this book was everything I need and more! Ridley and Colt were everything and I loved their relationship so fricking much!

I loved their residents of Shady Cove too and just how protective they are of their own 🥲

I can’t forgot Tater either! I would die for that cat…literally 😌

I would also like to point out that I was wrong ONCE AGAIN on who done it 🫠🤣

I really liked this book ! Suspenseful and surprising. I’m not big fan of small town romances but I decided to give it a go ! Catherine in new author for me but I might be coming back more into her universe. I loved storytelling and how authors leaded this romance . Fabulous narration, Must read alert

Now I have a serious book hangover. Like...how do I find another book after this one? It had all the feels...you'll laugh...you'll cry. If you love true crime podcasts then you NEED to check out this new romantic suspense!

Catherine Cowles is just one of those repeat authors for me hands down when I see her name I jump, any amount of length. If you love true crime and podcasts and romantic suspense, you HAVE to pick this book up! Catherine uses her magic touch to combine all of those elements into one of my new favorite romance novels she's ever written SO good. The hate to love tension between Ridley and Colt was everything plus some and I loved how Ridley slowly broke down Colt's walls until he couldn't resist her anymore. This suspense kept me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning and I was mind blown by the villain. But it's Catherine Cowles, so why would I be expecting anything else!?

OMG, you guys—Catherine Cowles absolutely delivers with All the Missing Pieces! If you love romantic suspense with a side of true crime vibes, emotional depth, and small-town charm, this one is so for you. It’s got everything: a gripping mystery, heart-wrenching family drama, and a slow-burn romance that’ll have you swooning.

The Storyline—So Addictive!
From the very first page, I was hooked. The book kicks off with a killer prologue that immediately pulls you into Ridley Sawyer’s world—a badass true crime podcaster haunted by her twin sister’s disappearance. She rolls into Shady Cove determined to find answers, and boom, she crashes into Sheriff Colter Brooks, a protective, brooding, and ridiculously attractive small-town cop who has his own trauma to deal with.

Cowles does such an amazing job weaving together the different elements: Ridley’s investigation, her growing connection with Colt, and a super tense serial killer mystery. The pacing? Chef’s kiss. The suspense builds perfectly, keeping you flipping pages way past bedtime. And the way everything ties together at the end? So. Freaking. Satisfying.

The Characters—Flawless.
One thing about me? I love well-developed characters, and this book delivers:

Ridley Sawyer – She’s strong, determined, and totally relatable. Her passion for justice is so inspiring, and I loved watching her grow and open up throughout the book.
Colter Brooks – If you love protective, broody, but secretly soft heroes, you are going to fall so hard for Colt. He starts off as a little too overprotective, but once his layers start peeling back? Ugh, perfection.
Emerson Brooks – Colt’s sister might not be in the spotlight, but her resilience and strength really stood out. Her relationship with Colt and Ridley added so much emotional depth to the story.
The Vibes—Absolutely Immaculate.
Cowles totally nails the small-town aesthetic. Shady Cove feels so real, with its tight-knit community, cozy-but-ominous atmosphere, and just the right amount of eerie. The writing is immersive without ever feeling too heavy, balancing the darker mystery elements with some much-needed lighter, heartfelt moments.

Also, the true crime/podcast elements? So well done! I loved how it added an extra layer to the mystery without bogging down the story. If anything, I would’ve loved even more details about Ridley’s process!

The Romance—ALL the Feels.
If you love an enemies-to-lovers slow burn with serious chemistry, this romance will own you. Ridley and Colt start off super wary of each other, but the tension? ELECTRIC. The way their relationship builds—from reluctant allies to something so much deeper—felt so real and emotional. They both understand what it’s like to carry trauma, and their connection is built on more than just attraction (though, trust me, the attraction is very much there).

Themes That Hit Hard
Beyond the mystery and romance, this book has some really powerful themes:

💔 How trauma shapes us
❤️‍🔥 The balance between protecting someone and letting them grow
🏡 The importance of found family
🔎 The power of truth and closure

It’s emotional in all the right ways, and I definitely teared up more than once.

Any Downsides? Not Really!
If I had to nitpick, I’d say:

The villain reveal was intense, but a little more foreshadowing might have made it even stronger.
Some of the side characters could have gotten a little more time in the spotlight.
The podcasting details were so cool—I just wanted more of them!
Who Should Read This? (Hint: Probably You)
If you’re into:

✅ Romantic suspense that actually balances romance and mystery
✅ True crime elements in fiction
✅ Small-town settings with big secrets
✅ Strong, emotional character arcs
✅ Stories that keep you guessing and make you feel all the things

Then All the Missing Pieces is 1000% for you.

Final Thoughts—LOVED.
This book is an absolute win. The mystery is gripping, the romance is beautiful, and the characters feel so real. Catherine Cowles knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat while also making you fall completely in love with her characters.

Also, this is just book one in the Shady Cove series, so I am so ready to dive into whatever comes next! If you love authors like Nora Roberts or Kendra Elliot, run, don’t walk, to grab this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️—Easily one of my fave romantic suspense reads of the year!

Haven’t you figured it out yet, chaos? You’ve had me breaking all the rules since the day I met you -colter brooks

Once again, everything Catherine writes has me in a chokehold.
Enemies to lovers
Forced Proximity
Badass FMC
Romantic Suspense

Some of my absolute favorite tropes.

For some reason Ridley gave me die hard Veronica Mars vibes, and as a VM fan till death, I was here for it.

I loved that both characters were dealing with their own trauma, that was so much like the others & they were able to bond through this.

And once again, even though I thought I had it all figured out, that twist absolutely blew my mind.

I can’t wait to see what Catherine has in store for us next 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley, Source books/ Casablanca & Catherine Cowles for the ARC of All The Missing Pieces ♥️

I loved this book. The way Catherine pulls through a story and weaves in the suspense is amazing. I have only read a few of her books and look forward to more.

Catherine Cowles at her finest! If you are a romance + true crime podcast fan, this one is definitely for you! I loved the setting, the #vanlife, forced proximity, and hate to love. The twists just kept me guessing and I definitely did not figure out the end!!

I know this is supposed to be a standalone, but I need more of these characters and town!!

When a book brings you to tears at just the dedication, you know you're in for a 5 star. And you know what? I was not wrong. This book had me in a full chokehold from the minute I picked it up and to the minute I finished it. I loved every bit of this story, from the main characters, the small town, the suspense, the fun secondary characters, the sweet pets, and everything in between.

I knew from the second Ridley appeared on the pages that I would love her. This woman is the epitome of strength and I loved how she used the most unimaginable tragedy to drive her to help others find peace. For the past 5 years, her paid has fueled her purpose. And her latest purpose drives her to a town that she is convinced holds the missing piece to finally unraveling a 5 year old tragic mystery.

Colt is the town sheriff who from the second he meets Ridley, manages to put his foot in his mouth at every turn. I loved the antagonistic chemistry between these two almost as much as I loved their bickering. And boy was there bickering. This was only made better by Ridley's adorable three legged cat with a penchant for biting her affection.
Don’t be a baby,” I said, grinning. “It’s just one of her tooth hugs.”
Colt stared at me, jaw going slack. “Tooth…hugs?”
I nodded. “It’s how she shows affection.”

I loved the slow burn chemistry between Colt and Ridley. I love Ridley's tenacity and Colt's protectiveness. And god did I love them together.
I tore my mouth away from hers, taking in those wild blue eyes.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
“It’s a bad idea,” I rasped. “We’d be playing with fire.”
Those ocean eyes sparked. “Then let’s watch it burn.”



The romance was seamlessly woven into the suspense plot and it was sheer perfection. It amplified everything about the story and I couldn't get enough of these two together. The story kept me glued to the pages, eager for answers but also dreading to be done. I was instantly enraptured by this town and its citizens and I was so sucked into the mystery that I was completely incapable of setting the book down for even a minute.

If you're looking for a romantic suspense with just the right amount of spice, you need to check this one out.

I absolutely loved All The Missing Pieces!! 🥹🥹

Catherine can simply not write a bad book! Law Man and Chaos were perfection. I quite literally SOBBED the entire last chapter & epilogue! So sweet. And per usual, I was absolutely shook at who the villian was!

