Emerald Embrace »

Shannon Drake is a New York Times– and USA Today–bestselling author who has written more than 100 novels, including Beguiled, The Pirate Bride, and The Queen's Lady. She has been honored with several awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affairs de Coeur, Romantic Times, including the Silver Bullet from Thriller Writers. Yevgeniya Yeretskaya has a BFA from Pratt Institute. They both live in Miami.

After a friend’s untimely death arouses suspicion of murder, Martise St. James journeys to the brooding Scottish castle of the late Mrs. Creegan to find her mystifying widower. Lord Bruce Creegan’s presence arouses more than just her suspicions. Surrounded by fear, temptation, and uncertainty, Martise tries to unlock the mystery of the ancient castle and locate a missing emerald. But when the Lord’s stormy eyes and charm melt her resolve, Martise struggles to destroy the shadow of her doubts in flames of reckless passion.

Publishers Weekly

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.)