One of my greatest pleasures as a reader is watching an author grow in her craft. Following Cowles' writing journey is pure delight and makes my romantic heart ridiculously happy. With each new book she sets the bar higher, and I know beyond any doubt her romances will be an amazing, satisfying reading experience. With writing this good, it's hard to believe it can get any better, but I have no doubt the best is yet to come, and I can’t wait to see what this gifted storyteller brings us next.
The small town of Wolf Gap was struck by tragedy a decade ago and many lives were forever changed, Laiken Montgomery's perhaps most significantly. She lives with emotional scars and physical pain as a constant reminder, yet she finds her happiness in her friends and her job managing an art gallery. Her heart bears the scars of her grief, and she has little left of it to offer to any kind of romantic relationship.
Boden Cavanaugh may be one of the most famous actors in Hollywood, but he's no stranger to loss. As a public figure, he's had little choice but to work through his grief in the public eye, with hungry vultures constantly hovering in hopes of a sound bite or candid shot intended only to satisfy rabid fans by preying on a vulnerability.
Boden's visit to Wolf Gap is twofold. Escape the cameras being shoved in his face and do extensive research for an upcoming movie project. He plans to fly under the radar and have little interaction with people in town. But plans have a way of changing, and Boden's do when he sees something through the window that compels him to step inside the gallery where Laiken works. Two broken hearts recognize the pain in the other, and a cautious friendship begins to bloom.
Oh my heart, y’all, this story! Returning to these characters is like coming home to family and finding unwavering support, unmitigated acceptance, and unconditional love. Somehow two lost souls find healing, courage, and a chance at love they both believed was gone forever. Cowles then adds the perfect amount of drama and suspense guaranteed to keep you reading long into the night.
There's an unguarded authenticity and sage understanding in these pages that comes only from first-hand knowledge of loss, grief and sorrow, and while my mind was enthralled by the storytelling, my heart beat in sympathy for everything these characters endured. Although it's fiction, there's an abundance of wisdom to be found that can serve each of us at different points of life's journey.
Although readers will see themselves in Laiken and Boden's romance, even more profoundly, their story will make the reader feel seen. Balanced with the tragedy, grief and pain are healing, forgiveness and second chances. Your heart may itself feel shattered, but then it will unfurl its wings and soar. Poignant, heartfelt, and uplifting, this exquisite, extraordinary romance is one of my favorite, most special reads this year and one you absolutely won’t want to miss.