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Sutter Lake #5
Beautifully Broken Redemption
She’s hiding secrets.
For Anna, keeping her deepest scars hidden from the world has always been a necessity—from the bruises of her childhood to the mistake that nearly cost her everything. To keep herself safe, she must keep everyone around her at a distance—especially the man who has tempted her since the moment they met.
His demons are taunting him.
Mason has done his best to bury the past by achieving more than he ever thought possible. But even with all of his success, his life feels empty.
When tragedy strikes, Anna is left fighting to protect the only family she has left. And Mason will do anything to keep her and her loved ones safe—even if that means the ring of wedding bells.
But as a new spark ignites between them, someone is watching.
And they’ll do whatever it takes to snuff out that light for good.
For Anna, keeping her deepest scars hidden from the world has always been a necessity—from the bruises of her childhood to the mistake that nearly cost her everything. To keep herself safe, she must keep everyone around her at a distance—especially the man who has tempted her since the moment they met.
His demons are taunting him.
Mason has done his best to bury the past by achieving more than he ever thought possible. But even with all of his success, his life feels empty.
When tragedy strikes, Anna is left fighting to protect the only family she has left. And Mason will do anything to keep her and her loved ones safe—even if that means the ring of wedding bells.
But as a new spark ignites between them, someone is watching.
And they’ll do whatever it takes to snuff out that light for good.
304 pages, ebook
First published November 9, 2021
1,011 people are currently reading
3,770 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cowles
42 books24.4k 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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October 21, 2021
Beautifully Broken Redemption is book five in the Sutter Lake series by Catherine Cowles. Sutter Lake is the series that made me fall in love with Catherine’s books so it was especially wonderful to go back to this beloved little town for a visit. This can be read as a stand alone although all of the books in the series are wonderful so I hope you’ll check them out as well.
Mason Decker is thirty six years old and loves living in Sutter Lake. He is VP of Halo, a security company, working along side with Cain from book four. The employees of Halo volunteer regularly and that is how Mason first saw Anna. The pull to her, the attraction, was immediate. But it was also evident that Anna held everyone at a distance. That he would have to take his time with her if he wanted any hope at all at getting to know her better.
Anna Foley’s childhood was full of pain and betrayal. The pain came first, then the betrayal. All by the people that should have protected her the most are the very ones that hurt her the most. Ever since she came to Sutter Lake, though, Anna found a kind of peace she’d never known before. She was now the head of Hope House, a shelter, where she could give help to those most in need. She has friends, a home, and she feels safe.
Anna also felt the attraction to Mason. She loved the way he was with the children at the shelter. But that pull is what held her back, what made her keep her distance. Never again would she give her heart or her trust to a man. Never again would she allow herself to be that vulnerable.
Once again tragedy strikes Anna’s family and she is left reeling and also she is left fighting for all she has left. Only this time, Anna is going to have to accept help. Help all wrapped up in Mason Decker.
Catherine has done it again with this book. These characters are so beloved to me and I loved getting to re-visit some of them from the previous books. Both Anna and Mason had so many secrets, so much they wanted to keep hidden. It was so hard for Anna to be brave but she was just so strong. I loved the effect these two had on each other. But their road wasn’t easy. They had a lot of people in their paths that wanted to hurt them. The question was, were they strong enough to come together as a team and fight or would their enemies tear them apart?
Catherine always finds a way to make me feel so many different emotions, to smile, to swoon, to gasp, and yes, to perhaps to shed a tear or two. Her characters always burrow right into my heart which is exactly what Mason and Anna did. I loved this book as I have the entire series. I look forward to seeing what Catherine will be doing next!
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...
Mason Decker is thirty six years old and loves living in Sutter Lake. He is VP of Halo, a security company, working along side with Cain from book four. The employees of Halo volunteer regularly and that is how Mason first saw Anna. The pull to her, the attraction, was immediate. But it was also evident that Anna held everyone at a distance. That he would have to take his time with her if he wanted any hope at all at getting to know her better.
Anna Foley’s childhood was full of pain and betrayal. The pain came first, then the betrayal. All by the people that should have protected her the most are the very ones that hurt her the most. Ever since she came to Sutter Lake, though, Anna found a kind of peace she’d never known before. She was now the head of Hope House, a shelter, where she could give help to those most in need. She has friends, a home, and she feels safe.
Anna also felt the attraction to Mason. She loved the way he was with the children at the shelter. But that pull is what held her back, what made her keep her distance. Never again would she give her heart or her trust to a man. Never again would she allow herself to be that vulnerable.
Once again tragedy strikes Anna’s family and she is left reeling and also she is left fighting for all she has left. Only this time, Anna is going to have to accept help. Help all wrapped up in Mason Decker.
Catherine has done it again with this book. These characters are so beloved to me and I loved getting to re-visit some of them from the previous books. Both Anna and Mason had so many secrets, so much they wanted to keep hidden. It was so hard for Anna to be brave but she was just so strong. I loved the effect these two had on each other. But their road wasn’t easy. They had a lot of people in their paths that wanted to hurt them. The question was, were they strong enough to come together as a team and fight or would their enemies tear them apart?
Catherine always finds a way to make me feel so many different emotions, to smile, to swoon, to gasp, and yes, to perhaps to shed a tear or two. Her characters always burrow right into my heart which is exactly what Mason and Anna did. I loved this book as I have the entire series. I look forward to seeing what Catherine will be doing next!
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 8, 2024
not ready to say goodbye 🥺
July 4, 2022
4.5 stars
Such a good ending to this series! This was a really solid small town romance series from Catherine Cowles and I really enjoyed reading each book. This one is actually a super sweet marriage of convenience and I really loved the slow romance between Anna and Mason. Anna made some bad choices when she was young and ended up in jail and taking the fall for someone she shouldn't have trusted. Now, she's made her way into a life she loves running a homeless shelter. When her sister suddenly dies, Anna is determined to take the children and raise them herself so that they are not left with her abusive parents. With her past, though, Anna is terrified she won't be able to keep the kids. Mason has worked at the shelter and has been nothing but nice to Anna. He wants to be there for her and offers to marry her in order to look better to the court. The two strike up a friendship as Mason just wants to protect and support Anna and her kids. This was just a super sweet romance and I really enjoyed how it blooms while Anna was trying to gain custody of the kids. As with the rest of the books in this series, there is a bit of suspense at the end and some villainous characters. But I think it was a super sweet way to end the series and I really enjoyed it!
Such a good ending to this series! This was a really solid small town romance series from Catherine Cowles and I really enjoyed reading each book. This one is actually a super sweet marriage of convenience and I really loved the slow romance between Anna and Mason. Anna made some bad choices when she was young and ended up in jail and taking the fall for someone she shouldn't have trusted. Now, she's made her way into a life she loves running a homeless shelter. When her sister suddenly dies, Anna is determined to take the children and raise them herself so that they are not left with her abusive parents. With her past, though, Anna is terrified she won't be able to keep the kids. Mason has worked at the shelter and has been nothing but nice to Anna. He wants to be there for her and offers to marry her in order to look better to the court. The two strike up a friendship as Mason just wants to protect and support Anna and her kids. This was just a super sweet romance and I really enjoyed how it blooms while Anna was trying to gain custody of the kids. As with the rest of the books in this series, there is a bit of suspense at the end and some villainous characters. But I think it was a super sweet way to end the series and I really enjoyed it!
October 31, 2021
I adore the fake relationship trope and Catherine Cowles knocked this one out of the park! Emotional, heart-warming, steamy and suspenseful—Anna and Mason’s story has it all!
