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Morgan’s
Hunter & Falling for Sarah
Bodyguards of L.A. County #1 & 2
Bodyguards of L.A. County #1 & 2
By: Cate Beauman
Self
Published
In Morgan's Hunter (Bodyguards of L.A County #1) by Cate Beauman, Morgan Taylor would rather be exploring the great outdoors in her job as a wildlife biologist than mingling amongst the rich, although she's just as comfortable doing the latter than she is the former. But when her friends are murdered while out on a research mission, she will do anything to bring justice to those responsible, even if it means going at it alone to get answers.
Hunter Phillips is good at his job as a bodyguard, and normally doesn't have a problem getting his clients to follow his instructions. Yet, the moment he meets the feisty and independent woman he's been assigned to protect he knows he's going to have a challenge on his hands to keep her safe. Because Morgan isn't the only one that wants answers, and once he learns the truth he'll do anything in his power to protect her. Since those responsible will have no problems doing the same thing to her, as the did to her friends to keep their secrets hidden.
This is the first book I've read by Ms. Beauman, and I've got to say that I absolutely it from start to finish. Right from the beginning, this book grabbed my undivided attention. Yet, it was from the moment that Morgan learned about her friends that had my eyes to every word and turning the pages quickly to discover what would happen next.
The dialogue was well-written and the plot definitely kept me on the edge-of-my-seat with its suspense. What would the bad guys do to keep Morgan from learning the truth? Would Hunter be able to protect her when she was so stubborn? Could they trust any of the locals to help them? As the story progressed, there was no way I could put this book down. Not when it seemed the danger was closing in on them from all sides.
I really liked both the main characters, and the tight bonds they have with the secondary characters. The loss of her friends hit Morgan hard, and it was no wonder she wanted to find those responsible when it seemed all hope was lost for the investigation. Then there's the woman that Hunter has promised his late friend that he's look after. She's lucky to have the Hunter's loyalty, and I could understand why she felt like such a burden to the hero. I could also understand why she wanted him to be find happiness, because he needed to get let go the guilt he felt for failing his comrades in arms.
Morgan is strong-willed, brave, independent and determined. She will do whatever it takes to learn the truth of why her friends were murdered. She needs closure, and believes it will help the families of the victims to move on as well. She's also a challenge for Hunter, and the way they clash definitely ups the sexual tension until it reaches boiling point, and eventually spills over onto the pages in scorching sex scenes that do justice to this couple's intense chemistry, which is there from the moment they meet. Despite the fact that Hunter is a real jerk to her to keep himself emotionally detached and make certain that she remains just a job to him, even though -- in the end --- that's impossible.
While Hunter, he's confident, charming and I could understand why he wanted to teach her lesson when she did something that totally disregarded his orders. He's been through so much with the loss of his comrades, and I could empathize with his theory that if he didn't fall in love than he could avoid losing that person, if something happened to them. Which was likely with Morgan because of the danger they faced. I also liked how protective he was of the heroine, and that he would do anything to make her realize that her actions could get them killed, if she wasn't careful in following his instructions.
Overall, Ms. Beauman has penned an incredibly gratifying story where there was absolutely no way I couldn't be affected by the main characters emotions and reactions, especially Morgan's, because she takes the death of her friends so hard. The way this story ended was wonderful, as Hunter had to really work for Morgan's forgiveness. Luckily, he wasn't afraid to plead his case instead of letting her get away. I would recommend Morgan's Hunter by Cate Beauman, if you enjoy the sexy protector trope, or independent heroines that will stop at nothing to discover the truth.
OVERALL RATING:
BLURB:
Morgan Taylor, D.C. socialite and
wildlife biologist, leads a charmed life until everything changes with a phone
call. Her research team has been found dead—slaughtered—in backcountry Montana.
As the case grows cold, Morgan is
determined to unravel the mystery behind her friends’ gruesome deaths. Despite
the dangers of a murderer still free, nothing will stand in her way, not even
the bodyguard her father hires, L.A.’s top close protection agent, Hunter
Phillips.
Sparks fly from the start when
no-nonsense Hunter clashes with Morgan’s strong-willed independence. Their endless
search for answers proves hopeless—until Hunter discovers the truth.
On the run and at the mercy of a
madman, Morgan and Hunter must outsmart a killer to save their own lives.
September 2010
Helmand Province,
Afghanistan
Gunnery
Sergeant Hunter Phillips and his men drove toward their target: the hideout of
Al-Qaeda’s number three. Satellite imagery confirmed Abbas Muhammad Muhammad
Tayi was holed up in a small village ten miles away, but a source warned they
had the wrong man. Hunter and his Force Recon unit were about to find out.
After a year of searching, tracking, hunting, they would substantiate the
evidence either way. Bringing the fucker to justice thirty days before they
departed this godforsaken land would be the perfect end to their tour.
The
caravan of two up-armored Humvees moved swiftly down the endless, dusty road,
dodging enormous blast holes created by Soviet mines years before. They came
past the blackened remains of a truck three Marines died in yesterday. Like a
mascot of death, the burned vehicle welcomed the recon unit to “The Danger
Zone.” In the last month alone, ten soldiers had lost their lives along the
eternal stretch of dirt.
Rocky
terrain laden with caves and deep crevices surrounded the Humvees. Insurgents
roamed the area, ever eager to take their shot at US forces. Although the route
clearance team had driven by twenty minutes ago, ten pairs of eyes scanned the
road and dirt beyond, watchful for mounds of sand and small rocks—telltale
signs of IEDs.
“And
as we drive through the valley of the shadow of death, I would like to remind
you all that God is good, men. Keep Him with you today,” Hunter said into his
radio.
Nine
“Amens” answered back.
Tension
hung thick and the vehicles were silent except for the hum of motors and the
constant click of Carson, Hunter’s gunner above, moving in half circles in his
mechanical seat. The unit had gone a year without a casualty—a miracle in
direct action warfare. But the law of averages told them they were due, and
they all knew it.
Somewhere
during the last mile, the AC had petered out. Hunter, sweat soaked and
miserable, tugged at his collar, trying to ignore the one hundred degree heat
and baking sun boring through the windshield, zapping energy from him and his
men like a furnace straight from hell. Perspiration trapped by camouflage
fabric and bulletproof vests mixed with sand, chafing, burning, only adding to
the wretched conditions.
As
the truck plowed ahead, Hunter’s shoulder blades itched and his stomach
pitched. His eyes narrowed and his focus sharpened as he searched the rocks
beyond. Something wasn’t right. His gut instinct was never wrong, and his men
didn’t question it. “Men, I’ve got the itch. Stay alert. I repeat, stay alert.”
“Still
glad you picked this route, Gunny?” Jake Johnson said from truck two.
Despite
the situation, a small smile ghosted Hunter’s mouth. “Don’t be a pussy,
Johnson.” He lurched to the right as the driver swerved around another blast
hole. “The fastest route isn’t always the safest. That’s why I’m lead truck.
I’ll keep you safe, honey.”
Jake
chuckled. “Fuck you, man.”
Hunter
grinned, forever scrutinizing their surroundings. “You’ll be tucked in with
your blankey before—”
The
massive explosion cut him off, shaking his vehicle with its deafening boom.
“What the fuck?” He glanced in his
rearview mirror as smoke plumed from truck two. Oh God—Jake.
Bullets
pinged against the armored trucks as the unit took on fire.
“Return
fire! Return fire!” Hunter instructed, peering back at Jake’s vehicle. “Truck
two, do you copy?”
Static
crackled in his earpiece as his heart pounded—in his chest, in his throat. His
body revved from the swift flow of adrenaline and fear coursing through his
veins. He radioed back to camp, struggling to remain calm. “Thunder Main, this
is Patriot Zulu. We have IED detonation—one truck hit. We’re taking fire. I
need fire support now and casualty evacuation on standby!”
“Patriot
Zulu, this is Thunder Main. That’s a good copy of last transmission. Scout
weapons team is inbound. ETA ninety seconds.”
With
help on the way, Hunter tried Jake’s Humvee again. “Vehicle two, do you copy?”
“Hunter,
this is truck two. We’re smoking and rattled, but we’re—” Another explosion
roared, cutting them off as a rocket-propelled grenade hit Humvee two. Metal
smashed and scattered through the air as Jake’s vehicle rolled twice.
“Shit!
Shit! Fire support, what is your location, goddammit? Carson,” he hollered to
his gunman, “suppress that fire so I can move toward those rocks.” He had to
get to Jake’s truck.
Carson
gave him a nod, pummeling fifty caliber rounds into the boulders, decimating
rock and anything behind them.
Hunter
opened his door, crouching next to the wheel well, assessing the unit’s dire
situation. Help was still sixty seconds away, and they were surrounded by
insurgents. Truck two lay on its side four hundred yards back as heavy black
smoke plumed from the twist of metal. Hot rubber and burning electrical
equipment choked the air.
A
movement in the rocks caught Hunter’s eye. He fired his weapon, watching a man
fall to the ground.
“Let’s
do this,” he said to the three soldiers waiting for his command. The men took
his place at the wheel well as he ran for the boulders in the distance.
"Clarke, Tanger, I need an update on truck two. Move forward.”
Carson
continued shooting from the Humvee roof while Hunter and Sergeant Smith laid
down fire, providing cover as the soldiers ran. Halfway to the vehicle, bullets
rained down from an unknown area in the rocks above. Clarke and Tanger
stumbled, falling to the ground.
“No!
Cover me, Smith.” Without a second thought, Hunter sprinted toward his fallen
men as the rhythmic thump of chopper blades echoed closer.
A
Kiowa Warrior soared overhead, dropping missiles among the crevices and caves,
obliterating large chunks of mountainous terrain. The helicopter banked right
as the next aircraft flew in, repeating the same procedure.
Fire
support vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and the air fell silent. The
heavy breathing of his soldiers filled Hunter’s ear. The firefight was over.
For the moment they were clear of danger, and a weight lifted off his
shoulders, leaving him lightheaded with relief.
Sergeant
Tanger groaned as a chunk of dangling metal fell from truck two with a
deafening crash, and reality rushed back like a punch to the gut.
Hunter
ran to his men, who were shot and bleeding, as Carson continued with
precautionary fire into the mountainside. “Smith, get the truck over here!”
Hunter dug into Clarke’s medical pack and applied a tourniquet to the
unconscious man’s arm. As he twisted the black fabric tight, the flow of blood
ceased.
With
Clarke as stable as he could make him, Hunter crawled to Tanger, ripping
Tanger’s pant leg, exposing three bullet wounds. He glanced at Jake’s truck,
desperate to get to him. Distracting flashes of their childhood played through
his mind, and he ruthlessly squashed the memories. “Shit, man, you’re a mess,”
he said to Tanger, attempting to keep his soldier lucid and himself calm.
“It
hurts like—shit!” Tanger tensed as Hunter packed his first wound.
Sergeant
Smith backed the Humvee closer and crouched next to Hunter, waiting for orders.
“Smith,
finish this. Get them secured. I’m heading for truck two.” With his gun to his
shoulder, he peered through the sight, moving toward Jake’s vehicle. It had
only been five minutes since the attack began, but it felt as if it had been
hours. “Truck two, do you copy?” The air remained dead, and panic rose from his
depths. Everything he’d learned as a Force Recon escaped him. All the training
on procedure vanished as he thought of Jake and the other four men. “Jake.
Jake, do you copy? Can you hear me?”
“Hunter,”
Jake answered, coughing.
“Oh,
thank God. You scared the sh—”
“I’m
hit, Hunt. I’m hit.” Jake wheezed, coughing again. “And they’re all dead, man.”
Pain
sliced his heart as he yelled into his radio once more. “We need casualty evac,
ASAP! Get them here now! I have four confirmed KIAs and three wounded.” Hunter
whirled when footsteps approached from behind. Sergeant Smith’s face lined up
in the crosshairs of his scope.
“Clarke
and Tanger are secure.”
“Let’s
go then,” Hunter said, running to what was left of the vehicle. “Jake, I’m
here.”
Jake
gasped for air, coughing violently.
Hunter
climbed to the top of the heap, burning and cutting his hands, peering down at
Jake’s battered face. Gashes riddled his cheeks, dribbling blood. He glanced at
the remains of his four other men, burying the fisting pain deep. Jake was all
that mattered now—the only one he could help.
Hunter
locked his legs around mangled metal, anchoring himself. He reached his arms
through the opening, grabbing hold of Jake. “Come on, man, I’m going to get you
out of here. Evac’s on its way.”
Jake
tried to sit up on the console and yelled out. “I can’t do it. I can’t get up.”
“Yes,
you can. I don’t know how long we have before they fire on us again.”
Taking
a deep breath, Jake hollered, clenching his fists as he sat up.
Hunter
hoisted him up, and Jake screamed. “I’m sorry, man. Almost there.”
With
Jake’s head and torso freed from the wreckage, Sergeant Smith climbed up,
grabbing hold of Jake’s legs, helping Hunter lay him on the ground.
“Sergeant,
get me a kit,” Hunter said, assessing Jake’s injuries as Smith ran for their
truck. Blood saturated Jake’s plated vest, and sweat covered his face as he
grew pale with every heartbeat. Hunter ripped through his friend’s armor and
cloth to the wound, fighting to steady his breathing, horrified by the injuries.
He applied pressure to the gaping hole in Jake’s abdomen as blood pooled over
his fingers. Helplessness consumed him and desperation clawed at his throat as
he yelled into his radio, “We need casualty evac now, goddammit! Do you hear
me? Right now!”
Sergeant
Smith hustled back with a kit, but there was nothing among the first aid
supplies that would help. The medics on their team were dead or gravely
injured, and Jake’s entire midsection was full of shrapnel.
