Justice for Abby by Cate Beauman is Book VI of the Bodyguards of LA County Series and I have been eating these romantic suspense novels up, like the M&Ms I love so much. This may be the best one yet.

Abby is taken from the rest area parking lot, right in front of her sister, Alexa, and her daughter, Livy. With the threat of harm to her family, Abby is forced to work for them, but her eye is always on escape.

After her rescue, she has lingering affects, flashbacks and panic attacks, and fears that she won’t be able to come back if she loses herself…again.

She is the prime witness for the prosecution in the trial for the traffickers. She is single handedly bringing down the largest sex ring they’d ever seen, so she has a bullseye on her back. They want her DEAD.

The traffickers are brutal, savage, only interested in themselves. The women are possessions, bought and sold, passed around like a commodity. Imagine the threat of death and torture hovering over your head, day after day, month after month, year after year, with no relief in sight.

Abby is a fighter with a big heart. She is making a name for herself in the high fashion world and paying it forward by creating opportunities for those less fortunate, hiring some of the women she knew from her captivity.

Her bodyguard, Jerrod lives with her, protecting her. He is all business, but will the sexy little kitten win over his heart? Me thinks so. I love the recurring characters and the danger that surrounds them as I wait…for that terrible something to happen.

Margret…my heart goes out to Margret and I know there is nothing Abby won’t do to try and save her.

Shelby, beware of a woman scorned and a shallow one at that. Can a villain be redeemed? I always have hope, but you’ll have to read the book to find out.

Cate Beauman describes the scenes in such vivid detail that I can see Abby dancing, singing, and shaking her bootie as she cooks and I can’t help but smile even as I type these words. Makes me want to get up and dance.

When the shit hits the fan, I love how Cate Beauman handled it and she sure has me terrified, wondering…

I love how Cate Beauman twisted and turned the normal romantic suspense beast, you know, that push and pull of attraction, the dance between yes and no, making my rating of Justice For Abby over the top.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Justice for Abby by Cate Beauman.

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After being rescued from a brutal sex ring, Abby Harris is now the key witness in the trial of the two men arrested in her case. However, their partners are still free and actively searching for her before her testimony can end them as well. She tries to keep her life as normal as she can, as her bodyguard, Jerrod Quinn, does all that he can to keep her safe. Abby doesn’t always make it easy as the protocols that keep her safe and the need to be constantly looking over her shoulder take their toll. As the trial gets closer, flashbacks and nightmares threaten to cripple her. Jerrod is her rock, yet caring for her when she is at her most vulnerable, awakens feelings in Jerrod that could compromise his ability to keep her safe.

Still loving this series. Once again I was given the opportunity to review a book in the compellingly addictive Bodyguards of L.A. County series. Actually, this turned out to be the first book I read in the series and it was a terrific introduction. From reading other reviews this book seems to be a sequel to book 4 in the series. Forever Alexa is not a book I was asked to read, however I would love to. Not having read it didn’t hamper the story for me at all. This book stands alone quite well. The author has a knack for including something for all readers and allowing her story to cross genres. This is not a sappy romance. There is plenty of suspense and intrigue with just the right amount of pulse pounding action and a touch of steamy romance. The banter between Abby and Jerrod is fun and is the perfect lead in to a relationship that neither is sure they are in a place to pursue. The story is character driven, Not just the two main characters, but all of the secondary characters add life and charm to the story.It is great to see reappearances of previous book characters as well.

Abby is a strong person, who is able to make what she has been through work for her. She is lucky to have a strong support system around to help her through the worst. The story of just what she has endured is unrolled throughout the story in pieces making the story less about her ordeal and more about her recovery. Jerrod’s story is just as interesting. His back story made him seem a bit one dimensional and shallow at one point in his life, yet we are able to see his growth to the man he is now. His family was an interesting addition to the story, though at first I thought bringing his ex into it was just an excuse to have a bit of conflict for the romance, even she turned out to be more than a bit of story fluff.

All in all this is a terrific book that I am sure I will read again, provided my ever growing To Be Read list allows me the time.

5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Abigail Harris is trying to live her life normally after her rescue from the Mid-Atlantic Sex Ring. She’s designing for Lily Brand and living under the radar, guarded 24/7 by former U.S. Marshal, Jerrod Quinn while waiting to testify at a sex ring member’s trial. Renzo, a man Abby had considered a friend and the man responsible for her abduction. Abby’s testimony has the ability to bring down the whole operation. Dimitri Dubov, head of the ring, is as cold as they come and willing to do anything, even murder innocents, to prevent Abby from ever reaching the court room. No witness, no case, no trial and they continue their reign of terror for profit.

JUSTICE FOR ABBY takes place after Abby’s rescue from the Mid-Atlantic Sex Ring ran by Dimitri Dubov. Readers witness Abby’s abduction and then it flashes forward to Abby after her rescue. Ms. Beaumann doesn’t delve deeply into the horrors Abby witnessed and endured during her imprisonment, however enough is revealed in flashbacks there’s no doubt about the heinousness.
Ms. Beaumann successfully highlights the abhorrent kidnapping of young women for sex trafficking while conveying hope and the resiliency of the human spirit via Abby’s courage, determination, and kindness.

This is my first L.A. Bodyguards book so I have no knowledge of the background to any of the characters prior to JUSTICE FOR ABBY. I found Abby and Jerrod to be well developed, likeable, and appealing. Abby’s healing progression is believable as is her dependence on and trust in Jerrod. Their relationship and its development make sense. The secondary characters are as finely drawn as Abby and Jerrod, in fact Shelby personifies, “hell has no fury like a woman scorned.”
The only fly in my ointment, so to speak, was a small detail regarding an article about a missing Las Vegas woman. I had to wonder why this didn’t set off alarm bells with anyone in Ethan Cooke Security, Jerrod, or Abby.

JUSTICE FOR ABBY has it all. Danger and suspense with Dimitri’s ruthless pursuit of Abby while shedding much needed light and awareness on the all too real crime of sex trade trafficking, with a dollop of romance to soften the edges a bit. If you want to spice up your summer romance reading list, consider adding JUSTICE FOR ABBY to your list.
Reviewed by IvyD for Manic Readers & Miss Ivy's Book Nook ( )