The Secret Pearl

Title: The Secret Pearl
Author: Mary Balogh
First Printing: 1991
Purchase Date: 9th January 2006
Purchase price: £5.09
Retail price: $6.99
Purchased from: Amazon.co.uk

On book cover:

He first spies her in the shadows outside a London theatre, a ravishing creature forced to barter her body to survive.

To the woman known simply as Fleur, the well-dressed gentleman with the mesmerising eyes is an unlikely saviour. And when she takes the stranger to her bed, she never expects to see him again. But then Fleur accepts a position as a governess to a young girl…and is stunned to discover that her midnight lover is a powerful nobleman. As two wary hearts ignites – and the threat of scandal hovers over them – one question remains: will she be mistress or wife?

Comments on book:

I have long stalled to write my commentary on this book because I was so afraid that I would not do justice to it. And I still am. The truth is, this book is filled with emotions and feelings of the characters that the author has successfully described and portrayed in her brilliant writing style that I was truly amazed at the depth of her understanding of the characters – it is almost as if these characters were alive and told her of their feelings - and yet we know that too many people cannot even begin to explain how they feel inside. But the author delved into the hearts and mind of the characters and did it. It is simply amazing.

This is the first ever romance book I have read that actually made me cry. The plot is not unfamiliar but not completely predictable. The hero and heroine are honourable characters who share a love for each other that is forbidden and so they did not pursue it, no matter dire their situation – and that’s why I love this story. Mostly for the fact that the hero honoured his marriage which was already doomed from the start. And the heroine who loves the man with her whole heart but lets him return to his wife who despises him because he honours his marriage. I have always thought elements of pride, honour and sacrifice combined make the best of love stories and this book proves this wonderfully.

A true gem.

Rating: 10/10. Brilliant.