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Island Bound #1

Bound by Truth: An Island Bound novel

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A twist you’ll never see coming. The truth will tear them apart.

After a devastating crash changes her life, journalist Sierra Goldstein finds solace by moving to the wild and beautiful Kangaroo Island. But her peaceful sanctuary is shattered when a child goes missing and she becomes involved in the life and death search.

Reed Kapua is also looking for a simpler life when he starts work as the new cop on the island, returning to the force after an on-the-job tragedy caused a break in his career.

Reed recruits Sierra’s help after she reveals she ran a newspaper exposé on two child abductions years ago, believing there might be similarities to this new case. When bones belonging to a second child are uncovered, Sierra becomes a target of the predator as her house is vandalized and her car sabotaged. Then Reed discovers a terrible truth that will tear them both apart.

Can Reed and Sierra uncover the killer hiding in plain sight and heal their own shattered hearts before time runs out?

Suzanne Cass writes a thrilling romantic suspense, full of passionate romance and heart-stopping choices.

Pick up a copy of Bound by Truth today and get lost in this world of romance and mystery.
* Bound by Truth
* Bound by Silence (coming Jan 2020)
* Bound by the Stars (coming mid 2020)
While the characters overlap, each book tells a different, separate story with a happy ever after ending.

279 pages, ebook

Published October 15, 2019

94 people are currently reading
154 people want to read

About the author

Suzanne Cass

47 books51 followers
Suzanne Cass has always had a fascination with the tough resilience of people who live in our amazing red-dirt outback country. Much of her adolescence was spent working as a jillaroo in the Snowy Mountains, forming her love of lean, enigmatic, cowboy heroes in wild, passionate, dangerous stories. When not writing about the characters that inhabit her head, Suzanne can be found prowling the Perth beaches with her border collie, or yelling from the sidelines as her two sons play sport. Her debut novel, Island Redemption won the Romance Writers of Australia award for best unpublished romance novel of 2016.

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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Jenny.
2,278 reviews73 followers
January 26, 2020
Bound by Truth is about love, forgiveness and be true to yourself. Sierra Goldstein moved to Kangaroo Island after the death of her baby in a car crash to find peace and forgiveness. Sierra coming back from Adelaide after visiting her mother discovered her house trashed. Reed Kapua was the new cop on the island and responded to her call for assistance. When a young girl goes missing on the island Sierra and Reed join forces to find her. However, Reed and Sierra did realise that this incident will change both their lives. The readers of Bound by Truth will continue to follow the twist and turns in Reed and Sierra investigation to the disappearance of the young girl.

Bound by Truth is an enjoyable book to read, and the conclusion of this book came as a complete surprise to me. I love Suzanne Cass portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. Bound by Truth is well written and researched by Suzanne Cass. I like the way Suzanne Cass described the settings of Bound by Truth.

The readers of Bound by Truth will learn about living on Kangaroo Island. Also, the readers of Bound by Truth will learn about guilt and how it can affect everyone differently.

I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Claire Louisa.
2,090 reviews121 followers
December 2, 2019
I have read end enjoyed books by Suzanne Cass in the past, so when I was given the opportunity to read her new novel, I jumped at the chance. What an enjoyable read this was, full of tension, romance, suspense, danger, likeable and unlikeable characters. It is the first in a new series called Island Bound and I am looking forward to future books.

I really liked the two main characters in this novel Sierra and Reid who are both living on the Island for different reasons, but both for a chance to get away from the things life has thrown at them.

The setting of Kangaroo Island is very interesting to me, this is the third book I've read set on this island this year, I'm thinking I'll have to go and visit one day soon. 

Sierra has had heartbreak and tragedy in her life and has been living on Kangaroo Island for quite a few years, she is a bit of a loner and because of past losses, is loathe to let anyone get close to her. She also has a stalker who has targeted her due to an article she wrote about abducted children and the polices seemed incompetence. Now there is a child missing on the peaceful island, and she's been looking at further abduction cases in South Australia, could they all be related or is that too much of a coincidence.

Reid is the new police officer in town and when he meets Sierra there is a connection there that Sierra tries to deny, but Reid is nothing if not persistent. There is also a deeper connection that will cause heartache and danger, I'm not sure how I would have dealt with finding out what these two find out, possibly much the same way as Sierra does.

The search for the missing child is all hands on deck and more than one terrible secret will be uncovered during the search.

This novel had me reading past my bedtime (I feel lucky that I've had so many great books like this this year). 



Thanks to Suzanne Cass for a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

Profile Image for Kim.
2,707 reviews11 followers
July 10, 2023
Setting: Kangaroo Island, South Australia; modern day.
Former investigative journalist Sierra now lives a comparatively quiet life on Kangaroo Island, trying to cope with the loss of her baby daughter in a tragic car accident. Having just visited her mother, Sierra is returning to the island via the car ferry when she meets Reed, who is the latest recruit to the island's police service. Reed too is looking for a less stressful role in the police having also suffered loss. Despite the fact that both he and Sierra are not looking for commitment, neither can deny the instant attraction they feel for each other.
It isn't long before the pair meet again as Sierra arrives at her house to find that it has been burgled and ransacked. When Reed and his sergeant arrive at her property the following day, she reveals that she is being stalked by someone who disagreed with her criticism of the police investigation into the disappearance of two girls in the mainland town on Port Pirie - and has bombarded her with letters and emails criticising and threatening her. Sierra wonders if this is an escalation of his actions against her or someone else with an axe to grind!
As Reed and Sierra both long to be near one another, they are thrown together by the disappearance of a young child from a holiday rental home on the island - and the pair team up to search for her. Meanwhile, Sierra is being pestered by her former editor to look into the case files of two other girls who went missing in Adelaide after the Port Pirie ones on which she made her journalistic name....
This is both a romance and a crime novel - enjoyed the characters and the setting. There was also plenty of tension in the crime storyline as well as a quite stunning revelation that affected the budding relationship between Reed and Sierra that I didn't see coming. All-in-all, a very good read - 8/10.
Profile Image for bex.
2,435 reviews24 followers
September 12, 2020
3 star

Fit my expectations well. Nice characters. I'd figured a lot out long before the MCs, but that's typical of me and doesn't reflect poorly on author. Solid story, good distraction.
Profile Image for Len Klumpp.
37 reviews2 followers
November 16, 2019
Great Rural Suspense.

This is the first book of Suzanne Cass’ that I have read and it definitely won’t be the last. A very captivating story.
Profile Image for Dragonladymoi.
255 reviews19 followers
March 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. From the beginning it hooked me in and took me on a ride that was interesting, full of suspense and with an undercurrent of romantic vibes. I could not put it down.

The setting influenced me initially- it was on Kangaroo Island and the ferry ride over to the island when Sierra first met Reed, who was wretchedly seasick from the rough crossing.

The connection was there from the beginning and subtly built as they got to know each very quickly in the fast paced events that swept them along with it; Reed as a new addition to the local police and Sierra as a former journalist whose skills were needed to assist the police.

From the start, Reed was torn between his duty and helping Sierra with her stalker. Both Sierra and Reed had tragedy in their pasts but were unaware of how much they had in common, besides the deep attraction that was drawing them nearer.

Suzanne Cass skilfully introduced the plot and wove in a few teasers that kept me thinking about where it would go. There is never a dull moment in this story and as it unfolds, the pieces fit together explosively but without doubt.

This story would be an awesome movie - mystery, suspense and romance in an island setting off the coast of South Australia. I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Sherrie Hansen.
Author 25 books48 followers
April 20, 2020
I've always loved the quote, The truth will set you free. But this teaser claims the truth will tear them apart... What can I say? I absolutely loved Bound by Truth - the best compliment I can give it is that I stayed up reading it until 3 a.m. because I HAD to know what happened. The characters are wonderful - just unique enough to be interesting, and flawed enough to be lovable. The caliber of the suspense is on par with favorites like Sandra Brown and the editing was flawless. It drew me in, held my attention and more. I felt like I was there, viewing the ocean and battling my way through the scrub brush. Very engaging characters, a riveting plot, and a fascinating setting on Kangaroo Island. There is so much at stake as Reed and Sierra search for the missing child - a perfect combination for those who like to mix romance, danger, and suspence. Highly recommended. I am off to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
846 reviews27 followers
May 27, 2022
I have to say it took me a few pages to really get into this book. It did not capture my attention from the beginning. Truth be told I picked it up and put it down several times before finally sticking with it. About halfway into the first chapter I finally started to get my groove with it.

