The Night Before Christmas

by Joyce Sullivan

'Twas the Night Before Christmas... and Ian Harris was returning home to a mystery.

His beloved aunt had disappeared and his beautiful boarder, Laurel Bishop, claimed no knowledge. But the seductive single mother wasn't as innocent as she'd have him believe. Two Christmas Eves ago her husband had been murdered... and she'd been arrested for the crime. The lovely lady had a lot to explain--and even more to hide.

While Ian's body told him one thing, his mind knew better. Laurel was trouble. But when he watched her with her little daughter, or felt her melt in his arms, all he wanted for Christmas was to believe...in her.

Genres: Harlequin, Christmas

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1995

About the author

Writing romantic suspense is no mystery for Harlequin Intrigue author, Joyce Sullivan. She graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and worked as a private investigator in British Columbia before trying her hand at freelance journalism and writing romance.

She made her first sale to the Harlequin Intrigue line in 1995. The Harlequin Intrigue line features taut edge-of-the-seat contemporary romantic suspense tales of danger and desire. Whether a murder mystery, psychological suspense thriller or woman in jeopardy, lives are always on the line . . . and so are hearts!

Joyce loves observing people and finding overlooked details about everyday life that make unique clues in her books. Her previous six books with the Intrigue line have all been set in Canada. Her first series with Intrigue, the Collingwood Heirs, debuts in August 2003, and is set in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

A native Californian, Joyce emigrated to Canada for love. She and her husband have two children and make their home in Western Quebec.

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 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.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ~ This is Ms. Sullivan's debut with Harlequin Intrigue and she had me hooked right from the first pages.  Laurel's back story of her husband's unsolved murder two years ago brings forward a dark edgy tension that drives the present mystery of Ian's aunt's disappearance.  The mystery is multi-faceted and kept me on my toes wondering who was responsible for all the chaos Laurel finds herself in.  Ian is a usually a no strings sort of guy, but Laurel and her 3 yr old daughter, Dorie, quickly get under his skin and make him start to long for roots and a real home of his own.  If you enjoy intrigue with your romance, than this story by Ms. Sullivan is one for you.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Christina Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a story....murder and a happy ending, now when do you hear those put together?