May 27, 2023
2.5 stars
i dont think i’ll ever read this authors books ever again. i read the first four books 3/4 years ago, so i dont remember. however, i finished the Tattered & Torn series in February, and i noticed that domestic abuse is one of the most featured theme/subject in her books as well as the knight in shining armor/damsel in distress trope. its either the abusive/crazy ex or toxic family relationship (which, in the case of this book, is both), and i just... IVE HAD ENOUGH. i hope the author comes up with new content. if not, then i’ll just quit her.
for this book particularly, i feel like the romance got buried under all the external drama that it was just sorta there already established with no apparent development. the H & h have known each other for a couple of years, but there wasnt enough background info on their history. the h is like the most persecuted person ever (she was deceived by her ex, hated & abused by her parents, went to prison for something she didnt do). it was ridiculous how tragic her life was. meanwhile, the H is ofc painted as the white knight.
even though found family is a strong positive in this series, the side characters who have blood relation to the main couple are all nasty people. the H’s sister was a mean b*tch, but we never found out why. then theres the h’s psycho ex and her vile parents. not to mention, the custody battle for the h’s niece & nephew. theres so much going on outside of the romance. im sure if i had remembered the MCs of the previous books, i wouldve been delighted with their cameos in this book; but ive forgotten them, so 🤷♀️.
romance with similar premise ive enjoyed more: The Bluff by Willa Nash
my thoughts on:
#1 Beautifully Broken Pieces — 3 stars
#2 Beautifully Broken Life — 2.5 stars
#3 Beautifully Broken Spirit — 3.75 stars
#4 Beautifully Broken Control — 3 stars
(read as an audiobook)
i dont think i’ll ever read this authors books ever again. i read the first four books 3/4 years ago, so i dont remember. however, i finished the Tattered & Torn series in February, and i noticed that domestic abuse is one of the most featured theme/subject in her books as well as the knight in shining armor/damsel in distress trope. its either the abusive/crazy ex or toxic family relationship (which, in the case of this book, is both), and i just... IVE HAD ENOUGH. i hope the author comes up with new content. if not, then i’ll just quit her.
for this book particularly, i feel like the romance got buried under all the external drama that it was just sorta there already established with no apparent development. the H & h have known each other for a couple of years, but there wasnt enough background info on their history. the h is like the most persecuted person ever (she was deceived by her ex, hated & abused by her parents, went to prison for something she didnt do). it was ridiculous how tragic her life was. meanwhile, the H is ofc painted as the white knight.
even though found family is a strong positive in this series, the side characters who have blood relation to the main couple are all nasty people. the H’s sister was a mean b*tch, but we never found out why. then theres the h’s psycho ex and her vile parents. not to mention, the custody battle for the h’s niece & nephew. theres so much going on outside of the romance. im sure if i had remembered the MCs of the previous books, i wouldve been delighted with their cameos in this book; but ive forgotten them, so 🤷♀️.
romance with similar premise ive enjoyed more: The Bluff by Willa Nash
my thoughts on:
#1 Beautifully Broken Pieces — 3 stars
#2 Beautifully Broken Life — 2.5 stars
#3 Beautifully Broken Spirit — 3.75 stars
#4 Beautifully Broken Control — 3 stars
(read as an audiobook)
November 14, 2021
2.5-3🌟
Catherine is my go-to small town romance with a dash of suspense author and normally i enjoy her books but this was just okay.🤷♀️
Maybe i wasn't that much invested in Mason and Anna bc i dnf-ed the previous book so i didn't remember who they were but i couldn't feel any chemistry between them. They were kinda bland characters and their romance was so boring. Also Mason's sister was a mean bitch and she was not redeemed enough!😐
I loved seeing the other couples tho. Those breadcrumbs with Tay, Jensen, Tucker, Tessa were my fav part.
Catherine is my go-to small town romance with a dash of suspense author and normally i enjoy her books but this was just okay.🤷♀️
Maybe i wasn't that much invested in Mason and Anna bc i dnf-ed the previous book so i didn't remember who they were but i couldn't feel any chemistry between them. They were kinda bland characters and their romance was so boring. Also Mason's sister was a mean bitch and she was not redeemed enough!😐
I loved seeing the other couples tho. Those breadcrumbs with Tay, Jensen, Tucker, Tessa were my fav part.
May 22, 2023
Is it crack? Is that what’s in Catherine Cowles books? Cause the way I’m feening for Sutter Lake is insane. I need a 6th one. I’m gonna need her to pull another couple out of her ass cause mama needs a hit again.
I wanna live inside of these books…..well, minus me getting kidnapped, shot, or stabbed. 🫠
Gotta admit, I wasn’t excited about this one. Anna was barely introduced in the last book and even then she wasn’t in it that often. And I had no idea who the hell Mason was - turns out he’s a friend of Cains, the H in the last book. But once I got 5% in I said “you sons of bitches got me with a good backstory” and then I was IN IT COMPLETELY.
4.5 ⭐️
I wanna live inside of these books…..well, minus me getting kidnapped, shot, or stabbed. 🫠
Gotta admit, I wasn’t excited about this one. Anna was barely introduced in the last book and even then she wasn’t in it that often. And I had no idea who the hell Mason was - turns out he’s a friend of Cains, the H in the last book. But once I got 5% in I said “you sons of bitches got me with a good backstory” and then I was IN IT COMPLETELY.
4.5 ⭐️
March 22, 2022
The last book in Sutter Lake series. I have high hope. Hoping for worthy sweet ending on this series. And sadly, Beautifully Broken Redemption is just OK.
The chemistry between Mason and Anna is like Mason holding Anna every night and yet do nothing more. Yes I do like sweet cuddling moment, but not almost the entire book.
Miss Cowles does not give her readers much more feeling than lukewarm. Well... anyway... moving on
3 stars
The chemistry between Mason and Anna is like Mason holding Anna every night and yet do nothing more. Yes I do like sweet cuddling moment, but not almost the entire book.
Miss Cowles does not give her readers much more feeling than lukewarm. Well... anyway... moving on
3 stars
February 1, 2025
"I think I loved you from the moment I saw you. Something in me recognized a person who could make my life so much more. You amaze me every single day. Your strength and your empathy. Your beauty and kindness. I love you more than I thought possible."
4.5 stars
Yessss this was another level compared to the rest of the series.
And the biggest reason why? COMMUNICATION. That's not to say that there weren't some issues related to communication, but these two were actively trying to progress and be a better version of themselves, both for their own benefit and the benefit of their relationship.
And Mason. What a breath of fresh air. He still had a bit of a protective streak, but he was nothing like that previous men who were practically cavemen. He had a much more positive and calm personality than his predecessors, and I was eating him up.
Anna was also a great FMC. She just a good person and also has a lot of spunk, so she gelled well with Mason and his calmer demeanor.
But Mason's sister? What a Grade A Bitch. She was no unnecessarily nasty and for absolutely no reason. I would have been secretly happy if Mason kicked her to the curb for the foreseeable future but in CC's books, premature forgiveness runs in these towns aplenty.
But this was the best one of the series and I really enjoyed getting in some more romantic suspense ❤️
4.5 stars
Yessss this was another level compared to the rest of the series.
And the biggest reason why? COMMUNICATION. That's not to say that there weren't some issues related to communication, but these two were actively trying to progress and be a better version of themselves, both for their own benefit and the benefit of their relationship.
And Mason. What a breath of fresh air. He still had a bit of a protective streak, but he was nothing like that previous men who were practically cavemen. He had a much more positive and calm personality than his predecessors, and I was eating him up.
Anna was also a great FMC. She just a good person and also has a lot of spunk, so she gelled well with Mason and his calmer demeanor.
But Mason's sister? What a Grade A Bitch. She was no unnecessarily nasty and for absolutely no reason. I would have been secretly happy if Mason kicked her to the curb for the foreseeable future but in CC's books, premature forgiveness runs in these towns aplenty.
But this was the best one of the series and I really enjoyed getting in some more romantic suspense ❤️
January 15, 2022
“I’ve got your back, Anna.”
- Who is the Hero? Mason Decker - Age: 36
~ Mason is a VP at Halo (a security company owned by Cain - who is the H from previous book). Mason regularly volunteers at Hope House. Partly because he obviously believes in the value of the work, but also partly because he is fascinated with Anna.
- Who is the Heroine? Anna Foley - Age: 28
~ Anna’s father psychically abused her growing up. She met a guy she thought would save her, only to have him betray her. She spent a couple years in juvie paying for the mistake of trusting the wrong person and ultimately moved to Sutter Lake to get a fresh start. She now runs Hope House and although she has some friends, she keeps people at a distance.
Plot overview:
~ Anna is looking forward to her sister moving to Sutter Lake. Her niece and nephew are already staying with her while her sister wraps up a few things for the move.
However, Anna receives a phone call that shakes her to her core. Mason is with her when the phone call comes through and unfortunately knows the deep devastation that accompanies the loss of loved ones.
Anna find herself in the middle of a nasty custody battle against her abusive father and with odds stacked against her, she accepts Mason’s offer of help.
~ “What terrified me down to my bones was that my parents could get their hands on Lyla and Justin. I couldn’t let that happen. Refused. Those little ones who held my whole heart would not be subjected to what I had been growing up. I’d do whatever I had to do to protect them.”
~ “What am I going to do?”
I looked at Mason as if he could actually answer that. As if he could give me the path out of this nightmare of my making. He stared directly into my eyes.
“It’s simple. Marry me.”
** The following are my thoughts about this book: **
* * my concern going into this book was that it was veering too far away from the Cole family dynamics that were established in the previous books. Book 4 was from a non-family member but someone who had a close connection. So that still had the close knit ties connecting everyone. Even though previous characters made some appearances, this one really had no connection to the family so I was very much missing that whole aspect.
* * I loved everything about Mason and Anna. They agreed to be honest with each other and for the most part they held to that and were a solid team. I truly admired both of them.
* * my favorite type of story is when the H/h band together to fight against evil. With the custody of two children hanging in the balance, I really enjoyed the chemistry and the teamwork of Mason and Anna.
* * story flowed well and I stayed engaged throughout the whole book.
* * once again, a couple different bad guy stories going on. The custody battle was enough. I didn’t need the sister drama and the ex drama. I have found that to be a common thing with the author - every character has one, if not two, bad guys trying to disrupt their life. It doesn’t always work for me.
* * I would have liked a bit more “before” with Mason and Anna to help establish their dynamic.
* * was it just attraction that led Mason to offer his help? His family wasn’t abusive (although it sounds like his dad may have had mental issues) so it didn’t seem like that would be his motivation. If it was the reason, I guess it just didn’t resonate with me.
**Overview:**
- Content Warning: physical abuse (off page), parent with mental issues (off page), murder/suicide (mostly off page)
- Setting: Sutter Lake (somewhere near the Pacific Northwest, I think)
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: I would recommend reading previous books. This is book 5 and characters from previous books appear in this one.
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: marriage of convenience / fake relationship
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 27%
- First time they sleep together: 68%
- Safe sex? Yes. being clean was discussed
- First time they say I Love You 77%
- steamy? Yes. Descriptive bedroom scenes
- Chemistry? sometimes they felt like friends, but the sexual chemistry picked up more towards the end
- OW/OM drama? Yes
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Yes. Around 15% Anna tells Mason about her past. Around 40% Mason tells Anna about his past
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? No
- Did I swoon🥰? Yes. Mason was a great hero
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? 9 months later
- Recommend? Yes
I’ve enjoyed my time in Sutter Lake. I think this book was my favorite, just because it’s got my favorite “us against the world” type vibe. The only negative I have overall with the series is that sometimes there are just too many storylines going on at the same time.
Quotes:
“At some point, you’re going to have to realize that there are good people out there. Ones who simply want to help or make a difference.”
“You have a messed-up idea of who you are and what you’re worth. Your past doesn’t determine who you are now.”
“People hurt each other every day. They might not mean to, but it happens.”
“They do. But the good ones do everything in their power to repair that hurt. To make it right and not do it again.”
“I’m scared that if I start, it’ll never end. There’s too much hurt. And if I really sit and think about it, I’ll drown.”
“You’re too strong to drown. Especially if you take the hand that someone’s holding out.” ”
“Please, Queen Anna, will you be a slug for a day? I promise to only feed you things with zero nutritional value and watch movies that make you laugh.”
- Who is the Hero? Mason Decker - Age: 36
~ Mason is a VP at Halo (a security company owned by Cain - who is the H from previous book). Mason regularly volunteers at Hope House. Partly because he obviously believes in the value of the work, but also partly because he is fascinated with Anna.
- Who is the Heroine? Anna Foley - Age: 28
~ Anna’s father psychically abused her growing up. She met a guy she thought would save her, only to have him betray her. She spent a couple years in juvie paying for the mistake of trusting the wrong person and ultimately moved to Sutter Lake to get a fresh start. She now runs Hope House and although she has some friends, she keeps people at a distance.
Plot overview:
~ Anna is looking forward to her sister moving to Sutter Lake. Her niece and nephew are already staying with her while her sister wraps up a few things for the move.
However, Anna receives a phone call that shakes her to her core. Mason is with her when the phone call comes through and unfortunately knows the deep devastation that accompanies the loss of loved ones.
Anna find herself in the middle of a nasty custody battle against her abusive father and with odds stacked against her, she accepts Mason’s offer of help.
~ “What terrified me down to my bones was that my parents could get their hands on Lyla and Justin. I couldn’t let that happen. Refused. Those little ones who held my whole heart would not be subjected to what I had been growing up. I’d do whatever I had to do to protect them.”
~ “What am I going to do?”
I looked at Mason as if he could actually answer that. As if he could give me the path out of this nightmare of my making. He stared directly into my eyes.
“It’s simple. Marry me.”
** The following are my thoughts about this book: **
* * my concern going into this book was that it was veering too far away from the Cole family dynamics that were established in the previous books. Book 4 was from a non-family member but someone who had a close connection. So that still had the close knit ties connecting everyone. Even though previous characters made some appearances, this one really had no connection to the family so I was very much missing that whole aspect.
* * I loved everything about Mason and Anna. They agreed to be honest with each other and for the most part they held to that and were a solid team. I truly admired both of them.
* * my favorite type of story is when the H/h band together to fight against evil. With the custody of two children hanging in the balance, I really enjoyed the chemistry and the teamwork of Mason and Anna.
* * story flowed well and I stayed engaged throughout the whole book.
* * once again, a couple different bad guy stories going on. The custody battle was enough. I didn’t need the sister drama and the ex drama. I have found that to be a common thing with the author - every character has one, if not two, bad guys trying to disrupt their life. It doesn’t always work for me.
* * I would have liked a bit more “before” with Mason and Anna to help establish their dynamic.
* * was it just attraction that led Mason to offer his help? His family wasn’t abusive (although it sounds like his dad may have had mental issues) so it didn’t seem like that would be his motivation. If it was the reason, I guess it just didn’t resonate with me.
**Overview:**
- Content Warning: physical abuse (off page), parent with mental issues (off page), murder/suicide (mostly off page)
- Setting: Sutter Lake (somewhere near the Pacific Northwest, I think)
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: I would recommend reading previous books. This is book 5 and characters from previous books appear in this one.
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: marriage of convenience / fake relationship
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 27%
- First time they sleep together: 68%
- Safe sex? Yes. being clean was discussed
- First time they say I Love You 77%
- steamy? Yes. Descriptive bedroom scenes
- Chemistry? sometimes they felt like friends, but the sexual chemistry picked up more towards the end
- OW/OM drama? Yes
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Yes. Around 15% Anna tells Mason about her past. Around 40% Mason tells Anna about his past
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? No
- Did I swoon🥰? Yes. Mason was a great hero
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? 9 months later
- Recommend? Yes
I’ve enjoyed my time in Sutter Lake. I think this book was my favorite, just because it’s got my favorite “us against the world” type vibe. The only negative I have overall with the series is that sometimes there are just too many storylines going on at the same time.
Quotes:
“At some point, you’re going to have to realize that there are good people out there. Ones who simply want to help or make a difference.”
“You have a messed-up idea of who you are and what you’re worth. Your past doesn’t determine who you are now.”
“People hurt each other every day. They might not mean to, but it happens.”
“They do. But the good ones do everything in their power to repair that hurt. To make it right and not do it again.”
“I’m scared that if I start, it’ll never end. There’s too much hurt. And if I really sit and think about it, I’ll drown.”
“You’re too strong to drown. Especially if you take the hand that someone’s holding out.” ”
“Please, Queen Anna, will you be a slug for a day? I promise to only feed you things with zero nutritional value and watch movies that make you laugh.”
March 21, 2025
4 stars
I’ve read many books by Catherine Cowles, and all of them follow the same romantic suspense storytelling. But this is one of my favourite stories by her. The story is beautiful, heartfelt and emotional, and the romance is done so well. The suspense plot was also strong, though it followed her usual pattern, with the woman getting kidnapped and saved by her knight in shining armour in the end. It had the same tone as her previous books that I’ve read, but this one just hit me in the heart. I really loved it, mostly because of the characters, the found family aspect, and how they fell for each other, grew together, and loved each other. That part was so beautifully done.
Anna, the female protagonist of this book, was a sweet but tortured soul. She had been physically abused and had endured countless betrayals in her life. Now, she’s trying to start over in Sutter Lake, hoping to build a new life for herself. But life had different plans for her. After her sister’s death, Anna was left to take custody of her sister’s children, but due to her past records, she struggled to gain full custody. While she began to build a new life in Sutter Lake, she still kept people at a distance, despite having made friends who treated her like family. Anna had deep-seated trust issues, but when Mason entered her life as her supposed fake husband, to help her secure custody. It was beautiful to see how he made her feel safe.
“I was his, and he was mine. And I wasn’t letting go.”
Mason was an amazing character, definitely one of my favourite heroes by Catherine, but he can never dethrone Cane. He was really good; he’s charming, a bit grumpy, but he has a way with words. He knows how to reassure and comfort Anna, not just with words but through his actions as well. It was really sweet to see him fall for her first. Like many of Catherine Cowles’ main protagonists, Mason comes from a traumatic past. He’s one of those ‘I-cannot-be-fixed’ guys, but what I really loved about him is how he overcame his trauma. He’s trying to live the best version of his life and, despite everything they’re going through, he’s also doing his best to give Anna the life she deserves. Even after all the tragic things he endured, he still tries to see the beauty in life.
“I pulled her into my arms. She might break for a moment, but I refused to let her fall.”
Mason and Anna were great together as a couple. Even though their marriage was fake, nothing about how they treated each other felt fake. Their connection was rooted in a sweet, easygoing friendship. I loved how they communicated, there were some issues, but it felt real because both Anna and Mason had walls built around their hearts to protect themselves. Yet, they agreed to be honest with each other, not just for their growing relationship but also for the sake of their niece and nephew.
It was beautiful to see how they all built a family together. Each character came from a traumatic past, but as a family, the four of them were unstoppable and so precious. I loved Lyla and Justin and how they enriched the story with their unique dynamics and personalities. They seemed so mature but also fragile at times. It was endearing to watch Mason and Anna care for them as their own kids, and treating them not just as adults when they spoke the truth, but also remembering that they were still two kids who had lost their mother and had a whole life ahead of them. They truly created a beautiful found family.
I loved the epilogue and seeing all the other couples from previous books. They truly form such a wholesome and safe big family, and I loved every moment of it. As always, it’s hard to say goodbye to a series when you’ve had such an amazing time with the characters, reading about their journeys. But I’m glad I got to know these characters, and it was a delight to read their love stories.
“I think it’s the price we have to pay for loving so deeply. And I’ll pay it every day for the rest of my life. If you’ll be in it with me.”
I’ve read many books by Catherine Cowles, and all of them follow the same romantic suspense storytelling. But this is one of my favourite stories by her. The story is beautiful, heartfelt and emotional, and the romance is done so well. The suspense plot was also strong, though it followed her usual pattern, with the woman getting kidnapped and saved by her knight in shining armour in the end. It had the same tone as her previous books that I’ve read, but this one just hit me in the heart. I really loved it, mostly because of the characters, the found family aspect, and how they fell for each other, grew together, and loved each other. That part was so beautifully done.
Anna, the female protagonist of this book, was a sweet but tortured soul. She had been physically abused and had endured countless betrayals in her life. Now, she’s trying to start over in Sutter Lake, hoping to build a new life for herself. But life had different plans for her. After her sister’s death, Anna was left to take custody of her sister’s children, but due to her past records, she struggled to gain full custody. While she began to build a new life in Sutter Lake, she still kept people at a distance, despite having made friends who treated her like family. Anna had deep-seated trust issues, but when Mason entered her life as her supposed fake husband, to help her secure custody. It was beautiful to see how he made her feel safe.
“I was his, and he was mine. And I wasn’t letting go.”
Mason was an amazing character, definitely one of my favourite heroes by Catherine, but he can never dethrone Cane. He was really good; he’s charming, a bit grumpy, but he has a way with words. He knows how to reassure and comfort Anna, not just with words but through his actions as well. It was really sweet to see him fall for her first. Like many of Catherine Cowles’ main protagonists, Mason comes from a traumatic past. He’s one of those ‘I-cannot-be-fixed’ guys, but what I really loved about him is how he overcame his trauma. He’s trying to live the best version of his life and, despite everything they’re going through, he’s also doing his best to give Anna the life she deserves. Even after all the tragic things he endured, he still tries to see the beauty in life.
“I pulled her into my arms. She might break for a moment, but I refused to let her fall.”
Mason and Anna were great together as a couple. Even though their marriage was fake, nothing about how they treated each other felt fake. Their connection was rooted in a sweet, easygoing friendship. I loved how they communicated, there were some issues, but it felt real because both Anna and Mason had walls built around their hearts to protect themselves. Yet, they agreed to be honest with each other, not just for their growing relationship but also for the sake of their niece and nephew.
“I don’t know how to ask you for a shot when you’ve been through so much, But that doesn’t change that I want this. So, I guess I just have to ask. Take that first step, Just one, We can go as slow as you want, and I’ll meet you wherever you’re at. Just one step.”
It was beautiful to see how they all built a family together. Each character came from a traumatic past, but as a family, the four of them were unstoppable and so precious. I loved Lyla and Justin and how they enriched the story with their unique dynamics and personalities. They seemed so mature but also fragile at times. It was endearing to watch Mason and Anna care for them as their own kids, and treating them not just as adults when they spoke the truth, but also remembering that they were still two kids who had lost their mother and had a whole life ahead of them. They truly created a beautiful found family.
“I think I loved you from the moment I saw you. Something in me recognized a person who could make my life so much more. You amaze me every single day. Your strength and your empathy. Your beauty and kindness. I love you more than I thought possible.”
I loved the epilogue and seeing all the other couples from previous books. They truly form such a wholesome and safe big family, and I loved every moment of it. As always, it’s hard to say goodbye to a series when you’ve had such an amazing time with the characters, reading about their journeys. But I’m glad I got to know these characters, and it was a delight to read their love stories.
April 7, 2024
3.5 stars! Beautifully Broken Redemption is the 5th and final book in the Sutter Lake small town romance series. This one was fun because we get a bit of a different setup with this one having a marriage of convenience!
Anna is watching her sister’s children while her sister goes out of town when the story starts, but when gets a call that her sister has died suddenly, Anna finds herself becoming the temporary guardian of her niece and nephew. Because of her complicated past with the law on paper, that we see in the prologue, Anna is worried the kids will be taken away from her and is scrambling for a solution so they don’t end up with her horrible parents (the kids’ grandparents). Mason is her coworker/has been helping at the shelter and overhears Anna, so he ends up offering a marriage of convenience to help her out quickly!
Mason was super sweet and had been into Anna for a while. I liked seeing how much he steps up to help her and her niece and nephew, he makes sure his house has everything they need to feel safe and secure. A lot of the story does focus on the custody battle. This series overall is solid, it’s fun to see how far the author has come with their books nowadays though!
Anna is watching her sister’s children while her sister goes out of town when the story starts, but when gets a call that her sister has died suddenly, Anna finds herself becoming the temporary guardian of her niece and nephew. Because of her complicated past with the law on paper, that we see in the prologue, Anna is worried the kids will be taken away from her and is scrambling for a solution so they don’t end up with her horrible parents (the kids’ grandparents). Mason is her coworker/has been helping at the shelter and overhears Anna, so he ends up offering a marriage of convenience to help her out quickly!
Mason was super sweet and had been into Anna for a while. I liked seeing how much he steps up to help her and her niece and nephew, he makes sure his house has everything they need to feel safe and secure. A lot of the story does focus on the custody battle. This series overall is solid, it’s fun to see how far the author has come with their books nowadays though!
November 20, 2024
***2 Stars***
This had all the makings of a great read.
Heroine who gets sudden custody of her niece and nephew
Rich, protective hero
Marriage of convenience
Small town vibes
Great friendship circle
But yet, here I sit, completely disappointed.
Anna and Mason were one dimensional characters with absolutely no chemistry. Where's the character development? Plot development? There's a whole ass custody battle going on and we barely get any of that. Anna and Mason knew each other for 2 years before the story starts, where's the explanation of that history?
Instead, this whole book felt like a romance cliche where the hero swoops in and rescues the heroine all the while telling her how amazing and strong she is.
The over the top writing? It's like the author tried to outdo herself in every chapter with the cheesy declarations and metaphors.
Did I mention the plot holes? So many character actions and plot points were left unexplained or were given a one sentence drive-by in an attempt to wrap things up. I'm still left wondering why Mason's sister was a raging, judgmental bitch?!?!
This hasn't been my favorite Catherine Cowles series (and overall is pretty forgettable) but this really takes the prize of ending a series with a dud.
February 27, 2022
it was super sweet. arranged marriage involving kids and the guy is a simp? SIGN ME UP.
November 10, 2021
Beautifully Broken Redemption is an engrossing story filled with realistic characters, tragedy, mystery, and an emotionally charged storyline.
When tragedy strikes Anna’s life, she and Mason come to an unusual agreement in order to save her only remaining family members from a horrible fate.
What I Liked :
As with all of Catherine’s other books, this story flows seamlessly from page one. The plot is filled to the brim with events that keep the readers on their toes. Anna and Mason both have very ugly, brutal pasts that are heartbreaking to read about. But the people they have become after fighting against all that ugliness, are inspiring, capable and empathetic to say the least.
Now this wouldn't be a Catherine Cowles novel without some suspense in it. So expect to be constantly wondering as to who the bad guy is, because there are so many potential villains in this story, that it'll keep you on the edge of your seat.
What I didn't like :
I would have liked to see more of a relationship between Anna and Mason before they had to get married. Not necessarily a romantic relation, but maybe just a little more exploration of their chemistry would have given us a smoother transition to their arrangement.
I did not see much of the Anna of the previous book shine through. Sure, she was still badass and strong. But the Anna of previous books is more jovial too. I understand that the circumstances don't allow for a lot of joy, but I felt that the Anna we saw here was vastly different from the ones from the previous books.
Mason is an absolute lovely hero. But I would have liked some more explanation as to why he was helping out Anna. Catherine Cowles is capable of diving into this ‘why’ without giving away too much about the character’s past until exactly the right moment. She has done it with Cain’s story. But that portion of the story was too easily given and thus lost a lot of its importance.
So here is what you, as a reader, want to know.
Would I have read this book had I known all this?
Yes definitely.
I love Sutter Lake and its people. The story is not bad at all. There is so much happening that you’re never bored. You definitely don't want to put the book down once you've started it. But there are some minor problems that I had with the depth with which certain aspects of the story were explored.
But I’m still very much in love with Catherine’s narration style and her stories.
Special Thanks to Social Butterfly PR and Catherine Cowles for providing an early reviewer copy. I’m leaving my honest review voluntarily.
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When tragedy strikes Anna’s life, she and Mason come to an unusual agreement in order to save her only remaining family members from a horrible fate.
What I Liked :
As with all of Catherine’s other books, this story flows seamlessly from page one. The plot is filled to the brim with events that keep the readers on their toes. Anna and Mason both have very ugly, brutal pasts that are heartbreaking to read about. But the people they have become after fighting against all that ugliness, are inspiring, capable and empathetic to say the least.
Now this wouldn't be a Catherine Cowles novel without some suspense in it. So expect to be constantly wondering as to who the bad guy is, because there are so many potential villains in this story, that it'll keep you on the edge of your seat.
What I didn't like :
I would have liked to see more of a relationship between Anna and Mason before they had to get married. Not necessarily a romantic relation, but maybe just a little more exploration of their chemistry would have given us a smoother transition to their arrangement.
I did not see much of the Anna of the previous book shine through. Sure, she was still badass and strong. But the Anna of previous books is more jovial too. I understand that the circumstances don't allow for a lot of joy, but I felt that the Anna we saw here was vastly different from the ones from the previous books.
Mason is an absolute lovely hero. But I would have liked some more explanation as to why he was helping out Anna. Catherine Cowles is capable of diving into this ‘why’ without giving away too much about the character’s past until exactly the right moment. She has done it with Cain’s story. But that portion of the story was too easily given and thus lost a lot of its importance.
So here is what you, as a reader, want to know.
Would I have read this book had I known all this?
Yes definitely.
I love Sutter Lake and its people. The story is not bad at all. There is so much happening that you’re never bored. You definitely don't want to put the book down once you've started it. But there are some minor problems that I had with the depth with which certain aspects of the story were explored.
But I’m still very much in love with Catherine’s narration style and her stories.
Special Thanks to Social Butterfly PR and Catherine Cowles for providing an early reviewer copy. I’m leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Find me on:
November 9, 2021
After getting out of prison for a crime she was wrongly convicted of, Anna had nowhere to go since her parents turned their backs on her. That’s how Anna found Hope House, an organization in a small town called Sutter Lake to help people just like Anna. Now it’s years later and Anna works for HH and her sister along with her niece & nephew are about to make the move to Sutter Lake. But Anna gets a call that changes everything—her sister has unexpectedly died, leaving behind her son & daughter in Anna’s care.
But Anna’s parents are determined to take custody of the children, even though Anna knows them doing so would not be on the kids’ best interests. With Anna’s past, she’s worried that on paper, she would be seen as an unfit guardian. So when her coworker, Mason, offers to marry her, Anna can’t help but say yes for the sake of her niece & nephew.
What starts as a marriage of convenience turns to much more. Anna develops feelings for the man who’s been there all along, just waiting for Anna to notice him. And now that she has him, she’s worried that he’ll break her heart like everyone else in her past did.
Beautifully Broken Redemption by Catherine Cowles is book 5 in the Sutter Lake series. This is a good marriage of convenience romance with an element of mystery/suspense mixed in. This focuses heavily on the custody battle between Anna & her parents. I wish there had been more backstory about Mason & Anna’s working relationship, but overall he was a selfless hero. He was the perfect mix of protective & kindhearted. Anna was strong and truly stood up for the people she loved. I was happy to see their whole family get an HEA! 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you to Social Butterfly PR & Catherine Cowles for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
But Anna’s parents are determined to take custody of the children, even though Anna knows them doing so would not be on the kids’ best interests. With Anna’s past, she’s worried that on paper, she would be seen as an unfit guardian. So when her coworker, Mason, offers to marry her, Anna can’t help but say yes for the sake of her niece & nephew.
What starts as a marriage of convenience turns to much more. Anna develops feelings for the man who’s been there all along, just waiting for Anna to notice him. And now that she has him, she’s worried that he’ll break her heart like everyone else in her past did.
Beautifully Broken Redemption by Catherine Cowles is book 5 in the Sutter Lake series. This is a good marriage of convenience romance with an element of mystery/suspense mixed in. This focuses heavily on the custody battle between Anna & her parents. I wish there had been more backstory about Mason & Anna’s working relationship, but overall he was a selfless hero. He was the perfect mix of protective & kindhearted. Anna was strong and truly stood up for the people she loved. I was happy to see their whole family get an HEA! 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you to Social Butterfly PR & Catherine Cowles for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 4, 2023Dnf at 29%
I started this book back in May and just forgot about it and I’m probably never going to finish it.
I started this book back in May and just forgot about it and I’m probably never going to finish it.
October 23, 2021
Right in the feels! That’s exactly where this small town slowburn romance hit me. Catherine Cowles has perfected the art of delivering a romance that features a strong ensemble cast, emotionally charged storylines, with a splash of danger and suspense sprinkled throughout. This triple threat novel, ticked all those boxes.
Here’s what I loved:
Fans of the series will see their favorites from past novels.
We learn the secrets behind our MCs pasts.
It’s a beautiful novel about overcoming not only the ghosts of our pasts, but letting go of those burdens to live the best life possible.
Marriage of convenience is always a good idea, especially when super cute kids are involved.
Fans of this world will absolutely love this addition to the series. Two thumbs up!
Here’s what I loved:
Fans of the series will see their favorites from past novels.
We learn the secrets behind our MCs pasts.
It’s a beautiful novel about overcoming not only the ghosts of our pasts, but letting go of those burdens to live the best life possible.
Marriage of convenience is always a good idea, especially when super cute kids are involved.
Fans of this world will absolutely love this addition to the series. Two thumbs up!
November 28, 2022
5 stars. I mean, we all knew I’d give this 5 stars, right? Small town with a hint of romantic suspense? Check. Single parent-ish vibes? Check. Oh, and throw in a marriage of convenience for good measure. Plus, this was penned by Catherine Cowles who is one of my favorites and certainly autobuy at this point. It would be impossible for beautifully broken redemption to not be a winner. And it was a winner. It truly was. I loved everything about this story, which is funny, because Anna had a pretty minor role in the other books. I didn’t know that I needed her HEA. But I did.
November 13, 2021
Anna fell in love when she was in her early teens with a guy she thought she would spend forever with. Until she finds out there was a completely different side to him that he kept hidden. In fact, he was so good at lying, she ends up doing time in prison for a crime he committed.
After her release from prison, Anna basically has to start her life all over again. Her family turned their backs on her and she is completely alone.
She ends up in Sutter Lake staying at Hope House. Over time she begins to heal and can see a better future is possible. She eventually ends up working at Hope House and after reconciling with her sister she regularly has her niece and nephew stay during school holidays. They are about to make a permanent move to Sutter Lake, moving in with Anna and she cannot wait to have her sister permanently in her life again.
When the unthinkable happens, Anna’s world completely tips on it’s head and once again her strength and resilience is tested. Mason works at Halo, a security company with his friend Cain (you will know him if you have read previous books in this series). He also regularly volunteers at Hope House. Anna caught his eye the first time he saw her there and he has been secretly crushing on her ever since.
Mason can tell that Anna most likely has a past that she wants to forget, he can see it in her eyes and because he too has experienced things that have impacted his life too. When Anna’s life feels like it’s falling apart, Mason swoops in with a solution that will give Anna the certainty and safety she desperately needs right now. Anna is reluctant at first but is able to put her fears aside to make the best decision for her future.
As these two join themselves together with wedding rings, there are people set on seeking revenge on both of them, disrupting their happy bubble. Yup, not just one baddie either, so prepare for quite a few nail biting moments! Mason knew that if he wanted anything serious to grow between them for real, he was going to have to be patient and eventually his patience paid off. I love how things just happened slowly over time and it just felt so right.
This story follows the same sort of recipe as the other books in this series so expect plenty of suspense and drama. I really loved the dynamic between this family. Mason was a wonderful guy that deserved the happiness he found with Anna. I also really enjoyed all the bits in this story where previous characters popped up.
After her release from prison, Anna basically has to start her life all over again. Her family turned their backs on her and she is completely alone.
She ends up in Sutter Lake staying at Hope House. Over time she begins to heal and can see a better future is possible. She eventually ends up working at Hope House and after reconciling with her sister she regularly has her niece and nephew stay during school holidays. They are about to make a permanent move to Sutter Lake, moving in with Anna and she cannot wait to have her sister permanently in her life again.
When the unthinkable happens, Anna’s world completely tips on it’s head and once again her strength and resilience is tested. Mason works at Halo, a security company with his friend Cain (you will know him if you have read previous books in this series). He also regularly volunteers at Hope House. Anna caught his eye the first time he saw her there and he has been secretly crushing on her ever since.
Mason can tell that Anna most likely has a past that she wants to forget, he can see it in her eyes and because he too has experienced things that have impacted his life too. When Anna’s life feels like it’s falling apart, Mason swoops in with a solution that will give Anna the certainty and safety she desperately needs right now. Anna is reluctant at first but is able to put her fears aside to make the best decision for her future.
As these two join themselves together with wedding rings, there are people set on seeking revenge on both of them, disrupting their happy bubble. Yup, not just one baddie either, so prepare for quite a few nail biting moments! Mason knew that if he wanted anything serious to grow between them for real, he was going to have to be patient and eventually his patience paid off. I love how things just happened slowly over time and it just felt so right.
This story follows the same sort of recipe as the other books in this series so expect plenty of suspense and drama. I really loved the dynamic between this family. Mason was a wonderful guy that deserved the happiness he found with Anna. I also really enjoyed all the bits in this story where previous characters popped up.
November 5, 2021
➳ Rate: 5/ 5 stars
Catherine Cowles never fails me. She writes the swooniest heroes, and most beautiful love stories. She always makes me cry, and this one I teared up so much omg.
These two’s story was perfection. The emotions it brought of me, lord… I loved the love our heroine, Anna, had for her nephews. And that whole backstory is what had me crying so much, as well as Anna’s past.
And our hero omg, I loved him! The way he just was willing to do anything to help Anna had me swooning so hard. And he was so sweet, not only with her, but the kids! Kids always make books so much better for me. Watching the hero interacting with them, falling in love with them. Damn. It just-it’s amazing. And this whole crew completely had my heart.
This honestly just might have become my fav story in this series! Loved it so much!!
➳ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
➳ Order at: Amazon US
➳ Follow me on: Instagram ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Tiktok
Catherine Cowles never fails me. She writes the swooniest heroes, and most beautiful love stories. She always makes me cry, and this one I teared up so much omg.
These two’s story was perfection. The emotions it brought of me, lord… I loved the love our heroine, Anna, had for her nephews. And that whole backstory is what had me crying so much, as well as Anna’s past.
And our hero omg, I loved him! The way he just was willing to do anything to help Anna had me swooning so hard. And he was so sweet, not only with her, but the kids! Kids always make books so much better for me. Watching the hero interacting with them, falling in love with them. Damn. It just-it’s amazing. And this whole crew completely had my heart.
This honestly just might have become my fav story in this series! Loved it so much!!
➳ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
➳ Order at: Amazon US
➳ Follow me on: Instagram ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Tiktok
December 13, 2024
4.75⭐️
my favorite of the series!!! ugh, so good.
my favorite of the series!!! ugh, so good.
October 28, 2021
With a past filled with terror and abuse Anna has never been one to allow people into her inner circle. Keeping to herself has only made Mason want her more. So when a family tragedy leaves Anna fighting for her young niece and nephew, it is Mason that comes to her rescue and allows her the stability to fight off the sins of her father. But while all eyes are on the ability to win custody, Anna is struck down by someone she had not been thinking of. Can Mason keep everyone safe and and allow the new family to have a HEA? Or will the unhappiness of others build more walls in between Mason and Anna. I was on the edge of my seat with every turn of the page just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Filled with high emotions and beautifully written characters this was a fabulous addition to a heart warming series.
October 26, 2021
Whew! I had a whole lotta big feelings while reading this one, but that's nothing new. This author excels in the "all the feels" department. This was a wonderful addition to the Sutter Lake series and once again, I've ended a CC book with a happy sigh, a full heart and giant smile on my face.
October 26, 2021
Catherine Cowles please never stop writing!
Bringing us back home to Sutter Lake, we are introduced to sexy alpha man Mason and shy, quiet Anna.
In a new trope for cowles, she tackles the marriage of convenience turned love, and I am here for every single part of it.
With her usual flare for suspense and some pretty cute kids, this book has had me flying through the pages without stopping for air! It is completely addicting.
I have yet to be disappointed with a Catherine cowles book and this is up there with one of my favourites. Bonus points for bringing our favourite couples back for an update too!
Bringing us back home to Sutter Lake, we are introduced to sexy alpha man Mason and shy, quiet Anna.
In a new trope for cowles, she tackles the marriage of convenience turned love, and I am here for every single part of it.
With her usual flare for suspense and some pretty cute kids, this book has had me flying through the pages without stopping for air! It is completely addicting.
I have yet to be disappointed with a Catherine cowles book and this is up there with one of my favourites. Bonus points for bringing our favourite couples back for an update too!
November 9, 2021
Wow wow wow!!! What an incredible story. I stayed up way too late to read and finish this story and still want more. The tears and smiles I felt while reading took me on quite the ride. These characters went through the ringer and you page turn needing to know what next. The suspense keeps it interesting and the healing makes you love it more. Hands down one of my favs of the series and that she has written. It will also go down as one of my top favorites ever.
August 10, 2023
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨
First Impressions
Beautifully Broken Redemption is the finale in the "Sutter Lake" series, and this is the long-awaited book I have been the most excited for out of most of the series. It has some great tropes, and everyone seems to rave about this one the most so I was very curious to see how it would be handled and I still can't get over this delectable cover that gives me all the swoon vibes. This book is a story that will deliver strong family feels to it, beautifully developed chemistry and all the moments that capture your heart as only Catherine Cowles is capable of. It also contains some powerfully suspense elements that will be a bit different from what I have seen this author place in her stories but enjoyed it just as much.
First Line
Derek's voice cut through the car at a decibel that endangered our eardrums.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Mason
Mason is a self made billionaire. He is intelligent and successful and has finally found his place in Sutter Lake. He has just built his dream home offshore of a lake.
The Heroine: Anna
An ex convict for being framed by her ex boyfriend, she has lived from shelter to shelter until she found Sutter Lake and took over a community center. She helps her sister with her two kids and always sees the good in others but is paranoid about strangers especially sexy rich ones like Mason.
Summary
Anna, was framed by her boyfriend when their car was pulled over with drugs in the trunk. She had some prison time in juvie and her parents abused her most of her life. She has lived in homeless shelters most of her adult life, until she discovered Sutter Lake, found a job as head over a community center and made her first home in a cottage and taking care of her nephew and niece whenever she could. When her sister is killed, she is determined to fight guardianship but she knows her parents have connections that she doesn't have. But when Mason reaches out to her and offers her a marriage of convenience so that she can get complete custody over the children, she knows she has little choice as she doesn't want them to live in a abusive home. She doesn't expect Mason to be a man of honor and integrity, who laughs free with the children and gives her an open honest relationship where she can be herself and find love along the way...
What I Loved
There are many aspects to this story that endeared my heart so completely. First and foremost, I adore a wonderful telling of a marriage of convenience and when its in a contemporary setting, even better. I absolutely adored it in every way. I definitely can see why so many readers loved this book the most, it has so many qualities to it that just portray this authors best work in my opinion or at least some of her most heartfelt at least. While its not a perfect book, its beautifully conveyed in a way that reaches deeply to the heart of those reading it. I wasn't sure when I started this one how I would feel about Anna. I liked her in the previous book but didn't love her character and I truly fell hard for her strong and sure. She is such a caring person, who has so many flaws but those are so relatable when you look at everything she has suffered in her young life.
Then we have our hero, Mason, who is a self made hero. He has worked hard to get the wealth he has and is so loveable. He is so giving of his time and generous to a fault and sees the good in people. He has integrity and honor to her character that is so admirable. And seeing him with these kids, my heart completely melted for him. He just immediately knows the best things to do for them to keep their spirits up and engage with them often and is such a strong support for them when they need it. Both Anna and Mason know exactly how to speak to these children in a way that is healthy and honest and full of love. And the way that Mason is with Anna won me completely over. We see throughout the story how much he gives to her and wants her to trust him because he cares deeply for him and is willing to fight with her and her demons to get to the heart and soul of who she is and let her out more openly. He sets healthy boundaries in the relationship and fights for her so strong.
The plot of the story will keep you on edge all the way through. You can feel the conflict just rise throughout the story as you wonder what will happen with the guardianship over the kids. I mean you can guess what the end result will be (because its a romance haha so the ending is pretty obvious) but as you stick with the story, you feel the conflict and tense vibes the couple and these kids work towards as a family unit as they work together to keep their spirits up and do everything they can to win and have justice in the end. But don't be surprised if you see more than one conflict rise up in this story, its typical Cowles plot machination and I really enjoyed seeing the ending in the story here. Beautifully Broken Redemption won my heart from beginning to end and I can't wait to get these books in print to decorate my shelves with.
What I Struggled With
There was a small conflict that I struggled with, although it didn't affect my overall view of the story. I wasn't a fan of how the heroine acted through the conflict here. I wish that she had taken more accountability for her actions instead of placing it all on Mason's shoulders.
Overall View
Beautifully Broken Redemption is a heartfelt and deeply emotionally provoking story that delivers intimacy of the heart and balanced out wit and embracing the best parts of life.
Favorite Quote(s)
"I love you so much it scares me sometimes.” I pressed my palm against his chest. “I know.” Because I felt that same fear at times. “I think it’s the price we have to pay for loving so deeply. And I’ll pay it every day for the rest of my life. If you’ll be in it with me.” Mason brushed his lips across mine. “I only want to be where you are.”
“Never been happier than when I’m with you.”
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character Types: Billionaire/Mr. Moneybags, Ex Convict
Themes: Book Boyfriend, Danger, Family Bonds, Kids Involved, Heart-Touching
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Marriage of Convenience
Book Perspective
DUO Pov
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict is the focus
Song This Book Inspires
Wolves-One Direction
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as standalone if needed
Steam/Spice Explanations
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
June 25, 2023
4.5 rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!
An emotional rainstorm in the end.
This is series book that breaks from the romance genre into the drama genre.
I heartfelt journey of one’s couples struggle to stay together and fight together against some pretty bad people. These bad people include parents, siblings, and x’s.
The story includes a core of good friends who have been in the last few books. A new relationship begins with Anna and Mason ( nice name). They come together under difficult circumstances and begin to have feelings for each other.
The story pace starts fast and stays good throughout. . Anna has a troubled past so this is gonna be a challenge. A troubled past is a common denominator for most of the core characters.
The end really finishes strong. An emotional ride.
An emotional rainstorm in the end.
This is series book that breaks from the romance genre into the drama genre.
I heartfelt journey of one’s couples struggle to stay together and fight together against some pretty bad people. These bad people include parents, siblings, and x’s.
The story includes a core of good friends who have been in the last few books. A new relationship begins with Anna and Mason ( nice name). They come together under difficult circumstances and begin to have feelings for each other.
The story pace starts fast and stays good throughout. . Anna has a troubled past so this is gonna be a challenge. A troubled past is a common denominator for most of the core characters.
The end really finishes strong. An emotional ride.
November 17, 2021
Beautifully Broken Redemption is Book 5 in The Sutter Lake Series by Catherine Cowles. Each book in this series is an interconnected stand-alone featuring a different couple with its own HEA and can be read alone—but if you’re like me, you’ll enjoy reading each book and couple in this series.
Anna Foley has spent the better part of a decade running from an abusive past. Once a former shelter resident herself, she is now running Hope House—the very same shelter she took refuge in. It’s at this same shelter that Anna meets Mason Decker (aka Mase) who volunteers at the shelter as part of a community outreach program through his work. Mason is the VP/COO of Halo, a security company owned by Cain. (If you haven’t read Cain’s story I highly recommend doing so in Beautifully Broken Control, Book 4 of the Sutter Lake Series.)
Mason had been fascinated with Anna since he first met her at the shelter. Anna, on the other hand had kept her distance from Mason. Past experiences had taught her that worst of humanity could hide under a pleasant expression or a face you’ve always trusted. The more of a pull she felt towards Mason, the more she stayed clear. The more she pushed him away the more he wanted to know her.
All that changes when Anna unexpectedly finds herself fighting for the only family she has left. She has no choice but to accept Mason’s help. As they get to know each other, Anna and Mason find they have more in common than they thought—a shared connection of pain understanding and now a fight they are wagering together. They’re both harboring secrets though. And as it turns out, the past doesn’t always stay in the past. Can Anna and Mase navigate a fake marriage where more than just their safety and well-being are at stake all while trying to form a real relationship?
I’ve never read a book by Cowles that I haven’t loved and this one was no exception. I absolutely loved Anna and Mason and seeing them overcome their pasts and heal each other. And let me just say, Mason is 100% swoon-worthy grade A book boyfriend material.
I was so excited when I heard that Catherine was bringing us back to Sutter Lake. After all, Beautifully Broken Pieces (Book 1 of The Sutter Lake Series) was the first book I read of Catherine’s and where I
immediately fell in love with her writing. I absolutely adore each and every couple from this series and I loved getting to catch up with where they are now. I cannot wait to see what Catherine has in store for us in 2022. I do know whatever it is, it will be an automatic one-click!
Anna Foley has spent the better part of a decade running from an abusive past. Once a former shelter resident herself, she is now running Hope House—the very same shelter she took refuge in. It’s at this same shelter that Anna meets Mason Decker (aka Mase) who volunteers at the shelter as part of a community outreach program through his work. Mason is the VP/COO of Halo, a security company owned by Cain. (If you haven’t read Cain’s story I highly recommend doing so in Beautifully Broken Control, Book 4 of the Sutter Lake Series.)
Mason had been fascinated with Anna since he first met her at the shelter. Anna, on the other hand had kept her distance from Mason. Past experiences had taught her that worst of humanity could hide under a pleasant expression or a face you’ve always trusted. The more of a pull she felt towards Mason, the more she stayed clear. The more she pushed him away the more he wanted to know her.
All that changes when Anna unexpectedly finds herself fighting for the only family she has left. She has no choice but to accept Mason’s help. As they get to know each other, Anna and Mason find they have more in common than they thought—a shared connection of pain understanding and now a fight they are wagering together. They’re both harboring secrets though. And as it turns out, the past doesn’t always stay in the past. Can Anna and Mase navigate a fake marriage where more than just their safety and well-being are at stake all while trying to form a real relationship?
I’ve never read a book by Cowles that I haven’t loved and this one was no exception. I absolutely loved Anna and Mason and seeing them overcome their pasts and heal each other. And let me just say, Mason is 100% swoon-worthy grade A book boyfriend material.
I was so excited when I heard that Catherine was bringing us back to Sutter Lake. After all, Beautifully Broken Pieces (Book 1 of The Sutter Lake Series) was the first book I read of Catherine’s and where I
immediately fell in love with her writing. I absolutely adore each and every couple from this series and I loved getting to catch up with where they are now. I cannot wait to see what Catherine has in store for us in 2022. I do know whatever it is, it will be an automatic one-click!
July 5, 2023
Agora sim...agora apaixonei-me completamente pela escrita da autora e pelo seu potencial em criar histórias que são simplesmente soberbas...este livro, este livro é perfeito. É tudo o que eu não sabia que queria e precisava na minha vida; é o livro que me fez acreditar que todos somos merecedores de segundas oportunidades; é o melhor livro da saga e até agora, o melhor de sempre da autora para mim.
A história da Anna e do Mason quase que me levou às lágrimas 😭 é verdade, quase que chorei. Estava um caco a ler certos capítulos, pois a autora nesta história foi por aspetos que nunca tinha ido e, conseguiu ser ainda mais profunda e vulnerável na sua escrita. Surpreendi-me pelas decisões que tomou e certas reviravoltas no plot foram totalmente inesperadas e tristes, o que só me deixou mais presa a tudo (mas também a sofrer...) 🥹
As tropes apresentadas são das minhas preferidas de sempre, em conjunto com a personalidade extraordinária dos protagonistas, só poderia resultar numa história maravilhosa e perfeita. É a redenção deles, mas acima de tudo é a redenção do amor ❤️
A história da Anna e do Mason quase que me levou às lágrimas 😭 é verdade, quase que chorei. Estava um caco a ler certos capítulos, pois a autora nesta história foi por aspetos que nunca tinha ido e, conseguiu ser ainda mais profunda e vulnerável na sua escrita. Surpreendi-me pelas decisões que tomou e certas reviravoltas no plot foram totalmente inesperadas e tristes, o que só me deixou mais presa a tudo (mas também a sofrer...) 🥹
As tropes apresentadas são das minhas preferidas de sempre, em conjunto com a personalidade extraordinária dos protagonistas, só poderia resultar numa história maravilhosa e perfeita. É a redenção deles, mas acima de tudo é a redenção do amor ❤️
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