Author Cate Beauman’s Justice For Abby (+Giveaways)

I’m delighted today to welcome author Cate Beauman back to Thoughts in Progress to tell us about JUSTICE FOR ABBY, the sixth installment in her bestselling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County.

JUSTICE FOR ABBY is available for Amazon pre-order and will be on sale through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes beginning April 10. Cate is excited to share the rest of Abby's story after being rescued by her sister in the fourth book, FOREVER ALEXA.

To celebrate this release, Cate is hosting a pre-order party on her website complete with giveaways. Winners will be selected on April 10 so be sure to stop by www.catebeauman.com before then for your chance to win such items as jewelry, beaded book thongs, a handmade bouquet, and cool handmade baskets.

In addition, Cate is offering a giveaway to Thoughts in Progress visitors. Be sure to see the end of the post for details.

Now here’s a brief synopsis of JUSTICE FOR ABBY:

Nowhere to hide…
        Fashion designer Abigail Harris has been rescued, but her nightmare is far from over. Determined to put her harrowing ordeal behind her and move on, she struggles to pick up the pieces of her life while eluding the men who want her dead.
        The Mid-Atlantic Sex Ring is in ruins after Abby’s interviews with the police. The organization is eager to exact their revenge before her testimony dismantles the multi-million dollar operation for good.
        Abby’s safety rests in the hands of former US Marshal, Jerrod Quinn. Serious-minded and obsessed with protocol, Ethan Cooke Security’s newest agent finds himself dealing with more than he bargains for when he agrees to take on his beautiful, free-spirited client.
        As the trial date nears, Abby’s case takes a dangerous turn. Abby and Jerrod soon discover themselves in a situation neither of them expect while Jerrod fights to stop the ring from silencing Abby once and for all.

Read an excerpt from JUSTICE FOR ABBY:

     The black bag was ripped from her head, along with several strands of her hair. Abby blinked against the bold light of the naked bulbs hanging from the low ceiling. She glanced around the dingy space in shock as her gaze traveled from girl to girl—six young teens, dirty, bruised, and malnourished, staring up at her through bland eyes while they sat or lay on filthy mattresses on the dirt floor. “What—”
     “In.” Victor shoved Abby into a small, windowless room, slamming the door, locking her in with a rusty scrape of something sliding against the heavy metal barrier.
     She walked on shaky legs to the wooden chair in the corner and collapsed to the uncomfortable seat, clutching her arms around her waist, shivering as she bit hard on her bottom lip while tears rained down her cheeks. Where was she? What was this place? She shuddered, remembering six sets of listless eyes holding hers. Nothing good was happening here.
     She covered her face with trembling hands and gave into her sobs, relieving the worst of her dread, wishing for nothing more than to be home with Lex and Livy. Thinking of her sister and niece, she forced away her tears, taking several deep breaths of stale air. If she wanted to see her family again she needed to pull herself together. She couldn’t get herself out of this—whatever this was—if she didn’t think. There had to be a way out. Her eyes darted around the barely lit space, searching for a weapon, another exit, anything.
     The door opened, and she rushed to her feet as a tall, well-built man stood haloed in the beam of light from the room beyond. Abby blinked as he stepped forward. “Renzo?” She bolted from the corner and fell against her friend’s firm chest as a wave or relief flooded her. “Oh, thank god.”
     His strong arms wrapped around her.
     “I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t know what’s going on. I need help. Can you help me?”
     “What happened?” He eased her back some, but she refused to release him from her grip.
     “My family—we were on our way home from Virginia Beach. We stopped at a rest area, and two men grabbed me and brought me here.”
     “You were with your sister and niece?”
     “Yes, Alexa and Olivia. I think they’re okay, but I need to call and make sure. Will you get me out of here?”
     “Of course.”
     She could hardly believe she was leaving. “Thank you. Thank you.” She hugged Renzo again as tears of gratitude flowed free. “I knew this had to be some sort of mistake.”
     “Come on, let’s get you home.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and walked with her to the door. “Oh, wait.” He stopped.
     “What?”
     “I can’t let you go.”

Did you enjoy the excerpt? Would you like to read more? You can read the first chapter on Cate’s website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book here!

Join me in welcoming, Cate as she tells us about the inspiration behind JUSTICE FOR ABBY.

JUSTICE FOR ABBY is one of my favorite stories in The Bodyguards of L.A. County series (Okay, they all are, but I really love Abby and Jerrod!). I truly enjoyed writing their adventure. Oftentimes I found myself caught up in Abby’s rollercoaster ride as she heals from her experiences as a survivor of the Mid-Atlantic Sex Ring. At times I cried with her, and at others, I laughed. She’s so strong and sweet, but she’s vulnerable and struggling. Enter Jerrod Quinn, the perfect man to provide her protection and help her overcome her ordeal in his own quiet way.

