Death to Valentine's Day by Catherine Cowles [Review]

Death to Valentine's Day (The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances #5) by Catherine Cowles
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 4, 2026

The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances
1. Accidentally Yours
2. Time Will Tell
3. Second Act Romance
4. A Play for Love
5. Death to Valentine's Day - Kindle
6. Valentine's Slay

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Improbable Meet-Cute
1. The Exception to the Rule

Catherine Cowles
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

After her boyfriend’s betrayal, the last thing Maia St. James wants is to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And when her friends force her out for a Death to Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge, the last thing she expects is to kiss a masked stranger, especially when he ends up being her ex’s older brother. But that’s the least of her problems. When a guest is found murdered, the party becomes a mystery. And Maia must unmask a killer before her second chance at romance is cut short.

Thoughts on Death to Valentine's Day: An anti-V-Day party (sorry, masquerade ball) sounds like just the thing for Maia. She's not a big fan of the holiday thanks to her ex and his wandering eye. Or, I guess his wandering parts. Looking isn't terrible, but actually banging it out with her cousin? No thank you. Anywho. Maia isn't a fan of this couples holiday and she only goes because her friends drag her along.

What she doesn't expect? To see her ex (yuck), panic a little and grab a hunky guy to lock lips with without actually checking who she was grabbing. Turns out the guy whose kiss rocked her world is none other than her ex's brother. Who is hot. And into Maia. In fact, Decker was into Maia before his brother was into Maia. In fact, Decker's attraction to her might have been what caused Jackson to start dating Maia in the first place. (Look, Jackson is a self-absorbed idiot who wants what everyone else has, including the girl his brother has a thing for. Total douchenozzle behavior on every level.)

A little sibling rivalry (mostly on Jackson's end), a kiss that showed Maia what she'd been missing, a murdered guest, a sleazy host, NOT ENOUGH ROOMS SO OH NO MAIA WILL NEED TO SHARE WITH DECKER!, a man who only wants Maia happy, and a lady who has to decide if she'd rather run from this thing between her and Deck or grab onto it with both hands. *thumbs up*