A Precious Jewel

Who but Mary Balogh could make a prostitute the heroine of a Regency romance, and pull it off? Well, perhaps Carla Kelly, but few others. Yes, Prissy is really a prostitute, and has been for several months before Gerard becomes her client. He is a shy, not-very-bright young man who quite simply does not know how to relate to women and finds comfort in the routine. He doesn't know how to show love or affection either, and when he finally decides to set her up as his mistress he has to pretend it's all a business transaction; Prissy likewise compartmentalises her life because it's what Gerard wants.Their love story is beautifully portrayed by an author who has a gift for such angsty relationship tales. The characters' motivations all become clear over time, and Balogh uses introspection to great effect in developing the relationship and the characters' personalities. If you love books which make you want to cry before you smile at the ending, you'll love this one.

I bought this book on the basis of the fabulous reviews it received on this page and was *not* disappointed. I read it straight through in one sitting, and then had to read it again the following day. It captivated me. This is not one of your ordinary "missish" Regencies, this presents real problems and a heroine who courageously (and with a great deal of dignity) overcomes them. At times she is almost too perfect, but the bittersweet quality of the story of Priss and Gerald falling in love put any complaints far into shadow. Mary Balogh is one of my favorite authors, but this has got to be one of the best books I've read by her. Definitely going onto my "keeper" shelf and is sure to be a favorite edition on it. Be sure to give this book a try!

With Mary Balogh, You are sure to get a good story. This one is no exception. but it is different from the usual Regency. It's plot is refreshingly original.It presents a situation which was realistic but never explored. I'm glad that Balogh did not write about the heroine as a beautiful, voluptuous and seductive creature decked out in all her glory and fineries but rather a gently-bred,simple, sensible and amiable girl forced by circumstances into prostitution and then became mistress to the hero.I love both the hero and heroine. They are so human and commonplace with ordinary situations and emotions. You feel so comfortable with them and feel for them.But Balogh has a way to make them touch your heart.I hope other readers would enjoy it as much as I did.

This is one of the most unusual and most moving romances I've ever read. Heroine, a gently-bred girl, is thrown into poverty and, unable to find any other employment, becomes a prostitute in a brother catering to upper-class clients. She becomes hero's favorite girl and he offers her a position as his mistress, under his roof. Hero's upbringing has left him half-frozen, afraid of women and terrified of being vulnerable again. He wants a woman who will do it the way he wants it done, every time (which is plain and simple - no porno stuff here). Over the course of time their relationship changes from commerce to love, and they must deal not only with their feelings for each other, but society's feelings about a lord and a whore who marry. This is one of the few romances I've read where if the love/sex scenes were deleted, the idea of the book wouldn't be the same. I liked it both as a brave attempt to do something different in a regency, and as a darn good read