He spent a lifetime trying to escape his dark past…but to save her, he’ll wade back into the shadows.

Braedyn Winslow never expected to return to Starlight Grove—the town that took everything from her. Not after her best friend, the one who’d sacrificed so much for her, vanished without a trace. But with a young son to raise and a past that won’t stay buried, Brae is back…and determined to uncover the truth.

She just didn’t count on the brooding, reclusive mountain man living next door.

Dex Archer is the stuff of local legend—silent, rugged, and surrounded by whispers of his and his brothers’ violent father. But Brae sees through the scowl and his parentage to the man beneath: fiercely loyal, unexpectedly kind…and just dangerous enough to protect her when someone starts warning her off her search.

The closer she gets to the truth, the harder it is to stay away from Dex. And as things get more perilous, Brae realizes the only person she can rely on is the one man who swore never to trust again.

Only someone isn’t happy that Brae has been digging, and they’ll do anything to stop her. But Dex? He’ll do anything to save her, even slip back into the dark…

My Review

Braedyn is back in California and hiking in Starlight Grove with her best friend, Nova. A devoted mother to her son Owen, Brae has built a life for herself despite becoming a mom as a teenager. What begins as a peaceful hike quickly turns into a nightmare when Nova vanishes without a trace.

First of all, can we talk about Yeti? I wanted to reach through the pages and give that dog all the cuddles. From the very beginning, Catherine Cowles once again captures the heart of Starlight Grove. The mountain-town setting, pine forests, close-knit community, and underlying sense that something isn’t quite right immediately pulled me in.

Dex is back with his chaotic family at his uncle’s ranch. He and Brae share a complicated history that slowly unfolds throughout the story. I loved how the “bad boys” of the family each have their own unique careers and personalities, making them feel distinct rather than interchangeable. Their family dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book. The found-family vibes are strong, and I instantly fell in love with Princess and the Highland coos, even if this story isn’t set in Scotland.

The mystery kicks in quickly, and what starts as a simple missing-person case grows into something far more complex. Between Bigfoot legends, hackers, family secrets, and two emotionally scarred main characters, I was completely hooked. The suspense never let up, but the quieter moments were just as powerful. As heartbreaking as parts of this story were, they were equally heartwarming.

One of the reasons I continue to love Catherine Cowles’ romantic suspense is that I can never predict where the story is going. Every time I thought I had the mystery figured out, another twist appeared and sent me in a completely different direction. The clues were carefully woven throughout the story, and I found myself grinning, gasping, and kicking my feet while trying to piece everything together.

Brae was everything I love in a heroine. She is fiercely loyal, an incredible mother, a supportive friend, and someone who keeps fighting even during the hardest moments of her life. She has such a good heart that it’s impossible not to root for her. Dex, meanwhile, walks the line between protective and morally gray in the best way. He and his brothers are complete chaos, but they are also fiercely devoted to the people they love.

I also appreciated the PTSD and mental health representation, along with the themes of healing, family, and finding strength through community. The connections to previous books were woven in naturally, and seeing familiar faces only made me love the world of Starlight Grove more.

By the final chapters, I genuinely had no idea how the mystery would be resolved. This was one of those books that completely consumed my attention. I intended to take notes, but I was too busy reading. I found myself binge-reading late into the night because I simply had to know what happened.

Across the Vanishing Sky is everything I want in a romantic suspense. It has an engaging mystery, unforgettable characters, emotional depth, found family, and a swoon-worthy romance. The ending was both surprising and satisfying, and I loved every minute of the journey.

If you’re looking for a romantic suspense filled with twists, heart, healing, protective heroes, and a heroine you’ll be cheering for from beginning to end, this one is an easy recommendation.

If you would like to read Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Found Family , Small Town and Romantic Suspense.