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Dark Oil
Home isn’t always where the heart is...
When lawyer Lara Beckham is sent to Africa to save her company’s multi-million dollar investment, she’s devastated at leaving her husband behind. But what can she do? She’s needed on the other side of the world, fighting corruption in a country of rolling sand dunes and roaming camels.
On her return, however, it becomes clear that Tim has had plenty of company while she was away. Now, on top of dealing with a complicated legal system, an African coup and a marriage beyond saving, Lara has one more ball to juggle: her effortlessly seductive co-worker, Jack Norton, is joining her on the job...and he oozes trouble.
When lawyer Lara Beckham is sent to Africa to save her company’s multi-million dollar investment, she’s devastated at leaving her husband behind. But what can she do? She’s needed on the other side of the world, fighting corruption in a country of rolling sand dunes and roaming camels.
On her return, however, it becomes clear that Tim has had plenty of company while she was away. Now, on top of dealing with a complicated legal system, an African coup and a marriage beyond saving, Lara has one more ball to juggle: her effortlessly seductive co-worker, Jack Norton, is joining her on the job...and he oozes trouble.
- GenresRomance
240 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 24, 2018
This is surprisingly a very refreshing read. I'm a sucker for main characters who have their heads on their shoulders but do fall victims to their own weaknesses, such as making up excuses forLara's cheating husband when all she wants is a stable and loving family.
This is somewhat a slow and shimmering but clean romance with a dip of Africa's corrupt and dangerous atmosphere. The prose is also very well written. No purple prose or excessive descriptions but Nora James' writing gets to the point.
November 4, 2013
Lawyer Lara Blackman has recently been promoted and she’s quickly ordered by her employer, Global Oil, to go to Africa in order to sort out a dispute between the company and the government of the country Global Oil is testing in. Lara is deeply upset to leave behind her husband, especially as it will be her wedding anniversary and she has planned something special. Her husband is ambitious and although Lara would prefer to downgrade their house and give up work in order to have a baby or two, her husband wants the big house, the new cars and keeps saying he isn’t ready to start a family. Lara feels as though they are drifting apart and she wants to use this anniversary as a chance to reconnect.
Her thoughts are even more disturbed when she realises that Jack Norton, a co-worker, is joining her on the trip. Lara has always had a bit of a reaction to good-looking Jack and she believes that he knows it too. Lara is worried about being in such close proximity to Jack, although her worries soon settle a little when he takes the time to brief her on the country they’re visiting, the customs, protocols and some basic information, which her other co-worker had neglected to do. The country they are visiting is very different to Lara’s hometown of Perth, Australia and she is very grateful for the information. She finds herself relaxing around Jack and they become friends and Lara even blurts out her fears to Jack that she believes her husband is seeing someone else when she finds it impossible to get hold of him during her time in Africa. Lara thought she was a happily married woman, but this trip to Africa is beginning to make her wonder…..in more ways than one.
Dark Oil is a book that having finished, I find it difficult to categorise. It comes from Harlequin Escape, Harlequin Australia’s digital first imprint and therefore, I expected it to be predominantly a romance novel. However, I think this book defies that – for a start, there’s very little actual romance in this book. Lara is married for at least three quarters of the book and she only separates from her husband, they don’t divorce within the story. Although there’s a bit of an attraction between Lara and Jack (Lara finds him very handsome, even when she still believes her marriage is successful and happy) and they do develop a friendship and mutual respect whilst they are in Africa. However, everything is kept all very proper and there are no moments that even come close to sighting the line, let alone crossing it. After they return from Africa and Lara separates from her husband, Jack and Lara don’t even see each other until the book is pretty much over. There’s the suggestion that there’s a happy ever after but the book ends before the reader gets a chance to experience them giving into their attraction and doesn’t give them much of an idea what they’d be like as a couple. It’s an underdeveloped part of the story and the focus seems to be more on Global Oil and their dealings in Africa.
The country Lara, Jack and the third co-worker Martin visit is a made up one, believed to be rich in oil but desperately poor and with a government steeped in corruption with coups ready to happen any minute (so really it could be based on any number of real African countries). As a general rule I dislike reading about made up countries – it seems to be an easy out. Although she works hard and is clearly competent, it seems that Lara has an edge in her new position because she speaks the language of the country fluently due to having a nanny from the country when she was a child. This is flimsy at best but the time that Lara, Jack and Martin spend in Africa is highly enjoyable to read. You do get a picture of the country and the author takes great care to show the corruption that exists at the highest levels and the poverty at the lowest, obviously a reflection on several real life countries. I actually really enjoyed the African storyline and the way in which it was crafted. It really dominated the book and to be honest, most of the time I forgot that there was supposed to be some sort of blossoming feeling between Jack and Lara because that paled so much in significance. I feel as though that really should’ve been more important, or taken a larger role. I liked the fact that they developed a good friendship, which I think is important and also that many romances lack but it often felt as though there was no chemistry between them. Lara was so obviously hung up on her husband Tim and what was going on at home behind her back was so obvious and she really had absolutely no idea. So the development towards the end felt way too rapid and Lara’s switching of affections/feelings was a bit unbelievable.
Often I find that some romances have a great romantic story line but it overshadows everything else. In this book, it was the opposite: I feel that everything overshadowed the romance. It would probably be a very enjoyable read for those that like a meaty story without much of the “sappy stuff”. Me, I prefer the romance to be a bigger focus than it was in this one.
Her thoughts are even more disturbed when she realises that Jack Norton, a co-worker, is joining her on the trip. Lara has always had a bit of a reaction to good-looking Jack and she believes that he knows it too. Lara is worried about being in such close proximity to Jack, although her worries soon settle a little when he takes the time to brief her on the country they’re visiting, the customs, protocols and some basic information, which her other co-worker had neglected to do. The country they are visiting is very different to Lara’s hometown of Perth, Australia and she is very grateful for the information. She finds herself relaxing around Jack and they become friends and Lara even blurts out her fears to Jack that she believes her husband is seeing someone else when she finds it impossible to get hold of him during her time in Africa. Lara thought she was a happily married woman, but this trip to Africa is beginning to make her wonder…..in more ways than one.
Dark Oil is a book that having finished, I find it difficult to categorise. It comes from Harlequin Escape, Harlequin Australia’s digital first imprint and therefore, I expected it to be predominantly a romance novel. However, I think this book defies that – for a start, there’s very little actual romance in this book. Lara is married for at least three quarters of the book and she only separates from her husband, they don’t divorce within the story. Although there’s a bit of an attraction between Lara and Jack (Lara finds him very handsome, even when she still believes her marriage is successful and happy) and they do develop a friendship and mutual respect whilst they are in Africa. However, everything is kept all very proper and there are no moments that even come close to sighting the line, let alone crossing it. After they return from Africa and Lara separates from her husband, Jack and Lara don’t even see each other until the book is pretty much over. There’s the suggestion that there’s a happy ever after but the book ends before the reader gets a chance to experience them giving into their attraction and doesn’t give them much of an idea what they’d be like as a couple. It’s an underdeveloped part of the story and the focus seems to be more on Global Oil and their dealings in Africa.
The country Lara, Jack and the third co-worker Martin visit is a made up one, believed to be rich in oil but desperately poor and with a government steeped in corruption with coups ready to happen any minute (so really it could be based on any number of real African countries). As a general rule I dislike reading about made up countries – it seems to be an easy out. Although she works hard and is clearly competent, it seems that Lara has an edge in her new position because she speaks the language of the country fluently due to having a nanny from the country when she was a child. This is flimsy at best but the time that Lara, Jack and Martin spend in Africa is highly enjoyable to read. You do get a picture of the country and the author takes great care to show the corruption that exists at the highest levels and the poverty at the lowest, obviously a reflection on several real life countries. I actually really enjoyed the African storyline and the way in which it was crafted. It really dominated the book and to be honest, most of the time I forgot that there was supposed to be some sort of blossoming feeling between Jack and Lara because that paled so much in significance. I feel as though that really should’ve been more important, or taken a larger role. I liked the fact that they developed a good friendship, which I think is important and also that many romances lack but it often felt as though there was no chemistry between them. Lara was so obviously hung up on her husband Tim and what was going on at home behind her back was so obvious and she really had absolutely no idea. So the development towards the end felt way too rapid and Lara’s switching of affections/feelings was a bit unbelievable.
Often I find that some romances have a great romantic story line but it overshadows everything else. In this book, it was the opposite: I feel that everything overshadowed the romance. It would probably be a very enjoyable read for those that like a meaty story without much of the “sappy stuff”. Me, I prefer the romance to be a bigger focus than it was in this one.
November 29, 2013
First of all, I love that this is a REAL story. It's not a simple, boring case of man and woman meet, skirt around each other, and finally fall into bed together. I especially loved that the heroine is a lawyer who knows her own mind and isn't afraid to speak it.
"Judging me on my personal appearance, that's solid grounds for a discrimination case."
***
Alan deserved honestly and somehow, unlike many employees who simply grovelled to the head of the company, she had the strength to tell it like it was--even if it meant she wouldn't be the CEO's favourite person. It was her duty, it was the right thing to do, and that was something she definitely understood.
I like this chick, very much. I was intrigued with the whole situation, the strange, oppressed country with corrupt officials, the oil contract and all the drama. I've never really thought about it what it means to travel to third-world countries and all of this--the women who cannot vote, the salads once cannot eat without fear of getting ill from the water that cleaned them, the camel slaughtering--made me appreciate all that I have.
I even felt my heart pound faster as Lara tried to make a plane out of there, felt fear when they took her passport for holding. I chuckled once or twice. I'll this again: I love that it's a real story with so much going on besides just romance, 'cause in a normal woman's life, there really IS more going on than "Does he love me? Does he want me? Do I look good?" Seriously, people. LOL
Anyway, that being said, infidelity and cheating is a sad fact in many a woman's life. I don't believe in wearing blinders and pretending these things do not happen, thus I appreciate that the author tackled the cheating issue. That takes guts nowadays, and I am not the least put off by that sideline. As I said, it happens. However, I must say I wish it had been kept a secret from us. Some suspense would have been nice. Instead, I felt as though I was being hit over and over with a 2 x 4 that said, "OMG, he's with another woman right now. He's cheating."
To be honest, I think the heroine came to the conclusion too quick. I mean, if my husband was in a business job and his secretary told me he was working from home, my first thought would NOT be, "He's cheating on me!" I'd have to find him in a compromising position or a lie. So this was weird to me and as I said above, we were constantly reminded that he was messing around, before he was even really caught. I'd have preferred more basis for this conclusion and more surprise, less pounding me over the head with it. And then it went from constant reminders of his possible infidelity to constant reminders that she could never trust men again and that Jack may just be like her ex. It was CONSTANT, sometimes only a paragraph between them.
She thought of Tim, of how much she'd wanted to believe in her marriage and look where that had got her. Well, she wasn't going down that track again...and just a few paragraphs later...Yes, she thought of Tim, her husband of ten years, the only man to whom she had ever truly given herself. Tim, the husband who'd cheated and lied, made her feel worthless. She sighed. She'd definitely steer clear of relationships for a long, long time...and then...She wasn't going to fall for his magnetism, though, wasn't going to find herself in a trap again, with another womaniser.
That was only an eighth of the 2 x 4s. You get the picture. Over and over. How many more times does the same thing need to be said?
Full review: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
"Judging me on my personal appearance, that's solid grounds for a discrimination case."
***
Alan deserved honestly and somehow, unlike many employees who simply grovelled to the head of the company, she had the strength to tell it like it was--even if it meant she wouldn't be the CEO's favourite person. It was her duty, it was the right thing to do, and that was something she definitely understood.
I like this chick, very much. I was intrigued with the whole situation, the strange, oppressed country with corrupt officials, the oil contract and all the drama. I've never really thought about it what it means to travel to third-world countries and all of this--the women who cannot vote, the salads once cannot eat without fear of getting ill from the water that cleaned them, the camel slaughtering--made me appreciate all that I have.
I even felt my heart pound faster as Lara tried to make a plane out of there, felt fear when they took her passport for holding. I chuckled once or twice. I'll this again: I love that it's a real story with so much going on besides just romance, 'cause in a normal woman's life, there really IS more going on than "Does he love me? Does he want me? Do I look good?" Seriously, people. LOL
Anyway, that being said, infidelity and cheating is a sad fact in many a woman's life. I don't believe in wearing blinders and pretending these things do not happen, thus I appreciate that the author tackled the cheating issue. That takes guts nowadays, and I am not the least put off by that sideline. As I said, it happens. However, I must say I wish it had been kept a secret from us. Some suspense would have been nice. Instead, I felt as though I was being hit over and over with a 2 x 4 that said, "OMG, he's with another woman right now. He's cheating."
To be honest, I think the heroine came to the conclusion too quick. I mean, if my husband was in a business job and his secretary told me he was working from home, my first thought would NOT be, "He's cheating on me!" I'd have to find him in a compromising position or a lie. So this was weird to me and as I said above, we were constantly reminded that he was messing around, before he was even really caught. I'd have preferred more basis for this conclusion and more surprise, less pounding me over the head with it. And then it went from constant reminders of his possible infidelity to constant reminders that she could never trust men again and that Jack may just be like her ex. It was CONSTANT, sometimes only a paragraph between them.
She thought of Tim, of how much she'd wanted to believe in her marriage and look where that had got her. Well, she wasn't going down that track again...and just a few paragraphs later...Yes, she thought of Tim, her husband of ten years, the only man to whom she had ever truly given herself. Tim, the husband who'd cheated and lied, made her feel worthless. She sighed. She'd definitely steer clear of relationships for a long, long time...and then...She wasn't going to fall for his magnetism, though, wasn't going to find herself in a trap again, with another womaniser.
That was only an eighth of the 2 x 4s. You get the picture. Over and over. How many more times does the same thing need to be said?
Full review: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
October 1, 2013
Dark Oil. Nora James.
Arc supplied by Netgalley.
I love romance but it needs to have a good backing story, and Dark Oil does that. Right from the start I could feel that Jack was someone special, the way he was described meant he was sensually attractive, and one of those people who easily catch the eye – and then to top it he was such a – well nice seems too bland... - caring, funny, genuine...person. He goes out of his way to help Lara when they're sent to Africa, telling her all the basic warnings her boss should have done. Martin already has a grudge against Jack, and tells Lara he's a womaniser and not to be trusted. Yet its Jack who helps her, Jack who looks out for her safety and who's given her all the info Martin should have. Martin is just a typical arrogant boss, concerned with results only, and rude to anyone he considers beneath him. He's sees Lara as an unnecessary person thrust upon him, and makes it clear to her how he feels. So Africa isn't a fun place, and that’s before they get caught in the drama of a third world country. She gets closer to Jack, can't help notice the simmering attraction that sizzles between them, but is worried about Tim. He seemed – odd, not his usual self – before she left, and she can't help but worry she's missing something – thoughts of him and other women flit through her head but she tells herself she's being silly...then she arrives home and finds him with another woman..
She's now got a marriage problem to sort, the position with her job and Africa still is in the balance, her mum is still sick and waiting for results from more tests, and she can't get her mind off Jack, although there was nothing more than conversation and unwritten attraction between them. She's also concerned that he's a marriage breaker – Martin said he'd destroyed his marriage by having an affair with his wife, and after Tim's betrayal she's not going to do that either. So they dance around, two lonely people attracted to each other, and the problems at work then throw them together once again...
