***2.5 stars***

First off, I must admit that I had high hopes for this book to be a remarkable one about Australia. However, I was truly disappointed, both by the storyline and the hero, Dare. The storyline seemed far-fetched to me. Cassy being captured by bush wranglers three times and not being raped was highly unbelievable. These bush wranglers were rogue convicts who survived by pillaging farms and wagons. Given that they hadn't been around women for a long time and had a vendetta against Cassy, it was highly likely that she would have met a bad fate.

Moreover, every woman, except Martha and Beth, tried to sabotage Cassy and Dare's relationship in some catastrophic way. It reminded me of Bonanza, where the Cartwrights gave their all to the women, only to be betrayed or have the women die. When Lydia entered the story, I almost gave up on the book, but I persisted.

As for Dare, he was a control freak. He was selfish and often went on rampages. I understand that in the 1800s, women had little say in daily affairs. But by the middle of the book, I had had enough of him. I even skipped over scenes with Cassy and Dare because I was so irritated with him.

This book had potential, but the plot repeated itself too many times, and Dare's character needed to be toned down. A lot could have been edited to reduce the page number. Overall, it was a somewhat disappointing read.

A Great Read

This is the very first book in the series, and let me tell you, it was an absolute delight to read. From the moment I picked it up, I was completely engrossed in the story. The author has a wonderful way of creating characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I found myself constantly guessing what was going to happen next. It's one of those books that you just can't put down.

I liked this book so much that I immediately went out and bought the entire series. I'm really looking forward to diving into the next one and seeing where the story takes me. I've read several of this author's books in the past, and I have to say that I've liked every single one of them. Her writing style is engaging and her stories are always full of twists and turns.

If you're looking for a great read, I highly recommend this book and the entire series. You won't be disappointed.

DNF because you are the weakest link goodbye.

I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it just didn't meet my expectations. The story seemed to lack depth and the characters were not very well-developed.

I tried to push through, but in the end, I just couldn't continue. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea.

I think I'm done with Ms. Mason unless I get another book by chance. *shrugs*

It's always disappointing when a book doesn't live up to the hype, but there are so many other great books out there waiting to be discovered.

I'll keep on reading and hopefully find something that really blows me away.

In the meantime, goodbye to this particular book and author. Maybe we'll meet again in the future, but for now, it's time to move on.

Excellent!

I love this book with all my heart.

From the moment I picked it up, I was completely captivated by its engaging story and well-developed characters.

The author's writing style is truly remarkable, making it a joy to read every page.

The book takes you on a journey through different emotions, from excitement and anticipation to sadness and heartbreak.

It explores various themes such as love, friendship, and self-discovery, which makes it not only entertaining but also thought-provoking.

I found myself unable to put the book down, constantly eager to find out what would happen next.

Even after finishing it, I still find myself thinking about the story and the characters.

This book has truly left a lasting impression on me, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

It is definitely one of the best books I have ever read.

I've yet to read all of Connie Mason's books, but so far, with only one exception, I've found them extremely entertaining.

I can't bear to put them down, and I'm always sad when I finish them. I'm not denying that there might be some flaws, but they're easily overlooked.

This book is no exception (hence the 4 stars). One of the reasons for this is the significant amount of history it contains, about a subject I knew little about before: convict labor in early 19th-century Australia (the story is set between 1807 and 1810).

It delves into the Exclusionists vs. the Emancipists, the social and political situation in Sydney and New South Wales, the definition of The Rum Corps, and just how tough it was for the settlers due to corruption and unjust laws. (Civil Rights was an issue in other countries besides America.)

There are appearances by historical figures like John McArthur and Governor (formerly Captain) Bligh (yes, the Bounty guy), which adds authenticity to this historic novel. It also includes bushrangers, escaped convicts who turned into outlaws and play a role in the story. (I also learned about wattle, damper, and Billy tea.)

I enjoy getting a history lesson while reading about the hero and heroine.

