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Shadow of the Past
"What the hell are you doing here?"
He spoke softly, but his hostility was clear.
Morag would have enjoyed returning to Wharuaroa, where she'd been happy as a teenager, except for meeting Thorpe Cunningham again. His words showed that he still believed she had treated his brother, Graham, badly.
Of course, if she'd had any sense of self-preservation she'd have refused to accompany Sally and her children up here when she discovered her employer was Thorpe's sister. But she was here to do a job. She wouldn't let Thorpe's opinion bother her!
He spoke softly, but his hostility was clear.
Morag would have enjoyed returning to Wharuaroa, where she'd been happy as a teenager, except for meeting Thorpe Cunningham again. His words showed that he still believed she had treated his brother, Graham, badly.
Of course, if she'd had any sense of self-preservation she'd have refused to accompany Sally and her children up here when she discovered her employer was Thorpe's sister. But she was here to do a job. She wouldn't let Thorpe's opinion bother her!
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
About the author
Robyn Donald
453 books150 followersRobyn Elaine Donald was born on 14 August 1940 in Northland, New Zealand. She was the oldest child in her family, and as a child, she thrilled her four sisters and one brother with bloodcurdling adventure tales, usually very like the latest book she'd borrowed from the library.
Robyn owes her writing career to two illnesses. The first was a younger sister's flu. She was living with her husband and Robyn and spent most of that winter acquiring, suffering, and recovering from various infections. One day she croaked that she had read everything on Robyn's bookshelves, so would Robyn please buy her something cheerful and sustaining. Robyn found three paperbacks- one Mills and Boon Modern Romance novel and a couple of other romances. Robyn read them, too, of course, and so enjoyed them she spent the next couple of years hunting down more Mills and Boon books. This was much more difficult then than it is today, so she decided to write her own, and for the following busy 10 years she wrote and hoped that one day she would finish a manuscript good enough that was good enough to send to a publisher.
The second illness was her husband's, and it was bad a heart attack. He was so young it terrified them all. While he was recovering, he suggested that Robyn finish the manuscript she was writing and send it off. It wasn't a perfect manuscript, but the doctor had said to humour her husband, so she finished the manuscript, edited it as best she could, and sent it off. Three months later, she was astounded to read a letter from the editor saying that if She made a few revisions they would buy her novel Bride at Whangatapu.
Published since 1977, Robyn sees her readers as intelligent women who insist on accurate backgrounds, so she spends time researching as well as writing.Robyn Donald sometimes thinks that writing is much like gardening. It's a similar process creating landscapes for the mind and emotions from the seeds of ideas and dreams and images. Both activities can also lead to moments of extreme delight, moments of total despair, and backache.Now Robyn lives in the Bay Islands. She continues writing, and also finds time for a very supportive husband, two adult children and their partners, a granddaughter and her mother, not to mention the member of the family that keeps her fit - a loud, cheerful, and ruthlessly determined "almost" Labradordog.
Robyn owes her writing career to two illnesses. The first was a younger sister's flu. She was living with her husband and Robyn and spent most of that winter acquiring, suffering, and recovering from various infections. One day she croaked that she had read everything on Robyn's bookshelves, so would Robyn please buy her something cheerful and sustaining. Robyn found three paperbacks- one Mills and Boon Modern Romance novel and a couple of other romances. Robyn read them, too, of course, and so enjoyed them she spent the next couple of years hunting down more Mills and Boon books. This was much more difficult then than it is today, so she decided to write her own, and for the following busy 10 years she wrote and hoped that one day she would finish a manuscript good enough that was good enough to send to a publisher.
The second illness was her husband's, and it was bad a heart attack. He was so young it terrified them all. While he was recovering, he suggested that Robyn finish the manuscript she was writing and send it off. It wasn't a perfect manuscript, but the doctor had said to humour her husband, so she finished the manuscript, edited it as best she could, and sent it off. Three months later, she was astounded to read a letter from the editor saying that if She made a few revisions they would buy her novel Bride at Whangatapu.
Published since 1977, Robyn sees her readers as intelligent women who insist on accurate backgrounds, so she spends time researching as well as writing.Robyn Donald sometimes thinks that writing is much like gardening. It's a similar process creating landscapes for the mind and emotions from the seeds of ideas and dreams and images. Both activities can also lead to moments of extreme delight, moments of total despair, and backache.Now Robyn lives in the Bay Islands. She continues writing, and also finds time for a very supportive husband, two adult children and their partners, a granddaughter and her mother, not to mention the member of the family that keeps her fit - a loud, cheerful, and ruthlessly determined "almost" Labradordog.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 9, 2017
3 1/2 stars rounded up. This is just a fun vintage RD story with a verbally abusive (mild by RD standards) alpha station owner tied up in knots by the "qualified nanny" heroine.
Heroine had been paid off by the hero six years before (when she was 17) because she was romantically involved with the hero's younger brother. The younger brother had lied and said they were having sex and were going to marry. Since the h was an orphan and too young (and the hero had the hots for her himself), he made her sign a declaration that she would never come back in exchange for money. Heroine used that money to go to a top nanny school and paid the hero back in small amounts over the years.
