Rosemary Rogers, Sapphire

Sapphire

Rosemary Rogers

Mira, Dec 2005, $6.99, 480 pp.

ISBN: 077832236X

In 1831 Martinique, Sapphire Fabergive at a party hosted by her father, overhears the guests claim her deceased mother was a whore. Later Armand tells her the truth that she is not his offspring. He met and fell in love with her mother in a New Orleans bordello though she was obviously pregnant. Apparently she had married an earl, but the lad's father Lord Wessex objected to the marriage and had her abducted and dumped on the streets of New Orleans. Armand sends his beloved daughter to England to meet her matriarchal side.

In London brusque American shipping mogul Blake Thixton has inherited Wessex, which he thinks stinks as all he has is two properties, debts, and hysterical females. However, he has plans to use his title to further his company's customer base in England. That is until Sapphire arrives with her claims. Knowing she might hurt his cause, he kidnaps her, taking her back to America where he demands she become his mistress, but soon finds himself captivated and in love with his prisoner. She feels the same way, but does not trust her "jailer" nor does she want to end up in a brothel like being in love did to her mom.

SAPPHIRE is an absorbing historical romance starring a spoiled coming of age young woman whose recovery from the shock of learning about her family tree seems quick, but reasonable. Blake is the more interesting character as he is the early nineteenth century "Ugly American" not interested in anything except the bottom line of his shipping business until Sapphire. Though the key secondary players like her "Aunt" and "sister" abruptly appear on and off the stage, fans will appreciate Rosemary Rogers' fine look at international relationships.

Harriet Klausner