees to first dates and everything in between. But he was never mine to love. I settled for friendship, even though I always wanted more. That was before. Before he ripped my world apart and didn’t bother sticking around to help me pick up the pieces. I knit every last shred back together all on my own. And I’ve all but forgotten his …
And I’ve all but forgotten his name.
Now, he’s back, and everything is torn apart once more.
But he’s not the only one doing the tearing this time.
And there might be no stopping the person who has it out for us both.
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DNF @ 87% …. this started dying out for me at 65% but I kept pushing. I pushed to finish it but I finally put it down to read another book (I’ve actually read 3 books since. LOL) I went back to read some more but at this point. I. Really. Don’t. Care. How. This. Ends.
PERIOD.
My 1st by this author and I’m not sure I’ll try her again….. But who knows.
4.5 Stars
After falling in love with the Sutter Lake Series by Catherine Cowles, I was really excited to dive into another small town series from this author. There’s just something so gripping about this trope with a sense of togetherness between supporting friends and family. Reckless Memories had all these elements and so much more.
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Bell and Ford’s relationship was one of profound friendship and forgiveness. After Ford being away from their small island town for eleven years, he’s not well received by Bell, his once best friend. I loved how they gradually mend their broken friendship and explored their deep-rooted romantic feelings. Their relationship was truly exquisite to witness with all the emotional and tender moments as well as the passion.
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The supporting cast was fantastic and made this read even more complete. Friends acting like family throughout the ordeal Bell and Ford faced with the threats on their lives. The intrigue was captivating and certainly kept me on edge and guessing. I loved this novel a lot and I’m ready for the next one in the series!
I absolutely loved this book by Catherine Cowles who was a new to me author. There was romance but it also had a bit of mystery and danger mixed in. The book starts out eleven years ago to a time when Bell was fighting with her parents and seeking solace with her friend/ sister’s boyfriend, Ford. When tragedy strikes, Bell’s world is changed in the blink of an eye and Ford left town. Now in the present, Bell has a new life. Her parents are mostly absent from her life and she spends most of her time with Ford’s family. Ford returns home to help with the family bar but then means seein Bell again after he abandoned her.
This is a story of their love and friendship, starting over and learning to trust each other. Ford and Bell have to forgive each other and let go of the past in order to become friends. While getting to know each other as adults, they start to develop feelings and can’t fight their attraction to each other. Strange things keep happening to both Bell and Ford and they start to wonder if it’s coincidence or if someone is targeting them. While some reviews mentioned they knew all along who was behind this, I was actually completely surprised and I loved that. I loved this book and really enjoyed the forbidden relationship they had.
What a beautifully written, emotional ride this was! Reckless Memories was so much more than I expected. Actually, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I kinda went in blind, and Catherine was a new-to-me author, so color me impressed when I was immediately pulled in surprised constantly. I never wanted to put this down.
Not only did this story have characters who were easy to fall for, it was full of so much heart & soul, loss & heartache, guilt & grudges, and forgiveness. Lots of forgiveness.
The author did a fabulous job at squeezing my heart so many times. Ms. Cowles’ masterful storytelling WOWed me from beginning to end. Playing out like a movie in front of me, I could easily visualize everything. I felt everything. That prologue? Wowza. It packed quite a punch to the heart.
Once I started this, it was like boarding a roller coaster of emotions. Up and down and all round with a few twists and turns and a few upside down loops that made my heart rate increase, left me breathless, and put my heart through the wringer. Then when I got off the ride, my heart was still pounding from all the excitement, the thrills and chills, and loads of love and happiness.
The mystery and suspense was a great addition to this beautiful love story. It had me on the edge of my seat and left me guessing with each turn of the page, or in my case, with each second played on the audiobook.
Ford coming back to town caused quite the commotion. But with patience and honesty and time, questions were answered and problems were solved and hearts were filled with love.
This was my first book from this author and I cannot wait to read more! I will definitely be reading the other books in this series.
The audiobook narrators did a fabulous job at bringing this story to life.
What an amazing small town romance! I didn’t expect that kind of a beginning and it was such a beautiful story. Ford and Isabelle were childhood friends that one incident broken them apart. Now they are brought back together years later. Heartfelt and loved every minute of it. I couldn’t put it down and I highly recommend this amazing book!!
I didn’t expect it. Out of everyone, Ethan had never been on my list of the suspects. Griffin even made it once, only because of how Bell said she didn’t want Caelyn to get close to Griffin because she didn’t know what he was really like (or something like that, I’m sorry if I got it wrong, I read it before I went to sleep and might’ve forgotten some of the minot details and such). My mistake.
Okay, so why the five stars? Based on the previous reviews of mine on Goodreads, you might think I just give away five stars to everyone (or four stars), but that’s only because I review the books I really like. As for the ones that I don’t like, or just felt meh-ish, I don’t bother with it. If I felt like it was a complete waste of time and I hate it with a vehemence, then I might… be a complete bitch and give it 1 star only.
This book definitely didn’t fall into those categories. I guess I liked the suspense, the little bits of the mystery and the somewhat life threatening events. Not too much enough to tip the boat overboard but just enough to keep the people on edge. I grew up reading suspense, mystery and thriller before I fell into the romance genre so that might have been a bit of an influence towards me loving this. This was a romance story, so I was glad that it placed the threatening parts a bit later on as somewhat of a subplot instead of letting it completely override the story.
Ford and Bell have definite chemistry, and while people in town seemed to love pitching in their own views on their relationship, I’m glad they were able to get through everything that had happened, Ethan included, and get their happily-ever-after. They deserve it.
This is the 1st book I read by Catherine Cowles. This book’s storyline was okay. Isabelle’s character was okay.
Ford’s character was okay. The ending was okay.
Small town, suspense, angst, and chemistry make for a really great read in Reckless Memories by Catherine Cowles!
I absolutely loved the world building, and felt all the small town vibes from this one. Catherine Cowles also packs a punch with emotion, loss, and a heaping helping of angst – on the lighter side, which I loved. Throw in some suspense with a twist, and you have an amazing weekend read you wont’ be able to put down!
If you enjoy light suspense, with a little friends-to-lovers meets forbidden romance vibe, in a small town setting, pick up Reckless Memories today!
This book ticks all the small-town contemporary romance vibes. A super slow burn that felt excruciating at times- I needed an extra kick of chemistry but considering the storyline (Ex-friends turned lovers) it was fitting in a lot of ways.
This was emotional and beautiful, sad but hopeful, and cathartic in many ways… I didn’t quite feel like I could free-fall with my emotional restraint- it was like it was easy for me to hold back- and, so, I didn’t get that all-consuming bursting of the dam that I anticipated with the depth of the story.
What I loved: I especially love the setting of this island/ small town called Anchor, it was so easy to visualise- although as with small towns comes all the gossip and nosy townsfolks. The characters all felt like family, like home. I’m excited for the other characters in his series to get their story.
4/5 stars
Reckless Memories was my first Catherine Cowles book and it’s safe to say, I will definitely be reading more of her books. This book was very well written. The characters had enough time to really be developed and I feel like I even got to know the side characters pretty well, which is an added bonus. This book easily sets up a long series to follow each of these characters and I am here for it.
The emotions of this book were intense. There is a lot about loss so be forewarned if that may be a sensitive topic for you. I think the book depicts this scenario well, though. I like that it shows how loss can effect different people in different ways.
Bell, our main female lead, is the epitome of strength. She has experienced devastating losses and horrible trauma but continues to fight the good fight. Her family was a disappointment to say the least, but instead of wallowing in that, she made a family for herself that is even stronger than most have. She loves fiercely and is a survivor.
Ford brings mixed emotions, at least at the beginning of the book. He goes through a great loss as well, but he responds by leaving. We later find out it was a lot more complicated than him just cutting and running, but my heart hurt for Bell when he left. After all we learn later in the book, I still feel like he should’ve known Bell better.
What I do love about Ford is that he learns his mistakes, owns them, and makes up for them. That may sound simple, but it’s a thing many men, heck many women too, truly struggle with. When Ford wants something, he clearly goes after it and succeeds. He was Bell’s rock as kids and he’s back and ready to be there for Bell now. The question is will she let him? Will she learn to trust him again? Can she put her heart on the line for him?
You’ll have to read it to find out! I hope you will. I can’t wait to start the second book in this series!
Happy reading!
Reckless Memories is the first book by Catherine Cowles that I have read it in this case listened to and I can definitely say that I am now a fan! I just loved her writing style, her characters and the storyline. And the narrators definitely did a fantastic job and definitely added to my enjoyment of this story.
For Ford and Belle, one tragic moment in time changed the trajectory of their lives and now they are all grown up and Ford is back home but the bad memories never left. They both need to find it in their hearts to forgive each other in order to move on, but someone in their small town is threatening any happiness and future they may have.
“It’s impossible for you to live in someone’s shadow, Iz. You shine way too damn bright.”
I have found a new favorite author. Catherine is a magician at crafting something vividly wonderful out of tragedy, grief and despair. She knows how to weave through your heart so much so that you can’t ever untangle yourself from her web. RM was such perfection that it pulled me out of my slump and gave me fuel to devour her entire line of work. I love how she writes…such beautiful language that just grips you from the start.
In this story, we see two different struggling journeys of two very strong characters who both lost a loved one and are learning to overcome the obstacles of grief. I couldn’t help but empathize for them, trying to send as much healing prayers as I could so that they could learn to accept, forgive and move on. It is not often that an author can get me to feel so much, but she demolished that challenge and Bell and Ford have grown so much in this that their HEA was icing on the icing of the cake. I highly recommend this to anyone – it is not just a romance. It is a story about family and the costs of striving for perfection; about true friends who are there for you no matter what; it is a story about misguided love and revenge. It is a story that proves to you life is short and you must take hold of every second you are blessed to have.
“So often, we didn’t realize that the rarest and most beautiful gifts were already in our possession.”
Ford and Bell.
A story of love, heartbreak, grief, angst and even suspense.
Tragedy strikes when Bell’s sister dies in a car accident that her boyfriend Ford was driving.
When Bell needed her best friend the most, Ford decides to take off for over a decade after the accident.
Completely blaming himself, His self-loathing and blame is absolutely heartbreaking to read about.
Bell not only has to deal with parents who don’t love her the way that she deserves but also trying to mold her into a replica of her sister.
Bell learns to rely on her friends and Fords brother and parents as her real family.
“I wish I could protect you from all the hurts in this world, but the only way to do that is not to live, and I don’t want that for you.”
Ford comes back to Anchor island to help with the family business but that puts Bell in an absolute whirlwind.
Bell also has a stalker in her hands.
Bell and Ford?
They always had chemistry between each other. More powerful than they ever realized.
“I’d get hit with a memory of the two of us, the reckless kind, the kind that lit a fire in me to call her, to see her. Those reckless memories would almost bring me to my knees.”
This stalker though? Doesn’t appreciate Bell getting cozy with her dead sisters old lover.
When everything is finally exposed, your mind will be blown!
Even with the suspenseful side of this book, there definitely is a very romantic and second chance at love here and it really is a beautiful story!
I just discovered Catherine Cowles and am so glad I picked this book to read as my first. I was captivated by this story and the passion and heartache of both Bell and Ford. And the bit of mystery thrown into the mix added another level of excitement to this story of love and second chances. I became completely absorbed in not just the H/h but the town as a whole. Every character, from the leads to their friends and family, was multi-dimensional and added interest to the story.
I’m glad my weekend is free because I feel some binge-reading coming on. They say you always remember your first…I will definitely hold this first read from Cowles close to my heart.
I’ve wanted Ford to have his happy ending since I read Further to Fall. And oh my gosh did he get it! I absolutely loved this friends to lovers story. Such a beautifully written story of two friends coming back together after a tragic accident ripped them apart for years. If you love romance with a bit of suspense and mystery thrown in, then this book is perfect for you! This book had me glued to it so I could find out who was behind all the horrible things happening to Ford and Belle. So freaking good! Definitely a five star read! I’m now completely hooked on this author and plan on binging everything else she has written!
Reckless Memories is a friends to enemies to lovers story and the beginning of the Wrecked series. Ford and Isabelle have known each other forever and Isabelle has loved him since she can remember but when their world is ripped out from under them, Ford disappears without a word. Ten years later, Bell has healed from the pain of the accident and has moved on with her life, that is until Ford walks back into The Catch and the pain of her past comes slamming back. After talking and clearing the air between them, someone else feels that they still need to pay.