For me it wasn't a terrible book once I got into it I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline.

I will admit it didn't keep me on the edge f my seat as other books had but it held its own and to be honest I figured out most of the story before it happened.

I did feel for Sierre as a mother who has lost a child I could relate to her pain.

Overall not a bad book just not one I connected with. I would like to read more by Suzanne to see if this was just one of those times I did not connect.
82 reviews1 follower
January 15, 2024
a fantastic Aussie story!

Soooo good, so real! Great setting, great descriptive passages, believable characters n language, editing was spot on, AND only two amazings in the whole book AND a totally new trope!
I think I’ll be investing in the next few books!
Profile Image for Melanie Duncan.
148 reviews9 followers
June 2, 2020
Recommended for fans of Nalini Singh's A Madness of Sunshine.
Profile Image for Gerri  Johnson.
539 reviews3 followers
December 9, 2020
I have to say this was the first of Suzanne Cass's books I've read. It was somewhat different than other books but not sure why. Every time you turn around something shocking happens! Good book!
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews122 followers
Want to read
October 29, 2021
🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (10/29/2021)! 🎁
Profile Image for Cherie Melbourne.
1,352 reviews15 followers
November 12, 2021
Bound by Truth

A first Suzanne Cass story for me and I loved it. Plenty of suspense and loved the leads and as a onus, I get to read about my own country.
Profile Image for JoEllen McClendon.
36 reviews
August 14, 2023
really great read

Unexpected twists and turns, a real page turner. Just when you think you know what going on, you find out you don’t lol.
Profile Image for Meredith Williams.
52 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2023
Gut instinct, passion, truth and justice

Holy nail biting page turner. Never have I wanted to be apart of a story and seek justice like this book invoked.
403 reviews3 followers
February 22, 2020
Great Read

I've given this book 5 stars because of the wonderful way the author managed to bring everything to life --- not only the characters, but the descriptions of KI.
Sierra, a journalist with a lot of painful, plus guilt memories, made a decision to move from the Mainland to Kangaroo Island, where she hoped she could begin to heal. Of course, she would never be able to forget her baby girl who died in a car crash in which Sierra had been driving. Who was to blame for that accident? I was not disappointed at the outcome to that part of the story.
Moving on to Reed, a policeman who had also took up residence on KI, hoping it would help him forget the horror of an incident, involving him, on the Mainland.
Sierra and Reed's first sight of each other was on the ferry. She was returning from a visit to her mother on the Mainland, and Reed was beginning his journey into the unknown. From the first encounter, when Sierra saw him leaning over the rails of the ferry, seasick, she was attracted by his physique. Not in a million years did she realise that this first meeting would evolve into a relationship that she couldn't control.
Reed, who believed life would be easier on the Island, turned out the opposite when a 5 year-old girl went missing, plus Sierra's life was also being threatened by a maniac. He was torn between protecting Sierra, and finding the missing child. Of course, the child had to come first which almost cost Sierra her life. Are these two crimes connected?
This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seats as you follow the twists and turns that come next.
Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Penny Leidecker.
2,676 reviews27 followers
February 23, 2020
Although this a new author to me, I have quickly fallen for her wring. I read Bound By Silence first and I didn’t think I’d want to read Sierra and Reed’s book, but I’m so glad I did. I enjoyed this book even more than Keira’s. When it’s revealed how Sierra and Reed are connected, I thought for sure that would be the end, but no, we get more. If you want to know what Sierra has had to endure and find out who her stalker is, I highly recommend this book to you. I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Rebmay.
2,761 reviews50 followers
October 16, 2019
This book tackles a difficult and disturbing subject (child abduction) while also revealing a love story between two people unknowingly connected by a past tragedy. Sierra is an award winning journalist who has left a life and job in Adelaide to retreat to a quieter, simpler life on Kangaroo Island. Her past continues to haunt her through the continued taunting of a stalker and the guilt she carries surrounding the loss of her child. Reed has just taken a job on the small police force on the island. His first encounter with the beautiful Sierra leaves him feeling hopelessly attracted to her and anticipating their next meeting. When a crime brings him to her doorstep, he becomes concerned for her safety. Then a child goes missing on the island. Both Reed and Sierra are part of the team searching for the little girl and it soon be becomes clear that she didn’t wander off... she was abducted. As the search continues, Sierra’s stalker escalates and deadly incidents begin to occur, putting her life in danger. Reed is desperate to protect Sierra even though his police work prioritizes the search for the missing child. Sierra and Reed both feel their growing attraction and connection, but when a conversation reveals their shared connection to a tragic accident, she flees from him. Her journalistic background and her search for truth leads Sierra to follow a clue concerning the child’s abductor..... and right into his trap. Read this fast-paced, thrilling and totally enthralling book to discover what happens next. This book had me on the edge of my seat, glued to words on each page and unable to stop reading until the last word. I loved the vulnerability, inner strength and will to move forward of both Reed and Sierra. This book will go on to my keeper list.

I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for Jodie (Sunshinejode) W.
130 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2019
First time reading a novel by Suzanne Cass, I saw it was a romantic suspense and as I have really started to enjoy this genre, I was keen to read her new Book Bound by Truth. Bound by Truth is the first in the Island Bound series which can be read as a stand alone but for readers like myself exciting as we know another book will be coming soon. The cover is eye catching and I would have picked it even without knowing it was a romantic suspense as the the cover drew me in.

Sierra Goldstein a jounalist lives on Kangaroo Island so she is away from the fast pace of the city, she lives in an isolated part of the island with her cats and chicken, a place to heal from a devastating car crash.

Reed Kapua is the new cop in town, he is also keen to live the simple life and a posting to the island is just what he needs as he also deals with his past.

When a child goes missing, Sierra is haunted by similarities to a expose she wrote many years ago about missing children and Reed recruits her to assist him as they search frantically to find the little girl alive.

The story engaged me immediately and has great mometum, I enjoyed the characters and how they developed and I could imagine the landscape of Kangaroo Island. I won't say much more as I don't want to spoil this book but it is well worth the read. Love when you find a new author as it means you get to go and read all their other books now!!
Profile Image for Jamie Bee.
Author 1 book117 followers
October 19, 2019
Thriller Romance on Small Island Off Australia

It's rare to have a genre mashup of thriller and romance, but this book manages to pull it off. The story seemed to start out slow for a thriller, as the heroine first meets the hero when they're taking a ferry to the island where she lives (and where he's about to start a job as a cop) and she discovers that her home has been broken into and trashed. The hero and heroine do have chemistry, especially after he gets to know her as he takes part in the police investigation of the robbery. There's a deep history with a stalker and some abductions. I don't want to give too much away because part of the fun of a thriller is to follow it step by step. I thought some of the language was a little off and unnatural. There were definitely issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage, but I found this to be a minor distraction. In general, I liked the story, and I definitely felt the characters to be believable and relatable—which I love in a story.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
Profile Image for Donise.
1,293 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2019
This book was very haunting and deeply touching. It was full on angst and intrigue with a couple of twists that I didn't immediately see coming. This book had me involved from the beginning and kept me involved until the very last page. Sierra and Reed have a lot to get thru and handle if they ever want to make a go of a HEA. Both of them must deal with past marriages, past injuries from car wrecks, a child's kidnapping and a hunt for a madman. This is definitely a book that supports the adage..what doesn't kill you makes you stronger only it takes Sierra a while to realize just how strong she is. I highly recommend this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Texas.
1,685 reviews394 followers
October 15, 2019
Bound by Truth - This is my first read by this author. I like authors from Down Under so I read this out of curiosity. The storylines were interesting and well done. The characters were also well thought out and realistic.

Emotions ran the gamut on various themes. The sadness of several happenings balanced with the good and happy events. The descriptions placed the reader in the midst of everything, yet nothing was graphic. A good, easy to read writing style. I found this book on Booksprout. 4*
2,416 reviews
October 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Something different from my usual paranormal genre. I found it very well written and enjoyable. First book I’ve read from this author and I plan on reading more. I recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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