Now she's back, caring for the hero's sister's twin boys and an infant. The sister's husband is a scientist on expedition at the South Pole and the sister has been ill. She decides she wants to recover at the family homestead on the North Island, owned by the hero. The hero wants her gone, but it's hard to get good nannys and the poor sister really isn't well so he allows her stay.
I really liked the heroine in this one. She took a lot of pride in her job and she had a lot of self-confidence in every area but the hero (of course). She always maintained her innocence and she knew enough to keep her mouth shut when circumstances required it. This drove the H crazy because he wanted to engage with her all the time - he couldn't take the dignified silences. The sister was a sweetheart and good to work for. Lady Macbeth had a good side, once she got over her obsession. All is right in Robyn Donald land.
Heroine had been paid off by the hero six years before (when she was 17) because she was romantically involved with the hero's younger brother. The younger brother had lied and said they were having sex and were going to marry. Since the h was an orphan and too young (and the hero had the hots for her himself), he made her sign a declaration that she would never come back in exchange for money. Heroine used that money to go to a top nanny school and paid the hero back in small amounts over the years.
Now she's back, caring for the hero's sister's twin boys and an infant. The sister's husband is a scientist on expedition at the South Pole and the sister has been ill. She decides she wants to recover at the family homestead on the North Island, owned by the hero. The hero wants her gone, but it's hard to get good nannys and the poor sister really isn't well so he allows her stay.
I really liked the heroine in this one. She took a lot of pride in her job and she had a lot of self-confidence in every area but the hero (of course). She always maintained her innocence and she knew enough to keep her mouth shut when circumstances required it. This drove the H crazy because he wanted to engage with her all the time - he couldn't take the dignified silences. The sister was a sweetheart and good to work for. Lady Macbeth had a good side, once she got over her obsession. All is right in Robyn Donald land.
March 26, 2018
This was quite a nice read. Even though, I first read it way back in the eighties, I distinctly remembered the scene of the raging bull charging toward the hero and the heroine almost dying out of fear when even after alerting him he doesn't move then after he escapes unhurt she tearfully reprimands him giving him clear evidence of her love for him.
Karitane nurse Morag is accompanying her young employer, Sally Johnston, and her kids --three-year old twin boys and their younger sister -- to her brother's cattle station in Northern New Zealand. It wasn't until the last minute that she'd got to know that the brother is her nemesis, Thorpe Cunningham, the man who had banished her six years ago from Wharuaroa when she was seventeen because of her involvement with his younger brother, Graham, although Sally knows nothing about it.
Graham, who was always envious of his strong-willed older brother and suspects Thorpe had the hots for Morag, had told him then that he was in love with Morag and was determined to marry her, further deliberately misleading him into believing that they were sexually involved. Thorpe, who was sure Morag wasn't in love with Graham and fearing with them being intimate a pregnancy would precipitate an unwanted marriage, writes her a check in exchange for her signature on a declaration that she would leave the place and will not attempt to contact Graham in anyway. Morag, who had spent four miserable years with her maternal aunt and her husband after the death of her parents, had always wished to become a Karitane nurse, but knew her aunt and uncle would never fork out the money she needed for the training and living expenses. Besides, Thorpe had been right that she wasn't in love with Graham, and didn't know how to break up with him without hurting him. She sees Thorpe's bribe as an escape from it all and takes it. Although, she kept sending cheques of small amounts, it did not change Thorpe's opinion of her as an opportunist.
Now, six years later, he has no choice but to retain her service as nurse because his sister is unwell and needs Morag's help. As her scientist husband is away for six months on an assignment in Antartica, she's come to the homestead to convalesce. Morag and Thorpe, forced to endure each other, keep sniping at each other. The fact that she'd slept with Graham was a sore point for Thorpe. Although Morag tries to tell him it isn't true, he sticks to the lie his brother has told him and lashes out at her and warns her against trying to break Graham's marriage. But, Morag is no shrinking violet. She gives him back good.
'You needn't worry,' she almost hissed. 'I don't believe in breaking up marriages, Mr Cunningham, so that leaves only you for me to exercise my fatal fascination on. Believe me, I'd rather die!'
His brows lifted in such complete disbelief that she stepped back, sickened by his arrogant inflexibility. 'You thought nothing of trying your 'prentice hand on Graham,' he returned viciously. 'I don't believe that leopards change their spots.'
'So that I'm damned eternally in your eyes?'
He gave her an oddly hesitant glance for one so compellingly sure of himself, then said harshly, 'Let's just say that it would take some doing for me to change my mind. I know your type, Morag. Efficient, good at your job, trustworthy in most respects, yet always with an eye out for the main chance.'
'Thank you,' she said with a glittering smile. 'I could favour you with a character reading, too, but I'm too polite. Now, if you don't mind, your sister likes a cup of tea while she's feeding the baby. And she likes it hot!
'I hope that when you get married it will be to someone who leads you a terrible dance!'
The cynical amusement vanished as if her words had conjured up a demon. 'No doubt,' he said without expression. 'But you're the one who thinks I can cope with anything. Doesn't that apply to any prospective wife?'
'There must be someone, somewhere, who can stand up to you.'
'I'm dancing with her.'
Soon after Morag had left six years ago, Graham had gone to England and fell in love with an Englishwoman named Louise whom he'd married immediately. Seeing him lost and wary despite being in love with his wife and seemingly pathetically weak, Morag wonders what she'd ever seen in him. When his snobbish, neurotic wife finds out that he and Morag had been lovers, she goes beserk and threatens to leave him. Knowing that would kill his weak brother Thorpe suggests to Morag that the two of them pretend to be having an affair. Things had become strained between the brothers when Morag left with Graham blaming Thorpe for it, although neither had Thorpe or Morag told him about the transaction between them. Now, Louise wants Thorpe to give half the cattle station to Graham, but Thorpe was not willing to divide the station. He's been instead trying to convince Graham to move to a farm owned by the family, but Graham feels he'll lose the battle and Louise enjoys being mistress of the station. It then occurs to Thorpe that if anything that would get Louise to move to the farm was the thought of another woman queening over her and so he suggests to Morag they should turn their supposed affair into an engagement , much to the delight of Sally, who has been wondering what was going on between her older brother and her nurse cum friend. She's also been playing matchmaker by throwing the two together and encouraging Thorpe to show Morag around the district.
There, they meet Gabrielle, an eighteen-year old, spoilt, only child of rich parents who's crazy about Thorpe. Seeing the girl's blatant hunger for Thorpe and his disinterest, Morag feels sorry for her. When she invites him to her birthday party, Thorpe sees that Morag is invited too.
'You look terrific, as I've no doubt you know, and it won't really be like walking into the lion's cage. We are civilised up here.'
Defensively, for she was too aware of the potency of his charm, she said, 'I didn't want to come.'
'Scared?'
If he hoped that she would rise to the taunt in his voice he was baffled, for she shrugged, paradoxically, more at ease with him now that he was behaving true to form.
'No, not like that. I can think of better things to do than protect you from the unwanted advances of an eighteen year- old beauty, however.'
This time he chuckled, as he retorted promptly, 'I can't. In five years' time, when she's got over being a spoilt little madam, she'll be quite a lass, but I've suffered enough embarrassment at her hands to make me wary.'
'And yet,' Morag ventured slyly, 'I'd have thought that you were more than capable of looking after yourself,'
He slanted her a swift sideways glance, mocking yet oddly intimate, as if inviting her to relax, just for this once. 'Like all men I have an inbuilt aversion to scenes,' he said primly.
Morag laughed, unable to help herself.
Morag and Thorpe find it very difficult to fight their attraction for each other and end up engaging in passionate kisses. Morag however suspects Thorpe is using her as a convenience and lashes out at him.
'I don't want to be used,' she retorted, anger glinting from beneath her lashes.
'You were using me.' The words were flat, as though he was holding himself on a tight rein, yet they carried complete conviction. And. Morag hung her head. Unerringly he had chosen the one remark which she could not defend herself, for if she refuted it she would be admitting that she loved him.
'Is it love you want?' he demanded harshly, his hands about her throat tilting her chin so that she was forced to look into the implacable anger of his expression. 'Do you want me to tell you that I love you?'
Still she remained mute, her tongue nervously licking her lips.
'Don't do that!' he ground out. 'You are the most tantalising, tormenting witch it's ever been my
misfortune to want! I can't tell if it's deliberate or if you really are so naïve that you don't know what you're doing.'
'It can't be that, can it?' she asked stiffly. 'Remember me? I'm the scarlet woman who seduced your brother. Only as it happens I'm not all that keen on keeping my favours within the family!'
His fingers tightened mercilessly so that for a moment she thought that he was going to strangle her then and there. But as her head began to whirl he smiled and released her, catching her by the upper arms. 'You've got a vicious tongue,' he said smoothly, apparently once more in control of himself. 'But I detect a certain amount of pique behind your fiery words. Well, do you want me to profess my love with fervour and passion?'
'The seducer's age-old weapon?' she retorted, mustering up all the scorn she could call on. 'You needn't bother, Thorpe, I wouldn't believe you—and I'm not going to allow, a situation like this to develop again.'
'You can't stop it,' he said dangerously. 'Because in spite of that lump of ice you call a heart you want me. It's as simple as that. And once you've admitted it to yourself and allowed yourself to defrost you'll be surprised at how simple it is.'
Bitterness roughened her voice. 'I know how simple it is. So—I do want you: I admit it. But I refuse to--to behave like a trollop just because of that!'
Their engagement however helps achieve the intended goals. Gabrielle gets the message that Thorpe is thoroughly hooked to Morag, even if Morag doesn't and Louise and Graham decided to move to the farm. Surprisingly, there's a whole change in Louise, she isn't the witch everyone thought her to be. She even apologizes to Morag in the end. And, Graham eventually confesses to his brother that he and Morag were never lovers.
It is Thorpe and Morag who have to figure out what they mean to each other and the bull charging toward Thorpe gives them a clear picture. Although there was no sex in the book, there was a strong chemistry and passion between the two. I enjoyed their verbal sparring too. Overall, it was a nice and enjoyable read.
Karitane nurse Morag is accompanying her young employer, Sally Johnston, and her kids --three-year old twin boys and their younger sister -- to her brother's cattle station in Northern New Zealand. It wasn't until the last minute that she'd got to know that the brother is her nemesis, Thorpe Cunningham, the man who had banished her six years ago from Wharuaroa when she was seventeen because of her involvement with his younger brother, Graham, although Sally knows nothing about it.
Graham, who was always envious of his strong-willed older brother and suspects Thorpe had the hots for Morag, had told him then that he was in love with Morag and was determined to marry her, further deliberately misleading him into believing that they were sexually involved. Thorpe, who was sure Morag wasn't in love with Graham and fearing with them being intimate a pregnancy would precipitate an unwanted marriage, writes her a check in exchange for her signature on a declaration that she would leave the place and will not attempt to contact Graham in anyway. Morag, who had spent four miserable years with her maternal aunt and her husband after the death of her parents, had always wished to become a Karitane nurse, but knew her aunt and uncle would never fork out the money she needed for the training and living expenses. Besides, Thorpe had been right that she wasn't in love with Graham, and didn't know how to break up with him without hurting him. She sees Thorpe's bribe as an escape from it all and takes it. Although, she kept sending cheques of small amounts, it did not change Thorpe's opinion of her as an opportunist.
Now, six years later, he has no choice but to retain her service as nurse because his sister is unwell and needs Morag's help. As her scientist husband is away for six months on an assignment in Antartica, she's come to the homestead to convalesce. Morag and Thorpe, forced to endure each other, keep sniping at each other. The fact that she'd slept with Graham was a sore point for Thorpe. Although Morag tries to tell him it isn't true, he sticks to the lie his brother has told him and lashes out at her and warns her against trying to break Graham's marriage. But, Morag is no shrinking violet. She gives him back good.
'You needn't worry,' she almost hissed. 'I don't believe in breaking up marriages, Mr Cunningham, so that leaves only you for me to exercise my fatal fascination on. Believe me, I'd rather die!'
His brows lifted in such complete disbelief that she stepped back, sickened by his arrogant inflexibility. 'You thought nothing of trying your 'prentice hand on Graham,' he returned viciously. 'I don't believe that leopards change their spots.'
'So that I'm damned eternally in your eyes?'
He gave her an oddly hesitant glance for one so compellingly sure of himself, then said harshly, 'Let's just say that it would take some doing for me to change my mind. I know your type, Morag. Efficient, good at your job, trustworthy in most respects, yet always with an eye out for the main chance.'
'Thank you,' she said with a glittering smile. 'I could favour you with a character reading, too, but I'm too polite. Now, if you don't mind, your sister likes a cup of tea while she's feeding the baby. And she likes it hot!
'I hope that when you get married it will be to someone who leads you a terrible dance!'
The cynical amusement vanished as if her words had conjured up a demon. 'No doubt,' he said without expression. 'But you're the one who thinks I can cope with anything. Doesn't that apply to any prospective wife?'
'There must be someone, somewhere, who can stand up to you.'
'I'm dancing with her.'
Soon after Morag had left six years ago, Graham had gone to England and fell in love with an Englishwoman named Louise whom he'd married immediately. Seeing him lost and wary despite being in love with his wife and seemingly pathetically weak, Morag wonders what she'd ever seen in him. When his snobbish, neurotic wife finds out that he and Morag had been lovers, she goes beserk and threatens to leave him. Knowing that would kill his weak brother Thorpe suggests to Morag that the two of them pretend to be having an affair. Things had become strained between the brothers when Morag left with Graham blaming Thorpe for it, although neither had Thorpe or Morag told him about the transaction between them. Now, Louise wants Thorpe to give half the cattle station to Graham, but Thorpe was not willing to divide the station. He's been instead trying to convince Graham to move to a farm owned by the family, but Graham feels he'll lose the battle and Louise enjoys being mistress of the station. It then occurs to Thorpe that if anything that would get Louise to move to the farm was the thought of another woman queening over her and so he suggests to Morag they should turn their supposed affair into an engagement , much to the delight of Sally, who has been wondering what was going on between her older brother and her nurse cum friend. She's also been playing matchmaker by throwing the two together and encouraging Thorpe to show Morag around the district.
There, they meet Gabrielle, an eighteen-year old, spoilt, only child of rich parents who's crazy about Thorpe. Seeing the girl's blatant hunger for Thorpe and his disinterest, Morag feels sorry for her. When she invites him to her birthday party, Thorpe sees that Morag is invited too.
'You look terrific, as I've no doubt you know, and it won't really be like walking into the lion's cage. We are civilised up here.'
Defensively, for she was too aware of the potency of his charm, she said, 'I didn't want to come.'
'Scared?'
If he hoped that she would rise to the taunt in his voice he was baffled, for she shrugged, paradoxically, more at ease with him now that he was behaving true to form.
'No, not like that. I can think of better things to do than protect you from the unwanted advances of an eighteen year- old beauty, however.'
This time he chuckled, as he retorted promptly, 'I can't. In five years' time, when she's got over being a spoilt little madam, she'll be quite a lass, but I've suffered enough embarrassment at her hands to make me wary.'
'And yet,' Morag ventured slyly, 'I'd have thought that you were more than capable of looking after yourself,'
He slanted her a swift sideways glance, mocking yet oddly intimate, as if inviting her to relax, just for this once. 'Like all men I have an inbuilt aversion to scenes,' he said primly.
Morag laughed, unable to help herself.
Morag and Thorpe find it very difficult to fight their attraction for each other and end up engaging in passionate kisses. Morag however suspects Thorpe is using her as a convenience and lashes out at him.
'I don't want to be used,' she retorted, anger glinting from beneath her lashes.
'You were using me.' The words were flat, as though he was holding himself on a tight rein, yet they carried complete conviction. And. Morag hung her head. Unerringly he had chosen the one remark which she could not defend herself, for if she refuted it she would be admitting that she loved him.
'Is it love you want?' he demanded harshly, his hands about her throat tilting her chin so that she was forced to look into the implacable anger of his expression. 'Do you want me to tell you that I love you?'
Still she remained mute, her tongue nervously licking her lips.
'Don't do that!' he ground out. 'You are the most tantalising, tormenting witch it's ever been my
misfortune to want! I can't tell if it's deliberate or if you really are so naïve that you don't know what you're doing.'
'It can't be that, can it?' she asked stiffly. 'Remember me? I'm the scarlet woman who seduced your brother. Only as it happens I'm not all that keen on keeping my favours within the family!'
His fingers tightened mercilessly so that for a moment she thought that he was going to strangle her then and there. But as her head began to whirl he smiled and released her, catching her by the upper arms. 'You've got a vicious tongue,' he said smoothly, apparently once more in control of himself. 'But I detect a certain amount of pique behind your fiery words. Well, do you want me to profess my love with fervour and passion?'
'The seducer's age-old weapon?' she retorted, mustering up all the scorn she could call on. 'You needn't bother, Thorpe, I wouldn't believe you—and I'm not going to allow, a situation like this to develop again.'
'You can't stop it,' he said dangerously. 'Because in spite of that lump of ice you call a heart you want me. It's as simple as that. And once you've admitted it to yourself and allowed yourself to defrost you'll be surprised at how simple it is.'
Bitterness roughened her voice. 'I know how simple it is. So—I do want you: I admit it. But I refuse to--to behave like a trollop just because of that!'
Their engagement however helps achieve the intended goals. Gabrielle gets the message that Thorpe is thoroughly hooked to Morag, even if Morag doesn't and Louise and Graham decided to move to the farm. Surprisingly, there's a whole change in Louise, she isn't the witch everyone thought her to be. She even apologizes to Morag in the end. And, Graham eventually confesses to his brother that he and Morag were never lovers.
It is Thorpe and Morag who have to figure out what they mean to each other and the bull charging toward Thorpe gives them a clear picture. Although there was no sex in the book, there was a strong chemistry and passion between the two. I enjoyed their verbal sparring too. Overall, it was a nice and enjoyable read.
February 16, 2022
2 stars are just for the heroine that can handle word war with the hero! She had some of the best lines in the story. No worries, our RD hero is an established alpha jerk, but as far as RD’s NZ heroes go he is in the less cruel arena. Oh, and he has red hair! 
Not many heroes in HP land with red hair.
At the age of 17 the heroine, Morag, was running around with the H’s younger brother. It was a light romance for the h. The hero’s brother Graham was more interested in using the heroine to get under his brother’s skin, although he might have thought he was in love at the time. The hero, Thorpe paid off the heroine to leave. He didn’t want her to marry/trap his brother. Yes, the heroine took the money!!! Don’t worry she actually is not a mercenary or adventurous, and you will appreciate her reason later.
The story opens 6 years later, and miracle of miracles the h happens to be a Karitane nurse for the H’s sister. Sister’s husband is in Antarctica and she has twin boys, currently breast feeding her daughter, and recovering from a bout of the flu. A Karitane is basically a highly trained nanny who assists the mother. (Interesting reading can be had about the Karitane way in NZ which is now a dying breed!) Ok so the sister decides to stay with the brother at his station, the h was told to never return, but she would leave the sister, Sally, in a lurch if she abandons post. She likes Sally and her 3 charges, so she decides she can handle the H.
The Hero is not pleased to see the heroine and wants her gone. He realizes almost immediately that there are no replacements so he begrudgingly accepts her. He informs her quickly that his brother is now married. He is also under the impression that the h and his brother were lovers. The brother’s wife believes this as well, BECAUSE the brother said so.
I was afraid at first that the married brother Graham was going to go out of his way to romance the h, but this was not the case. Graham’s wife gets more page time and Graham is usually not an active participant. So our h gets snarls from the wife, a wannabe ow, and the hero. However, it comes clear right away that the hero maybe a snarling bear for other reasons. Joan Jett said it best….
Yes, folks it is obvious to this seasoned reader that our H is using cruelty to mask his love for the h.
1) He remembers to a tee every outfit the h wore when she was 17. My husband has no idea what I wore last night to dinner.
