One night was all it took for everything to change.From college student to guardian in a single breath.My siblings became my world. No time for date nights or romantic dreams.I traded quiet weekends for sleepless nights.Giving my all to make sure they were cared for. But Griffin had a brokenness that called to me—one that mirrored my own.Gruff and just a little bit reckless.He was the last thing … a little bit reckless.
He was the last thing I needed. But everything I wanted.
Only someone isn’t happy about this new life I’m building.
Deciding to set fire to everything I hold close.
And when the smoke clears, there might be only ashes left behind…
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This book was so beautifully written. Catherine has a way of taking you on a journey in which you hit all the feels. Her characters have such depth and you immediately become a part of them feeling all the lows and highs along the way.
Griffin and Caelyn are both broken in deep emotional ways. But the two connect not only on the loss of family, but all also on the need to have someone to go through life with them and have their backs.
Caelyn is just trying to make it day by day, raising her siblings and providing them with a safe environment to live and grow in. Griffin is a loner after losing his family and when Caelyn and her tiny terrors start to wedge their way into his heart, he sees just how much he’s missed by staying away from the one home he never thought he would be able to return to.
This book is masterfully written. You become a part of the family and you feel all the emotions these characters evolve through. I am always giddy with excitement when one of Catherine’s books hit my eReader, and I am always left wanting more once I hit the last page. Another stunning novel by Ms. Cowles. She is definitely one of my more recommended authors.
I just love this author and series so much!
The story of Griffin and Caelyn is my favorite thus far! Caelyn is such a strong, caring, selfless, loving character! Griffin is the suffer in silence type. He has had so much heartache and is very closed off from the world. It’s nice to see him come alive with help from Caelyn and company!
Caelyn and Griffin are perfect for one another. The slow burn is perfection! So many feelings with this story! I just love the supporting characters! The “tiny terrors” gave this story even more feels and so much heart! Absolute Perfection!
If you’re in the mood for a breathtaking new romance, then you need to pick up Wrecked Palace by Catherine Cowles. It’s an amazing novel filled with emotion and I devoured it in one sitting. I love recluse heroes and Cowles hit the nail on the head when she created Griffin (who I fell deeply in love with). He is the epitome of everything I love in a hero and if I could experience his journey and love story all over again for the first time I would. Sigh… I just loved him so much. Our heroine is just as sweet and the way she cares for her siblings is devastatingly beautiful. I love when heroines have big hearts just like Caelyn. There’s just something so endearing about them that they truly touch me every time.
Once again, the author has written an epic romance that not only touched my heart but reawakened my love for romance. In all honest, you can’t go wrong with a novel written by Cowles and I recommend each and every one. This one though just may be my favorite.
I am a huge fan of this author and her books keep getting better and better. Many of her books came to me through ARC programs and now I am part of her Review Team, so I get the ARC that way. For this story, I could not wait to get the book and the I did not want it to end. As it is the third book in this series, if you read the prior books, you have already met Caelyn and Griffin. That being said, you could totally read this as a standalone.
The book starts with a flashback to six years ago, Caelyn is in college in Seattle when she gets a call from her younger siblings who are at home on Anchor Island and their parents are gone. It is clear after this incident, Caelyn needs to return to Anchor and become their guardian. She works at the town’s general store and several other jobs to support her family. The café at the store is where she meets Griffin, a loner who has returned to the island to restore his family’s farmhouse, hoping the solitude will help heal him from the tragic lost of them. Their relationship starts as a friendship when Griffin decides the Caelynn could use some help and continues as some danger from the past reemerges.
The story of how Caelynn and Griffin come together and build this home is so beautiful. The kids added such a great light and humor to the story. There were times that I found myself smiling while reading this book, especially when the youngest, Mia is getting to know her “magic giant”. And seeing how Griffin heals by joining this family had me I in tears, but still smiling. It was everything I had wanted and more in this lovely story. I never wanted it to end.
