Falling for Sarah

by Cate Beauman

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

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.