FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the frozen Arctic tundra, Rachel Howland waits for explorer Noel Mangus to return from his hunt for the missing millionaire Lord Franklin. Rachel has loved Noel forever and hopes that this time he will propose marriage, for she will not share his bed unless she is his wife.

Noel returns to the Ice Maiden without having found Franklin or the fabulous black opal he supposedly carries. Worse yet, he refuses to marry Rachel.

In her anger, Rachel takes the huge black stone her father found and leaves the Arctic for New York, posing as Noel￯﾿ﾽs widow when he again goes in search of Franklin.

Rachel arrives in New York with no idea of what she will find. After ￯﾿ﾽadopting￯﾿ﾽ two urchins she heads for Noel￯﾿ﾽs home in the Hudson River Valley where she is welcomed as his widow and quickly adapts to her new life and social standing. All would be well, but for Noel￯﾿ﾽs return.

Noel decides to make Rachel pay for keeping her knowledge of the opal a secret, by acknowledging her as his ￯﾿ﾽbeloved￯﾿ﾽ wife, while he wears away her defenses. Meanwhile, Noel￯﾿ﾽs enemy, Edmond Hoar, has his own plans for Rachel and the opal, a scheme that does not include Noel.

FROM THE CRITICS

Kathe Robin - Romantic Times