Helpful Score: 3
Very good read, engaging and emotional.
Helpful Score: 3
Jesmond Corbett returns to her home in Tasmania determined to conform to her family's expectations of marrying her wealthy childhood friend and neighbor. But then she sees Lucas Gallagher, a convict transported to the island and working in her brother's stables. Lucas has slaved for four years, planning his escape off of the island. Soon his heart is torn between freedom and his feelings for Jessie.
I always enjoy a story where one of the characters is from the "other side of the tracks". This book is no exception. I couldn't figure out how the author was going to resolve the lover's problems and get them together by the end of the book since there were so many obstacles in their path. Candice Proctor's writing style may be a little too wordy for me with lots and lots of descriptions, but she knows how to write characters and Lucas and Jessie are very well-drawn. The supporting character of Jessie's brother and aunt give this book extra depth. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
I always enjoy a story where one of the characters is from the "other side of the tracks". This book is no exception. I couldn't figure out how the author was going to resolve the lover's problems and get them together by the end of the book since there were so many obstacles in their path. Candice Proctor's writing style may be a little too wordy for me with lots and lots of descriptions, but she knows how to write characters and Lucas and Jessie are very well-drawn. The supporting character of Jessie's brother and aunt give this book extra depth. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
Helpful Score: 2
This is such a beautiful romance. Set in Austrailia, hero is an Irish convict. One of my very favorite keepers.
Helpful Score: 1
Sweeping regency era romance set in Tasmania (Australia). I loved it! Waiting to find out if Jessie and Lucas would ever be together was delicious torture.
A beautiful and compelling love story with a unique, bold plot. Jessie and Lucas were a couple I yearned for--their love for each other, however unlikely, rang true. The setting alone (time period, location, privileged/convict main couple) makes this story unique. It had grand love, suspense, and adventure. The splendid writing put me right smack in the middle of the Tasmania wilderness. This one's a gem and not to be missed! 5 stars
I haven't read this so here's a review from Publisher's Weekly:
When Jessie Corbett returns to Tasmania after two years spent studying geology in Victorian England, she finds that little has changed: her mother is as stiff and proper as ever; her brother, Warwick, is moody and rebellious; and her childhood companion and betrothed, Harrison Tate, is prim but polite. It isn't until Jessie meets Lucas Gallagher, an Irish convict who has been transported to Tasmania to work as a slave for her family, that she realizes how ill-suited she is for the subdued life that has been arranged for her. Although there are seemingly insurmountable obstacles between Jessie and Lucas, their relationship blossoms when Lucas is assigned to be Jessie's groom. As Jessie roams the island, exploring caves and making clandestine visits to a wise old fallen woman, she and Lucas find ample opportunity to pursue their dangerous passion and become embroiled in risky adventures Jessie is nearly killed by runaway slaves, and Lucas dives into turbulent waters to rescue members of a stricken ship. Proctor (The Last Knight) deftly evokes the island's rugged beauty while spinning a romance that faithfully portrays the mind-set of the period. Vividly drawn characters and a surprising but satisfying denouement will ensure that this tale is well-received.
When Jessie Corbett returns to Tasmania after two years spent studying geology in Victorian England, she finds that little has changed: her mother is as stiff and proper as ever; her brother, Warwick, is moody and rebellious; and her childhood companion and betrothed, Harrison Tate, is prim but polite. It isn't until Jessie meets Lucas Gallagher, an Irish convict who has been transported to Tasmania to work as a slave for her family, that she realizes how ill-suited she is for the subdued life that has been arranged for her. Although there are seemingly insurmountable obstacles between Jessie and Lucas, their relationship blossoms when Lucas is assigned to be Jessie's groom. As Jessie roams the island, exploring caves and making clandestine visits to a wise old fallen woman, she and Lucas find ample opportunity to pursue their dangerous passion and become embroiled in risky adventures Jessie is nearly killed by runaway slaves, and Lucas dives into turbulent waters to rescue members of a stricken ship. Proctor (The Last Knight) deftly evokes the island's rugged beauty while spinning a romance that faithfully portrays the mind-set of the period. Vividly drawn characters and a surprising but satisfying denouement will ensure that this tale is well-received.
