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Return to Mariposa
Kitty Whitehead has never gotten over her banishment from Mariposa, the family home in Spain. When her glamorous cousin Bella comes up with the daring suggestion that they take each other’s place, she reluctantly agrees, for the chance to say goodbye to the house and her estranged family.
But turning mousy Kitty into the glorious Bella is harder than she thinks, even if everyone seems to be fooled. Everyone but her hateful almost-cousin Ian, who’s getting too close to the truth and too close to Kitty, as he invades her dreams and makes her question everything she’s ever known to be true.
Someone is out to kill Kitty...or Bella. Who wants her dead, and why? Could Bella’s old enemy turned lover be the greatest danger she’s ever faced?
A modern story of romantic suspense and masquerade, where no one is as they seem.
But turning mousy Kitty into the glorious Bella is harder than she thinks, even if everyone seems to be fooled. Everyone but her hateful almost-cousin Ian, who’s getting too close to the truth and too close to Kitty, as he invades her dreams and makes her question everything she’s ever known to be true.
Someone is out to kill Kitty...or Bella. Who wants her dead, and why? Could Bella’s old enemy turned lover be the greatest danger she’s ever faced?
A modern story of romantic suspense and masquerade, where no one is as they seem.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2024
34 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Anne Stuart
203 books2,064 followersAnne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 16, 2024
This would have been a 4 star read, but in the second half of the book Kitty suffers a severe case of "too stupid to live." Like, what additional proof do you need to know that your cousin set you up as herself and someone is trying to kill her? Her car's brakes failed shortly after being serviced, you were told several times that she was dating a dangerous mobster that she never mentioned to you, strange men are following you around and eyeballing you, and one of them, who clearly didn't know who you were, threatened you graphically to your face. Is it this one?
This heroine would be all, "Nah, what a kidder!"
"I'm sorry sweetie, do you have an itch on your neck?"
"Oh look, he's showing me his baseball bat!"
Like, I would have absolutely loved this book if Kitty had shown some freaking sense in the second half, but instead she keeps wandering off on her own, getting followed by strangers and knowing it and insisting to herself that even though people are actively calling her "Kitty" that she's fooling everyone into believing she is Bella. I kept waiting on someone who had been in college for 11 years to connect the dots that either she wasn't fooling anyone into thinking she was Bella (and her grandfather and Ian both seemed to sing it from the mountaintops) or someone thought she was and that person wanted to kill her. I'd have preferred it if she'd clued in to both.
As for the romance, I didn't hate Ian, he seemed like a decent gamma hero, but that ending was seriously abrupt. I needed at least a few more pages to understand a lot of his behavior after Kitty's secret was out. He made a crack at the end about how he was more observant than she was, but personally, I totally got why she didn't know he loved her. He blew hot and cold all the time and the book never really explained why. Unfortunately that seems to be a theme with Anne Stuart's books -- she doesn't have much time to actually give us that feel good feeling.
So what could have been 4-stars lost one due mostly to TSTL heroines, but also to an abrupt, wait-I-have-questions ending. I really enjoyed the tone of the book, and the chemistry between her and Ian. I even could have overlooked Kitty not realizing she wasn't fooling Ian or her grandfather if she just hadn't tried to stick her head in the sand on the danger she was very clearly in.
This heroine would be all, "Nah, what a kidder!"
"I'm sorry sweetie, do you have an itch on your neck?"
"Oh look, he's showing me his baseball bat!"
Like, I would have absolutely loved this book if Kitty had shown some freaking sense in the second half, but instead she keeps wandering off on her own, getting followed by strangers and knowing it and insisting to herself that even though people are actively calling her "Kitty" that she's fooling everyone into believing she is Bella. I kept waiting on someone who had been in college for 11 years to connect the dots that either she wasn't fooling anyone into thinking she was Bella (and her grandfather and Ian both seemed to sing it from the mountaintops) or someone thought she was and that person wanted to kill her. I'd have preferred it if she'd clued in to both.
As for the romance, I didn't hate Ian, he seemed like a decent gamma hero, but that ending was seriously abrupt. I needed at least a few more pages to understand a lot of his behavior after Kitty's secret was out. He made a crack at the end about how he was more observant than she was, but personally, I totally got why she didn't know he loved her. He blew hot and cold all the time and the book never really explained why. Unfortunately that seems to be a theme with Anne Stuart's books -- she doesn't have much time to actually give us that feel good feeling.
So what could have been 4-stars lost one due mostly to TSTL heroines, but also to an abrupt, wait-I-have-questions ending. I really enjoyed the tone of the book, and the chemistry between her and Ian. I even could have overlooked Kitty not realizing she wasn't fooling Ian or her grandfather if she just hadn't tried to stick her head in the sand on the danger she was very clearly in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2024
"Return to Mariposa" by Anne Stuart is a captivating and engaging read that immediately draws you into the story. From the very first chapter, the chaotic nature of moving and the abundance of belongings create a sense of anticipation and curiosity. It's like being right there in the midst of the action, feeling the excitement and uncertainty that comes with starting a new chapter in life.
Anne Stuart's writing style is impeccable, with a perfect blend of dark humor and steamy romance. The way she intertwines these elements adds depth and complexity to the story, making it more than just your average romance novel. It keeps you on your toes, eager to uncover what lies ahead for the characters.
Speaking of characters, they are well-developed and relatable. You can't help but become emotionally invested in their journeys. Whether it's the strong-willed protagonist or the enigmatic love interest, each character has their own unique charm and flaws, making them feel like real people you could meet in your everyday life.
The plot is intricately woven, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing. It's a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from heartwarming moments to heart-wrenching revelations. Anne Stuart knows how to keep readers hooked, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages, desperate to know what happens next.
In terms of the overall reading experience, "Return to Mariposa" is a book that you won't be able to put down. It's a perfect blend of romance, humor, and suspense, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Anne Stuart's talent shines through in every chapter, and it's no surprise that she has achieved significant success as an author.
Anne Stuart's writing style is impeccable, with a perfect blend of dark humor and steamy romance. The way she intertwines these elements adds depth and complexity to the story, making it more than just your average romance novel. It keeps you on your toes, eager to uncover what lies ahead for the characters.
Speaking of characters, they are well-developed and relatable. You can't help but become emotionally invested in their journeys. Whether it's the strong-willed protagonist or the enigmatic love interest, each character has their own unique charm and flaws, making them feel like real people you could meet in your everyday life.
The plot is intricately woven, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing. It's a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from heartwarming moments to heart-wrenching revelations. Anne Stuart knows how to keep readers hooked, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages, desperate to know what happens next.
In terms of the overall reading experience, "Return to Mariposa" is a book that you won't be able to put down. It's a perfect blend of romance, humor, and suspense, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Anne Stuart's talent shines through in every chapter, and it's no surprise that she has achieved significant success as an author.
June 13, 2024
5++++++++ I love this latest romance by Ms Stuart. It has one of my favorite romance trope, long missing family member and fake identity. Long love the queen of romantic suspense, Anne Stuart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2024
This turned out to a be a review, while I was still reading it, but I just had to let some thoughts out of my overflowing brain:
Mind you, spoilers ahead..
Spoilers……!!
The start of this book reminded me of a reversed copy of another book by the same author that I did like: Shadow lover. The big question in that book being: is he or isn’t he?
In this case the question is: Does the family discover that Kitty is posing as Bella? If yes, they must have known this from day 1 with all the clues Bella-beast is shedding around.
Kitty posing as Bella is a disaster as Kitty, or named by her cousin as Podge, continuously forgets important Bella facts like Bellas age, her accent. Kitty forgets Bella is supposed to have been absent for 5 years, not 13 years like Kitty herself. Kitty has been in a cave accident, not Bella! Etc.. Whenever Kitty is grasping at straws she reminds herself of the following mantra: WWBD, What Would Bella Do? The worst advice you can give yourself girl. Arghh!
Reading this it’s like ticking off a bingo card on a merry go round. Forgets age, blunders around with contact lenses, forgets to be nasty to staff. Ah yet another clue handed out! Thank you Podge.
80% in
Does Ian realise Bella is Kitty or doesn’t he at this stage? I’m getting dizzy by all the twist, turns and slip of tongues. I did think he did, but Ian is acting so weird right now that I suspect he doesn’t.
Kitty is in my honest opinion a very very stupid woman, no sorry, she is very very gullible. Kitty is molding herself fervently into the image of her beloved cousin Bella who is nothing but trouble. Kitty doesn’t have a personality, she is …well plain stupid, there is no other word for Podge. The perfect doll for Bella. There, it’s said.
If it turns out that Ian knew from the start Bella was Kitty, then he is welcome to her. But why on earth would he be into Kitty? But in case he didn’t, then Ian is as stupid as Kitty and again..welcome to her.
I continue the ride..at least it’s in an Alfa.
Ok finished! Happy for the happy ever after. Just don’t let her off the premises.
3 stars as I kept on reading, the characters were a bit more fleshed out. And I don’t know 4 stars are too many, 2 to few. So 3 it is.
Mind you, spoilers ahead..
Spoilers……!!
The start of this book reminded me of a reversed copy of another book by the same author that I did like: Shadow lover. The big question in that book being: is he or isn’t he?
In this case the question is: Does the family discover that Kitty is posing as Bella? If yes, they must have known this from day 1 with all the clues Bella-beast is shedding around.
Kitty posing as Bella is a disaster as Kitty, or named by her cousin as Podge, continuously forgets important Bella facts like Bellas age, her accent. Kitty forgets Bella is supposed to have been absent for 5 years, not 13 years like Kitty herself. Kitty has been in a cave accident, not Bella! Etc.. Whenever Kitty is grasping at straws she reminds herself of the following mantra: WWBD, What Would Bella Do? The worst advice you can give yourself girl. Arghh!
Reading this it’s like ticking off a bingo card on a merry go round. Forgets age, blunders around with contact lenses, forgets to be nasty to staff. Ah yet another clue handed out! Thank you Podge.
80% in
Does Ian realise Bella is Kitty or doesn’t he at this stage? I’m getting dizzy by all the twist, turns and slip of tongues. I did think he did, but Ian is acting so weird right now that I suspect he doesn’t.
Kitty is in my honest opinion a very very stupid woman, no sorry, she is very very gullible. Kitty is molding herself fervently into the image of her beloved cousin Bella who is nothing but trouble. Kitty doesn’t have a personality, she is …well plain stupid, there is no other word for Podge. The perfect doll for Bella. There, it’s said.
If it turns out that Ian knew from the start Bella was Kitty, then he is welcome to her. But why on earth would he be into Kitty? But in case he didn’t, then Ian is as stupid as Kitty and again..welcome to her.
I continue the ride..at least it’s in an Alfa.
Ok finished! Happy for the happy ever after. Just don’t let her off the premises.
3 stars as I kept on reading, the characters were a bit more fleshed out. And I don’t know 4 stars are too many, 2 to few. So 3 it is.
September 4, 2025
3.5 stars, couldn’t go higher because Kitty came across as a bit dumb 🤭
May 6, 2024
Stuart Gem
A new book. I was totally surprised, but welcome this book with open arms. What a riveting story a classic Stuart. What a taunt cleverly written book. Another gem another classic.
A new book. I was totally surprised, but welcome this book with open arms. What a riveting story a classic Stuart. What a taunt cleverly written book. Another gem another classic.
October 12, 2024
I love it when characters swap identities in a romantic suspense because inevitably they’re not fooling anyone 😂
October 9, 2025
Perfect
Another beautiful story by a master storyteller. Read it if you have enjoyed Anne Stuart's novels before. It's definitely worth it.
Another beautiful story by a master storyteller. Read it if you have enjoyed Anne Stuart's novels before. It's definitely worth it.
July 30, 2025
Anne Stuart delivers another darkly seductive tale in Return to Mariposa, steeped in gothic atmosphere, family intrigue, and the kind of dangerous romantic tension she is known for. Katherine Mirabel Whitehead (Kitty) returns to the ancestral home she was banished from, only to step into her glamorous cousin Bella’s life through a daring masquerade. What follows is a story of secrets, betrayals, and forbidden desire, set against the backdrop of Mariposa.
Kitty, as a heroine, is both compelling and exasperating. She is intelligent on paper, with a PhD in plant eugenics that the story itself wryly points out as fairly useless, but emotionally she is vulnerable, with a deep well of insecurity and lack of self-worth. This makes her ripe for manipulation by her cousin and far too easily dazzled by charming vipers in disguise. There are moments when she veers into “too-stupid-to-live” territory, giving herself away and stumbling headlong into danger, which was as frustrating as it was hilarious. But at the same time, those flaws are what makes her believable — she has been shaped by rejection and she has never learned to see her own worth.
Ian, by contrast, is pure Anne Stuart hero. Harsh, unreadable, disdainful, and yet undeniably magnetic, he embodies that dangerous allure that makes you both wary and desperate for more. There is history between him and Kitty, one that adds depth to their dynamic, and discovering those intricacies is half the fun of this novel. Watching Ian, so certain and contained, slowly crumble under the weight of desire for Kitty is what makes this romance crackle. It is to his credit that he saves her from herself time and again, even when she cannot see the vipers circling.
The suspense of who wants Kitty — or Bella — dead runs alongside the romance, giving the story its bite. But it is the chemistry between Kitty and Ian that steals the show. The sex scenes are scorching hot, some of the best Stuart has written in recent years, and they carry that perfect balance of danger and tenderness that defines her work.
What I loved here was how quintessentially Anne Stuart this novel felt — the manipulative family drama, the enigmatic hero who you cannot quite trust, the heroine you sometimes want to shake, and the sheer heat that explodes between them.
But I also have to admit that this is not the best of her works. The plot meanders at times, and Kitty’s lack of self-preservation instincts can test the your patience. Still, for all that, it is a worthy read — especially for those who, like me, have missed Stuart’s trademark blend of scorching sensuality and gothic romantic suspense. If there was one thing I missed, it was an epilogue to give a glimpse into the future of these characters after such intensity — but then again, withholding that comfort is also classic Stuart.
Recommended for: Readers who love gothic-tinged suspense, darkly enigmatic heroes, flawed but vulnerable heroines, and the unique alchemy that only Anne Stuart can deliver.
Final Verdict: A darkly seductive gothic romance, Return to Mariposa delivers family intrigue, a hero who smolders, and sex scenes that are vintage Anne Stuart at her best.
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
Kitty, as a heroine, is both compelling and exasperating. She is intelligent on paper, with a PhD in plant eugenics that the story itself wryly points out as fairly useless, but emotionally she is vulnerable, with a deep well of insecurity and lack of self-worth. This makes her ripe for manipulation by her cousin and far too easily dazzled by charming vipers in disguise. There are moments when she veers into “too-stupid-to-live” territory, giving herself away and stumbling headlong into danger, which was as frustrating as it was hilarious. But at the same time, those flaws are what makes her believable — she has been shaped by rejection and she has never learned to see her own worth.
Ian, by contrast, is pure Anne Stuart hero. Harsh, unreadable, disdainful, and yet undeniably magnetic, he embodies that dangerous allure that makes you both wary and desperate for more. There is history between him and Kitty, one that adds depth to their dynamic, and discovering those intricacies is half the fun of this novel. Watching Ian, so certain and contained, slowly crumble under the weight of desire for Kitty is what makes this romance crackle. It is to his credit that he saves her from herself time and again, even when she cannot see the vipers circling.
The suspense of who wants Kitty — or Bella — dead runs alongside the romance, giving the story its bite. But it is the chemistry between Kitty and Ian that steals the show. The sex scenes are scorching hot, some of the best Stuart has written in recent years, and they carry that perfect balance of danger and tenderness that defines her work.
What I loved here was how quintessentially Anne Stuart this novel felt — the manipulative family drama, the enigmatic hero who you cannot quite trust, the heroine you sometimes want to shake, and the sheer heat that explodes between them.
But I also have to admit that this is not the best of her works. The plot meanders at times, and Kitty’s lack of self-preservation instincts can test the your patience. Still, for all that, it is a worthy read — especially for those who, like me, have missed Stuart’s trademark blend of scorching sensuality and gothic romantic suspense. If there was one thing I missed, it was an epilogue to give a glimpse into the future of these characters after such intensity — but then again, withholding that comfort is also classic Stuart.
Recommended for: Readers who love gothic-tinged suspense, darkly enigmatic heroes, flawed but vulnerable heroines, and the unique alchemy that only Anne Stuart can deliver.
Final Verdict: A darkly seductive gothic romance, Return to Mariposa delivers family intrigue, a hero who smolders, and sex scenes that are vintage Anne Stuart at her best.
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
February 17, 2025
This is really a 3.5, but I've been waiting for a new Anne Stuart for years., so I'm giving 5 stars. Does an Anne Stuart book make sense in the real world? No. Does any book make sense in the real world? No, it's fiction and some of those fantasy tomes make even less. To me anyway. Whatever. She writes the best gamma hero's, you never really know if he loves the heroine or not. And in most cases, when you close the book, you're just a bit concerned for the heroines life. Exactly what I want. 😂
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October 3, 2025I needed more scenes of Ian and Kitty together where it's acknowledged that she is Kitty.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews