Category Romance Review: Bride at Whangatapu by Robyn Donald

Bride at Whangatapu includes the hallmarks of almost every one of Robyn Donald’s books: the environment of New Zealand and a cruel hero.

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Bride at Whangatapu by Robyn Donald
Rating:
Published: 1977
Illustrator: David Craig
Imprint or Line: Harlequin Presents #232
Published by: Harlequin, Mills & Boon
Genres: Category Romance, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 189
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Introvert Reader

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW

The Book

Bride at Whangatapu includes the hallmarks of almost every one of Robyn Donald’s books. It intimately details the natural environment of New Zealand.

Whether her books were set on a sheep station, on a yacht in the Pacific, or just a tropical backdrop, you could see the bright green grass, feel the ocean spray on your face, or smell the hibiscus blossoms (which don’t even have much of a scent, do they?).

The Plot

Also present in Robyn Donald’s first published book is the other hallmark of her writing: an ultra-jerky hero who bullies his way over the heroine.

Right from chapter one, when “the hero,” Logan, finds out that Fiona is the mother of his son, who resulted from a one-night stand many years ago, he demands she marry him.

Out of the blue, he shows up at her doorstep and blames Fiona and her dead parents for not telling him the truth.

However, he had been a pig about their lovemaking, calling Fiona a slut and a promiscuous bitch for sleeping with him. She was an 18-year-old virgin, and he was a more experienced 26-year-old, so Fiona left and never looked back.

But now, for her son, she allows herself to be pulled into Logan’s universe and submit to his will.

Or does she?

Final Analysis of Bride at Whangatapu

Donald’s heroes are odd, as they are incredibly cruel, yet sometimes that meanness makes them so appealing. Not so much here in Bride at Whangatapu, her first HP.

I guess it took a bit of practice to master that fine line.

Rating Report Card
Plot	2
Characters	2
Writing	3
Chemistry	1.5
Fun Factor	2
Cover	3
Overall:	2.3

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Synopsis

“Nothing has changed,” Fiona said in desperation. “Jonathan is my son.”

Fiona had had five years to think about her youthful folly–five years to remember Logan Sutherland’s treatment of her. Now, a whim of fate had brought them together again, and he laid claim to the son he hadn’t known existed.

Well, for Jonathan’s sake she would marry this cool, calculating stranger as he demanded. But she would never be his wife!

Bride at Whangatapu by Robyn Donald