What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sutton Babies #1
Cradle Will Rock
A Sutton Heir Had Been Born - In Hiding
Two years ago, Laura Embry fled to avoid punishment for a murder she didn't commit - with only her memories of Chase Sutton and his child growing inside her to keep her warm. Now Chase had tracked her down - to make her face justice.
Chase had a son, an heir to the Sutton land! If he and Laura were going to have a future with their child, Chase needed to get to the truth. A truth someone was willing to kill again to hide. With his child's future at stake, and his love for Laura on the line, Chase did the only thing he could - offer himself as a target....
243 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
51 people want to read
About the author
Susan Kearney
119 books129 followersSusan Kearney used to set herself on fire four times a day, now a USA TODAY—BESTSELLING author, she does something really hot—she writes paranormal romance and romantic suspense for Tor. She can apply the old rule of "write what you know" and never run out of ideas for characters and plots. An All-American and professional diver, expert in martial arts, sailor, real estate broker and owner of a barter business as well as women's fitness and three hair salons, she has enough material for a lifetime.
Kearney, a native of New Jersey, writes full time and has sold books to the industries' top publishing houses — Grand Central, Tor, Simon & Schuster, Harlequin, Berkley, Leisure, Red Sage and Kensington. As an award winning author, Kearney earned a Business Degree from the University of Michigan. Kearney's knowledge and experience spans throughout the romance genre, and her fifty plus books include contemporary, romantic suspense, historical, futuristic, science fiction and paranormal novels. She resides in a suburb of Tampa—with her husband, kids and Boston terrier. Currently she's plotting her way through her 54th work of fiction.
Kearney, a native of New Jersey, writes full time and has sold books to the industries' top publishing houses — Grand Central, Tor, Simon & Schuster, Harlequin, Berkley, Leisure, Red Sage and Kensington. As an award winning author, Kearney earned a Business Degree from the University of Michigan. Kearney's knowledge and experience spans throughout the romance genre, and her fifty plus books include contemporary, romantic suspense, historical, futuristic, science fiction and paranormal novels. She resides in a suburb of Tampa—with her husband, kids and Boston terrier. Currently she's plotting her way through her 54th work of fiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 3, 2015
This was a really good read. I loved the characters, the plot, the scenery, and the ending. This was page-turning with plenty of twists and turns that kept you guessing til the end. There was suspense, a little steaminess, emotions, good family and friends, lots of finger pointing, some ups and downs, and a dab of sweetness. I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely like to read the rest of the series. The ending most definitely leaves on tenterhooks wanting to know what...who...where...? Plus, I really like that Sutton too! I like the whole family and want to get to know them all. I can't wait to read more and am hoping it won't take long to find the other books. Great for the cuddle/snuggle, relaxing, escaping, or pretty much anytime read. Make sure you have some time cuz it might steal it faster than you think. Totally Enjoy!
April 17, 2018
November 20, 2000
Susan Kearney begins a new trilogy called The Sutton Babies in "Cradle Will Rock," a book that really has nothing to do with babies. Two years ago Laura Embry ran from Colorado, believing she'd killed the brother of the man she loved, Chase Sutton. Now Chase has found her. He wants her to go back to Colorado to face her crime. When new danger surfaces, can Laura keep her child and the man she loves safe from harm?
If that summary sounds vague, it's because I don't want to ruin any of the plot twists of Kearney's story. They're the best part of an otherwise unconvincing book. Of course we know there will be more to the case than it first appears, otherwise there wouldn't be much of a story here. "Cradle Will Rock" is a very fast and energetic tale that might remind some of Kelsey Roberts and Amanda Stevens' books. It's a fast, fun book. It's also one with far too many narrative excesses and unlikely elements that keep it out of the realm of believability. Too often Kearney's characters don't behave like real people would in the same circumstances. Their reactions seem false. For instance, Chase has learned Laura was pregnant when she disappeared. For all he knows, he was the only man she's slept with. But when he finds her living with a child who looks just like him, he never asks her if it's his. He doesn't say a word about it. It is not believable at all.
The most objectionable part of the book is the manipulative title. The series is called "The Sutton Babies." The book is called "Cradle Will Rock." The story has nothing to do with babies! Books like this are why I object to the secret child plot. The baby has no impact on this story. Chase could have found Laura childless and the story would have remained exactly the same. It's clear the child is here for no reason but to offer the book its much needed plot hook, not to add anything to the story. The only purpose he serves is his predictable role in the climax, the burden of secret children in romantic suspense novels everywhere. From what I've read from other people, the appeal of this plot is seeing a couple fall in love and find forgiveness over such a deception. "Cradle Will Rock" doesn't even have that. As far as I could tell, Chase and Laura are back in love from the beginning. There is no developing love story and no real growth in their relationship over the course of the book.
With no romance, the appeal of "Cradle Will Rock" is limited to its action, which is entertaining until the plot contrivances go too far. I had a little too much fun reading "Cradle Will Rock" to give it a negative review. I also rolled my eyes too often to give it a positive one. "Cradle Will Rock" is a fun book. It's also pretty shallow and annoying.
Susan Kearney begins a new trilogy called The Sutton Babies in "Cradle Will Rock," a book that really has nothing to do with babies. Two years ago Laura Embry ran from Colorado, believing she'd killed the brother of the man she loved, Chase Sutton. Now Chase has found her. He wants her to go back to Colorado to face her crime. When new danger surfaces, can Laura keep her child and the man she loves safe from harm?
If that summary sounds vague, it's because I don't want to ruin any of the plot twists of Kearney's story. They're the best part of an otherwise unconvincing book. Of course we know there will be more to the case than it first appears, otherwise there wouldn't be much of a story here. "Cradle Will Rock" is a very fast and energetic tale that might remind some of Kelsey Roberts and Amanda Stevens' books. It's a fast, fun book. It's also one with far too many narrative excesses and unlikely elements that keep it out of the realm of believability. Too often Kearney's characters don't behave like real people would in the same circumstances. Their reactions seem false. For instance, Chase has learned Laura was pregnant when she disappeared. For all he knows, he was the only man she's slept with. But when he finds her living with a child who looks just like him, he never asks her if it's his. He doesn't say a word about it. It is not believable at all.
The most objectionable part of the book is the manipulative title. The series is called "The Sutton Babies." The book is called "Cradle Will Rock." The story has nothing to do with babies! Books like this are why I object to the secret child plot. The baby has no impact on this story. Chase could have found Laura childless and the story would have remained exactly the same. It's clear the child is here for no reason but to offer the book its much needed plot hook, not to add anything to the story. The only purpose he serves is his predictable role in the climax, the burden of secret children in romantic suspense novels everywhere. From what I've read from other people, the appeal of this plot is seeing a couple fall in love and find forgiveness over such a deception. "Cradle Will Rock" doesn't even have that. As far as I could tell, Chase and Laura are back in love from the beginning. There is no developing love story and no real growth in their relationship over the course of the book.
With no romance, the appeal of "Cradle Will Rock" is limited to its action, which is entertaining until the plot contrivances go too far. I had a little too much fun reading "Cradle Will Rock" to give it a negative review. I also rolled my eyes too often to give it a positive one. "Cradle Will Rock" is a fun book. It's also pretty shallow and annoying.
April 9, 2020
Laura disappears because she thought she killed a man. She is pregnant but she has to stay hidden as the father of her baby is the man she murdered. Will her lover find her? Read this book to find out.
March 16, 2016
Sometimes the best part about a book is that it gives you an excuse to purge the sequels unread.
It's amateur hour at the OK Corral and the sleuths are not exactly Sherlock clones.
The prologue opens 2 years earlier when the h is attacked in the H's family's barn by the H's brother. The H's brother meets the end of a pitchfork and the "eh?"s begin. The way the h was holding the pitchfork, the fact that brother grabbed her hair, his apparently being dead (she checked his PULSE man!), she was 2 weeks pregnant...
She runs because the father of these fine gentlemen (insert eye roll here) is a senator and therefore too powerful for a peon like her to fight, even if it was self defense.
2 years later, H tracks her down (and I have all sorts of questions here, like, if you were in hiding, why did you keep the child rather than say, faking your death and having it sent to its dad?). And then we begin the sleuthing. It takes them 'til the end of the book to grasp that someone has issues with dear old dad, but it doesn't make sense. No, really. It doesn't.
First off, during this book, H/h were shot at, and neither had their cell phone with them. So the time period is recent enough that most people have them. That being the case, why did the h call the barn 2 years previous and have (she thought) the H's brother call him. Why did she not have her boyfriend's cell phone no.?
Second off, it's said later that brother got up, cursing after she left, and was skewered in the throat by the *other* blond chick in town. Come again? He had no pulse.
Third, speaking of which, that ring on the chain. If the brother ripped it from the other chick's neck when he raped her earlier that day, how is it that he was wearing it long enough for the entire family to have joked about it (and it sounded like it was a regular thing), and to have a photo of him wearing it?
Fourth, how is it that these ranchers never noticed someone spying on them? And the persons were apparently close enough to actually hear conversations from time to time.
Fifth, why is it the puppet went after the H's father rather than the partner with whom his wife was having an affair? SHE was at fault for the accident that killed her, but she wouldn't have been out if she hadn't been returning from a visit with said partner.
Why is it the sheriff didn't do his job rather than taking everything at face value? it's a small town (actually, it reads more like a blot in the landscape than a town), it's not like he has anything better to do.
Why is it the narrative is peppered liberally with idiotic hick sayings when the characters' speech isn't?
Why is it the spelling of the judge's last name changes in the third book?
Why should I read the second and third books when it took me 10 days to read book one?
It's amateur hour at the OK Corral and the sleuths are not exactly Sherlock clones.
The prologue opens 2 years earlier when the h is attacked in the H's family's barn by the H's brother. The H's brother meets the end of a pitchfork and the "eh?"s begin. The way the h was holding the pitchfork, the fact that brother grabbed her hair, his apparently being dead (she checked his PULSE man!), she was 2 weeks pregnant...
She runs because the father of these fine gentlemen (insert eye roll here) is a senator and therefore too powerful for a peon like her to fight, even if it was self defense.
2 years later, H tracks her down (and I have all sorts of questions here, like, if you were in hiding, why did you keep the child rather than say, faking your death and having it sent to its dad?). And then we begin the sleuthing. It takes them 'til the end of the book to grasp that someone has issues with dear old dad, but it doesn't make sense. No, really. It doesn't.
First off, during this book, H/h were shot at, and neither had their cell phone with them. So the time period is recent enough that most people have them. That being the case, why did the h call the barn 2 years previous and have (she thought) the H's brother call him. Why did she not have her boyfriend's cell phone no.?
Second off, it's said later that brother got up, cursing after she left, and was skewered in the throat by the *other* blond chick in town. Come again? He had no pulse.
Third, speaking of which, that ring on the chain. If the brother ripped it from the other chick's neck when he raped her earlier that day, how is it that he was wearing it long enough for the entire family to have joked about it (and it sounded like it was a regular thing), and to have a photo of him wearing it?
Fourth, how is it that these ranchers never noticed someone spying on them? And the persons were apparently close enough to actually hear conversations from time to time.
Fifth, why is it the puppet went after the H's father rather than the partner with whom his wife was having an affair? SHE was at fault for the accident that killed her, but she wouldn't have been out if she hadn't been returning from a visit with said partner.
Why is it the sheriff didn't do his job rather than taking everything at face value? it's a small town (actually, it reads more like a blot in the landscape than a town), it's not like he has anything better to do.
Why is it the narrative is peppered liberally with idiotic hick sayings when the characters' speech isn't?
Why is it the spelling of the judge's last name changes in the third book?
Why should I read the second and third books when it took me 10 days to read book one?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews