Dark Rider: A Novel

By Iris Johansen

Iris Johansen is "a master among master storytellers" (Affaire de Coeur) and her bestselling novels have won every major romance award, including the coveted Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553299476
• ISBN13: 9780553299472
• Release Date: April 1995
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.2" x 4.0"

Customer Reviews

LOVE IT

I LOVE IRIS JOHANSEN!!!! ALL OF THE BOOKS I HAVE READ OF HERS ARE GREAT!!!!! READ THEM, YOU WON'T BE DISAPOINTED!

As tantalising as the bared breasts

I really enjoyed it. The setting at Hawaii gave an exotic and erotic backdrop. Jared first saw Cassie on a moonlit beach and thought she was a native since she dressed like them, just a sarong aroung her waist, leaving her tantalising breasts bared. That was a sure innocent way to arouse a man. But Cassie was not out to seduce, she was brought up at the island and thus not self-conscious about her body. Like most Iris Johansen heroines, Cassie unknowingly needed to be needed. She was very protective over Kapu, her beloved horse. Thank goodness it was not another child or dependent person. I liked reading about her resistance to stay in Jared's bed. Cassie wanted their lovemaking to be just mating, so as not to be vulnerable to betray her father. The sexual tension between Jared and Cassie was very strong, which added to the joy of reading the story. I enjoyed reading about how Cassie taunted Jared's command, in her small way but was extremely frustrating for Jared. The secondary characters did not have a cunning sense of humour as in her other books. Brandford was supposed to be but he was a tad bland. Josephine injected some energy into the story but had a relatively minor role in the story development.

good romance

The book begins with a short prologue set in 1795 revolutionary France and then picks up in Hawaii in 1806. The happenings in France are at the heart of a mystery which motivates all the subsequent action, as a stranger appears one day who wants to exact revenge against Cassandra's father. She does not know what happened all those years ago, but she trusts her father, helping him to escape back to France while she stays behind to delay the young Duke of Morland. The characters are well-written, though Cassandra doubts her feelings long after a reasonable person would; also, a secondary romance develops between two likeable characters, which I enjoyed. Conflict arises first from Cassie wanting the stranger to stay away from her father and later from wanting to reconcile her growing tenderness toward him while staying loyal to her father. The settings -- France, Hawaii and England -- are interesting and used to good effect. Horses figure largely here, and that's a good thing too. And ultimately what you want in a romance, a real desire to see the protagonists united, is here. Johansen writes in several genres and is talented in all of them. This romance was enjoyable and I would read others by this author.

Correction of reviews

Both previous reviewers are incorrect as to the title of the book with both a female and male God. That book is "Lion's Bride" by Johansen.This book, "Dark Rider", is as all of Johansen's books are - magnificent. The characters, the plot, the scenery, the dialogue. Well done.

I enjoyed reading the book and loved the characters.

I enjoyed reading "DARK RIDER",and I loved Cassandra and Jared. The chemistry between them was electrifying. I think Cassie tried a little too hard not to fall for Jared, even when it becomes obvious that he could not resist her. It was Iris Johansen best book I have read so far