OMG I freakin adored this latest book in the Wrecked Series!!!! Both Caelyn and Griffin have been though so much in their life but how they dealt with it is very different. Caelyn jumped in after her parents were no longer in the picture and raised her 3 younger siblings Will, Ava, and Mia. She is not only an incredible sister but a mother to them as well. They have struggled but always have made it through. After Griffin suffered the loss of his parents and sister due to a tragic accident, he left Anchor Island to get away. Now he is back to the island to fix up his family home alone. He knows that people whisper behind his back and he is a main source of gossip and he stays away from that only coming to town when necessary, well that changed when he meets Caelyn at the general story. He can’t stay away from her but knows that he isn’t any good for her. Caelyn bit by bit chips at the wall he has built around him. Then he met her siblings and fell further. When Caelyn and her siblings are in danger, Griffin knows that they would be safer with him at his house. Now that they are in close proximity to one another, Griffin can no longer deny the feelings that he has for Caelyn and doesn’t want to fight it anymore. Can they make a go out of this with the threat looming closer to them both? Fantastic story! I was hooked from beginning to end. This talented author knows how to write such a wonderful story that sucks you in and you feel like you are right there with the characters experiencing what they are. I loved it. This easily is my favorite book in this series and I am in love with Griffin Lockwood (sorry Tuck and Crosby lol) A top 2021 read for me hands down. Grab this book today, you won’t regret it. I can’t wait for the next book in this amazing series….well done!!!
I have had this author on my tbr list for awhile now, she is a new author for me, and after a few friends told me I was missing out by not reading this series, I finally took the plunge, and read Wrecked Palace. It was so heartfelt, and emotional. It drew me in from the start, and I loved the characters. Caitlyn is a wonderful sister, all she wants is to make sure the littles are happy. This family will make you smile, laugh, and cry. After the tragic loss of his family, Griffin became a loner, but the littles and Caitlyn are slowly pulling him into their family. I like how supporting the secondary characters are with eachother. Wrecked Palace is the third stories in the series Wrecked. It can be read as a standalone, as I haven’t read the other two stories, however, I would recommend reading these books in order because these characters are ones you’ll love.
This is the third book in the wrecked series, and I think it might be my favorite.
The prologue starts a spark that never lets up till the last page.
Caelyn O’Connor took custody of her three younger siblings when they were put in grave danger and left alone. She gave up her life as she knew it to protect and raise them. She works tirelessly and squeezes every penny she earns. Working as a manager/cook at the general store is a job she enjoys, and gives her the flexibility to work and have time for the children. By the way, I immediately fell in love with Mia.
Griffin Lockwood is known in his small town as a violent, unfriendly recluse. He had been gone for years trying to recover from a family tragedy, that finally made him realize he wanted to go back to the beginning and try and bring their family home back to being livable. He cuts himself off from all. He meets Caelyn at the store and something clicks for both of them. He feels protective, and she feels the need to comfort and bring life back into him. His nickname is “magical Giant” given to him by Mia, and little by little the kids worm their way into his heart.
Their’s a slow growing sweet romance, but both Caelyn and Griffin are reluctant to take a chance. There’s danger hidden in this small town, and it’s heading for Caelyn and the children.
I so enjoyed this story and the growth of Griffin and Caelyn, their own lives, and their lives together.
The epilogue is awesome.
If ever there was a book that deserved more than 5 stars it is this one. I have smiled, cried and lost myself in this story; at one point I didn’t realise I was silently crying as what I read touched me so much. I didn’t just fall in love with Caelyn and Griffin, but also with Will, Ava and Mia, they stole my heart and I wanted to be part of their family too.
This story has such pain in it, but also such joy and positivity, there are moments of darkness and moments of lightness, and mixed in with all that were funny moments, tender moments and such bravery. One of the things I loved the most was Caelyn’s and Griffin’s connection, the way they understood and accepted each other, the way they built a solid foundation of friendship that lead to so much more. This is a book that I am going to read again and again as it was beautifully written. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an ARC.
This one has so many things that I loved–a broody, broken hero that’s has a soft spot for the heroine, a heroine that’s a little broken but holding things together the best that she can, kiddos that give the story extra humor and heart (and soften the hero’s heart, as well,) and friends that come together to form a family. I cried and laughed and couldn’t put it down. Ms. Cowles has outdone herself with Wrecked Palace, and in my opinion, it is her best work to date.
If I had to sum up this book in one word the word would be perfection. This book was everything! If you haven’t read Catherine Cowles, you absolutely must go get her books! This book is everything I want in a romance. I don’t want to give to much away. You get suspense, a beautifully written love story, you get strong family ties and strong friendships. You will get emotional and then find yourself smiling through other parts. I loved Griffin and Caelyn so so much! I loved the tiny terrors too! Mia and Ava absolutely stole my heart! As you can see I could just go on and on about this book. I would absolutely recommend this book!
Received an arc for a honest review.
I can’t get enough of this series. The love and devotion between the characters is just off the charts.
Caelyn has been raising her siblings for years. Griffin has also had his share of pain and doesn’t let anyone close to him. These 2 come together at a time they need each other most and their chemistry is undeniably strong. This book kept me up at night and I couldn’t get enough of it. Always look forward to the next book and this one is no exception.
Catherine Cowles does it again1 This book is amazing. A young girl has to put her life on hold to take custody of her three younger siblings on a small island. She has devoted her life to them- and in the background is another lost sole that reaches out to her-a handsome broken man who won’t let anyone close to him This story will pull at your heart and you won’t want to put it down! Fantastic!!!! A must read! I voluntarily read this as an arc copy!
Wow, wow, wow. I have seen bits and pieces of Caelyn and Griffin’s story teased in the other Wrecked books, and their full story was so much more than I ever could have asked for!! From the first book in this series, we knew that Caelyn was a single parent/guardian to her younger siblings. And from previous appearances by Griffin, he was a grumpy loner who spoke in grunts. But when these two get together — and help one another heal the scars of their pasts — it their slow-burn romance is BEAUTIFUL!
My heart broke for Griffin. To go through that kind of family tragedy and be the only one left standing must have been torture. He is so closed off to the world, but little by little, Caelyn and the kids worm their way into his heart and make his lonely estate a home once again. I loved seeing how Will opened up and bonded with Griffin, despite his initial feelings of not liking the island loner. And Mia was just adorable with her “giant”!! But it was Ava who I really shed tears for, especially when she opened up and told Griffin that she loved him. This guy was like the best big brother for the kids, and he was perfect for Caelyn!
Having always had to be the strong one, the one who protected her little siblings, my heart was full of joy for Caelyn when she finally let herself depend on Griffin. This slow-burn romance is SLOOOOWWW but these two both have some baggage to work through to get on the same page. He keeps to himself because he’d been betrayed by so many people after his family’s accident, and it’s hard for him to let Caelyn in. And she only knows what it’s like to be let down by those who are supposed to love you, so believing in what Griffin is offering her is hard for Caelyn to really accept. But in the end, it makes them so much stronger together.
Wrecked Palace is a standalone in the Wrecked series, but there are plenty of appearances by the other couples. The friendship between Kenna, Bell and Caelyn is so awesome, and these besties are more like sisters than anything else. They are just there for each other, always! I even loved the way Griffin got taken in by Ford and Crosby. And I can’t wait to see how Shay will fit into this group when her book comes out next!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Wrecked Palace
The Wrecked Series, Book 3
By: Catherine Cowles
Narrated by: Joe Arden, Ava Erickson
Emotionally charged, slow burn, second chances, a little suspense. This book has all the things I love in a story. The third book in Catherine Cowles Wrecked series, Wrecked Palace pulled me in and kept me captivated. Caelyn’s life as a college student takes a complete turn when she becomes guardian for her three siblings. Willing to sacrifice her life to give them a stable, happy home, she does what she needs to get by. Griffin, a tortured “giant” of a man, struggles everyday with his past. Cowles takes these town wonderful characters and weaves a romance that will grab your heart. She lets us watch how two souls compliment each other. We also have the fabulous cast of siblings adding innocence. Love and humor. It’s a culmination of all emotions with cameos from our favorites in the series. Loved this book and can’t wait to hear the next one!
Ava Erickson and Joe Arden enhance this gem with an amazing narration. Erickson proves the strength and love of Caelyn. Each inflection brings out her personality bright and shining. Arden comes in as the broody Griffin. His voice gave this tortured hero,the pain he felt and also gave him that sweet, loving side making us fall for him. This fantastic team was a pleasure to listen to.
