A review by iskanderjonesiv
The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh

5.0

Mary Balogh has no equal when it comes to capturing the complex, irresistible passions between men and women. Her classic novel, The Secret Pearl, is one of the New York Times bestselling author’s finest–a tale of temptation and seduction, of guarded hearts and raw emotion…and of a love so powerful it will take your breath away….

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

**

From Booklist

In this Regency tale of two tortured souls who find joy together, Fleur, on the verge of starvation after fleeing a lascivious guardian and murder charges, turns to prostitution on the streets of London. Her first customer is a scarred gentleman who pays her triple after discovering that he has taken her virginity. Then, to her great surprise, Fleur finds employment as the governess to Lady Pamela. How? Her sole customer was Adam Kent, the Duke of Ridgeway. Grievously wounded in war years ago and believed dead, Adam lost his estate and his fiancee to his brother. Finally, he was able to reclaim his position as duke and Sybil as his bride, but he never could regain Sybil's affection. Balogh puts two highly honorable characters into a seemingly impossible situation and keeps the reader guessing the entire time as she manages to finally create a -happily-ever-after ending. Diana Tixier Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

New York Times bestselling, multi-award-winning author Mary Balogh grew up in Wales, land of sea and mountains, song and legend. She brought music and a vivid imagination with her when she came to Canada to teach. There she began a second career as a writer of books that always end happily and always celebrate the power of love. There are over four million copies of her Regency romances and historical romances in print.