Outback Groom

AUTHOR: Darcy, Emma
TITLE: The Outback Marriage Ransom
DATE READ: 07/13/14
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS Romance/2004/Harlequin Presents/187 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: #1 of trilogy: Outback Knights
TIME/PLACE: Sydney, Australia/2004
CHARACTERS: Ric Donato/Photo Agency Owner; Lara Seymour/former model
FIRST LINES: " Ric Donato sat w/ his executive assistant, Kathryn Ledger, in the Sydney office, checking photographs that had come in, most of them featuring celebrites at the Australian Film Industry Awards."
COMMENTS: 3 teenaged boys got into trouble w/ the law and were offered the option of going to the Outback for a year vs jail. Ric Donato was 16 & had stolen a Porsche to impress his girlfriend, Lara. Mitch Tyler, had beat someone up to defend his sister and Johnny Ellis had sold weed to musicians. They each chose Gundamurra -- the sheep station rather than be sentenced to prison. They became fast friends while at the ranch and their bonds continued into adulthood. The 1st book in the trilogy is Ric's story. Each boy had to work hard while at Gundamurra but each one was also given the choice to develop an interest of his own. Ric chose photography and this had not failed him. He became a world renowned photo journalist often catching on camera scenes from traumatic world events. He has since branched out and become an owner of an a photo agency that has offices worldwide. He has never forgotten Lara and knows she has married a wealthy man in Sydney. He assumes she is happily married and has not considered any contact until he comes across a photo where he sees the physical signs of a battered, beaten woman. He grew up in an abusive home and this sets off a chord w/ him. He buys the rights to the photo before any other agency can make it public and then makes an unannounced visit to Lara. Lara feels trapped and her wealthy husband is very controlling -- her father is in a nursing home & her mother feels she needs to stay in her marriage. When Ric comes to her home, she doesn't feel she has anyone else to turn to and accepts his offer of assistance. He has her transported safely to Gundemarra where she can live in secret while filing for a divorce. Ric 's assistance is offered "no-strings" and wants Lara to feel free to make her own choices w/o dependence on him. I do not want to re-cap the entire story … Ric & Lara have never forgotten their teeaged romance even tho' it consisted of only one kiss. Ric wants to be patient but Lara is the one that does not want to let Ric return to Sydney before they have one night together… Various relationship turns occur w/ her ex, etc that continue on leaving Ric & Sara separate for some time until they both finally come to an agreement. I really enjoyed this book & plan to read the others. I have a weakness for these Australian romances … they just seem to be my-kind-of-read, really an escape being transported to some exotic locale, etc. And it was a nice quick read.