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Lost & Found #1
Whispers of You
Special Edition
One night—a single bullet—cost me everything.
My body, broken beyond repair. The boy I’d thought was my forever. The life I’d always dreamt of.
Now, Holt’s back. And he’s no longer a boy, but a man with shadows in his eyes and demons haunting him.
He says he’s here to make things right. To get back a little bit of all we’ve lost. And he doesn’t show any signs of leaving the small town that has been my refuge.
As stolen moments turn to days, Holt’s around every corner. With his burning stare and lingering touches. Before long, my walls come crashing down and I’m just hoping that taking this second chance isn’t as reckless as it feels.
But not everyone is happy that Holt has returned. As tragedy strikes again, I’m the one left in the crosshairs. And Holt might not be able to save me this time…
One night—a single bullet—cost me everything.
My body, broken beyond repair. The boy I’d thought was my forever. The life I’d always dreamt of.
Now, Holt’s back. And he’s no longer a boy, but a man with shadows in his eyes and demons haunting him.
He says he’s here to make things right. To get back a little bit of all we’ve lost. And he doesn’t show any signs of leaving the small town that has been my refuge.
As stolen moments turn to days, Holt’s around every corner. With his burning stare and lingering touches. Before long, my walls come crashing down and I’m just hoping that taking this second chance isn’t as reckless as it feels.
But not everyone is happy that Holt has returned. As tragedy strikes again, I’m the one left in the crosshairs. And Holt might not be able to save me this time…
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2023
7508 people are currently reading
56594 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cowles
51 books27.5k 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 4,031 reviews
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March 8, 2023oof. i was really looking forward to this one because everyone seems to love this author and this is my first read by her. maybe it's because i finished a book with an incredibly similar premise recently, maybe i'm just in a bad mood or maaaaaybe it's the:
- lack of well developed characters
- lack of relationship development
- lack of "place" and description
honestly, i feel bad complaining because it's not a poorly written book. but you're thrown into a story where we're supposed to believe in the second chance romance without having seen much/any of it on page. we have tragic circumstances pulling these two apart but little to show us why they should be together in the first place. and i guess i know the names of their professions but that's all i know about them. no hobbies, interests, quirks, besides the heroine enjoying Little Women (which is mentioned waaaaay too many times).
i have a feeling if i had kept reading this it would have been a three star read. again, not awful. and am willing to read another book by this author in the future but this wasn't a perfect book for me.
- lack of well developed characters
- lack of relationship development
- lack of "place" and description
honestly, i feel bad complaining because it's not a poorly written book. but you're thrown into a story where we're supposed to believe in the second chance romance without having seen much/any of it on page. we have tragic circumstances pulling these two apart but little to show us why they should be together in the first place. and i guess i know the names of their professions but that's all i know about them. no hobbies, interests, quirks, besides the heroine enjoying Little Women (which is mentioned waaaaay too many times).
i have a feeling if i had kept reading this it would have been a three star read. again, not awful. and am willing to read another book by this author in the future but this wasn't a perfect book for me.
February 16, 2024
4.5 stars.
" But when you turned off the pain, you turned off the pleasure."
I couldn't have put it any better than Wren to emphasize what she and Holt did to survive throughout their breakup. 💔
That was for sure an emotional roller coaster although the skeleton of the story was your classic Catherine Cowles' romance mixed with some suspense and plenty of action in the end. I personally don’t mind the repetitive schemes
‘cause the way she has of pulling the protagonists into a pure and healthy relationship and contrast it with all the violence and mystery which surround them, never fails to seduce me!
"Then one guttural sob pierced the air, and my chest cracked right along with it.
Another sounded, a third on its heels.
There was a brokenness to the noise that I’d never heard in all my life. A brokenness that had been living in Wren since that day ten years ago. A brokenness I’d left her alone in"
It was a second chance romance and it honestly hurt.( it’s a huge part of why I’m not really a fan of it, it always hurts! )
“I don’t give a damn about the five minutes you missed that night. I give a damn about the last ten years you threw away. " 💔
Holt went missing from Wren's life for ten years because of a tragic event . He returned to their small town after his father's heart attack and had to eventually confront Wren because she had always been a constant in the Hartleys family.
"Cricket.”
Her nickname only made Wren cry harder. “Don’t. I know I wasn’t enough, but I can’t be reminded of that every day. I can’t do it."
She went through the time they were appart thinking she was never enough for him. He kept convincing himself that he failed her in every sense of the word and had never been worthy of her. These two made me ugly cry more than once. It was a beautifully written love story, miss Cowles has for sure out did herself with all the heavy and heartbreaking storyline.
" Both of us trying not to miss a single thing.
Because a fear still lived down deep; one that told me the whispers of him would be all I ever had."
And ofc, I didn’t suspect the real villain. 🙃
" But when you turned off the pain, you turned off the pleasure."
I couldn't have put it any better than Wren to emphasize what she and Holt did to survive throughout their breakup. 💔
That was for sure an emotional roller coaster although the skeleton of the story was your classic Catherine Cowles' romance mixed with some suspense and plenty of action in the end. I personally don’t mind the repetitive schemes
‘cause the way she has of pulling the protagonists into a pure and healthy relationship and contrast it with all the violence and mystery which surround them, never fails to seduce me!
"Then one guttural sob pierced the air, and my chest cracked right along with it.
Another sounded, a third on its heels.
There was a brokenness to the noise that I’d never heard in all my life. A brokenness that had been living in Wren since that day ten years ago. A brokenness I’d left her alone in"
It was a second chance romance and it honestly hurt.( it’s a huge part of why I’m not really a fan of it, it always hurts! )
“I don’t give a damn about the five minutes you missed that night. I give a damn about the last ten years you threw away. " 💔
Holt went missing from Wren's life for ten years because of a tragic event . He returned to their small town after his father's heart attack and had to eventually confront Wren because she had always been a constant in the Hartleys family.
"Cricket.”
Her nickname only made Wren cry harder. “Don’t. I know I wasn’t enough, but I can’t be reminded of that every day. I can’t do it."
She went through the time they were appart thinking she was never enough for him. He kept convincing himself that he failed her in every sense of the word and had never been worthy of her. These two made me ugly cry more than once. It was a beautifully written love story, miss Cowles has for sure out did herself with all the heavy and heartbreaking storyline.
" Both of us trying not to miss a single thing.
Because a fear still lived down deep; one that told me the whispers of him would be all I ever had."
And ofc, I didn’t suspect the real villain. 🙃
March 21, 2025
4.5 stars
Whispers of You completely wrecked my heart in the worst way possible—and then put it back together. It’s one of the most heartbreaking second-chance romances I’ve ever read. Catherine did an astounding job weaving the romance with the mystery plot. This was my first book by her, and it’s no surprise that she’s now an auto-buy author for me. Her writing is simple yet captivating, and she has a way of breaking your heart by delving so deeply into the emotional and tragic lives of Wren and Holt. The plot kept me hooked, constantly guessing who was truly behind the tragic incident. And that reveal at the end? Never saw it coming!
This book was an intense rollercoaster ride. The story follows Wren and Holt—childhood sweethearts torn apart by a tragic event that changed their lives and the lives of everyone in Cedar Ridge. It’s a story about young love and how tragedy can shatter the people you love. It’s about picking up the broken pieces of your heart and life. It’s about fighting your demons and giving love a second chance. Usually, second-chance romance books alternate between past and present timelines to provide insight into the characters’ relationship development. But Catherine wrote this book entirely in the present, and still, the chemistry and romance were everything I wanted.
Wren is a survivor, a warrior who picked herself up after the devastating accident that nearly broke her. She may be soft and caring, but there’s an undeniable resilience in her. I respect and love her so much for the way she rebuilt her life—turning her trauma into something meaningful, helping people in their most vulnerable moments. Even after experiencing unimaginable loss, she found purpose. And when Holt came back into her life after a decade, she gave them another chance, even though it was the hardest thing she had ever done.
“Both of us trying not to miss a single thing. Because a fear still lived down deep; one that told me the whispers of him would be all I ever had.”
Holt is the protector—the man with the golden heart. There’s no better way to describe him. He’s kind and loyal to a fault, always putting others before himself. But that also means he believes he doesn’t deserve good things. That’s why he left Wren—because he thought he had failed her. His need to run from his demons was stronger than his ability to stay, and my heart broke for him. What I loved most was that even after returning to town, Holt didn’t push himself back into Wren’s life. He waited until she was ready. The way he protected her every time, the way he loved her—it was so admirable. This man is a keeper.
“When life hit hard, you were the only person I wanted, the only place I wanted to be. You, more than anything, were home.”
Everything about Wren and Holt is so pure, so genuine. Their story is devastating, and Catherine knows how to make me cry because THE ROMANCE? THE LONGING? THE PINING?? THE ANGST?? THE PAIN???? It all hurt so much. There was so much love and history between them, and the way they loved each other was breathtaking. Even after ten years apart, the chemistry, the spark, the need to just be together—it was still there, burning between them.
I loved how they navigated their feelings, slowly forgiving each other for what happened ten years ago. Holt made sure Wren felt safe and loved, while Wren helped Holt stop punishing himself for a tragedy that wasn’t his fault. Their relationship development was everything, and I adored how Holt waited until he knew he was in it with Wren forever before acting on his feelings. I don’t think I’ve ever rooted for a couple this much—it just proves how precious they are to me!
The final chapters were filled with action and emotional intensity. And, of course, I never suspected the real villain. There was no third-act breakup, just a beautifully satisfying ending. And that epilogue? Perfection.
I’m so invested in this series now, and I cannot wait for Nash and Roan’s books! This might just be my new favorite small-town romance series!
———————
Only a heartbreaking second chance romance can cure my reading slump
“She has my heart. My soul. Everything that’s good in me. She’s where I feel peace.”
Whispers of You completely wrecked my heart in the worst way possible—and then put it back together. It’s one of the most heartbreaking second-chance romances I’ve ever read. Catherine did an astounding job weaving the romance with the mystery plot. This was my first book by her, and it’s no surprise that she’s now an auto-buy author for me. Her writing is simple yet captivating, and she has a way of breaking your heart by delving so deeply into the emotional and tragic lives of Wren and Holt. The plot kept me hooked, constantly guessing who was truly behind the tragic incident. And that reveal at the end? Never saw it coming!
“Not going to pretend I’m not in love with you, Wren. Missed touching you. Sometimes, I’d be walking and swear I felt your hand in mine.”
This book was an intense rollercoaster ride. The story follows Wren and Holt—childhood sweethearts torn apart by a tragic event that changed their lives and the lives of everyone in Cedar Ridge. It’s a story about young love and how tragedy can shatter the people you love. It’s about picking up the broken pieces of your heart and life. It’s about fighting your demons and giving love a second chance. Usually, second-chance romance books alternate between past and present timelines to provide insight into the characters’ relationship development. But Catherine wrote this book entirely in the present, and still, the chemistry and romance were everything I wanted.
Wren is a survivor, a warrior who picked herself up after the devastating accident that nearly broke her. She may be soft and caring, but there’s an undeniable resilience in her. I respect and love her so much for the way she rebuilt her life—turning her trauma into something meaningful, helping people in their most vulnerable moments. Even after experiencing unimaginable loss, she found purpose. And when Holt came back into her life after a decade, she gave them another chance, even though it was the hardest thing she had ever done.
“Both of us trying not to miss a single thing. Because a fear still lived down deep; one that told me the whispers of him would be all I ever had.”
Holt is the protector—the man with the golden heart. There’s no better way to describe him. He’s kind and loyal to a fault, always putting others before himself. But that also means he believes he doesn’t deserve good things. That’s why he left Wren—because he thought he had failed her. His need to run from his demons was stronger than his ability to stay, and my heart broke for him. What I loved most was that even after returning to town, Holt didn’t push himself back into Wren’s life. He waited until she was ready. The way he protected her every time, the way he loved her—it was so admirable. This man is a keeper.
“When life hit hard, you were the only person I wanted, the only place I wanted to be. You, more than anything, were home.”
Everything about Wren and Holt is so pure, so genuine. Their story is devastating, and Catherine knows how to make me cry because THE ROMANCE? THE LONGING? THE PINING?? THE ANGST?? THE PAIN???? It all hurt so much. There was so much love and history between them, and the way they loved each other was breathtaking. Even after ten years apart, the chemistry, the spark, the need to just be together—it was still there, burning between them.
“I missed that sound.”
“My laugh?” She nodded, her fingers ghosting over my throat.
“I thought I’d have all your chuckles. That I’d know what it sounded like at every stage of life.”
I loved how they navigated their feelings, slowly forgiving each other for what happened ten years ago. Holt made sure Wren felt safe and loved, while Wren helped Holt stop punishing himself for a tragedy that wasn’t his fault. Their relationship development was everything, and I adored how Holt waited until he knew he was in it with Wren forever before acting on his feelings. I don’t think I’ve ever rooted for a couple this much—it just proves how precious they are to me!
“Say it again.”
“I love you.”
“The next part,” he growled, his words sending vibrations across my face.
“I never stopped loving you.”
Emotion filled Holt’s eyes, the dark blue turning to a color I couldn’t identify. A single tear slipped free and landed on my cheek. “Never thought I’d hear those words again.”
The final chapters were filled with action and emotional intensity. And, of course, I never suspected the real villain. There was no third-act breakup, just a beautifully satisfying ending. And that epilogue? Perfection.
I’m so invested in this series now, and I cannot wait for Nash and Roan’s books! This might just be my new favorite small-town romance series!
———————
Only a heartbreaking second chance romance can cure my reading slump
October 27, 2024
So, I started this on Friday and my weekend got away from me a little bit and I just picked it back up this morning. I have to say after a few days without a book I was a little disappointed with this one.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ There's nothing glaringly wrong with it. I felt the characters lacked some depth, I had a weird/hard time trying to connect with these two as a second chance romance. I didn't find the suspense very suspenseful. I guess the best way to sum up how I felt about this book would be to say that it felt like, to me, that it was just going through the motions. I didn't feel it was anything special.
This is the first time I'm reading this author so I have no other books to compare it to that are written by her...
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ The MMC is a super cinnamon roll and the FMC was a little to timid and fragile for my liking, I understand that she went through something obviously very traumatic years prior- I guess it just didn't come through to me.
Bottom line, I wasn't emotionally impacted by the story. Since it was the first book I've read from Catherine Cowles.. I'd say I will definitely try another book by her in the future, just not the immediate future.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ There's nothing glaringly wrong with it. I felt the characters lacked some depth, I had a weird/hard time trying to connect with these two as a second chance romance. I didn't find the suspense very suspenseful. I guess the best way to sum up how I felt about this book would be to say that it felt like, to me, that it was just going through the motions. I didn't feel it was anything special.
This is the first time I'm reading this author so I have no other books to compare it to that are written by her...
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ The MMC is a super cinnamon roll and the FMC was a little to timid and fragile for my liking, I understand that she went through something obviously very traumatic years prior- I guess it just didn't come through to me.
Bottom line, I wasn't emotionally impacted by the story. Since it was the first book I've read from Catherine Cowles.. I'd say I will definitely try another book by her in the future, just not the immediate future.
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1626057011i%2F10717098._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
April 20, 2023
Whispers of You is book one in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. Once again, Catherine has swept me away with these characters. We are introduced to the Hartley family and I already love them all. In this book, you are going to meet Holt and Wren, the woman who has had his heart since childhood.
Holt Hartley grew up in Cedar Ridge along with his four siblings. He has known Wren since they were children. They went from childhood friends to more. I believe they were two years apart so Wren was around sixteen, Holt eighteen, when their lives were irreparably broken. Then, he left. He tried to forget the love he left behind but it was always there. Now ten years later, it’s time to try to make things right, both with his family and with Wren. It was time to go home.
Wren Williams never even considered leaving Cedar Ridge. She loves her job, her little cabin and her dog. She’s found a family in Holt’s family. But they have one rule between them, never mention his name. The hole in her heart he left behind has never healed but she is determined to keep moving forward. But then he comes back.
Not long after Holt’s return to Cedar Ridge, trouble once again returns to their little community. Wren is in danger and Holt is determined to protect her, whether she likes it or not. As they spend time together, they finally let their guards down and talk. But can she ever really trust him again? Can she believe that he will really stay this time, that he won’t run when things get tough?
I loved Holt and Wren and their story was both heart breaking and beautiful. I loved watching them find what they’d both been missing all those years, each other. No one writes romantic suspense like Catherine Cowles. She kept me guessing all the way through this one with so many surprises along the way. I was truly on the edge of my seat!
The next book is Echoes of You and will be Holt’s brother, Nash’s book. 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...
Holt Hartley grew up in Cedar Ridge along with his four siblings. He has known Wren since they were children. They went from childhood friends to more. I believe they were two years apart so Wren was around sixteen, Holt eighteen, when their lives were irreparably broken. Then, he left. He tried to forget the love he left behind but it was always there. Now ten years later, it’s time to try to make things right, both with his family and with Wren. It was time to go home.
Wren Williams never even considered leaving Cedar Ridge. She loves her job, her little cabin and her dog. She’s found a family in Holt’s family. But they have one rule between them, never mention his name. The hole in her heart he left behind has never healed but she is determined to keep moving forward. But then he comes back.
Not long after Holt’s return to Cedar Ridge, trouble once again returns to their little community. Wren is in danger and Holt is determined to protect her, whether she likes it or not. As they spend time together, they finally let their guards down and talk. But can she ever really trust him again? Can she believe that he will really stay this time, that he won’t run when things get tough?
I loved Holt and Wren and their story was both heart breaking and beautiful. I loved watching them find what they’d both been missing all those years, each other. No one writes romantic suspense like Catherine Cowles. She kept me guessing all the way through this one with so many surprises along the way. I was truly on the edge of my seat!
The next book is Echoes of You and will be Holt’s brother, Nash’s book. 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...
January 17, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ THIS WAS MY FAVORITE CATHERINE COWLES BOOK OH MY GOMWKIZIEHWNAIW 😭
it was so emotional but in the best and softest way. wren and holt love each other so much it’s insane. i loved the story, the town and all of the characters. i didn’t know why to expect when i went into this and i think that’s why i loved it so much.
i cant wait for the other books in this series!!
“you with me?”
“i’m with you.”
it was so emotional but in the best and softest way. wren and holt love each other so much it’s insane. i loved the story, the town and all of the characters. i didn’t know why to expect when i went into this and i think that’s why i loved it so much.
i cant wait for the other books in this series!!
“you with me?”
“i’m with you.”
Read
January 31, 2023Whispers of You is HERE! And I am over the moon to finally introduce you to the Hartley family. Holt and Wren's story took me by storm 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...
💙 Second Chance
💙 Forced Proximity
💙 Small Town
💙 Security Hero
💙 Romantic Suspense
Read Now ➝
Amazon: https://geni.us/WOYAmznRP
Apple Books: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouApplBks
Nook: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouNook
Kobo: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouKobo
Google Play: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouGglPly
Audio: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouAudio
💙 Second Chance
💙 Forced Proximity
💙 Small Town
💙 Security Hero
💙 Romantic Suspense
Read Now ➝
Amazon: https://geni.us/WOYAmznRP
Apple Books: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouApplBks
Nook: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouNook
Kobo: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouKobo
Google Play: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouGglPly
Audio: https://geni.us/WhsprsofYouAudio
August 14, 2024
↝3.75★
“Don’t worry, Cricket. I’ll scare the ghosts away.”
Whispers of You is one of the best second chance romances I’ve ever read. It had me involved from the very first page. You can feel the pain, the agony Holt and Wren went through the ten years they were apart. One night, one bullet, changed so many lives. It was tragic. How old were they? Only teenagers- Holt eighteen and Wren sixteen. It shouldn’t have happened to them. They were happy, their friends and family happy. Everything was calm, serene. Everyone was content until that one dreadful incident. Everything came apart, some were dead, some grieving for their close ones they lost, some mentally broken.
There's beauty in a second chance romance. It leaves you mourning for the past they lost and joyous for the future to come. It breaks your heart in the worst possible way but then heals it by picking it piece by piece sticking it back together.
People moved on with still some minute part of them stuck on that night. But Holt and Wren couldn’t. Maybe they mastered how to mask their emotions over time but deep down they were still fearful, vulnerable.
"Because a fear still lived down deep; one that told me the whispers of him would be all I ever had.”
⋆｡°✩ Holt Hartley➵
Holt has always been the giver, the one who always took people’s burdens as his, who always was the problem solver. But also the one who resented burdening others with his issues. He was always there to protect and support Wren. He had always loved her, had a soft spot for her since childhood. Seeing Wren all bloody, pulse thready, terrified him. Even if Wren survived he couldn’t stop his mind replaying that horrible scene. He blamed himself for being late, for not being enough, for everything. It was not his fault. He thought he didn’t deserve her so even being physically present he was absent. He closed off himself and then did the one thing he thought was the right choice- left Wren for good.
Human beings are inevitable to make mistakes. No one’s perfect. He was only eighteen. For ten years that night haunted him. To avoid Wren meant he had to avoid his family, his friends. It tore him apart. He was alone, no one to share his demons with. He missed her. It took everything in him to not go back to Wren. So when he finally had to return to Cedar Ridge he knew he couldn’t avoid her even if it would break him to see her move on with another person.
Wren had the same impact on him, his heart drumming with some stealthy glances and eye contacts. He didn’t think once before saving Wren’s life. He endeavored at his fullest to regain her trust, to win her back, to fulfill those lost moments. So yeah, I love this golden retriever of a man.
“Not going to pretend I’m not in love with you, Wren. Missed touching you. Sometimes, I’d be walking and swear I felt your hand in mine.”
“I’m never leaving. Not unless she asks me to. And even then, I’d never go far. She has my heart. My soul. Everything that’s good in me. She’s where I feel peace.”
⋆｡°✩ Wren Williams➸
Wren was a survivor. Yes, she was depressed, broken but she was strong. It takes a huge amount of courage to do what she did as a job to save those innocents who shared the same fate as hers. She was ignored by her parents. Imagine the pain of a child relentlessly trying to prove herself to impress her parents with good grades and extracurriculars while they didn’t care. She grew up alone with her grandmother, her best friend Grae and Holt as the only constants in her life. The person she loved the most left her all alone, vulnerable.
Seeing Holt again opened those wounds. She was hurt, thinking she lacked something, thinking she was not his ideal. I loved how she accepted Holt, gave him a second chance, gave their love another shot even if it’ll break her completely if Holt decides to leave her again. She embraced him, flaws and all. I loved how she adored the Hartleys.
“I love you. I never stopped loving you. Not for a single breath.”
"Whispers in the air all around us. Whispers of him. Of us. Of the past. Of the present. Of forever."
The last chapters were a roller coaster ride. So emotional, so heartwarming.
“Holt dipped his head, his lips a breath from mine. "Are you with me?"
"I'm always with you."
_______________________________________
The reason behind my rating is that I needed more depth in the characters, wanted to know more about their pasts, wanted to feel what was so special between them that even being apart for ten years they still craved for each other. Other than this I loved everything. It was perfect.
_________________________
My first time reading a small town romance🏡
Hope I like it🤗🤞
“Don’t worry, Cricket. I’ll scare the ghosts away.”
Whispers of You is one of the best second chance romances I’ve ever read. It had me involved from the very first page. You can feel the pain, the agony Holt and Wren went through the ten years they were apart. One night, one bullet, changed so many lives. It was tragic. How old were they? Only teenagers- Holt eighteen and Wren sixteen. It shouldn’t have happened to them. They were happy, their friends and family happy. Everything was calm, serene. Everyone was content until that one dreadful incident. Everything came apart, some were dead, some grieving for their close ones they lost, some mentally broken.
There's beauty in a second chance romance. It leaves you mourning for the past they lost and joyous for the future to come. It breaks your heart in the worst possible way but then heals it by picking it piece by piece sticking it back together.
People moved on with still some minute part of them stuck on that night. But Holt and Wren couldn’t. Maybe they mastered how to mask their emotions over time but deep down they were still fearful, vulnerable.
"Because a fear still lived down deep; one that told me the whispers of him would be all I ever had.”
⋆｡°✩ Holt Hartley➵
Holt has always been the giver, the one who always took people’s burdens as his, who always was the problem solver. But also the one who resented burdening others with his issues. He was always there to protect and support Wren. He had always loved her, had a soft spot for her since childhood. Seeing Wren all bloody, pulse thready, terrified him. Even if Wren survived he couldn’t stop his mind replaying that horrible scene. He blamed himself for being late, for not being enough, for everything. It was not his fault. He thought he didn’t deserve her so even being physically present he was absent. He closed off himself and then did the one thing he thought was the right choice- left Wren for good.
