Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Dark Torment” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Dark Torment

Karen Robards (Goodreads Author)

3.77 · Rating details · 1,029 ratings · 68 reviews

"I've a feeling you'll soon rue this day..."

These were the fateful words Sarah Markham's father uttered after she threw herself between the convict lashed to the ship's mast and the captain's whip.

Transported to Australia for crimes against the Crown, Dominic Gallagher had been labeled a troublemaker. No humor lightened his handsome face; everything about him looked dark, ...more

Get A Copy

Paperback, 389 pages

Published August 1st 1985 by Warner Vision (first published 1985)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Dark Torment, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Dark Torment

Lists with This Book

Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey

The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

Best Bodice Ripper Romances

293 books — 752 voters

Romance in Ireland (and/or) Irish Heroes and Heroines

444 books — 400 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.77 ·

Rating details

· 1,029 ratings · 68 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Dark Torment

Oct 31, 2016 Naksed marked it as dnf

Shelves: purple-prose-galore, cheesy, historical-romance, implausible, spinster-romance, australia

Another historical romance by Karen Robards that does not include any historical plausibility, never mind logical plot or motivations for the protagonists.

(view spoiler) ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Oct 18, 2016 Celestine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, tortured-hero-heroine

Pride is the rift between lovers

First published in 1985, there is a delightfully retro feel to this 2013 ebook updated with the bare-chested hunk on the cover. It definitely hearkens back to the spitfire historical heroines and the love-hate dynamics made popular by Deveraux, Garwood, Lowell, Woodiwiss and others. I was a little surprised by the many graphic love scenes for a 1985 publication, especially since the purple prose was noticeably absent. This is my first book by Karen Robards.

Events Pride is the rift between lovers

First published in 1985, there is a delightfully retro feel to this 2013 ebook updated with the bare-chested hunk on the cover. It definitely hearkens back to the spitfire historical heroines and the love-hate dynamics made popular by Deveraux, Garwood, Lowell, Woodiwiss and others. I was a little surprised by the many graphic love scenes for a 1985 publication, especially since the purple prose was noticeably absent. This is my first book by Karen Robards.

Events take place in 1838 Australia, in the rural part of New South Wales. Sarah is the daughter of a large sheep station owner, who indentures convicts to work the property. One day, she is at the Melbourne waterfront with the family and interrupts the whipping of an Irish convict, probably saving his life. Turns out, he is bound to Sarah's father. Dominic Gallagher is excessively prideful, as is Sarah. They both also have vicious tempers and tend to speak before they think. Mix pride, hot-headedness and powerful attraction, and things go from simmer to boil pretty quickly between these two. Hanging in the background are subplots related to the toady foreman wanting to marry Sarah, a pretty but spiteful step-sister, and the mystery of Gallagher's past.

Spinster Sarah is plain but competent and kind. She runs the house and the books for the station. "Better an old maid than an unhappy wife, she had decided long ago." The new convict disturbs her, both with his insolence and his handsomeness. It has been a long time since I read a romance where the hero is so prideful that it gets him into trouble. As a personality characteristic of Dominic, it was carried to its farthest extent. He maintains his intractability for the majority of the book, and sometimes that wandered into uncharitable thoughts of the prideful Sarah. The battle of wills between these two was probably the best aspect of the book.

While the happily ever after in Dark Torment is a given, I was very unsure of the path. Particularly troublesome was the toady Percival and his position of power. However, the road to the HEA was also impacted by pride, shame, and impulsiveness on behalf of both Sarah and Dominic, plus their indiscretions were such that the possibility of discovery was high. I just kept thumbing through the book, ignoring sleep, because so many things could affect their future happiness and I wanted to watch these two move from baiting each other to publicly embracing each other in the worst way. I just wasn't sure how they could possibly get there. ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2014 Regan Walker rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: exotic-locale, irish, australia

4 and ½ Stars! Irish Hero Survives an Australian Sheep Station

Set in Australia in the mid 19th century, this is the story of Sarah Markham whose father is a sheep rancher, and Dominic Gallagher, a Irish convict who was transported to Australia for a crime he didn’t commit and was then “purchased” by Sarah’s father to serve out his 15-year sentence. Because he is a man who speaks up when events call for it, he is whipped and abused. Sarah intervenes to save his life.

The handsome Irish rogue knows ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jul 07, 2011 AliciaJ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars, historical-romance, author-karen-robards, own-it-in-pb

This is what I'm talkin' about! A glorious example of what the old type of historical romances is all about! This one is set in Australia and our hero is sent there as a convict. Our heroine, Sarah, saves him from near death from a whipping, and the fireworks begin. I love Karen's heroines from her old romances. They're feisty and smart, which is unusual in these types of books. And Sarah is not heartstoppingly beautiful, she's an average woman with a strong sense of self who doesn't rely on her ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2008 LJ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1800s, female_author, romance, historical, australia

DARK TORMENT - VG
Robards, Karen - standalone

Sarah and Dominic are two very different people. Gentle, highborn Sarah is not prepared for the proud and arrogant Irish rebel to burst into her life. Sentenced to exile and bondage for acts perpetrated against the Crown, Dominic will do anything to convince this timid Australian lady that only he can fulfill her hopes and dreams.

An Australian sheep station owners' daughter and an Irish convict. If your looking for something HOT, this is it. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 10, 2016 Margaret Devaux rated it liked it

Easy read. Enjoyable. Back in the old days setting.

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

May 29, 2015 inmypapasan rated it it was ok

I didn't like either the hero or heroine. He was constantly smirking "nastily" or "mockingly" at her and making mean comments, while she claims to not view the convicts as inferior like everyone else does yet still treats him snobbily and expects his deference. The setting was really interesting and different from the usual, but the unpleasant characters ruined it. I also felt like the descriptions were redundant - how often do we need to be reminded about the hero's Irish accent and thick chest ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 30, 2021 Myfanwy rated it liked it

Shelves: historical, romance, yikes, period-victorian-edwardian, quarantine-read, retro

This book only gets three stars because Sarah was kind of great. But it’s also very uncritical of the racist and generally exploitative systems that governed Australia in the 1830s. The story is predominantly about the use of convict labour, but aborigines are also present, though their role is entirely limited to being silent but devoted servants. So that’s not great. When she’s introduced, Sarah is described as having emancipist leaning, but Robards doesn’t really ever explore that aspect of h ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 12, 2016 Natward1yahoo.com rated it liked it

Didn't finish after page 73. I wanted to really like this book. I actually did like it, in fact because I liked the premise. A brave woman is willing to stand up to her father and a ship captain and his crew to save a convicts life! She seems so awesome and powerful. And also kind with a big heart. Buuuuut unfortunately she does not live up to her initial portrayal as the book goes along. I HATE more than almost anything in a book when the author makes the female character get angry at everythin Didn't finish after page 73. I wanted to really like this book. I actually did like it, in fact because I liked the premise. A brave woman is willing to stand up to her father and a ship captain and his crew to save a convicts life! She seems so awesome and powerful. And also kind with a big heart. Buuuuut unfortunately she does not live up to her initial portrayal as the book goes along. I HATE more than almost anything in a book when the author makes the female character get angry at everything the male character says/does. While the guy gets to go around smirking and laughing and doing all the riling up of the girl. Grrrrrr!!! I want an awesome female character who doesn't react like you'd expect. I absolutely loved the first time Sarah speaks to the convict, Gallagher. She is trying to help him again (at this point I'm still liking Sarah), and Gallagher is way rude to her and says way rude things to her. I like this because it shows an imperfect male lead. One with flaws. One who isn't always chivalrous or charming or saying all the right things. It also shows his vulnerability. And I love a romance where the characters are so opposite or start off on a very bad foot because an unexpected romance is more real and meaningful to me. But then of course Sarah has to react how most people would react. She's pissed. And she's rude right back and yells at him. This would have been such a good opportunity for the author to make her be more intelligent and clever than most other people by having sarah recognize this mans rudeness and anger for what it really was: hurt, wounded pride, anguish, debt, and desperation. I wish sarah would have risen above the taunting and kept her cool. Helped him anyways. But no such luck. Just like in so many other novels I read. Why do authors always want to make the female leads bitchy and short tempered and uptight while the guy gets to be the cool, collected one doing all the mocking or teasing. I kept reading hoping that Sarah would only lash out like that just the once but nope. She keeps right on going with her attitude. She's rude to him and keeps trying to 'put him in his place' as the help who is below her and stuff. Where the heck is the girl from the beginning of the book who risked a lot to save someone in need because she looked at him as a human being instead of property? Seriously. What happened? I wouldn't think a girl of her strong will would be reduced to an insolent shrewd just because gallagher says some harsh things to her. Or tries to get a rise out of her. She seemed like she'd be so above that. And while anger has its place in a story as it helps add passion and emotion, I don't like where and when the author chose to place this anger. The typical angry female who can't take a little banter. I really liked the writing though. While a little long winded and a touch repetitive, it was also elegant and free from eye rolling moments and ridiculous cliches (other than the tired formula of angry female) I kept waiting for Sarah to show me signs that she wasn't actually such an stuffy snob with a stick wedged up her ass but there was no sign of that in the close future so I gave up. I totally agreed with Sarah's step sister when she makes a comment that Sarah would end up being a spinster the rest of her life because she's so proper all the time! It's totally true. She needs to loosed up big time. I love reading about fun female characters who are bold and have a lot of personality and emotions besides only anger or annoyance. Maybe she ends up being more awesome later in the book but I struggle to find the patience to keep going. I just want her to be cool and unique. One who doesn't balk at being touched or rant about every little Thing Gallagher does. She needs a chill pill. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 23, 2018 Shirlene added it · review of another edition

Sarah Markham's mother had died and her father, Edward, remarried. Lydia was her stepmother and Liza her stepsister. Sarah was 22 and considered an old maid. Lydia constantly told her that and also the fact that she was skinny and plain. She took care of the Australian sheep station's books for her father.
Sarah Markham was at the docks with her sister to pick up some convicts that were to be workers on her father's Australian sheep ranch. Her step sister was getting sick in the extreme heat of Sarah Markham's mother had died and her father, Edward, remarried. Lydia was her stepmother and Liza her stepsister. Sarah was 22 and considered an old maid. Lydia constantly told her that and also the fact that she was skinny and plain. She took care of the Australian sheep station's books for her father.
Sarah Markham was at the docks with her sister to pick up some convicts that were to be workers on her father's Australian sheep ranch. Her step sister was getting sick in the extreme heat of the drought conditions and Sarah went on board a ship to find her father. Her father was watching a man being beaten and Sarah decided to interfere and stop the whipping. Sarah's father had decided to ask for the return of the money he paid for Dominic Gallagher and Sarah demanded that they money be given back to the ship owner. Dominic was taken to their ranch in very poor condition.
Sarah went to check on Dominic and he wasn't receptive to her help. The ranch overseer came upon them and she left. The overseer was under the assumption that Sarah would soon become his wife. Her father didn't seem to hear her when she made it clear to them both that she would rather never marry than become his Percival's wife.
Sarah ran into Gallagher when she went to the barn to get a horse to go for a ride. He was rude to her and she give the attitude right back to him. She treated him as she would treat someone beneath her and he didn't appreciate it. He followed her when she left the barn and she was attacked by a loose convict. She yelled and Gallagher came to her rescue. They argued and were soon joined by Sarah's father and Percival. She didn't let her father know that they were arguing but told her father about him saving her from becoming attacked. Her father ordered him to stay close to the house and watch over Sarah, her step sister and his wife. Sarah wasn't happy about the situation but didn't know what to do about it.
Dominic had dark hair and vivid blue eyes. Sarah was surprised at how attractive he was. Her mother and step sister both flirted with him. Sarah couldn't help but find herself attracted to him. It was a shock to her that Dominic would be interested in her.
Her step sister saw them together and told her father and Percival. Sarah didn't know that they had been seen talking together. Sarah found herself working on the preparations for Lily's birthday party and she went outside to get air during the party. Dominic found her outside and they made love that night. The next morning Dominic was gone. She felt he had run away.
A month after he left, the sheep ranch barn was set on fire. Sarah ran outside to get the horses out of the barn while another fire broke out where the sheep were kept. Sarah ended up being taken after she got her horse out of the barn. It was Gallagher and another 2 men who took her.
The men wanted to rape her but Dominic provided protection to her. He took advantage of the fact that he now had the upper hand and treated her like his slave. They argued often but she stayed close to him in order that she wouldn't be given to the other men. Dominic and the other men ended up fighting. Sarah got a gun and now she regained the advantage. She used the fact that she had a rifle and had him travel with her in the direction of her home.
She found herself exhausted and she needed sleep. She tied him up so that she could get some sleep. Dominic got himself loose and took the bullets from her gun. She didn't know he had done this until they reached the border of her father's land. He stopped her then and he told her that he desired her more than any woman he had ever known. He told her that he couldn't resist her and that she was beautiful to him. They ended up making love their in the dirt.
They stayed together for close to a week. They made love repeatedly and relaxed in the sun. They spent the time getting to know each other better. Sarah found out that Dominic was an earl in Ireland. His mother had an affair and ended up pregnant. When the man he thought was his father found out, he moved away from their home and left Dominic alone. He was raised by people who knew that he was the unwanted son of the earl of Rule. Dominic went to see his mother when he was 18 and she wasn't thrilled to see him. Dominic left after meeting with her. He stayed close by for a short time and when to sea and became a hesitant sailor. He returned to where his mother was living and visited her when he found out she was dying. They talked and he was with her when she died. They mended fences as best they could at the end of her life and gave him a ring. Her husband was angry and accused Dominic of stealing it and he was sentenced without going to a trial. He was sent to Australia for 15 years as punishment.
Dominic asked Sarah to marry him and go to Ireland with him and he grew angry when she hesitated. Australia was in drought conditions and a vicious storm was brewing. They had to get away from where they were camped out in the open. Dominic rode off on his own while Sarah headed back to her home. She got caught in a brush fire and a tree branch fell on her. Dominic heard her scream and found her. He carried her back to Lowella, her father's sheep ranch. She was asleep for most of the next five days. She then found out that Dominic had brought her home and that he was being kept in a barn after being shot in the shoulder. She had him brought into her house to be cared for.
Edward was angry and she told him that he had saved her life while they were in the wild. He agreed that he could stay in the house. She then told him that she had come to care for him. Edward didn't yet know just how close they were.
Sarah got up late the next day and found Liza flirting with Dominic. They argued and Liza told Sarah that she had seen them together and told Percival, the ranch overseer. Percival had Dominic beaten and left tied up in the barn to die. He had escaped and helped the men to take Sarah's father's sheep in order to preserve his own life. Sarah had tried to tell Dominic that she hadn't told anyone that they had been together. Dominic had told Sarah that he was angry with her for telling what they had done and the result was him being beaten and left to die. He apologized to Sarah when he found out what Liza had done.
Sarah and Dominic resumed making love at night when she snuck into his room. It wasn't too long before Sarah found out that she was pregnant. Percival came into the house one night and grabbed her and kissed her. He was determined that she would marry him. She told him that wouldn't happen and fought him. Dominic came to the room and hit Percival to get him to let go of Sarah. Sarah's father then came into the room. Percival tried to convince Edward that Dominic had attacked him but Sarah told him that Percival was the one in the wrong. She then told them all that she was pregnant and was marrying Dominic.
They were married the next week and Percival left the ranch. Sarah noticed that her father didn't look well but he denied anything was wrong. They had a visitor that afternoon too. A man had come looking for Dominic. Dominic's father on paper had died and Dominic was his heir. He had to return to Ireland to claim his father's possessions, including the place where Dominic had grown up. Dominic asked Sarah to go to Ireland with him but she refused. She wasn't ready to leave home just yet with a man she felt like she didn't know that well. Dominic hadn't talked to her for the week prior to their wedding. He was angry because he thought she was only marrying him because she was pregnant. He finally told her how upset he was after they married and she told him that she had agreed to marry him before she learned of the pregnancy.
Two months after Dominic had gone back to Ireland, Edward collapsed. Another two months later, he was dead. Sarah felt like maybe she knew that if she left Australia, she wouldn't see her father again. She was glad she was with him when he died. Lydia had gone back to telling Sarah how plain she was and told her that her husband wasn't coming back. Lydia told Sarah that her husband had abandoned her. Liza surprised Sarah by standing up to her mother and telling her to be nicer to Sarah.
Dominic did come back to get Sarah after four months. He told Sarah that he had come back to get her and his home was wherever she was.
A year later, Sarah and Dominic and had a son they named Edward. She was a countess and he was an earl. They were living in Ireland and they were happy together. Sarah had changed her hair style and purchased new clothing. Dominic had told Sarah that to her she was beautiful and he had told her enough times where she started to believe it. She started paying more attention to what she wore and how she looked and became the beautiful person Dominic told her she was. ...more

flag Like · see review

May 19, 2017 JoAnn rated it it was ok

I just couldn't get into this one. The plot was completely lacking, Sarah was a complete cunt, and well I have beef with Dominic you just feel sorry for him the entire time.

The story...

He's getting whipped badly

She saves him

He says something rude

She hates him

She still hates him

She beats him (because he hasn't been beaten enough I guess)

He kisses her

She likes it

She hates him

She thinks about the kiss while hating him

He kisses her and she thrown herself at him

They have sex

She hates him even m ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 17, 2018 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

3.5 Stars.
My first Robards book and won’t be my last, but dang was it heavy at times and downright frustrating! Sarah was a relatable character in her insecurities but bitchy as hell.

It was nice to see her turn it around, but at the same time, I never really understood her fighting her feelings, giving in, fighting some more, then finally giving in and was suddenly ok with dom. It took too long for that to happen imo and then as I said, when she finally does accept him, there was no explanatio ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 16, 2014 Shannon rated it liked it

Struggled between 3 and 4 stars. Karen Robards wrote "Amanda Rose," and these two books remind me of one another. They both have an attention-grabbing beginning. They both involve an innocent, but judged guilty convict. And, most unfortunately, both involve couples with communication and trust issues. In this one, I almost liked it one star more than the other, but the woman was as dense as the man if not more so, so it drove me crazy. It kept my attention. The passionate scenes were better star ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 18, 2014 Elen rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-romance, five-stars

I usually do not enjoy romance out of traditional regency setting, so it was to my surprise that I couldn't put the book down. The clash and tension between two proud people was not as unreasonable as I first expected it to be. They've both got reasons for acting the way they do, and what I particularly liked is how Sarah transformed, and her very understandable internal conflict between being associated with a convict and undeniable passion made their relationship even more convincing. While th ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2016 Kristy Halseth rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was mostly a good book. You feel like there is a larger story that you missed and that you are picking the tale up in the middle. They try to tell the part you missed as one character's back story he shares with the other character. But it would have been an interesting story to read itself.

And Sarah was at times annoying. For someone who objected to people beating a slave to death, she was constantly threatening to have him beaten again. There were a few personality characteristics that j ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 30, 2009 Nathalie rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Like all Karen Robards' books, Dark Torment is heavy on sexual tension. But this time it is to the expense of everything else... Indeed, such a romance novel could have very well taught us something about Australia in the 1830's, but all this is is one scene of lust after another. The rest of the story is pretty much non-existent and doesn't make much sense anyway. Personally, I like my steamy novels to have a little more to them than just plain sex. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 16, 2013 Cathy rated it really liked it

Really good book. Slow at first, and then enthralling. Big, strong, handsome and sexy hero (Dominic). Heroine (Sarah) was in a Cinderella type role, but had a feisty and dominating personality albeit a kind heart. The sex scenes were steamy. I did fell Sarah was too difficult at times, and didn't like the way she treated Dominic at times. Although I loved the way Dominic could be so patient with her and so tender. Beautiful ending. A worthwhile read. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2015 Anna Mcfadden rated it it was amazing

Sarah and Dominic are 2 different types of people, Sarah is a Lady and lives on a sheep farm with her father, step mother, step sister. She is very smart and with a girl next door looks to most she is seen as an old maid at 22 and plain looking. Dominic is a dark, handsome rebel from Island who is sent to Sarah ' s farm to serve out his sentence for a crime. Dominic trys to get Sarah to see how beautiful she is and that he can make all her dreams come true ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 14, 2014 Wendy rated it it was amazing

I liked everything about this book. I stayed up so late to finish it but it was so completely worth it. It sounded amazing and I love when I'm expecting something awesome and it turned ot to be a let-down, but THIS WAS THE BOMB.

Sometimes I wanted to hit Dominic but there was real character development and he turned out to be a pretty cool guy if I do say so myself. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 26, 2013 ReneeW rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-other, australia, 2015-read

Your standard old fashioned historical romance bodice ripper complete with a "feisty" heroine, Sarah. I used to love these types of heroines but I couldn't stand her. But I loved the hero, Dominic, and the setting in Australia. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 28, 2019 Shellie rated it really liked it

Shelves: australia-ireland-exotic-locales

4 to 4.5 stars, I really enjoyed the book. I love Karen Robards historicals! My fav’s are Island Flame and Forbidden Love, which I gave 5 stars too. Looking forward to reading more of hers as I haven’t gotten through all of them yet. Next on to Amanda Rose and Morning Song ...

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 20, 2008 Colleen rated it it was amazing

One of my favorite romance novels of all. Dont let the cheesy title fool you!!! its great!

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 09, 2011 Natalija rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical

Unfortunately, it didn't withstand the test of time and I had to take two stars off. Also, I completely forgot how much I disliked Sarah. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 09, 2014 Rebecca Fronckowiak rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great story

I like the storyline and how artfully the author told it. Her characters are strong and the backdrop perfect.Great story.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2014 Barbara Woodford rated it it was amazing

A very intense love story that keeps you in suspense throughout.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 12, 2017 ~*Michelle R*~ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, favorite-historical-romance, 3x-or-more, 1-my-paperback-library

I have read this many times over the years, it has always been and still is one of my favorite historical reads.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2021 Alison rated it did not like it

I finished this book so quickly because I needed to purge it from my soul, that's how awful it is. The first half of the book was okay, except for the fact that the main characters fought constantly, and seemed to not like each other at all, even though there was supposed to be ~sexual tension~ or some garbage like that. This was supposed to be an "enemies to lovers" trope, but I believe that they were enemies until they suddenly weren't. The characters had such bad and unrealistic communication ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 22, 2019 Cheap and Lazy rated it liked it

Shelves: cowboy-ish, romance, regency-ish, captive

I originally quit at 17% in because I couldn’t take the excessive description and repetition. I felt like the author is trying to beat me over the head with every point. Even though it’s not first-person, the story is told from one perspective (Sarah’s)—which I don’t care for in romance, especially when there isn’t even much dialog. Bummer, I found the setting and premise interesting, was hoping for something old school along the lines of Woodiwiss. Nope. Decided to give it another shot. We fina ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 24, 2019 Copper78 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical

This is a well written historical romance about an Irish man who has been convicted of a crime and sent to the Australian Penal Colony in the 1800s. What's not to love!? The hero/heroine have some epic fights and take the enemies to lovers trope to new extremes, and at times I wanted to slap the shit out of both of them. The heroine, Sarah, truly made me want to throat punch her a few times, but overall, I enjoyed their banter, their attraction was undeniable and led to some really steamy scenes ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 14, 2019 Christine (KizzieReads) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019-rrrc, historical, 2019-reads, library-ebooks, 2019-summer-romance-book-bingo

2.75 stars. It didn't get good until the last few chapters. It dragged, and you never really see the love develop between Sarah and Dominic until the last few chapters. It is just told to you that they talked over several weeks and then when they are thrust together, that's when you actually see them interact with each other and fall in love. I liked seeing how Dominic came to be a convict and once that plot came out, that's when things got interesting. I'm hoping her other books are better than ...more

flag Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Romance > Historical Romance

69 users

Romance

57 users

Historical

24 users

Cultural > Australia

13 users

Historical > Historical Fiction

7 users

Fiction

5 users

Historical > Regency

5 users

Romance > Romantic Suspense

4 users

Adult

3 users

Adventure

2 users

See top shelves…

About Karen Robards

Karen Robards

2,636 followers

Karen Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. She has won multiple awards including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite author.
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, wh ...more