In this case, they are Dare Penrod and Casey O'Cain. She was sent to Australia, convicted of murder, even though it was self-defense. No one took her seriously. (She tried to speak to a judge about preventing her political prisoner father from being hanged; he said he'd grant her request if she became his mistress, then tried to rape her. In the struggle, she pushed him, and he fell, hit his head, and died.)

She becomes a 7-year indentured servant to the Penrod family: the patriarch Roy and his sons, Dare and Ben. There's also another convict servant, Martha, as well as Tim O'Malley, a friend of Casey's from Ireland (who would like to be more), who's sent to the coal mines.

At first, there's a lot of animosity between Dare and Casey. He believes she's a killer and a whore, and she resents his suspicions and arrogance. However, soon they can't fight their feelings, and Dare discovers that the "whore" was a virgin! Casey realizes how much she loves him but fears that for him it's only lust.

Soon, all kinds of obstacles arise to keep them apart, not just Casey's seven-year convict sentence. Casey discovers Tim wounded in the bush after he escaped from the mines and was shot. She hides him and cares for him (afraid to involve the Penrods), with the help of Dare's emancipist friend, Robin, not knowing that fellow servant Meg has been spying on her and uses what she knows to cause trouble. (Meg wants Dare, her former bedmate, to come back to her and is determined to get rid of Casey. A charge of aiding and abetting an escaped convict, plus a fabricated charge of theft, should do the trick.)

From there, it's one event after another. Every time Dare and Casey overcome an obstacle, another one is thrown in their way. There's also competition for their affections (though one-sided in both cases), and not just from one person. There are two other men interested in Casey (not counting two lecherous officers), and four other women who want Dare!

While the other men are decent guys who want Casey to be happy, three of the other women cause a lot of trouble. However, two of them (a refreshing change from "once a bitch, always a bitch") repent their actions and try to make amends, though one is prevented from doing so.

I don't want to give away too many details, but there are many twists and turns you might not expect. I'm glad to report that (aside from one incident with Dare, out of anger rather than passion) there's no cheating. The most that happened was Casey got a friendly kiss from one of her suitors, and Dare, at a time when he and Casey were long separated, shared some kisses and caresses with one of the other women, but it didn't go any further than that. They only make love with each other, and if you like steamy love scenes, you won't be disappointed.

I'm also happy to say that, despite about five close calls, there wasn't any rape. Poor Casey had quite a few degrading experiences, but something or someone always intervened to prevent things from going too far.

I did mention earlier that the book isn't without its flaws. Casey and Dare have such a strong physical attraction that it overshadows everything else. They don't communicate with each other as they should and admit their love. Casey holds back because she's not sure Dare really loves her the way she loves him, and Dare just assumes she knows how he feels without saying the words.

She was so insecure that even when he tried to prove it, she couldn't fully trust him. Even so, she had no reason not to trust his father and brother. Ben thought of her like a sister, and Roy was fond of her. Yet, when she was in trouble and needed them, she believed the wrong person and was convinced they didn't care. No matter what doubts she had about Dare, she should have known better when it came to Roy and Ben.

There's also a time when Dare becomes jealous of Casey's attention to Drew, an elderly man (a family friend of the Penrods) who was there for her when she needed help and whom she wanted to care for while he wasn't well. Dare acted as if she were choosing Drew over him. For a sophisticated man, he sure behaved like a silly child!

Both of them were guilty of being too quick to suspect the other of infidelity, despite the strength of their love and the great sex.

But these flaws don't detract from the story, as it has so many other great aspects. There's a HEA (happily ever after), but it sure took a long time to get there! Just read the book and enjoy the adventure!

I first read this book perhaps 12 to 15 years ago when I was a middle teenager. I started young, and what can I say? It has always remained one of my favorites by Connie Mason, who was my favorite author at that time. Probably because I was a hopelessly romantic virgin with a head full of clouds, which wasn't such a bad thing.

However, reading it as an adult, I have several major concerns.

First, as an Australian living in Sydney myself, it's extremely evident that Connie didn't have a particularly good understanding of Australian history or geography.

Although the historical event of the Rum Rebellion occurs during the book's events, it's highly simplified and ignores much of the surrounding context of the time.

The Hawkesbury River isn't that close to either Parramatta or the Sydney CBD. By car, they're about an hour or more apart. You wouldn't travel to Parramatta for the day from the Hawkesbury River by horse and cart, and the road between Parramatta and Sydney was lined with many hotels along the way.

And don't even get me started on the Aboriginal people. They don't have villages; they're nomadic. Their interactions with settlers, which were often awful, were very misrepresented.

Second, it's very repetitive.

It makes almost everyone, except really Roy and Martha, seem rather bad. All the men are after Casey, and all the women are after Dare. The former is more likely given the ratio of men to women in colonial Australia, which was unfortunately known for the rape of convict women, particularly in the earlier days by soldiers. But how desperate are all the women supposed to be?

Third, the writing is not good.

I mean it's trash, and it's enjoyable as trash, but reading it as an adult, I can't enjoy it as much because I can't ignore the bad writing. The conversations are stilted and boring, and some sentences repeat with a lot of small mistakes that really should have been caught in editing.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't hate the book, and it's still a fun read because it's light-hearted romantic trash. But it raised a lot of points for me that I couldn't ignore. I actually haven't read the sequels (or at least I can't remember doing so), so I'll give them a read next to finish it off. I'm not expecting them to be brilliant like I never expected this one to be, but as long as they're entertaining, that's the most important thing.

I think, though, that in the context of the modern conversation surrounding rape culture and feminism, as well as my own background in Heritage and history, I will probably never enjoy these books, or rather any of Connie's books, in quite the same way again.

Connie Mason stories demand a specific kind of love and interest in the genre she writes. Her writing style had a repetitive nature that I'm glad isn't quite the same here.

Angst, jealousy, drama, and the typical heroine running out on the hero - that's what you should brace yourself for when you pick up one of her books. Are her characters impossibly irrational? No. Despite the drama, the characters can still be sensible, without the hysterical antics that annoy you, unless you count the evil temptresses.

Our hero, Dare, is rubbed the wrong way the moment he sets eyes on the red-headed convict, Casey. His household is in need of a new slave to assist with the house chores as their previous slave has served her penance and will soon be a free woman. He is enraged when his father selects Casey to serve them, especially when he had already chosen an older convict. Both women accompany Dare and his father back to their estate. Dare has been denying his attraction to his new cook, which goes beyond mere lust, and it only intensifies to the inevitable. To his delight, the attraction is mutual, and even more so when he discovers she's a virgin! But that only covers the first part of the story, which is divided into three phases. In order to achieve their love, they have numerous obstacles yet to face. Dare will have to persevere and practice the patience of a saint as their fate is tempted by devious mistresses, potential suitors, and the political upheaval of their era. As a character, Dare has his flaws. Sadly, he just seemed more two-dimensional to me, as if I'm merely observing his life pass by rather than truly getting to know him. His persona wasn't complex and could be quite shallow, but he makes up for it with all the sacrifices he makes for Casey. For instance, at least he's been faithful to Casey since they met.

Our heroine, Casey, has been convicted of a murder she may have committed in self-defense. Sent away to Australia, she is serving her time, waiting to receive notice of where she will be assigned to serve her penance. Little did she know that Roy and his son, Dare, would enter her life, and soon she's working as the household cook. Casey is perplexed and troubled by Dare's hostility towards her and becomes wary of him, until he confronts her about his raging desire and apologizes. Thus, their romance begins. Casey is a selfless woman who always puts others before herself, and this is partly why she finds herself being manipulated by others. Her heart is broken when Dare marries another for unknown reasons, and she is determined to start a new life without him. Surely there's more to it than meets the eye? The angst was delicious, and thank goodness for that because without the anticipation of what's going to happen next, the story would have fallen flat, considering it's over 320 pages on ebook.

Overall, this is what you can expect from any Mason story, but at least this one had a slight difference from the usual immediate attraction, angst, and misunderstanding. If you don't appreciate bodice rippers, asshole heroes, or anti-feminist heroines, don't bother attempting a Mason story. It may not be as bad as some other historical romance authors who botch it and give the poor genre a bad name, but it may or may not be to your taste.

After several years have passed, I still vividly remember this series. It has left an indelible mark on my mind. I've not forgotten it for a moment. It stands out among the many books I've read, being one of the few that takes place in Australia. The unique setting of Australia adds a distinct flavor to the story. The descriptions of the vast landscapes, the diverse cultures, and the unique wildlife make it truly captivating. It's as if I was transported to that faraway land while reading. This series has not only entertained me but also broadened my understanding of a different part of the world. I'm grateful to have discovered it and look forward to revisiting it again in the future.

This 1992 historical romance, Bold Land, Bold Love, is an absolute delight for those who have a penchant for sweeping drama and intense emotions. It truly stands as a perfect exemplar of a romance from its era, and I wholeheartedly relished every single page of it.

Describing the story in its entirety would almost require as many pages as the book itself, as it is brimming with rich content. The author throws her protagonists, Casey and Dare (yes, that's a rather unusual name), into a plethora of obstacles before finally bestowing upon them their Happily Ever After. There are prison sentences, jealous wives, walkabouts, misunderstandings, the vast Pacific Ocean, and even presumed death. This book has it all, making it a captivating and engaging read.

At the core of the story lies the deep and passionate love between Casey and Dare. They love each other profoundly, even when they convince themselves that they hate each other, or when one believes the other is dead, or has married someone else. The beauty of a book like this is not in simply watching the author create two characters who then develop a profound emotional connection. Instead, Bold Land, Bold Love is enjoyable precisely because you have no inkling whatsoever how all of this chaos and mess could possibly be resolved into a coherent conclusion. And yet, when the author manages to pull it off, you are left feeling satisfied, albeit perhaps a little bit like you've indulged in too much junk food during an ill-advised late-night drive-thru binge.

Connie Mason is my go-to author whenever I find myself in the mood for a story that is filled with drama, heartbreak, betrayal, and jealousy.

Her works have a unique charm that keeps me hooked from the very beginning until the end.

The characters she creates are so vivid and real that I can't help but get emotionally invested in their lives.

In one of her stories, I was really annoyed that Meg got away with the jewelry.

It just didn't seem fair that she could do such a thing and not face any consequences.

However, that's what makes Connie Mason's writing so great.

She doesn't always give us the happy endings we expect, but rather shows us the real world with all its flaws and imperfections.

Overall, I would highly recommend Connie Mason's books to anyone who loves a good drama-filled story.

You won't be disappointed!

**Bold Land, Bold Love (1989): A Captivating Tale**

Bold Land, Bold Love (1989) is an extraordinary vintage HR that is truly a feast for the senses.

Stuffed full of melodramatic scenes, it takes the reader on a wild ride through a world of vivid purple prose and countless steamy sex scenes.

The story is set in 1807, where the heroine Casey, convicted of murder, has been transported to the newly settled penal colony of New South Wales (now the area of Sydney, Australia).

Selected by the Penrods to work as a house servant on their farm, Casey faces strong opposition from the eldest son Dare, who can't fathom his father choosing a murderess.

The drama unfolds over 400 pages as Casey and Dare navigate a complex relationship of hate and passionate love.

They can't seem to keep their hands off each other, yet they also endure horrific events, tragedy, shocking betrayals by others, and difficult separations.

Dare is particularly into satisfying Casey with oral sex, adding an extra layer of heat to their relationship.

Initially, I was unsure what to make of this book. It was such a wild ride that I couldn't help but peek ahead, worried about what would happen to Casey next.

Despite knowing that she and Dare would get their HEA, the story had me on the edge of my seat.

This is Connie Mason's first series, and her writing is straightforward, not overly lyrical or complex.

However, the story is bold, entertaining, and offers a fascinating glimpse into the actual events that took place during the settlement of Australia.

Now, I'm eager to move on to the next book in the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cover artist for the Love Spell 1998 edition: Renato Aime.