2) He sets up a fake relationship then fake engagement to the h for the purpose of throwing off the SIL, the wannabe ow, and secretly keep other interested men away.
3)He makes the h promise not to leave until the sister’s brother is back from Antarctica, several months away
4) He kisses, grabs, and makes light love to the h when there is no one to witness their “fake” relationship.
Then he makes replies like this:
The cynical amusement vanished as if her words had conjured up a demon. 'No doubt,* he said without expression. *But you're the one who thinks I can cope with anything. Doesn't that apply to any prospective wife?'
“There must be someone, somewhere, who can stand up to you.”
'I'm dancing with her.'
His response even got the heroine to do a double take.
Our heroine might have agreed to a fake engagement, but she is not a pushover. She also has pride, and isn’t going to let the H know she has fallen in love with him when he has not indicated anything like that on his end.
Some of my favorite lines from the heroine calling out the hero….
'Don't tell me that I shock you, Thorpe. I thought you a little more experienced than that! Surely it doesn't come as too much of a surprise to know that women are quite capable of experiencing passion without love.
And why do you constantly hark back to my" relationship with Graham? It's almost as though you have a thing about it.
' (That was definitely poking the bear!)
She continues by insulting his arrogance!
. With a poise she had never known she possessed she shrugged, saying calmly, *I find you attractive, too. However, I don't intend to allow it to upset my life. If I leaped into bed with every man I found interesting I'd have no time to do anything else.'..
Our h knows how to throw off the H. He really isn’t sure where he stands with her and she encourages it with byplays like this:
Turning, she finished over her shoulder, 'And there's no need to apologise. Believe me, I'm about as interested in you as you are in me, and for roughly the same reason. You've got a hold over me, one you have no intention of relinquishing at the present, and I'll go along with that. But don't expect me to fall in love with you, or be so stupid as to expect anything from you at all. I'm not interested in an affair, either.'
I’m not going into anymore of the plot, as both Grrrrace, Brenda, and Stmargarets give great overviews.
I just really liked how RD wrote this one:
New Zealand-RD makes it sound like Shangri-la in her books. I was already a fan!
Heroine with a bite: I’m not saying she wasn’t manipulated, BUT only to a point. I have no doubt that she would have left the H if she thought she was being abused. She had no qualms with talking back to him. She was so good at verbal play I actually felt bad for the love sick H at times(who thought I could feel bad for a RD hero!)
Vocabulary: If the author can expand my vocabulary, I am all for it! Verisimilitude was new for me. The word chicanery was not new, but I just love that word. In this age of texting, use of words are becoming a lost art form.
The cover art: The brunette heroine and red headed hero on the cover…love it!
Overall, this was very enjoyable to read. The h and H’s HEA was believable, and there was a fade to black coming together at the end of the story.
Not many heroes in HP land with red hair.At the age of 17 the heroine, Morag, was running around with the H’s younger brother. It was a light romance for the h. The hero’s brother Graham was more interested in using the heroine to get under his brother’s skin, although he might have thought he was in love at the time. The hero, Thorpe paid off the heroine to leave. He didn’t want her to marry/trap his brother. Yes, the heroine took the money!!! Don’t worry she actually is not a mercenary or adventurous, and you will appreciate her reason later.
The story opens 6 years later, and miracle of miracles the h happens to be a Karitane nurse for the H’s sister. Sister’s husband is in Antarctica and she has twin boys, currently breast feeding her daughter, and recovering from a bout of the flu. A Karitane is basically a highly trained nanny who assists the mother. (Interesting reading can be had about the Karitane way in NZ which is now a dying breed!) Ok so the sister decides to stay with the brother at his station, the h was told to never return, but she would leave the sister, Sally, in a lurch if she abandons post. She likes Sally and her 3 charges, so she decides she can handle the H.
The Hero is not pleased to see the heroine and wants her gone. He realizes almost immediately that there are no replacements so he begrudgingly accepts her. He informs her quickly that his brother is now married. He is also under the impression that the h and his brother were lovers. The brother’s wife believes this as well, BECAUSE the brother said so.
I was afraid at first that the married brother Graham was going to go out of his way to romance the h, but this was not the case. Graham’s wife gets more page time and Graham is usually not an active participant. So our h gets snarls from the wife, a wannabe ow, and the hero. However, it comes clear right away that the hero maybe a snarling bear for other reasons. Joan Jett said it best….
Yes, folks it is obvious to this seasoned reader that our H is using cruelty to mask his love for the h.
1) He remembers to a tee every outfit the h wore when she was 17. My husband has no idea what I wore last night to dinner.
2) He sets up a fake relationship then fake engagement to the h for the purpose of throwing off the SIL, the wannabe ow, and secretly keep other interested men away.
3)He makes the h promise not to leave until the sister’s brother is back from Antarctica, several months away
4) He kisses, grabs, and makes light love to the h when there is no one to witness their “fake” relationship.
Then he makes replies like this:
The cynical amusement vanished as if her words had conjured up a demon. 'No doubt,* he said without expression. *But you're the one who thinks I can cope with anything. Doesn't that apply to any prospective wife?'
“There must be someone, somewhere, who can stand up to you.”
'I'm dancing with her.'
His response even got the heroine to do a double take.
Our heroine might have agreed to a fake engagement, but she is not a pushover. She also has pride, and isn’t going to let the H know she has fallen in love with him when he has not indicated anything like that on his end.
Some of my favorite lines from the heroine calling out the hero….
'Don't tell me that I shock you, Thorpe. I thought you a little more experienced than that! Surely it doesn't come as too much of a surprise to know that women are quite capable of experiencing passion without love.
And why do you constantly hark back to my" relationship with Graham? It's almost as though you have a thing about it.
' (That was definitely poking the bear!)
She continues by insulting his arrogance!
. With a poise she had never known she possessed she shrugged, saying calmly, *I find you attractive, too. However, I don't intend to allow it to upset my life. If I leaped into bed with every man I found interesting I'd have no time to do anything else.'..
Our h knows how to throw off the H. He really isn’t sure where he stands with her and she encourages it with byplays like this:
Turning, she finished over her shoulder, 'And there's no need to apologise. Believe me, I'm about as interested in you as you are in me, and for roughly the same reason. You've got a hold over me, one you have no intention of relinquishing at the present, and I'll go along with that. But don't expect me to fall in love with you, or be so stupid as to expect anything from you at all. I'm not interested in an affair, either.'
I’m not going into anymore of the plot, as both Grrrrace, Brenda, and Stmargarets give great overviews.
I just really liked how RD wrote this one:
New Zealand-RD makes it sound like Shangri-la in her books. I was already a fan!
Heroine with a bite: I’m not saying she wasn’t manipulated, BUT only to a point. I have no doubt that she would have left the H if she thought she was being abused. She had no qualms with talking back to him. She was so good at verbal play I actually felt bad for the love sick H at times(who thought I could feel bad for a RD hero!)
Vocabulary: If the author can expand my vocabulary, I am all for it! Verisimilitude was new for me. The word chicanery was not new, but I just love that word. In this age of texting, use of words are becoming a lost art form.
The cover art: The brunette heroine and red headed hero on the cover…love it!
Overall, this was very enjoyable to read. The h and H’s HEA was believable, and there was a fade to black coming together at the end of the story.
June 26, 2017
Great quotes within, that I must learn to add into my snark repetoire.
"Is that why you look as if somebody has stolen your orange?"
Lol.
I just love a cruel, yet smitten NZ baron. They're always so rugged. Tough. But with a heart of gold. So capable. :D
He gets so worked up by her lip licking, it is adorable.
"You are the most tantalizing, tormenting witch it's ever been my misfortune to want! I can't tell if it's deliberate or if you really are so naïve that you don't know what you're doing."
"Is it love you want?"
But seriously, Morag? These fucking Gaelic names are horrid. And I say that as a descendant of Scotland, so don't get snippy with me.
"Is that why you look as if somebody has stolen your orange?"
Lol.
I just love a cruel, yet smitten NZ baron. They're always so rugged. Tough. But with a heart of gold. So capable. :D
He gets so worked up by her lip licking, it is adorable.
"You are the most tantalizing, tormenting witch it's ever been my misfortune to want! I can't tell if it's deliberate or if you really are so naïve that you don't know what you're doing."
"Is it love you want?"
But seriously, Morag? These fucking Gaelic names are horrid. And I say that as a descendant of Scotland, so don't get snippy with me.
October 11, 2021
I loved the heroine - she was smart and strong and good at her job (yay!). She was no push-over for the hero. The hero wasn't as swinish as some of Robyn Donald's usual heroes.
I didn't understand why he never chased after in the years since the heroine had left the community, even though he claimed at the end that he had loved her even then.
Beautiful writing by Robyn Donald. She has such a talent for painting vividly gorgeous scenery.
I didn't understand why he never chased after in the years since the heroine had left the community, even though he claimed at the end that he had loved her even then.
Beautiful writing by Robyn Donald. She has such a talent for painting vividly gorgeous scenery.
April 28, 2011
from fictiondb:
Shadow of the Past by Robyn Donald
"What the hell are you doing here?"
He spoke softly, but his hostility was clear.
Morag would have enjoyed returning to Wharuaroa, where she'd been happy as a teenager, except for meeting Thorpe Cunningham again. His words showed that he still believed she had treated his brother, Graham, badly.
Of course, if she'd had any sense of self-preservation she'd have refused to accompany Sally and her children up here when she discovered her employer was Thorpe's sister. But she was here to do a job. She wouldn't let Thorpe's opinion bother her!
I read "Smoke in the wind" and then I read this and this one is really another thing! This book is missing vibrancy, personality, so different from the other one I cannot understand how the same person could have written both... hero was as usual an a@@ ;) but the heroine was such a doormat I wanted to cry!
Maybe I have to read another RD's book just to know if SITW is an exception or is the rule... (I hope the latter! ;) )
Shadow of the Past by Robyn Donald
"What the hell are you doing here?"
He spoke softly, but his hostility was clear.
Morag would have enjoyed returning to Wharuaroa, where she'd been happy as a teenager, except for meeting Thorpe Cunningham again. His words showed that he still believed she had treated his brother, Graham, badly.
Of course, if she'd had any sense of self-preservation she'd have refused to accompany Sally and her children up here when she discovered her employer was Thorpe's sister. But she was here to do a job. She wouldn't let Thorpe's opinion bother her!
I read "Smoke in the wind" and then I read this and this one is really another thing! This book is missing vibrancy, personality, so different from the other one I cannot understand how the same person could have written both... hero was as usual an a@@ ;) but the heroine was such a doormat I wanted to cry!
Maybe I have to read another RD's book just to know if SITW is an exception or is the rule... (I hope the latter! ;) )
September 26, 2022
Shadow of the Past was ok read but not the best of RD books. It had all the usual ingredients (cruel besotted hero, heroine who doesn’t wilt under his abuse and slut shaming and great big misunderstanding) but not enough drama and angst to make it memorable.
May 13, 2024
There were too many other people in this story.
May 25, 2020
Just okay story from RD that I enjoyed more as a NZ story than a love story (the information about Keritane nurses was interesting; a shame that the tradition is dying out in modern-day NZ). Solid 3 from RD on this one.
December 23, 2020
Loved the h ... she had a backbone and was well aware of her own worth ...
and it became obvious H was trying to get a rise out of her but she was smart and took the high road, leaving him frustrated ...
and at the end, when they talk about the money he gave her to go away and that she repaid him in small amounts ... he says and your cheques were such small amounts as if the sender was going without in order to repay me ... and it makes me think that she had such self-respect and he was forced to respect who she was way before she came back in his life ...
and it became obvious H was trying to get a rise out of her but she was smart and took the high road, leaving him frustrated ...
and at the end, when they talk about the money he gave her to go away and that she repaid him in small amounts ... he says and your cheques were such small amounts as if the sender was going without in order to repay me ... and it makes me think that she had such self-respect and he was forced to respect who she was way before she came back in his life ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2021
What the hell are you doing here?"
He spoke softly, but his hostility was clear.
Morag would have enjoyed returning to Wharuaroa, where she'd been happy as a teenager, except for meeting Thorpe Cunningham again. His words showed that he still believed she had treated his brother, Graham, badly.
Of course, if she'd had any sense of self-preservation she'd have refused to accompany Sally and her children up here when she discovered her employer was Thorpe's sister. But she was here to do a job. She wouldn't let Thorpe's opinion bother her! (less)
He spoke softly, but his hostility was clear.
Morag would have enjoyed returning to Wharuaroa, where she'd been happy as a teenager, except for meeting Thorpe Cunningham again. His words showed that he still believed she had treated his brother, Graham, badly.
Of course, if she'd had any sense of self-preservation she'd have refused to accompany Sally and her children up here when she discovered her employer was Thorpe's sister. But she was here to do a job. She wouldn't let Thorpe's opinion bother her! (less)
August 20, 2024
4.5 Stars
I loved this story. The heroine is smart and tough and I enjoyed reading her inner monologue. I really liked the hero and think they are a perfect match!!
Robyn Donald is an amazing writer.
I loved this story. The heroine is smart and tough and I enjoyed reading her inner monologue. I really liked the hero and think they are a perfect match!!
Robyn Donald is an amazing writer.
August 23, 2026
Surprise to see how much some reviewers enjoyed this one, because I definitely didn’t enjoy it as much. I found the two main characters dull and full of crap. Oh, they were not horrible beings but RD didn’t deliver this time around. Chemistry wasn’t there and the lack of story was evident. The back and forth bantering were bipolar and emotions were not convincing. She fell in love with him out of the blue.
I was rather confused. The heroine first says she had never loved the younger brother, yet goes on claiming the younger brother was her first love. Yet, she never intended to marry him, only putting up with him because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. At the same time, she classified the relationship with the younger brother as “stolen kisses and high-romance.” So, was he her crush? Maybe a childhood friend? Or was it love? Yes or no? Heroine was unsure. And so was I.
And I was amused. Due to her orphan background and lack of funds she knew she wasn’t ever going to be able to pursue her dream in ‘taking care of children’ so she was totally okay marrying the younger brother (after all) and having her own children to take care of as the alternative. HA! RD really wrote that! As if taking care of her very own children is only second best, a substitute for not receiving the golden opportunity to care for other people’s offsprings! Lmao. Told ya, heroine was highly uncertain! DNF.
I was rather confused. The heroine first says she had never loved the younger brother, yet goes on claiming the younger brother was her first love. Yet, she never intended to marry him, only putting up with him because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. At the same time, she classified the relationship with the younger brother as “stolen kisses and high-romance.” So, was he her crush? Maybe a childhood friend? Or was it love? Yes or no? Heroine was unsure. And so was I.
And I was amused. Due to her orphan background and lack of funds she knew she wasn’t ever going to be able to pursue her dream in ‘taking care of children’ so she was totally okay marrying the younger brother (after all) and having her own children to take care of as the alternative. HA! RD really wrote that! As if taking care of her very own children is only second best, a substitute for not receiving the golden opportunity to care for other people’s offsprings! Lmao. Told ya, heroine was highly uncertain! DNF.
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