The scowl should’ve been my first clue to stay far away from Anson Hunt. The sexy smirk and the fact that he’s my brother’s best friend? Reasons two and three. Not to mention, he’s the new contractor working on my house.
He’s everything I’m not: grumpy, rude, and more than a little attached to his solitude. It doesn’t matter how many times I try to kill him with kindness; the man simply won’t crack.
Until he sees me shatter.
Because when my world comes crashing down around me, Anson is the one catching me as I fall. And as so-called accidents start plaguing every part of my life, it’s Anson who steps in to keep me safe.
As he does, I can’t help but feel a flicker of heat. And it only takes a single moment for that spark to ignite into flames, engulfing us both.
But Anson’s a man with secrets, and they have a price. When they’re revealed, neither of us will make it out unscathed…
My Review
The story opens in the past with Rhodes and Fallon as teenagers, carefree and wrapped up in their own little world. Their young happiness is suddenly shattered by tragedy.
We move to the present where Rhodes, now older, is still carrying survivor’s guilt and grief from what happened. Even with a strong support system of family and friends, including her childhood best friend, she struggles to fully move forward.
Anson has his own past trauma that shaped who he is. It affects how he sees life but also drives his work. He restores fire damaged buildings, which feels fitting considering everything he has lived through.
Rhodes and Anson are both damaged in different ways. As past and present events start colliding, Rhodes slowly begins to work her way out of the shadow of the past. The story circles back to old memories while adding mystery and suspense.
Happiness was the greatest torture of all because it could all be taken away—and it was so much worse than if you’d never experienced it at all. – Rhodes
As they grow closer the relationship develops gradually. At first they are cautious, then the emotional connection deepens and the romance follows. Their chemistry builds naturally as trust grows.
The final part of the book ramps up the suspense and ties all the storylines together. Alongside the tension there is also healing, love, and moments of happiness. I really enjoyed Rhodes and Anson’s journey and the balance of romance and suspense kept the story moving.
If you would like to read Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine Cowles you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Assocaite I earn on quailfing purchases.
If you lie this book you may also enjoy books with theese tags and categories: Slow Burn, Midlife and Small Town.
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