Human beings are inevitable to make mistakes. No one’s perfect. He was only eighteen. For ten years that night haunted him. To avoid Wren meant he had to avoid his family, his friends. It tore him apart. He was alone, no one to share his demons with. He missed her. It took everything in him to not go back to Wren. So when he finally had to return to Cedar Ridge he knew he couldn’t avoid her even if it would break him to see her move on with another person.
Wren had the same impact on him, his heart drumming with some stealthy glances and eye contacts. He didn’t think once before saving Wren’s life. He endeavored at his fullest to regain her trust, to win her back, to fulfill those lost moments. So yeah, I love this golden retriever of a man.
“Not going to pretend I’m not in love with you, Wren. Missed touching you. Sometimes, I’d be walking and swear I felt your hand in mine.”
“I’m never leaving. Not unless she asks me to. And even then, I’d never go far. She has my heart. My soul. Everything that’s good in me. She’s where I feel peace.”
⋆｡°✩ Wren Williams➸
Wren was a survivor. Yes, she was depressed, broken but she was strong. It takes a huge amount of courage to do what she did as a job to save those innocents who shared the same fate as hers. She was ignored by her parents. Imagine the pain of a child relentlessly trying to prove herself to impress her parents with good grades and extracurriculars while they didn’t care. She grew up alone with her grandmother, her best friend Grae and Holt as the only constants in her life. The person she loved the most left her all alone, vulnerable.
Seeing Holt again opened those wounds. She was hurt, thinking she lacked something, thinking she was not his ideal. I loved how she accepted Holt, gave him a second chance, gave their love another shot even if it’ll break her completely if Holt decides to leave her again. She embraced him, flaws and all. I loved how she adored the Hartleys.
“I love you. I never stopped loving you. Not for a single breath.”
"Whispers in the air all around us. Whispers of him. Of us. Of the past. Of the present. Of forever."
The last chapters were a roller coaster ride. So emotional, so heartwarming.
“Holt dipped his head, his lips a breath from mine. "Are you with me?"
"I'm always with you."
_______________________________________
The reason behind my rating is that I needed more depth in the characters, wanted to know more about their pasts, wanted to feel what was so special between them that even being apart for ten years they still craved for each other. Other than this I loved everything. It was perfect.
_________________________
My first time reading a small town romance🏡
Hope I like it🤗🤞
January 24, 2023
A second chance small town romance with suspense!? Yes, please!
Catherine knows how to deliver an emotional romance with a suspenseful plot and this gave me everything I wanted and more. The prologue of this book hits you in the feels when the heroine goes through a traumatic experience in high school. This event caused the hero to get scared and run away and not return to town for ten years. Now, Holt's dad is recovering from a heart attack, so Holt returns home. That means he runs into Wren again and he has to address the way he abandoned not only her but his friends and family too. While Wren and Holt are addressing old wounds, someone is attacking and killing the survivors of that night so long ago. I really loved how protective Holt was over Wren and how he would do anything to protect her. Wren was wary over letting Holt in again, and I liked how she was very open with him and got mad when he started pulling away again. I love the angst in a good second chance and this definitely had the angst. I do wish that Wren made Holt grovel just a little more because she forgave him a little to easily, but I loved the suspense that came into play in the second half of the book. I was freaking out over who was the villain and I was definitely surprised at the end! If you want an emotional second chance romance with suspense that will keep you on your toes, pick this one up!!
Catherine knows how to deliver an emotional romance with a suspenseful plot and this gave me everything I wanted and more. The prologue of this book hits you in the feels when the heroine goes through a traumatic experience in high school. This event caused the hero to get scared and run away and not return to town for ten years. Now, Holt's dad is recovering from a heart attack, so Holt returns home. That means he runs into Wren again and he has to address the way he abandoned not only her but his friends and family too. While Wren and Holt are addressing old wounds, someone is attacking and killing the survivors of that night so long ago. I really loved how protective Holt was over Wren and how he would do anything to protect her. Wren was wary over letting Holt in again, and I liked how she was very open with him and got mad when he started pulling away again. I love the angst in a good second chance and this definitely had the angst. I do wish that Wren made Holt grovel just a little more because she forgave him a little to easily, but I loved the suspense that came into play in the second half of the book. I was freaking out over who was the villain and I was definitely surprised at the end! If you want an emotional second chance romance with suspense that will keep you on your toes, pick this one up!!
August 26, 2025
This was a solid read. I really liked both characters, and the storyline was pretty captivating. The relationship between the FMC and MMC was enjoyable, but I wish that Wren would have made Holt grovel way more than he did. Their reunion just seemed to happen too quickly for my taste, considering what all had happened.
And I don't know how I feel about the antagonist. That reveal really seemed to come out of nowhere with no context clues to support it.
But overall, these CC reads are really entertaining and really fast reads. Pretty excited for the rest of the series 🩵
And the covers in this series are 🤌
And I don't know how I feel about the antagonist. That reveal really seemed to come out of nowhere with no context clues to support it.
But overall, these CC reads are really entertaining and really fast reads. Pretty excited for the rest of the series 🩵
And the covers in this series are 🤌
Read
February 4, 2023UPDATE WITH SPOILERS: neither were celibate. This is the quote that I found on the book:
“He brushed the hair out of my face. “You have protection?”
I blinked up at him. “You don’t?”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Cricket, there hasn’t been anyone in a long time. I realized it wasn’t fair to go there with a woman when the only one I wanted was you.”
His words carved themselves into my heart, ripping me open and searing me with the most beautiful pain. A tear slid down my cheek, and Holt swept it away with his thumb. “Hey. What’s that about?”
“There hasn’t been anyone for me in a long time. And I’m on the pill.” The truth was, there had only been one. A drunken night I’d regretted with everything in me. But I’d wanted that stigma of virginity gone.
Holt pressed a kiss to one cheek, then the other, before moving to my forehead and finally my lips. “Thank you for trusting me.”
My heart cracked, and I found myself wanting to give all the pieces to him.
Instead, I kissed him deeper. I lost myself in his taste and feel.
Holt’s hand slid between my legs as I arched into him. I gasped into his mouth as his finger dipped inside and then moved in long, languid strokes as if he were in no hurry at all.
But I was. I didn’t want to waste a moment. Not with Holt.
My hand wrapped around his length, and Holt let out a groan as I stroked him, up and down.
“Heaven,” he growled.”
Safety gang friends, anyone knows if he is celibate or if he isn’t. I have read reviews that specify that he is celibate for 10 years and others that said that he is with others. I’m trying to get it to see what it is but until then anyone knows?
“He brushed the hair out of my face. “You have protection?”
I blinked up at him. “You don’t?”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Cricket, there hasn’t been anyone in a long time. I realized it wasn’t fair to go there with a woman when the only one I wanted was you.”
His words carved themselves into my heart, ripping me open and searing me with the most beautiful pain. A tear slid down my cheek, and Holt swept it away with his thumb. “Hey. What’s that about?”
“There hasn’t been anyone for me in a long time. And I’m on the pill.” The truth was, there had only been one. A drunken night I’d regretted with everything in me. But I’d wanted that stigma of virginity gone.
Holt pressed a kiss to one cheek, then the other, before moving to my forehead and finally my lips. “Thank you for trusting me.”
My heart cracked, and I found myself wanting to give all the pieces to him.
Instead, I kissed him deeper. I lost myself in his taste and feel.
Holt’s hand slid between my legs as I arched into him. I gasped into his mouth as his finger dipped inside and then moved in long, languid strokes as if he were in no hurry at all.
But I was. I didn’t want to waste a moment. Not with Holt.
My hand wrapped around his length, and Holt let out a groan as I stroked him, up and down.
“Heaven,” he growled.”
Safety gang friends, anyone knows if he is celibate or if he isn’t. I have read reviews that specify that he is celibate for 10 years and others that said that he is with others. I’m trying to get it to see what it is but until then anyone knows?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2023
I was looking forward to this story with the intention of quickly consuming it and then tearing it apart for the second-chance romance trope, because I had a feeling I would be valid in doing so.
I was right.
Our MMC, Holt, leaves our FMC, Wren, after an extremely traumatic experience. I’m talking she gets gunned down in her own home. He helps her during her rehab, and then literally just disappears, leaving her with only a half-assed letter. Dude - I’m so tired of these second-chance romances where the MMC does something so awful, I can’t understand how I’m supposed to root for him.
