Sourcebooks Casablanca Archives

Book Review:: All the Missing Pieces | Catherine Cowles

So, like, romantic suspense is a thing?! If this book is good representation of that, this might be my new favorite genre! Oh my gosh, the mystery, the danger, the intrigue! I was hooked in early on and I was happy to let it reel me all the way in.

All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles Book Cover

When Ridley’s sister disappeared, she started living double. She had to experience the world twice as much, in honor of the life her sister didn’t get to live. She lives life out of the back of her van, traveling the country recording true crime podcasts. She’s good at her job because she can empathize with the grieving family’s and has a bone-deep interest in finding sickos and getting justice for their crimes.

Of course she has been researching the disappearance of her own sister, and she believes it wasn’t just an isolated incident. Her next project is investigating the failed kidnapping of a woman Ridley believes was her sister’s killer’s first victim. When she rolls into town, she finds the victim’s brother is a sheriff, and overprotective at that, which won’t make things easy for her.

First of all, the construction. When an author crafts her characters to fundamentally fit, and then throws in a dramatic question that not only justifies but also inherently creates conflict for story between them, it’s like friggin magic, and Cowles has done it in All the Missing Pieces.

Come on! A crime podcaster and a cop? Both with family members who were victims of the same type of crime? Their goals don’t only align, they’re exactly the same, but there’s so much room for tension and conflict and that’s👏🏼what👏🏼we👏🏼live👏🏼for👏🏼

It’s spicy too, did I mention? *blushes*

We’ve got an active investigation, plenty of suspects, old secrets resurfacing, hot bods, sexual tension, and sparks a-flying. There is real danger, protective instincts, and cute animal sidekicks with quirks that make you go aww. Seriously, I loved every word, and I can’t wait to read more exactly like this. Everyone drop me some recs!

I am so grateful I got to listen to an advanced copy of this title through the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

Details

Title:: All the Missing Pieces (Shady Cove #1)
Author:: Catherine Cowles
Genre:: Romantic Suspense
Publisher:: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Length:: 384 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 50m
Audiobook Narrator:: Andi Arndt, Sebastian York
Audiobook Publisher:: Dreamscape Media
Published:: January 7th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
Spice Rating:: 3

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

If you liked this book, check out…

Burn for Me | Ilona Andrews
In the Likely Event | Rebecca Yarros
The Reappearance of Rachel Price | Holly Jackson

Book Review:: Mistletoe & Mr. Right | Sarah Morgenthaler

Moose Springs is a magical place of hearty hometown comfort, constant hilarious (and sometimes nefarious) antics, and the kind of romance that will melt your heart into a puddle and snow-pack it back into working order with a little more tenderness than you had before. Gosh dang Sarah Morgenthaler, you’ve done it again.

Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler Book Cover

Lana Montgomery is trying to fiddle her way out of the huge mess she’s made of Moose Springs. She’s bought up the whole town in hopes to save them from bankruptcy and ruin, but her family’s ultra-international-real-estate-conglomerate thinks it’s nothing but a waste of time and one of them is trying to use it as leverage to steal some of the prodigal light away from Lana for himself. Also, the town hates her for it. She’s catching heat from all sides, but she’s a Montgomery, and Montgomery’s don’t show weakness. Or stress. Or anything at all. And she’s good at hiding it, she really is, but for her hands shaking so badly she can’t apply her own makeup most days.

Rick? Rick is a simple man trying to keep his bar afloat in the locals-only culture of Moose Springs. He’s mostly a shell of a man after his wife left him years ago with her nephew Diego to raise and the bar that’s essentially falling apart at this point. He’s got a grumpy cat, a mean cereal habit, and an adorable hedgehog for company. He’s got so much love to share, and his eye is on Ms. Montgomery, though he’s far too reserved to act on it.

Fortunately, Lana isn’t.

After a misconstrued ‘hey baby’ and an accidental fly-by moose darting, the start of their (official) romance is when Lana finally asks him on an official date. You don’t want to know where they end up, but you do want to know not to try their house sausage.

