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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent! Truly out of the ordinary!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! Truly out of the ordinary!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Captivated by the Script.
Review: Oh, this is good. This is very good. One of Mary Balogh's best! A wonderful novel filled with gentle sex, yearning, and poignancy. Balogh writes a painful story beckoning two discouraged people to break free from their lifeless serenity.
Destitute and alone Miss Priscilla Wentworth earns her living in a betrothal. She accepts the condition of her life by shoving the ugliness into the far corners of her existence. Instinctively, Prissy reflects on life's beauty - spring days, warm sunshine, and quiet walks - these reflections ease life's cruelty.
Sir Gerald Stapleton endures his cynicism and wariness of women. For his pleasures, he visits the girls in the betrothal. His favorite is the pleasing Prissy. She is the only working girl who attends to his requirements effectively. So effectively Gerald Stapleton no longer wants to share her with every man dallying in the brothel. Sir Stapleton makes Prissy an offer and she accepts - she will become his off-limits mistress.
Again Mary Balogh writes a brilliant story, provoking her reader's emotions with wonderful storytelling. A fresh uniqueness flows through this book and allows the reader to view the life of a regency mistress. The enduring submissiveness and availability she gives. The mocking disdain and ridicule she suffers. A well-written sensitivity abounds throughout.
This is a terrific romantic presentation well worth the secondhand price I paid! Exercising smart business sense, a clever publisher would group Balogh's regency romance stories and reissue them.
Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Rating:
Summary: Captivated by the Script.
Review: Oh, this is good. This is very good. One of Mary Balogh's best! A wonderful novel filled with gentle sex, yearning, and poignancy. Balogh writes a painful story beckoning two discouraged people to break free from their lifeless serenity. Destitute and alone Miss Priscilla Wentworth earns her living in a betrothal. She accepts the condition of her life by shoving the ugliness into the far corners of her existence. Instinctively, Prissy reflects on life's beauty - spring days, warm sunshine, and quiet walks - these reflections ease life's cruelty. Sir Gerald Stapleton endures his cynicism and wariness of women. For his pleasures, he visits the girls in the betrothal. His favorite is the pleasing Prissy. She is the only working girl who attends to his requirements effectively. So effectively Gerald Stapleton no longer wants to share her with every man dallying in the betrothal. Sir Stapleton makes Prissy an offer and she accepts - she will become his off-limits mistress. Again Mary Balogh writes a brilliant story, provoking her reader's emotions with wonderful storytelling. A fresh uniqueness flows through this book and allows the reader to view the life of a regency mistress. The enduring submissiveness and availability she gives. The mocking disdain and ridicule she suffers. A well-written sensitivity abounds throughout. This is a terrific romantic presentation well worth the secondhand price I paid! Exercising suave business sense, a prudent publisher would group Balogh's regency romance stories and reissue them. Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet and Touching!
Review: This is a wonderful book! It actually made me cry and that is really saying something because I *never* cry over books or movies. Bravo to Mary Balogh for being brave enough to write a story set in Regency times with a *working* prostitute for a heroine! I confess that I hate the more typical prostitute-but-still-a-virgin historical romance plotline.
Priscilla Wentworth is an impoverished gentlewoman who has been working in an uppercrust brothel for two months when she first meets the hero, Sir Gerald Stapleton, as one of her clients. Priscilla is a beautiful literary creation--a woman who is able to make lemonade out of the lemons that life has dealt her. She is a strong, intelligent, very sweet woman who has managed to retain her sense of self and dignity despite her sordid profession. Gerald is a less heroic but still incredibly sympathetic character. Not very adventurous, average in looks and intelligence, and feeling betrayed by all the important women in his life, he deliberately avoids any meaningful relationships with women until he meets Prissy. She is so sweet, warm and accommodating that he finds himself drawn to her and eventually sets her up as his mistress. Both Gerald and Prissy are so afraid of getting hurt that they deny their growing affection and try to treat their relationship as a business arrangement.
The love that develops between Gerald and Prissy is very believable, as are the issues that keep them apart. Gerald feels inadequate and cannot bring himself to trust any woman's love, particularly one like Prissy who has been trained to please and deceive men. Prissy realizes that even if Gerald could ever bring himself to trust and commit--gentlemen do *not* marry women who have been prostitutes (especially known prostitutes with other clients who are members of his own social circle.)
In summary, this is a really unique and heart-wrenching story! Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: When the hero is not a hero...
Review: This is my favorite of all Mary Balogh's romances. I couldn't put it down the first time I read it, and I've now reread it so many times I've lost count!
Rating:
Summary: Best Mary Balogh ever!
Review: This is my favorite of all Mary Balogh's romances. I couldn't put it down the first time I read it, and I've now reread it so many times I've lost count!
Rating:
Summary: A startlingly different - but wonderful - romance
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Heart-warming and Satisfying
Review: 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 as a way to make them touch your heart.I hope other readers would enjoy it as much as I did.
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