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.

Book Summary

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.