Reviews

Hidden Waters by Catherine Cowles

gesnaughts's review against another edition

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5.0

Hidden Waters is book 3 of the Tattered and Torn series by Catherine Cowles. This hauntingly beautiful romance is full of pulse-pounding suspense and heartwarming romance. Addie Kemper is one of Catherine Cowles’ strongest heroines yet! She has a tender spirit & courageous heart. Beckett is the hometown doctor haunted by his past. He is the sweetheart humanitarian with a growly alpha protective side. Addie’s naïveté is genuine and endearing. A lifetime of abuse may have knocked her down, but her bravery and the kindness of the Eastons ensure she isn’t out for the count. I have loved reading her journey of growth and self-discovery. Beckett & Addie have a lovely, swoon-worth chemistry that evolves organically. Beckett becomes a pillar of strength and support for Addie without stepping on her self-empowerment.

“I don’t want to drown your light. It’s the last thing I want to do.”

I love the way the Easton siblings rebuild their relationships as they settle into new family dynamics. Catherine Cowles has a magic way of mixing witty dialogue, gripping suspense, and charming romance in her storytelling. This found family, roommates to lovers romantic thriller is simply wonderful! If you love an evocative story that is a chilling blend of suspense and small-town romance, Hidden Waters is a must-read/listen.

Sebastian York captures Beckett perfectly in his emotionally raw, broody, powerful performance. Ava Erickson beautifully embodies the naive, shy, courageous, and enchanting Addie. Their portrayal of these dynamic, well-rounded, captivating characters is spectacular. Eva & Sebastian have perfectly matched pacing and characterizations that make this audiobook flow seamlessly.

jaedin_0423's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don’t care what anyone says, all the stars for my girl Addie and Beckett!!!!! There were times when I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. They just fit so perfectly together. This one is definitely my favorite to far. I just loved reading their journey and seeing all the healing and progress they made throughout. It was a lovely slow burn, friends to lovers. Addies story definitely did not disappoint and I want more. 

monicaholm's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

sgpoppell's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

millylewis's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

jessicasbooktalk's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Addie and Beckett’s story has me bawling. Just everything those two had been through was so dang sad and moving and it had me wiping the tears away. Their love story was beautiful though, even with all the suspense and drama. 

Tropes: 
Forced proximity 
Friends to lovers
Small town romance

Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 

babblingsofabibliophile's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

"We leave a million what-ifs and what-might've-beens in our wake. The only thing we can do is try to learn from them."


Addie and Beckett?! A thousand times yes!! Addie's backstory was heartbreaking, but I loved watching her overcome that and learn to stand on her own and be herself during this story. I loved Beckett so much and it was great to see him fight his own demons while he helped Addie fight hers. They were a perfect pair! I can't wait to see what happens next!

caroline789's review against another edition

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4.0

reading this series straight through is not advised. the names are different, the situations are called different things, but it's just like plug and play. they're entertaining, but the formula really doesn't change at all.

gabreadsx's review

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5.0

Firstly i just want to say this review is going to be full spoilers so don't read it unless you don't care about knowing anything and everything about this book because I'm afraid i might not be able to hold myself back - and ultimately I'm going to be spoiling most of the book.

Rereading this book was honestly so special to me, I fell in love with Catherine Cowles books last year and this one will always have a special place in my heart. I just felt it in my core and I just loved the characters wholeheartedly and just felt so seen - just related to the characters on a new level.

Addie's backstory and just how she grew up honestly broke my heart so badly, that fact she had to grow up surrounded with so much hurt and abuse whether that was witnessing it or receiving it herself - it broke my heart regardless. Hearing how she opened up to Beckett about what she endured literally made me so emotional like nobody even a fictional character should never have to go through anything like that and it just made me HATE her family and who her father surrounds himself with they are pure evil.

