CROSS MY HEART

Author: Carly Phillips ISBN: 0373771266 8/2006 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HQN

Lacey Kincaid is a classic New York success story. As the owner of Odd Jobs, she's gone from rags to riches ...sort of. Because Lacey's harboring a secret she was born Lillian Dumont, and spent her childhood with a silver spoon in her mouth, until the deaths of her wealthy parents and the evil schemes of an abusive uncle forced her to take drastic measures. She'd never planned to return to her former life or her abandoned identity-but when her childhood sweetheart, Ty, resurfaces and urges her to claim her rightful inheritance, she decides that maybe being the Dumont heiress wouldn't be so bad. Lacey's uncle doesn't see it that way, though-and he's willing to do anything to stop her. Now, it's up to Ty to protect Lacey before that silver spoon becomes a silver bullet. But if they live through this, the future's looking bright for this downtown guy and his brand-new uptown girl!

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

After her parents death, Lillian Dumont is left with an abusive uncle who's main objective is to find a way to take control of Lillian's inheritance. Claiming Lillian is rebellious and out of control, her Uncle Marc sends her to foster care. Her new foster family consists of a mom, her son Ty, and foster son, Daniel Hunter. Lilly, Ty, and Hunter become family as well as friends, and inseparable. When the threat of having to go back to her uncle arises, the three friends devise a plan to help Lilly escape him forever. Even if that means the three can never see each other again.

Ten years after 17 year-old Lilly escaped her uncle, she has a new name, a business of her own, and a boyfriend who has asked for her hand in marriage. Everything a young woman of 26 could wish for, right? Well Lilly, now Lacey, is having a hard time saying yes to this proposal, and an even harder time forgetting both of her companions and saviors from her youth, Hunter and Ty, especially Ty.

In the midst of Lilly's confusion, Ty Benson appears in her life. She may recognize the caring and loyal youth from her past, but the man standing before her brings up powerful emotions that go far beyond what she felt for him at 17. Ty is now a private investigator who wants Lilly to return with him and reclaim her inheritance before Marc declares her legally dead, and takes the small fortune for himself.

With Hunter, who is now a lawyer, and Molly, also a lawyer and soon to become Marc's stepdaughter, they try and help Lilly reclaim what is rightfully hers. Unfortunately, it is soon apparent that someone doesn't want Lilly to claim her fortune. Even if they have to turn Lilly's fake death into a real one.

This story has all the components to make it a great read. However, there is always present a sense of the storyline being rushed. The prologue is only four-and-a-half pages long. Yet besides a few flashbacks, that's all the reader gets from the years these three spent as friends. Or Lilly's years with her parents and uncle. The lack of back story and depth of characters left me frustrated. One of the interesting threads to this story was the relationship between Hunter and Molly. But that was mediocre, at best. While the promise of a sequel involving Hunter and Molly should have me anxiously waiting for it's arrival, I can't honestly say I will be going to get it.

Deana Monteleone