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Serenity Springs #4
Do You Take This Cop?
Without the badge, he'd be perfect!
The last thing Faith Lewis needs is a cop poking his nose in her business. Okay, yes, Nick Coletti is gorgeous. And charming. And great with her son. But dating the town's most popular boy in blue is hardly going to help her keep a low profile. This guy could blow their world apart if he discovers her secret.
Funny thing is, he may also be her only hope. If she had someone like Nick on her side, maybe she could finally be free, and give her son the life he deserves. But trusting Nick means telling the whole truth about her past. He might protect them. Or he just might turn her in….
The last thing Faith Lewis needs is a cop poking his nose in her business. Okay, yes, Nick Coletti is gorgeous. And charming. And great with her son. But dating the town's most popular boy in blue is hardly going to help her keep a low profile. This guy could blow their world apart if he discovers her secret.
Funny thing is, he may also be her only hope. If she had someone like Nick on her side, maybe she could finally be free, and give her son the life he deserves. But trusting Nick means telling the whole truth about her past. He might protect them. Or he just might turn her in….
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Beth Andrews
50 books102 followersRomance Writers of America RITA® Award Winner Beth Andrews writes heartfelt contemporary romance and young adult novels. She loves coffee, hockey and happy endings.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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May 9, 2010
Another winner from Beth Andrews. The only reason this doesn't get a 5 is that I disliked Faith for the first part of the book. Andrews portrays her as rigid, unyielding. Even with her son, whom she can't (or won't) recognize she's stifling. Being the parent of two boys, I know you can't expect them to be perfect at all times. Faith expected Austin to be unfailingly polite, have perfect grammar, and obey her in all things at all times. She was even afraid to let her 9 year old son go swimming.
Opening up her heart to Nick wasn't easy, and Andrews shows us how her thoughts changed from calculatingly getting him on her side to trust and love. One of the reasons I love the HSR line is that it never shies away from the tough stuff, even when that stuff makes the characters unlikable and do unlikable things.
I loved Nick's family. So "normal." And watching Faith try to suppress who she really was inside was painful.
A little rambling here, but overall the book was satisfying. The end was wrapped up too quickly, IMO. After a 2-book story arc, to wrap it up with a "6 months later..." was wrong.
Things I loved, like Andrews' voice, the premise, and Nick. And it was brave of Andrews to make Faith so unlikable in the beginning. Things I didn't like so much, like Faith, and the ending.
Opening up her heart to Nick wasn't easy, and Andrews shows us how her thoughts changed from calculatingly getting him on her side to trust and love. One of the reasons I love the HSR line is that it never shies away from the tough stuff, even when that stuff makes the characters unlikable and do unlikable things.
I loved Nick's family. So "normal." And watching Faith try to suppress who she really was inside was painful.
A little rambling here, but overall the book was satisfying. The end was wrapped up too quickly, IMO. After a 2-book story arc, to wrap it up with a "6 months later..." was wrong.
Things I loved, like Andrews' voice, the premise, and Nick. And it was brave of Andrews to make Faith so unlikable in the beginning. Things I didn't like so much, like Faith, and the ending.
April 21, 2011
it's a little series comprending
1 - not without her family
2 - A Not-So-Perfect Past
3 - his Secret Agenda
4 - [Count on a Cop] - Do You Take This Cop
I had huge expectations for this one but I was disappointed. The plot could have been stronger, in the end everything was so easy.
But anyway I enjoyed the whole series
1 - not without her family
2 - A Not-So-Perfect Past
3 - his Secret Agenda
4 - [Count on a Cop] - Do You Take This Cop
I had huge expectations for this one but I was disappointed. The plot could have been stronger, in the end everything was so easy.
But anyway I enjoyed the whole series
February 25, 2022
I've read novels by Andrews before and enjoyed them, but this one fell far off the mark for me.
I was liking the heroine of this book until she decided she could manipulate hero into caring for her because she needs protection. Why not just tell him the truth and ask for help? You really think leading him on and lying is going to help your cause? The good news is that the hero is onto her. He knows she's playing a game, he just isn't sure what it is.
She also played the "let's pretend everything is ok, and it will be" game a little too often for me. Pretending a problem doesn't exist doesn't make it go away. Her son greatly suffered because she refused to deal with her issues. Had it just been her, I might have been able to overlook this. Her son deserved better, though.