Its a great love story, full of simmering sexual tension and smouldering glances. You wont get out and out sex scenes here, but the way simple glances and touches are written you won't miss them. The romance is set perfectly within the story, and I really enjoyed the highs and lows of it all. I like contrast- happiness then tears, tears then happiness – that’s my idea of a great romance book. Got it all here. It's priced at £2.64 for 216 pages/437 kb so good value for money.
Stars: loved it – four and a half.
Arc supplied by Netgalley.
I love romance but it needs to have a good backing story, and Dark Oil does that. Right from the start I could feel that Jack was someone special, the way he was described meant he was sensually attractive, and one of those people who easily catch the eye – and then to top it he was such a – well nice seems too bland... - caring, funny, genuine...person. He goes out of his way to help Lara when they're sent to Africa, telling her all the basic warnings her boss should have done. Martin already has a grudge against Jack, and tells Lara he's a womaniser and not to be trusted. Yet its Jack who helps her, Jack who looks out for her safety and who's given her all the info Martin should have. Martin is just a typical arrogant boss, concerned with results only, and rude to anyone he considers beneath him. He's sees Lara as an unnecessary person thrust upon him, and makes it clear to her how he feels. So Africa isn't a fun place, and that’s before they get caught in the drama of a third world country. She gets closer to Jack, can't help notice the simmering attraction that sizzles between them, but is worried about Tim. He seemed – odd, not his usual self – before she left, and she can't help but worry she's missing something – thoughts of him and other women flit through her head but she tells herself she's being silly...then she arrives home and finds him with another woman..
She's now got a marriage problem to sort, the position with her job and Africa still is in the balance, her mum is still sick and waiting for results from more tests, and she can't get her mind off Jack, although there was nothing more than conversation and unwritten attraction between them. She's also concerned that he's a marriage breaker – Martin said he'd destroyed his marriage by having an affair with his wife, and after Tim's betrayal she's not going to do that either. So they dance around, two lonely people attracted to each other, and the problems at work then throw them together once again...
Its a great love story, full of simmering sexual tension and smouldering glances. You wont get out and out sex scenes here, but the way simple glances and touches are written you won't miss them. The romance is set perfectly within the story, and I really enjoyed the highs and lows of it all. I like contrast- happiness then tears, tears then happiness – that’s my idea of a great romance book. Got it all here. It's priced at £2.64 for 216 pages/437 kb so good value for money.
Stars: loved it – four and a half.
December 7, 2013
As a whole the book is a great read.
The social issue itself is worth reading: an eye opener to those who have never been to a third world country. Lara's first hours to the country of their business is not just a creative part of the author. It is a reality I can vouch for especially the more than poor living condition and the way locals scheme to get as much $$s from white skinned blue eyed tourists. This part of the story dedicated to the book's setting is a gem to read as the story progress.
The characters, however, left a bitter taste to my tongue. The heroine doubts her husband's fidelity while she's lusting for another man? The hypocrisy. The hero is as blatantly going after a married woman is another. I guess you can expect it from a single man who knew that the said married woman is not that true to her marriage vow. And that is the reason why I cannot believe their HEA or their romance. I kept thinking if she cheated while married to her first husband, what's to say she would not the next time she meets another handsome and charismatic man? Or that the hero would not charm another woman as a next conquest or just for the fun of it?
(Read this courtesy of my local library)
The social issue itself is worth reading: an eye opener to those who have never been to a third world country. Lara's first hours to the country of their business is not just a creative part of the author. It is a reality I can vouch for especially the more than poor living condition and the way locals scheme to get as much $$s from white skinned blue eyed tourists. This part of the story dedicated to the book's setting is a gem to read as the story progress.
