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Death to Valentine's Day
What’s worse than Valentine’s Day after a brutal breakup? Being trapped in a snowstorm with your ex’s brother and maybe a murderer. A witty and chillingly romantic short story by #1 Amazon bestselling author Catherine Cowles.
After her boyfriend’s betrayal, the last thing Maia St. James wants is to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And when her friends force her out for a Death to Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge, the last thing she expects is to kiss a masked stranger, especially when he ends up being her ex’s older brother. But that’s the least of her problems. When a guest is found murdered, the party becomes a mystery. And Maia must unmask a killer before her second chance at romance is cut short.
Catherine Cowles’s Death to Valentine’s Day is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.
After her boyfriend’s betrayal, the last thing Maia St. James wants is to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And when her friends force her out for a Death to Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge, the last thing she expects is to kiss a masked stranger, especially when he ends up being her ex’s older brother. But that’s the least of her problems. When a guest is found murdered, the party becomes a mystery. And Maia must unmask a killer before her second chance at romance is cut short.
Catherine Cowles’s Death to Valentine’s Day is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2026
2809 people are currently reading
9047 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cowles
55 books28.5k 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 3,181 reviews
January 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐
I really enjoyed it!!
A Catherine Cowles classic, just in a short form. We got a love story that was years in the making, a murder, some suspense and some incredibly adorable moments!!
Maia spots her ex-boyfriend during a Valentine's Day masquerade party, her ex that cheated on her, so she asked the man in the hallway with her to kiss her.. That man turns out to be her ex's older brother Decker, a man that has always been there for her. A shocking murder and a snowstorm that has them trapped, has her evaluating everything.. Is her chance at happiness closer than she thought?
I loved Maia and Decker! They were great together and always there for one another. That scene the morning after was so cute!! It truly showed how much they supported each other throughout the years, it made their connection so much more believable. And an one bed trope will forever have me in a chokehold!!
I hated Jackson, he was such a douche, but Booker was a true friend!!
I loved the setting and even though it was short, we still got everything, just on a much tighter timeline. It was a little rushed, but I still think it was done very well considering the restraints. I felt pulled into the story immediately.
I actually did guess the killer, maybe I am getting better at guessing it (wishful thinking..).
I absolutely loved the epilogue, the rest of the collection felt a little unfinished, so I'm incredibly happy we got to see them both down the line, it made the story even better.
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Amazon Original Stories for providing me with an ARC.*
I really enjoyed it!!
A Catherine Cowles classic, just in a short form. We got a love story that was years in the making, a murder, some suspense and some incredibly adorable moments!!
Maia spots her ex-boyfriend during a Valentine's Day masquerade party, her ex that cheated on her, so she asked the man in the hallway with her to kiss her.. That man turns out to be her ex's older brother Decker, a man that has always been there for her. A shocking murder and a snowstorm that has them trapped, has her evaluating everything.. Is her chance at happiness closer than she thought?
I loved Maia and Decker! They were great together and always there for one another. That scene the morning after was so cute!! It truly showed how much they supported each other throughout the years, it made their connection so much more believable. And an one bed trope will forever have me in a chokehold!!
I hated Jackson, he was such a douche, but Booker was a true friend!!
I loved the setting and even though it was short, we still got everything, just on a much tighter timeline. It was a little rushed, but I still think it was done very well considering the restraints. I felt pulled into the story immediately.
I actually did guess the killer, maybe I am getting better at guessing it (wishful thinking..).
I absolutely loved the epilogue, the rest of the collection felt a little unfinished, so I'm incredibly happy we got to see them both down the line, it made the story even better.
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Amazon Original Stories for providing me with an ARC.*
February 3, 2026
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 1.5/5
The murder plot line took away from the book because there was way too much going on for this being a 100 page novella. Maybe if there were like 100 more pages, I would have had more time with these characters and the plot line would also flow better. I'm not fully sure, but I can say that it was too short given the plot.
I also predicted who was behind the murder, but the reveal made me laugh. I felt really bad for laughing especially given the situation, but the way the person revealed themselves was comical.
Also, I don't have a good rapport with books based on a murder mystery, so I would say that you might enjoy it more than I did.
I'm so dead. I cannot even fathom someone saying "mount me, stallion" and the other person not being disgusted.
The murder plot line took away from the book because there was way too much going on for this being a 100 page novella. Maybe if there were like 100 more pages, I would have had more time with these characters and the plot line would also flow better. I'm not fully sure, but I can say that it was too short given the plot.
I also predicted who was behind the murder, but the reveal made me laugh. I felt really bad for laughing especially given the situation, but the way the person revealed themselves was comical.
Also, I don't have a good rapport with books based on a murder mystery, so I would say that you might enjoy it more than I did.