WOW!!!! This was a great introduction to Catherine Cowles and will not be my last book by her. The emotions and suspense of this book had me unable to put the book down. The pain and then eventual healing that Ford and Bell endured with each other was so complete. I loved the strong connection between Ford and Bell right from the beginning and was happy that their past did not stop their future. There were a few shocking twists in the book that I did not see coming. I can not wait for more from the crew on Anchor Island. Another amazing job by narrators Joe Arden and Andi Arndt. These two are the first pair I ever listened to and they are still my top narrators.
“I would rather sit on a hill of fire ants in my underwear while eating ghost peppers.” – Bell, Reckless Memories by Catherine Cowles
5+ stars!
AUDIOBOOK
Words cannot express how much I loved this book so I hope this review will do the book justice.
Catherine Cowles has penned an incredible story between two broken people that shared a loss so big and so heartbreaking I didn’t know how they could recover. The suffering these two went through each on their own and together was emotional and painful.
Ford is suffering from the past. He has just returned to his hometown for the first time since the tragic accident that took his high school girlfriend, Violet and Isabel’s sister. He is feeling guilty regarding her death and all these years later is still blaming himself. His pain was real and raw and broke me revisiting the past memories.
Bell has a beautiful kind heart. I loved her so much! Her parents were terrible. I cannot imagine loosing a sibling and being treated the way Bell was! Thank goodness for Ford’s parents, Frank and Kara. They love her like a daughter, I thought their relationship was so beautiful. She was so fearful of having her heart damaged by Ford because she has loved him her whole life and she knows if he does not return her feelings it would utterly destroy her.
Cowles writes her romance stories with so much passion and heart and she through in a suspenseful component as well that kept me guessing.
Ford is a sweetheart. He is patient, loving and willing to do whatever it takes to win Bell’s heart. I just loved him. His protective nature and love for her was evident but he was also fearful of admitting his feelings for Bell.
This is a beautiful second chance love story that I adored. Cowles has set up the next book perfectly and I cannot wait for it next.
The narration done by Joe Arden and Andi Arndt was done to perfection. Their passionate story telling shines right through!!
From the moment that you open “Reckless Memories”, you are immersed into the small town of Anchor Island. A place where everyone knows everyone, including the in’s and out’s of their daily lives. Relationships, breakups, births, deaths, and everything in between is up for grabs when it comes to town gossip- so everyone should proceed with caution because one misstep could lead you off the steep cliffs of the town’s good graces.
We meet Isabelle “Bell” and Ford. They once held a bond that ran deeper than the oceans and was thick as any bond could be.They once held a bond that ran deeper than the oceans and was thick as any bond could be. Love was too small a word for the devotion they held toward one another. She was his girlfriend’s little sister, but his best friend. He was her first love. That was until tragedy struck, life was cut short (not just in the loss of Bell’s sister), and forces thrust Bell and Ford apart for far too long. Bad memories, hurt, and pain were all that was left between them. But, fate and family business drew them back together, only to find that love they thought they lost along the way was just misunderstanding and broken hearts. Setting out to right those wrongs, Bell and Ford form a friendship that we know won’t last long. The question is whether they are going down with the ship, or going to survive the rip tide?!
This book was amazing, and I instantly wanted to re-read the book as soon as I finished. Thank you for sharing your beautiful words with me, Catherine.
This one is hard for me. I do not like the deceased (insert noun here) troupe. I just find it depressing and I don’t like all of the guilt that they go through. If I had known that this book was about Bell being in love with her deceased sister’s boyfriend, Ford, I may not have picked it up. However, I thought it was very well written; I enjoyed that it went through different phases of their re-connection, their denial of their feelings and then their acceptance of their feelings. I also loved the suspense aspect of the story; it brought a whole other level to the story which distracted me from the things I dislike about this troupe. Despite my issues with this this troupe I would recommend this book and I cannot wait to read more by this author.
Ford and Bell are my absolute favorites. So happy we got a Ford book & it was everything. Their story is sad and sweet, about loss, forgiveness, letting go of the past, and so, so much love. This book tugged at my heartstrings and quickly became my favorite of Catherine’s. Everything about them was perfect. This small town/island / friends to lovers / enemies to lovers romance completely stole my heart. I loved Catherine’s writing and all the PNW vibes that hit home for me.
Sooo looking forward to Crosby & Kenna’s story in Perfect Wreckage, releasing September 22nd!