I adored so much how Addie was able to overcome the abuse she grew up with and she was so sheltered never being able to do anything unless it benefited her father and his needs..she hasn't done the most simples things like getting her ears pierced, go finishing high school even getting her driving license. Seeing her finally getting to do anything and everything she desires things that she couldn't do before because she was too scared or her father was in her way, i was just so proud of her for finally taking her life back and reading this genuinely makes me have another outlook on life and it just shows you everything you have no matter how small should be cherished because not everyone has that - such beautiful meanings as interwoven into the story so beautifully and effortlessly.

I genuinely could talk about Addie all day and everyday she might be my favorite fmc ever..very dramatic of me but also very true. She's just the most sweetest person and has the most gentlest soul even given her circumstances honestly that makes me love her even more because i would boil with my anger and lived with that. 

Now on to our man of the hour because if i don't move on now I'm afraid I'll never stop talking about Addie. Let's move on to Beckett he's a doctor who went to poorer countries that were sometimes at war just straight up dangerous helping people who needed it so he was always travelling escaping the trauma and guilt he felt when his sister was kidnapped when he was younger and ultimately blames himself for. Beckett is such a kindhearted person and has the sweetest soul just like Addie which is why they are perfect for each other. I loved how he was so patient with her and also pushed her when it was needed so she wasn't stuck in her safe bubble and actually explored outside of it.

I really admired how Beckett slowly got Addie's trust and was so respectful towards her and they even had a code word "purple elephant" just incase she needed some space - my heart can't take it. Also how they ended up being roommates i was just so giddy the whole time seeing all their little moments together seeing how they both slowly start to open up with each other and just seeing how their emotional bond continued to grow before their was even a relationship. If soulmates are real then Addie and Beckett are the most real soulmates i have ever seen, they just have an undeniable connection like no other and they just get each other like no other person. They feel seen, heard and safe in each others presence, their love feels so pure and real, completely raw and honest i love them entirely and more.

Beckett is such a protector when i tell you this man did anything and everything to protect his girl from anyone that will cause her more hurt in her life, he just wants her to be happy and have a life without pain unlike her past has been - and I've never loved an man more than him. I just adored how he cared so much for her and helped in every single way to get Addie to experience everything she missed out on and just wanted to be the support system for someone she can lean on or talk to when she has nobody else. He's a complete sweetheart and i love him so much.

The way the Easton family are the most raw, real and protective family they weren't perfect by any means they all made some mistakes but that just made them so much more real to me. They were so welcoming and supportive to Addie and i adored how they did anything and everything they could for her especially helping her escape her father made my heart so happy. I really loved seeing Everly (from the first book) as she's Addies cousin and just seeing them connecting in this book and leading to getting a better relationship since it was damaged just made me so happy i just know they needed something happy and positive to come from their painful past and they share that together.

One thing i hated to no end and honestly made my blood boil so badly was Addie's father and honestly just his whole family and just the community he involves himself with, they are so obsessed with living off the land and thinking the government is bad and out to get them but on a insane level thinking everyone is out to get them including woman being their property, no doctors/ medicine more like "you're just weak if you can't survive" mentality and it's honestly disgusting the way theses men think and what they end up doing. Even after Addie left the house and even the land that is her father's we can't grasp that she would actually leave and it makes him angry that she's clearly happy and living life to the fullest so he not only throws a bomb in her house but gets her kidnapped and injured - literally wanted to kill him myself when both of theses situations happened i just can't believe someone could be so evil to do this to your own child just because you can't control them anymore. Anyway thankfully he's dead and drowned <3

If you couldn't tell before now i'm completely and utterly obsessed with this book and this reread not only cured my slump but just reminded me how much i adore reading and how it can make you feel so many emotions and make you believe in love. This story is so much more than just a romance book - it's emotional, honest and raw. My heart can't take it this is probably one of my favorite romances to ever read it was just everything i needed and more.

kweenzpnay925's review against another edition

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5.0

Oh man, I knew Addie and Beckett would have such a complex and interesting story and Catherine Cowles did them justice. The two have an instant connection but with their pasts, that connection wasn't acted upon or acted upon slowly. Their story will have you enthralled then holding your breath when all you want to do is make sure they will be ok. I love all her stories and this book is no exception.