Sapphire Blue (The Ruby Red Trilogy, 2) Hardcover – October 30, 2012

To refresh my memory on the characters and story arc, I reread Ruby Red first (and loved it even more the second time!), then moved on to Sapphire Blue. I liked that this book picked up right where the first one left off so that I could see the emotional aftermath of everything that happened in the last chapters of Ruby Red (There were big developments on both the familial and romantic fronts for the heroine!) There's a lot packed into this book - several eventful trips into the past for Gwen and her partner in time travel, the charming and enigmatic Gideon (SWOON), and some more revelations about Gwen's family as well as the unraveling of some of the mysteries surrounding the secretive organization that has governed the twelve "jewels" who've been able to time-travel throughout history. Gwen's not sure who to trust as everyone seems to leave her out of the loop or tell her stories that contradict what someone else has said. I could understand her confusion, because I changed my mind about who I thought the double agent working for the dastardly Count Saint Germain was several times! There are many shades of gray with the characters in this book as good people do bad things for what they think are the right reasons while bad people seem to have good intentions at times.I loved the addition of Xemerius, the gargoyle inhabited by a dead demon only Gwen could see. His running commentary about what happens to Gwen and the different people she encounters was hilarious. And I think Xemerius was a very clever plot device as he was able to act as Gwen's spy and go behind closed doors to collect information for her. Lesley continues to be the best friend a girl could ever ask for, assisting Gwen with research and giving her a shoulder to cry on when she needed it.I will be very interested to see how everything is wrapped up and what the answer to the biggest question of all "What happens when blood samples from all twelve jewels have been collected and inserted in the chronometer?" Will the secret to immortality be revealed, which is the belief Saint Germain and his cohorts have been operating under, or is the big secret something altogether different?This series has been such a fun read, filled with romance, adventure, and all sorts of puzzles. I recommend it to readers of all ages!

The first book, Ruby Red, was brilliant. Lovely. A sassy heroine, Gwyneth, who is unprepared for being a time traveler because her mother hid her real birthday from everyone. But she rises to the call with a snarky attitude and a disdain for the handsome but arrogant hero. I loved that she resisted the hero, Gideon, in the first book. I loved that she had nicknames for him and while attracted to him didn't become a puddle of mush in his presence. So refreshing. I read Ruby Red three times. And then we have Sapphire Blue. Still a great book. I awaited it's arrival with anticipation. But something has happened to Gwyn. Something terrible. She has become the typically heroine in the face of all arrogant handsome heroes. She giggles. And she can't think when he is around. Somehow, she has lost just a bit of her snarkiness. Sad. The plot here in this second book is solid and it continues forward elegantly. But sadly Gwyn has not maintain her distance, got kissed and has given in just a bit too easily to the arrogant hero. She has become a little too like Bella Swan sitting around thinking of the hero all the time. Of course, I want them together but he should have to work for it a little especially considering some of his attitude. The ending of this book does create a bit of tension in their relationship that gives me hope that maybe she won't just let him take over. He needs a bit of a challenge. And Gwyn needs to get her head in the game.The rest of the book and its plot lines are very elegant and entertaining. The author keeps the time traveling complexity within the range of understanding for the reader. It doesn't get out of hand with too much over writing and the characters are all believable and have a place in the story. There is no extra baggage here. I wish more books were written with this elegance and simplicity. Too many authors today try to hard and end up with a mess. This is not the case here. The mystery is skillfully doled out with the right information in the right spots. All the characters have depth and realism. I can't wait for the next one.

The continuing adventures of Gwen and Gideon, and Paul and Lucy, get more tangled as the schemes of the Count begin to close around them. Great second book, and I am looking forward to seeing how the trilogy ends.

Excellent book. It certainly keeps a person in suspense, but not too much. I read this in about 2 days. Now in to the 3rd book.