Review: Becoming Bella (Ghost Falls #2) by Sarah Hegger

This Christmas, a good reputation can really get in a girl’s way . . .

As long as she can remember, Bella Erikson’s been the unofficial sweetheart of Ghost Falls, Utah. And ever since Nate Evans dipped her braids in purple paint in the first grade, he’s been her dream guy. Not that she minds the attention, but sometimes she wishes people saw more in her than just the girl who still has a crush on Sheriff Evans. She has a life after all, a new bridal shop to run, and more mature relationships to pursue . . .

Nate knows he’s not good enough for sweet Bella. But he’s pretty sure the new guy sending her heart emojis and giant bouquets isn’t either. And when Bella’s suitor turns stalker, protecting Bella isn’t just Nate’s instinct—it’s his duty. Crammed together for safety and really talking for the first time in years, Bella and Nate can’t fight the moment their chemistry turns into pyrotechnics. Whether it will burn them out or light up the sky, only time will tell . . .

Mass Market Paperback

Published September 26th 2017 by Zebra

Terri's Thoughts

**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review** Thank you!

This is the second in the Ghost Falls series however can be read on its own.  I did read the first but since those characters only played small roles in this story, you don't have to read it first.

I could really identify with Bella and I truly think a lot of woman will feel the same.  She is the typical good/sweet girl that most men put on the off limits list as they are not willing to break her heart.  The type of girl they want to settle down with however don't give a chance to because they don't want to settle down.  I believe many woman will identify with crushing on a guy from afar who doesn't give them the chance because they are not "bad" enough.  Her journey to improve herself and her stuck pattern is also one that a lot of us can identify with.

I had a little more difficulty with Nate.  Don't get me wrong, he was gorgeous and Bella's night in shining armour more than once, it was his opinion of himself.  He felt that he wasn't good enough for Bella because of a few rebellious years in his youth.  As someone who is now police chief, I think he should have been able to shake his low opinion of himself.

Returning to Bella, for someone who was a sweet girl who couldn't find a man, she certainly did gather a good collection of them in this story.  Some worthy of her, albeit friend zoned, and others downright dangerous...her stalker which was one of the main plot points and highlights of the story in my opinion.

Without giving anything away, I can say Nate redeemed himself in my eyes with the golden retriever move.  I was curled up with two of them while reading this story so I was a goner at this point.

One final note.  The book synopsis indicates that this is a Christmas read.  While it takes place over the Christmas period, it is not a true focal point of the story.  I was worried at first because I thought it was too early in the season to start Christmas reading (although my shopping is well under way).  For those who may feel the same as me, no need to worry!

This was a good story in part of a series that I have come to enjoy so far.  my recommendation would be to start at the beginning and then see this series through to wherever it may lead us!

About the Author

Born British and raised in South Africa, Sarah Hegger suffers from an incurable case of wanderlust. Her match? A hot Canadian engineer, whose marriage proposal she accepted six short weeks after they first met. Together they’ve made homes in seven different cities across three different continents (and back again once or twice). If only it made her multilingual, but the best she can manage is idiosyncratic English, fluent Afrikaans, conversant Russian, pigeon Portuguese, even worse Zulu and enough French to get herself into trouble.

Mimicking her globe trotting adventures, Sarah’s career path began as a gainfully employed actress, drifted into public relations, settled a moment in advertising, and eventually took root in the fertile soil of her first love, writing. She also moonlights as a wife and mother.

She currently lives in Draper, Utah, with her teenage daughters, two Golden Retrievers and aforementioned husband. Part footloose buccaneer, part quixotic observer of life, Sarah’s restless heart is most content when reading or writing books.

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