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Tattered & Torn #0.5
Snowbound
Author Catherine Cowles brings you a FREE small-town romance short story!
A woman on the run, snowed in with her brother's best friend... What could go wrong?
Snowbound is a short story in the Tattered & Torn Series.
Download the eBook or the audio, narrated by Sebastian York & Ava Erickson.
A woman on the run, snowed in with her brother's best friend... What could go wrong?
Snowbound is a short story in the Tattered & Torn Series.
Download the eBook or the audio, narrated by Sebastian York & Ava Erickson.
32 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2022
About the author
Catherine Cowles
48 books30.8k followersWriter 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
May 27, 2023
IF THIS WERE A FULL-LENGTH NOVEL, I’D TEAR IT TO PIECES!! 🤡
***non-spoiler thoughts***
lol i feel like this novella in general represents Catherine Cowles & her works succinctly & flawlessly. if youre wondering what her books are like or whether shes the author for you, this novella is the perfect introduction. its short, you’ll finish it in 10 minutes. its got no feels, but you’ll get the point that Ms. Cowles writes “emotional” small town romance with suspense and (closed door) smut.
on another note, if we’re talking about the story specifically, imo it doesnt work as a short story because the MCs have unpacked history and theres too much happening in a limited amount of time. so, this novella simply reads bizarre, corny, and rushed. i feel like it’d work better if this were an instalove between two strangers. essentially, its about a woman on the run from her stalker boyfriend, and shes snowed in with her brothers best friend.
***spoiler thoughts***
if this romance was a full length novel, i’d hate it because:
1) its (quasi) second chance, brothers best friend, friends to estranged to lovers.
2) after the MCs grow apart for who knows how long, its the h who approaches the H first...and its because shes in danger and needs HIS help. 🙄 if the h didnt make the first step, who knows how long it’d take for them to reunite.
3) whats with this chickeENshiT mentality...
the H cuts off the friendship because he develops feelings for the h. instead of talking about it with the h and be upfront with her brother (his best friend), he runs away.🚶♂️🔫
4)
if they’d simply communicated, the h wouldnt have a stalker for a boyfriend and the two of them wouldve lived HEA by now. 🙃
i know if the characters did everything right, there wouldnt be any story to tell. but im just letting y’all know second chance romances frustrate me. not my cup of tea.
***non-spoiler thoughts***
lol i feel like this novella in general represents Catherine Cowles & her works succinctly & flawlessly. if youre wondering what her books are like or whether shes the author for you, this novella is the perfect introduction. its short, you’ll finish it in 10 minutes. its got no feels, but you’ll get the point that Ms. Cowles writes “emotional” small town romance with suspense and (closed door) smut.
on another note, if we’re talking about the story specifically, imo it doesnt work as a short story because the MCs have unpacked history and theres too much happening in a limited amount of time. so, this novella simply reads bizarre, corny, and rushed. i feel like it’d work better if this were an instalove between two strangers. essentially, its about a woman on the run from her stalker boyfriend, and shes snowed in with her brothers best friend.
***spoiler thoughts***
if this romance was a full length novel, i’d hate it because:
1) its (quasi) second chance, brothers best friend, friends to estranged to lovers.
2) after the MCs grow apart for who knows how long, its the h who approaches the H first...and its because shes in danger and needs HIS help. 🙄 if the h didnt make the first step, who knows how long it’d take for them to reunite.
3) whats with this chickeENshiT mentality...
“Why’d you leave?” (h)
“We were spending too much time together. I was thinking about things that had no business being in my head.” (H)
“You guys went through so much when your dad died, and Drew put so much pressure on himself to take care of you and your mom. He was always so protective of you. Never wanted any of our friends anywhere near you. I just—I couldn’t add more stress to his plate.” (H)
the H cuts off the friendship because he develops feelings for the h. instead of talking about it with the h and be upfront with her brother (his best friend), he runs away.🚶♂️🔫
4)
“It may have taken seeing you scared out of your mind and frozen half to death to knock some damn sense into me, but I don’t want to lose you either. Never again.”
if they’d simply communicated, the h wouldnt have a stalker for a boyfriend and the two of them wouldve lived HEA by now. 🙃
i know if the characters did everything right, there wouldnt be any story to tell. but im just letting y’all know second chance romances frustrate me. not my cup of tea.
Read
April 5, 2024Super fast paced, even for a novella 🥺Wish it had been a little bit longer!
January 27, 2023
I don’t find pleasure in hating on a beloved author to so many readers but…what the freaking hell was that? I’ve never heard of these characters, so many bizarre things happened in such a short amount of time and again, it’s all just kind of corny.
February 7, 2024
I wish it was longer…
February 24, 2023
Since I’m gonna want to read the Tattered & Torn series I decided I wanted to read this little novella as well. It’s cute and suspenseful but it’s as short as it gets so I cannot give it more than 3 stars since I don’t have much to take on. But definitely sets the mood to wanting to read the series. Catherine’s writing is immensely beautiful 🥰
May 31, 2023
A super quick novella. Read this before starting the Tattered & Torn series. Emery and Cooper need their own story. Maybe them returning to Wolf Gap?
Excited to read the rest of the series, since I live in Oregon :)
Excited to read the rest of the series, since I live in Oregon :)
June 3, 2026
3 ⭐ (plot) —> 4 ⭐ (audio!)
A MF small-town romance with brother's best-friend, damsel in distress & a stalker ex.
I think I got the audiobook for free in some promo. This is a fast listen! I'm not sure about the story, but the narrators were very pleasant to listen 😍. For an audiobook, those make or break it, fr. I've actually listened to another of Sebastian's book on repeat many times & couldn't help but think of that MC 😂. I hate being critical of stories but...
Emery escapes during snow time to Cooper's house. He's her brother's friend who moved away. She needs his help as her ex is an asshole. Plot twist, these 2 liked eachother but SOMEONE'd felt scared & ran away.
The talks reveal feelings in one fell swoop & I'm like: this was too easy, these 2 couldn't have talked this frankly before the ex came into picture? The pain could've been avoided. Girl didn't have his no• but when she needed him, she found him. Just goes to show, they remember eachother in desperation... This reads more like a climax of a book NGL.
So much plot happened & even spice but I didn't get as much feel for the characters, which is important to me. She seems sweet, he's protective. Kinda generic ya? It could work, but it needs more chapters to add depth.
Atleast, this can work as a standalone which is good - I didn't get confused as we're fed the backstories lol.
I would give the story just a 3 for the plot, for action in climax. They did kinda gloss over a killing which was weird 😅. I mean, I get it, he was ass. I'm upping to 4 star ⭐ for the narrators. It is kinda funny to listen to a MF romance in dual narration as they try opposite gender voice, but they did good. For them, I listened to it again on the next day 😂. I can turn my mind off & just follow their tenor lol.
Audiobook/Story ratings:
POV: 1st person, Dual POV
Narration: Dual. Sebastian York & Ava Erickson.
Story arc: 3/5
Voice acting: 9/10
FB Page | Instagram | Bookbub | FB group
A MF small-town romance with brother's best-friend, damsel in distress & a stalker ex.
I think I got the audiobook for free in some promo. This is a fast listen! I'm not sure about the story, but the narrators were very pleasant to listen 😍. For an audiobook, those make or break it, fr. I've actually listened to another of Sebastian's book on repeat many times & couldn't help but think of that MC 😂. I hate being critical of stories but...
Emery escapes during snow time to Cooper's house. He's her brother's friend who moved away. She needs his help as her ex is an asshole. Plot twist, these 2 liked eachother but SOMEONE'd felt scared & ran away.
The talks reveal feelings in one fell swoop & I'm like: this was too easy, these 2 couldn't have talked this frankly before the ex came into picture? The pain could've been avoided. Girl didn't have his no• but when she needed him, she found him. Just goes to show, they remember eachother in desperation... This reads more like a climax of a book NGL.
So much plot happened & even spice but I didn't get as much feel for the characters, which is important to me. She seems sweet, he's protective. Kinda generic ya? It could work, but it needs more chapters to add depth.
Atleast, this can work as a standalone which is good - I didn't get confused as we're fed the backstories lol.
I would give the story just a 3 for the plot, for action in climax. They did kinda gloss over a killing which was weird 😅. I mean, I get it, he was ass. I'm upping to 4 star ⭐ for the narrators. It is kinda funny to listen to a MF romance in dual narration as they try opposite gender voice, but they did good. For them, I listened to it again on the next day 😂. I can turn my mind off & just follow their tenor lol.
Audiobook/Story ratings:
POV: 1st person, Dual POV
Narration: Dual. Sebastian York & Ava Erickson.
Story arc: 3/5
Voice acting: 9/10
FB Page | Instagram | Bookbub | FB group
December 26, 2025
This one is short, but there is a lot packed into it. I liked that Emery knew she had a safe person to run to when needed and how Cooper was there for her without many questions asked. And when push came to shove, he did what he needed to, to protect her. Nice to see how things ended for the couple.
December 23, 2024
2.5⭐️ this would’ve worked better as a full length novel
February 26, 2026
2.75* I understand this was supposed to be short but I wish it was at least 60 ish pages and little more developed.
December 3, 2025
Need this as a whole book 😅
April 17, 2023
A minha estreia com a autora e a minha estreia com audiobooks!!! Posso dizer que gostei muito desta experiência e de conhecer a escrita da autora. O único "defeito" a apontar é que é muito curto...queria mais, mas entendo o porquê de ser assim e a verdade é que deixa o leitor intrigado para a saga e o que poderá acontecer ao Hayes. Vou certamente continuar a ler os livros da autora, pois adorei o pouco que li aqui ❤️
January 9, 2023
What a fast paced little package of Catherine Cowles writing! I enjoyed this snowy short story!
February 18, 2023
Originally titled Escape to Mistletoe Mountain and published in a Christmas anthology, this novella is now available free in ebook and audiobook from the author’s website -https://www.catherinecowles.com/bonus-content.
4 stars!
This is such a cute story! It’s a novella that fits in as a sort-of prequel to the Tattered & Torn series, but can easily be read as a standalone. It’s super-short, but still packs an emotional punch as a woman running from danger runs right into the arms of her brother’s best friend, the man she’s loved for years.
Emery is driving through snowy rural Oregon, on the run and seeking safety and solace with her oldest and dearest friend, Cooper. Her older brother’s best friend, she has loved him for as long as she can remember, but he left their home town of Nashville years ago, and they haven’t seen each other since.
What she doesn’t realise is that Cooper left Nashville to escape his feelings for his best friend’s little sister, and when she turns up on his doorstep in the middle of a snowstorm, desperate and seeking his help, he welcomes her with open arms.
This is a really quick read, so there’s no time for too much drama or mucking about. After reporting Emery’s threat to local Sheriff, Hayes (a fun cameo from the hero of book #1, Tattered Stars), Emery and Cooper waste no time in catching up on their years apart, and confessing their long-avoided feelings.
It’s sweet, sexy and swoony, and even in 50ish pages, Cowles manages to bring the emotion, and I loved watching these two so naturally and effortlessly come together.
This is such a sweet read, I loved it. 4 stars.
4 stars!
This is such a cute story! It’s a novella that fits in as a sort-of prequel to the Tattered & Torn series, but can easily be read as a standalone. It’s super-short, but still packs an emotional punch as a woman running from danger runs right into the arms of her brother’s best friend, the man she’s loved for years.
Emery is driving through snowy rural Oregon, on the run and seeking safety and solace with her oldest and dearest friend, Cooper. Her older brother’s best friend, she has loved him for as long as she can remember, but he left their home town of Nashville years ago, and they haven’t seen each other since.
What she doesn’t realise is that Cooper left Nashville to escape his feelings for his best friend’s little sister, and when she turns up on his doorstep in the middle of a snowstorm, desperate and seeking his help, he welcomes her with open arms.
“Thought about you every damn day. Hell, sometimes it felt like every moment.”
This is a really quick read, so there’s no time for too much drama or mucking about. After reporting Emery’s threat to local Sheriff, Hayes (a fun cameo from the hero of book #1, Tattered Stars), Emery and Cooper waste no time in catching up on their years apart, and confessing their long-avoided feelings.
“I missed you,” I croaked. “I don’t want to lose you again.”
Fire blazed in those emerald depths. “It may have taken seeing you scared out of your mind and frozen half to death to knock some damn sense into me, but I don’t want to lose you either. Never again.”
It’s sweet, sexy and swoony, and even in 50ish pages, Cowles manages to bring the emotion, and I loved watching these two so naturally and effortlessly come together.
“Love you, Em. Always have, always will.”
This is such a sweet read, I loved it. 4 stars.
March 26, 2023
Why did this feel like I read an epilogue of a story that was never written instead of an actual short story??
Emery has a dangerous stalker ex, so in order to feel safer, she travelled from Nashville to Oregon in the middle of a snowstorm just days before Christmas, to her brothers best friend’s cabin (which also doesn’t have any cell service).
Emery and Cooper clearly have some serious history between each other, but what is that? We’ll never know.
I think there’s potential here but this didn’t make a lot of sense as a short story because it can’t really stand on its own as it’s currently presented.
cw: murder (in self defense), loss of parent from cancer, stalker
Emery has a dangerous stalker ex, so in order to feel safer, she travelled from Nashville to Oregon in the middle of a snowstorm just days before Christmas, to her brothers best friend’s cabin (which also doesn’t have any cell service).
Emery and Cooper clearly have some serious history between each other, but what is that? We’ll never know.
I think there’s potential here but this didn’t make a lot of sense as a short story because it can’t really stand on its own as it’s currently presented.
cw: murder (in self defense), loss of parent from cancer, stalker
July 24, 2023
this was a cute short story, and if I'm being honest I would of loved a full length of this. it was cute just like all of Catherine's other books, but it felt rushed at the end. But also it was a short story so it makes sense. The narration was really good. Definitely a quick read/listen!
March 27, 2024
I love CC above all but this was just?? There were cute scenes and I love the "I had nowhere else to go" trope hihi but we don't know these characters at all and like...28 pages is too little time for all the plot that happened 🙃 also I might be wrong but they never appear again the series, so...felt a bit unnecessary
January 23, 2025
I always enjoy a novella but this story felt so rushed. I mean I can’t complain because it was only 30 pages! But I really liked the story and wish there could of been more and we could of learned more about the characters. GIVE ME MORE
May 8, 2026
There’s fast paced books and then there’s lightning speed paced books. 😅 Lmao
I love Catherine Cowles and her books, but this one was a little too fast, would’ve loved at least 20 pages more so I could at least get a little attached to these characters. 😭
I love Catherine Cowles and her books, but this one was a little too fast, would’ve loved at least 20 pages more so I could at least get a little attached to these characters. 😭
June 3, 2023
This lil pre novella was unnecessary. It’s so short and fast paced. I’d be interested in a full length novel of these characters but this? Nope.
July 20, 2023
Pensé que era la introducción del primer libro, pero no.
December 12, 2023
the whiplash this gave me was insane even by prequel novella standards, but i guess you gotta set up a new series somehow!
January 23, 2024
Should be a novel
July 2, 2024
I wish it was a bit longer, even for a novella it was too fast for me. I love the introduction to this new series though. Can't wait to continue with Tattered the Stars now
September 14, 2024
Hikayesi güzeldi keşke roman olsaymış, böyle çok kısa oldu.
March 4, 2025
Cute little short story!! If you have read Catherine you know this is an easy fun read!! With raw emotion and spice in just about 30 pages!! Give it a read!! It won’t take long🥰
May 10, 2025
Well that felt pointless. And rushed. The story had potential but this wasn’t nearly long enough to make use of that. Only here for the Hayes cameo
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews