Cynthia Thomason, Your House or Mine? - Orlando resident Meg Hamilton learns that her beloved nonagenarian Aunt Amelia Ashford has been placed in a home as she recovers from a fall and shows signs of dementia. Since her aunt already quit claim deed her Mount Esther house to Meg, the younger woman decides that relocating with her ten-year-old son Spencer might be good for them as the Colonial Auction House business that she owns with her irresponsible brother Jerry is floundering.

In Mount Esther, Meg meets Deputy Sheriff Wade Murdock, a former New York cop. Wade informs Meg that he paid 20K as a down payment on the home. Apparently Amelia has spent much of it buying all sorts of stuff, mostly still unopened, from catalogues. As Meg and Wade struggle with ownership problems and trying to do the right thing, they begin to fall in love. However, she distrusts males ever since her former husband deserted her and Spence; he still feels guilt over his wife's death and how much that has shaken his daughter Jenny.

YOUR HOUSE OR MINE is an amusing, contemporary romance with a serious undertone and a touch of intrigue. The lead characters are terrific as they learn how difficult it is to court someone with kids hanging around. The children are solidly drawn as they have abandonment troubles caused by a desertion and a death respectively. Amelia is a fabulous soul who brings to life the aging crisis that affects the sandwich generation. Throw on top of that legal problems at the auction house for selling stolen goods and Amelia's deceased uncle's buried treasures from his scams. Fans will enjoy this fine tale.

Harlequin SuperRomance, Apr 2005, $5.50, 299 pp.
ISBN: 0373712685

Harriet Klausner