Although Abby’s story is one of fiction, sex trafficking is a very real crisis for millions of young women, men, and children all over the globe. My idea for this novel came after a night in front of the television watching crime television. A segment showcasing the mysterious disappearance of a young woman named Amy Bradley bothered me greatly. She vanished from a cruise ship in March of 1998 while vacationing with her family. Unfortunately, Amy has yet to be found, but she is believed to be alive, stuck in the horrific world of human sex trafficking. I immediately began my research into this very troubling epidemic and shortly after wrote Forever Alexa, the story of Abby’s sister dealing with the aftermath of Abby’s disappearance. My readers have requested Abby’s story, and I felt the need to share her experience. 

I hope you enjoy getting to know Abby and Jerrod as much as I enjoyed writing these two fantastic characters.

Cate, thanks for sharing the inspiration behind JUSTICE FOR ABBY. Knowing the backstory adds intrigue to the story for me.

Now Cate shares more about writing this latest installment with the Unofficial JUSTICE FOR ABBY soundtrack.

Music always plays a huge part in my writing process. With two boys and two dogs in the house, music helps me “get lost” in my story. I typically listen to Pandora or YouTube and put together a playlist of songs that I feel represent the characters or the situations they face as the novel unfolds. Here are a few of the songs that I had on “repeat” while I created Jerrod and Abby’s story! You can listen to them on my website www.catebeauman.com.

The soundtrack, of sorts, for Justice For Abby:
· Applause by Lady Gaga
· Safe and Sound by Capital Cities
· She Is by Ben Rector
· I Should Go by Levi Kreis
· The Other Side by Jason Derulo
· Why Don’t You Love Me? by Hot Chelle Rae ft. Demi Lovato
· We Owned The Night by Lady Antebellum
· Stars Go Blue by Tim McGraw
· Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol
· Come Back by Pearl Jam
· By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North
· Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cate currently lives in Tennessee with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. She is the author of the bestselling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Before her career as an author, Cate worked in special education for 12 years.

“I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, three years later, I’m working on my seventh novel, Saving Sophie, and I’m an Amazon bestselling author. I’m very grateful for the support and success I have had,” explained Cate.

For more on Cate and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and her Amazon Author Page.

The Bodyguards of L.A. County

Cate's Previous Best Sellers:

You can also check out Cate’s previous books which were all featured as Amazon Best Sellers in 2013:
Morgan's Hunter 4.1 Stars!
Falling For Sarah 4.6 Stars!
Hailey's Truth 4.5 Stars!
Forever Alexa 4.5 Stars!
Waiting For Wren 4.7 Stars!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for 3 eBook copies of JUSTICE FOR ABBY. The giveaway is open international. To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The giveaway will end on April 11. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today and visiting with Cate. Do you like learning about the inspiration behind books you read? Does knowing what the inspiration was, make a difference in whether you read the book or not? a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Latest Bodyguards of L.A. County Release and a Giveaway

It’s always a pleasure to welcome author Cate Beauman back to Thoughts in Progress. Today she visits to tell us about the latest release in her Bodyguards of L.A. County series, WAITING FOR WREN.

As an added bonus, Cate is sharing an excerpt from the new release and offering 3 eBook copies as giveaways. Please see the end of the post for more details.

Here’s a brief synopsis of WAITING FOR WREN…

When the past and present collide…
       Wren Cooke has everything she’s ever wanted—a thriving career as one of LA’s top interior designers and a home she loves. Business trips, mockups, and her demanding clientele keep her busy, almost too busy to notice Ethan Cooke Security’s gorgeous Close Protection Agent, Tucker Campbell.
       Jaded by love and relationships in general, Wren wants nothing to do with the hazel-eyed stunner and his heart-stopping grins, but Tucker is always in her way. When Wren suddenly finds herself bombarded by a mysterious man’s unwanted affections, she’s forced to turn to Tucker for help.
       As Wren’s case turns from disturbing to deadly, Tucker whisks her away to his mountain home in Utah. Haunted by memories and long-ago tragedies, Tucker soon realizes his past and Wren’s present are colliding. With a killer on the loose and time running out, Tucker must discover a madman’s motives before Wren becomes his next victim. 

Here’s Cate to tell us about working on WAITING FOR WREN.

As I have discussed with previous book launches, music plays a huge part in my writing process. I typically listen to Pandora or YouTube and compile a collection of songs that I feel represent my characters or the situations they face as the novel unfolds. 

Here are a few of the songs that I had on “repeat” while I created Tucker and Wren’s story!

The soundtrack, of sorts, for WAITING FOR WREN:

· Gone, Gone, Gone by Phillip Phillips
· Lego House by Ed Sheeran
· Wanted by Hunter Hayes
· What Would Happen If We Kissed by Meredith Brooks
· Trying Not to Love You by Nickelback
· Beneath Your Beautiful by Labrinth Ft. Emeli Sande
· I Hate How Much I Love You by Rhianna Ft. NeYo
· Be Still by The Fray
· All Along by Remedy Drive
· Clarity by Zedd
· Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
· To Build A Home by Cinematic Orchestra

Now Cate shares an excerpt from WAITING FOR WREN…

      

Wren pulled out of the gate and started the long drive to the Palisades through Thursday night rush hour. JT saved her butt—big time. He was a sweetheart, the type of man a woman could settle down with and depend on. It was too damn bad she wasn’t interested. He was certainly intelligent and attractive; he just wasn’t her type—not that she actually had a type, per se. “A type” was meant for those looking to find a perfect partner to spend their life with. “Perfect” didn’t exist, and rarely did a lifetime with one person. Marriage was a crapshoot, a contractual joke that worked until someone got itchy. Then it turned into a nightmare where said “perfect partners” fought over who got to keep the potted fern in divorce court, or worse, they stayed together and cheated and lied year after year. She wanted nothing to do with the bondage of marriage—never had.
       She rolled to a stop at the light, and her mind wandered to Tucker and their last conversation at the gala. Conceited jerk. Even as she shook her head in disdain, he consumed her thoughts. He was there—almost always—distracting her. She had hoped the chaos of her six-day trip would lessen his affect on her, but that didn’t appear to be the case. Those eyes and that slow grin of his were lodged in her brain like a thorn. Tucker Campbell definitely wasn’t her type. Despite what he thought, they were not mixed up.
       Desperate for a distraction, she lifted her phone from the passenger seat and pressed Patrick’s number on her speed dial.
       “Patrick Stone.”
       “Hi.”
       “Welcome home.”
       “Thanks.”
       “Did Lenora Cartwright get a hold of you?”
       She groaned. “Which time?”
       “Do you think we can bring her up on harassment charges? I mean really, Wren. The woman’s impossible.”
       “You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know. I told her I don’t have her mockup ready for the pool house.” She chuckled at Patrick’s quick intake of breath. “I’m pacifying her with pallets, swatches, and furniture magazines. I have to believe that’s bought me some time. My plan is to punch it out first thing in the morning.”
       “The mockup or her?”
       “Tough call. What’s my schedule looking like for tomorrow?”
       “Jammed full as usual, darling.”
       She closed her eyes for a second as she stopped at another red light. “I’m sorry I asked.”
       “I have you down for a consult with Lenora at nine. The furniture and accents are ready for the Fowler Estate. Delivery’s at eleven. You’re booked over there from ten-thirty to two o’clock. Don’t forget your tools for the window treatments this time. I can’t be flying all over Beverly Hills saving your fabulous ass.”
       “One little mistake…” She accelerated and turned on the Pacific Coast Highway.
       “Until the next one,” he teased. “Anywho, you have back-to-back new client consults booked until five, then you’re free. I blocked out the rest of the evening for paperwork and whatever else you need to do.”
       “That’s not too bad.” She needed a couple of easy days. Her relentless schedule was starting to take a toll. “I’m having lunch with JT Cartwright on Tuesday. Can you set something up?”
       “Lenora’s defense attorney son?”
       “One and the same. He’s nothing like his mother.”
       “Let me look.” He tsked. “Oh, that’s going to make Tuesday messy, honey, real messy.”
       “That’s why I have you, Super Assistant.”
       “Hold that compliment. Someone’s here.” Patrick gasped. “Oh, look at these—stunning. You got flowers, girl. Big beautiful roses.”
       She clutched the steering wheel. “Roses?”
       “Mmhmm. A dozen blood-reds. They smell fabulous.”
       Her already-queasy stomach shuddered. “Is there—is there a note?”
       “Sure is.”
       “Can you read it?”
       “Thought you’d never ask. Let me open it up.” She heard the sound of paper ripping, then Patrick cleared his throat for affect. “It says ‘Welcome Home.’ Then there’s a twenty-five. Not sure what that means.”
       But she did. Today was the twenty-fifth day since her disastrous date with Rex Richardson. He’d texted her from a different number at some random time every day since the night he left flowers on her doorstep. Six days in Oregon hadn’t stopped his harassment as she’d hoped it would. And now he knew she was home. She snapped on the heat as her blood ran cold. “Throw them away.”
       “What?”
       “I don’t want them,” her voice shook. “Throw them out.” How did Rex know she was back? Better yet, how did he know she’d been gone? “Did anyone out of the ordinary call looking for me while I was away?”
       “No, not that I can think of. All current clients were patched through to your phone. New clientele set up appointments with me.”
       “Did you give anyone my travel itinerary?”
       “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear your question.”
       She sighed. “Of course you didn’t. I’m sorry.” For the first time since this all began she was truly afraid. The daily texts and even the blue roses were more annoying than anything, but Rex seemed to know her every move. Texts could be sent from anywhere and flowers delivered to a doorstep, but now she realized he was actively watching her. She glanced in her rearview mirror at the row of headlights behind her and wondered if Rex was following her now.
