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Sapphire
In a tale of love, adventure, and romance set amid the international jewelry trade, Regina Paxton, in pursuit of her dream, journeys to India with Brian MacBride in search of rare gems
451 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Patricia Matthews
91 books23 followersPatricia Anne Klein Ernst Brisco Matthews
aka Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco, Patty Brisco, Pat A. Brisco, Pat Brisco, Patricia Matthews, Laura Wylie, Denise Matthews
Patricia Anne Klein Ernst was born on 1 July 1927 in San Fernando, California, USA, the daughter of Gladys Gable and Roy Oliver Ernst. Her mother enrolled her in the famous Meglin Kiddies school, but she recorded only two of her songs professionally for one demo tape. She studied at California State University, Los Angeles, were she worked as secretary to the General Manager of Associated Students by the California State College.
In 21 December 1946, she married Marvin Owen Brisco and moved to Arizona, they had two sons: Michael Arvie and David Roy. By 1961, the marriage had ended in divorce. Focused on her writing career, she returned to California, where she met the writer Clayton Matthews in a local writers' group. After Matthews divorced his first wife, he and Patricia married in 3 November 1972 and lived near San Diego.
She started to write poetry, juvenile books, a play, fantasy and mystery short stories, which she signed under different names: Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco and Pat A. Brisco. Using the names Patty Brisco and Pat Brisco, she wrote gothic novels.
When the market for gothic novels softened, at the suggestion of the Clayton's agent, Jay Garon, she began to write romance novels under her second married name, Patricia Matthews in 1976. She become a popular writer, called "American's First Lady of Historical Romance". She and her husband also collaborated on several romance and suspense novels using the pseudonyms Laura Wylie and Laurie Wylie. She and her husband wrote five Casey Farrell mystery novels together, and she wrote three on her own, the Thumbprint Mysteries, set in the American South, westat the fourth- sixth- and eighth-grade reading levels, yet offer characters, situations, and concerns appropriate for adult readers. With Denise Hrivnak, she also wrote under the pseudonym Denise Matthews.
Her husband Clayton died in 25 March 2004. Patricia Anne Brisco Matthews died at 5:30 a.m. 7 December 2006 in the familiar house of Brisco in Arizona.
aka Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco, Patty Brisco, Pat A. Brisco, Pat Brisco, Patricia Matthews, Laura Wylie, Denise Matthews
Patricia Anne Klein Ernst was born on 1 July 1927 in San Fernando, California, USA, the daughter of Gladys Gable and Roy Oliver Ernst. Her mother enrolled her in the famous Meglin Kiddies school, but she recorded only two of her songs professionally for one demo tape. She studied at California State University, Los Angeles, were she worked as secretary to the General Manager of Associated Students by the California State College.
In 21 December 1946, she married Marvin Owen Brisco and moved to Arizona, they had two sons: Michael Arvie and David Roy. By 1961, the marriage had ended in divorce. Focused on her writing career, she returned to California, where she met the writer Clayton Matthews in a local writers' group. After Matthews divorced his first wife, he and Patricia married in 3 November 1972 and lived near San Diego.
She started to write poetry, juvenile books, a play, fantasy and mystery short stories, which she signed under different names: Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco and Pat A. Brisco. Using the names Patty Brisco and Pat Brisco, she wrote gothic novels.
When the market for gothic novels softened, at the suggestion of the Clayton's agent, Jay Garon, she began to write romance novels under her second married name, Patricia Matthews in 1976. She become a popular writer, called "American's First Lady of Historical Romance". She and her husband also collaborated on several romance and suspense novels using the pseudonyms Laura Wylie and Laurie Wylie. She and her husband wrote five Casey Farrell mystery novels together, and she wrote three on her own, the Thumbprint Mysteries, set in the American South, westat the fourth- sixth- and eighth-grade reading levels, yet offer characters, situations, and concerns appropriate for adult readers. With Denise Hrivnak, she also wrote under the pseudonym Denise Matthews.
Her husband Clayton died in 25 March 2004. Patricia Anne Brisco Matthews died at 5:30 a.m. 7 December 2006 in the familiar house of Brisco in Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 20, 2021
In Patricia Matthews' late-Victorian era set Sapphire, treasure hunting and separated lovers are the two driving plot points of this 1989 historical romance.
Down on her luck, when Englishwoman Regina Paxton hears tales of treasure--jewels--in far-away India, she is immediately intrigued. She forms a strange association with burly, bearded Irishman Brian MacBride. Together, the two travel to India in search of treasure. Their journey is rough and arduous. But together, they make it. And what's more, they actually find the jewels they were searching for.
Of course, the two bond in various ways, enjoying a quick romantic affair.
Regina and Brian separate, as Brian has never been the settling done type. Unfortunately, for Regina, she's with child, and settling down is exactly what she needs to do. So in comes along old what's his name, Will, a nice, unassuming man, who Regina convinces herself "will do." She marries him, all the while knowing she's pregnant with Brian's child. Indeed, it's no surprise to her when her son is born with a red shock of hair.
Then Brian returns to Regina's world, and the old feelings come rushing back. Brian and Regina's relationship, however, wasn't a love story for the ages. In fact, Brian had never shared any words of love with Regina. Yes, Brian is her son's biological father, but other than that, there was no epic entanglement between the two. Matthews should have made their relationship more intense; then, I would have believed that Regina yearned for Brian for years. But as it is, when Brian is around, Regina can't think of anything but him.
I believe Regina lusted after Brian, but love? Anyway, I remember feeling really bad for her husband when Regina called out Brian's name during sex. Awkward...
Do you know what happens in historical romances where the heroine is married to another man? Well, that's the conclusion we get here. I don't know if Brian and Regina earned their happiness, as it came at the cost of another person. For some reason, though, I was entertained by this book, especially enjoying the first treasure-seeking half, with Brian and Regina traveling to India searching for the eponymous sapphire. Unfortunately, the second half had me disliking the heroine, as she was dishonest about fundamental issues.
I'm rather mixed on this one, but as I didn't have a bad time reading it, it's not fair to give Sapphire less than a 3-star rating.
Down on her luck, when Englishwoman Regina Paxton hears tales of treasure--jewels--in far-away India, she is immediately intrigued. She forms a strange association with burly, bearded Irishman Brian MacBride. Together, the two travel to India in search of treasure. Their journey is rough and arduous. But together, they make it. And what's more, they actually find the jewels they were searching for.
Of course, the two bond in various ways, enjoying a quick romantic affair.
Regina and Brian separate, as Brian has never been the settling done type. Unfortunately, for Regina, she's with child, and settling down is exactly what she needs to do. So in comes along old what's his name, Will, a nice, unassuming man, who Regina convinces herself "will do." She marries him, all the while knowing she's pregnant with Brian's child. Indeed, it's no surprise to her when her son is born with a red shock of hair.
Then Brian returns to Regina's world, and the old feelings come rushing back. Brian and Regina's relationship, however, wasn't a love story for the ages. In fact, Brian had never shared any words of love with Regina. Yes, Brian is her son's biological father, but other than that, there was no epic entanglement between the two. Matthews should have made their relationship more intense; then, I would have believed that Regina yearned for Brian for years. But as it is, when Brian is around, Regina can't think of anything but him.
I believe Regina lusted after Brian, but love? Anyway, I remember feeling really bad for her husband when Regina called out Brian's name during sex. Awkward...
Do you know what happens in historical romances where the heroine is married to another man? Well, that's the conclusion we get here. I don't know if Brian and Regina earned their happiness, as it came at the cost of another person. For some reason, though, I was entertained by this book, especially enjoying the first treasure-seeking half, with Brian and Regina traveling to India searching for the eponymous sapphire. Unfortunately, the second half had me disliking the heroine, as she was dishonest about fundamental issues.
I'm rather mixed on this one, but as I didn't have a bad time reading it, it's not fair to give Sapphire less than a 3-star rating.
July 8, 2021
This is a story about Regina going into the jewelry business and how she rises to the top the ups and downs she went through, great story
May 3, 2024
This was very rushed and there were too many unnecessary details about gems, and again the ending was rushed
November 3, 2022
Ennesima rivisitazione della solita storia d'amore: lui, lei, un ex e un figlio avuto dall'ex.
La storia si svolge alla metà dell'Ottocento fra Inghilterra e America nel mondo prettamente maschile delle orificerie.
La storia si svolge alla metà dell'Ottocento fra Inghilterra e America nel mondo prettamente maschile delle orificerie.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews