Title: A Precious Jewel (Stapleton-Downes #2)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: 1993

Genre: Romance

Pages: 338

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Monthly Key Word - Jewel; Finishing the Series

She was unlike any woman he’d ever met in the ton or the demimonde. But Sir Gerald Stapleton frequented Mrs. Blyth’s euphemistically dubbed “finishing school” for pure, uncomplicated pleasure–and nothing else. So why was this confirmed bachelor so thoroughly captivated by one woman in particular? Why did he find himself wondering how such a rare jewel of grace, beauty, and refinement as Priss had ended up a courtesan? And when she needed protection, why did Gerald, who’d sworn he’d never get entangled in affairs of the heart, hasten to set her up as his own pampered mistress to ensure her safety–and have her all to himself?

For Priscilla Wentworth, the path leading to Sir Gerald’s bed had been as filled with misfortune as it suddenly seemed charmed. But Priss couldn’t allow herself to believe she’d ever be more to a man like Sir Gerald than a well-cared-for object of pleasure. Now, despite Gerald’s deep distrust of marriage, neither scandal nor society’s censure can keep them apart–only the fear of trusting their hearts.

Another disappointing read. January is really ending up to be a very mixed bag when it comes to books. But anyway… I was not a fan of either of the main characters in this book. Priss was extremely wooden throughout every encounter with other people. I really wanted her to have some kind of personality. And Gerald was a bit of a naive yet pompous ass. For all of Priss’s talk of the worth of Gerald, I just couldn’t really see it. I just really wanted better characters. The previous book, The Ideal Wife, was such a delight. This was the opposite.

Stapleton-Downes:

• #1 The Ideal Wife

• #2 A Precious Jewel

Dark Angel:

• #1 Dark Angel

• #2 Lord Carew’s Bride

• #3 The Famous Heroine

• #4 The Plumed Bonnet

• #5 The Ideal Wife

• #6 A Precious Jewel

• #7 A Christmas Bride

• #8 Christmas Beau

Next up on the TBR pile: