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Beautiful Exile by Catherine Cowles 🩵

I've been having the best time with this series! I've become so attached to these characters and the small town of Sparrow Falls. This book started out with a brutal prologue giving background to Arden's character then it jumps into the story.

Arden has been relatively content living a life of solitude focusing on her art. Due to her past she is hesitant to let people in, even those she now considers family. So when someone accidentally sneaks up on her in the gym, she doesn't hesitate to hold a knife to his throat. Except Lincoln Pierce doesn't want to hurt Arden, he wants the exact opposite. To protect her and support her however he can. When Lincoln ends up staying at her bother's house that is next door to where she lives, it's hard to ignore him. There's a connection between them that is chipping away at the tall walls Arden has put up to protect herself. But there's good reason for those walls because Arden feels that anyone she lets in, she ends up losing. When people from both of their pasts emerge, they both are trying to make sure they stay safe while also dealing with the feelings they have that can't be ignored.

I loved Linc and Arden (and Brutus). I feel like I really got to know both of the characters and how their pasts affected their views. Arden was such a strong and independent character and while Linc was protective was not someone who would ever stand in her way.

I can always count on Catherine's books to suck me in and put on my detective hat to figure out who the "bad guy" is. I did feel a little bit like the ending was a jumbled and with a lot going on in a few chapters. I don't want to go into it too much since part of the fun of Catherine's books is figuring who did it and why they were motivated to, but I didn't love this one as much as other books I've read.

Super excited for the next book and then the final book of the series! Hard to believe we're over halfway done with the series!

🫶🏻 age gap (12 years, he’s older)
💵 billionaire
🔥 “who hurt you?�� moment
🤭 he falls first
🤍 brother’s best friend
👥 close proximity
👏🏻 no third act breakup

dual POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶��