Joyce Sullivan

Gem dealer Ian Harris is coming home for Christmas to visit his Aunt Gertie (aka Aunt Gem), who runs a Bed and Breakfast. Only problem is that when Ian arrives he finds out that his aunt has gone missing, and the lovely single mom Laurel Bishop who runs the B and B with his aunt has a dark past. Laurel was accused of killing her husband two Christmas Eves ago, and the murder still remains unsolved. Ian wants to believe Laurel since he is falling for her, but can he trust her.

This was an show more enjoyable romantic suspense set at Christmastime with a good mix of both romance and suspense. I liked both Ian and Laurel although at times it was a little frustrating how quickly they went from trusting to mistrusting each other. The secondary cast was interesting. The suspense was well done and had some real surprises for me. And the Bed and Breakfast in the North Vancouver village by the water provided a wonderful setting for the story. show less

(I read this in the British version which is titled "Operation Cradle".)

I think that this book must be one of a series, although the edition which I read didn't make that explicit, because I did get the feeling that I was missing out on some back story. This didn't destroy the plot for me but I did think that there should have been a bit more detail in a few places.

Mitch is sent to break it to Stef that the child she has been bringing up from birth is not her child but has been swapped at show more birth with the child of a very rich family who has now been kidnapped. It is quite a clever storyline although it is all wrapped up in a very predictable way. I did find it more than a bit difficult to believe that any legal system would remove a child from the parent with whom it grew up to return it to a biological parent without some access or joint custody arrangement being made - it was a fine threat for the plot but reality would have been much more complicated.

This is instant gratification reading - whilst the book is in front of you it occupies the mind but there is nothing to remember when you turn away. Nothing remarkable and rather shallow - there are many better light romances. show less

Twas the night before Christmas and Ian Harris was returning home to a mystery. His beloved aunt had disappeared and her beautiful boarder, Laurel Bishop, claimed no knowledge. But the seductive single mother wasn't as innocent as she'd have him believe. Two Christmas Eve's ago her husband had been murdered...and she'd been arrested for the crime.

Stef, a single mother, discovered after 2-1/2 years that her daughter had been switched at birth with an heiress of millions.