Sea Fire

This has become one of my top five favorites by Karen Robards. I didn't think I would like it so much but I surprised myself. In a word, this romance is tempestuous. Up and down on an emotional roller coaster. I felt emotionally scarred at times reading this book. But obviously Jonathan and Cathy go through A LOT together and they come away from everything much closer. This is another one of those books where there's poor communication between the lovers. Neither one wants to admit how hard they've fallen in love, and they do have serious trust/pride issues. Jonathan refuses to believe Cathy when she says she didn't sell him out. She gets tired of trying to plead her case, so she kind of closes off. Jonathan treats her horribly sometimes and she puts up with some of it or gets fed up and lets him believe she's a viper to purposely piss him off, apparently...Actually they try to piss each other off. All the while they still have sizzling sex together LOL! Near the end Jonathan finds out Cathy didn't sell him out and she almost doesn't forgive him, but eventually does. Almost until the end of the book, they don't believe the other one loves them back but throughout the whole book, they still supported one another in various ways despite the hurt and distrust, which to me demonstrates that they truly love each other. Some people may be turned off by the constant ups and downs and the large age gap of 17 yrs. I felt that it made the story very entertaining to read. I love reading "swashbuckling adventure" type romances and this was definitely that. I will of course be rereading in the future.

This is the sequel to Robards' ISLAND FLAME and it involves the same hero and heroine two years after their "happily ever after" in book 1. I gave the first story 4 and ½ stars and pretty much dismissed the low reviews as I'm doing now. Like the first one, this is an 80's bodice ripper, so accept that going in, but it is very well done and I recommend it.Robards knows how to write historical romance. Few authors could follow the same couple after the happily ever after and still produce great sexual tension, a suspenseful story and as many twists and turns, but Robards does and with great success in my mind.SEA FIRE is set in 1844, beginning in South Carolina where Jonathan Hale and his wife, Catherine ("Cathy") are living with their young son, Cray. When word arrives her father is ill, Cathy hurries back to England with her young son to find her father recovering from what appears to be a stroke. Meanwhile Cathy learns her marriage to Jon was not valid and cannot wait to get back to America and wed him again. But before she can leave, her pirate husband shows up and is seized and thrown in prison. Harold, her cousin who has designs on her--and her money--tells Cathy he will save the pirate from hanging if she agrees to marry him.Like the first story, we are once again immersed in the troubled but sexually charged relationship of Cathy and Jon. His past will not allow him to trust any woman, much less the beautiful minx he married. Cathy loves him, but is too proud to admit it when he treats her like a cad. Still, she will save him from death if she can.A great tale with many twists and turns and lots of action. Yes, Jon is a brute at times and Cathy's a brat, but I still kept reading it late into the night. I recommend it. If you liked ISLAND FLAME, I daresay you will like this one.

Best book of late

This turbulent romance was just what I’ve been hungering for. A lovely follow-up to Island Fire. Speech was not always correct for the time in history but Ms. Robards knows how to spin a breathtaking tale that has as many unexpected turns as the hairpin turns in the Swiss Alps. Historical romances that stir a reader’s blood are hard to find. Sea Fire is a dreamer’s novel and I can highly recommend it.Reviewed by Heide Katros, Winter Haven News, Florida

This was a pretty good follow-up to book one. My only criticism being it ends so abruptly. It's plot flows right from the first book and smoothly into this plot. Again, an old-fashioned bodice ripper, but with style. The writing is very good, dialogue very good and plot very energetic with no real dead spots. I would highly recommend these books to historical fiction romance fans with the understanding it was written and published in the early '80's.

I liked the first of these two books but I have never seen a hero in a romantic novel that was so abusive. I at times couldnt put it down because I was so shocked at some of the things he did. It was pretty surprising to read a book that you think will be an adventure in romance and then see it is "how to abuse a woman and have her still love you". I thought the first one was better but this one was too far over the top. Karen Robards is a very good author I just wish her hero was more of a decent guy. I could meet this guy anywhere!

This is the 2nd book in her series. It's not for the faint at heart & u can tell there is a lot of love bit tension w/the characters. Some reviews have shown that the main character rapes the woman over & over again. I simple don't think so. It's got a lot of twists & turns but its also very exciting. I wish there were more in this series about Jon & Cathy

I am really surprised by all the negative reviews! I Loved the first book and was excited about reading the 2nd installment. Just like a soap opera it kept me glued to the pages wondering what was in store next for this couple. It's nice to read a book from time to time where the characters have flaws. It's not politically correct, this is Fiction and a true Bodice Ripper!

I was excited that there was a 2nd book I did not think It was going to match the first book, was I wrong this book was so much better than the first. I love how Cathy finally got her own back on Jon some good laugh out loud bits.