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Widow Sarah Johnson struggled to pick up the pieces after her life was ripped apart. After two years of grieving, she’s found contentment in her thriving business as photographer to Hollywood’s A-list and in raising her angel-faced daughter, Kylee… until bodyguard and long-time friend Ethan Cooke changes everything with a searing moonlight kiss.

 

Sarah’s world turns upside down as she struggles with her unexpected attraction to Ethan and the guilt of betraying her husband’s memory. But when blue roses and disturbing notes start appearing on her doorstep, she has no choice but to lean on Ethan as he fights to save her from a stalker that won’t stop until he has what he prizes most.

 

MY REVIEW

 

Cate Beauman is a master storyteller, so I was very happy to have the chance to read Falling for Sarah. The rollercoaster romance with the lingering danger has captivated me.

 

Sarah has a new baby and her hubby will be home from deployment soon. Ethan, who owns Cooke Security, has been there to fill the gap until he returns. As he changes Kylee’s diaper, while Sarah showers, he talks to himself.

“This stuff’s like cement. I’d rather be in an alley with three Uzis pointed at my head.”

Paints a pretty sexy picture in my head, the macho man afraid of breaking the baby.

Then…their world came crashing down. My heart broke for Sarah.

 

I saw the conflict coming.   Sexual attraction and frustration. How long can they stay apart? Sarah and Ethan struggle to work through their feelings of doubt over moving on after the death of her husband, not wanting to lose their best friend. I want to slap them both upside the head with their on again off again, yes and no affair. Just get over yourselves. At times, I felt it went on a bit too long, but when you think about real life, how often have we all flipflopped over a difficult decision. I know I have.

 

A serial rapist is running rampant in her neighborhood and we all know where that will take us, but what a ride! Have you ever felt the hairs raising on the back of your neck, your spidey sense tingling, telling you someone is watching?

 

HE’s furious that he can’t get to her. All the serial killer cliches apply as he escalates to a fever pitch. He is obsessed, making plans for their special day. His sick and twisted thoughts made me think of Criminal Minds.

 

Oh no, I think I got on a ramble and I hope I didn’t share too much. What I talked about was predictable, so I don’t feel I spoiled anything. The real story is in the gritty details that kept me in suspense. I knew what’s coming, yet I could hardly wait to get there.

 

The pacing and suspense for Falling for Sarah by Cate Beauman kept me reading from beginning to end. Cate’s ability to write a story I have read before and still keep me on pins and needles is what makes her an author that will be on my radar.

 

I received a copy of Falling for Sarah by Cate Beauman in return for an honest review.

  5 Stars

 

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This is my first time reading Cate Beauman’s work and I must say I am impressed. I have found a new author of one of my favourite genres. I will definitely be continuing this series.
Falling for Sarah is book 2 of the Bodyguards of LA county and it can be read as a stand-alone. It does not matter where in the series you choose to start. I should warn you this is not your typical romantic suspense story. Once you begin reading be prepared to be taken on an emotional journey that is akin to a roller coaster ride. There are moments when all seem well, but then the unthinkable happens and things become topsy-turvy.

I was pulled into the story from the first chapter. The moments described here was bittersweet. There were instances of joy, but this is tinged with pain and loss. A life was lost, but one was born. This chapter sets the pace for the remainder of the story. It was here that we met Ethan Cooke and Sarah Johnson. These two have been best friends all their lives, but unexpected events would cause that friendship to be tested.

I enjoyed this story, however, there were moments when I wanted to slap Ethan upside his head. He is a smart but I guess when it came to affairs of the heart he was clueless. He was of the belief that marriage and family were not for him. This reaction stemmed from the example that his parents had laid out for him. Because of this, his treatment towards Sarah was a lot left to be desired. One moment he is into to her and then the next he is pushing her away. He was afraid that getting intimately involved with Sarah would destroy their friendship. However, his behaviour is likely to cause him to lose the best thing that has ever happened to him. The question that this raises is how does one cross the line between friends and lovers without destroying a great friendship? This was the struggle Ethan and Sarah had to encounter.

In the midst of all this, they had to deal with a serial rapist. This rapist had Sarah in his crosshairs for some bizarre reason. It was helpful to see his POV, which allowed me to see into his sick mind. He suffered from an inferiority complex and it was evident that he had a hard time getting the attention of the opposite sex. He was methodical and was always one step ahead of law enforcement. However, his obsession with Sarah led to him becoming erratic and unpredictable.

The story was well written. There was never a dull moment. The romance was well developed and believable. This was not an insta-love connection. Theirs was the kind of love that grew over time. The fact that they struggled to come to terms with their feelings spoke volumes. I enjoyed the interaction with the supporting characters. I found them intriguing and I am eager to read their stories. The romance and suspense were well balanced. One did not outshine the other.
To conclude, if you love romance and suspense then you need to look no further as Falling for Sarah has it all. I guarantee you will enjoy every moment of this book.

Ethan was the one in the delivery room with Sarah. He was also there with her when the Marines brought the most dreaded news of any military personnel’s family – Jake had died in Afghanistan. Ethan makes a promise to Sarah that day to be there for her till the time she needed him. Their friendship quietly changes into platonic love and then to something more. Both Sarah and Ethan felt guilty about their relationship and felt as if they were like dishonoring Jake’s memory. But when a crazy psychopath starts stalking Sarah, and push comes to pull, they end up where they were meant to be all along – in each other’s arms.

The book had me from the word go. The very first chapter has, Sarah coming home with Kylee – very heartwarming moment that puts a smile on your face. Then Ethan trying to change Kylee’s diaper – hilarious and then came the news about Jake that will make you sad. Such a wide range of feelings in the very first chapter! I was hooked. Then following Ethan and Sarah’s journey to finding each other is such a satisfying experience too. Plus add and cute cuddly Kylee into the mix – how can one not like it?

Cate’s style of writing is simple and inviting. There’s such a smooth flow in the story without a single dull moment. This one book will make you laugh, cry, panic and frustrated – all in one. But by the time you are done with it, you are bound to have a satisfied smile on your face. This was so my kind of romance!

It took me a little while to recall the characters from book 1.

Book 2 centres around Ethan, who owns the Bodyguards business that Hunter joined, and Sarah, Jake's widow (she was the one that Hunter was looking after in book 1).

Two-three years have passed, Hunter and Morgan are getting married, Ethan is the best man and Sarah is the matron of honour. Inevitably Ethan has started to have less than "just good friends" feelings for Sarah.

There is also a violent rapist lurking who has developed an unhealthy obsession with Sarah.

Can Sarah and Ethan sort out their feelings for each other and catch the rapist? Of course they can but not without some serious vacillating by Ethan. About 77% in I wanted to inflict serious bodily harm on him. He made all the running and then pulled away, then said he loved her, then pulled away. Honestly his parents are nasty people but what makes him think it's genetic?

Anyway the thriller aspect was good but the heroes still need work.