I absolutely ATE this one up. we get good romance, a cozy small town setting & the suspense made it really hard to put it down.

the story follows ridley, a true crime podcaster, who is investigating a serial killer in shady cove. she meets lawman, a super grumpy. I loved everything about the story & I was so invested.

I got to read this as an audiobook & the narration was just perfect. all the missing pieces is now available paperback & kindle unlimited.

pick this up if you love:
🗻 true crime
🗻 sassy FMCs
🗻 suspense in your romance books

thank you catherine cowles, dreamscape media & netgalley for the ALC

This may now be my favorite book to date from Catherine! No one can write romantic suspense quite like she does. Once I started, I could not put this book down! Catherine always has a way of sucking you in from the Prologue and not letting go until the last page. I was so engrossed with Colt and Ridley’s story. I truly thought I had the perp figured out from the beginning, but Catherine had me second-guessing myself with every twist and turn... and once again, I was way off base.

Ridley is the host of a true crime podcast, and she travels the country investigating cold cases with her trusty three-legged sidekick Tater. Her own personal tragedy is the driving force behind finding answers for victims and the hope of helping their families find peace.

It’s this determination, along with the knowledge of a woman escaping her abductor that brings her to Shady Cove. She is convinced this small town holds the missing pieces to finally solving her twin sister’s disappearance, and nothing will stop her. Especially the grumpy town sheriff that is not too happy with her arrival and her disrupting his town.

This remarkable story is narrated in dual by Andi Arndt and Sebastian York. These two were perfect for conveying emotions and bringing Ridley and Colter to life! They added so much depth to an already captivating story, and I never wanted their performance to end.

Andi conveyed Ridley’s passion, sass, integrity, strength, and empathy impeccably. Andi truly connected with Ridley on a deep emotional level by showcasing her devotion and tenacity to solve these cases with the utmost care. Andi’s sweet and gentle tone encapsulated the true essence of Ridley’s character through and through.

Sebastian was the perfect choice for our grumpy and protective local sheriff. His deep, rich timbre portrayed Colt’s protective and commanding persona phenomenally. But then we get to see when Colt’s emotions begin to become conflicted in regards to Ridley. Sebastian softens his gruffness, and his tone becomes more gentle and coaxing when Colt realizes that Ridley is there to help and not hurt his small town.

Basically, if you’re a true crime podcast lover, you are going to absolutely love this book! I highly recommend this on audio!

From the moment I pressed play, 'All the Missing Pieces' gripped me so tightly I found myself sneaking in listening time during every spare moment. This Mystery Romance had me in such a chokehold!

The night before their College graduation, Ridley’s twin sister vanished without a trace, leaving their family haunted and heartbroken. Ridley channels her pain by helping other families find closure by traveling the country in her camper van and bringing light to their missing loved one's cases on her True Crime podcast.

It doesn’t take Ridley long to bump heads with the broody and loyal Sheriff of Shady Cove, Colter Brooks. Colt happens to also be Emerson’s brother, the one whose story brought Ridley to Shady Cove. The Sheriff is highly protective of his sister since her attack and escape and doesn’t hesitate to discourage Ridley at every turn!

What I loved:

Shady Cove is a small community that watches after their own and they’re highly protective of Emerson. The small town community gives the story a cozy feel. The gossip mill is thriving and its funny how fast news spreads around town. Ridley is initially met with resistance, but the more they get to know her and her motives, the more the town rallies around her to find the truth.

The healing and the romance were my favorite part! Once Ridley and Colt stop fighting each other and lower their walls, they realize how much guilt and pain they each carry over not protecting their sisters. Their relationship brings hope and healing and the chemistry between them is so good!

The big reveal will have your jaw on the ground!

If you love small-town mysteries with great romance and a touch of emotional healing, 'All the Missing Pieces' is one you won’t want to miss!

Romance Content: 3 Open-door scenes and language

Thank you Catherine Cowles, Netgalley, and Dreamscape Media for my #gifted ARC and ALC.

Catherine Cowles weaves a beautiful story of hope in the wake of tragedy in the small town of Shadow Cove.

Ridley is the true-crime podcaster searching for answers. Colt is the grumpy sheriff who’s had it with her meddling.

Ridley is all strength and sunshine with her cute VW van and demanding kitty. She chooses to see the positive in life despite all the trauma. Colt is so grumpy, but I love how good he is under the tough exterior. The circumstances have made him bitter but their connection brings them together, breaking down their walls.

I loved getting to know Emerson (wish I could get more!), many other residents of Shady Cove, and Tater and Bowser!

The mystery was so good…it kept me riveted until the end! Also be prepared for all the emotions…chills, tears, joy. I didn’t want to leave Shady Cove!

Thanks for ALC and eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Five-plus stars for All The Missing Pieces! I have been reading Catherine Cowles' books for a while now, and I always appreciate how she mixes emotion and romance with suspense. All The Missing Pieces was a perfect blend of all three elements as Colt and Ridley went from barely being able to stand the sight of each other to falling in love. (Oh, I can't forget the perfect names her characters come up with for one another, like Chaos and Law Man!)

After losing her twin sister, Ridley has made it her life's mission to try to help other families gain a sense of peace that she doesn't have. She's a popular true crime podcaster who investigates cold cases, sometimes successfully helping law enforcement find a new angle to solve the case. That is what brings her to Shady Cove — and because the unsolved case she's tracking actually involves a victim, Emerson, who managed to get away, Ridley and her poking around are not exactly welcomed.

Colt and Ridley definitely get off on the wrong foot, but that makes their falling in love so much sweeter. Because the chemistry between those two was off the charts! While her being in Shady Cove is stirring up all kinds of emotions in him, and bringing things to light that his family would much rather leave in the dark, it also helps him heal and move past the trauma that he and his family lived through.

All The Missing Pieces was beautifully written, from start to finish. Colt and Ridley captured my attention from the first moment they met — fighting over her cat Tater, who was left unattended in her van — to the very last page. As I fell in love with the main characters, I also fell in love with the supporting players in the story — especially Emerson and her resilience. (I can't wait to see her get her own HEA as this series continues!) The suspense component of this story had me guessing all the way, and I never suspected the twist that the story took!

Sebastian York and Andi Arndt narrated the audio for this book, and they did a phenomenal job. I loved listening to the way SebYo said "Chaos," and how the vulnerability he brought to the character of Colt. Likewise, Andi was so colorful in her portrayal of Ridley

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Um what?! I did not see that coming my mind is blown in the best way. This was such an incredible read. From the prologue to the epilogue I was hooked.

Catherine Cowles has a way of hooking you into her characters lives from the very beginning and taking you on a journey of mystery, crime, who did this to you. Add incredible love stories and it’s the perfect mix.

All the Missing Pieces is a complete standalone. New town, new people, itty bitty easter eggs.

I adored Ridley so much, her strength, determination and resilience throughout was admirable and had me rooting for her. I loved her cause and podcast.

Colt! This man was perfect. His skepticism, and love for his family made him feel so real and lovable. I love how determined he was to protect his town and those he loved.

I don’t want to give anything away but I will say this was the perfect book and I can’t recommend it enough.

A crime podcaster and a reluctant small-town sheriff reluctantly team up to try to figure out who kidnapped his sister ten years ago. Ridley is convinced she's pieced together an unhappy link to over twenty women since that belong to the same culprit. She doesn't want to scare Colter off her wild theories and holds her cards close to her chest. But the cold case revisit seems to stir the pot and both Ridley and Colt can't help but hope for answers.
Ridley and Colt have similar wounds but polar opposite ways of dealing with them. It's always a perfect match when love interests can push and pull at the other to think and move differently, opening a new chapter in each others' existence. I don't love that this is a standalone as I really would adore revisiting Shady Cove and some of the characters again. I guess that just speaks loudly at how well Catherine does with making the whole cast shine.
I had to tandem read this with Andi Arndt and Sebastian York in my ear as I flipped pages. It made for the perfect reading experience. My suspect wasn't quite sus but I was convinced I knew until I didn't. This book was everything I hoped it would be.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the alc and the author and Sourcebooks for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

All the Missing Pieces is a romantic suspense following a true crime podcaster, Ridley Sawyer. She ends up in the small town of Shady Cove to investigate a cold case gripping the town. While there, she meets up with grumpy Sheriff, Colter Brooks whose sister just happens to be the focus of her investigation. Their interactions are filled with hilarious banter, a 3 legged cat with an attitude a sweet elderly dog and a town full of citizens who will make you laugh.

I listened to this on audiobook. The Narrators are Andi Arndt and Sebastian York. What can I say about these amazing narrators that hasn't already been said. Their phenomenal talent brings life to their characters and allows you to feel the emotions while reading. I love the chemistry they have with one another. Their talent is unmatched and they will always be 2 of my favorite narrators.because of their amazing performance, this book will forever be a favorite of mine.

Catherine will never surprise me with how amazing her writing is. Each book is gripping and full of suspense (This one had me from chapter one!) but also filled with hilarity that will ease the tension in the perfect places. She can take you from biting your nails one minute to laughing and onto needing a glass of ice water to cool off. Her skills as a writer will ever cease to amaze me. If you are looking for a story that will keep your attention or just need one to get you out of a slump....this is it. I cannot recommend this author and her fabulous writing enough!

All the stars for All the Missing Pieces. This has now become my favorite read by Catherine and I know you will love it to!

You will love this book if you like:
-Romantic Suspense with a slow burn
-Small Town
-Mystery/crime & a cold case
-Three-legged cat with an attitude (Princess Tater) and tooth hugs
-Lovable senior dog, Bowser (B-Man)
-True Crime Podcaster
-Grumpy Sheriff
-Banter…. All the BANTER
-Enemies to Lovers
-Hate to Love with ALL the chemistry and feels

Hooked me from the beginning - had be guessing til the end.

📚 podcaster x sherif
📚 mystery/ susepnse
📚 forced proximity
📚 enemies to friends to lovers
📚 small town
📚 found family
📚 dual POV

🌶️🌶️

“No surprises. Nothing unexpected. I needed steady. Predictable. And my gut told me Ridley Bennet was anything but”

|Thoughts|
Couldn’t put this one down and the audiobook narration by Andi Arnt and Sebastian York really drew me into the story.

“Helped me find all the missing pieces. Even the ones I didn’t realise I needed”

The format worked really well, with Ridley undertaking some investigative journalising for her crime podcast. The mystery had me desperately wanting answers, yet they trickled out as the story progressed to a satisfying end.

Enjoyed the banter and tension between Ridley and Colt, especially in the first part of the story.

“Do not make me arrest you”

Loved the cute little nicknames they had for each other.

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

An adult version of A Good Girls Guid to Murder. Whilst this is a standalone, there are some subtle Easter eggs to her other series.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"We'd be playing with fire."
"Then let's watch it burn."

Rating: 4.5/5

- small town
- romantic suspense
- true crime podcaster x sheriff
- Law Man x Chaos
- grumpy (him) x sunshine (her)
- enemies with benefits
- forced proximity
- no breakup
- 🌶️🌶️/5
- dual pov
- dual narration by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt

Premise: Ridley visits Colt's hometown to report on a case that connects their sisters, and he isn't happy about her presence.

What to expect:
- a bad-ass FMC I want to be besties with! Ridley lives in a Kombi with a three-legged cat, takes down baddies through her true crime podcast, and paddleboards in her spare time. Oh, and she isn't afraid to stand up to Law Man. Yeah, I love her, and I love that she finally found a home in both Shady Cove and Colt.
- a protective MMC worried about what Ridley's presence will do to his sister and town. But once she's hurt, his protective instincts kick in, and he's all in.
- characters healing in different ways. Ridley comes face-to-face with her sister's killer and moves on finally, while Colt lets go of his guilt over not getting to his sister in time.
- a beautiful love story with banter, a dash of enemies with benefits, fun spice, and no breakup.
- a really intriguing suspense plot that keeps you guessing. I did have a sneaky suspicion about the unsub, but it's a complex story that will make your jaw drop 🤯.
- a small town full of fun and protective characters. I know this is a standalone, but I don't want it to be!
- excellent narration from Andi Arndt and Sebastian York.

Thank you to Catherine for the early copies!

Ridley is a true crime podcaster that has been diligently on the hunt to solve cold cases of abducted women all over the country after her own twin sister went missing in college and was never found. But while she uses her platform to crowd source details and new info on these cases, her real mission is to prove her theory that string all these cases together and find the culprit of her sister's abduction and presumed murder. She arrives in Shady Cove, closer than ever to discovering who is behind all the abductions by investigating the case that started it all with his first victim, the only one that survived; and she lives in Shady Cove.

As Ridley starts to engrain herself in the town, she garners the attention of the Sheriff, Colt. This grumpy protector will do just about anything to see Ridley leave Shady Cove and never come back. As the story progresses, Ridley learns just how close Colt and the entire town is to this case and why they are so protective of Emmy (the survivor), but Ridley wins them over and Colt starts to soften when he realizes her intentions are pure and they have more in common then he thought. Colt and Ridley start to work together and the closer they get to the truth, the more danger Ridley finds herself in. But her determination and dedication to the cause makes Colt fall for her and their love is forged in trust and understanding on a soul level. The story ends in suspense and mysteries revealed that, per usual, I didn't see coming!

Every time I think Catherine can't write a better story - I'm blown away. This story was riveting, enthralling and it was impossible not to invest my entire soul into their story and the mystery. If you've never read Catherine Cowles and don't know where to start, pick this one! You'll get hooked and her back catalog will become your mission!

The Dynamic Duo are our narrators for this riveting story and they're perfect. Andi Arndt and Sebastian York are the best in the narrator world for a reason. Pioneers in the romance genre, their chemistry is unmatched and when they work together you're guaranteed a 5 star performance and this was no different!

🎧🎧🎧 AUDIO REVIEW🎧🎧🎧

"All the Missing Pieces" is a standalone novel that follows Ridley, a determined crime podcaster who dedicates her life to helping families solve the mystery of their disappeared loved ones. This mission is deeply personal to Ridley, as her own twin sister vanished without a trace many years ago, a loss that continues to haunt her.

Ridley's latest investigation takes her to the small town of Shady Cove, where she delves into a botched kidnapping case from years past. The only known survivor of this harrowing event still resides in the town, providing Ridley with a vital link to the truth. However, her investigation is soon complicated by the town's grumpy yet intriguing sheriff, Colt. Despite their initial antagonism, a strong connection forms between them, one that neither can ignore.

The journey of Ridley and Colt is not just one of uncovering dark secrets but also of healing and finding love. Their evolving relationship is beautifully portrayed, showcasing how they help each other confront and overcome their painful pasts. The suspense is skilfully maintained throughout the story with the identity of the culprit remaining a mystery until the very end.

The author's talent shines through in the intricate plotting and well-drawn characters, keeping the reader guessing and engaged. If you are in the mood for a small-town romantic suspense that combines intrigue, emotional depth, and a blossoming romance, then "All the Missing Pieces" is the perfect read for you.

I highly recommend the audio version as two of my favourite narrators, Andi Arndt and Sebastian York did an excellent job giving Ridley and Colt their voices.

I stated my reading in 2025 with a BANG. My first read of the year and one that was absolutely amazing was All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles. Chef’s kiss. This book is why I read. It gave me all the best feels and I was captivated and engaged right from the start. This book included grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, small town and romantic suspense tropes and I was here for all of it.

One night changed everything for Ridley Sawyer. Her future, her past, her present. That night was the night her sister disappeared. Now she is a true crime podcaster helping others find justice. Her next case is important to her in so many ways. She is smart, determined, strong and vulnerable. I loved her character so much. She was kind, patient and caring to those she wanted to help.

Ridley knows law enforcement officers are not always excited about what she does, but Colter Brooks, Colt, really does not want her anywhere near this case. Not only because its personal, but there is something about her that pulls at him. Colt was a true grump, but he was also loyal and protective to those he cared about. He was reserved, determined and cautious and carried so much on his shoulders. He did not want Ridley anywhere near this case, however, when she is in danger, that changes everything.

I have no words to describe how much I loved this book. It was everything I love about reading. The characters were amazing, the story was captivating and I could not stop reading. Ridley and Colt had such a strong connection and their push and pull was everything. I also loved the secondary characters so much. I want to live in Shady Cove. This was narrated by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt and they were amazing and truly brought Ridley and Colt to life for me. I highly recommend this story so much. It was a top tier story and honestly, if Catherine writes it, I will read it.

Happy reading.

I am blown away!! Catherine knows how to write small town, mysterious books. This one was fantastic! I loved the themes. The blogger. The sheriff. The small town. The little van. Quirky cat. Tooth hugs 🤣 I loved how brave Ridley was. Loved the grumpy Colter. I loved how protective Colter was. I enjoyed seeing Ridley and Colter work on the cases. I enjoyed how they got closer as they worked. This book kept me guessing this time. I was blown away in the end. Such a great book!!

*4.5 Stars

I absolutely loved all the true crime aspects of this!! This was such a fun way to start off a new series and I think it's one of my favorite set ups from Catherine!

The plot had me hooked from the start. I loved seeing Ridley kick butt with her podcast and that she never gave up on finding out what happened with her sister. Her storyline broke my heart but seeing how everything came together and was connected was great. Once again, I did not guess who the bad guy was haha I had some theories that were once again, wrong. But I love that Catherine continues to fool me!!

Aside from the plot, I really did like our characters. Specifically, I love a good grumpy Sheriff so Colt is my kind of hero! I loved how Colt and Ridley met and how she got under his skin. I loved how they had a shared love for whiskey and their furry friends!! They were slow to burn but when they burned, it was hot!! They truly got each other and I loved that Ridley was able to find a home with Colt and Shady Cove. I really did like some of the side characters too, so I'm excited to see if we get more from Shady Cove!!

I did feel like the romance was a little slow in the first half of the book, at least compared to some of Catherine's other books. So the feel of everything was just a tad different. But once we got the romance, it was perfect and I had a great time! If you are a true crime fan, I bet you will love this and highly recommend!

Thank you so much to Catherine Cowles and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC and ALC!

Best. Book. Ever!

"It shouldn't have been possible for chaos to be so calming, but it was."

Oh my goodness, I fall more and more in love with Catherine's books with each one I read. Ridley and Colt were amazing. I love the two of them so much and their journey together. Ridley was so determined and strong. My heart broke for her but I was cheering her on to find out the truth she was searching for. Colt was so grumpy but so very protective of those that he cared for.

And I can't forget Tater! Tater was absolutely amazing and made my cat-momma heart so happy. I would be honored to receive a tooth hug from Tater lol!

The reveal of who was behind everything had me shook to my core. I was not expecting that at all. My mouth was literally hanging open in shock and I got chills. Catherine is hands down the plot twist queen!

I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated in dual by Andi Arndt and Sebastian York. This was an amazing performance from both of them! They brought every emotion in this book to life, whether it was laughter or heartbreak or shock. I couldn't think of anyone better to voice these characters.

If you are a lover of true crime podcasts and romantic suspense, you HAVE to pick this book up!! Catherine my romantic suspense queen melds together all of those elements into one of my new favorite romance books she's ever written!

