Trust doesn’t come easily when you’ve been running for as long as I have, which is why moving in with a man I barely know is such a bad idea.

Shepard Colson is all golden-boy charm and devastating good looks. But I know what it’s like to be taken in by easy smiles and the promise of forever—I have the scars to prove it.

Only the handsome contractor won’t stop coming by the bakery and prying little truths from my lips. Those amber eyes of his seeing far too much. And when all the secrets come crashing down, he’s determined to keep me safe. Even if it means moving into my rundown cabin to do it.

Now, Shep isn’t just rebuilding the walls of my home, he’s working his way into my heart. Suddenly, he’s everywhere: shirtless in my garden or in a towel coming out of my bathroom. And my resolve is no match.

Only it’s more than his golden looks. It’s him. The way he watches for my wounds but tells me I’m stronger than anyone he’s ever known. And I can’t help but fall.

But I should’ve known better than to think I could be happy. Not when a ghost from my past still has me in his sights. And when he finds me, he’ll do anything to tear my life apart, even if it means ending it for good…

My thoughts:

Delicate Escape, the second installment in the Sparrow Falls series, was an entertaining read but ultimately fell short of the high standard set by its predecessor.

My connection to the protagonists, Shep and Thea, wasn’t as immediate or profound as the bond I felt with Anson and Rhodes from the first book. Shep’s character leaned towards an almost flawless idealism, bordering on an exasperating “white knight” complex. Thea, on the other hand, was a character I genuinely liked and admired for her resilience in reclaiming her life after trauma. However, her personality lacked a certain depth for me, preventing a deeper emotional investment. While their individual dynamics worked well together—their personalities complemented each other nicely—the romantic chemistry felt lacking. Their interactions sometimes veered into overly cheesy and contrived dialogue, which dampened the sparks.

The plot itself felt somewhat disjointed. Without giving away spoilers, the narrative juggled two major storylines, one of which seemed entirely superfluous. This secondary arc appeared tacked on merely to artificially heighten the stakes, and it didn’t feel organic to the characters as they were initially established.

In terms of spice, the book was relatively mild. As mentioned, the chemistry wasn’t electric, but the intimate scenes were well-executed and engaging in their own right.

Overall, Delicate Escape didn’t quite meet my expectations, though not to the extent that it has put me off the series. Admittedly, I found Shep the least intriguing of the Colson siblings even before starting this book, so I remain optimistic that future installments focusing on his brothers and sister will be more to my taste.

Fans of Catherine Cowles and those who enjoyed the first Sparrow Falls book will likely find enough to appreciate in this sequel.