The characters, however, left a bitter taste to my tongue. The heroine doubts her husband's fidelity while she's lusting for another man? The hypocrisy. The hero is as blatantly going after a married woman is another. I guess you can expect it from a single man who knew that the said married woman is not that true to her marriage vow. And that is the reason why I cannot believe their HEA or their romance. I kept thinking if she cheated while married to her first husband, what's to say she would not the next time she meets another handsome and charismatic man? Or that the hero would not charm another woman as a next conquest or just for the fun of it?
(Read this courtesy of my local library)
December 31, 2013
It's Lara Beckham's 10th anniversary and she's looking forward to spending it with Tim her husband until work throws a spanner into her plans and not only is she heading off to work in a foreign country but she's worried her husband is no longer faithful. To add to her burden is her sudden attraction to a co-worker.
There were parts of this book I enjoyed more than others. I liked seeing Tim get the heave to. I liked reading about how Lara found working in a developing country in the throes of a coup, it definitely had me on edge. The setting was another plus as it was quite unique. However I didn't really find the romance between Lara and Jack to be very exciting. I had really high expectations for this book and it wasn't anything like I was expecting.
This is my first Nora James book and I believe her debut book. I do hope she writes more as I'm excited to see what she comes out with next.
There were parts of this book I enjoyed more than others. I liked seeing Tim get the heave to. I liked reading about how Lara found working in a developing country in the throes of a coup, it definitely had me on edge. The setting was another plus as it was quite unique. However I didn't really find the romance between Lara and Jack to be very exciting. I had really high expectations for this book and it wasn't anything like I was expecting.
This is my first Nora James book and I believe her debut book. I do hope she writes more as I'm excited to see what she comes out with next.
October 27, 2013
Not Your Average Romance. In fact, there’s nothing average about Dark Oil. For starters, it’s set in the (fictional) country of Negala in Africa. This is not the side of Africa that tourists see. Though the setting is dark and gritty, the romance and characters are not. Lara is an experienced lawyer working in a hard industry where she’s thrown in the deep end. Then she meets Jack. The attraction between the two of them is beautifully rendered so that when you’re reading the story you can feel the pull between them. I felt for Lara for many reasons, most of which I can’t write down for fear of giving too much away. This is a beautifully written story with warm characters, twists you won’t see coming and a heartwarming ending. In case you can’t tell, I loved it!
May 4, 2015
Dark Oil is more than a romance, it's a journey into another world. Not only do readers get immersed into the world of global mining politics but they also get to experience a completely different setting in the made up country of Negala in Africa. The images of the country are so vivid I could feel the heat and wanted to brush away the flies.
The heroine Lara is torn between her work obligations and her husband's expectation but we soon discover he's not the man she thinks he is.
Then Jack is introduced and he's everything Lara needs in a man: intelligent, caring, understanding and attractive. I had to keep reading to discover how Lara and Jack would end up together.
Dark Oil is a great read and I'd definitely recommend it.
The heroine Lara is torn between her work obligations and her husband's expectation but we soon discover he's not the man she thinks he is.
Then Jack is introduced and he's everything Lara needs in a man: intelligent, caring, understanding and attractive. I had to keep reading to discover how Lara and Jack would end up together.
Dark Oil is a great read and I'd definitely recommend it.
June 25, 2016
Review Posted on HarlequinJunkie.com
Dark Oil by Nora James: Due to some recent firings because of poor work performance, attorney Lara Beckham has been promoted. She is now assigned to work with her company’s most important client, the government of Negala, a country in Africa. It is Lara’s duty and those of her two colleagues, Commercial Manager Martin Griffiths and Exploration Manager Jack Norton, to figure out why Global Oil’s permit to explore for oil has been terminated.
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Dark Oil by Nora James: Due to some recent firings because of poor work performance, attorney Lara Beckham has been promoted. She is now assigned to work with her company’s most important client, the government of Negala, a country in Africa. It is Lara’s duty and those of her two colleagues, Commercial Manager Martin Griffiths and Exploration Manager Jack Norton, to figure out why Global Oil’s permit to explore for oil has been terminated.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews