Lilly Dumont, a presumed-dead heiress, has been living as successful New York working girl Lacey Kinkaid, but she must confront her smalltown past in this formulaic entry from Phillips (The Bachelor), more romance than chick lit. At 17, Lilly's friends Tyler Benson and Daniel Hunter ("Hunter"), her childhood companions at the foster home Ty's mother ran-and where Lily was dumped by evil uncle Marc Dumont-helped her run her uncle's car off a cliff, faking her death so that she could escape his abuses. Years later, her uncle, who tried to get at her trust fund and plotted the trio's ruin, renews his attempts to get at her money. Hunter, now a lawyer in the upstate New York town, gets wind of Marc's legal maneuvers; he tips off Ty (now a town PI), and they find Lilly, who returns (leaving behind Alex Duncan, the investment banker whose proposal she can't seem to accept). Complicating Lacey/Lilly's identity issues are her feelings for Ty (explored physically in a chapters-long encounter), and the fact that her now fully AA'ed uncle Marc is engaged to be married to the gold-digging mother of Molly Gifford, the attorney that Hunter has had a crush on since law school. The plot falters, but the proceedings have enough emotional crispness to engage. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Escaping her abusive uncle's clutches in the only way she could, teenager Lilly Dumont staged her own accidental drowning--with the help of fast friends Tyler Benson and Daniel Hunter--and headed for New York to be reborn as Lacey Kincaid. Now, ten years later, Lacey's uncle is going to have her declared legally dead in order to claim her substantial trust fund, so Ty must give Lacey the unwelcome news. Unwilling to let her uncle steal her parents' legacy, Lacey reluctantly heads back to Hawken's Cove, but if someone has his way, Lacey will go back to being dead--this time for real. Sizzling sexual chemistry, fast-paced action, and a few unexpected twists will keep readers turning the pages of this sassy, upbeat story. Phillips (Hot Item) is a New York Times best-selling author and lives in New York. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Threatened with a return to her abusive uncle Marc, 17-year-old Lilly Dumont and her two foster brothers hatch a plan to fake her death and relocate her from their small upstate town to New York City, reluctantly agreeing they must never meet again. Ten years later, Ty, now a private investigator, and Hunter, a well-respected lawyer, agree that Lilly must be told about her uncle's plan to declare her dead and usurp her trust fund. But Lilly has taken the name of Lacey Kinkaid and built a new life for herself, complete with an almost-fiance and a thriving business, and her return to Hawken's Cove triggers attacks upon her life and upon the careers of those close to her. Popular Phillips' first attempt at romantic suspense should be eagerly received by her loyal readership, and the denouement hints at a future romance for Hunter as well. --Lynne Welch Copyright 2006 Booklist