"A welcome new voice from a romance favorite."

Readers have come to expect a certain well-developed voice from Stella Cameron, whether she is writing her best selling romantic suspense thrillers or her well-loved historicals. Yet, with FINDING IAN she provides readers with a truly unique new voice that will have readers clamoring for more.

From the misty bay of San Francisco to the wind swept moors of Cornwall, a father searches for the son he gave up at a time of great personal loss. A search that will take him to a sleepy village where, before he can be reunited with his son, he must come to terms with the ghosts from his past. In doing this, he is forced to open his heart to a young woman who has as much to lose as he has to gain.

Byron Frazer, despite his apparent success as America's foremost authority on the family, has a family problem he has kept well hidden from his adoring public. Some thirteen years before, after the death of his wife and the birth of his son, an angry young Byron made a decision no parent should ever have to make. Prior to the birth, his young wife insists if anything happens, he must promise to put his career first, which later frees him to relinquish his son in a cloud of intense grief. Though he has regretted his decision, he has been able to come to terms with it by getting updates on his son over the years. Confident his adopted parents were providing him the best life possible, his regret becomes all consuming when he learns both his son's adoptive parents have passed away leaving him in the care of a maiden aunt in of all places Cornwall, England. Is now the time to reassert himself in his son's life? Or should he leave him well enough alone? But is Cornwall the best place for an estranged American teenager? Yet he wonders who is this maiden aunt? Could his son be a family obligation to this woman or a loving member of his extended adoptive family? The idea his son might be such an obligation is what motivates Byron to visit Cornwall, with no expectation he will find a new love (our heroine) who has as much to lose as he has to gain.

Jade Perron is the "son" in the Perron and Son construction company. Unlucky in love, she is seen as a marital disappointment to her family, who thinks she should give her ex-husband another chance. But once burned, and burned badly at that, Jade is concentrating on her job: a renovation job at the cottage which brings her face to face with Byron. Despite their intense attraction, each has too much emotional baggage at the moment to do anything about it. Byron must decide what he intends to do about Ian. For Jade, although she loves her ex-husband's love child, she doesn't want the slimy jerk back.

Yet, the attraction smolders as Ian and Byron become better acquainted, until all hell breaks lose when Jade learns who Byron really is. She fears for her cousin Ian, as well as what this will do to her maiden aunt and the family. This conflict of interest has Jade caught in the middle as she realizes she may have to choose between her family and Bryon to achieve Ian's best interest. But what about her best interest and Byron's, can they be reconciled?

With FINDING IAN Ms. Cameron has created a fascinating new voice so very different from her current romantic suspense bestsellers. This one is rich in emotional depth as the reader is taken on a unique journey towards love's discovery: father to child, child to family and especially man to woman. Readers may find themselves not liking Byron or Jade's actions at times, but will have to admit Ms. Cameron has captured every nuance of their emotions realistically and within the context of the story. The story is tightly woven and will leave the reader with a satisfied sigh as the last page is turned. FINDING IAN is a wonderful example of an author not caught in a rut, who is willing to step outside of her norm and offer readers a well deserved breath of fresh air. It is no wonder Stella Cameron is one of Romance's reigning icons whom readers have come to associate with the very best emotional romances the industry has to offer.

Reviewed by Jody Allen
Posted January 7, 2002

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Summary

For a few shining moments, 21-year-old Byron Frazer had it all--an adoring wife, a newborn son--until one was snatched by the cruel hands of death, and the other was cast away by Byron himself, as he launched into a downward spiral of grief and pain. He believed that he had made the right decision, and that his son would find contentment in the arms of another couple. After all, he knew his wife would have wanted it that way.

Thirteen years later, he finds out that the boy's adoptive parents have died and that he has been sent to Cornwall, England to live with relatives. Impulsively, Byron decides to go and see his son, Ian, to make certain all is well.

It is there, across an ocean, that Byron can finally confront the love--and the pain--he has denied.