“Some things grab you and don’t let go.”

I’m at a loss for words. Friends, if you haven’t read K.L. Cottrell’s work, you are missing out BIG TIME. I will, without a doubt, read anything she writes. She is simply THAT talented. She writes THAT well, what a gift. Her work is all about the journey, how her characters get to where they need to be. Nothing is rushed or forced, it’s written the way you might imagine a musician composes a song, slowly yet beautifully. Each phrase has a purpose and every chapter adds a little more to the storyline. Her characters are well-crafted and smartly designed. They are each perfectly flawed, as all humans are, but that’s what makes them so relatable and interesting. Cottrell captures your mind and ties you to her characters, you can’t stop reading, you can’t let go of the innate desire to know what happens next, you don’t come up for air until the story ends. It’s the best kind of addiction. Cottrell has mastered romance. Romance is about more than stolen kisses and heated stares. It’s about what it means to fall in love, it’s about the journey of the fall. Our author hits the nail on the head every single time.

“Sometimes you don’t realize you need something in your life until it shows up.”

When You Know is my first taste of paranormal romance since Twilight. And if you know me at all, you know I was and still am a die hard Twilight fan. Team Edward for life, peeps. I say that now because this book is nothing like what I expected when I was first told it fell into the “paranormal” genre. There aren’t any witches or vampires. It’s so much richer and deeper than that. This book is about a girl who can see the future. Now, not necessarily in the way you think, so don’t get ahead of yourself. Our leading lady, Hallie, has visions in the form of dreams and they are very few and far between. But, when she does have them, there is always a purpose. Hallie comes from an abusive household in Ohio, she lives on her own, but still deals with residual mistreatment from her family. She’s been having visions her entire life, but has never been able to tell anyone about them. Then, one night she has a vision about a man and his son. It’s a happy vision, she doesn’t quite understand why she had it…until she is gifted with another vision of the father’s untimely death. She uses clues from her vision to figure out where this man and son live (in Texas, heck yeah!) and runs to them. 

I won’t say much about what happens once Hallie gets to Texas, but I will say this. Do you believe in fate? In destiny? What about love at first sight? Well this novel deals with all of that and more. Hallie’s vision leads her to where she’s meant to be. Where she finds her true home and the people who she truly considers family. Her character arc is probably the most extensive I’ve ever read. She grows from having zero confidence and second guessing everything about herself to finding the strength to stick up for herself, the man she loves, and the young boy she adores. Guys, it’s inspiring. She is inspiring. THIS ENTIRE NOVEL IS INSPIRING. 

“His presence feels like sunshine. It has been intense and blinding, yes, but it has also been warm and invigorating.”

Okay side note: I need to talk about a moment between Keaton, our leading man, and his son Mason. At one point in the novel, Mason is so smitten with Hallie that he begs his dad to buy her gifts to show his love. Keaton isn’t opposed…seeing as he’s also completely taken with her. But, as they start adding up all the things Mason wants to get for her, they realize it’s going to be a pretty expensive trip…and Mason says “I wish we really had a million dollars.” If they had a million dollars they could buy Hallie the world, right? All I could think about was that Bare Naked Ladies song, If I Had A Million Dollars. My father and I used to sing that song to each other allllll the time when I was younger. I would dance around the living room, belting it at the top of my lungs. I love that song so much, so this part of our novel was so special to me because it reminded me of that time in my life. Just needed to add that tidbit in my review 🙂 

If you’re looking for something to read that might change your life, then as surely as ‘Texas’ is spelled with a T, this is the book for you *wink wink*. When readers talk about books that changed the way they view the world, it’s always the stories that leave you thinking, leave you with questions and thoughts. “Tattoo memories” as Keaton would say. Well this book was a tattoo memory for me. Keep in mind, Cottrell writes books on the longer side, so don’t expect to breeze through this one in a day or two. This is a slow burn, a delicious, gradual build up. This is a novel that will leave you thoughtful long after you’ve finished the last page. Take a deep breath and dive in, my friends. You will not regret it.

“Never let me go, I beg him silently. Please. Never.”