       “Wren, are you all right?”
        No. “Yes. Yes, I’m fine. It’s been a long week, and the plane ride sucked. I just need to get some rest.”
       “I can cancel your nine o’clock. You can sleep in.”
       Lenora would have a heart attack if she had to wait another day for her damn mockup, and she needed to stay busy. Fear would be keeping her up no matter how her body craved rest, so it was better to carry on as planned. “No, I’m already behind. We need to keep my schedule.”
       “Are you sure?”
       “Positively. I’m just about home. I’ll call you tomorrow morning.”
       “Okay. Bye.”
       “Bye.” She pulled in her drive, dropped her phone, and gripped the wheel with trembling hands as heat from the vents rushed over her. She stared at her darkened front steps in the shadows cast about from the neighbors’ tall trees. What if he was here? His texts weren’t threatening, and technically neither were the flowers, but Rex wasn’t healthy. In the two years she’d owned her home, she’d never been terrified to get out of her car and go inside like she was now.
       This is what he wants. He wants you to be afraid while he plays his games. Steeling herself, she grabbed her phone and got out with her key fob clutched in her unsteady hand. The cool rush of wind tossed her hair in her face, and she swiped wavy locks behind her ear as she strained to hear over the rustling leaves. She walked quickly, her eyes darting everywhere.
       She just had to get to the door and step inside. The panic button was in the entryway if she needed it. The police would come help her, along with whoever was fielding calls at Ethan’s company tonight. “I’m almost there. I’m almost there,” she whispered, flinching, blinking, startled as the sensor lights flashed on to brighten the walkway. The security lights. It was just the security lights. She forgot she reactivated the feature the night of the gala. She took another step forward and saw the blood by the pretty pot of red mums. “Oh my god. Oh my god.” A black cat lay on her step, decapitated and bloated in a pool of dark, congealed crimson. “Oh my…”
       Her breath rushed in and out as she stumbled back. The cellphone in her clammy hand rang, and she screamed. Blindly, she pressed “talk.” “Hell—hello?”
       “Do you like it?” someone whispered.
       She whirled, scanning, searching for Rex. He was here, somewhere. He had to be.
       “Why won’t you call me?” The whisper turned into a pathetic whine. “Why won’t you call me, Wren?”
       “Stop,” she shuddered out as she hurried to her car, looking over her shoulder from time to time, sure he was waiting to pounce. “Stop doing this. I’m calling the police.”
       The whining stopped abruptly and turned into mad, riotous laughter. “They won’t believe you! They won’t believe you!”
       “Leave me alone!” She hung up, gasping for air. Tears poured down her cheeks, and her hand shook as she opened her door, took her seat, and locked herself in. She had to get out of here. She had to get away. It took her two tries to shove the key in the ignition as she glanced at the bloodstained step once more and backed out with a squeal of tires. She sped off, heading toward Ethan’s until she remembered he was gone and a quarter of his house had been gutted for the new edition. All of them were gone—Ethan, Hunter, and Austin. She pressed ‘one’ on her speed dial, listening to the repetitive ringing. Ethan’s smooth voice told her to leave a message, but she hung up instead. She turned down another street, taking her farther from her home, and punched in Ethan Cooke Security’s twenty-four hour assistance line.
       “Ethan Cooke Security. This is Mia.”
       “Mia, it’s Wren.”
       “Wren, are you okay?”
       “Yes.” Her voice broke, and she shook her head as she clutched the wheel with one hand. “No. No, I’m not. There’s a dead cat on my porch.”
       “Oh.”
       That didn’t exactly describe the horror she’d just backed away from. “Someone killed a cat and left it on my front step.”
       “Oh my god. Where are you?”
       “In my car.” She sniffed. “Driving around. I don’t want to go back to my house alone.”
       “Of course not. Let me patch you through to Tucker Campbell. He’s on call.”
       Tucker? “No, wait—” But it was too late. Soothing music played in her ear.
       “Wren?” Tucker’s deep voice hummed with concern.
       Her lip wobbled, and tears began to fall again. “Yeah, I’m here.”
       “What’s going on? Mia said something about a dead cat?”
       “Someone chopped some sweet cat’s head off and put the body on my front step.”
       He muttered a swear. “Are you there now?”
       “No, I’m in my car, driving around. It freaked me out. I don’t want to be at the house by myself.”
       “I don’t want you there either. Come to my place until we get this figured out.”
       If choking fingers of terror didn’t have her by the throat, she would’ve refused, but Tucker was offering his help. She needed help. “I don’t—I don’t know where you live.”
       “Ocean View Apartments, off Highway One.”
       “What if he follows me? He might be following me right now.” She glanced in the rearview mirror and cringed as headlights trailed behind her.
       “Who?”
       “Rex.”
       “Who the hell is Rex?”
       “The crazy bastard who left the dead cat on my porch.”
       “Son of a bitch, Cooke. Don’t stop. Don’t’ pull over. Drive on a flat tire if you have to. Just get here. I’ll be waiting outside.”
       “Okay,” she sniffed, too afraid to be prideful. “I’m about ten minutes away.”

Did you enjoy the excerpt? You can read the first three chapters on Cate’s website, www.catebeauman.com.

Thanks Cate for joining us today and sharing this excerpt. This definitely gets your attention.
 

For those who aren’t familiar with Cate, let me tell you a bit about her background.

Cate currently lives in Tennessee with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernard, Bear. She is the author of the bestselling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Before her career as an author, Cate worked in special education for 12 years.

“I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, two years later, I’m working on my sixth novel and I’m an Amazon bestselling author. I’m very grateful for the support and success I have had,” Cate explained.

For more on Cate, the Bodyguards of L.A. County series, and her writing, visit her website and her Amazon Author Page or connect with her on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter@CateBeauman.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for an eBook copy of WAITING FOR WREN. The giveaway is open internationally.

To enter, just send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Waiting for Wren.” Your message should include your name, the email address you’d like the eBook sent to, and what format you’d like the book in (Kindle, Nook, PDF, etc.). The deadline to enter this giveaway for 1 of 3 e-copies of WAITING FOR WREN is 8 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and visiting with us. Do you mark your calendar anticipating the newest release in your favorite series?

Bodyguards of L.A. County And An Awesome Giveaway

I’m always delighted to welcome bestselling author Cate Beauman back to Thoughts in Progress. She joins us today to talk about her series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County, and she has a special surprise.

Hi Cate, welcome.

Hi Mason! Thanks so much for having me back to "Thoughts in Progress!" Your followers have helped put each of my books on Amazon's Best Seller list. I would love to celebrate this success by offering my biggest book giveaway yet - the entire four book series! Please select one winner to receive all four of my eBooks for their Kindle or Nook. Good luck!

Stop by my website, www.catebeauman.com, to read the first few chapters of each book and then come and hang out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CateBeauman.

Cate, thanks for this awesome giveaway (please see the end of the post for the details). Now let’s find out a little more about each book in the terrific series.

Book One: MORGAN'S HUNTER, the story of Morgan and Hunter.
 
    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.   

"-one thing I noticed right away was Hunter is smoking hot. This author captured his attractiveness well. Many romance authors have said their main character was good looking, but this was one of the very few times where I thought, "Wow. He's hot!" And let me tell you blonde-haired blue eyed guys are not my type. The author deserves some serious props here." Raven Reviewer

Book Two: FALLING FOR SARAH, the story of Sarah and Ethan.
 
    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. 

"This story, although starting sad with Jake's death, goes zero to sixty from there. A creepy, insane , psycho thrown in with HOT manly men always make for an awesome ride." Inside BJ's Head

Book Three: HAILEY'S TRUTH, the story of Hailey and Austin.
 
    Hailey Roberts has never had it easy. Despite the scars of a tragic childhood, she’s made a life for herself. As a part-time student and loving nanny, she yearns for a family of her own and reluctant Austin Casey, Ethan Cooke Security’s best close protection agent.

    Hailey’s past comes back to haunt her when her long lost brother tracks her down, bringing his dangerous secrets with him. At an emotional crossroads, Hailey accepts a humanitarian opportunity that throws her together with Austin, taking her hundreds of miles from her troubles, or so she thinks.

    What starts out as a dream come true quickly becomes a nightmare as violence erupts on the island of Cozumel. Young women are disappearing, community members are dying—and the carnage links back to her brother.  

    As Austin struggles to keep Hailey’s past from destroying her future, he’s forced to make a decision that could turn her against him, or worse cost them both their lives. 

"WOW. My head is in a whirl from this one. From the high intensity of Suspense, down to the oh-so yummy Romance, by far, Hailey and Austin have the hottest freaking scenes of the three books! ~ It's so good... or I'm so bad because--I hate to admit it--I reread the hotter than Hades scenes! I could read the entire novel again, and that's rare for me."  Hammy

Book Four: FOREVER ALEXA, the story of Alexa and Jackson.
 
    First grade teacher and single mother Alexa Harris is no stranger to struggle, but for once, things are looking up. The school year is over and the lazy days of summer are here. Mini-vacations and relaxing twilight barbeques are on the horizon until Alexa’s free-spirited younger sister vanishes. 

    Ransom calls and death threats force Alexa and her young daughter to flee their quiet home in Maryland. With nowhere else to turn, Alexa seeks the help of Jackson Matthews, Ethan Cooke Security’s Risk Assessment Specialist and the man who broke her heart. 

    With few leads to follow and Abby’s case going cold, Alexa must confess a shocking secret if she and Jackson have any hope of saving her sister from a hell neither could have imagined.

"FOREVER ALEXA is a book that is impossible to put down. I loved the first three books in this series, Morgan's Hunter, Falling for Sarah and Hailey's Truth, but FOREVER ALEXA is far and above my favorite in the series. That being said, I not only recommend but encourage readers of romantic suspense to give Ms. Beauman's books a try.....you will not be disappointed!!!" NicoleMD

Book Five: Waiting For Wren, the story of Wren Cooke and Tucker Campbell.
    This book is scheduled for release in November.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cate Beauman lives in Tennessee with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernard, Bear. She recently resigned from her day job to concentrate on the thing she refers to as ‘My Dream Come True’ career! 

Cate said, “I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, two years later, I’m working on the fifth novel in my best selling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards Of L.A. County.”

For more on Cate and this tantalizing series, you can visit her website, check out her Amazon Author Page, and find her on Facebook and Goodreads.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: This giveaway is for eBook copies only. One winner will receive all 4 books in The Bodyguards of L.A. County series.

To enter, just send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Bodyguards of L.A. County.” Your message should include your name and the email address you’d like the eBooks sent to. And, just so you know, I don’t share any of this information with anyone other than the publisher/tour promoter nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a copy of all 4 books in The Bodyguards of L.A. County series is 8 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Are you drawn to have all the books in a series or can you just be happy with one or two?

Forever Alexa And A Giveaway

It is with great delight that I welcome author Cate Beauman back to Thoughts in Progress today to talk about her newest release, FOREVER ALEXA, from her bestselling series The Bodyguards of L.A. County.

Death threats and a broken heart…                                  First grade teacher and single mother Alexa Harris is no stranger to struggle, but for once, things are looking up. The school year is over and the lazy days of summer are here. Mini-vacations and relaxing twilight barbeques are on the horizon until Alexa’s free-spirited younger sister vanishes.
    Ransom calls and death threats force Alexa and her young daughter to flee their quiet home in Maryland. With nowhere else to turn, Alexa seeks the help of Jackson Matthews, Ethan Cooke Security’s Risk Assessment Specialist and the man who broke her heart.
    With few leads to follow and Abby’s case going cold, Alexa must confess a shocking secret if she and Jackson have any hope of saving her sister from a hell neither could have imagined.

Cate’s books are making their way to the top of the charts currently. Last week she was at #3 on Amazon’s Top 100 Hot New Releases in romantic suspense and all four of her books were in the top 100 bestsellers for the same category.

Thanks to Cate, I have three digital copies of FOREVER ALEXA to give away. Please see the end of the post for the details.

The Unofficial FOREVER ALEXA Soundtrack

Cate:
Music is a huge part of my writing process. I typically listen to Pandora or YouTube and compile a collection of songs that I feel represent my characters or the situations they face as the novel unfolds. It’s a rare occasion that my creativity demands quiet (And that’s a good thing. I’m a mother of two boys. Quiet doesn’t happen in my house.). Here are a few of the songs that ‘spoke’ to me while I created Jackson and Alexa’s story!  

The soundtrack, of sorts, for FOREVER ALEXA:
All I Ever Wanted by Brian Melo
Beautiful Words by The Afters
By Your Side by Lifehouse
Chances Are by Five For Fighting
I Still by Backstreet Boys
Let Me Love You by Ne-Yo
Inconsolable by Backstreet Boys
Breathe Me by Sia
The Mess I Made by Parachute
All This Time by One Republic 

Read an excerpt from FOREVER ALEXA:

