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Beautiful Souls #5

Destined Souls

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Ending my marriage is one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I vowed never to settle for anything less than I deserved again. In fact, taking time for myself—with no distractions—was all I needed.

Of course, I never saw him coming. Gorgeous and amusing, he convinced me to agree to five rules.
Number one: Only lies.
Number two: One day only.
Number three: Have fun.
Number four: Speak of nothing sad.
Number five: No falling in love.
It was completely out of my comfort zone, but I owed my recovering heart a day of celebration.

One thing is for certain. That day changed my life in more ways than one. I never thought I’d see my handsome mystery man again, and I definitely didn’t plan to run into him while holding his baby in my arms.

The situation has changed, but my convictions stand, and I won’t settle for anyone ever again. One day and a baby doesn’t guarantee a life of happiness.
Only he refuses to let me go.
So now, I have to figure out where we go from here.

Book 5 in The Beautiful Souls Collection. Can be read as a standalone. For readers 18+ due to mature content.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2022

76 people are currently reading
1875 people want to read

About the author

Ellie Wade

44 books1,126 followers
Ellie Wade resides in southwest Michigan with her husband, three young children, and two dogs. She has a Master’s degree in education from Eastern Michigan University and is a huge University of Michigan sports fan. She loves the beauty of her home state, especially the lakes and the gorgeous autumn weather. When she is not writing, you will find her reading, snuggled up with her kids, or spending time with family and friends. She loves traveling and exploring new places with her family.

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5 stars
127 (46%)
4 stars
83 (30%)
3 stars
50 (18%)
2 stars
14 (5%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Brianna.
273 reviews259 followers
May 12, 2022
4/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶

Tropes:
- secret baby
- one night stand
- hero falls first
- second chance at love
- trust issues due to past marriage (heroine)

POV: first person - dual

Type: interconnected stand-alone (book five)

Overall I did like this. FYI it is very low angst.

I just felt like Everett was the only one putting in effort and fought for love when it went against his thing about “never begging to be love”. At no point did Cat fight for him. It almost felt a bit like unrequited love.
Profile Image for Karrie Lynn.
629 reviews12 followers
April 18, 2022
I have been waiting for Cat's story ever since we first met her and boy was it worth the wait.
After a 10 year marriage that was nothing like she imagined, Cat finds herself at the bar in a casino after signing divorce papers when everything changes. A game full of lies with a handsome stranger leads to the best night of her life. Fast forward 1 year and Cat comes back to Michigan for a friend's wedding with a new accessory, her 3 month old daughter Benny.

Everett has been pining over the girl that got away for over a year when he spots her with a baby at a friend's wedding. Surprise Everett and Cat have mutual friends. Things take a fun turn as Everett spends the next 2 weeks trying to win over Cat so he can be in Benny's life.

Cat is so likable because as a mother she is putting her and her daughter first no matter what her heart is telling her. She wants the real deal after waiting over a decade with the wrong man. Everett is a grown guys guy who loves to party and takes life a full speed until Cat comes back. She's the one who got away and he will stop at nothing to prove to her that he can be everything she wants and needs.

There are so many fun interactions with these two in this book. They are opposites who are destined to be together no matter what the universe throws at them. I love that despite this starting as a one night stand we get to see that both parties want to make this work.

I flew through this book in a way that was like hanging out with friends. It is a story that will stick with me and I hope we get to see more from the group in Cassie's story.
Profile Image for Melissa.
389 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2024
“I would’ve found you a thousand times if I had to.”

What a cute story! I’m still obsessed with the whole beginning of this story. I won this signed copy in a giveaway and I’m so glad I did. The main characters Cat and Everett were perfection. Their whole story from start to finish was adorable. There were two shocking moments for me in the book, which I loved. I really loved how thoughtful Everett was with every detail of their dates. He gets all the brownie points from me. One of my favorite parts in the story was the way Cat always dressed to the nines. Cat and Everett were destined to be together! The ending of this book warmed my heart and it wrapped up perfectly.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Giordano.
32 reviews
June 7, 2022
Thanks for the giveaway! I’m glad this book got me into this collection. I’m glad Cat got a story. For me I felt like Cat was older than she is after reading book one. I thought she was at least early to mid 20s when Alma was only 19 but she’s around the same age in this one which was odd to me. I liked her encounter with the man at the casino but I hoped Everett would get his own story. I liked the story but thought both characters were in different places from the other books and wanted more for them. I also would love to see Ethan’s story - Leo’s best friend.
Profile Image for Marcia Esders.
974 reviews5 followers
April 20, 2022
I was quite anxious for Cat’s story but it was far better than I had imagined.
After Cat’s divorce from her heartless husband, Cat was sitting at the bar at the resort where the final papers were signed and a gorgeous kind man sat next to her and was determined to cheer her up so they made up names and stories and spent one magical day together with no strings attached.
And as fate would have it, the two star crossed lovers met again at a wedding Of their mutual friends. And do not to spoil the story, but Cat and her one night stand, Everett had plenty to talk about. They had neither one forgotten their magical day but could they rekindle their romance for a chance at the future? A must read.
Profile Image for Samantha.
7 reviews
June 12, 2022
This is the first book from this author that I have read. If they're all like this, I will not be reading another.

It has all my favorite tropes:
- secret baby
- one-night stand
- hero falls first
- second chance at love

🌶 level was a two, maybe a three.

My issue was this: She never apologized for what she did. He poured out his heart, and she said oh well. I get completely her husband messed her head up, but here is a man who from day one, she felt something for. She even mentions NUMEROUS times that he is different than Stephen. Yet, she leaves him with a note. He chases her down, pours his heart out AGAIN, and she just says, "Oh well, your love isn't enough for me." Then takes his daughter and leaves him for a month. While he is miserable and sulking because he lost the love of his life, she opens her own boutique and lives her happy little life. He has to grovel for her to even come back to him, and all she says is thank you for fighting for me.

Absolutely not.

Again, I'm not invalidating that her ex messed her up. At all.
She could have at least apologized for something.
She didn't.
She never fought for him, when he was fighting tooth and nail for her.

I gave it three stars because I love Everett.
Caterina is in her own little world and I just cannot get behind her.

Others may love this, but I feel Everett was done dirty.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ashley Sparks.
30 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2025
Book Description -

Ending my marriage is one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I vowed never to settle for anything less than I deserved again. In fact, taking time for myself—with no distractions—was all I needed.

Of course, I never saw him coming. Gorgeous and amusing, he convinced me to agree to five rules.
Number one: Only lies.
Number two: One day only.
Number three: Have fun.
Number four: Speak of nothing sad.
Number five: No falling in love.
It was completely out of my comfort zone, but I owed my recovering heart a day of celebration.

One thing is for certain. That day changed my life in more ways than one. I never thought I’d see my handsome mystery man again, and I definitely didn’t plan to run into him while holding his baby in my arms.

The situation has changed, but my convictions stand, and I won’t settle for anyone ever again. One day and a baby doesn’t guarantee a life of happiness.
Only he refuses to let me go.
So now, I have to figure out where we go from here.

🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️

Spoilers❗️

Tropes -
One night stand
Accidental baby
He falls first
Second chance
Soulmates

I gave this book 3 stars because I did like the story and I absolutely loved Everett but I just didn't really like Caterina all that much. Poor Everett poured his heart and soul into showing her that he loved her and they were made for each other and she just kept telling herself that everything he was doing wasn't enough. She then, after a night that she finally realized she loved him back, woke before him, left a note and went back to Moscow with their daughter. Leaving the poor guy devastated and miserable until he flys to Moscow and reenacts a part from her favorite movie with proof he went back for her the 1st time they met. Like girl....this mans is groveling at your feet and you keep talking yourself out of it. I just felt like he was the only one putting in any of the effort.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Edwards.
5,552 reviews9 followers
June 10, 2024
ass backwards ... "in a manner contrary to what is usual, expected or logical."

yet to read book 1 or 2!??!?!
Captivated Souls - book 3 (read in the 1st spot)
Fated Souls - book 4 (read it in the 3rd spot)
Entwined Souls - book 6 (reading in the 2nd spot)
i read these all out of order, because they were not available in the order they have be read in. LOL!! i am reading book 5 now. so silly. i think book 1 is like a 6 month wait?? are you kidding me ...this is through my local library leaning program. ... so silly. wouldn't u think that they would allow more copies of a kindle book if they noticed lots of folks wanting to read it ... right??!
--
update ... i have now read book 2 & 6 ... funny how it said a 6 month wait ...but i got 2 and 6 ... so i am waiting on book 1 ... i have read these all silly like but i have enjoyed them so. i hope to read more from Ellie soon.

i am thinking i loved book 2 more ...now as i have said i have yet to read book 1 ... which is kind of hilarious that i am reading all of these so (what is the saying??!)
ass backwards ... "in a manner contrary to what is usual, expected or logical."
i am smiling. aren't you?
Profile Image for Crystal.
92 reviews3 followers
May 5, 2022
First I need to state that I won a copy of this book in a giveaway through GoodReads, this doesn’t effect my review.

Second, I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series and loved that it was part of a series but could also be a stand alone book too. It also made me think I may go back and read the others in the series.

I enjoyed Destined Souls, it was a cute book about love, walls, and being vulnerable.

Cat and Everett meet at a casino after Cat signed divorce papers and agreed to have a day of fun, mostly lies, and a few truths. That day “Daisy” and “Bernard” end up having a blast and a night of fun. A year later they meet again at a wedding of a friend and Everett has two weeks to make Cat put her walls down and make her his.
Profile Image for Proud_book_nerd  (Josie).
872 reviews3 followers
October 5, 2022
He was the only right choice

**Really a 2.5 stars**

So I loved the idea of this book when I read the synopsis, but it was a miss for me. If I had to rate parts of this story it would go like this:

Caterina: 2
Everett: 3
Story: 2.5

Unfortunately I didn't feel a connection with the characters, and it made if hard to like the story. Cat is the type of character I always find myself rooting for, however it was like she was stuck in a childish mindset and it just kept me from liking her. Everett was a good hero, with is own issues he brought to the table , but he was pretty predictable. That held true for most of the story. Interactions with friends were good but often felt too long. Not what I had hoped for.
2,439 reviews3 followers
November 14, 2024
Everett had a night with Cat but they used fake names knowing it was a chance encounter. Once their night was over they went their separate ways.
A year later at a friends wedding they run into each other but Cat has a 3 month old surprise for Everett.
He wants to see if they have a future together so he sets out to make her fall in love with him. In the end it wasn't enough and she left him and went back to Russia.
For Cat she had been in a loveless marriage for over 10 years and she didn't want to take a chance that he just wanted her because of their baby.
Everett sets out to prove to her that she is what he wants. I did hate that Everett felt like he had to beg Cat for her love. Something he never wanted to do because of how his mom lived her life.
A great read!
Profile Image for Lyn Brownlie.
670 reviews15 followers
March 6, 2025
Destiny wins out ♥️
Wow! I loved this story.
What an amazing start to a story, Cat and Everett were just so perfect together for that one day of silliness and fun.
Little did they know that this would not be the end of their story.
Destiny has a way of placing you in the exact spots that you need to be in.
Once they meet again and reconnect Everett is desperate to show her just how he has always felt from their first meeting.
Will Cat head back to Russia, walking away from the man that changed her world? Or will she be brave and stay?
Will Everett follow if she truly does leave him?
An amazing story with fantastic characters, emotional at times, steamy scenes and so great to have all the characters from past stories appearing.
I love Ellie’s stories, they mess with your emotions in a good way - feeling the love, angst and making you think about each story well after you have finished reading / listening to it.
Once again the narrators of this audiobook Savannah Thomas and Christian Leatherman were amazing, I loved their voices.
They made the telling of this story so real and believable.
Profile Image for Donna.
1,180 reviews
July 5, 2022
I love how all these books can be read separately, but are amazing when you read them in order! When we first meet Catarina she is married to Alma's boyfriends brother Stephen. Fast forward 10 years and that marriage is over. The day she signed her divorce papers, in a casino no less, she meets a man. They agree to play a game of lies. No truths or anything hurtful. They make up fake names and embark on a fun, laughter filled day and night. Fast forward another year and they meet again at a friend's wedding. Is this destiny?? You have to read it to believe it. Beautifully written!
2,058 reviews9 followers
January 11, 2025
Audiobook: I was entertained by this story. I appreciated the setting which began in Las Vegas. I enjoyed the game which Caterina and Everett played when they first met. I liked the characters as they struggled to find one another. There were some steamy descriptions. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I thought Savannah Thomas' and Christian Leatherman's dual narrations were a pleasure to listen to and easy to follow. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
2,647 reviews46 followers
April 28, 2022
I had been intrigued with Cat since we first met her. She was one of those characters you really didn’t know if you wanted to love or hate. Especially her connection to Leo from Bared Souls. What we get with this story is one of an unexpected day that leads to something more but who knew the connections that would be a part of it in the long run. Cat is a fighter. She wants to be her own person again after everything she had endured at the hands of her ex and when that is finalized, a man walks into her life and changes it within 24 hours. Everett is just amazing. He is one of those guys that you will want to either love or be besties with. He is all in once he finds out about the baby that the one day of magic created.
Seeing the push and pull between these two is raw, intense and emotional. I can understand where Cat is coming from because of her history but I live for how Everett fights for her. How he wants to be with her and not just because they created that precious baby. This book is a flood of emotions and will hit you hard with the feels. One thing I love about Wade’s books is that she focuses on the story building, not just the steam. There is some but it is more about seeing the relationship grow, how they work out their issues and so much more. Giving you the nitty gritty of how to work on things between two people who care as much for each other like Everett and Cat do. Loved this story, this series as a whole and I cannot get enough!
Profile Image for Danii Savage.
366 reviews5 followers
June 20, 2022
I honestly wanted to like this book. The characters were fairly likable and the story kept me interested, but I found everything that happened to be too perfect. It was to the point of it being unbelievable and unrealistic. I guess “Destined” is in the title, so that’s how the story is supposed be, but it felt inauthentic. There were many paragraphs that felt repetitive as if it was added for filler. Halfway through, I could not wait for the novel to be over. Overall, I think this narrative style just isn’t for me.

I received this digital advance reader’s copy through a Goodreads giveaway.
Profile Image for Amy.
575 reviews32 followers
June 19, 2022
Our fate was written in the stars.

I absolutely adored Everett and Cat’s story! This entire series has been amazing, definitely one of my favorites. I was anxiously awaiting Cat’s story, ever since book one and I was definitely not disappointed… Ellie has this beautiful way of capturing moments where you feel like you are right there with the readers, experiencing everything with them.

I will always be his Daisy, and he will always be the love of my life.
Profile Image for Morgan Leigh.
845 reviews39 followers
April 23, 2023
only truths

I saw a video about this book.. how after a one night stand and a year later the two reunite and surprise surprise - baby!! Ahh I’m obsessed with that type of story line.

I loved Emmett and Cat, they were for sure destined to be with one another. I loved how there was like zero outside drama (even tho I do think it would have added a little pizazz).

This book had some in happy tears! Read it!
Profile Image for Sabrina Barnes.
37 reviews1 follower
September 25, 2024
I did really like this one! But, I did think it last a bit longer than it needed to. I do understand why Cat was hesitant to trust because Everett did leave the hotel that first morning…but I almost felt like she was being vindictive? They agreed to the terms and then she just leaves with their baby a year later. I don’t know. But, all in all it was a cute love story. I loved the way he fought for her and came to get her and the surprise twist of him revealing he did run back to the hotel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
30 reviews
May 3, 2022
Another amazing story

I had been waiting for Cat's story since the beginning of the series. I'm so glad she met Everett and they were able to have a happily ever after. Ellie I love your stories featuring our lovely state of Michigan
Profile Image for Nicole Marie Johnson.
817 reviews22 followers
March 26, 2023
I absolutely loved getting Cat’s story! I also loved Everett’s personality in previous books so it was great to see more of him and have more depth into him as well as Cat too! Very cute and I am so happy to see Cat with a HEA.
75 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2023
Beautiful

A story about finding your true love, but also learning to love yourself. Cat has been hurt and left, but a magical night changes her forever. They go on a journey together and in the end find their way.
Profile Image for Michon Carrier.
200 reviews
May 28, 2024
Loved this book. The internal struggle with Cat and the forever love by Everett is beautiful. I have completed the series as I read the last book after the second, but still loved them all even if I spoiled the story.
84 reviews2 followers
June 9, 2022
Loved it!

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book for me to read. I loved meeting the characters. I think another of this series is in my future.
51 reviews
August 25, 2022
Another amazing story in this series. The characters draw you in from page 1.
Profile Image for Jennifer Jones.
152 reviews1 follower
January 15, 2023
5 Stars

This was probably the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given. I could definitely read more books featuring Cat and Everett.
I love Cat’s dad, too.
Profile Image for Lydia Osborne.
12 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2024
I’m so happy Ellie decided to write a wonderful story for Cat, I felt she needed something better in her life. I love how daisy and Bernardo met, such a fun game to start the rest of their life!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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