Gemstone

by Barbara Delinsky

Book Overview

New York Times bestselling author Barbara Delinsky shares her special magic in this poignant tale, first published in 1983, of past mistakes and second chances. It's been eight years since Sara McCray has seen her ex-husband, Jeff Parker, after she fled their San Francisco mansion and stifling life controlled by his domineering mother. But the naive young bride has returned a confident woman with her own business. Jeff, too, has changed. Since his mother's death he's become his own man, masterfully in control of the family business and estate.When they meet, the strong attraction that brought them together long ago is reawakened. But when Jeff asks Sara to stay, his offer has little to do with romance. Now Sara must decide: Does she dare be just a business partner with a man she's never stopped loving? Or does she turn her back on what may be her one chance for happiness?

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061042331
• ISBN13: 9780061042331
• Release Date: June 1993
• Publisher: HarperTorch
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

strong woman, dumb man...

I really liked that she was strong but gentle and loving - and that she KNEW (without a lot of waffling) that she loved this man. What frustrated me was that he had to play games and waffle himself to get her to "stay". I really enjoy Delinsky's later books where the love interest has a brain as well as a body, and where the relationship itself is honest, progresses along strongly, and yet still can suprise and delight you at the end. Much as I liked her, he ruined it for me.

5 stars for sure

One of my all time favs. Delinsky at her best! A must read for all of her fans!

Gemstone

I was very pleased with this story, I'm always wishing for follow up books with these good stories.

A gem of a read!

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

A life-altering romance that dancing in your soul

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.