Sister Swap. Lilian Darcy

      “I am sorry that I attempted to trap you with a kiss,” Gino said.

      “Not in the plan, for sure,” Roz blurted out. Her insides went tight as Gino stepped closer.

      “Who is Louise Odier? You have her name written down on this paper.”

      “Omigosh, she’s a rose.”

      Gino picked up the paper and read out with lead weights of emphasis, “‘Ask Rowie about Louise Odier!!!’ Three exclamation points, Dr. Madison. And you are an acknowledged expert on roses.” He stepped closer. “If you wrote this, who is Rowie? Or possibly it’s better to ask, ‘Who are you?’ Because despite the uncanny resemblance, the woman who kissed me back with such heat just now—” his gaze dropped to her lips, which suddenly felt soft and wouldn’t stay pressed together “—is quite definitely not the one who outlined her plans for my garden in a meeting several weeks ago, is she?”

      Dear Reader,

      Just as the seasons change, you may have noticed that our Silhouette Romance covers have evolved over the past year. We have tried to create cover art that uses more soft pastels, sun-drenched images and tender scenes to evoke the aspirational and romantic spirit of this line. We have also tried to make our heroines look like women you can relate to and may want to be. After all, this line is about the joys of falling in love, and we hope you can live vicariously through these heroines.

      Our writers this month have done an especially fine job in conveying this message. Reader favorite Cara Colter leads the month with That Old Feeling (#1814) in which the heroine must overcome past hurts to help her first love raise his motherless daughter. This is the debut title in the author’s emotional new trilogy, A FATHER’S WISH. Teresa Southwick concludes her BUY-A-GUY miniseries with the story of a feisty lawyer who finds herself saddled with an unwanted and wholly irresistible bodyguard, in Something’s Gotta Give (#1815). A sister who’d do anything for her loved ones finds her own sweet reward when she switches places with her sibling, in Sister Swap (#1816)—a compelling new romance by Lilian Darcy. Finally, in Made-To-Order Wife (#1817) by Judith McWilliams, a billionaire hires an etiquette expert to help him land the perfect society wife, and he soon starts rethinking his marriage plans.

      Be sure to return next month when Cara Colter continues her trilogy and Judy Christenberry returns to the line.

      Happy reading!

      Ann Leslie Tuttle

      Associate Senior Editor

      Sister Swap

      Lilian Darcy

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      Books by Lilian Darcy

      Silhouette Romance

      The Baby Bond #1390

      Her Sister’s Child #1449 Raising Baby Jane #1478 * Cinderella After Midnight #1542 * Saving Cinderella #1555 * Finding Her Prince #1567 Pregnant and Protected #1603 For the Taking #1620 The Boss’s Baby Surprise #1729 The Millionaire’s Cinderella Wife #1772 Sister Swap #1816

      Silhouette Special Edition

      Balancing Act #1552

      Their Baby Miracle #1672 The Father Factor #1696

      LILIAN DARCY

      has written over fifty books for Silhouette Romance, Special Edition and Harlequin Mills & Boon Medical Romance (Prescription Romance). Her first book for Silhouette appeared on the Waldenbooks Series Romance bestsellers list, and she’s hoping readers go on responding strongly to her work. Happily married with four active children and a very patient cat, she enjoys keeping busy and could probably fill several more lifetimes with the things she likes to do—including cooking, gardening, quilting, drawing and traveling. She currently lives in Australia but travels to the United States as often as possible to visit family. Lilian loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 381, Hackensack NJ 07602 or e-mail her at [email protected].

      Dear Reader,

      Although I don’t know anywhere near as much about roses as my heroine’s sister, I do consider them to be the most fascinating and beautiful of flowers. My love for them was first kindled when we lived in Columbus, Ohio, within walking distance of the gorgeous Whetstone Park of Roses.

      I had toddlers and babies then, and I used to take the stroller and wander around the gardens in all seasons, but particularly when the roses were in bloom…and so were the brides. Many couples chose to exchange their vows in such a lovely setting, and because I’m such a die-hard romantic I loved going to the Park of Roses on a Saturday afternoon and peeking at the bride and her attendants from a discreet distance. I would admire their gowns against the backdrop of pink and yellow and red roses in full bloom, and point them out to my children as I unstrapped them from the stroller so they could play on the grass. “See the beautiful bride?” Happily married myself, I always gave a silent wish that these brides and grooms would be just as lucky.

      Sister Swap has this same feeling, I hope. Romance and roses, happiness and hope, set against the backdrop of a beautiful garden, with children playing on the grass.

      Happy reading.

      Lilian Darcy

      Contents

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

      Chapter One

      “So, Mom, she’s been stuck in that hotel room for two days, until you could get there,” Roxanna said, “because she’s been too scared to leave it on her own?”

      “This is going to ruin her career, Rox!” Roxanna’s mother answered, over the phone. She was calling from London, a hotel near Heathrow Airport, but she sounded clear enough to be in the next building—and clear enough that every bit of her distress came through.

      “Mom, it’s going to ruin her life! She needs treatment. This is a major anxiety disorder, and it’s getting worse. She has to see that.”

      “You have to fly to Italy and cover for her at the Di Bartoli family estate. This is a big project, and she needs it on her résumé. She can’t have it turn into a disaster, after all the work and study she’s done.”

      “Oh, right! Cover for her, because I know everything there is to know about antique roses and historic garden restoration? You can’t be serious!”