Maria Ferrarella Searching for Cate

Searching for Cate

Maria Ferrarella

Signature Select, Aug 2005, $5.99

ISBN: 0373285256

FBI Special Agent Catherine "Cate" Kowalski reels with difficult blows to her mental health. Her beloved Gabe Summer died at the World Trade Center on 9/11 in the line of duty just like her daddy years before. Her dying mom needs blood, but a test shows that Cate is incompatible to her mother, which means Julia could not have birthed her. After mom dies, Cate feels alone with no attachments to anyone. She decides she needs to search for the real Cate starting with finding her biological parents.

Three years ago Alma the wife of Dr. Christian Graywolf committed suicide taking their tiny daughter with her; he holds himself culpable for their death because he failed to heed his spouse's final plea. To forget his demons Christian buries himself at Blair Memorial Hospital. That is until now. His sister Lydia introduces him to a new friend from work Cate. Both are stunned by their immediate overwhelming attraction and desire for one another, but neither trust relationships because each has demons to deal with first.

SEARCHING FOR CATE is a fine investigative romance starring two individuals struggling with life's setbacks that make each one leery of love. When the storyline concentrates on either Cate seeking her biological heritage or on the relationship between her and Christian, the tale is excellent. When the plot evolves into an FBI case, it turns excitingly suspenseful, but loses some of the key focus. Still Maria Ferrarella provides a warm contemporary romanti thriller starring two scarred souls seeking solace and a reason to live until love frighteningly shows them what it is all about.

Harriet Klausner