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Stolen Heart
"Please, Joanna! You must help me!"
Auriel Deane was deeply in trouble. To help her, Joanna - her usually sensible sister - embarked on an incredibly risky adventure.
Caught burglarizing an apartment, Joanna found herself a potential murder suspect. Neil Felling, a complete stranger, provided her with an alibi that satisfied the police. But Joanna knew that Neil could only think the worst of her.
She had to convince Neil that she was innocent. But Auriel, the only person who could clear Joanna's name, selfishly betrayed her...
Auriel Deane was deeply in trouble. To help her, Joanna - her usually sensible sister - embarked on an incredibly risky adventure.
Caught burglarizing an apartment, Joanna found herself a potential murder suspect. Neil Felling, a complete stranger, provided her with an alibi that satisfied the police. But Joanna knew that Neil could only think the worst of her.
She had to convince Neil that she was innocent. But Auriel, the only person who could clear Joanna's name, selfishly betrayed her...
- GenresRomanceHarlequin Romance
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
About the author
Mary Burchell
167 books85 followersIda Cook was born on 1904 at 37 Croft Avenue, Sunderland, England. With her eldest sister Mary Louise Cook (1901), she attending the Duchess' School in Alnwick. Later the sisters took civil service jobs in London, and developed a passionate interest in opera. The sisters helped 29 jews to escape from the Nazis, funded mainly by Ida's writing. In 1965, the Cook sisters were honored as Righteous Gentiles by the Yad Vashem Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority in Israel.
As Mary Burchell, she published more than 125 romance novels by Mills & Boon since 1936. She also wrote some western novels as James Keene in collaboration with the author Will Cook (aka Frank Peace). In 1950, Ida Cook wrote her autobiography: "We followed our stars". She helped to found the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was its president from 1966 to her death on December 22, 1986.
As Mary Burchell, she published more than 125 romance novels by Mills & Boon since 1936. She also wrote some western novels as James Keene in collaboration with the author Will Cook (aka Frank Peace). In 1950, Ida Cook wrote her autobiography: "We followed our stars". She helped to found the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was its president from 1966 to her death on December 22, 1986.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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May 7, 2018I'm actually writing this review specifically of the cover. When I see it, it looks like two 50-something people who divorced years ago because his career took over his life, and they are traveling together in a taxi to go to their son's boarding school since he has gotten in serious trouble because no one in his family pays attention to him. They don't hate each other, and they are always pleasant on the rare occasions when they discuss their children.
In other words, this doesn't exactly scream romance to me. More like, "My life could be better, but I'm OK with it."
In other words, this doesn't exactly scream romance to me. More like, "My life could be better, but I'm OK with it."
October 23, 2013
Another 4.5 stars. This hero is a little harder and less indulgent than some of her other heroes (which makes sense given his misconceptions about the heroine), but he's still good and smitten. Very enjoyable read!
One thing I find interesting about this author's books is how her characters don't have strong moral scruples about lying to protect their own or someone else's social status. Doesn't bother me at all, as sometimes I feel like in modern HPs the characters are a little too perfect morally. Just interesting to note. I love how in this one they all, including the police inspector, just laughed over all the repeated lies the main characters had told the police in the course of their murder investigation.
One thing I find interesting about this author's books is how her characters don't have strong moral scruples about lying to protect their own or someone else's social status. Doesn't bother me at all, as sometimes I feel like in modern HPs the characters are a little too perfect morally. Just interesting to note. I love how in this one they all, including the police inspector, just laughed over all the repeated lies the main characters had told the police in the course of their murder investigation.
June 7, 2017
4 stars not for romantic content. But for the story line and events buildup.
Almost movie like movement of scenes. Well etched support characters, good and crisp dialog.
And of course for quirky narrative asides from the author about the idiosyncrasies of her characters.
A unique setting for the story too. A love story built on a chance encounter between the leads, in a crime scene !
She burgles his house, by mistake. In the mean time, his neighbor get killed. He saves her from the police, claims to be her fiance. And the roller coaster of pretenses and misunderstandings begin.
Charming girl with loads of integrity and selfless love. Cool guy with an nasty ex behind him. Melodramatic support characters. And a quirky policeman thrown in for good measure !
Racy stuff. Good read. 4 stars.
Almost movie like movement of scenes. Well etched support characters, good and crisp dialog.
And of course for quirky narrative asides from the author about the idiosyncrasies of her characters.
A unique setting for the story too. A love story built on a chance encounter between the leads, in a crime scene !
She burgles his house, by mistake. In the mean time, his neighbor get killed. He saves her from the police, claims to be her fiance. And the roller coaster of pretenses and misunderstandings begin.
Charming girl with loads of integrity and selfless love. Cool guy with an nasty ex behind him. Melodramatic support characters. And a quirky policeman thrown in for good measure !
Racy stuff. Good read. 4 stars.
December 11, 2017
As per: http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov...
Not my favorite Burchell. Lots of scanning errors and typos in this. Also, I wasn't blown away as I thought the heroine's actions were immature and wrong. I don't know why it was okay for her to do that? Because the off-the-page supposed villainess was off-the-page, I guess? Logically, that plot point made very little sense and didn't make the heroine come off as a nice person. As a manipulator no better than her step-sister, yes.
Not my favorite Burchell. Lots of scanning errors and typos in this. Also, I wasn't blown away as I thought the heroine's actions were immature and wrong. I don't know why it was okay for her to do that? Because the off-the-page supposed villainess was off-the-page, I guess? Logically, that plot point made very little sense and didn't make the heroine come off as a nice person. As a manipulator no better than her step-sister, yes.
September 7, 2013
This was the first Mary Burchell book I ever read. It got me hooked on her!
April 8, 2025
I read "One Man's Heart" (1955) just before this one from 1952. In "One Man's Heart," she reused parts of the plot from "Stolen Heart" and created an entirely different story.
I enjoyed this couple. Joanna's sister is in trouble and wants Joanna to fix it because she is being threatened by a worthless man to destroy her upcoming marriage. Foolishly, Joanna agrees to break into the man's home and steal back the letter which he's threatened to send to her future MIL. She breaks into the wrong apartment, just below the one she was supposed to go to. The day before, the villian was murdered, so it's just as well that she broke into the wrong apartment. There she meets Neil, and after he covers for her with the police (lies) she thinks she'll never see him again. Even so, it bothers her that Neil thinks she is the one who wrote the compromising letter so he has a poor opinion of her.
The story goes from there. With a few adjustments, it is nearly the same plot as "One Man's Heart" at this point. The books, however, are different and I enjoyed them both. I enjoyed OMH a bit better than this one, giving a one star difference in my rating.
I enjoyed Roger's character.
This is my 62nd MB book, and, sadly, is the last one available for me to read for free on the internet.
Grey eyes: both Neil and her sister Auriel
I enjoyed this couple. Joanna's sister is in trouble and wants Joanna to fix it because she is being threatened by a worthless man to destroy her upcoming marriage. Foolishly, Joanna agrees to break into the man's home and steal back the letter which he's threatened to send to her future MIL. She breaks into the wrong apartment, just below the one she was supposed to go to. The day before, the villian was murdered, so it's just as well that she broke into the wrong apartment. There she meets Neil, and after he covers for her with the police (lies) she thinks she'll never see him again. Even so, it bothers her that Neil thinks she is the one who wrote the compromising letter so he has a poor opinion of her.
The story goes from there. With a few adjustments, it is nearly the same plot as "One Man's Heart" at this point. The books, however, are different and I enjoyed them both. I enjoyed OMH a bit better than this one, giving a one star difference in my rating.
I enjoyed Roger's character.
This is my 62nd MB book, and, sadly, is the last one available for me to read for free on the internet.
Grey eyes: both Neil and her sister Auriel
June 17, 2024
Anuradha's review says it all. Enjoyable solid read that is unsatisfying as a romance book
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews