Stolen Hearts [Paperback]

I was coerced by a female friend to read this book and it's far from "syrupy." It's written primarily from a very strong male viewpoint which was a pleasant surprise to me as a reader. I thought most romance books were always female-led. The plot was unique--evidently this is one of a series of time travel romances centered around the same hotel. I'm going to pick up the others and see if they hold up as well as this one.

I found Delgatto to be an interesting and well-defined character and enjoyed his actions and reactions with respect to the plot (which was far from formulaic). Emily was equally well-drawn and true to her time period, yet had the right streak of independence to appeal to this modern man.

I enjoyed the adventure and the romance of the quest for the Heart of Saharanpur. I didn't really expect to like the book since this isn't my usual reading choice, but it was an inventive adventure, a neat plot and a good wrapup.

Now if only the cover hadn't been so--pink.

The King of Thieves known as only Delagatto is a twenty-second century Robin Hood, who redistributes the wealth of those undeserving to those in true need such as orphans. At thirty-eight, he's growing tired of being a cat burglar, of researching his marks, planning his strike, and executing his theft. But honor ties him to a family legacy, and he cannot retire without fulfilling the pledge. Like his father and his grandfather, Delagatto vows to find and steal back the family heirloom that had been taken from their royal family a hundred years ago. His need to prove his skill, and the promise of the heirloom, lead to his passage back in time.

Planning to leave on the next train after completing her two-year contract as a maid at the Chesterfield Hotel, Emily Drewett receives a telegram warning her not to come home due to a quarantine. With no money and no place to go, she accepts a generous offer to spend the holidays in a luxurious room compliment of the hotel owners. The upcoming Christmas masquerade ball will provide the opportunity for her dress in borrowed finery and flirt outrageously with handsome young men. While it might be the emerald around her neck that draws Delagatto, it's her stunning green eyes that threaten his heart. As she disappears among the masked and bejeweled, Delagatto makes plans to purloin the jewel later. Unfortunately, he doesn't know the beauty's identity.

Laura Hayden's STOLEN HEARTS provides a terrific edition to the Hope Chest Miniseries. Perhaps it would have benefited from an earlier release as it doesn't update previous characters. And Karen Fox's GRAND DESIGN indicates a renovation of the old Chesterfield Hotel, while Hayden indicates further deterioration. Those small details aside, STOLEN HEARTS is a marvelous read. While in previous books of the miniseries, it's the women who travel back in time, in STOLEN HEARTS it's the man who moves backward in time. And this is no ordinary hero, but a man of his own code of honor. An imaginative, sparkling edition to the Hope Chest miniseries, STOLEN HEARTS will steal the reader's heart. Very highly recommended.