Read if you like:
• small town
• romantic suspense
• grumpy x sunshine
• enemies to lovers
• hurt/comfort
• true crime podcaster FMC
• broody sheriff MMC

I wish I had loved this one more. Catherine is one of my all time fave authors but this one just wasn't for me. Overall this story has the classic inquizitive FMC that wants answers to something from her past combined with an overprotective MMC. For me Colt and Ridley felt identical to other Catherine characters to the point where it got confusing and I had to keep reminding myself what book I was reading. The pacing was off in this as well with the first 200 pages being slow and there wasn't enough of the small town character. It was very straightforward to guess the plot line. Regardless, this still had some emotional intensity and I did enjoy some of the banter between our FMC and MMC.

If you're wanting to try a romantic suspense then this is a great intro but if you've read a lot, maybe give this one a pass

So good! Loved the true crime podcast angle. I loved Ridley, I thought she was a strong character with such a heartbreaking story and I loved that she had a personal tie in to the mystery she was solving. I also loved that Colt didn’t know her connection to it and pushed her away initially. It made for a really good, ‘oh shit, this girl has been through it and I really f’ed up’ moment. Love me a grovel!

This is my first book by Catherine Cowles, and it won’t be my last.

I really enjoyed this story, the writing was good and the storyline pulled me in right away. I love a good psychological thriller with a twist of romance.

I look forward to reading the rest of the books in their series!

***Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca***

Slow start. I kept waiting and waiting for the action it pick up, which it did. The ending was quite dramatic.
I loved the attack cat known at Tater, but I thought the dogs were the best.
I loved Ace and the bikers. Norm and Celia were a hoot!
I liked the nicknames Chaos and Law Man Colt and Ridley used.
I also liked how Cowles placed the villain, never saw it coming.

There's a ridiculous amount of talent in indie romance, and I’m thrilled this gifted storyteller has gotten noticed by mainstream publishing. Her stories are head and shoulders above much of the romantic suspense out there – beautiful, breathtaking, riveting, and always leaving you guessing.

Ridley Sawyer is a true-crime podcaster who travels the country in her camper van covering cold cases. The long ago disappearance of her sister is her motivation, and her three-legged cat is her trusty companion. Her research has lead Ridley to the town of Shady Cove, which was rocked by tragedy with long-lasting effects on the small community, and they're protective of their own.

Sheriff Colter Brooks is suspicious of strangers in his town, especially those nosing around asking questions about something that should be left in the past. But when danger comes for the inquisitive newcomer, Colter will extend his oath of serving and protecting to include Ridley and keep her safe.

Once again, this crafty wordsmith  delivers a compelling, edge-of-the-seat romantic suspense that's non-stop drama and action from beginning to end. I love the quaint mountain town and its quirky people. The romance is sweet and smexy, and the mystery will have you flying through the pages. With a wide array of elements sure to please every reader, you won’t want to miss this one.

Catherine continues to nail every book she puts out. I loved how she took a slightly different approach to her characters this time, with our FMC being more into true crime and willing to hunt down the villain vs the typical innocent woman needing protection (which, to be clear, I also love.)

Wonderful setting, interesting group of town characters, romance between a podcaster and sheriff, and then a serial killer you weren’t expecting it to be. A page turner for sure. Would like to see another mystery solved by Ridley.

This is a standalone romantic suspense novel about a true crime podcaster and a small town sheriff. Ridley's sister disappeared years ago. Ridley travels and sheds light on unsolved crimes all while on a personal quest. Colt wants Ridley to move along and not stir up memories of an historical crime in his town.

I loved their attraction and caution around each other. The tension and mystery kept me turning the pages and was a perfect balance with the slow burn romance.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and I absolutely loved it. I devoured it in one day. The author did such an amazing job that I was hooked from the beginning. I can't wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this novel to other readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Catherine Cowles

This is my first Catherine book & it won’t be my last!

I loved the suspense, the twists, the turns, and the love story that blossomed. Colt the MMC is so grumpy and I love a grumpy MMC. Ridley was sassy, bold & didn’t take shit from anyone which I loved so much.

I thought the entire story was really good & I kept wanting to keep reading! I love true crime podcasts & Ridley is a host of one.. I loved her story & her why!

I really hoping we can go back to this town for a book 2?! If not I’m going to start another one of her series stat!