The Australian setting is realized so well. Vibrant, hot, dry, and full of things that’ll kill you. Hell, even the voyage to Australia has a well-crafted boat setting, muggy and tense. It brings the story to life. The MCs are strong, distinct characters. The romance is believable (and sexy), and the characters are lovable. Seemed there should’ve been more mention of what they lost, not just what they gained. It’s like the book was apprehensive to show even brief angst despite characters and situations designed for at least a bit of it. The conclusion left some serious matters from the climatic action scene unresolved (not related to the romance). A few small things felt imbued with significance like they were a clue for a future scene, but they don’t come back up in any important way. Why don’t we ever circle back to the ring & the letters to family…?
It’s awfully infuriating that everyone seems so convinced Colin is too much of a well-born gentleman to be suffering among the other prisoners, but Patrick is too low-born to be afforded the same empathy even after lovable characters get to know him. It’s realistic, just upsetting. Patrick deserved to be a lot angrier.