Gemstone

Rating:
Summary: A gem of a read!
Review: In the eight years since her divorce, Sara McCray has come into her own. She owns a successful, multi-million dollar business and designs jewelry for exclusive boutiques, special events and a very selective clientele. Her two year marriage to Jeff Parker is a past heartache she has feverishly driven herself to forget. The untimely deaths of two dear people have brought Sara back to San Francisco, however, and into the sphere of her ex-husband. To Sara's great surprise, Jeff is a changed man. He readily admits to a vulnerability she heretofore never knew existed: Jeff is alone, needy and turns unexpectedly to her for solace. Despite an inner voice screaming for caution, Sara is once again drawn to the virile masculinity of Jeff; passion has ever sprung sweet and heady between them.

No matter, Sara gently scolds herself; she's returning to New York that very day. An unexpected proposal from Jeff will keep her grounded in San Francisco, though. A child has been orphaned by those recent deaths and Jeff is of the mind -- and heart -- to adopt her. To make his claim more viable, and his home life more stable, however, marriage is necessary. And so he makes a bargain with Sara: if she marries him, she can establish a jewelry franchise on the east coast and return to her previous life after a year (when the adoption is finalized). His coolly methodical proposal is hardly the stuff of dreams. Her decision is surprisingly easy to make, but will she live to regret it?

Gemstone has born the test of time well. First published in 1983, this novel is far from dated. Proudly dubbed "A Barbara Delinsky Classic" by HarperCollins, I can neither deny nor confirm said status; I've never before read a novel by Ms. Delinsky. If Gemstone is any way to judge her talent by, however, I would have to agree it is a classic. Reading this novel reawakened that old tingle I used to delight in: the deliciously raw excitement of an author newly discovered. Of course, such a discovery comes a little late in the game, so to speak, for this reviewer.

Yes, the plight of Sara and Jeff is a familiar one to romance readers. Impossibly young when they first wed (I would like to note, however, that Jeff was twenty eight; the same age Sara is now), they were easy victims for Jeff's domineering mother and her machinations. Their difference in social status also became a major problem. At eighteen, Sara lacked the confidence and sophistication to hold her head up high and mingle proudly with a set of peers she felt woefully inadequate to. This novel could easily be a cliché, a tired and wanton misuse of a reader's time. After all, we've read it all before, haven't we? I really can't explain the draw of a plot so dear and familiar. I can only say that I was charmed by Jeff and Sara, by their ability to overcome past mistakes and their willingness to embrace a second chance, despite their paralyzing fears.

To a certain extent, Gemstone does bear the evidence of time in word and deed: Jeff can be powerfully overbearing, arrogant even. Sara and Jeff also vacillate between their feelings of love and their carefully withheld feelings of betrayal and confusion. Communication isn't their strong point, evidently. Eight years can bring about a great many changes, however. Sara's growth into a confident, independent and successful woman is extremely satisfying; and Jeff is likewise blessed with a greater maturity. Apparently, romance novels age like fine wine: they only get better with the passing of time. Gemstone sparkles with a fine patina of aged indolence and smoky passion (forgive the purple prose, please). I honestly felt like I was reading my first romance novel again, and loving every minute of it.

Rating:
Summary: A gem of a read!
Review: In the eight years since her divorce, Sara McCray has come into her own. She owns a successful, multi-million dollar business and designs jewelry for exclusive boutiques, special events and a very selective clientele. Her two year marriage to Jeff Parker is a past heartache she has feverishly driven herself to forget. The untimely deaths of two dear people have brought Sara back to San Francisco, however, and into the sphere of her ex-husband. To Sara's great surprise, Jeff is a changed man. He readily admits to a vulnerability she heretofore never knew existed: Jeff is alone, needy and turns unexpectedly to her for solace. Despite an inner voice screaming for caution, Sara is once again drawn to the virile masculinity of Jeff; passion has ever sprung sweet and heady between them.

No matter, Sara gently scolds herself; she's returning to New York that very day. An unexpected proposal from Jeff will keep her grounded in San Francisco, though. A child has been orphaned by those recent deaths and Jeff is of the mind -- and heart -- to adopt her. To make his claim more viable, and his home life more stable, however, marriage is necessary. And so he makes a bargain with Sara: if she marries him, she can establish a jewelry franchise on the east coast and return to her previous life after a year (when the adoption is finalized). His coolly methodical proposal is hardly the stuff of dreams. Her decision is surprisingly easy to make, but will she live to regret it?

Gemstone has born the test of time well. First published in 1983, this novel is far from dated. Proudly dubbed "A Barbara Delinsky Classic" by HarperCollins, I can neither deny nor confirm said status; I've never before read a novel by Ms. Delinsky. If Gemstone is any way to judge her talent by, however, I would have to agree it is a classic. Reading this novel reawakened that old tingle I used to delight in: the deliciously raw excitement of an author newly discovered. Of course, such a discovery comes a little late in the game, so to speak, for this reviewer.

Yes, the plight of Sara and Jeff is a familiar one to romance readers. Impossibly young when they first wed (I would like to note, however, that Jeff was twenty eight; the same age Sara is now), they were easy victims for Jeff's domineering mother and her machinations. Their difference in social status also became a major problem. At eighteen, Sara lacked the confidence and sophistication to hold her head up high and mingle proudly with a set of peers she felt woefully inadequate to. This novel could easily be a cliché, a tired and wanton misuse of a reader's time. After all, we've read it all before, haven't we? I really can't explain the draw of a plot so dear and familiar. I can only say that I was charmed by Jeff and Sara, by their ability to overcome past mistakes and their willingness to embrace a second chance, despite their paralyzing fears.

To a certain extent, Gemstone does bear the evidence of time in word and deed: Jeff can be powerfully overbearing, arrogant even. Sara and Jeff also vacillate between their feelings of love and their carefully withheld feelings of betrayal and confusion. Communication isn't their strong point, evidently. Eight years can bring about a great many changes, however. Sara's growth into a confident, independent and successful woman is extremely satisfying; and Jeff is likewise blessed with a greater maturity. Apparently, romance novels age like fine wine: they only get better with the passing of time. Gemstone sparkles with a fine patina of aged indolence and smoky passion (forgive the purple prose, please). I honestly felt like I was reading my first romance novel again, and loving every minute of it.

Rating:
Summary: A life-altering romance that dancing in your soul
Review: This book takes you back and forth to the busy life of the city and the quiet solitude of the country. There are psychological barriers that restrain the relationship between Sara and Jeff that are subtle but present. Sara is certainly a self-made woman and is reluctant to love yet finds her new suiter impossible to resist. You'll have a hard time putting this one down also, this author is so magical, once you read her work you yearn for more of it.