Emerald Embrace

Drake (a pseudonym for bestseller Heather Graham) lures readers to 1865 Scotland in this sensual and mysterious gothic romance. Martise St. James pays a visit to Castle Creeghan in the Highlands, pretending to be the sister of Mary, the recently deceased Lady Creeghan, in hopes of finding the legendary St. James emerald and learning the true cause of Mary's death. Though she longs to return to Virginia and reclaim her family's estate following the U.S. Civil War, Martise is soon intensely attracted to Lord Bruce Creeghan and compelled to investigate the castle's secrets. Martise is an eminently affable protagonist, possessed of sensuality, intellect, and wit. Passion and mystery combine as Martise wonders whether she will lose her heart or her life. Readers will thrill to this tale, a brilliant testament to Drake's versatility. (Feb.)