Into the Fading Twilight by Catherine Cowles | Audiobook Review • Ana's Attic Book Blog

Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove 2) by Catherine Cowles

Narrated by Sebastian York and Brittany Pressley with Jason Clarke, Adam Gold, Teddy Hamilton and Connor Crais

Second in a connected series, best if read in order.

Early copy provided for review. Affiliate links are included. Neither of these things affect my honest review. Warning: there may be MINOR spoilers to book 1 if you didn’t read that blurb.

“Most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. You’re like the moon starting to rise in twilight. You fucking glow, Phoenix. Maybe because you’re made of embers.”

Catherine Cowles has been a favorite author of mine for about six years. Her books pull me in and never let go, and somehow they just keep getting better. I am obsessed.

Into the Fading Twilight is the second book in the Starlight Grove series, and while each romance stands alone, I highly recommend reading the series in order. The series follows five brothers, but the first two books are especially connected because of the heroines.

Brae, the heroine from Across the Vanishing Sky, moved to Starlight Grove with her son to be closer to the investigation into finding her best friend, Nova, after Nova was kidnapped and held captive for over a year. Into the Fading Twilight is Nova’s story as she struggles to recover from that harrowing ordeal while slowly building a relationship with Kol Archer, the forest service investigator who finally rescued her.

But did he? Is it really over?

It doesn’t seem to be. Someone is still out there stalking Nova, even as she’s trying to recover from more than a year spent chained in darkness.

While Nova’s story is incredibly heavy, Catherine balances that darkness with Kol’s young daughter, Skylar. Raised on a mountain by her dad, five uncles, and Uncle Whelan, she’s somehow the perfect mix of sparkles, tiaras, camo, and combat boots. She brings warmth, hope, and just enough innocence to remind both Nova and the reader that there can still be joy after everything she’s endured.

Then you get moments like this.

“I can see it every time he looks at you.” Sky’s lower lip trembled just a little.
“You see it?”
My heart cracked. “I do.”
“What does it look like?”
“It looks like a million sparkles all around the two of you.”
“I like sparkles,” Skylar said quietly.
“Me, too.”
(The next line will make you cry, but I don’t want to spoil the moment by quoting it.)

Skylar completely stole this book for me. Almost every quote I highlighted came from her, and Brittany Pressley’s narration somehow made her even more lovable.

Her little chest puffed up. “I can be a really good night-light. I know what it’s like to be a little scared sometimes but wanna do it anyway. Like the rope swing at the lake. Sometimes, you just gotta know someone’s at the bottom to catch you.”

This is only the second Catherine Cowles book where I’ve guessed the villain, but honestly, it didn’t affect my enjoyment at all. I still wasn’t completely sure I was right, so I loved watching everything unfold.

What stood out even more than the suspense, though, was Nova’s mental health journey.

It was so important that Nova found safety with Kol, and I loved that Catherine didn’t ignore the possibility of a trauma bond. Kol worried about the power imbalance from the very beginning because he was the one who rescued her. Instead of trying to fix her or becoming her hero, he gave her the space, support, and tools to reclaim her independence and heal on her own terms. He became her safe place, but he never tried to become the reason she healed. That made their relationship feel so much healthier, stronger, and ultimately more romantic, which I absolutely loved.

Likes

As always, I was completely sucked in and couldn’t put it down. I went to bed at 4:58 a.m. because I simply couldn’t stop listening.
The Archer family has me hooked. I love the brothers and Uncle Whelan.
Kol is a fantastic single dad, and Skylar is one of my favorite kids in any book.
I love that the brothers’ mental health journeys continue to unfold throughout the series.
The suspense had me questioning almost everyone, even though I happened to guess the villain this time.
Kol may have been grumpy, but underneath it all he was patient, compassionate, emotionally intelligent, and exactly what Nova needed.
Nova’s trauma isn’t magically healed by love. Catherine explores how deeply her captivity changed her, and her healing feels honest, messy, and realistic.
I appreciated that Kol recognized the potential power imbalance because he was the one who rescued Nova and carefully navigated those emotions.
Uncle Whelan continues to be the quiet patriarch holding this family together.
The preview of the next couple has me ridiculously excited. It looks like it might be a little lighter and more playful. Although this is Catherine Cowles, so I’m sure someone will still be fighting for their life.

Dislikes

Even though the kids brought plenty of humor and lighter moments, I still missed having a character like Lolli around.
I guessed the villain this time. It honestly didn’t lessen my enjoyment because I never knew if I was actually right, but I do think Catherine’s storytelling structure has become a little familiar. Not the ending itself, but the way she introduces the villain and layers in the misdirection. Another one of my favorite authors does something similar. Once I hit about the 90% mark, I know something huge involving the villain is coming.

The Narration

I love that each Archer brother’s narrator continues to voice his character throughout the series. It makes the entire family feel consistent from book to book.

The full-cast narration of Into the Fading Twilight was phenomenal.

Brittany Pressley was such a refreshing change of pace from the three or four female narrators who seem to rotate through so many romance audiobooks. She perfectly captured Nova’s fear, vulnerability, strength, and determination. But her performance as Skylar absolutely stole the show. She brought so much personality, innocence, and heart to that little girl that I fell in love with Sky even more than I already had.

The Down & Dirty

Once again, Catherine Cowles had me up all night with an unputdownable story. Found family, healing, guilt, recovery, romance, spice, action, amazing kids, and trauma-bonded brothers all came together to tell an exciting story with so much emotional depth.

Into the Fading Twilight wasn’t just another romantic suspense. Catherine handled both Nova’s and Kol’s mental health journeys with incredible care, showing that healing isn’t linear and that the best partners don’t rescue each other. They create a safe place where the other person can find the strength to heal themselves. That made the romance feel authentic, emotional, and deeply satisfying while still delivering all the suspense, action, and chemistry I expect from a Catherine Cowles novel.

I cannot wait for the next Archer brother’s story in Beneath a Midnight Moon, coming in November.