"An enjoyable Regency romantic suspense"

In 1816 London, Lucy Contrain has just finished mourning the death of her husband when she turns to the debt he left behind. She owes a great deal of money with no funds to make remittance in the month it comes due.

Viscount Nicholas Ramsey visits Lucy with quite a tale. The renowned womanizer insists that her late spouse was involved in the stealing of the Royal Ruby of Mandalay and the murder of his agent carrying the precious gem. Nicholas asks Lucy to assist him in his efforts to recover the jewel he brought back from India and in exchange he will help her with her massive IOUs. Needing the monetary influx, Lucy agrees to Nicholas' terms. However, he would never have tendered them if he knew the danger that he places the woman he loves in from dangerous foes willing to kill.

WIDOW IN SCARLET is an enjoyable Regency romantic suspense that adheres to sub-genre boundaries yet entertains the audience. The story line is fun to follow though not deep in plot as the emphasis is placed on the lead couple, neither of whom wanting the consideration of love to enter their agreement. Nicole Byrd provides her audience with a fine tale of intrigue in which love rules.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 25, 2003

When Lucy Contrain discovers that rakish aristocrat Nicholas Ramsey believes her dead husband stole a legendary jewel, she insists on joining his search. Little does she know they will be drawn into deadly danger-and into a passion that neither can resist...

Summary

Lord of mystery...
Nicholas Ramsey, Viscount Richmond, has a well-earned reputation for seduction and scandal. What isn't so widely known is the secret mission entrusted to him by the Prince Regent--to bring to England a legendary ruby known as the "Scarlet Widow," destined to take its place among the crown jewels. But many have killed for the ruby in the past, and when Nicholas's friend is killed and the jewel taken, Nicholas vows to find both the murderer and the ruby in a search that leads him to another widow...

Widow in Scarlet
Lucy Contrain thinks Nicholas is mad when he requests to look through her late husband's belongings. Wary of the aristocrat who's supposed to have a "way with the widows," she doubts his intentions can be good. But when he accuses her dead husband of taking part in the theft of a fabulous jewel, Lucy insists on helping him with the hope of clearing her husband's name. She has no idea their search will leal them into deadly danger--or headlong into a passion that neither can resist...