Ferris Byrd is sent by her fiancé, state senator Phillip Merriam (who has pretentions to the US Senate and possibly the White House), to assist his mother with San Francisco’s Puffin Ball. The famous emeralds that are part of the charity event need special security, and everyone insists that Blackheart Inc. are the only one’s for the job. Ferris, however, has reservations about hiring the owner, John Patrick Blackheart, ex-cat-burglar, to safeguard the gems.

Ferris dislikes Blackheart, though (or because) she’s drawn to him, he’s drawn to her, sparks fly, the jewels are stolen, Blackheart is framed, all what one would expect. What rates 5 stars is the fact that Stuart is one of what seems to be precious few authors who can elicit an emotional response from a (n admittedly jaded) reader. (Emotion in a romance novel…what a notion)

Blackheart does make a charming hero, Ferris is not the annoying heroine she could easily be, and the supporting cast is well drawn. The action moves right along; there are no places that seem to be just filler for the middle of the book, and the action sequences at the end, though possessed of suspenseful elements, were not so dragged out that I wanted to flip to the end already.

As an aside, this book originally cost $2.25. While I was looking for it, I was seeing copies for more than $9, and not much under $4. While I might pay as much as a new Harlequin for this (including shipping), I wouldn’t go higher. It’s good light reading, but not that good! ( )