Dark Torment

I adored this book; the heroine was what particularly struck me about Dark Torment. She was brave and feisty without being annoying and belligerent. She was strong and funny and Robards just wrote her in such a way that if Sarah were real, I'd love to be her friend. She's kind and compassionate, but that doesn't mean Sarah isn't practical. She's very nice and polite to the convict staff in her home, but, and as bad as this may make Sarah sound, it is at least very realistic, she is also aware of the gulf that separates the high-born from the convicted. She saves Dominic from being flogged, but she is aware of how difficult a relationship between them would be. And that scene after she and Dominic chase off those bad guys...hahaha - had me laughing for years. Dominic is as sexy as all get out and totally someone I could imagine drooling over! Their love scenes were totally hot and heavy if you're into that kind of thing, but more importantly, the plot moves quickly without losing atmosphere. The book had a unique setting as well, for a historical romance. I enjoyed Dominic and Sarah's barbed remarks to each other and how they relished getting a rise out of one another. This was a totally thrilling book and I still read it over and over and over because it's just that wonderful. Trust me, pick up this golden treasure and you will not be disappointed.

The Australian outback lents itself beautifully to this tale of a wrongly accused/convicted man who escapes death by becoming indentured to a sheep grower. His plain, no-nonsense daughters saves the convict "gallagher"'s life. He resents her for it as he doesn't want to be "beholden" to anyone esp a woman. The overseer wants to marry 'sarah' for her inheritance and makes every effort to beat and kill Gallagher once he sees that Sarah befriends the man. Filled with adventure and action, love and hate, ruthlessness and tenderness and all the emotions in between, this is really enjoyable. You come to love gallagher and his sapphire eyes and hope he and sarah find the love they both deserve despite the obstacles. It was hard to put down and I was sorry when it was over.

I just finished reading DARK TORMENT, my first Karen Robards novel and it was so satifying, that I've already ordered a second one. The protagonists, Dominic, a handsome, mysterious and confined stranger, and Sarah, an Austrailian sheep farmer's very plain daughter, meet under the most brutal of circumstances. They show an outward disdain for each other while inwardly they burn with passion. In addition to romance and very descriptive sexual content, this novel is filled with life-and-death adventures. Karen Robards could easily become a romance lover's favorite writer.

This book was one of the best romances I've ever read. It is very sensual and roamntic. Dominic was just the best hero ever, he sounds like my dream man; with his incredibly black hair and blue, blue eyes. I love the story line and the way Sarah transformed into a beautiful woman under Dominic's loving care.

This book has adventure, wonderful dialogue and fiery passion. Robards develops the characters of Sarah and Dominic with skill and humor and really draws the reader into the story. I have reread this one many times, it's a total romance classic.