“I’m
not going to make it,” Jake gasped.
“Don’t
you fucking say that!”
He
coughed again, violently. “I’m not. Take care of them. Take care of Sarah and
the baby.”
Hunter
pressed harder as blood oozed over his fingers, pooling in the sand. “No,
you’re going to take care of them. They’re coming.” The rhythmic sound of
chopper blades echoed off the mountains. “Listen, they’re almost here.”
Jake’s
body shook. “Promise me. Promise me, goddammit.” Tears streamed from his brown
eyes. “Tell them I love them, that I’ll always be with them.”
“I
promise, Jake.” It was too late. There was nothing the medics could do.
White
as a sheet, Jake convulsed, even as Sergeant Smith tried to help keep him
still. “Kiss Kylee for me.” His voice grew weaker. “Tell her it’s from her
daddy. I never got to…I never got to hold her. Tell her about me.”
“I
will. I will.” Hunter was losing him. Life seeped from his best friend, his
brother. “I love you, Jake. I’ll take care of them.”
“I
love…take care of...” Jake stopped moving, stopped breathing.
“God,
no! No!” Desperately, Hunter started chest compressions. “Don’t you leave me!”
The
chopper landed in the distance, and gunfire broke out. Heat seared through
Hunter’s left shoulder.
Bullets
sprayed from Sergeant Smith’s weapon. “I got him, Hunter. I got the fucking
bastard.” Smith’s brow furrowed as he crouched behind the rocks. “Shit, you’re
shot.”
Hunter
sat in the sand and dust with Jake while blood dripped down his arm.
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.
September 24, 2010
Sarah
Johnson turned the key and opened her front
door. She crossed the
threshold, breathing in the familiar scent of fresh-cut flowers and the hint of
low tide blowing in from the Pacific. “It’s so nice to be home. Welcome home,
sweet baby girl.” She stared at her sleeping newborn and smiled, brushing her lips
over the soft skin of her baby’s forehead.
“Look
out, coming through,” Ethan Cooke said, loaded down with balloons and vases
overflowing with cheerful blooms. “I had no idea bringing a baby home from the
hospital required movers.”
Sarah
stepped aside, chuckling. “I know. Kylee has quite a fan club already. Let me
help you with some of this stuff.”
“I’ve
got it. You gave birth yesterday, for God’s sake. The nurse told you to take it
easy.” He set the vase on the entryway table and released the balloons to the
ceiling as he dropped the diaper bag from his shoulder to the floor. “Besides,
Jake would kick my ass if he knew you were hauling things in.”
Sarah’s
smile widened as she thought of her husband. “Yes, you’re probably right, but I
also know he would be grateful you were able to help me out. My mother wasn’t
expecting to run her shop today. Dana called in sick, so that was that.”
Ethan
moved closer to her side, staring at the baby. “I’m happy you called. I wanted
to come visit you ladies again last night, but things got a little crazy while
I was on duty.” He brushed a finger down Kylee’s tiny nose. “She really is
beautiful, Sarah. She looks just like you.”
Sarah’s
blue eyes twinkled. “Thank you, but I definitely see some of Jake in her too.”
She wrapped her free arm around Ethan’s waist and rested her head against his
shoulder as he returned her embrace. “I’m so happy right now, Ethan, so
absolutely happy. Twenty-nine more days and my family will be whole again. I
can’t wait to hug Jake and watch his face when he holds her for the first time.
I could tell he wanted to crawl through the screen yesterday and touch her tiny
fingers and toes.” She looked down at Kylee. “No more deployments for your
daddy. He’ll be all ours.”
“He’ll
be mine too.” Ethan grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. “I’ve been waiting just as
eagerly for Jake’s return. It took me two years to convince him to join my
firm. Now I need to get Hunter on board, and the crew will be together again.”
“Getting
yourselves into as much trouble as ever I’m sure. You’ll have to wait a little
longer for your new security expert. He’s not leaving my side for at least a
week.”
“I
think I can live with that.” He kissed her forehead and started toward the
door. “Let me get the rest of the stuff from the truck. Then I’ll set up Jake’s
surprise.”
“I
can’t wait for him to see it. I’ve nixed the big-screen TV idea for so long,
I’m pretty sure he’s stopped hoping for one.”
“It’s
a beauty, all right. He’ll love it. I’ll have everything hooked up in no time.”
He gave her a gentle squeeze and headed for the door.
“Great.”
Brimming with joy, Sarah kissed her daughter again and took the baby to the
nursery she’d painstakingly painted on her own. The pale yellow stripes looked
wonderful with the touches of pink scattered about the room. Sitting in the
rocker, she put Kylee to her breast and listened to the door open and slam shut
as Ethan brought their items in from his Range Rover. Minutes later, she smiled
when she heard him rummaging through the cupboards in the kitchen. If Ethan was
anything, it was always hungry.
Kylee’s
mouth went slack as she fell back to sleep.
Sarah
fastened her nursing bra and fixed her shirt. She settled Kylee against her
shoulder and walked out to the kitchen while she rubbed her daughter’s back,
burping her.
Ethan
stood in front of the open refrigerator, mumbling his excitement about her
stocked shelves. He glanced up, grinning, and she itched for her camera. “Hey,
I’m going to make myself a sandwich before I get started on the TV. Want one?”
“No,
thanks. Do you want me to make it for you?”
“Nah,
you don’t have to do that.”
“Why
don’t you let me because I have another favor to ask of you.” She smiled. “The
least I can do is make you something to eat.”
He
went to the pantry, grabbing a loaf of bread. “Why don’t you tell me what you
need?” He pulled open a cupboard and took out a plate.
“A
shower.” She smiled again, nibbling her lip.
His
eyes zeroed in on Kylee, and he took a step back. “Geez, I don’t know, Sarah.
I’ve never held a baby before. What if I drop her?”
A
laugh bubbled in her throat at the sheer horror in his eyes. Even after he’d
helped her through hours of labor, watched her deliver Kylee, and cut the cord
in Jake’s honor, he’d refused to hold her.
“You’re
not going to drop her,” she said, walking to where he stood. “Fold your arm
like this.” She held out her arm, bending at the elbow.
He
cleared his throat, following her lead, and she placed Kylee in the crook of
his rigid arm. Kylee squirmed, and he grabbed Sarah’s hand. “She’s moving,
she’s moving. She’s going to fall. Shit, Sarah, I really think this is a bad
idea.”
“I
think it’s a great idea. Trust me on this one.” She adjusted the baby slightly,
moving his arm closer to his body, making sure his hand held Kylee under her diapered
bottom. She backed away from them, grinning at the discomfort and mild panic
all over Ethan’s face. “You’re a natural. Look at you two. I need my camera.”
He
groaned as she moved to the pile of bags outside the kitchen door and grabbed
her case, pulling her Nikon D3 from the bag. She held up the camera and looked
through the lens, focusing on Ethan’s arresting face for a test shot. Sharp
cheekbones and straight black eyebrows accentuated his long, thick eyelashes
and bold gray eyes. She zoomed in on the clear gray pools surrounded by dark,
smoky rings and pressed the shutter closed in rapid succession. His firm, full
lips and muscular torso showcased a man perfectly comfortable with his
masculinity. She tightened her focus on his big hand holding Kylee’s little
body and clicked away again, moving in closer, getting lost in her passion for
pictures.
“Sarah,
do you want that shower or not?”
She
pulled the camera back, focusing on Ethan’s raised brow and lips pressed firm
in annoyance. “Sorry. I got a little carried away. You two make excellent
subjects. The camera loves your face.”
“So
you’ve told me—more times than I can count.”
She
placed the Nikon back in the bag and zipped it closed. “You’re doing a great
job with her.”
He
glanced down at Kylee. “I guess this is okay.”
“See?
I’ll be quick. She just ate so she should sleep. Here’s the burp cloth just in
case she spits up.” She draped the cotton towel over Ethan’s shoulder and
turned to leave.
“Wait.”
She
stopped, turning back.
“Um.”
He took a step toward her and stopped. “What if—what if she starts to cry?”
Amused
by his distress, she couldn’t help but smile. The man standing before her dealt
with the scum of the earth every day, yet a seven-pound infant brought him to
his knees. “Just jiggle your arm a little bit. She’ll fall right back to
sleep.” She turned and walked toward the bathroom, calling over her shoulder,
“Oh, and relax. Babies feel tension.”
International
bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length,
action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her
novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction
Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch
Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE
FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Gold
Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also
selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and
FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers' Favorite
Awards.
Cate
makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St.
Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on Deceiving Bella, the
eleventh novel in her popular bodyguards series.
For
information on Cate's new releases, monthly giveaways, and upcoming events,
sign up for her newsletter at: http://www.catebeauman.com/author/home.html#!newsletter-sign-up/c9td
Author Links:
Thank you for writing wonderful reviews for the Bodyguards series!
ReplyDeleteCrystal, Tasty Book Tours
Thank you Bec! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed Morgan's Hunter and Falling For Sarah! I very much appreciate that you took the time to read them and to write such a detailed review.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
~Cate