There’s not much I like more than small town romantic suspense from Catherine Cowles!

This brings us Ridley and Colt’s story, which is a complete standalone. Ridley travels the country in her van, making a true crime podcast when she rolls into town to investigate a cold case that’s very close to Colt’s heart. He doesn’t appreciate her stirring up trouble in his town and reopening old wounds.

They started off very antagonistically which I love. I also love when opposites attract, so the straightlaced sheriff MMC facing off with (and eventually living with) the free wheeling FMC was a lot of fun.

The mystery kept me guessing and I did not figure out who the “bad guy(s)” is/were in advance, which is the best.

I loved it!

Damn that was so good, I loved it! I am a big fan of true crime and romantic suspense, so I was already sold on this book, but it completely exceeded my expectations. The intrigue was well constructed, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I had whiplash from all the twists and turns!

To top it off, I absolutely adored the characters. The relationship development was so well done, and there were so many emotional moments woven into the story. The author did such an amazing job incorporating those elements, making the book even more impactful. And the ending? Yeah, my jaw was on the freaking floor. Plus the narrators did such a good job, I really loved it it added a really interesting touch to the book.

This was my first book by this author, and it definitely won’t be my last. So excited to read more of her work!

Thank you so much Dreamscape Media and Netgalley, these honest opinions are my own. OMG! I get the hype with her books! This is my dream book. It has everything I love. I want the romance. I want the suspense. I want the Whodunnit! I need the plot. This gives you all of that and more. I did not see the twist coming. It starts of immediately with a huge bang.

This story had me captivated from the very first page. The connection between twins is so strong. I knew this was going to be a lot to take in. The angst at the beginning between the FMC and MMC hit so good. Ridley is such a female and I loved every second of following her journey. She really never gave up on her mission. It did not matter who stood in her way. All the while she was so caring and compassionate. Her first run in with the sheriff I knew the chemistry was going to be explosive. They are just both so vigorous. The first time they met I was literally cracking up. Both of their pasts still impacts their present and they have no idea how much they actually have in common. I loved watching every second of this relationship unfold.

Colt is set in his ways and is hard to crack but like I said, Riley is a force to be reckoned with. Colt's development in the story was so beautiful and truly worth reading. His love for his family is also overwhelming and just brilliantly done. I hope to read more of this series sooner rather than later.

I felt these narrators were fantastic and drastically brought this story to life!

QUOTES

~ That was before I was reminded of the good in people. That pain didn't always change us for the worse. It could change us for the better too.

Tropes:
🎙️True Crime Podcaster FMM
🚓Sheriff MMC
🎙️Romance Suspense
🚓Force Proximity
🎙️Enemies to Lovers
🚓Grumpy Sunshine
🎙️Small Town Romance


No spoilers here:
I devoured this book(audio). I really enjoyed it. Best one yet from CC. I found the story to be so intriguing and hard to stop listening/ reading. Basically a True crime(love story) with some suspense.
The FMC (Ridley) is a true crime podcaster junkie
The MMC (Colt) is a Law Enforcement (Sheriff)

An Easy Read.
Rating it: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Totally Recommend it!! Specially if you like True Crime Or Podcast.

Thank you!! NetGalley, Catherine Cowles and Dreamscape Media and Valentine pr. for the opportunity to be An ALC listener and Reader

✨ALC Review✨

I was going back and forth between a 4.5 and 5 stars for this. I settled on 5 and you want to know why? Because Catherine's writing is just too good, I pictured this being as a movie the whole time, and I DID NOT GUESS WHO FREAKING DID IT YET AGAIN!!!!

I love how this felt like a Catherine Cowles book but newer, fresher, and different. I love how she writes romantic suspense. I feel like we get a little darker than what we're used to from her and I loved it!

The plot of this? LOVE. The characters? LOVE. The twist? LOVEEEDD.

Ridley is a spitfire. She lost her twin sister, her best friend. All she wants is closure and to give justice to other victims and their families. She's sarcastic and funny and such a strong FMC. I loved her personality and I loved her determination.

Colt is a broody and gruff man. He's living with regrets of the past and has a hard shell. But is he a hard ass or just a caring and loving man? He will do anything for those he loves and I loved seeing Ridley chip away at his walls. I loved his character. I loved that every time he was being a jerk someone would correct him and he's be all "yeah okay, you're right". He's a softy at heart.

I loved their chemistry and I lovedddd their banter. Catherine always writes good banter. I do wish we had a little more of them coming together and that development of their relationship. I wanted a little more from them. But we do have a solid romance and it's written well and I was entertained sooooo there's my 5.

WHODUNNIT? WELL I DID NOT GUESS IT, ONCE AGAIN! I kept going for the least obvious and somehow, I WAS WRONG. I don't know how Catherine does it but she's messing with us all. It's a mind game she's playing at this point. I think I've guess 1 time out of what, 10? SOLID MYSTERY WRITER.

I really loved Emerson & Trey so like, are we gonna get a story for them????

I did feel like some characters disappeared a time or two which kind of threw me off but nothing to deter me from loving this.

Overall, I am not surprised in the slightest that I really enjoyed this. I loved the humor. I loved the cat, Tator messing with Colt. I loved the aesthetics, especially that cover. I loved the mystery. I loved the closure. I really did enjoy this listen!

Also, first time doing an audio on one of Catherine's books and I'm not mad about it!

Thank you so much to Catherine Cowles for the ALC copy!!

I loved the mystery in this book, I was suspecting everyone.
This book hooked my interest from the beginning and it was fantastic to read and listen to - the audiobook is perfect, I love the narrators.
The story is funny and heartwarming, I was so enthralled by the small town and its people and by all the drama and mystery.
It was very well done, there were some characters but every one of them was added to the book in a way that made perfect sense and it was not overdone, so for me that was one more reason to love this book. Not only that but I was able to fall in love with side characters: Emerson and Trey.

I must confess - I didn't see it coming - I was doubting everyone but I honestly didn't gess who was behind the mystery, and this was a plus for me because I love being surprised.

And the ROMANCE... I loved Ridley and Colt so much and their push and pull, their sarcasm together. They become enemies with benefits 🤣🤣
I absolutely want to be Ridley when I grow up, she is such a positive person and optimist and so lovely.

He calls her Chaos and she calls him Law Men *swoon*.

There are "my girl" moments *to die for*

If all this is not reason enough there are funny dogs and cats 🐕🐈

this review will contain spoilers.

This book was definitely fun. similar vibes to Listen for the Lie. I am loving the podcasting angles with some of these books. I do think some of the spice was only added to say it had spice, but the characters were likable and real. The narrating was done really well. I finished this book in two days when audio books usually take me a week. overall such a fun book. I loved it.

I plan to share this book with my instagram audience on Jan 7th, 2025.

This was such a great listen. I binged this in less than 12 hours, because I was so addicted. This had me on edge the entire time because I wanted to what happened to Ridley’s twin. I love romantic suspense and this is such a great mix of suspense and romance. I enjoyed the podcast elements as it added another layer to the story. I did not see the end twist coming 🤯 highly recommended.

The Queen of romantic suspense is back with a standalone that I hope turns into a series because I loved these characters and their town! Ridley is a true crime podcaster and her driving force is the disappearance of her twin sister so there’s a deep emotional connection for her and you can feel that energy throughout the book. Colt is the grumpy yet soft and squishy inside sheriff in Shady Cove and while these two have a rough start when they first meet, they actually have so much in common and they heal each other in a beautiful way. The author always surprises me with her twists but this one was next level and shocked me so well! Andi Arndt was one of the very first narrators that made me fall in love with audiobooks and she remains a legend, her emotional performance here was everything. No one plays a grisly grump better than Sebastian York so if you like audiobooks definitely try that format for this gem. If you like true crime, suspense, enemies to lovers, small town and grump and sunshine this was excellent!

All the Missing Pieces is about true crime podcaster, Ridley, searching for answers to her questions that haunt her. Colt, the sheriff of Shady Cove, was immediately distrustful of Ridley’s motives when she wanted to do a podcast episode of a cold case that happened there and he was also attracted to her. Ridley was tenacious as she was determined to find the truth, and Colt found himself helping her in putting the pieces of this traumatic mystery together.

Colt and Ridley hated each other, but they were very attracted to each other. She slowly broke down his walls and he helped her be strong enough to face what happened as they dug deeper for the truth by being a safe place for her. I fell for the bond that Colt and Ridley developed as they fell out of hate and into love with each other. Colt’s sister and best friend were also well developed and interesting characters.

I did not except who the villain was! The red herrings were well placed. There was a thread of a theme of people keeping dark secrets and how monsters can hide from discovery even in a small town where people “know” each other was woven convincingly through the plot.

I love the cover! The audiobook was perfection with Andi Arndt and Sebastian York narrating! All the Missing Pieces comes out January 7th and I highly recommend picking up the physical book for your shelves and getting the audiobook for how well Andi Arndt and Sebastian York brought Colt and Ridley to life!

Thank you to Catherine Cowles for the ALC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I freaking loved Colt and Ridley!! Honestly, once I knew it was grumpy x sunshine / enemies to lovers, I knew this one was going to become a favourite CC book for me, and it absolutely delivered!

Colt was the perfect grump, with a soft side for those he loved and a protective streak like no other! 🫠 I loved the friendship he shared with Trey, and how much slagging they gave each other 😂

Ridley was such an interesting character because we got an insight into her investigator’s mindset, but also the vulnerability of being the victim. She was so strong and I loved her dedication to finding answers.

Colt and Ridley’s banter was so fun, and I loved all the tensions they went from hate to frenemies with benefits, to more. 😍

I tried so hard with this book to figure out the suspects, and let me tell you, this one is written so you question absolutely EVERYBODY!! 🙈 My poor heart couldn’t handle some of it, and some of the twists still got me, but I was so damn proud of my inner detective to figure out the bad guy!! 🙌🏼

This was definitely one of Catherine’s best storylines, and I loved how Colt and Ridley investigated it from two completely different angles. The connections in the story blew my mind, and as usual I was left gasping many (many) times 😱

I really wish this was turned into a series because there’s at least one more book that I NEED!!!! (IYKYK) 😭

Thank you Catherine for the opportunity to read Colt and Ridley early. This was yet again, another amazing 5⭐️ read and one I’ll go back to reread again and again! 🩷

Tropes:
- Small Town Romance
- Grumpy Sheriff x Sunshine True Crime Podcaster
- Enemies to Lovers
- Frenemies with Benefits
- Forced Proximity
- Protective Hero
- Romantic Suspense

♾️/5⭐️ 3/5🌶️

Wow, honestly Catherine Cowles can do no wrong in my eyes! This book was absolutely amazing! Dare I say, my new fav of hers?! Ahhh🤭 I devoured it in about 24 hours, picking it up every free second I had.

Colt and Ridley were perfection together. He was so grumpy and I ate it all up. And their nicknames for each other?! Don’t even get me started! Chaos and Law Man forever 😭🙌🏼💞

I lovedddd the true crime podcast vibes! The investigation kept me questioning literally everyone in this small town. But of course in true Catherine Cowles fashion, I didn’t guess correctly 😂 my jaw was on the floor when it was revealed!!!

If for some reason you still haven’t picked up a CC book, PLEASE let this be it! I promise you will fall in love with her writing and binge worthy stories👏🏼

Autobuy authors I added in 2024? Catherine Cowles!

All the Missing Pieces is the PERFECT read for a romantic suspense or true crime lover (or anyone who loves growly sheriff because Colt 🥵).

The slow burn? Delicious. The narration? Impeccable. These two curated the perfect vibe for a classic Catherine Cowles story complete with all the twists and turns I never manage to see coming.

The pacing of this story was everything I wanted to be completely sucked and wishing for a physical “do not disturb” setting because once I started I could not be convinced to put it down. Their romance is steamy and sweet, passionate and playful — everything fit these characters so well and made them all the more real.

You’ll Find —
True Crime Podcaster x Sheriff
Small Town Romantic Suspense
Forced Proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine

Thank you so much to Catherine Cowles, Sourcebooks Casa, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and listen early!

Catherine Cowles has done it once again!! The way she just keeps you guessing from start to finish is absolutely amazing! I never know what to expect, and that's what I love most about her books! You nailed this one! ALL THE STARS!!

Ridley's twin sister disappeared right before their college graduation. Now, she travels around for her true crime podcast and works through cold cases. Shady Cove is her next stop. She knows this town can give her the answers she so desperately needs, but Colt, the Sheriff, doesn't like her sniffing around. After a few things happen that opens the case Ridley is working on back up Colt, and Ridley start to work as a team.

Phenomenal! The tension, the characters, the suspension. It was all amazing. I loved Ridley's character. She took her job seriously and with so much empathy for the people involved. I also loved how she put Colt in his place! She let him have it, and I was here for it! I really enjoyed the development of Ridley's and Colt's relationship. The tension and built up was just perfect for them! The story and plot was absolutely incredible and kept me guessing till the very end! OBSESSED!

AUDIO: This was narrated by Andi Arndt and Sabastian York! Two of my favorites and I loved every second of this audio!! Andi was perfect for Ridley! She gave the quirkiness that Ridley had but also the deep emotions she went through as well! And Sabastian has the perfect voice for a broody protective character and that was Colt! Loved it and definitely worth a listen!

Thank you, Catherine, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media , for this ARC and ALC!

What do you get when a true crime podcaster meets a grumpy small town sheriff? You get the best romantic suspense Catherine Cowles has ever written, that’s what and I devoured each delicious word! I was hooked from the prologue and though I suspected everyone, I never once guessed who the villian turned out to be. I absolutely love this book. #bringaveryhome

Catherine Cowles writes such great romantic suspense, and All The Missing Pieces is the first in a new series, Shady Cove. This is my first of Catherine's books that I've listened too rather than read, and I loved it! The dual narrators were perfect and their voices matched the characters so well!
All The Missing Pieces is about Colt, Shady Cove's sheriff, and the older brother of Emerson, who is still recovering from an abduction during her teen years. Ridley, is a true crime podcaster who is also searching for her missing sister. Their stories collide when Ridley attempts to solve the mystery of who abducted Emerson, which Colt is not okay with.
I really enjoyed this story, and Catherine writes such great casts of characters! Her suspenses are perfect, with the bad guy never being someone I saw coming.

I’ve read almost all of Catherine Cowles’ entire back catalogue (I’m a romantic suspense fiend) so when the chance to listen before it’s released arose, I grabbed it with both hands. Sebastian York + Andi Arndt are audiobook legends so I knew it was going to be an absolute ✨joy✨ to listen to. Spoiler alert, I was not wrong!

Congratulations Catherine on your first traditionally published book, I’m already excited to be back in Shady Cove. Thank you to Dreamscape Media + NetGalley for the ALC. All the Missing Pieces is out on 7th Jan 2025! #AllTheMissingPieces #NetGalley

Summary

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5

Fluff rating: 💖💖 2/5

Catherine Cowles really does write fantastic romantic suspense. They’re always entertaining to read and keep me guessing throughout. All the Missing Pieces was no exception. With cute animal sidekicks and, delightfully meddling small town family vibes this romantice suspense is definitely one to add to your TBR.

I loved the take of having the FMC as a true crime podcaster hunting down her twin sister’s killer, chasing a cold case and in fact making it very hot was brilliant. It made Ridley a really interesting character to read. I enjoyed the back and forth between her and Colt the grumpy town Sherif and I thought they were well matched.

There story was well paced and I never felt bored or rushed and if you’ve read any Cat Cowles before you know to be on the constant lookout for bread crumbs to lead you to the killer. And for once, drumroll…. I finally guessed the killer right! 🎉 never thought I’d see the day.

The ending was possibly one of the more dramatic ends to a CC novel that I’ve read from her and had me actually gasping.
I’m really looking forward to seeing who else there is to explore in Shady Cove (praying for Emerson & Trey!)

Colt had something a little lacking for me in the beginning and I really feel like if we’d explored his earlier life a fraction like we got to with Ridley in the prologue. It made it difficult to believe the relationship at first but that aspect doesn’t last too long. But that’s my main reason for it not being a full 5 stars. That and I would’ve liked a touch more romantic tension before they finally snapped. 😅

it’s classic Catherine but give it more grit & spice!! I was sucked in by the prologue as per always but immediately felt the tension of a town rocked by a loss and heartache cloaked in mystery and unknowns. enter Ridley, a podcaster with a dog-with-a-bone grit and determination who partners with the grumbly town sheriff, Colt, to investigate all the things! the suspense was suspense-ing and the spice was spice-ing! yet another Catherine banger!

a note for the audio: the narrators were amazing! so easy to lose myself in the story.

Catherine Cowles nails it every single time I swear! I ate this up, I was extremely lucky to have received both the eArc and ALC and the experience was (as always) ✨amazing✨ I love Catherine Cowles’s writing it’s always super fun and I have the greatest time reading her books. She’s also the side character QUEEN, okay? I always end up falling in love with her side characters. This book’s being our little friend Tater 🤣 stole the show ngl haha

Always here for a grumpy x sunshine romance 💖 ALSO, the way I screamed when Ansen’s name was mentioned? BYE haha I was extremely happy about that!