I think this book does a good job of exploring Holt’s struggles and fears after what happened, not just with Wren but with his family and friends. He didn’t leave just her. He left behind everyone without really looking back. He was so scared that he was somehow responsible for what happened to Wren, he didn’t know how to move past that.
I mean… Okay? Sure? I still was so pissed with him for so much of the book. I REALLY felt it when Wren said to him, “I don’t give a damn about the five minutes you missed that night. I give a damn about the last ten years you threw away.” (pg 106)
I’m not a big fan of the fragile male victim complex that’s so prevalent in second-chance romance books. It becomes some sort of sob story for the MMC, even though they had absolutely no regard for the extreme emotional damage they wreak on the FMC with their actions. Hard to feel bad for you, bro.
I’d also like to mention that there was a lot of death in this book. There were multiple shootings a decade ago, and we get a very graphic description of our FMC’s shooting early on.
Then, in the present day, shootings start up again. Multiple people die over the course of the book. I will admit that I was a little uncomfortable with the mention of them passing and then the way we moved past it in the story. Our FMC’s friend, Gretchen dies, and it really triggers Wren. But then we move past it and it’s never really mentioned again. Not a detailed funeral or detailed character dialogue discussing how much this person meant, etc. Obviously, I can understand that our FMC is in danger and the story is focusing on her. But I think it just sat weird with me that we sort of gloss over these deaths.
MAJOR SPOILER ALERT: I will admit that I was ultimately surprised by our villain reveal - I had a sneaking suspicion throughout the entire book that it was Chris, but was surprised to find it was Jude. I did suspect Amber throughout as well, since she was so emotionally volatile.
Anyway, kudos to the FMC for taking her trauma and using it to try and help others the way Abel helped her that night. I was also a big fan of Holt’s family unit and the way they never let Wren be on her own for the last decade. Loved their dynamic and love.
But, overall, I think that there were things in this book that I just wasn’t a fan of.
Unfortunately, this is a 2/5 for me.
I was right.
Our MMC, Holt, leaves our FMC, Wren, after an extremely traumatic experience. I’m talking she gets gunned down in her own home. He helps her during her rehab, and then literally just disappears, leaving her with only a half-assed letter. Dude - I’m so tired of these second-chance romances where the MMC does something so awful, I can’t understand how I’m supposed to root for him.
I think this book does a good job of exploring Holt’s struggles and fears after what happened, not just with Wren but with his family and friends. He didn’t leave just her. He left behind everyone without really looking back. He was so scared that he was somehow responsible for what happened to Wren, he didn’t know how to move past that.
I mean… Okay? Sure? I still was so pissed with him for so much of the book. I REALLY felt it when Wren said to him, “I don’t give a damn about the five minutes you missed that night. I give a damn about the last ten years you threw away.” (pg 106)
I’m not a big fan of the fragile male victim complex that’s so prevalent in second-chance romance books. It becomes some sort of sob story for the MMC, even though they had absolutely no regard for the extreme emotional damage they wreak on the FMC with their actions. Hard to feel bad for you, bro.
I’d also like to mention that there was a lot of death in this book. There were multiple shootings a decade ago, and we get a very graphic description of our FMC’s shooting early on.
Then, in the present day, shootings start up again. Multiple people die over the course of the book. I will admit that I was a little uncomfortable with the mention of them passing and then the way we moved past it in the story. Our FMC’s friend, Gretchen dies, and it really triggers Wren. But then we move past it and it’s never really mentioned again. Not a detailed funeral or detailed character dialogue discussing how much this person meant, etc. Obviously, I can understand that our FMC is in danger and the story is focusing on her. But I think it just sat weird with me that we sort of gloss over these deaths.
MAJOR SPOILER ALERT: I will admit that I was ultimately surprised by our villain reveal - I had a sneaking suspicion throughout the entire book that it was Chris, but was surprised to find it was Jude. I did suspect Amber throughout as well, since she was so emotionally volatile.
Anyway, kudos to the FMC for taking her trauma and using it to try and help others the way Abel helped her that night. I was also a big fan of Holt’s family unit and the way they never let Wren be on her own for the last decade. Loved their dynamic and love.
But, overall, I think that there were things in this book that I just wasn’t a fan of.
Unfortunately, this is a 2/5 for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2023
This book has everything I love. Wren and Holt were childhood sweethearts. He and his family adored her, and she adored them. One night when they were 18, Wren is waiting for Holt to come over. Two men break into her house and shoot her. Holt was devastated because he was supposed to be there. So he bails.
10 years later he’s back in Cedar Ridge and wants to make things right. But someone is hunting down the survivors of the night of Wren’s shooting. And he doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice.
I loved this book so much. Wren is a survivor. She bought her own house, got an adorable and protective dog, and was putting herself back together after Holt left. Holt joined the marines, opened his own private security business and spent the last 10 years running from his pain. But the groveling he does?? How fiercely he loves her?? I am obsessed. I also love love love mortal peril and THIS BOOK HAS IT!!! The small town vibes mixed with the suspense were absolute perfection.
I can’t wait for the rest of the series!!
Read if you like
✨ small town romance
✨ romantic suspense
✨ second chance with groveling
✨ chosen family
✨ forced proximity
✨ strong fmcs
✨ protective mmcs
10 years later he’s back in Cedar Ridge and wants to make things right. But someone is hunting down the survivors of the night of Wren’s shooting. And he doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice.
I loved this book so much. Wren is a survivor. She bought her own house, got an adorable and protective dog, and was putting herself back together after Holt left. Holt joined the marines, opened his own private security business and spent the last 10 years running from his pain. But the groveling he does?? How fiercely he loves her?? I am obsessed. I also love love love mortal peril and THIS BOOK HAS IT!!! The small town vibes mixed with the suspense were absolute perfection.
I can’t wait for the rest of the series!!
Read if you like
✨ small town romance
✨ romantic suspense
✨ second chance with groveling
✨ chosen family
✨ forced proximity
✨ strong fmcs
✨ protective mmcs
February 2, 2023
Not even going to lie I skimmed tf out of this book. Only the last last 40% really but still. I wanted it to be over so bad. I am a sucker for a second chance romance but not this one. He can go back to where he came from. His excuse for leaving was so IDIOTIC. I get being distraught but truly if he loved her he wouldn’t have left like that. Not for ten years. Maybe a couple months because he was only a teenager. The math just wasn’t mathing on this one.
The relationship and the characters just weren’t working for me. Wren forgave him way too quickly. I would have made him work for it WAY more. She fell into bed with him like three days in. Girl he made you wait TEN YEARS. Enough.
The “mystery” did kind of shock me tbh. She fooled me on that one.
The relationship and the characters just weren’t working for me. Wren forgave him way too quickly. I would have made him work for it WAY more. She fell into bed with him like three days in. Girl he made you wait TEN YEARS. Enough.
The “mystery” did kind of shock me tbh. She fooled me on that one.
April 26, 2023
"I’m with you."
When you finish the prologue of a book and you feel like throwing your Kindle against the wall and the only thing that comes to mind is "WTF?"... you know it’s a good one.
This was my first Catherine Cowles book, and I want more. This story completely owned my heart.
"With Holt, I could simply be."
Holt is the guy you wish you had met growing up. The guy who is there. The guy who wants to shield you from everything and support you in everything you do. Who wants to make you happy. He has a heart of gold, and I loved him to bits.
"She’d been beautiful when I’d fallen in love with her. But now? It was the kind of beauty that branded you. Looking at her and truly seeing? You’d never be the same."
Wren is strong. I loved Holt, but Wren carries the book. She had to face her life head-on after something devastating. She had people caring for her, but most of it was just her. And she rose above it. She may not be as happy as she thought she’d be, but she has a good life.
"I’d already concluded a long time ago that I would never love someone the way I’d loved Wren—the way I still loved her. Because it didn’t matter if it had been ten days or ten years. A love like that ruined you for all others."
I have a very specific kryptonite, which is love stories rooted back in childhood. When things were simple and falling in love felt natural and easy. When you think you’re going to be with that person forever. But this was a second-chance story, so I knew it wasn’t meant to last.
I wasn’t expecting it to hit me as hard as it did, though.
"Only my ghost was still alive. He’d just vanished from my life."
Holt and Wren were everything to one another. True love. True friendship. Nothing could come between them. Until one night that changed everything for them and so many others.
It put an end to whatever they had, breaking them up in more ways than one. It broke me too.
"I don’t give a damn about the five minutes you missed that night. I give a damn about the last ten years you threw away."
Holt’s guilt and carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders have kept him away from his small town and the girl who was his whole world, until he’s forced to come back. Wren’s doing fine until she knows he’s back. And then they see each other.
It was never fully over between them—the feelings were just dormant, waiting for their chance.
"He chuckled. God, that sound—it was just like I imagined it would be. Deeper. Richer. Like a smoky whiskey that heated you from the inside out. I wanted to drown in that chuckle."
It’s heartbreaking to see them now. To see how much they still love each other, but also how much it’ll take for them to overcome what happened. Not just the events but the aftermath. And for Wren to trust that sometimes good things happen to good people. Sometimes people get a second chance, and it’s worth a leap of faith.
"I need you." They were the hardest three words I’d ever said. Terrifying and painful, yet full of hope."
It doesn’t help that someone’s back and threatening their hometown and Wren’s life, and consequently, Holt’s very existence. Because he still wants to shield her from everything, even though she doesn’t need him to. But damn it, she wants him to.
"I wanted my best friend. The love of my damn life. I wanted his hand in mine, his big body curved around mine, the scent of him soothing all the nightmares away."
Everyone can see how much they love each other and how much they’re meant to be. It was plain to see when they were kids, and it’s clear as day today. Holt needs to move past his regret. Wren needs to let him in.
It’s not easy.
"When life hit hard, you were the only person I wanted, the only place I wanted to be. You, more than anything, were home."
I loved their small town and the people around them. His family is amazing, from his parents to his brothers and sister, and I can’t wait to see each of them have their own (probably hard-earned) happily ever after.
The suspense story will pull you in and keep you in a chokehold. I guessed some, but I wasn’t prepared for all of it.
"Whispers in the air all around us. Whispers of him. Of us. Of the past. Of the present. Of forever."
This is the story of two kids in love who grew up, and of a love that grew along with them, even thousands of miles apart and ten years after they’d been together. It’s the story of how love can heal anything if you let it, and how distance and time don’t matter when it’s right.
I loved it.
When you finish the prologue of a book and you feel like throwing your Kindle against the wall and the only thing that comes to mind is "WTF?"... you know it’s a good one.
This was my first Catherine Cowles book, and I want more. This story completely owned my heart.
"With Holt, I could simply be."
Holt is the guy you wish you had met growing up. The guy who is there. The guy who wants to shield you from everything and support you in everything you do. Who wants to make you happy. He has a heart of gold, and I loved him to bits.
"She’d been beautiful when I’d fallen in love with her. But now? It was the kind of beauty that branded you. Looking at her and truly seeing? You’d never be the same."
Wren is strong. I loved Holt, but Wren carries the book. She had to face her life head-on after something devastating. She had people caring for her, but most of it was just her. And she rose above it. She may not be as happy as she thought she’d be, but she has a good life.
"I’d already concluded a long time ago that I would never love someone the way I’d loved Wren—the way I still loved her. Because it didn’t matter if it had been ten days or ten years. A love like that ruined you for all others."
I have a very specific kryptonite, which is love stories rooted back in childhood. When things were simple and falling in love felt natural and easy. When you think you’re going to be with that person forever. But this was a second-chance story, so I knew it wasn’t meant to last.
I wasn’t expecting it to hit me as hard as it did, though.
"Only my ghost was still alive. He’d just vanished from my life."
Holt and Wren were everything to one another. True love. True friendship. Nothing could come between them. Until one night that changed everything for them and so many others.
It put an end to whatever they had, breaking them up in more ways than one. It broke me too.
"I don’t give a damn about the five minutes you missed that night. I give a damn about the last ten years you threw away."
Holt’s guilt and carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders have kept him away from his small town and the girl who was his whole world, until he’s forced to come back. Wren’s doing fine until she knows he’s back. And then they see each other.
It was never fully over between them—the feelings were just dormant, waiting for their chance.
"He chuckled. God, that sound—it was just like I imagined it would be. Deeper. Richer. Like a smoky whiskey that heated you from the inside out. I wanted to drown in that chuckle."
It’s heartbreaking to see them now. To see how much they still love each other, but also how much it’ll take for them to overcome what happened. Not just the events but the aftermath. And for Wren to trust that sometimes good things happen to good people. Sometimes people get a second chance, and it’s worth a leap of faith.
"I need you." They were the hardest three words I’d ever said. Terrifying and painful, yet full of hope."
It doesn’t help that someone’s back and threatening their hometown and Wren’s life, and consequently, Holt’s very existence. Because he still wants to shield her from everything, even though she doesn’t need him to. But damn it, she wants him to.
"I wanted my best friend. The love of my damn life. I wanted his hand in mine, his big body curved around mine, the scent of him soothing all the nightmares away."
Everyone can see how much they love each other and how much they’re meant to be. It was plain to see when they were kids, and it’s clear as day today. Holt needs to move past his regret. Wren needs to let him in.
It’s not easy.
"When life hit hard, you were the only person I wanted, the only place I wanted to be. You, more than anything, were home."
I loved their small town and the people around them. His family is amazing, from his parents to his brothers and sister, and I can’t wait to see each of them have their own (probably hard-earned) happily ever after.
The suspense story will pull you in and keep you in a chokehold. I guessed some, but I wasn’t prepared for all of it.
"Whispers in the air all around us. Whispers of him. Of us. Of the past. Of the present. Of forever."
This is the story of two kids in love who grew up, and of a love that grew along with them, even thousands of miles apart and ten years after they’d been together. It’s the story of how love can heal anything if you let it, and how distance and time don’t matter when it’s right.
I loved it.
February 10, 2024
“I don’t give a damn about the five minutes you missed that night. I give a damn about the last ten years you threw away.”
where was the grovel?
he should've been on his knees begging for forgiveness.
◇he left her after she almost died as a teenager (for the stupidest reason ever.)
◇came back after 10 years NOT because of her.
◇had sex with other women but he was still in love with her. 🙄🙄. while she only had sex once (and regretted it. she couldn't do it after that since she was a spineless idiot.)
she forgive him so quick after two conversations like nothing happened and as if he didn't left her completely alone after she literally died and was revived twice in the OR.
girl, no. have some self respect, she was so pathetic. they both were.
the romance was trash, the suspense okay-ish nothing special like every CC's release in the past two years.
August 28, 2022
****COMING SOON****
5 STARS
Loved it from beginning to end.
What I enjoyed:
1. As with a Catherine Cowles novel, I loved the the couple. They have their pasts to overcome, their traumas, but they always prove that love will find a way.
2. I loved the plot of this one. It truly looks at the effects of trauma, not just on people but of a town. It has a lot of interesting takes on how people handle and deal with perceived wrongs.
3. I’m not sure if this is accurate or not, but it seems a touch more spicier than her previous books. I clipped a lot when listening to the audio. Don’t get me wrong, it still has that romance factor. The hero had me swooning out of my chair.
4. Great writing and narrating!
This is a phenomenal start to her new standalone series! I cannot wait for more!
Audio ARC
5 STARS
Loved it from beginning to end.
What I enjoyed:
1. As with a Catherine Cowles novel, I loved the the couple. They have their pasts to overcome, their traumas, but they always prove that love will find a way.
2. I loved the plot of this one. It truly looks at the effects of trauma, not just on people but of a town. It has a lot of interesting takes on how people handle and deal with perceived wrongs.
3. I’m not sure if this is accurate or not, but it seems a touch more spicier than her previous books. I clipped a lot when listening to the audio. Don’t get me wrong, it still has that romance factor. The hero had me swooning out of my chair.
4. Great writing and narrating!
This is a phenomenal start to her new standalone series! I cannot wait for more!
Audio ARC
October 17, 2023
I read Whispers of You because a Bookstagram friend of mine recommended it and told me she loved it. And that Catherine Cowles is one of her favorite writers ever. And I just knew I had to read it.
Whispers of You is such a sweet, kind and loving story. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot going in there. But I find the connection Wren and Holt share incredibly sweet.
The book starts with a flashback. Wren is waiting for Holt for a date night at home. He is 15 minutes late. And suddenly she hears people breaking into her house. She gets beaten severely and shot at and is lying there dying. Holt arrives and is barely able to keep her alive.
Fast forward 10 years. Wren still lives in the beautiful Cedar Ridge. I love the description of her cottage and location. I wished I lived there myself! But we find out that Holt left her 10 years ago. Just when she needed him most. He left. She has a job as a telephone operator at the police station. She wants to give back to the community who've helped her when she needed them most.
Holt is on his way back home. His mom, brothers and sister welcome him with open arms. His father is more reversed and kinda pissed off. Asking him when are you gonna leave again? The last ten years he barely stayed for a day each time he visited.
He was busy building his security company, which is now wildly successful.
But Holt came back for a reason. He wants to see Wren again, he wants to win her over again. And he is ready to tell her why she left. But Wren doesn't do anything with him at first. She keeps her heart closed at bay.
Then things go awry in Cedar's Ridge. People get murdered and it feel eerily like 10 years ago again. When Wren gets attacked Holt immediately steps in to protect her. And that is what this story is about.
Can Wren and Holt find their way together? Can Holt deal with the guilt? And is Wren able to open up her heart again?
And who is attacking Wren and the village? What does Wren remember about the home invasion? And can those details help figure out who is one the loose right now?
I just loved their love story. It was so kind, sweet, open and generous.
And I felt madly in love with the Hartley family. I love how Holt and his father's relationship grows and evolves.
And while it is a beautiful and exciting book. I wish the chemistry between Holt and Wren had a bit more fire in it. I wanted more sparks. I loved it, don't get me wrong. But I didn't feel it tingle in my bones.
All in all a fantastic book and I will definitely check out the rest of this series!
4 huge stars from me!
Whispers of You is such a sweet, kind and loving story. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot going in there. But I find the connection Wren and Holt share incredibly sweet.
The book starts with a flashback. Wren is waiting for Holt for a date night at home. He is 15 minutes late. And suddenly she hears people breaking into her house. She gets beaten severely and shot at and is lying there dying. Holt arrives and is barely able to keep her alive.
Fast forward 10 years. Wren still lives in the beautiful Cedar Ridge. I love the description of her cottage and location. I wished I lived there myself! But we find out that Holt left her 10 years ago. Just when she needed him most. He left. She has a job as a telephone operator at the police station. She wants to give back to the community who've helped her when she needed them most.
Holt is on his way back home. His mom, brothers and sister welcome him with open arms. His father is more reversed and kinda pissed off. Asking him when are you gonna leave again? The last ten years he barely stayed for a day each time he visited.
He was busy building his security company, which is now wildly successful.
But Holt came back for a reason. He wants to see Wren again, he wants to win her over again. And he is ready to tell her why she left. But Wren doesn't do anything with him at first. She keeps her heart closed at bay.
Then things go awry in Cedar's Ridge. People get murdered and it feel eerily like 10 years ago again. When Wren gets attacked Holt immediately steps in to protect her. And that is what this story is about.
Can Wren and Holt find their way together? Can Holt deal with the guilt? And is Wren able to open up her heart again?
And who is attacking Wren and the village? What does Wren remember about the home invasion? And can those details help figure out who is one the loose right now?
I just loved their love story. It was so kind, sweet, open and generous.
And I felt madly in love with the Hartley family. I love how Holt and his father's relationship grows and evolves.
And while it is a beautiful and exciting book. I wish the chemistry between Holt and Wren had a bit more fire in it. I wanted more sparks. I loved it, don't get me wrong. But I didn't feel it tingle in my bones.
All in all a fantastic book and I will definitely check out the rest of this series!
4 huge stars from me!
June 5, 2023
— 1 Star ✰
The reason why he left was so stupid, if it was only for a few weeks or months id be like okayy maybe you could be forgiven. But 10 years... nope. no.
The reason why he left was so stupid, if it was only for a few weeks or months id be like okayy maybe you could be forgiven. But 10 years... nope. no.
February 5, 2023
wren & holt for the winn💙💙💙
January 1, 2025
Second chance small town romance? Count me in🩵
Please let this get me out of my reading slump <3
Please let this get me out of my reading slump <3
January 15, 2023
As soon as I finished the prologue of this one and my jaw dropped I knew I was in for an amazing read. When I tell you it was shocking and oh so gripping I really mean it. I was hooked! Wren and Holt were such amazing characters and with Wren specifically I was rooting for her so hard. The woman truly deserved a HEA and the path to get there was oh so sweet and satisfying. This was the perfect blend of spicy romance, sweet and tender moments between Wren and Holt and lots of nail biting suspense. Such a strong start to a series that I know I’ll be obsessing over this year! I did both ebook and audio here and Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber are king and queen so if you go that route they’re both so amazing. An easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me and if you like suspenseful small town romance and a second chance trope this is a must.
February 5, 2023
Ok.. so I finished this is one sitting because I could not put it down!
I was not expecting this to be THAT good. These are the types of books I love. It gave me Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry vibes and I was hooked from the start.
The suspense was insane and I didn’t see the ending coming. 5 stars!! So good. This is my first Catherine Cowles book and I can’t wait to read more!
I was not expecting this to be THAT good. These are the types of books I love. It gave me Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry vibes and I was hooked from the start.
The suspense was insane and I didn’t see the ending coming. 5 stars!! So good. This is my first Catherine Cowles book and I can’t wait to read more!
December 19, 2024
Tortured love
I decided I had to find out what happened after reading Visions of You and prologue had me hooked. It’s hard for others to realize that a traumatic event can rip through the strongest of bonds so reading this did hurt a little by triggering some memories but shed light on it as well. The connections still don’t make sense…. but still a good story!
I decided I had to find out what happened after reading Visions of You and prologue had me hooked. It’s hard for others to realize that a traumatic event can rip through the strongest of bonds so reading this did hurt a little by triggering some memories but shed light on it as well. The connections still don’t make sense…. but still a good story!
March 2, 2023
I’ll admit, when I first found out this book had a took place 10 years after the characters first fell in love, I was skeptical. Usually romances like that are unrealistic to me because there’s no way in hell, I’d pine for one of my exes for 10 years. But it grew on me, and I ended up absolutely loving this one.
Whispers of You is a second chance romance and book 1 in the Lost & Found series. It follows Wren and Holt as they navigate love again after being separated for 10 years. The reason for their separation really pulled at my heartstrings but I still wanted to knock Holt upside the head for waiting that long to come home. Regardless of that though I really enjoyed how protective he is as a hero and how deeply he loves. It really shows through the pages. I so wish Wren made him work a little harder, but I suppose that when your thrust into emotionally scarring situations you can let go much easier. That’s exactly how their second chance at love played out. There is a little suspense in this one and readers will be thrust into a mystery involving a person who is intent on hurting Wren and Holt for good, but it kept me glued to the pages.
Catherine Cowles knows how to write a romance and I can see why so many readers adore her books. She writes the perfect amount of suspense, romance, and spicy moments that any romance reader can fall head over heels for her books. I can’t wait for the next one.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧: 🔥 🔥 🔥
Whispers of You is a second chance romance and book 1 in the Lost & Found series. It follows Wren and Holt as they navigate love again after being separated for 10 years. The reason for their separation really pulled at my heartstrings but I still wanted to knock Holt upside the head for waiting that long to come home. Regardless of that though I really enjoyed how protective he is as a hero and how deeply he loves. It really shows through the pages. I so wish Wren made him work a little harder, but I suppose that when your thrust into emotionally scarring situations you can let go much easier. That’s exactly how their second chance at love played out. There is a little suspense in this one and readers will be thrust into a mystery involving a person who is intent on hurting Wren and Holt for good, but it kept me glued to the pages.
Catherine Cowles knows how to write a romance and I can see why so many readers adore her books. She writes the perfect amount of suspense, romance, and spicy moments that any romance reader can fall head over heels for her books. I can’t wait for the next one.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧: 🔥 🔥 🔥
February 9, 2023
This book didn’t grab me as the other books by this author did. What the hero did was unforgivable imo and he didn’t redeem himself in my eyes. There wasn’t enough grovel. The heroine should’ve made it harder for him and he should’ve been more remorseful. It had the same suspense as we are used to from this author. The book reminded me of Reckless Memories, but that one was better. I would’ve liked this book more if there was the right amount of grovel. The hero in Reckless Memories also abandoned the heroine and I forgave him, because they weren’t in a relationship before. This couple supposed to be soulmates. How can you leave your soulmate at her worst point and never look back? And how can you let your soulmate back in again, in a matter of days, when he abandoned you when you needed him the most? I don’t care that he felt guilty or was hurting as well, it felt like betraying your soulmate. The past wasn’t resolved before they start sleeping together. This second chance didn’t work for me. Writing style is good and what we expect from this author. The suspense keeps you entertained until the end. I had my suspicion who the villain would be, but was surprised (as usual, lol) who the killer was. If you are not that harsh for a second chance romance, give this book a go. This storyline however wasn’t one for me.
July 21, 2022
If you take a peek at my reading habits you'll see that I am no stranger to the thriller/suspense/romance genre, so you can trust me when I say this is one of the good ones. Let's start with the thriller/suspense side. Wren and Holt have a tragic backstory steeped in mystery and unresolved questions about the town, each other, and themselves. The cast of characters left me guessing until the very end. There is quite a bit of violence in this story so beware if you know what your triggers are. Wren and Holt both find themselves reliving past trauma and must learn how to face it head-on rather than letting it consume them because when violence comes back to their small town they need to face it together.
The romance is both sweet and spicy. It felt well timed and well executed. Several other characters spend most of the book rooting for Wren and Holt, and you will find yourself doing the same thing. Read Whispers of You if you want to enjoy a second-chance romance with suspenseful drama and steamy romance.
I can't wait for the next Lost & Found book, Echoes of You which follows Nash and Maddie!
Thank you to Goodreads and Catherine Cowles for gifting me this book via a Goodreads giveaway.
The romance is both sweet and spicy. It felt well timed and well executed. Several other characters spend most of the book rooting for Wren and Holt, and you will find yourself doing the same thing. Read Whispers of You if you want to enjoy a second-chance romance with suspenseful drama and steamy romance.
I can't wait for the next Lost & Found book, Echoes of You which follows Nash and Maddie!
Thank you to Goodreads and Catherine Cowles for gifting me this book via a Goodreads giveaway.
March 16, 2023
“I don’t give a damn about the five minutes you missed that night. I give a damn about the last ten years you threw away.”
What would you do if your world came crashing down around you and the person you trusted the most, loved the most, needed the most, abandoned you? This is what happens to our wonderful FMC Wren.
“You’d think they could have a little respect. I told them we were watching Little Women.”
Holt ran but he thought he was doing the right thing and didn’t deserve Wren after a horrifying accident, that he couldn’t have stopped but shouldered the blame for. How do you unlearn to carry burdens and guilt, that was never yours from the beginning.
“I’m not trying to say you’re incapable of taking care of yourself, just that sometimes it’s nice for someone to have your back.”
Whispers Of You is a small town, second chance, romantic suspenseful-thriller and I am living for it. This is book one of the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. This book follows Holt and Wren on an epic journey that won’t let you put the book down, I literally couldn’t stop reading this.
“Come back to me.”
“Couldn’t keep me away.”
This book consumed my soul, and I wanted to crawl inside and live their. I don’t know why I put it off and let it sit on my TBR for so long. The characters are all so well written and thought out. My heart is still a little tore for Joe, I knew from the beginning how this story was going to turn out for him. I’m glad Lawson helped him and got him in a better situation.
“It ticks but doesn’t make any forward progress.”
“Like it’s living the same moment over and over again.”
“It happens more than you might think.”
This is the perfect mix of laughs, suspense, cries and spice. I’m giving this love story 10 stars. It literally reach through the pages and grabbed me. I’m not even mad about it. This was the full package complete with a beautiful bow.
“Because I was fighting for you. For us. For all the time we wasted.”
Happy Reading 🫶🏻
What would you do if your world came crashing down around you and the person you trusted the most, loved the most, needed the most, abandoned you? This is what happens to our wonderful FMC Wren.
“You’d think they could have a little respect. I told them we were watching Little Women.”
Holt ran but he thought he was doing the right thing and didn’t deserve Wren after a horrifying accident, that he couldn’t have stopped but shouldered the blame for. How do you unlearn to carry burdens and guilt, that was never yours from the beginning.
“I’m not trying to say you’re incapable of taking care of yourself, just that sometimes it’s nice for someone to have your back.”
Whispers Of You is a small town, second chance, romantic suspenseful-thriller and I am living for it. This is book one of the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. This book follows Holt and Wren on an epic journey that won’t let you put the book down, I literally couldn’t stop reading this.
“Come back to me.”
“Couldn’t keep me away.”
This book consumed my soul, and I wanted to crawl inside and live their. I don’t know why I put it off and let it sit on my TBR for so long. The characters are all so well written and thought out. My heart is still a little tore for Joe, I knew from the beginning how this story was going to turn out for him. I’m glad Lawson helped him and got him in a better situation.
“It ticks but doesn’t make any forward progress.”
“Like it’s living the same moment over and over again.”
“It happens more than you might think.”
This is the perfect mix of laughs, suspense, cries and spice. I’m giving this love story 10 stars. It literally reach through the pages and grabbed me. I’m not even mad about it. This was the full package complete with a beautiful bow.
“Because I was fighting for you. For us. For all the time we wasted.”
Happy Reading 🫶🏻
January 17, 2023
Whispers of You is the first book in a new series by Catherine Cowles. I really do love the covers we get from this author and I was looking forward to this new series, Lost and Found. This is a second chance, contemporary romance with a smalltown setting and leans very heavily into the suspense elements.
In this we get a very heavy prologue involving Wren, she’s at home waiting for her boyfriend Holt to arrive when her home is broken into and she’s attacked while on the phone and waiting for emergency responders to get to her. Then we cut to present day, Holt had left after the prologue events for the military and has since gone onto private security but now it’s been over 9 years and he’s returned home. Wren still lives in their smalltown and they keep running into one another. This book felt heavier on the suspense than any of the previous series I’ve read from this author, CW for violence. The past trauma and hurt between these two is still there and they have a lot to work through together. And then of course life for Wren and Holt gets more complicated when violence picks back up around them and the past doesn’t seem to want to stay in the past…
I listened to the audio ARC from the author and the narrators were really perfect for this book! I liked how the hero is in security, we’ve met him in the previous series and so it was nice to get his book! I didn’t expect it to be a second chance with his highschool sweetheart so that was a nice surprise. His nickname for her is “Cricket”. I definitely felt for both of these characters, especially Wren with the prologue!
Whispers of You releases on January 31, 2023. Thank you so much to the author for an audio ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.
In this we get a very heavy prologue involving Wren, she’s at home waiting for her boyfriend Holt to arrive when her home is broken into and she’s attacked while on the phone and waiting for emergency responders to get to her. Then we cut to present day, Holt had left after the prologue events for the military and has since gone onto private security but now it’s been over 9 years and he’s returned home. Wren still lives in their smalltown and they keep running into one another. This book felt heavier on the suspense than any of the previous series I’ve read from this author, CW for violence. The past trauma and hurt between these two is still there and they have a lot to work through together. And then of course life for Wren and Holt gets more complicated when violence picks back up around them and the past doesn’t seem to want to stay in the past…
I listened to the audio ARC from the author and the narrators were really perfect for this book! I liked how the hero is in security, we’ve met him in the previous series and so it was nice to get his book! I didn’t expect it to be a second chance with his highschool sweetheart so that was a nice surprise. His nickname for her is “Cricket”. I definitely felt for both of these characters, especially Wren with the prologue!
Whispers of You releases on January 31, 2023. Thank you so much to the author for an audio ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.
August 4, 2024
4.25/5
I am quickly learning that not only do I love romance, but it is even better when suspense and mystery is sprinkled in.
Second chance Romance ✅
Unexpected twists ✅
Crush worthy MMC ✅
A HEA ✅
I am so excited to read this series. I was hooked from the beginning and read the book in one sitting. The end of each chapter left me wanting more and the plot twists happened all the way to the end of the book.
Can’t wait to read the next sibling’s story!
I am quickly learning that not only do I love romance, but it is even better when suspense and mystery is sprinkled in.
Second chance Romance ✅
Unexpected twists ✅
Crush worthy MMC ✅
A HEA ✅
I am so excited to read this series. I was hooked from the beginning and read the book in one sitting. The end of each chapter left me wanting more and the plot twists happened all the way to the end of the book.
Can’t wait to read the next sibling’s story!
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