Echoes of You

Lost & Found #2

by Catherine Cowles

Nash Hartley has always been my Protector. Partner in crime. Best friend. The person who was there for me in my darkest hour.
But my heart wanted so much more. So, when I knew for certain Nash didn't feel the same about me, I tried to move on. What a mistake that turned out to be.
Now, I'm back in our small town, desperate to escape my living nightmare, and the only person I want to see is him.
As secrets are revealed, and Nash finds out what happened to me, he'll do anything to keep me safe.
But there are those who will do anything to stop him, and this time neither of us may make out alive...

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Romantic Suspense, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Contemporary

338 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2023

About the author

Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she's not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.

Reviews

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

❛Even when you were gone, the echoes of you still lived inside me, and I would play them over and over in my mind just so I wouldn’t lose the sound. I’ve loved you in every incarnation, and that will never end.❜

a fact : the suspense facet of the intrigue is not as refreshing as it used to.

"I would put up with a million monsters for you."

the storyline walks through an identical and classic scheming with a succession of actions that culminates in the end and your typical small town romance filled with attaching characters —who have been through a lot, — family dramas and a breathtaking settings. it’s understandable that a redundant skeleton and plot-shape might.. bore? but I frankly don’t mind.

" Some part of me had thought something innate inside me called out for abuse.”

(this quote broke me)

Maddie attempted to escape a violent and abusive ex by running to her natal town. back in Cidar Ridge she had no alternative but to confront her best friend, Nash, whom she somewhat brushed aside in the course of the two years that occupied her last relationship. but after some impromptu, disturbing, apparitions and revelations concerning her past, Nash made the decision to stay with Maddie in her rental cabin to protect her from any potential reprisals.

"I’ve loved you in every incarnation. And I don’t want to miss any future one either."

I loved both the protagonists. despite the friends to lovers arc not being one of my favorites, their bond was the cry of soulmates in the manner in which they acted with care and support toward one another.
the romance wasn’t fast passed, they took some time to act on their feelings and mutual attraction. the surprising part of their relationship was the smut scenes, and I was pleased that the author put in the effort to add more spice to her usual writing.

"This was what I needed—Maddie, me, a family dinner. Life getting back to normal, the way it always."

as always, the plot-line was well-complemented by the family dynamics and supporting characters.
i can’t wait to read roan and aspen book! still wondering with who lawson will end up but i just know im gonna love his book as well.

❛ Maddie laughed, the sound warming parts of me I hadn’t even realized were cold.❜

~•~•~•~
is it going to be the same ol’ recycled plot? yes. imma eat it up and love it? also yes.

[Catherine Cowles]

💗 ECHOES OF YOU IS LIVE 💗

Echoes of You is HERE! And I am over the moon to be back in Cedar Ridge with the Hartley family! Nash and Maddie's story was so much fun to write and I'm so excited for it to be in your hands (and ears)! Here's what's in store for you in the pages...

💗Friends-to-Lovers
💗Only One Bed
💗Who Hurt You Vibes
💗Law Enforcement Hero

Read Now ➝
Amazon: https://geni.us/EchsofYouAmznRP
Apple Books: https://geni.us/EchsofYouAppl
Nook: https://geni.us/EchsofYouNook
Kobo: https://geni.us/EchsofYouKobo
Google Play: https://geni.us/EchsofYouGglPlay
Audio: https://geni.us/EchsofYouAudio

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Echoes of You is book two in the Lost & Found series by Catherine Cowles. She’s done it again with this book! Another masterpiece. Dare I say that each book just seems to get better and better, even more suspenseful?! This can be read as a complete stand alone but each book focuses on a member of the Hartley family so the characters are present in each other’s books.



Nash Hartley is I believe around twenty six years old. All his life, he’s been a risk taker. The one of the Hartley family always seeking out another adventure. The one who spent the most time at the Dr’s office! Now Nash works for the Cedar Ridge police department and he is also a member of his family’s search and rescue team.



Maddie Byrne’s life was much different than Nash’s. She grew up with horrible parents. If it weren’t for the Hartley’s, she wouldn’t have known what a real family was like. Maddie and Nash had been best friends since kindergarten. Maddie has loved Nash for just as long. But he never seemed to feel the same way for her. He saw her as his friend only. So Maddie decided she needed to leave Cedar Ridge to try to make a life away from Nash. This turned out to be the worst mistake of her life.



Now Maddie is back. She needs to start over. She wants a home of her own, a job, and she wants Nash. If she can only have him as her friend, then she’ll have to accept that. What will he do when he finds out why she had to come home. And Nash has been hiding some secrets of his own.

“It was as if everything before him had been black and white. Now, with Nash, there was only color. And I knew I’d never see anything the same again.”

This was so good, from start to finish. One surprise after another. I didn’t think I’d get through it so fast but I literally could NOT put it down. I loved Nash and Maddie. Catherine is able to walk that line between emotional and too angsty. Maddie and Nash had things coming at them from so many directions, she kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going on. This is another wonderful addition to this series. If you haven’t read book one yet, Whispers of you, Holt and Wren’s book, I hope you’ll grab it now so you’ll be all ready to meet Maddie and Nash. I hope you love the Hartley family as much as I do. The next book, book three, is Glimmers of You, Grae and Caden’s book, and I can’t wait!

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Law enforcement MMC's are my kryptonite. Both main characters were pretty great, but Nash was 🤌 and I would have loved a little more of that side of him in this book.

But there were THREE ongoing threats in this book, which is pretty excessive and also made the ending of the book kind of all over the place.

But still a very entertaining read from CC 🩷

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ADORE THIS SERIES SO MUCH.

the found family, the mystery, the romance <33 maddie & nash were everything. i love me a good childhood friends to lovers.

this was a bit much in the mystery side, because why were there 3 different storylines.. that were ALL insane? how does THAT much happen in this tiny town? idk. but regardless it kept me on my toes.

i’m SO BEYOND excited for caden & grae i could CRY.

but most importantly… i need lawson’s story. and if it’s with aspen… even better.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine cannot write a book I am not obsessed with. In her newest book, we have friends to lovers, a dog, a stalker, and a who hurt you hero. Ummmmm Nash!?! OBSESSED.

Maddie comes back to their small town after leaving behind an abusive ex. She falls back into her friendship with Nash like no time has passed, and Nash is more protective than ever. They both have loved each other for so long, but neither has made that next step. Until now. But Maddie's ex is looming in the background and Nash is determined to protect her and keep her now that the has her.

This series has the best family and I loved how protective all of them were over Maddie. Their scenes were the best and, as usual, I'm dying over the next couple in the series! The romantic suspense element was spot on and had me on the edge of my seat! And the friends to lovers was perfect and Nash was so swooon.

Definitely pick this up and don't sleep on Catherine Cowles and her magic!!

[Aleksia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book isn’t a “romance” It was literally a trauma dump. Normally I love me a few broken characters with good plot but this was just traumatic scene after traumatic scene and the plot was no where???? Like give me more how was this a romance…… I have read many books that deal with abusive exs and physical altercations but there is also a plot, healing, beautiful love store that comes from the healing but not in this book. This poor girl went through hell 90% of the book and then expected us to be ok with her 10% of happy ending we got? very disappointed actually

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ✨

I’m realizing friends to lovers isn’t my jam. The suspense in this one was great tho.

[Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You’re not alone. You have me. Always."
I’m so happy I decided to read Catherine Cowles’ books, and after this one, I already preordered the other books in the series.
Friends to lovers, and especially childhood friends to lovers, when done right, can be absolutely magical.

"I’d rather have the echoes of him than anyone else."
I love Nash. I love his protective streak and even his overbearing streak because it comes from the heart. Maybe people see him as a goofball and a risk-taker, but his heart is in the right place. And it’s a heart of gold. I love how much he loves.

"Maddie gave the best hugs. As if she could say everything she needed by that action alone."
Maddie was a really well-written character. I’m no stranger to domestic violence IRL, and I know how long it takes to untangle yourself from it. But she’s not a pushover. She’s strong AF, and the only dent in her armor is Nash.
In a good way, though.

"Get it through your head that you will never be a burden to me. I love spending time with you, and I missed the hell out of you while you were gone. So, just let me have my Mads time."
Maddie left town to be with her boyfriend, but now she’s back, and it’s not good. She escaped an abusive situation and a toxic relationship, and where else could she go but to the arms of the one person who always made her feel safe. The one person she’s always loved.

"Don’t leave me."
"Mads. I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me forever. Don’t you know that by now?"
It doesn’t take long for Nash to figure out what happened to her. Believe me when I tell you that the touch-her-and-die vibes are strong with this one, and I loved every bit of it. It also doesn’t take long for him to feel guilty about what she’s been through, even if it was never his fault.
He can’t help it, though. That’s just who he is.

"Even when you were gone, the echoes of you still lived inside me, and I would play them over and over in my mind just so I wouldn’t lose the sound. I’ve loved you in every incarnation, and that will never end."
From the second she gets into town, they’re together. Like they didn’t spend any time apart, like life didn’t go on for either of them. I loved the glimpses of their past—how they became friends, how they couldn’t be without each other, how they were everything each other needed.
This is the stuff of friends-to-lovers’ dreams.

"I’ve come to pictures of you in my mind more times than I can count. And I know the real thing will ruin me forever. But it’ll be so damn worth it."
Of course they’re in love. Everybody else can see it, especially his wonderful family, and that warmed my heart. Found family is as real as it gets, especially when hers was nonexistent.
When they finally realize what they’re missing out on, those three words just slip through.
Like it was meant to be. Because it was.

"Most people don’t get to find their soul person. And we’ve had ours for almost our entire lives."
A lot of other things are going on. They both have to deal with their (misplaced) guilt over what happened. Over their separation. Over feelings that have always been there but didn’t seem to be worth risking their friendship over.
And they have to deal with this new thing between them and how good it is. How right.

"I would put up with a million monsters for you."
Her past is coming back for her, though. It’s not pretty, and she’s already been through so much, but it makes this a story about strength as well, and how you can overcome anything, especially with the right person beside you.

"What am I going to do with you?"
"You’re gonna love me."
These two deserve to be together. After everything they’ve both been through, the only thing that never wavered was their love for each other. It was there, in the echoes of the past, waiting.
Does it show I loved it?

[Tori - Novel Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Nash and Maddie's story is omg so good. I really love the first book in this series, but so far Echoes of You is my favorite. The WHO.DID.THIS. vibes are so strong in this book. Nash is seriously book husband material. I really loved how protective of Maddie he is. But I love how independent Maddie is and how she is really just trying to get through everything going on in her life.

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who are the people who rated this high enough to have a 4.3 average rating, I just wanna talk.

I mean, my goodness the never-ending storyline during the first 50% of the book of "he/she does not think of me that way" when they've been sharing the same bed since middle school, because "they sleep better that way and he can keep her safe", gtfo... But I suppose it was better than the last 50% of the continuous "everyone including your ex, mother, father and a random dude from town is out to get you" plot.

[crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS SO SO GOOD. will never get over it. check tws!!

[glavreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

maybe my favorite of catherine’s?! idk you all know i’m crazy indecisive but nash and maddie really knocked it out of the park for me.

i swear catherine is inside my brain because at one point i was like oh, that was the twist? kinda quick. and then bam, another twist.

nash and maddie have been attached at the hip since they were kids but in recent years, they’re grown apart as maddie found herself in a relationship that wasn’t what it seems. she escapes back to their hometown and nash is just happy she’s back within arm’s reach. i meannnn, the two can’t stay away from each other!!

this is friends to lovers done so exceptionally well. i want PINING. i want thoughtful gestures. i want secrets that only each other know. i want everyone in their life to be like why aren’t they dating yet? and echoes of you delivered on every front.

suspenseful and dark and twisty as always but the romances are always so sweet and pure. nash was perfection. he was so hot and loved every single thing about maddie that other people tried to change. maddie was amazing and so strong and i loved seeing her get her fire back.

all of her stories have dark and suspenseful subplots so check tws besties!

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Echoes of You is book 2 in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles and it is my new favorite read from her! This delivers on: childhood best friends, “Who. Did. This?” energy, an uber protective hero, and epic mutual pining!

Maddie and Nash grew up in Cedar Ridge (fictional town outside of Seattle) and have been best friends since kindergarten. We see Maddie’s abusive family life in the prologue and it immediately grabs your attention and makes you feel for her and her forever-protector, Nash. They seriously grabbed my heart from the start and never let go!

“It was my favorite feeling in the world, being engulfed by Nash—his comfort, his protection, his care.”

We cut to 13 years later and Maddie is returning to Cedar Ridge after being gone for the past 2 years. She recently fled an abusive fiancé and is dealing with that in secret at first. She quickly reconnects with Nash and his family (his brother Holt is the hero of book 1, and their sister gets the next book). When Nash finds out the truth about why Maddie is back in town and that she’s hiding, he is ready to set the world on fire to keep her safe.

I loved Maddie and Nash so much! The mutual pining between these childhood best friends was everything I love…both have been hesitant to push the boundaries of their relationship because they both think the other isn’t interested and they don’t want to lose their friendship. Their relationship is slowburn but in the best way and it makes sense for the story. And I’m so excited for the teasers we get for Grae and Caden (Nash’s sister and his best friend), the couple of the next book! The audio narrators, Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon, are 2 of my favs and really brought this story and the characters to life!