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Catherine Cowles has quickly become a go-to author in my list of small towns that I want to live in. Lol!!
Griffin and Caelyn tore at my heart, as I knew they would. Catherine is extremely gifted in making you feel like you are in fact visiting her small town and getting to know all your neighbors. I LOVE THAT!!
Griffin and Caelyn are wonderful together. Griffin’s story really got to me. It was so emotional to read of his heartache. But that’s what made it so wonderful to see his story progress when Caelyn entered his life. She is such a strong character. I have tremendous respect for what she did for the “tiny terrors”. Im such a sucker for a story with adorable kids. Griffin’s relationship with each of them was so special. It made all the feelings come. Terrific book!!!
Book Hangover is REAL! Wrecked Palace is the kind of story I wanted to read over again as soon as I finished. It’s sweet and emotional, real and romantic.
One phone call changed Caelyn O’Connor’s life. She went from a happy college junior, to the head of a household and guardian to her brother and sisters. Caelyn loves her “tiny terrors” and works multiple jobs to give them everything they need.
“And isn’t that what everyone hopes for? To have joy amidst all the trials. You give us joy…”
Broody and handsome Griffin Lockwood usually keeps to himself, working on his farmhouse on the far side of the island. But when he opens his life to Caelyn and her siblings, he discovers healing and a family that he never thought he would find.
I listened to Wrecked Palace on audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. Ava Erickson really brought Caelyn to life. I loved everything about this book.
-5 Stars!-
Another hit by Catherine Cowles. Amazing book. I couldn’t put it down. This book was a roller coaster of emotions for me but I loved every page.
Caelynn’s life changed after one phone call. One night and she goes from college student to guardian of her siblings. She will do anything to protect those kids from everything f and everyone.
Griffin’s life changed after one night and his walls went up high. He wouldn’t let anyone in until he met Caelynn.
Two people that couldn’t be more opposite but together they may find what the other needs.
Just beware that once you start this amazing read, you won’t be able to put it down.
This book gave me so many feels!! I loved it!!
I have been waiting for Caelyn’s story since I first started this series. She had always been there, in the periphery and I was so glad to get to know her pain and joy.
I absolutely loved Caelyn and Griffin. Both great people. Both a bit broken. Guarded. Lonely. Changed from the tragedies that had shaken them in the past. But in the other, they found a safe place to land. To share their pain. Ease the burden. Laugh again. Especially as Will, Mia and Ava (Caelyn’s siblings) wormed their way into Griffin’s heart. But when an unknown someone sets their sights on Caelyn, all bets are off. Griffin pulls out all the stops to ensure her safety and the safety of the tiny terrors.
Wrecked Palace made my heart ache and race and soar in equal measures. Griffin and Caelyn’s slow burning romance was so tender, so sweet, so pure that I couldn’t help but root for them. My favorite thing was how they loved each other for all that they were and all that they weren’t. They saw past each other’s fears and faults to the dreams and hope and love that lived inside. And that ending…hello! I am so ready to see how Catherine Cowles is going to shake up Anchor Island again!
Sometimes when things seem hopeless & there is no way one, the path clears and one realizes that riches and beauty you dared not dream of are in reach.
This is the story of Wrecked Palace, Catherine Cowles’ third book in the Wrecked series. It’s Caelyn and Griffin’s story, characters from her other books. Each of them thought they were saving the other … but really they were saving themselves. The one thing they could agree on is the kids … Caelyn’s young sisters and teenaged brother. The story is set on Anchor Island, a place I desperately hope is real (but am afraid to look up for fear that it is not!)
Wrecked Palace is a HEA part of a series that is so well written you can read it as a standalone. I loved the book from the start and didn’t want it to end.
Ms. Cowles has written another home run with well developed, realistic characters that will wrap around your heart from the start. The storyline is continual and robust with subplots of unimaginable loss, of picking yourself up by the bootstraps, of taking chances, of bravery, fidelity, passion, and trust.
If you’re looking for your next read, download Wrecked Palace today. You’ll be happy you did.
I generously received an ARC from the author and am pleased to leave my honest review
Catherine Cowles