Okay, the santa moose was a little obnoxious, but that’s part of the beauty of the Moose Springs we know and love. Our ultimate favs from The Tourist Attraction, Graham and Zoey, feature prominently in this book, satisfying an itch I didn’t realize needed scratching. And the dynamic of our two new love birds is everything. Rick has whatever the opposite of Graham’s outgoing personality is. Lana is far more confident and driven than our wandering doe-eyed Zoey. And the town of Moose Springs hangs in the balance.

This book is good, but the series…the series is must-read material. If you haven’t read The Tourist Attraction yet, seriously, you need to. Then you can read this gem of a book. And yes, I recommend reading them in order, though technically you don’t have to.

Get yourself the gift of Moose Springs this holiday season. The worst you’ll get is a giant smile on your face the entire time and the memories of the laugh-out-loud humor and heart-warming moments haunting you for the rest of time. In a good way though 🙂

(Also, the narrator, Elise Arsenault, is a genius. If you enjoy audiobooks, I recommend these!)

Details

Title:: Mistletoe and Mr. Right (Moose Springs, Alaska #2)
Author:: Sarah Morgenthaler
Genre:: Romantic Comedy
Publisher:: SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 12h 5m
Audiobook Narrator:: Elise Arsenault
Audiobook Publisher:: Tantor Audio
Published:: October 6th, 2020
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 2

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

If you liked this book, check out…

The Tourist Attraction | Sarah Morgenthaler
The Paradise Problem | Christina Lauren
Work in Progress | Kat Mackenzie

Book Review:: The Tourist Attraction | Sarah Morgenthaler

Oh my gosh, what a feel-good sweet little romance novel we have here! The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler is such a fun story about an unlikely connection between a grumpy local and an exuberant out-of-towner.

The Tourist Attraction Sarah Morgenthaler Book Cover

Zoey has been saving up forever to travel to Alaska, and finally, she’s there. Her rich friend Lara convinced her to time her trip to coincide with her next visit to the resort in the small town of Moose Springs. Zoey has a long list of budget activities to keep her busy, and she makes fast friends with the handsome diner owner who is dead set against dating tourists.

The little town of Moose Springs Alaska is quirkier than most quirky small towns. Monotone tour guides, locals-only cinnamon rolls as big as your head, a spa that specializes in wildlife shaped designs for the nether regions…and don’t forget Ulysses, the bull moose with a strong attraction to yeasted dough. It’s an idyllic setting, especially within the state of Alaska, which is a whole world of its own.

I loved Graham Barnett. Yes, he was a grouch, but at the same time, he was more laid back and far funnier than most grouchy romance heroes. There was something so special about him. He hates running his diner, The Tourist Trap, and refuses to hire anyone to help him run it, but he also invents The Growly Bear custom cocktail and turns his favorite customers’ reindeer dogs into cute little reindeer. He hates tourists, but he’s also committed to making sure Zoey has a great experience in Alaska. Also, he calls her Zoey bear. Adorable. He’s an enigma in the best way possible.

Zoey is kind of the everywoman, if every woman is grouchy in the mornings, excited to experience as much as she can in the world on her own terms, and isn’t used to eating ground reindeer on the regular. She’s loyal and friendly, and sweetly oblivious – quite easy to love.

There are also plenty of side characters with lots of potential. The twins, Lara and her rich whosits and whatsits – the world Morgenthaler creates is just big enough to get really immersed.

I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Elise Arsenault, and I really recommend it – she really gives the characters a great voice.

I said it in the intro, but I’ll say it again – this is such a feel-good romantic comedy. I dare you to read it without a smile! If you’re looking for something to lift your spirits and tickle your flirty romance craving, this one is it! The characters are so endearing and they get into plenty of questionable situations. AND, it’s the start of a series, so if you like it, there’s even more where that came from!

Details

Title:: The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs Alaska #1)
Author:: Sarah Morgenthaler
Genre:: Romantic Comedy
Publisher:: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 36m
Audiobook Narrator:: Elise Arsenault
Audiobook Publisher:: Tantor Audio
Published:: May 5th, 2020
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
Spice Level:: 2