Love is a powerful emotion that has the ability to bring about significant changes in our lives. It can transform us from being daredevils, constantly seeking adventure and excitement, to more caring and compassionate individuals.

When we fall in love, our priorities often shift. We become more concerned about the well-being of the person we love, and we are willing to make sacrifices for them. This change in perspective can lead to a more responsible and mature way of life.

Love also has the power to heal. It can mend broken hearts and give us the strength to face difficult challenges. When we are loved, we feel a sense of security and belonging, which can boost our confidence and self-esteem.

In conclusion, love is a remarkable force that can change us in ways we never thought possible. It can turn daredevils into lovers, and bring out the best in us. So, let us embrace love and allow it to transform our lives for the better.

I absolutely love all of Connie Mason's books.

She is an incredibly great writer. Her works have the power to transport readers into different worlds and eras.

Connie Mason has a unique talent for creating vivid and engaging characters that readers can easily fall in love with.

Her stories are filled with romance, adventure, and drama, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

Whether it's a historical romance or a contemporary novel, Connie Mason always delivers a captivating read.

Her attention to detail and her ability to bring the settings to life make her books truly immersive.

I can't get enough of her writing and I highly recommend her books to anyone who loves a good story.

Casey O'Cain, the moment Dare Penrod laid eyes on her, set his emotions ablaze.

Those feelings he was determined to overlook and mask beneath a veneer of hate and disgust. After all, wasn't Casey a murderer?

Casey was a convict dispatched to Australia to serve her sentence. These women frequently served their time in a rather unseemly manner, so it was a fortunate turn of events for Casey when the kind-hearted Roy Penrod detected something virtuous in her and hired her as his cook.

Before long, Dare could no longer suppress his desires and passionately pursued Casey. However, happiness didn't come effortlessly for this couple and would take years to attain.

Nearly every woman in the book concocted some falsehood or ruse in an attempt to drive a wedge between Dare and Casey. Casey was abducted and险些raped on three separate occasions. The fact that both of them concealed things from each other also contributed to their estrangement. But other women, bushrangers, lies, kidnappings, corrupt officials, jail, sea voyages, and even death would not succeed in keeping them apart.

If you have a penchant for the classic bodice ripper novels, then give this one a try!

As usual, I enjoy Mason's novels.

The romance in this one occurs rather quickly. Love at first sight doesn't typically work for me, but that is often the approach Mason takes.

Thankfully, the plot that enables the characters to develop more than makes up for this.

However, one aspect that stands out is that they spend a significant amount of time apart.

Moreover, she spends more time not trusting him than they actually do being together.

This dynamic adds an interesting layer of complexity to their relationship.

Despite these challenges, the story still manages to engage and keep the reader hooked until the very end.

Mason's ability to create such vivid characters and a captivating plot is truly remarkable.

Overall, this novel is another enjoyable addition to her collection.

Too many misunderstandings!
I have perused several of Connie Mason's literary works. Regrettably, this particular one ranks as my least favored. While I appreciate her incorporation of actual historical events within her books, in this instance, it seemed as if she inserted those events in a rather hasty and haphazard fashion. The narrative simply lacked a smooth flow. It was a disjointed effort to incorporate history.
The relationship between the hero (H) and the heroine (h) was rather absurd. Every time he touches her, she succumbs without fail, regardless of the surrounding circumstances. Moreover, Casey nearly gets raped in almost every chapter! It's as if she is a wanton woman in heat! There is an excessive amount of angst and an overabundance of misunderstandings. It's like a never-ending series of "perils of Pauline."
This book falls far short of the caliber of many of this author's other works. It appears to be a hasty attempt to simply add another title to her bibliography, rather than a well-crafted piece. I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone.

Passionate,

thrilling,

sensual and a definitive page turner,

classic Connie Mason,

always making me swoon.

Her writing style is truly captivating, pulling the reader in from the very first page. The characters she creates are vivid and full of life, their emotions palpable and relatable. The storylines are filled with excitement and drama, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end. Whether it's a historical romance or a contemporary love story, Connie Mason always delivers a powerful and unforgettable reading experience. Her books are a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance and enjoys being swept away by a talented author. I can't get enough of her work and will continue to devour every book she writes.

Wow....

I did something I don't usually do. I read the previous reviews and I can't believe the harshness of some of the comments.

I really enjoyed this book and I AM going to read the rest of the series.

Yes, Casey was captured more than once and escaped rape, but that's a part of reading a fantasy romance. And it's true that there wasn't a great deal of Australian history, but I still learned things I had no knowledge of before reading this book.

I think if you want a proper history lesson, you should read a history book. If you want a'reality' romance, read something contemporary.

I read for entertainment. I've said that tons of times already and this book entertained me.

I know that I am an incurable romantic and I did get frustrated with both the main characters at times, but overall, it was a great story.

If you are into fantasy romance and love at first sight....and believe it or not that does happen from time to time....then I would recommend you read this book.

I have to add that, even if I had not enjoyed this book, I would never take it upon myself to be rude or harshly critical of something an author obviously put a lot of time into writing.

I'm sorry, but there are nicer ways to critique books, or movies or whatever. I don't think it's necessary to be rude to get your point across.

I love being able to review the books I read on Goodreads. I think it's a great way to let people know what you feel are readable books or books to pass on. But I think it's very sad that a lot of people cannot review a book without being unkind.

Sooo it was a little like 'Caress and Conquer'... down under!

It was truly a unique experience. The whole situation had a certain charm that was both trashy and yet, in a strange way, quite captivating. It was like a melodramatic soap opera playing out right before our eyes. The events that unfolded were full of drama and excitement, with twists and turns that kept us on the edge of our seats.

Although it may have been considered trash by some, it was the kind of trash that was highly entertaining. It had a certain allure that drew us in and made us want to see more. We couldn't help but get caught up in the drama and the emotions of it all.

Looking back on it now, it was a memorable experience that we will always remember. It was a reminder that sometimes, the trashiest things can be the most enjoyable and entertaining.

There is a kangaroo watching them.

The kangaroo stands still, its large eyes fixed on the group. It seems curious about what they are doing. The kangaroo's powerful hind legs are ready to spring into action at any moment.

Its long tail sways gently, providing balance as it observes. The people are unaware of the kangaroo's presence, completely focused on their own activities.

The kangaroo continues to watch, remaining hidden among the bushes. It is a silent observer, taking in the scene before it.

Maybe it is waiting for the right moment to make its move or simply enjoying the view. Either way, the kangaroo adds an element of mystery to the situation.

Not bad but it would have been better if

1) The manner of speeches was more in line with the speech manners of the period that the book has covered. This would have added more authenticity and depth to the story, making it feel more immersive for the readers.

2) There was less emphasis on sex. It felt a bit excessive and in some cases, extremely inappropriate. It detracted from the overall quality of the narrative and could have been toned down to focus more on the emotional and psychological aspects of the characters.

3) There were more opportunities to create a feeling of deep love. For example, when H saw h after believing she was dead for over a year, there was no mention of the exuberant, over the moon feeling of happiness that a normal man who was desperately in love with a believed dead woman would have felt. Instead, all H felt was astonishment. He then went back home and waited for a socially more appropriate time to pay her a visit. In contrast, the secondary character Robin showed more emotion in the same situation, which made it even more glaring that the main character's reaction was lacking.

Overall, these areas could have been improved to make the book a more engaging and satisfying read.

A Good Read

Reading is an activity that has the power to transport us to different worlds, expand our knowledge, and ignite our imagination. A good read can be a source of entertainment, inspiration, and enlightenment. It can make us laugh, cry, think deeply, and see the world from a different perspective.

Whether it's a thrilling mystery, a heartwarming romance, a thought-provoking non-fiction book, or a classic work of literature, a good read has the ability to capture our attention and keep us engaged from beginning to end. It can take us on a journey of self-discovery, help us understand the human condition, and give us a new appreciation for the beauty and complexity of life.

So, the next time you're looking for something to do, pick up a good book and let yourself be swept away by its pages. You never know what kind of adventure awaits you!

As a die-hard fan of Ms Mason's works, I was rather disappointed with this particular book. It seemed a bit more tedious compared to her other masterpieces.

The Australian setting didn't really appeal to me, and she failed to make me fall in love with either the surroundings or the rich history it holds.

The entire premise of the plot, which relied on the pretense of a forbidden relationship (master/indentured servant), was quite lackluster for me. It didn't have that intense level of forbiddenness that I was hoping for.

The hero, our H, was just okay. Although not the richest or the sharpest, every woman seems to be drawn to him. However, he has a tendency to avoid taking responsibility and acts as if he is a victim of circumstances.

The heroine, h, was nothing special. She may have an enchanting beauty that makes everyone want to sleep with her, but beyond that, she is as dumb as a rock and easily succumbs to despair. One moment she believes that their lovemaking led to a baby because of true love, and then within hours, she believes the lies of a criminal that H doesn't love her and abandons the continent instead of simply walking a few miles to demand an explanation from H. It's illogical, spineless, and even dangerous to others. In fact, her actions literally caused the death of the other woman, OW.

I have always had a soft spot for Ms Mason's OW. They are always on the verge of getting married, and then the h comes along and bamboozles the H with her so-called "unparalleled beauty". And when they fight for their love, we are expected to hate them and side with the "mary sue" h. In this book, the OW is a barely legal, sheltered woman with weak lungs. She dies because the h makes her go out without her cloak on a chilly night. Yet, somehow, she is painted as the villain.

The last third of the book was quite contrived, and the constant pushing away by the characters was exasperating.

On the positive side, the love scenes were full of passion and intensity. Reading them, you can truly feel that the two individuals are surrendering to their primal nature, ignoring all the societal barriers.

However, it will be a long time before I pick up this series again.