I loved this book. There was just about everything you could ask for in this one. From humor to those spicy scenes. It is a grumpy sunshine touch her and die trope. I loved that the spicy scenes were not rushed into. There was the proper amount of work and build up put into it so that when the clothes finally came flying off I was more then ready for that action.
This was actually a who done it that I did not see coming which is a rarity and made it even better. Perfect to get you out of that book slump.

I had a lot of big feelings after reading this masterpiece. The characters jump off the page. The storyline reeled me in, and the romance owned my heart. Overall it was a flawless read!

This author has also been my go to for romantic suspense, but she’s leveled up with this release. I truly hope she returns to this world of broken characters soon!

My fault for not realizing that the MMC was a sheriff before requesting this. This one didn't strike the right balance of mystery and romance that I'm looking for in my romantic suspense reads.

Thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for my ARC.

Love love love this book! It had the right amount of suspense, romance, and humor. The cast of side characters (found family) were also adorable.

Ridley Sawyer lost one of the most important people in her life. And now she spends her time traveling the country as a true crime podcaster to help others find closure after tragedy. And, maybe to help solve her sister's disappearance. She arrives in Shady Cove and thinks this might be her big break because this might be the town where the criminal began his spree. All she needs to do is make friends with the townspeople, work with the handsome but unwelcoming sheriff and avoid the danger that follows her to town.

All the Missing Pieces is an interesting romantic suspense and will be great for readers who like a healthy dose of romance in their suspense. The relationship between Ridley and Colt takes center stage but the mystery is a nice, if simple, who dunnit. There is a heartwarming cast of small town characters that round out the narrative. An enjoyable and entertaining read.

3.5 stars

My favorite book of the year so far! Catherine Cowles knocks it out of the park with her newest standalone from Shady Cove, All the Missing Pieces, a gripping romantic suspense that blends mystery and heart. Ridley Sawyer, a true crime podcaster haunted by her sister's disappearance, arrives in Shady Cove to investigate a cold case, clashing with Sheriff Colt Brooks. Their slow-burn romance, sparked by witty banter and shared pain, is as compelling as the twist-filled mystery. Cowles excels at crafting relatable characters and a vivid small-town setting. The emotional depth and thrilling climax make this a standout. A must-read for all the true crime girlies- 5 stars!

I absolutely love romantic suspense and the way Catherine writes them! The thriller vibes were great in this book and really kept me on my toes, I loved it!

I started with podcasts before getting into audiobooks, which made me really love the true crime podcast aspect of this book. I actually wish we would’ve got more of the podcast! Ridley, a true crime podcaster, was down to earth, strong and fierce. Colt, the town sheriff, was grumpy, overly protective and broodingly sexy.

My fave: Tater the three legged cat & her tooth hugs

Catherine has done it again! This book was filled with everything you can expect from her small town romances and more from the spicy scenes to the suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend giving this book a read!

Five stars. Incredible. Full review on goodreads and instagram. Catherine never fails to impress me with her story telling

If you’re looking for a book that delivers sizzling chemistry, sharp banter, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, All the Missing Pieces by @catherinecowlesauthor needs to be on your TBR.

Ridley is the kind of heroine you instantly root for—strong, witty, and independent—while Colt is the perfect mix of broody and charming, a man with hidden layers that will steal your heart. Their banter is pure magic. It’s electric, entertaining, and laced with just the right amount of vulnerability to make their connection unforgettable.

But this isn’t just a romance. The suspense is masterfully done, pulling you into a mystery full of twists that will keep you guessing until the last page.

This one has it all—romance, tension, and a mystery that won’t let go.

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