Ridley is a true crime podcaster who is visiting Shady Cove where she thinks a serial killer had his first victim. Unfortunately for her, Colt the sheriff in town doesn't want her sniffing around and drudging up the old trauma and pain from the past. Especially when she starts to question people in his town. Ridley is determined to find the truth, though, so she breaks down the case and Colt finds himself roped into her investigation.

Omg the hate to love tension between these two was EVERYTHING. I loved how Ridley slowly broke down Colt's defenses until he couldn't resist her anymore. This suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and I was completely SHOCKED by the villain. We had such a fun group of characters in this small town and loved discovering the town along with Ridley as she was diving into this case. I also loved Colt's sister and his best friend!

Everything about this book was perfection and I cannot recommend it enough!!! You ABSOLUTELY have to pick this up when it releases on January 7!!!

i had no idea what i was getting into when i picked up this book. all i knew was the podcaster x cop for the main characters and when i tell you i was SO amazingly + pleasantly surprised 😍

this is my first novel by Catherine Cowles and i can promise you it won’t be my last.

this book is a romantic suspense following true crime podcaster ridley who follows a story into a small town where she meets a hunky grumpy cop Colter Brooks and their fueding begins.

i’ve never done romantic suspense (i’m not a thriller girlie - i’m too sensitive) and this definitely pushed me 🤪 i thought it was so well done. an amazing balance between the romance plot and the plot plot.

i did NOT see the ending coming (i had my suspicions and was way off 😅)

also, tater 5ever.

Ridley is a traveling true crime podcaster who arrives in Shady Cove to work on the case of Emerson, who was abducted but survived. Ridley’s own sister was abducted five years ago and she believes the cases are related.

Ridley has a run in with the small town’s Sheriff, Colter Brooks. He isn’t pleased with her nosying around in his town—especially since Emerson is his sister.

Catherine Cowles is the queen of romantic suspense. This time, I felt like the romance was overshadowed by the suspense plot. Super slow burn. It felt like insta love when it did happen, because they barely knew each other/anything about each other.

I listened to the ALC along with the book. It is narrated by AndI Arndt and Sebastian York. Very well done.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca, Dreamscape Media, NetGalley and the author for an advanced readers copy/advanced listeners copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5⭐️ | 2🌶️
Narrated by Andi Ardnt & Sebastian York

Shady Cove | Ridley Sawyer & Colter Brooks | standalone

✨mini synopsis✨
After Ridley’s twin sister’s disappearance changed her life forever she started a true crime podcast. She travels all over covering stories finding justice for others. This lands her in the small town of Shady Cove, but her arrival isn’t a warm one thanks to the broody sheriff, Colter Brooks. He isn’t happy about her poking around his town, but when a Shady Cove cold case turns hot these two have no choice but to work together to solve the case.

🧩true crime podcaster x town sheriff
🧩grumpy x sunshine
🧩enemies to lovers
🧩romantic suspense
🧩forced proximity
🧩slow burn

This is my new favorite book of Catherine’s!!!!

This audio was absolute perfection with Andi and Sebastian! These two had you feeling like you were actually solving a cold case with them and the intensity and banter between them was electric. Ridley is a beautiful, strong, sunshiney fmc who hasn’t let one of the most horrific experiences of her life keep her down. She lives life for her sister & that’s so beautiful! Colter is broody, ultra protective (for good reason), but also can’t help himself when it comes to Ridley. When the slow burn ignites these two are 🔥🔥🔥 we love to see a broody mmc gone for his woman!!!

“Show no mercy, Chaos.”

“Grab the headboard, Chaos.”

I, of course, did not solve this one. I was close, but i mean I was suspecting everyone so I don’t think that counts 🤣 Catherine always gives us the best ending we didn’t see coming!

Thank you @catherinecowlesauthor @sourcebookscasa @netgalley for the early copy for me to review!