     Alexa stared out the living room window, watching the sun hover closer to the mountains in the distance. The deep country dark would soon surround her house. The dread of another long, sleepless night tightened the muscles of her shoulders and jaw until they ached. She eyed the Louisville Slugger, now leaning against the side table, as she listened to Olivia’s happy chatter filling the small space. Livy and her dolls were enjoying the tiny glass teapot Alexa had filled with milk, the apple she had quartered, and the graham crackers she set out for an impromptu after-dinner tea party. 
     “Mommy, come play with us. You can sit by Lucy.” 
     Alexa turned and gave Livy what smile she could. “Maybe in a little while, sweetie.” 
     “The graham cracker is very yummy.” Livy held up the golden half of cookie, dangling it like a token bribe, before she took a big bite. 
     “It looks wonderful, but I have more work to do on the computer.” 
     Livy turned back to her life-sized baby doll and bit Lucy’s cracker too as the party began again. 
     Alexa desperately wanted to join in on the fun but couldn’t. There wasn’t time. She had just over twenty-four hours to collect an unattainable amount of money. Sighing, she twisted the blind closed and turned away from the window, wishing the media vans were still parked along the dirt road out front. At least someone would’ve been close by while she waited for daylight again. The fifteen-car pile up on I-81 North sent the reporters and their news crews scattering several hours before. The knocks at the door had ceased. Abby’s disappearance had already been forgotten, and she had no choice but to keep it that way. 
     Alexa glanced at Livy before she sat down to the laptop she’d left on the coffee table. She’d spent the last two hours researching ransom and hostage situations while dodging non-stop phone calls from concerned friends, co-workers, and of course the press. She’d let the answering machine pick them up until the message box was full. She couldn’t deal with the questions. 
     She stared at the article she’d read before she had to put the computer down and walk away. The information had been so troubling, so depressing, she’d had to stop. The odds of Abby coming home were dwindling with every minute passing. Mr. Macabee had been correct; if she could get the money and pay the ransom, the kidnappers were likely to demand more and kill her sister anyway. 
     Alexa closed her eyes and rubbed her fingers against the throb in the center of her forehead. What was she going to do? The media wasn’t an option. The police weren’t either. So where did that leave her? She glanced at Livy again, wiggled her mouse, and typed Evan Cooke Security, LA into her search engine. 
     Hits for Ethan Cooke Security popped up instead. She followed the link to the website and studied the company’s bold red and black insignia. World renowned security firm, offering the best in close protection. Alexa clicked the mouse again and her heart stuttered. 
     Jack. 
     There he was among several other well-muscled men in the professional group photo. She moved her finger to his handsome face and traced it as she clutched the charm dangling from her necklace. 

     “Excuse me. Can you help me?” 
     Alexa glanced up from the books she was checking back in to the college library computer system and lost her breath as she stared into fantastic blue eyes. “What can I do for you?” 
     “I have a ten-page paper due for one of my criminal justice classes in—” he glanced at his watch, “less than twelve hours.” 
     She measured his charming smile and ball t-shirt stretched over broad shoulders and mounds of biceps. Her smile dimmed—another dumb jock. Why were the cute ones always a disappointment? She knew her eyes chilled as she answered. “Sounds like a personal problem. The Criminal Justice section is along that wall.” She pointed across the room. 
     At ease and clearly unaffected by her scolding tone, he edged himself along the enormous desk. “So, do you practice that disapproving librarian look in the mirror?” 
     She refused to give in to her smile. “I might.” 
     “You’re too young to have that mastered. What are you, a freshman? I’ve never seen you before.” 
     “I’m a sophomore, and I imagine you haven’t. I spend a lot of time in the library.” But she’d seen him—Jackson Matthews, junior, football star, frat boy, Mr. Popular with the ladies. Definitely not her type. Not that she actually had a type, because she’d never been on a date. Her grades were too important. Her scholarships were vital. 
     He grinned. “I believe I was just insulted.” 
     She smiled this time and shrugged. “Maybe.” 
     “You’ve gone and hurt my feelings, and I don’t even know your name.” 
     “Alexa.” 
     “Alex,” he held out his hand. “Jackson Matthews.” 
     Her brow shot up as she stared at him. “I know who you are. And it’s Alexa.” 
     He stood and glanced at his watch again. “I guess I should get to work. Maybe I’ll see you around some time, Alex.” He flashed her another heart-stopping grin and walked toward the stacks she’d pointed out. 
     She let out a long, shuddering sigh and looked down quickly when he glimpsed over his shoulder and smiled. 

     The flip-top phone rang, startling Alexa out of her memories. She jumped and caught the laptop just before it crashed to the floor. Licking her lips, she set the computer on the coffee table and picked up the phone. “Hello? Abby?” 
     “Wrong again, Sister Alexa,” the familiar mechanical voice said. 
     Her stomach clenched with dread. “What—” 
     “I said no press.” 
     “I didn’t talk to them. I swear I didn’t. They followed me. Please don’t hurt her. Please don’t hurt Abby.” 
     “I saw you on the news, Sister Alexa. Grocery shopping. You look just like her. I had no idea we could’ve gotten two for the price of one.” 
     She rushed to her feet, grabbed the heavy wooden baseball bat with a trembling hand, and hurried to the entryway to check the lock as her heart rate soared. 
     “You broke our deal. I’m docking you six hours. You’re down to twenty. Tick tock.” 
     “No, I didn’t—” 
     “Twenty hours or we take Olivia next.” The line went dead. 
     Alexa gasped for breath as a terror like she’d never known constricted her chest. Not Livy. Not her Livy. She collapsed on the bottom stair in the landing, listening to her daughter’s sweet voice as she continued to play in the next room, oblivious to the danger and turmoil destroying their lives. 
     Alexa struggled to her feet as her body racked with uncontrollable shudders and tears rushed down her cheeks. They had to go; they had to get out of here. She shoved the heavy bench in front of the door as she had last night and dashed up the steps, yanking a suitcase from the small walk-in storage space. She rushed into Livy’s room and pulled clothes from drawers and the closet at random, then hurried into her own room and did the same. She headed for the bathroom next, scooping toothbrushes and toothpaste into the travel bag she had yet to fully unpack from their trip to Virginia Beach. 
     Alexa started back downstairs but stopped when Gordon, the mournful-looking stuffed frog Livy had slept with every day since her birth, caught her eye. She snatched the melancholy creature off the bed and bolted down the stairs with the cumbersome luggage, setting it by the door. “Livy, we have to go somewhere, sweetie,” she struggled to say, still fighting for each breath as adrenaline coursed through her veins. 
     Livy looked up from her spot at her small pink table. She was dressed in the princess costume Abby had made her for Christmas. “I’m having a party, Mommy.” 
     “I know, honey. I’m sorry, but we really have to go right now.” She flipped her laptop closed, dropped it into its case, and grabbed her purse. Next she took several of Livy’s books and shoved them into a small canvas bag. “Come on. Let’s go.” 
     Livy’s bottom lip turned down and her eyes filled with tears. “Lucy wants to eat her apples. I want to play tea party.” 
     “Later, honey.” Alexa glanced out at the darkening sky through the edge of the blind. She wanted them long gone from their isolated home. “You can bring your princess dress with you.” 
     Livy’s eyes brightened. “Okay.” 
     She held out her hand. “Let’s go.” 
     Two hours later, Alexa clutched Olivia’s hand as they walked through Baltimore-Washington International, rolling the suitcase and booster seat behind them. She glanced around as they made their way to the ticket counter, fearful Abby’s kidnappers were somewhere close, watching for the perfect opportunity to snatch her daughter away. 
     “Can I help you, ma’am?” The pretty blonde smiled from behind her computer. 
     Alexa peered behind her, spotting the two men dressed in black pants and short-sleeved tops standing by the enormous panes of glass, staring in her direction. She picked up Olivia and clutched her tight. Were they here for Livy? “Yes. I need to buy two tickets.” 
     “And your destination, ma’am?” 
     What was her destination? She hadn’t thought that far. Her only instinct had been to flee. There was nowhere to go and no one to pick her up on the other end. She and Abby had always had each other, but now she was on her own. She moved her free hand to her necklace and rested her palm against the triangular charm. “LA,” she said in a rush. “Two tickets to Los Angeles, please.” 
     “We have a couple of open seats on a redeye leaving in an hour.” 
     She glanced over her shoulder. The men were gone, but that didn’t mean Livy was safe. “Okay, we’ll take them.” 
     The agent told her her total, and she tried not to wince. This was going to eat into her already strained budget, but what choice did she have? Money meant nothing with Livy’s life in danger. She pulled her credit card free and her heart ripped in two. To save her daughter, she was leaving Maryland and her sister behind.

Cate:
Did you enjoy the excerpt?  You can read the first three chapters on my website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book here!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cate currently lives in Tennessee with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernard, Bear. She is the author of the best selling romantic

suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Before her career as an author, Cate worked in special education for 12 years.

“I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, two years later, I’m working on my fifth novel and I’m an Amazon best selling author.  I’m very grateful for the support and success I have had.  - Cate”

For more on Cate and her writing, visit her website and her Amazon Author Page or find her on Facebook and Goodreads.

E-Book Giveaway Contest
To enter, just send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Forever Alexa.” Your message should include your name and the email address you’d like the eBook sent to. And, just so you know, I don’t share any of this information with anyone other than the publisher or promoter nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win one of three digital copies of FOREVER ALEXA is 8 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, June 14. Remember, this giveaway is for digital copies, not print so it’s open international!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you find an excerpt draws you in faster than just a brief synopsis?