Jane Linden has come back to her childhood home of Red Hill,
Australia after living in Los Angeles, California for the
past thirteen years with her twelve year old daughter, Mary
Kate. Jane's Aunt Ester has died and she has come for the
funeral and to try and sell Ester's house. But in order to
make a good sale on the house she has to see real estate
Cole Roberts, who happens to be the father of Mary Kate.
Cole also has a daughter, Stephanie the same age as Mary
Kate who he had around the same time Jane had Mary Kate.
Jane felt betrayed because Cole ended up marrying
Stephanie's mother and left Jane and Mary to fend for
themselves.
Of course Cole sees this very differently from Jane, but
there was nothing he could do because she left to live
halfway around the other side of the world. Now that Jane is
back, he hopes to have the father and daughter relationship
he has always wished for with Mary Kate. He also wants to
buy Ester's property but has to go through Jane for his
dream to become a reality.
Jane wants to sell the house as fast as she can, but no one
is buying. Plus, Cole and Mary Kate have become close and
Mary Kate doesn't want to leave, especially now that she and
Stephanie are working together to try and get their parents
back together.
HOW TO TRAP A PARENT by Joan Kilby is a very realistic story
about wrong choices and how those actions can change so many
people's lives. There are major trust issues, especially
from Jane because she feels that Cole has betrayed her. She
has over a decade of pent up anger and emotion. These two
people can hardly stand to talk to each other, but through
the cute antics of Mary Kate and Stephanie, their parents
begin to communicate and come to the conclusion that
forgiveness is the best way to let go of the past and work
for a future that will benefit them and their children in
the long run.
If you are a fan of the movie, The Parent Trap, Joan Kelly's
HOW TO TRAP A PARENT is very much like that movie. Even
though this is a romance, the story is more about
relationships in general, especially that of a parent and of
a child. For a few laughs and perhaps a few tears, HOW TO
TRAP A PARENT is an enjoyable and tender story that made me
smile at the end and I have no doubt will do the same for you.
Going back to Red Hill, Australia, means coming to terms
with Cole Roberts. Great. Jane Linden's high-school
sweetheart had given her a child and offered her the
security of small-town life…when all she'd wanted were the
bright lights and a movie career.
Now the town's charismatic real estate agent is a single
parent himself. Not only that, it's clear Cole wants to
make up for lost time with his daughter—whether Jane likes
it or not.
The young love they remember seems to have burned itself
out. Until their kids find a way to turn back the clock.