Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102384 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 432 pages

Synopsis
"The Secret Pearl" opens with Adam, Duke of Raybourne, emerging from the Drury Lane Theatre, parting from his friends, and seeing a sad-looking prostitute standing in the shadows. Something makes him approach her; despite the fact that she isn't throwing out any lures to him at all, he hires her and takes her to a room in a run-down inn. This, we find, is Fleur's first night as a prostitute. Having gone two days without food and unable to get a job, she has decided to sell the only remaining asset she has: herself. Only when it's too late does Adam discover that she is actually a gentlewoman fallen on hard times, and a virgin. Afterwards, Adam does feel some guilt, and he feeds Fleur as well as giving her three times as much money as she asked for. And then he sends his secretary to ensure that she is offered a job - as governess to his daughter. His motives, he assumes, are simply philanthropic: he hates the thought of a gentlewoman having to survive on the streets in such a fashion. So Fleur takes up residence in the Duke of Raybourne's estate, delighted to have found a refuge both from her life in London and from the horrors from which she ran in the first place.

Until the Duke of Raybourne comes home, and she discovers that he is the same man to whom she sold herself as a prostitute. And yet, as the days go by, he is also the man who comforts her, who protects her and who offers her a safe refuge. "The Secret Pearl" is a classic, one of Mary Balogh's very best. It's poignant; heart wrenching and utterly romantic, and her fans will be overjoyed to find it back on the market.

Customer Reviews

As wonderful as always
Isabella Fleur Bradshaw has run away from a terrible situation at home and has been driven to the last resort in London of selling her body. Adam Kent, Duke of Ridgeway terribly scarred both inside and out sees her lurking in the shadows outside the theatre, something draws him to the still, silent figure and for the first time in his unconventional marriage he is unfaithful and horrified to discover Fleurs' virginity. Tracking her down in the days that follow he secretly arranges for Fleur to become governess to a young girl. Fleur never expects to see the dark, scarred gentleman again and is truly, sickeningly terrified when she finds he is her employer. However with Mary Baloghs' usual depth and subtlety, two damaged souls begin to come together. There are many things in their way besides their own fears, her problems from home - which of course track her down - and his problem "marriage" (you'll underatand once you've read it). What is so pleasing about Marys' work in the depth that all her characters have, and between her main characters, though there is wariness there is also honesty and few false (and annoying)misunderatandings, I love all her books but found this one particularly moving - LOVED IT.

Love or Duty?
This has to be Balogh's best book I have read so far. An outstanding story which kept me literately on the edge of my seat. Its many unexpected twists and turns are so addictive that I felt quite bereaved after 399 pages.

This is the tale of the Duke of Ridgeway, Adam Kent, and Fleur Hamilton. Their encounter in London is unexpected, and after one night it is agreed they will never see one another again. One night was more than enough to cause deep rifts and pain. But faith has other things in mind for them. Adam's secretary hires Fleur as a governess for his daughter. Luckily for Fleur, Adam is often from home, and it is weeks before she finds herself faced with him again. In the mean time, she has managed to find some peace and happiness in her new home and put her past somewhat behind. But then Adam returns home with in his wake a ton of visitors for his wife's party. After a few days, his half-brother also joins the party, along with a friend. Within a week, events unravel themselves quickly, and Fleur sees no other choice than flee once more. The Duke is left behind to wonder about his employee and makes inquiries to find out the truth amidst major family problems. But then he faces the biggest problem of all: will he go after Fleur, whom he came to love, or does he attempt to rescue his marriage? In other words, go for happiness and love, or be duty-bound and safe his reputation? Go buy the book to find out more...

What I particularly loved about this book was the character development. Where many books kill the characterisation in order to solve all problems, Balogh managed to set the heroes just where they needed to be to solve everything and stay true to themselves. Adam is a first born son, and heir to one of the largest estates in England. Yet he decided to go off to fight for his country. It is there that he got scarred for life all over his left body. He is very embarrassed about his looks and beliefs himself to be ugly. In his absence from home, many things happened, including his brother nearly ruining his estates and life. When he finally returns, he marries the woman intended for him, but it is more a marriage of convenience than actual love. Adam feels it is his duty to take care of her and protect her. She sees him as the villain who destroyed her happy life. As a Duke, Adam has a lot of influence, but he not much interested in using it. He is good for all his servants. But after five years of living without love and rejection, he wants more of life. But with his duties as a Duke and nobleman of England he knows it is impossible for him to get that. Enter Fleur. She is born as a Lady, but one little mistake in trying to protect herself has major consequences she rather not faces. She flees to London, where she hits rock bottom before meeting Adam and getting a job as his governess. Having fallen from grace, she has very little faith in herself and lives in constant terror of being caught up with her past. In the class room with her student she finally becomes herself again. And then Adam grants her some privileges, such as playing the pianoforte. Slowly, she becomes her independent self again and nightmares turn into dreams. Until she flees again, not trusting Adam enough and still being scared of him.

The book is packed with adventure, mystery, romance and more. Balogh even manages to include some humour. It is very fast paced and wonderfully built. Every little detail means something. A very excellent Regency Romance novel. It is that I had to go to work and therefore catch some sleep; otherwise I would have read the book in one sitting. I am very glad I have some of her books unread waiting on my bookshelf.

The only bad thing about the book that I can find is the spelling... it keeps on jarring me that a story set in England of the 18th and/or 19th century uses the spelling of the US. But it is so minor that it cannot spoil my love for this fantastic book.

An excellent story and a romance `out of the common way'
Mary Balogh doesn't seem able to write a bad book, although some of her earlier books feel a little less rounded than the later ones (her "Slightly" series and "Simply" series). The Secret Pearl is an older book, written in 1991, but in no way does it fail to match up with her newer books - this is a brilliantly written and touching story, although it probably wouldn't appeal as much to the person who just wants to read a straight romance of the "wham, bam, thankyou mam" variety.

Tell me, when was the last time you read a book which had, as its heroine, a prostitute who is also a murderess? And when was the last time you read a book where the hero was ugly, scarred, used said prostitute (being unfaithful to his wife) and then, when she was terrified of him, contrived to keep her close at hand so that she got over her fear? Hmmm, takes a while but no, haven't read any other books like this one. And, having read what I've said there, our hero and heroine don't seem very heroic at all. Far from it!

But Mary Balogh's books always seem to delve deeper into the realities of life in Regency England - not just the gowns and balls and glamour but the seedier underside, particularly for those who have no money or have fallen foul of society in some other way. These books aren't straight "Girl meets Duke, they fall in love and get married" - there is always a lot more to overcome for the characters and consequently the books are far more satisfying.

So.... Fleur Hamilton finds herself on the streets soliciting for the first time, having run away from the scene where she has accidentally killed a man. And her first customer is the scarred Duke of Ridgeway who decides, after the event, that he has to make amends to her in some way, and so Fleur ends up becoming Governess to Lady Pamela Ridgeway, not realising it is her customer's daughter and his household. The Duke's wife instantly takes a dislike to Fleur and Lady Pamela isn't much more willing to be taught so Fleur doesn't have an easy time and yet it is much better than earning her living on the streets.

And then the master of the house comes home and she recognises him as the man who has been giving her nightmares ever since her experience with him. He is wrestling with his own demons - his unfaithful wife and inability to come to terms with the scarring he received in battle - and finds himself circling round the wary Fleur. He has no further designs on her, but as they interact he begins to see her in a different light.

There's a lot of darkness in this story - both of events and of circumstances; our hero is married, for example, and is unfaithful to his wife. We can't entirely sympathise with any of the characters which is what makes the book more of an achievement - just like us, the characters are flawed, and yet they are trying to work through these flaws. The Duke turns out to be a very good person to have helping you when you're trying to discover the truth about the death at your hands and it is good that the resolution is resolved over time and not an instant fix which so often happens in this genre of book.

I strongly recommend this book if you enjoyed Balogh's "More than a Mistress" (another excellent read) and if you like your romances with a bit more to them than most. I can't recommend the cover art at all - once again a cheesy cursive script on a shockingly pink background - but if you look beyond the outward appearance you'll find a lot more than you expected; rather like our characters in this book.