The Ruby Necklace

by Martha Kirkland

Love by the Book — Miss Emaline Harrison was as innocent and ignorant of the ways of the world as only a vicar's daughter could be. But now she found herself in a position that no vicar's daughter should ever have to face. She was the widow of a licentious blueblood after a marriage in name only. Around her neck was a precious heirloom that some London gentlemen would kill for. So it was difficult for Emaline to discern the true motives and intentions of the seductive suitors swarming around her-most especially the dashing Captain Geoffrey Beauchamp and the dazzling Lord Liam Whitcomb.

The only guidance Emaline had was a book of advice. And though the counsel in this extraordinary guide was as captivatingly cunning as it was remarkably effective, following it was sure to lead a lovely young lady surrounded by such attractive temptation very dangerously, if delightfully, astray.

Genres: Regency

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Martha Kirkland is a graduate of Georgia State University and has taught both English and drama at the high school level. A classical singer, she believes it was the years she spent practicing scales that gave her the discipline needed to write twenty-six books. She is a lifelong resident of Atlanta, and her family includes a husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Catsalive · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emaline Harrison & Major Liam Whitcomb, Lord Seymour, are pleasant characters. While I sympathise with Emaline's desire to see something of the world, her actions feel a bit unrealistic given her circumstances. Emaline's quick deathbed marriage & subsequent mysterious events owe fealty to Georgette Heyer's The Reluctant Widow , a far superior & much more witty tale.

This story is quite nonsensical at times (heavenly intervention, indeed!), but there were amusing moments. Some of the plot direction seemed illogical given the personalities involved, &, if you are going to introduce the book "How to Attract, Captivate and Fascinate a Member of the Male Sex" by Madame X, why not make better use of it, I wonder.

[Spazfungus · Rating 1 out of 5]

started off interesting, a necklace that was lent 17 years ago, but sadly both the lender and borrower died from influenza, was found when Emmaline was moving out, so she decides to return the necklace, gets mistaken for a doxy and is married to the dying Lord Seymour. it is never fully explained why the old Lord Seymour hates the new Lord Seymour's family so much to want to marry a doxy to ruin the family's reputation. The necklace Emmaline returns is a fake, a copy that was going to be used during a theft that didn't succeed. What also doesn't make sense, is Emmaline knows who the villan is, knows what the villan is after, knows her necklace is a fake, but only sends two of the ladies away to a safehouse, doesn't take care of the servants, and comes home to pack her bags and then go to her friend's instead of speaking to the bow street runners, or going to a hotel for safety, or hiring competent servants! ugh! also, Madam X's "How to attract, Captivate, and fascinate a member of the male sex" interesting book title and could have been a fun plot point, but instead became filler.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the UBS today (the Marin Library storefront on Grant Street in Novato), I also picked up The Invincible Viscount by Irene Saunders, Devil's Lady by Dawn Lindsey, In My Lady's Chamber by Laura Matthews (I really like Matthews so I have high hopes) and The Wicked Wager by Margaret Summerville (which I think I've read but drawing a blank).

It's the ending of books that's often so predictable. Like in this book. There's a villain, increasingly coy conversation between the hero/heroine ...

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story brought a smile to my face. Some of the situations just bordered on the ridiculous, and Emmaline just goes along for the ride. Some religious overtones, but overall a fun read.