"But walking in on your boyfriend doing your cousin doggy-style when he said he was working late at the office? Painful and cliché. Hearing her say, “Mount me, stallion?” Well, that was burned into my brain for all eternity—in the worst way imaginable."
I'm so dead. I cannot even fathom someone saying "mount me, stallion" and the other person not being disgusted.
February 1, 2026
Birdie has to be one of the worst nicknames ever
February 16, 2026
Even though this was super cheesy and cringey at times, I still kinda enjoyed it. I'm ngl, I am a fan of romances where the guy pines for his brother's girlfriend, knowing he'd love her better than his brother ever could and everyone knows it. 🎵This is where Shawn Mendes's Treat You Better starts to play in the background.🎵
I don't know if I enjoyed the romance or the main characters, Maia and Deck, as much as I did the plot and the side characters. Granted, the ending threw me completely off guard. I literally had to blink hard and reread what just happened, but it was still interesting and kept me intrigued till the very end. Erik and Booker were my favorite characters, tbh, and I had a smile on my face whenever they were present in a scene. 🤭 The dialogue felt stiff and so, so cheesy, like I felt like I was listening to a sermon rather than reading a romance. And Jackson, Maia's ex, should just change his name to Jackass because holy moly that dude was a real jerk. 😑 This isn't my favorite in the series, but it was a nice and short story that made me chuckle, and the ending was satisfying, so I'd say it was somewhat of a win. 🩷
❗️Content Warnings❗️
Death, murder, blood, and some violence.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶️🌶️🌶️/5)
I don't know if I enjoyed the romance or the main characters, Maia and Deck, as much as I did the plot and the side characters. Granted, the ending threw me completely off guard. I literally had to blink hard and reread what just happened, but it was still interesting and kept me intrigued till the very end. Erik and Booker were my favorite characters, tbh, and I had a smile on my face whenever they were present in a scene. 🤭 The dialogue felt stiff and so, so cheesy, like I felt like I was listening to a sermon rather than reading a romance. And Jackson, Maia's ex, should just change his name to Jackass because holy moly that dude was a real jerk. 😑 This isn't my favorite in the series, but it was a nice and short story that made me chuckle, and the ending was satisfying, so I'd say it was somewhat of a win. 🩷
❗️Content Warnings❗️
Death, murder, blood, and some violence.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶️🌶️🌶️/5)
January 26, 2026
Romantic Suspense, yes please! This worked for me, a ball, a murder, and a little unforbidden love. So much in this short book, and I felt satisfied by the end.
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February 3, 2026
Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles is part of the multi author series, The Improbable Meet-Cute Second Chances series. This was fun, sweet, swoony, and also a little twisty-turny which I’ve come to expect from Catherine Cowles. This is only about a hundred pages but a whole story is packed into these pages. I loved it!
Maia St. James is twenty five years old. She caught her boyfriend of ten years cheating on her one year ago, on Valentine’s Day. Now she just wants to hide away until the day is over. But her two roommates aren’t having it. They drag her out of bed to a Death to Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge. But things don’t go quite as she might have hoped. Her cheating ex was also there. And after kissing a masked stranger to avoid said ex, she discovers the stranger is none other than her ex’s older brother, Decker.
Just when Maia doesn’t think things could get any worse, she discovers a body outside the lodge. In the middle of a snow storm. Now everyone at the party is snowed in at the lodge, along with the dead body and of course, the killer.
Kissing Decker opens Maia’s eyes to all kinds of truths. Along with a chance at love again. As long as she can live long enough to enjoy it! This was so fun to read. I should have known Catherine Cowles would surprise me! I loved Decker and his best friend. If you want something short, fun, and packed full of goodness, I definitely recommend this!
Maia St. James is twenty five years old. She caught her boyfriend of ten years cheating on her one year ago, on Valentine’s Day. Now she just wants to hide away until the day is over. But her two roommates aren’t having it. They drag her out of bed to a Death to Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge. But things don’t go quite as she might have hoped. Her cheating ex was also there. And after kissing a masked stranger to avoid said ex, she discovers the stranger is none other than her ex’s older brother, Decker.
Just when Maia doesn’t think things could get any worse, she discovers a body outside the lodge. In the middle of a snow storm. Now everyone at the party is snowed in at the lodge, along with the dead body and of course, the killer.
Kissing Decker opens Maia’s eyes to all kinds of truths. Along with a chance at love again. As long as she can live long enough to enjoy it! This was so fun to read. I should have known Catherine Cowles would surprise me! I loved Decker and his best friend. If you want something short, fun, and packed full of goodness, I definitely recommend this!
February 8, 2026
This Valentine's novella delivered exactly what I needed and then left me wanting more in the best way!!! Did I wish it were a full-length novel? Absolutely! Because when a story makes you crave more, that's how you know it's something special.💜💜💜💜💜
If you're looking for a quick read or listen that blends a swoony love story with a gripping murder mystery that is layered with suspense, tension, and sizzling romance then this is the novella for you. I was hooked from the very beginning and completely invested in the characters. And honestly, who can resist a masquerade ball? Add in an epilogue that ties everything together so perfectly and I was fully undone.
I rate books based on their genre and what they set out to be, and with that in mind, this novella exceeded every expectation. I don't expect the depth or expansive character exploration of a full novel, and I didn't need it here. For a novella, this story was incredible!
And a final side note! I usually see twists coming BUT not this time!! Being genuinely surprised was such a gift, and it made the entire experience even more delicious.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you're looking for a quick read or listen that blends a swoony love story with a gripping murder mystery that is layered with suspense, tension, and sizzling romance then this is the novella for you. I was hooked from the very beginning and completely invested in the characters. And honestly, who can resist a masquerade ball? Add in an epilogue that ties everything together so perfectly and I was fully undone.
I rate books based on their genre and what they set out to be, and with that in mind, this novella exceeded every expectation. I don't expect the depth or expansive character exploration of a full novel, and I didn't need it here. For a novella, this story was incredible!
And a final side note! I usually see twists coming BUT not this time!! Being genuinely surprised was such a gift, and it made the entire experience even more delicious.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 27, 2026
Thoughts
This is my second time reading Catherine Cowles and I love her writing style! This was such a fun read packed with love, murder, suspense and adorable moments typical Catherine style. Despite of how short it was everything was intertwined perfectly with the right amount of everything that leaves you with a satisfying ending
Plot Summary
Reeling from her boyfriend’s betrayal, Maia has no interest in Valentine’s Day—especially when she’s dragged to an anti-romance masquerade at a remote mountain lodge. An unexpected kiss with a masked stranger complicates the night even further when she discovers he’s tied to her past in the worst possible way. As the party takes a dark turn and secrets begin to surface, Maia finds herself caught between danger and desire, racing to uncover the truth before her second chance at love disappears.
My Bookstagram
This is my second time reading Catherine Cowles and I love her writing style! This was such a fun read packed with love, murder, suspense and adorable moments typical Catherine style. Despite of how short it was everything was intertwined perfectly with the right amount of everything that leaves you with a satisfying ending
Plot Summary
Reeling from her boyfriend’s betrayal, Maia has no interest in Valentine’s Day—especially when she’s dragged to an anti-romance masquerade at a remote mountain lodge. An unexpected kiss with a masked stranger complicates the night even further when she discovers he’s tied to her past in the worst possible way. As the party takes a dark turn and secrets begin to surface, Maia finds herself caught between danger and desire, racing to uncover the truth before her second chance at love disappears.
My Bookstagram
January 22, 2026
This short story could have been so good, but the added murder plot felt so out of place. It felt like the author threw it in randomly in 2 spots and it totally distracted from the overall story and was so unnecessary and cheesy.
Without that weirdness, this would have been a 4 star story. Great second chance love story.
Without that weirdness, this would have been a 4 star story. Great second chance love story.
February 8, 2026
2⭐️
I think this was the most interesting of the series so far, but it still wasn't a favorite. I thought that the banter and dialogue between the characters was pretty good and funny but them chemistry between the main characters definitely fell short by a lot. There wasn't any build up and the angst and tension between them was nonexistent. I don't think this book is a great representation of Catherine's books, as I have always given them five stars. It was just very...average.
Although I will say the small 'whodunit' murder mystery side plot was kinda fun. Very lackluster and underwhelming, but fun. It set it apart from the other series but I don't think in the way it was probably meant. This one is spicy so if you want something clean and sweet, this one wouldn't be the best. Only one more to go!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 💌🩷
Trying to finish up these last two novellas today since I have absolutely nothing to do
This series feels like some form of brain rot but, ya know, kinda fun? 😭
I think this was the most interesting of the series so far, but it still wasn't a favorite. I thought that the banter and dialogue between the characters was pretty good and funny but them chemistry between the main characters definitely fell short by a lot. There wasn't any build up and the angst and tension between them was nonexistent. I don't think this book is a great representation of Catherine's books, as I have always given them five stars. It was just very...average.
Although I will say the small 'whodunit' murder mystery side plot was kinda fun. Very lackluster and underwhelming, but fun. It set it apart from the other series but I don't think in the way it was probably meant. This one is spicy so if you want something clean and sweet, this one wouldn't be the best. Only one more to go!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 💌🩷
Trying to finish up these last two novellas today since I have absolutely nothing to do
This series feels like some form of brain rot but, ya know, kinda fun? 😭
January 24, 2026
3⭐️
This was cute but also all over the place. We have an anti-Valentine's day party, a murder at said party, an ex's brother romance, and a nfl star? It was a tiny bit too much to fit into one novella.
Why did Maia even date Jackson in the first place? Like this story starts with her wallowing in bed over him, a YEAR after they broke up. They dated for ten years! But then every single thing we're told about him shows that he was a terrible boyfriend... so why the hell did she date him for ten whole years? She fully admins that he didn't even like her that much. I don't get it
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was cute but also all over the place. We have an anti-Valentine's day party, a murder at said party, an ex's brother romance, and a nfl star? It was a tiny bit too much to fit into one novella.
Why did Maia even date Jackson in the first place? Like this story starts with her wallowing in bed over him, a YEAR after they broke up. They dated for ten years! But then every single thing we're told about him shows that he was a terrible boyfriend... so why the hell did she date him for ten whole years? She fully admins that he didn't even like her that much. I don't get it
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2026
Leaving it at 3 stars
The duet narration and the cute epilogue was all I could ask for 🥹. I wish all books had them 😭.
Maia is OVER Valentine’s Day. The previous year, she was cheated on by her boyfriend Jackson WITH HER COUSIN 😑🤬 (sometimes, blood isn’t thicker than water 😐), and her bffs Violet and Erik make her go to a masquerade party on Valentine’s Day. The problem? Her ex is there 😑 and he’s with another girl 🤬.
No worries though cause she’s there to party, have some fun, and maybe find herself a fling 😉. So when she sees her ex, she grabs the first guy she sees- but she doesn’t realize that the man in the mask she asks to kiss her isn’t a stranger 😅.
It’s none other than her ex’s brother…. Decker, a professional football player, and a man that has been crushing on her for years 👀.
What she doesn’t count on is how sparks fly when they kiss 👀
I guess they’re more than just friends now 😉
I liked: SPOILERS
—WE GET A 🔥 SCENE! This is my first impression of Catherine Cowles, and I’m not mad at the fact that she squeezed one in within a short amount of pages👏🏻 the other authors in this “series” need to take note 🤣. Although it was short, it was 😮💨
—Decker isn’t a man hooooar 👏🏻. Ufff. At least 🤷🏻♀️
—it’s duet narration 👏🏻
—we get an epilogue 🥹
—how protective Decker is ❤️. If my brother called the women I want a hoooooo then I’d sock him too 💁🏻♀️
—Decker is all about tasting Maia 🔥
I didn’t like:
—Decker- you mean to tell me that you’ve been wanting Maia for years and let her stay with your POS brother??? COME ONNNNNN!! MAN TFFFF UP and GET YO GIRL! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
—Maia. You mean to tell me you’ve even with this douuuuche canoe for 10 MF years and he NEVER WENT DOWN SOUTH?!?!? Girl. That’s a REDDDDD FLAAAAAG!!! Get out of dodge and escape the narcissistic AHOLE 🤷🏻♀️ what are you doing staying with such a selfish person???!? I mean. Come on 😐🤦🏻♀️🙄 clearly he isn’t good in bed 🤷🏻♀️ which leads me to
—the best 🔥 of your life was with Decker?? Girl. The scene didn’t last THAT many pages 🤣 come on 🫠. I mean. I guess it just means your ex was terrible… but dang girl, I feel like I should make you a go fund me for all the years you lost 🤣🤣🤣
—there’s no way you can haw a murder mystery in such little pages 🫠 it felt like it came out of nowhere 😅. It DOES lead to Maia seeking comfort with Decker… but even the whodunit was 😵💫 lol. Like. WHAT??? Give me some clues please 🤣
Overall. I liked some things but clearly didn’t like others
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating*/sharing/owd
-the h’s ex cheated on her with her cousin
-the H and his brother (h’s ex) get into a fight 💁🏻♀️
-murder/suspense
-condom
-HEA/epilogue/2 years later
The duet narration and the cute epilogue was all I could ask for 🥹. I wish all books had them 😭.
Maia is OVER Valentine’s Day. The previous year, she was cheated on by her boyfriend Jackson WITH HER COUSIN 😑🤬 (sometimes, blood isn’t thicker than water 😐), and her bffs Violet and Erik make her go to a masquerade party on Valentine’s Day. The problem? Her ex is there 😑 and he’s with another girl 🤬.
No worries though cause she’s there to party, have some fun, and maybe find herself a fling 😉. So when she sees her ex, she grabs the first guy she sees- but she doesn’t realize that the man in the mask she asks to kiss her isn’t a stranger 😅.
It’s none other than her ex’s brother…. Decker, a professional football player, and a man that has been crushing on her for years 👀.
What she doesn’t count on is how sparks fly when they kiss 👀
I guess they’re more than just friends now 😉
I liked: SPOILERS
—WE GET A 🔥 SCENE! This is my first impression of Catherine Cowles, and I’m not mad at the fact that she squeezed one in within a short amount of pages👏🏻 the other authors in this “series” need to take note 🤣. Although it was short, it was 😮💨
—Decker isn’t a man hooooar 👏🏻. Ufff. At least 🤷🏻♀️
—it’s duet narration 👏🏻
—we get an epilogue 🥹
—how protective Decker is ❤️. If my brother called the women I want a hoooooo then I’d sock him too 💁🏻♀️
—Decker is all about tasting Maia 🔥
I didn’t like:
—Decker- you mean to tell me that you’ve been wanting Maia for years and let her stay with your POS brother??? COME ONNNNNN!! MAN TFFFF UP and GET YO GIRL! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
—Maia. You mean to tell me you’ve even with this douuuuche canoe for 10 MF years and he NEVER WENT DOWN SOUTH?!?!? Girl. That’s a REDDDDD FLAAAAAG!!! Get out of dodge and escape the narcissistic AHOLE 🤷🏻♀️ what are you doing staying with such a selfish person???!? I mean. Come on 😐🤦🏻♀️🙄 clearly he isn’t good in bed 🤷🏻♀️ which leads me to
—the best 🔥 of your life was with Decker?? Girl. The scene didn’t last THAT many pages 🤣 come on 🫠. I mean. I guess it just means your ex was terrible… but dang girl, I feel like I should make you a go fund me for all the years you lost 🤣🤣🤣
—there’s no way you can haw a murder mystery in such little pages 🫠 it felt like it came out of nowhere 😅. It DOES lead to Maia seeking comfort with Decker… but even the whodunit was 😵💫 lol. Like. WHAT??? Give me some clues please 🤣
Overall. I liked some things but clearly didn’t like others
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating*/sharing/owd
-the h’s ex cheated on her with her cousin
-the H and his brother (h’s ex) get into a fight 💁🏻♀️
-murder/suspense
-condom
-HEA/epilogue/2 years later
January 30, 2026
My FAVOURITE of the series 😍
What's worse than Valentine's Day after a brutal breakup? 💔
Snowed in with a murderer, no less! ❄️ ☠️ 💘
Hello 👋🏼 forced proximity with your ex-boyfriend’s brother…
Following a nasty breakup, the last thing Maia St. James wants is to celebrate Valentine's Day. Nevertheless, her friends force her to go to an anti-romance Valentine's Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge. The very last thing she expects, or wants, is to kiss a masked stranger, especially when he turns out to be her ex's older brother 🤦🏻♀️ But before she can dwell on that too much, the party takes a turn for the worse - GUEST MURDER 😵 The party soon becomes a snowed in murder mystery 🧐 Maia must unmask the killer in a race to uncover the truth before her second chance at love disappears…
I LOVED this so much! This is the first Catherine Cowles book I have read and I must say I am very impressed, even with this short story. Her writing grabbed my attention from the word go and kept me captivated until the very end. It was an action packed read full of suspense and a few plot twists which kept me on my toes.
As for the romance - it felt like a genuine connection. I think this was partly due to their past…I really liked both Maia and Decker, and they made a great couple. I love how they supported one another and both equally hated Jackson (the ex & the brother) 😂 Plus, I always enjoy the forced proximity trope 🤭
“I love you. I know it’s reckless. That maybe I shouldn’t say it. But I realized it earlier. I think I’ve always loved you.” I dropped my forehead to hers. “I love you, Birdie. It’s always been you.” 💘✨
Overall, a brilliant short story which concluded with a very satisfying epilogue 👏🏽
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
What's worse than Valentine's Day after a brutal breakup? 💔
Snowed in with a murderer, no less! ❄️ ☠️ 💘
Hello 👋🏼 forced proximity with your ex-boyfriend’s brother…
Following a nasty breakup, the last thing Maia St. James wants is to celebrate Valentine's Day. Nevertheless, her friends force her to go to an anti-romance Valentine's Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge. The very last thing she expects, or wants, is to kiss a masked stranger, especially when he turns out to be her ex's older brother 🤦🏻♀️ But before she can dwell on that too much, the party takes a turn for the worse - GUEST MURDER 😵 The party soon becomes a snowed in murder mystery 🧐 Maia must unmask the killer in a race to uncover the truth before her second chance at love disappears…
I LOVED this so much! This is the first Catherine Cowles book I have read and I must say I am very impressed, even with this short story. Her writing grabbed my attention from the word go and kept me captivated until the very end. It was an action packed read full of suspense and a few plot twists which kept me on my toes.
As for the romance - it felt like a genuine connection. I think this was partly due to their past…I really liked both Maia and Decker, and they made a great couple. I love how they supported one another and both equally hated Jackson (the ex & the brother) 😂 Plus, I always enjoy the forced proximity trope 🤭
“I love you. I know it’s reckless. That maybe I shouldn’t say it. But I realized it earlier. I think I’ve always loved you.” I dropped my forehead to hers. “I love you, Birdie. It’s always been you.” 💘✨
Overall, a brilliant short story which concluded with a very satisfying epilogue 👏🏽
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
January 28, 2026
•Dual POV
•Ex boyfriend's brother
•Friends to lovers
•Close proximity
•Only one bed
•Murder mystery
•Novella
I typically love a twist. Like blow my mind and give me alllll the twists. Turns out maybe there are some I could do without. The twists in this story definitely left me scratching my head. The potential was 100% there but the execution was not my personal fave. Quick holiday read with second chances, pining, no shortage of drama with a happily ever after🩷
3/5 ⭐️
•Ex boyfriend's brother
•Friends to lovers
•Close proximity
•Only one bed
•Murder mystery
•Novella
I typically love a twist. Like blow my mind and give me alllll the twists. Turns out maybe there are some I could do without. The twists in this story definitely left me scratching my head. The potential was 100% there but the execution was not my personal fave. Quick holiday read with second chances, pining, no shortage of drama with a happily ever after🩷
3/5 ⭐️
February 10, 2026
This was another fun small read!!
There was so much happening at once yet it felt like nothing was happening at the same time!! It felt too rushed for the murder mystery / ex boyfriend’s brother trope, but overall I had fun. The only reason why this rating wasn’t higher was because i couldn’t get over the “Birdie” nickname.. like why?!! Gave me the ick so many times.
But I am excited to read more of Catherine Cowles’s books 🙂↕️
There was so much happening at once yet it felt like nothing was happening at the same time!! It felt too rushed for the murder mystery / ex boyfriend’s brother trope, but overall I had fun. The only reason why this rating wasn’t higher was because i couldn’t get over the “Birdie” nickname.. like why?!! Gave me the ick so many times.
But I am excited to read more of Catherine Cowles’s books 🙂↕️
February 10, 2026
Valentine #5 🩷
𓂃 ࣪˖ 𓈒࣪ ˖♡₊˚1.5☆
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this one 😮💨💔 It honestly made me feel sleepy and had me rolling my eyes the whole time.
The murder mystery came completely out of nowhere and made zero sense — I didn’t care about it at all. It could have been so much better, but the reveal of the killer at the end was just… nope. Very disappointing 🫠💀
And seriously, if Maia’s ex was that bad, why did she stay with him for all those years? And if Decker knew that his brother wasn’t treating the girl he loved well, why didn’t he step in? There’s a difference between interfering and ruining someone’s happiness, and actually doing what’s right. Decker kept playing the role his brother should’ve played every single time… so why didn’t he just push himself a little and confess his feelings? 🤷🏻♀️
Also… that nickname “Birdie” was so bad 😭💀
𓂃 ࣪˖ 💐 𓈒࣪ ˖💌♡₊˚
𓂃 ࣪˖ 𓈒࣪ ˖♡₊˚1.5☆
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this one 😮💨💔 It honestly made me feel sleepy and had me rolling my eyes the whole time.
The murder mystery came completely out of nowhere and made zero sense — I didn’t care about it at all. It could have been so much better, but the reveal of the killer at the end was just… nope. Very disappointing 🫠💀
And seriously, if Maia’s ex was that bad, why did she stay with him for all those years? And if Decker knew that his brother wasn’t treating the girl he loved well, why didn’t he step in? There’s a difference between interfering and ruining someone’s happiness, and actually doing what’s right. Decker kept playing the role his brother should’ve played every single time… so why didn’t he just push himself a little and confess his feelings? 🤷🏻♀️
Also… that nickname “Birdie” was so bad 😭💀
𓂃 ࣪˖ 💐 𓈒࣪ ˖💌♡₊˚
January 29, 2026
there were many things happening, but nothing happened all at once. even so, it was cute.
January 25, 2026
This started off fine. I loved the snowy setting of a mountain lodge masquerade party. And the initial drama and tension of crossing paths with her ex-boyfriend’s brother!
But gosh, the dialogue was painfully cringy and took me completely out of the story. Lines like “this outfit is dick-down gold,” and Maia kissing Decker only to immediately say, “I felt like I was flying,” are just a couple examples. It all felt extremely cheesy, and I could not take anything seriously.
I will say, the murder mystery itself genuinely surprised me. Even knowing there was a huge twist, I still did not predict the culprit AT ALL. Unfortunately, the actual reveal was … not great. The villain monologue was so over-the-top it gave me major secondhand embarrassment.
(heat level: 1 open-door scene, explicit details)
But gosh, the dialogue was painfully cringy and took me completely out of the story. Lines like “this outfit is dick-down gold,” and Maia kissing Decker only to immediately say, “I felt like I was flying,” are just a couple examples. It all felt extremely cheesy, and I could not take anything seriously.
I will say, the murder mystery itself genuinely surprised me. Even knowing there was a huge twist, I still did not predict the culprit AT ALL. Unfortunately, the actual reveal was … not great. The villain monologue was so over-the-top it gave me major secondhand embarrassment.
(heat level: 1 open-door scene, explicit details)
January 23, 2026
The best part about this is the title.
I have no idea how there can be so much going on in one story, and yet somehow every element is horrendously underwhelming.
I have no idea how there can be so much going on in one story, and yet somehow every element is horrendously underwhelming.
February 16, 2026
Entertaining quick read with long-term pining on the H's end and the h rearranging everything she thought she knew to realize who she was meant to be with. Valentine's theme with a dash of murder investigation, forced proximity, and prominent side characters sharing their opinions. Kind of rushed, but this author knows how to surprise you with a twist. HEA ending and a nice wrap-up for even the side characters in the epilogue that's 2 years later.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, some om drama when the h ends up at the same party as her ex and the ex's older brother who's always wanted her (unbeknownst to her). I think the h might have only been with the ex and the H wasn't a player, despite being an athlete. He did have occasional hookups despite being in love with the h, but she was with his brother for a decade.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Childhood friends to lovers
☆ Ex's brother
☆ MMC secretly pining
☆ He notices everything about her
☆ FMC still recovering from her breakup
☆ Friends encouraging the main characters
☆ Anti-Valentine's Day party gone murdery
☆ Forced proximity
☆ You'll side-eye side characters as suspects
☆ One spicy scene
☆ Cute epilogue
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, some om drama when the h ends up at the same party as her ex and the ex's older brother who's always wanted her (unbeknownst to her). I think the h might have only been with the ex and the H wasn't a player, despite being an athlete. He did have occasional hookups despite being in love with the h, but she was with his brother for a decade.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Childhood friends to lovers
☆ Ex's brother
☆ MMC secretly pining
☆ He notices everything about her
☆ FMC still recovering from her breakup
☆ Friends encouraging the main characters
☆ Anti-Valentine's Day party gone murdery
☆ Forced proximity
☆ You'll side-eye side characters as suspects
☆ One spicy scene
☆ Cute epilogue
January 23, 2026
this was such a fun novella!
in classic Catherine fashion we get murder, romance, and mystery. WHAT COULD BE BETTER?!
its forbidden - ex's bro - it's always been you - with a twist of a game of clue.
it's the perfect slashery valentines day read/listen
4.5 stars!
in classic Catherine fashion we get murder, romance, and mystery. WHAT COULD BE BETTER?!
its forbidden - ex's bro - it's always been you - with a twist of a game of clue.
it's the perfect slashery valentines day read/listen
4.5 stars!
February 11, 2026
Rating: 3⭐⭐⭐
Format: ebook
Platform/app used: z library, readera
Tropes:
• Ex’s Brother Romance;
• Murder Mystery;
• Forced Proximity / Snowed In;
• Masquerade Ball Setting;
• Second Chance / New Attraction.
Review:
"Death to Valentine’s Day" combines romantic tension with a hint of mystery in a quick-paced Valentine’s Day thriller-novella. While it offers some enjoyable moments, it doesn’t fully succeed in all its components.
The premise is intriguing: Maia, still haunted by a recent breakup, reluctantly attends an anti-Valentine’s masquerade ball at a mountain lodge. In a moment of impulsiveness, she kisses a masked stranger to save face, only to find out that he’s Decker, her ex-boyfriend’s older brother, who has harboured feelings for her for years.
The novella shines in its atmosphere and setup. The snowy lodge and the chaotic Valentine’s celebration create a cinematic backdrop, setting the stage for several engaging and tension-filled scenes. The added element of a murder and the characters being trapped together elevate the stakes beyond a typical short romance, injecting suspense that keeps the story moving.
However, both the romance and mystery, despite having intriguing elements, feel underdeveloped due to the novella’s brevity (around 100 pages). The transitions between humor, emotional moments, and mystery revelations can sometimes feel rushed or disjointed, with a few plot twists, particularly in the murder subplot, appearing abrupt or insufficiently fleshed out.
Nevertheless, the novella serves as light entertainment for readers seeking a seasonal-themed read infused with humor, tension, and romantic attraction. While it may not revolutionise the genre, its creative blend of holiday romance and sleuthing offers an engaging and quick read.
Format: ebook
Platform/app used: z library, readera
Tropes:
• Ex’s Brother Romance;
• Murder Mystery;
• Forced Proximity / Snowed In;
• Masquerade Ball Setting;
• Second Chance / New Attraction.
Review:
"Death to Valentine’s Day" combines romantic tension with a hint of mystery in a quick-paced Valentine’s Day thriller-novella. While it offers some enjoyable moments, it doesn’t fully succeed in all its components.
The premise is intriguing: Maia, still haunted by a recent breakup, reluctantly attends an anti-Valentine’s masquerade ball at a mountain lodge. In a moment of impulsiveness, she kisses a masked stranger to save face, only to find out that he’s Decker, her ex-boyfriend’s older brother, who has harboured feelings for her for years.
The novella shines in its atmosphere and setup. The snowy lodge and the chaotic Valentine’s celebration create a cinematic backdrop, setting the stage for several engaging and tension-filled scenes. The added element of a murder and the characters being trapped together elevate the stakes beyond a typical short romance, injecting suspense that keeps the story moving.
However, both the romance and mystery, despite having intriguing elements, feel underdeveloped due to the novella’s brevity (around 100 pages). The transitions between humor, emotional moments, and mystery revelations can sometimes feel rushed or disjointed, with a few plot twists, particularly in the murder subplot, appearing abrupt or insufficiently fleshed out.
Nevertheless, the novella serves as light entertainment for readers seeking a seasonal-themed read infused with humor, tension, and romantic attraction. While it may not revolutionise the genre, its creative blend of holiday romance and sleuthing offers an engaging and quick read.
February 16, 2026
Romance with a bit of murder. Was a friends to lovers type story which was awkward but cute.
January 24, 2026
So cute!!
As with a CC books, this short lil novella has suspense, murder & love and I had the best time listening to it!! Not your average way of spending a Valentine’s Day being snowed in a huge mansion with both your ex, his hot older brother & a group of people where one of them could be a murderer!!
Type: audio (Erin Mallon & Connor crais)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
ex’s brother
Snowed in
Only one bed
It’s always been you
Romantic suspense novella
Holiday novella
As with a CC books, this short lil novella has suspense, murder & love and I had the best time listening to it!! Not your average way of spending a Valentine’s Day being snowed in a huge mansion with both your ex, his hot older brother & a group of people where one of them could be a murderer!!
Type: audio (Erin Mallon & Connor crais)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
ex’s brother
Snowed in
Only one bed
It’s always been you
Romantic suspense novella
Holiday novella
January 26, 2026
Mehhhh. This was alright. The plot was kind of weird and I felt like 3 different books were happening at once.
January 29, 2026
the plot was good for a novella...pretty engaging but somewhere along the way, i lost interest. it all just began to feel to cheesy and cringey.
February 13, 2026
should have dnf after the nickname ‘birdie’ was used
February 11, 2026
A snowed in murder mystery with your ex's brother!? Yes, please 👏🏻
February 4, 2026
I’m truly not surprised that this one has been my favorite so far. I liked the plot and bit of suspense. Although I wish there was just one more chapter. I felt like the "The Who Done It" chapter was too rushed. It was like this build up only for it to be rushed in the last half of a chapter. And I get this was a short story but I felt like the ending was like wham bam thank you ma’am and it needed just one more chapter.
I will say I truly did enjoy the whole murder mystery vibe of this one. It was like a game of clue. The duet narration was also good. Overall, a quick, enjoyable short story.
I will say I truly did enjoy the whole murder mystery vibe of this one. It was like a game of clue. The duet narration was also good. Overall, a quick, enjoyable short story.
February 13, 2026
My first book by Catherine Cowles and I was honestly so impressed. I didn’t realize her stories leaned into suspense, but since I’ve been getting into romantic suspense lately, this felt like the perfect change of pace. The snowy lodge, the masks, the ex’s older brother drama—the atmosphere was tense in the best way and kept me hooked the whole time.
And that twist seriously came out of nowhere… like the kind that makes you pause and reread the last page because your brain needs a second to catch up. 😭 I did not see it coming at all, which made it fun. I just wish the story had been a little longer instead of rushing through it. I wasn’t ready to leave the story yet… mainly because I was wanted more time with the main characters once things started shifting between them—their dynamic was so good.
Still such a fun, addictive read. Messy, suspenseful, & romantic 💘
And that twist seriously came out of nowhere… like the kind that makes you pause and reread the last page because your brain needs a second to catch up. 😭 I did not see it coming at all, which made it fun. I just wish the story had been a little longer instead of rushing through it. I wasn’t ready to leave the story yet… mainly because I was wanted more time with the main characters once things started shifting between them—their dynamic was so good.
Still such a fun, addictive read. Messy, suspenseful, & romantic 💘
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