HIDDEN WATERS (Tattered & Torn #3) by CATHERINE COWLES

“You’re allowed to be scared. You’re allowed to feel whatever’s going on inside you. You’re doing the bravest thing possible and living your life despite that fear. Eventually it will subside. But you don’t have to face it alone. You have people in your corner.”

Hidden Waters is the third book in the fabulous Tattered and Torn series by Catherine Cowles. We absolutely love this series. Highly emotional, scrumptiously passionate and suspensefully thrilling, we have been so excited for Addie’s story. We highly recommend reading in order despite it being a series of standalones due to a common thread as well as character connections. This series should be enjoyed in its entirety! We’ll read anything this Author writes as we never fail to become completely engrossed in her stories. Sure, we have our favourites but every single time she releases a new story we’re there for it.

“Scamper, Little Mouse. Find a nook to hide, just like a tiny mouse would.”

Having followed Addie in the previous books we just couldn’t wait to get her story. We knew it was going to be emotionally devastating and heart-breaking. She grew up in conditions no one should bear witness to nor be a victim of. Indoctrinated to fall in line, to accept, and to suffer in silence. Losing the one connection to unconditional love at such an early age too. No wonder she’s scared, timid, and needing to fade into the background. Yet Addie has a real backbone too. An incessant need to experience a life she was never allowed to live; see, taste, and smell what was forbidden. Her eyes are opening up whilst holding on to her natural integrity and honesty.

“Release this ugly guilt that’s been eating away at you. You’re back now. Live in the present, be grateful for where you’re at.”

Beckett, (who is Hayes’ and Hadley’s brother from Tattered Stars & Falling Embers) has returned home after years ‘on the run’ from a self-enforced personal exile, healing the world on his travels as a doctor. He carries a tremendous weight of guilt on his shoulders which he just cannot shake. These siblings have been forever marked emotionally from when their youngest sister, Shiloh, was abducted on their watch. Especially Beckett.

“Beauty in the strength that carried you through. Beauty in how you refused to be broken. Beauty that you never let yourself become cruel like him. Addie, there isn’t a thing about you that isn’t beautiful.”

When Addie and Beckett end up as housemates it initiates a journey of healing, laughter, and love between two people who have emotional scars that still intermittently bleed. Both have so many unresolved feelings to untangle and dreams to realise. It was emotionally intense at times; it was thrilling, and it was incredibly sweet too. We loved every minute, though at times we felt the relationship between Addie and Becket was more friendship than a fiery love affair.

“Life is full of pain. We’ll hurt each other. But I trust us both to make it right when that happens. I trust that we’ll learn and grow and do better next time.”

This series is all about family, heartbreak, loyalty, compassion, and love in all its guises. It’s about overcoming your demons and tragic experiences. About celebrating what counts and healing in the process. About finding love and trust. Catherine Cowles has such a beautiful voice which is almost poetic at times. We cannot wait for the next installment in this series!

“You steal my breath.”