Member Reviews

I’ve said it once and I will say it again. Catherine Cowles writes romantic suspense like no one else & this one just might be my new favorite!

All the Missing Pieces is a standalone story & it’s a MUST READ. If you love enemies to lovers and romantic suspense, this one is for you!

Ridley is a true crime podcaster, even with the darkness she uncovers she is a ray of sunshine. Always looking for the good in others and the silver lining in every situation. Ridley secured her spot at my favorite fmc Catherine has written. The strength and positivity of resonated with me and I know I will continue to think about her character.

The story follows her investigation into cold cases of women having been kidnapped and/or murdered. Ridley has a deep connection to this specific string of cases and she will stop at nothing to find justice for all of the women affected by the monster responsible.

Ridley’s research has brought her to Shady Cove where she meets the tall, buff and handsome Sheriff Colter Brooks. He’s damaged, but has a protective instinct a mile wide and a filthy mouth… what more does a girl need?

Colt is Shady Coves Sheriff and he takes his job very seriously. He’s never been the same after the traumatic kidnapping in his town 10 years ago. The guilt of his failure to protect the town has warped the way he sees the world around him. But then a little ray of sunshine rolls into his town with her little hippie van & crazy cat. She changes EVERYTHING. Colt was a goner from the moment he laid eyes on her.

Colt’s character broke my heart in so many parts of this book but his brokenness only added to the charm. Obviously I am a sucker for a damaged hero.

I can’t say enough about this book. The character growth was so beautiful. Ridley’s positivity was refreshing and it was such a great reminder to us all. No matter the trials you face, it’s always possible to look for the good.

“Law Man” and “Chaos” have my freaking heart.

& I once again incorrectly guessed the villain. Maybe one day I’ll get it right.

Audio note: Sebastian York is exactly the voice I would’ve picked for Colter. Andi Arndt did a great job as Ridley! These narrators did such a great job bringing the characters to life. So, if you’re an audio person this is a good one!

Thank you Catherine Cowles for the opportunity to read & listen to this advanced copy. It was truly an honor!

5⭐️ | 2.5🌶️

•Sheriff mmc
•badass true crime podcaster fmc
•enemies to lovers
•forced proximity
•”who did this to you”
•romantic suspense
•small town

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Dramatic ending that I definitely did not see coming!

All The Missing Pieces is a grumpy/sunshine, small town, romantic suspense that really keeps you guessing! Catherine Cowles wrote a good romantic mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the dynamics they go through. I love Ridley’s tenacity and determination. Colter is prime example of the grumpy hero of the story. This book is definitely for the readers who like true crime. All The Missing Pieces was an enjoyable read. I am hoping for more of Emerson and Trey, their characters really intrigued me. I listen to the audiobook and thought the narration was good.

I look forward to reading more from Catherine Cowles. I definitely recommend this for others.

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All the Missing Pieces was an entertaining and sexy romantic suspense listen. The story kept my attention and had me guessing who the big bag was pretty much up until the end. It was fun to see Colt and Ridley go toe to toe and then see their relationship shift and change as they let down their walls. The whole town was one giant found family and it was hilarious how they teased Colt when he was being ornery and stubborn, especially Trey. Ridley was a great heroine and I loved that she didn't wait around to be saved. I also thought the trauma and grief from the events in Emerson and Ridley's pasts was handled really well. I'm really looking forward to more books in this series and I'm hoping the next one is Emerson and Trey's book.

Andi Arndt and Sebastian York are always great together and I enjoy listening to their performances. They're able to voice a variety of characters and accents distinctly and I never have issues figuring out who is speaking. I did feel that they were a tad too mature sounding at times, but this didn't impact my enjoyment of the story.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 4 stars

CW: death of loved one (past), kidnapping, assault, attempted abduction (past), PTSD, grief, violence/torture, murder

*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book*

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This was an absolute amazing read!! I love Catherine Cowles writing so much. All the missing pieces kept me hooked the entire time. I kept trying to guess who the villain was!! This book was incredible! I can’t recommend it enough

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Gah! I LOVE a Catherine Cowles book so much!! She just has the romantic suspense nailed. The mystery is amazing every time. I’m always guessing until the very last minute!

And the romance side is 🤌🏻 Ridley 😭 I love her. She’s so special. She takes her job as a true crime podcaster incredibly seriously and she’s so loving and caring even after everything that’s come at her in her 27 years. And that includes one grumpy Law Man, Shady Cove’s very own grumpy, hot sheriff. And while Ridley has turned to see the positives after her past, Colt has used it as a shield. And he’s none-too-pleased when Ridley rolls into town pushing at one of the small towns cold cases.

But the way these two push and pull ?! I love it! I need more 🤣😭

Thank you so much Catherine Cowles and Dreamscape Media for an ALC! Andi Arndt and Sebastian York are amazing and some of my favorite auto-buy narrators. They truly bring the story to life and perfectly capture Ridley and Colt! I have my deluxe paperback copies preordered and a spot on my shelf ready for the amazing book!

All thoughts are my own, I really love Catherine Cowles 💕

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“𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵, 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴? 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

5/⭐️
2/🌶️

Audiobook Review 🎧
Narrated by Andi Arndt & Sebastian York

No one does romantic suspense like Catherine does!! I’m always blown away by her twists and turns, it puts me on high alert the whole story! I always feel like I’m part of the process and checking suspects off. This is definitely one of my favorites by her. I’ve always been a true crime girly, and this was done SO WELL! If you’ve ever listened to the podcast CounterClock and Delia the host, that’s who this reminded me of!

Colt being so stubborn and grumpy, yet clearly enamored with Ridley.. I was so giddy over watching this over protective sheriff slowly lose it. Him and Ridley were so freaking good together, I cannot get enough of them!! I loved how their stories unfolded, and how every two brought them closer together.

And okayyy this narration.. WOW! These two have always been my favorite narrators, but they really nailed this one!! It felt like I was right there with them on this journey. They brought this whole story to life, I just know I’ll be listening to this again!

🎙️ romantic suspense
🧩 grumpy x sunshine
🎙️ sheriff x true crime podcaster
🧩 enemies to lovers
🎙️ forced proximity

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Ridley Sawyer is a true crime podcaster, traveling the country with her 3 legged cat named Tater determined to find justice for families of cold cases who never got any, all the while battling her own demons. I loved her willingness to fight for what is right, and her fierce determination to find the truth no matter the cost. When she heads to Shady Cove to cover a story that may be connected to her past, she finds more than she bargained for when she meets Colt Brooks, your typical, grumpy small town sheriff...

I love romantic suspense, and I thought this book was great! It is equal amounts true crime mixed with great grumpy/sunshine romance with some spice. The mystery/cold cases kept me guessing, and I could not put this one down! The twist at the end was crazy, and I truly did not know who the killer was going to be. 😱

"You helped me find all the missing pieces. Even the ones I didn’t realize I needed."

𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧s: Andi Arndt, Sebastian York
𝙇𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝: 10h 50min

🎧 If you enjoy audiobooks, I highly recommend this one!! The narrators were both great, and did an amazing job. I love when an audiobook uses multiple narrators for dual POVs, and this one worked really well!

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
• dual POVs
• true crime / podcasts
• romantic suspense
• shocking twists
• lovable characters
• spirited 3 legged cat

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
• grumpy sunshine
• "who did this to you"
• small town romance
• forced proximity

This is my first Catherine Cowles book, And I will certainly be reading more from her. If you're a fan of true crime and romantic suspense, do not miss this one!

4.5⭐𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙔𝙤𝙪 @dreamscapemedia for my gifted copy!

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Am I surprised by how much I loved this book? Not at all. Catherine Cowles has delivered a romantic suspense that had me questioning everyone, rooting for the happy ending of the two main characters, and laughing at the antics of a three-legged cat. To say I was hooked would be an understatement. I could not put this book down.

Ridley Sawyer hosts a true crime podcast, and is in Shady Cove looking for answers about an unsolved case. The townspeople have tried to move on from what happened and don't want her digging up the past. Thinking she is there to cause trouble, the town Sheriff, Colter 'Colt" Brooks, steps in to keep her at bay. Ridley has a personal connection to the case and refuses to go away until she gets the answers she seeks. Colt is closely connected to the case, and as he spends more time with Ridley, he ends up helping her find all the missing pieces.

I loved the angsty, slow-burn romance that developed between Ridley and Colt. The grumpy/sunshine and enemies-to-lovers dynamic was delicious. They had amazing chemistry, and I loved their banter. Ridley and Colt bonded over shared trauma, and I loved witnessing their growth. Ridley was independent, free-spirited, and confident. Colt was more difficult for me to connect with, but he had a huge heart. I loved how protective he was of the people he cared about. All the Missing Pieces perfectly balances emotion, romance, and suspense. I loved everything about this book and can't wait for the next one. Law Man and Chaos are everything!

Narration:
Andi Arndt and Sebastian York performed this audiobook using dual-style narration. Their performances were fantastic. Andi and Sebastian are an amazing duo who brought this story to life in the best way. They were the perfect voices for Ridley and Colt, and conveyed every emotion elicited by their journey. This truly was a wonderful listening experience, and I highly recommend the audio.

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True Crime Podcaster and Small Town Sheriff Romance was the exact combo I never knew I needed and the true crime girly in me was screaming over this trope.

This is my absolute favorite Catherine Cowles book yet and when you love everything someone has written, it’s quite a feat to take that top spot!

Anytime I pick up her books I know I’m going to be given a story seasoned with all the perfect spices—The Cowles Special Brew. While there’s undeniably reliability that whatever is in the pages will be great, it’s also mind blowing how she seems to enhance aspects of each story in a multitude of ways to make it more addicting than what has come before. In All The Missing Pieces the world, characters, plot and pacing were done wonderfully. I was completely engrossed in the story and literally didn’t want to put it down/press pause for having to life and adult. Anytime I had to begrudgingly pull myself away, I was constantly thinking about when I could get back to the story.

I was lucky enough to be able to read and listen to this book and both experiences were enjoyable for me. The narrators did a flawless job of giving the story and characters a voice.

Honestly, this was once again a dynamic dynamite of a read gifted to us by Catherine annnnnd I’m a greedy reader for anything and everything her SO there’s definitely hardcore hope this book turns into the start of another addicting series.

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This. Freaking. Book.

It’s no secret that, at this point, everything Catherine Cowles writes becomes a favorite right away and “All The Missing Pieces” was not an exception AT ALL.

This book was everything I was not expecting and quite different from her previous works - undoubtedly more focus on the crime aspect of the story and that was COMPLETELY AMAZING. I am truly mesmerized by this story, plot and characters.

While I was reading I truly felt like this book was such a good refresh in my romance suspense books. The plot was amazing and I loved Ridley and everything about her - one of my favorite Catherine’s fmc!

The central plot of this story was completely amazing: the podcast, the missing and the whole case was so entertaining and completely addictive. I couldn’t put this book down and found myself creating theories after theories and guess what? Never getting everything right. Yes, I am that good!

I am obviously only talking about the mystery but do not be mistaken because this couple is FIRE. Their chemistry is so intense and the tension is so palpable! And I love how we discover both of the main characters through each other's eyes - their layers, fears and deepest wishes.

You know a book that you wish you could read for the first time again? This is one of them. SO. SO. SO. AMAZING.

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arc review - 4.75 stars

Ladies and gentlemen, Catherine Cowles has done it again. Yet another unputdownable romantic suspense.

I’m obsessed with the premise of All the Missing Pieces. She’s a true crime podcast investigating a case similar to that of her twin sister’s years prior and he’s the grumpy (and hot) local sheriff. Literally name a better duo. I dare you.

And the tropes in this book?! To DIE for. We’re talking grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity and my fave - HURT X COMFORT. Catherine truely has outdone herself.

I would give my left tit to read a book about Trey and Emerson, so here’s to crossing all my fingers and toes that we get their book!

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OH MY GOD!!!!????? This was freaking fantastic. I haven’t cried like this reading a book in sooo long.

"It's a bad idea," I rasped. "We'd be playing with fire."
Those ocean eyes sparked. "Then let's watch it burn.”

Narration 10/10

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Set in a small town where a near-tragedy almost a decade ago still haunts its residents, All the Missing Pieces follows podcast host (and amateur detective), Ridley Sawyer, who drives around the country in her VW van, looking for stories to feature on her podcast, Sounds Like Serial. Propelled by her own past trauma, Ridley tells the stories of people who have suffered unimaginable horrors. She digs into unsolved cases, having a personal connection to the cases she highlights, which drives her to seek justice and answers, not just for the victims, but for the families left behind.  

Ridley has arrived Shady Cove to investigate Emerson Sinclair, the sixteen-year-old girl who made headlines when she escaped her would-be abductor. What Ridley doesn’t expect is to butt heads with Sheriff Colter Brooks, who has his own reasons for not wanting Ridley to dredge up the past. But these adversaries find an unexpected ally in each other, unknowingly sharing a bond that connects them on a profoundly deep level. Together, they work tirelessly with single-minded determination, to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle, and uncover the unknown assailant who Ridley believes to be the key to providing answers to long-held questions.  

What I love about Catherine Cowles is that she not only delivers attention-grabbing, emotionally-charged narratives that have you racking your brain to solve the mystery, but she also creates these multifaceted, complex characters that draw readers in and keep them engaged. With Ridley and Colter, there’s an antagonistic vibe, where the two work towards the same goal, but with very different methods that often put them at odds. Ridley is optimistic, even when she has good reason not to be, exuding a vitality and enthusiasm for her life and work, which lures people in to her orbit. Conversely, Colter’s experience has turned him into a cynic, viewing danger around every corner, while guarding and protecting himself and those he’s fiercely loyal to against potential threats. The attraction between them is instant, and their chemistry is undeniable, but trust has to be built before each can start dismantling the barriers they’ve formed to protect themselves from further heartbreak.  

When starting All the Missing Pieces, I told myself I wouldn’t try to solve the mystery…mostly because I’ve never been right in the past. Of course, I couldn’t help but formulate my own theories. But I don’t know how the heck Catherine Cowles does it, because she stumps me every time. Every. Single. Time. And this time? I wasn’t even close. My mind was blown. 🤯 The finale was a perfect culmination of surprise and suspense, and I loved every minute!

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I loved this book. Everything from Tater’s tooth hugs, to the funny and melding towns people, to the I’m not gonna fall for you, well that didn’t work out at all pull Colt and Ridley had.

What to expect:
•True Crime Podcast FMC
•Broody Sheriff MMC
•Small Town Suspense
•Adorable Tooth Hug Giving Cat
•Grumpy/Sunshine
•Enemies to Lovers
•Forced Proximity

I loved the fact that Ridley was a true crime podcaster! And the way she didn’t back down had me saying you go girl lol. And Colt, oh that man stuck his foot in his mouth so many times. He had that broody personality down to a T!

The suspense in this book was top notch and kept me guessing until the very end!!! I definitely did not guess the villain in this one.

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If you love true crime, podcasts, and romantic suspense, this one is for you! Catherine blends all these elements together so well. The hate to love tension because Ridley and Colt was so good.

I loved getting to know all the characters in this small town will trying to figure out the “who done it” which of course, I did not. The amount of twists in this one is so good! And the epilogue had my heart feeling so full♥️

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Thank you @dreamscapemedia and @netgalley for the ability to listen to this audiobook.

I wasn’t sure if any other books by Catherine Cowles would top Fragile Sanctuary but this came very close!

I was immediately drawn in by Ridley’s backstory. The podcast element and cross country traveling were some of my favorite aspects. Colt and his small town living and cop profession was a perfect MMC for this story.

I love how Catherine Cowles always keeps the reader on their toes about the bad guy. This is one I can say I didn’t see coming!

This book does have a lot of spice in my opinion. Spice that wasn’t necessarily needed. I loved focusing more on the case and even Ridley and Colts relationship to an extent. However, it all happened so fast for them to have such a connection.

Narration was done by Andi Arndt & Sebastian York. I really enjoyed this audiobook. They did such a great job at bringing Ridley and Colt to life.

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I will never not be SAT for a Catherine Cowles book and oh my god I devoured ALL THE MISSING PIECES. edge of my seat. sweating and screaming at the wall. 55 minute standing ovation in my living room. I love ridley and colt so much it hurts. truly a perfect match for each other its actually insane. I love emerson and trey. I love ryan. I love sam. I love dean and celia and ace and mira. I LOVE TATER!!!! I love bowser. I love all of catherine's universes but shady cove is so special

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All the Missing Pieces just might be my favorite Catherine Cowles book yet!

I love the way this author write suspense romance and this one had me hooked from the start. Cold case podcaster, Ridley, came to town for one story and ended up with something I never saw coming. Her first meeting with Sheriff Colt was a funny one and I loved how these two worked together. I tried fitting all the pieces together but of course I was wrong! Such a great story and one I'm sure to reread again!

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This book was a 10/10 no notes, complete perfection. Catherine Cowles is the master of twists and turns.

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This book is amazing. I just discovered this author last year and I am so glad I did. All the Missing Pieces is the perfect suspense novel with just the right amount of romance. I really enjoy that there was a narrator for both Ridley and Colt’s viewpoints. Both were easy to understand and their expression added to the experience.

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