I was really liking the hero at first, too. He was strong, caring and compassionate. He genuinely liked her and wanted to get to know her better. I thought it was sweet how he acted with her son. He really worked for me all the way up until the end. That's when he stopped acting like a cop and started acting like a jerk who'd been scorned by a woman. It was so frustrating! He was the reason I kept reading, and then he totally ruined it the last 1/8 of the book.
I was liking the heroine of this book until she decided she could manipulate hero into caring for her because she needs protection. Why not just tell him the truth and ask for help? You really think leading him on and lying is going to help your cause? The good news is that the hero is onto her. He knows she's playing a game, he just isn't sure what it is.
She also played the "let's pretend everything is ok, and it will be" game a little too often for me. Pretending a problem doesn't exist doesn't make it go away. Her son greatly suffered because she refused to deal with her issues. Had it just been her, I might have been able to overlook this. Her son deserved better, though.
I was really liking the hero at first, too. He was strong, caring and compassionate. He genuinely liked her and wanted to get to know her better. I thought it was sweet how he acted with her son. He really worked for me all the way up until the end. That's when he stopped acting like a cop and started acting like a jerk who'd been scorned by a woman. It was so frustrating! He was the reason I kept reading, and then he totally ruined it the last 1/8 of the book.
May 23, 2010
I loved this book Beth writes such wonderful stories filed with lots of emotion.
February 4, 2022
The h was remarkable in her ability to survive and save her son from his monster of a father. The son was also remarkable in his ability to have acknowledged his abuse and remained sane. How they could live with so many layers of fabrication is amazing (I cannot even keep one straight much less an entire life). The author did a great job in making this horrendous situation clear and in keeping the hopes of both the h and her son alive. The monster husband should rot as no one should hurt a child-ever. That he finally got his and that the main characters got their HEA was a nice conclusion.
July 27, 2020
Is there ever a justification for living on lies???
Faith has had to do (and will continue to do) whatever it takes to keep her son safe...and if that means living lies and on the run, well, so be it. But what if she takes a a chance to trust again, and maybe finally have a real home???
Happy reading : )
Faith has had to do (and will continue to do) whatever it takes to keep her son safe...and if that means living lies and on the run, well, so be it. But what if she takes a a chance to trust again, and maybe finally have a real home???
Happy reading : )
May 26, 2020
Loving this series. Simply loving it!
October 29, 2021
Good end to a good series!
May 16, 2011
Do you take this cop handled a very heavy theme child molestation. Faith aka Lynne Addison has been on the run along with her son for almost 3 years ever since her husband was acquitted. Faith wasn't a very nice person, she didn't want to grow up like her mother so she used sex as a tool, ensnared a rich man like her husband and got pregnant on purpose. She didn't care about the pregnancy but once she held her baby her feelings changed but throughout her marriage wealth was important and she used sex to keep it. When she discovered her son was being molested, she started keeping him away from her husband and hoping that he would go to prison for the other child abuse case. But when he doesn't she panics and with the help of Allie runs. She was afraid of her husband's wealth and influence and scared that her past would make her lose her son.
Nick is a cop, he is a favorite brother there for all his sisters. Initially Faith doesn't want him in his life but when she sees his loyalty, she goes all out after him for her son's sake as she needs someone in their corner. She sets out to use him and Nick knows that she has other motives. But for the first time Faith feels real with Nick.
And it was so heart-breaking to see Austin tell Nick not to touch his mother and that it is wrong and when he confesses what was done to him. In her efforts to stay ahead of her husband Faith ignored what her son had been through, hoping he didn't remember and not getting him help and Nick tells her that.
I don't know why I didn't enjoy this book much. I wanted to but couldn't since I couldn't like Faith that much, I liked how she tried to protect her son but I didn't like her overall since she was a user always. She didn't want to put her son through the trauma of a trial so never spoke up but she should have done something instead making them live a nomadic life full of fear of discovery. If it wasn't Nick I am sure Faith wouldn't have done anything. It is difficult to say what Faith should have done I agree but this book, well child abuse is one of the most painful subjects to read about.
Rating 2.5
Nick is a cop, he is a favorite brother there for all his sisters. Initially Faith doesn't want him in his life but when she sees his loyalty, she goes all out after him for her son's sake as she needs someone in their corner. She sets out to use him and Nick knows that she has other motives. But for the first time Faith feels real with Nick.
And it was so heart-breaking to see Austin tell Nick not to touch his mother and that it is wrong and when he confesses what was done to him. In her efforts to stay ahead of her husband Faith ignored what her son had been through, hoping he didn't remember and not getting him help and Nick tells her that.
I don't know why I didn't enjoy this book much. I wanted to but couldn't since I couldn't like Faith that much, I liked how she tried to protect her son but I didn't like her overall since she was a user always. She didn't want to put her son through the trauma of a trial so never spoke up but she should have done something instead making them live a nomadic life full of fear of discovery. If it wasn't Nick I am sure Faith wouldn't have done anything. It is difficult to say what Faith should have done I agree but this book, well child abuse is one of the most painful subjects to read about.
Rating 2.5
January 23, 2013
3 Stars ~ Faith and her ten year old son, Austin, have been on the run from Austin's father for the past three years. When her husband had used his wealth and power to be acquitted for molestation of another child, Faith knew she had to get her son away from him. After years of moving, Faith finally decides to set some roots in a small community in Maine. Nick's cop curiosity is sparked by the new woman his sister has hired in her beauty salon. He can tell she's a woman with secrets and from her over protective instincts with her son, he figures she's come from an abusive marriage. Faith realizes that Austin needs to have a real home and she needs to figure out how to give that to him. She's genuinely attracted to Nick and decides to appeal to his protective nature and hopefully build a life with him.
While the writing of this story is very well done, I'm having mixed feelings about Faith. She had ample opportunity to come clean with Nick about her circumstances and yet she kept quiet on the most important details. She actively set out to use him as a possible shield instead of asking for his help. Nick's a stand up guy who cares about Faith and Austin. I was really proud of his reactions when he learns the truth and how he stands by Faith when she agrees it's time to stop running. The epilogue really saved this story for me.
While the writing of this story is very well done, I'm having mixed feelings about Faith. She had ample opportunity to come clean with Nick about her circumstances and yet she kept quiet on the most important details. She actively set out to use him as a possible shield instead of asking for his help. Nick's a stand up guy who cares about Faith and Austin. I was really proud of his reactions when he learns the truth and how he stands by Faith when she agrees it's time to stop running. The epilogue really saved this story for me.
June 5, 2012
This book dealt with the real life issue of sexual abuse. It gave the reader a glimpse of the life of a young boy and his Mother on the run from his controlling and abusive Father. I love books like this, where the victim prevails in the end. Austin, the boy, was scarred from the abuse he endured at his Father's hands. With the help of the hero, Nick, Austin and his Mom, Faith, find refuge in his protective arms if Faith will only trust him and come clean with the truth of her situation. Nick is a cop, so at first Faith is wary that he will learn the truth and her comfortable life hangs in the balance. Slowly, she begins to trust Nick and he puts the puzzle pieces of her mysterious life together. I loved the way Austin was vindicated in the end and justice prevailed. What I didn't care for was when Faith offered her "favors" to Nick to try to seduce him into caring for her and her son. I thought that was underhanded and a cheap move. Nick, however, set her straight real quick about seducing him and made it clear that he would not play her games. That made me respect Nick even more, but I hate that it was at the expense of the heroine cheapening herself. Overall this was a great book. Predictable, but great.
June 17, 2020
Warning: Uncomfortable Subject Matter
What a great hero. A brave, mother does everything she can to protect her son from her husband including traveling around the country. When she meets a wonderful police officer who is her bosses brother she tries her best to to stay away. Then she decides to trick him. He catches on quick and tells her to not try to trick him. He is her sons baseball coach so they spend a lot of time together. Finally she realizes that she wants to be with him and tells him why they are on the run.
What a great hero. A brave, mother does everything she can to protect her son from her husband including traveling around the country. When she meets a wonderful police officer who is her bosses brother she tries her best to to stay away. Then she decides to trick him. He catches on quick and tells her to not try to trick him. He is her sons baseball coach so they spend a lot of time together. Finally she realizes that she wants to be with him and tells him why they are on the run.
January 17, 2012
This story was so good.
It would definitely not be one I would suggest to someone who has triggers around child molestation (dealing with it, not actually a huge part of the story).
But, all in all, I really enjoyed the story.
It would definitely not be one I would suggest to someone who has triggers around child molestation (dealing with it, not actually a huge part of the story).
But, all in all, I really enjoyed the story.
October 31, 2018
this author brought it home every time all her books in this series were awesome
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews