Beyond Sunrise [Mass Market Paperback]

Candice Proctor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2003

Can life ever be a real adventure without falling in love?

Ever since she can remember, India McKnight has craved adventure, dreaming of lands past the horizon. Following her calling, she becomes a travel writer, a vocation that takes her far and wide. All the while, she vows never to risk her freedom by falling in love. But when she sails to the exotic and unknown regions of the South Pacific, a rugged man brave enough to be her guide just may be the one who can lay claim to her heart.

Having turned his back on the “civilized” world long ago, Jack Ryder has been living in seclusion, hiding from the pain and betrayal buried in his past. When the beautiful, hotheaded Scotswoman arrives at his hut looking for a guide, he agrees to take her to the island of Takaku—despite the challenge—just to prove that her stubborn theories about native life are wrong. But when their journey turns dangerous, their fates become forever entwined. Forced to rely on each other for their very survival, they soon discover that passion and even deeper peril await them . . . just beyond the sunrise.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Spinster Scotswoman travel writer India McKnight arrives in the Polynesian Islands determined to find passage to the island of Takaku to do on-site research. She discovers that the only person who will take her to the cannibal-infested island is the disreputable Jack Ryder, an Australian being pursued by the British navy for causing the death of most of a ship's crew years before. In the course of his helping her get there, he is forced to hold her captive to save himself from the pursuing Brits, and they both discover that opposites do indeed attract. India also learns the truth about the naval incident, finding her tender feelings toward Jack and his half-Polynesian daughter more than justified. While spunky India and tormented Jack are interesting enough, this story lacks the enhancement of mood that Proctor does so well in her other historical romances, such as Midnight Confessions [BKL Je 1 & 15 02], making it an adequate but not outstanding offering. Mary K. Chelton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Inside Flap

Can life ever be a real adventure without falling in love?

Ever since she can remember, India McKnight has craved adventure, dreaming of lands past the horizon. Following her calling, she becomes a travel writer, a vocation that takes her far and wide. All the while, she vows never to risk her freedom by falling in love. But when she sails to the exotic and unknown regions of the South Pacific, a rugged man brave enough to be her guide just may be the one who can lay claim to her heart.

Having turned his back on the ?civilized? world long ago, Jack Ryder has been living in seclusion, hiding from the pain and betrayal buried in his past. When the beautiful, hotheaded Scotswoman arrives at his hut looking for a guide, he agrees to take her to the island of Takaku?despite the challenge?just to prove that her stubborn theories about native life are wrong. But when their journey turns dangerous, their fates become forever entwined. Forced to rely on each other for their very survival, they soon discover that passion and even deeper peril await them . . . just beyond the sunrise.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Books; 1 edition (April 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345447182
• ISBN-13: 978-0345447180
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #842,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

An Air Force brat who grew up exploring castles in Spain and fishing in the mountains of Oregon and Idaho, Candy later worked as an archaeologist and earned a PhD in European history. She now writes the Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series under the name C.S. Harris and coauthors a series of contemporary thrillers as C.S. Graham. Married to retired Army Colonel Steve Harris, she lives in New Orleans. Visit her webpage at www.csharris.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 19th century south Pacific version of the African Queen, May 11, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond Sunrise (Mass Market Paperback)

Renowned for her global travel books, India McKnight needs a guide to visit the South Seas island of Takaku, but no one will take her because of the native cannibal populace. British Naval Captain Simon Granger suggests India ask Jack Ryder, who lived with cannibals, to take her. Jack and his adolescent partner Patu agree to take India to the island so that she can determine whether the rock formation is natural or man-made.

Jack drops India on the island, giving her a few hours to return. However, Simon and his ship arrive. They want to catch Jack, accused of killing half a crew by sinking the Lady Juliana. Jack takes India hostage and they trek across the island as he tries to reach the French side. On the journey, Jack and India fall in love, but he knows she has no future with him.

Fans of the African Queen will want to read this nineteenth century south Pacific version of the classic. The story line hooks the reader from the moment India dumps a bucket of water on a drunken sleeping it off Jack. Readers will compare the lead couple to Bogart and Hepburn and realize the duo is a charming pair. Though some readers may detest the use of profanity, it fits in an action-packed plot that goes full throttle until the finish.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars African Queen was a great comparison, February 23, 2005

By 

lgbdx3 (VA heartland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Sunrise (Mass Market Paperback)

There are so few romances that I truly adore.
I decided to try Candice when I discovered she was Penelope Williamson's sister, a magically gifted writer who unfortunately moved to the mystery genre.

While Candice's style is her own, the one thing she does have in common with PW is the maturity of her stories, both in character development and rich scene description. Also, like her sister, she has lovely variety in her story placement. Let's see, we have Australia & Tasmania & Colorado & New Orleans & even a medieval story. So many writers stay stuck in one genre, eg medieval or regency which eventually bores me, no matter how great the writer. This is my 3rd CP book and I have not been disappointed other than the knowledge that I am going to run out of her books too quickly.

Whoever compared this story to the African Queen was dead on. The interactions between Jack and India often make me laugh out loud. I just love his ascerbic wit and India does a pretty good job of holding her own...and then, of course, there is the love.

I would not only recommend this story but would strongly recommend everything Candice has written.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars South Pacific Island romance and adventure, November 12, 2004

By 

Lealing (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Sunrise (Mass Market Paperback)

India McKnight is a 19th century travel writer. She has travelled the World and recounted her tales in her renowned books. She finds herself in the South Pacific trying to find a way to get to Takaku a cannibal infested island, where she wants to do research for her next book. The only person willing to risk taking her to the island is Jack Ryder, a rough hard drinking loner who has deserted the civilised World to live his life amongst the natives of the South Pacific.

Together Jack and India embark on an adventure on the island of Takaku. Jack is being chased by her majesty's navy and when they catch up with him they will bring him back to the United Kingdom where he will be tried for killing his fellow sailors and eventually hung. When his majesty's officers catch up with Kack on the island of Takaku, Jack takes India hostage and they journey from the north of the island through the rough jungles of Takaku to the safe haven of La Rochelle on the south of the island. As Jack and India encounter trouble throught the jungles they also find each other attracted to each other.

This was an adventure filled with beautiful descriptions of the South Pacific. You can really envisage the beautiful flora of the islands and smell their fagrant scents. Jack was a real tough hunk but also kind and caring, taking care of India as they crossed the rough terrain. India was a strong lady but a wee bit stubborn at times. Candice Proctor always has a way of drawing her readers into the story and you can really feel the pain that Jack hides and the love that India feels for him. A highly recommended read.

Lea Ling Tsang