“I’ve always loved you. Maybe even before I met you. I loved you when we were little kids and awkward pre-teens and when I finally realized what that emotion might mean. I loved you when we graduated high school and through college and every day since. Even when you were gone, the echoes of you still lived inside me, and I would play them over and over in my mind just so I wouldn’t lose the sound. I’ve loved you in every incarnation, and that will never end.”

CW: physical abuse, abusive relationship

Thank you to the author for an ARC. All thoughts in this review are my own. Echoes of You is out May 2, 2023!

[Readwithsav · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Break free and leave us in ruins
Took this dagger in me and removed it
Gain the weight of you, then lose it
Believe me, I could do it.

Maddie really is that girl

[flowergirl.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
This series is my comfort series and I am emotionally invested in all of these characters. All I have to say.

[kimberly ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

catherine cowles can truly do no wrong <3

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

WOWWW. This was so good. Catherine does soooo well writing romantic suspense. This series has me in a chokehold, I swear.

This one didn’t have much mystery like Whispers of You which I REALLY loved. But it was still amazing.

✨ childhood lovers
✨ forced proximity
✨ romantic suspense
✨ victim of abuse
✨ it’s always been her
✨ he’ll always save her

I loved Nash and Maddie so much and Nash is the ultimate cinnamon roll MMC 🥰

Also, I cannot wait for Glimmers of You. I have a feeling Caden and Grae will be my favorite!

[Rebecca (life's chaotic catching up) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 It wasn’t bad but it was pretty much a copy paste from book one. Still enjoyable bc of the family aspect but why do all the fmcs get the crap beat out of them every book? 😭

[kaz ruby &#x1065a; ‧₊˚ ⋅ · Rating 4 out of 5]

catherine cowles has once again restored my faith in love being real (still waiting for my nash) 🤞🫶😞😩🥴

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Тропи:
- від друзів до закоханих
- одне ліжко
- романтичний саспенс
- знайдена сімʼя

Розумію, що мені дуже заходить романтичний саспенс. Присутня інтрига, розслідування.
Ця книга мені сподобалася менше ніж попередня.
А все через Неша і його такої дурнуватої поведінки 👀 і нелогічні дії Медді стосовно своєї безпеки 🫣
Мені норм якщо вони друзі, і не здогадуються про почуття іншого. Але тут Неш знав, що Медді закохана у нього, і все одно відштовхував її. Хоча і сам мав почуття до неї 🤧 ну це було дуже неприємно 💔
Тільки коли вони зізналися у почуттях один одному, я могла насолоджуватися їхніми відносинами.
Я люблю ніжність у стосунках, підтримку і вразливість ❤️‍🩹 це було чудово.
Сімʼя Холтів топить моє серце ❤️‍🩹🫠
І тут зʼявилися Аспен і крихітка Кеді. Мені дуже цікава майбутня взаємодія мовчазного і буркотливого Роана і життєрадісної самотньої мами Аспен 🥰

[Lover of Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Echoes of You is the second installment in the "Lost & Found" series. This is also the most recent release from this author. I had such a blast reading this one. There is something about Catherine Cowles that just completely works for me. I love everything about it and more. If you are fans of Jennifer Ryan, then I highly recommend this author to you, but most especially this series as the level of suspense is stronger in this one. Echoes of You is a story that delivers on second chance, friends to lovers, and unrequited love. If you love characters that pine for each other, are brought back together and have a solid friendship from beginning to end....you definitely need this one in your life.

Summary
In Echoes of You, our hero and heroine have been best friends for years since they were kids. The hero, Nash, is part of a big loving family and has always had their support no matter what. He is a bit of a daredevil and gets into all sorts of mischief, and danger and always getting himself hurt but cares so deeply for his community and family and most especially the one friend he won't risk losing. Then we have our heroine, Maddie, who had a very different upbringing. She grew up in a domestic abusive atmosphere. And Nash was her family but she has always wanted more but he has never been open to it. When she left her home and thought she found happiness with someone, she discovered his true motivations, and refused to enter another abusive situation, and returned home as quickly as she could. Now she is in hiding, back home with her only family and someone hunting her, but now their relationship is going to another level, but will Nash embrace what they could have and overcome his fears?

My Outlook
Echoes of You is such a fantastic read. I absolutely was charmed from beginning to end. This is most definitely a romantic suspense but very well balanced with the romance plot of the story. I absolutely loved this one, and love a good friends to lovers. This book is just evidence of why the friends to lovers trope is one of the best out there to read. Catherine Cowles delivers so strongly in this novel. Loved being able to return back to this family, and oh my goodness, all the sibling bantering is absolutely delightful. Then we have the small town aspects of the story. Now this is why small town is so wonderful and poignant to indulge in with. I love the way that the town for the most part really comes together for each other and the way that they support each other.

The actual romance that develops between the two is so captivating. We see the beginning of their relationship when they are in high school and the true tones of their friendship and my goodness my heart immediately melted seeing the type of bond that these two have for each other. Then we have the seperation. The heroine is in a abusive relationship and escapes it to the only family and home she has ever known and in reality she is really coming back to Nash. We see how subconsciously she knows he can protect her and be her safe haven. But man this book had me in all my feels. We see the way in which these two pine for each other and its so captivating. At first we just see the heroine pining for the hero but as the story progresses we see that the hero has always wanted more with Maddie, but as these two learn to let go of their reservations, they really connect on a more romantic level and I absolutely adored seeing this stage in their relationship. I adored everything about this pair here. They just clicked on all the right levels and I became so endeared by the sweet nature of their relationship. I can't wait to see the next one.

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 5
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine:5
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels:5
Ending:5
Overall View:5

[Megan Coggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I would put up with a million monsters for you.”

Ok this book was slightly similar to the first, childhood best friends, time apart, second chance lovers.

I love a cop so Nash was great. Goofy funny food motivated.
Maddie with the abusive ex & terrible childhood home life storyline.

Low spice but solid suspense plot

I just wish this hadn’t come right after what I feel was slightly similar to the first.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise surprise…ANOTHER PHENOMENAL BOOK FROM MY FAVE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE AUTHOR!! I don’t know how she does it, but Catherine Cowles has some magic that she weaves into each and every one of her books, and I never want to let them go. They are so fcking beautiful and have so many underlying messages that hit home.

I listened to bits of this on audio and THE PERFECT NARRATOR CHOICES WERE MADE 🤝👏🏼

Buckle up & prepare to get emotionally fcked up because damnnnnn, this one was a wild ride. Maddie oh Maddie. My heart hurts for her because she had the absolute worst upbringing, and bad things tend to repeat themselves in her world. Luckily, she has the best, most protective & hot bestie, Nash, who has always been there for her and always will be. The two radiate love for each other and there’s so much mutual pinning, ugh it’s my favorite. This is why friends to lovers hits so good, besties!!!!

“I’d loved Nash for most of my life. I’d loved him with silent words echoed in the dark. I’d loved him with whispered words carried on the wind. I’d loved him every single day, even when I thought there was no hope of him ever returning the feeling. I would love him now, too.”

Maddie escapes back to her home town, and tries to settle back into the way her life used to be, only now she’s hiding and trying to avoid her past and present colliding. Nash is immediately drawn back into her orbit and stays with her in her cute cabin to protect her in any way he can, and boy does he do a great job 🤭😏 they stumble back into their old routines & realize there was a reason why they’ve gotten along so well for all these years.

But don’t get it twisted, there are so many jaw dropping, edge-of-your-seat gripping moments that made me unable to do anything else besides finish the book!!! I couldn’t put it down.

10/10 recommend and I am sooooooooooo excited for glimmers of you holy shit!!!!!

Spice: 🌶️

Tropes:
Small town
Forced proximity
Heroine in hiding
Childhood Best-friends to lovers
Romantic suspense
It’s always been you
Only one bed

[maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

new fave series :)

[meg ☾ ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was very meh. way too much going on and 0 tension, some parts i was like aw cute but then a lot of the time i audibly said ‘oh i didn’t like that’

[Elyvia (eliv_bookstagram)]

DNF 55%, I can't 😭😭😭
Friends to Lovers + It's Always Been You will not work for me.
Plus, the FMC life is just too sad and heartbreaking. I want to feel sorry, but I feel like she could've avoided it if she had communicated. I'm not judging regarding the abuse, I mean if they TALKED they could be together, but instead, he drives her to the hands of the abuser. The MMC said he had been in love with her since they were young but went ahead to date and hook up with other people for what? There's not enough reason for them not to be together, apart from being scared to ruin their friendship, and that's, for me, is the cardinal sin in Friends to Lovers.
Lastly, too many villain😂

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I LOVED this AAAAAHHH! A really romantic but also action packed romantic suspense story. This series seems to be getting better and better and I am really invested in this town/family. Catherine is so good at writing romance and couples who are just absolute soulmates. I loved how protective Nash was and him and Maddie had such a swoon worthy childhood friends to lovers romance. There was a little bit tooo much suspense in the end there I was like will this couple know peace? 😂 but overall I really enjoyed this! SO GOOD!!!!





****thank you Catherine Cowles for the ARC copy for review

[jfdbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

couldn't connect to this one as much for some reason