Beyond Sunrise is a welcome historical romance adventure set in the South Pacific in the 1880's. While I was not as enamored with this novel as I was with Night in Eden, this book had a great deal of romantic suspense, action, adventure, and excitement. I really enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book, but the last third--and especially the last few chapters--really drug on. I began to lose interest and the end was a bit anticlimactic. Candice Proctor is a masterful storyteller and the formula she uses in her romances is flawless. Her romances are not corny or cliche, but full of tension and action. Her stories have a plot beyond the hero and heroine ending up together. She really fleshes out her characters and makes her audience know them. Proctor is also a master of dialogue and banter between the hero and heroine to cause tension. As an author I would find that difficult, but she executes it very well.I liked the setting and hero/heroine of this book, but the side plot about the hero's backstory became a little heavy-handed towards the end. I did not expect so much of the novel to take place on a ship. I didn't care for the military aspects of the book, the shipboard chases (too pirate-y for me) and the ending was not particularly satisfying. I really enjoyed the parts where the hero and heroine were on the run through the jungle, which were the best in my opinion. This book is very different from her first one, and this is her last romance novel to date. I can see where she was possibly struggling with wrapping up the end of this book. At any rate, it's a great escapist read and I would recommend this to fans of Romancing the Stone or Indiana Jones. In fact, I would recommend all her romances to anyone who is not interested in reading over-the-top, poorly-written contemporary romances filled with all the trite Fifty-Shades nonsense. Her romances are classic, classy, old-fashioned, fun, romantic stories with depth, heart, and excitement. Love Candice Proctor!
4.5 stars. A wonderful high-adventure story that takes you on a wild chase through the South Pacific island jungles as our H/h try to out run the British Navy to prove the hero's innocence of a crime committed 10-years earlier. It had it all: Cannibles, volcanos, burial caves, rope bridges over deep canyons, crocodiles, sharks, ship races, tretchory and lies, great local native characters...etc. I half expected King Kong to enter the story, it was such a wild adventure ride. The action never let up, and the romance was so touching. The romance is a PG-13 (warm), but overall very satisfying. The book reminded me of Indian Jones, King Kong, The Mummy...etc. kind of action and romance. My mind was hearing big orchestra music through many of the scenes! Fun book.
Do You like book Beyond Sunrise (2003)?
I should have reviewed this one right after I read it; I'm a bit fuzzy about what I wanted to say about it.Overall, I liked it. Fun! Adventure! Romance!The hero seemed to spend a ridiculous amount of time nude. Was I supposed to find this hot? I found it bizarre. I find romance novels fascinating; I am forever baffled by what other people apparently get off on.I wanted to like the heroine more. I didn't dislike her, but I did occasionally want to smack her.Oh, and the hero and villain had more chemistry than the hero and heroine.And I liked the villain's second-in-command dude. I kept wishing the book was more about him and less about everyone else.Also, the villain and his second-in-command dude had more chemistry than the hero and heroine.I think I was also annoyed at the end when the heroine, after having vowed never to marry, gave in and said she would marry the hero instead of just living in sin with him forever. I do wish I could read a romance novel where the heroine says she will never marry and actually sticks to it. Apparently this is taboo in the world of romance; a happy ending is incomplete without a marriage. Boo to that, says I. I'd rather a heroine who sticks to her beliefs and a hero that respects her for it.It was enjoyable enough though.
—Jojo
