This 1884 work by a Victorian 'gentleman explorer' recounts a journey into then unexplored and hostile Maori territory.

The following book is a travel guide to New Zealand, written by James Henry-Kerry Nicholls. He explored the terrains of the country quite extensively, from the southern portion, where the Whanganui River passes through it in a long winding course to the sea; the west, where the Mokau River and its tributaries flow from its central region to the coast; the north, where the Waipa Puniu and various other streams, having their sources in the Titiraupenga and Rangitoto Mountains, wind through it to the Waikato River; and the southeast, where the snow-clad heights of Tongariro and Ruapehu pour down their rapid waters in a perfect network of creeks and rivers.

Reproduction of the original: The King Country by J.H Kerry-Nicholls

Was the First World War really 'For King and Country'? This is the first full history of the monarchy's role.

Our families have feuded for years, but when I get myself hurt during a winter storm, Dawson King rides in like a cowboy Prince Charming and tucks me into his bed until I get better. It’s suddenly hard to remember why I don’t like him. From Marie Johnston comes an enemies to lovers, small town romance. Dawson King’s mom died because of my dad’s poor decisions, and ever since, I’ve been at the bottom of the King Ranch manure pile. Years later, our circumstances couldn’t be more different. I’m left running my decrepit ranch, and he’s right next door, in his big house, with his fat and happy cattle, and he sneaks treats to my horse. Everyone in town loves him while hating me is their favorite game. Yet when I get hurt in the middle of a snow storm, he’s the only one there to help me. When I’m recovering at his place, he takes care of me, and I start to forget the resentment between us and remember the friendship we had as kids. He treats me like he sees beyond my caustic personality and the high emotional barriers I’ve erected thanks to my rough upbringing. What I don’t know is that he’s hiding a secret that gives him millions of reasons behind his motivation to get close to me. The clock is ticking for Dawson and his generous trust fund, and if I don’t succumb to his intoxicating charm, I’ll end up back in the hovel I came from with a broken heart. But if I fall hard, I’m not sure if he’ll have a reason to be there to catch me. King's Country is a standalone novel in the Oil Kings series. For readers who also like Ann Mayburn, Carly Phillips, Carrie Ann Ryan, Cat Johnson, Catherine Cowles, Chelle Bliss, Cherise Sinclair, Cheyenne McCray, Claudia Burgoa, Debra Holt, Devney Perry, Diana Palmer, Esther E. Schmidt, Genevieve Turner, Helen Hardt, Jane Henry, Janet Dailey, Jeanne St. James, Jenna Jacob, Jennifer Ryan, Julia Sykes, Kennedy Fox, Kim Loraine, Lani Lynn Vale, Lauren Blakely, Lauren Landish, Laylah Roberts, Lexi Blake, Linda Lael Miller, Lindsay McKenna, Lorelei James, Lori Wilde, Maisy Yates, Max Monroe, Melissa Foster, Nicole Snow, Renee Rose, Samantha Madisen, Shayla Black, Sophie Oak, Stephanie Rowe, Susan Stoker, Vi Keeland, Vivian Arend, Willa Nash, Willow Winters, Zoe York, Erin Wright, Laramie Briscoe, Kylie Gilmore, Kait Nolan, Tracy Alvarez, Lili Valente, Vanessa Vale, Tawdra Kandle, Colleen Hoover, Maya Banks, Penelope Sky, Kendall Ryan, Kennedy Fox, Chelle Bliss, Sarina Bowen, Penelope Ward, Marie Force, Melissa Foster, Kristen Proby, Devney Perry, Susan Stoker, Tessa Bailey, Jana Aston, Sally Thorne, Christina Lauren, Elle Kennedy, Julia Kent, Sylvia Day, K.A. Linde, Jessica Hawkins, Rachel VanDyken, Jodi Ellen Malpas, L.J. Shen, Natasha Madison, Emily Henry, Corrine Michaels, and Kylie Scott. romance books, contemporary romance, small town, best friends, cowboy romance, western romance, marriage and family, series starter, romance series, romance saga, romantic family saga, bestseller romance, steamy, sexy, heartwarming, heart-warming, family, love, love books, kissing books, emotional journey, captivating romance, emotional, healing, hot, hot romance, forbidden love, second chance romance, loyalty, swoon, funny romance, modern romance, forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, family business, strong female lead, strong heroine, top romance reads, best seller, romance novels, love story, angst, American western, unrequited love, adult romance, mature romance, rodeo, heartbreak, breakup, strong woman, contemporary women, full length, steamy, angsty, first love, romance series, series, mistaken country westerns, series starter, first in series, farming and ranching romance, Montana.

IN publishing this record of travel, I have deemed it advisable to arrange my narrative under four principal divisions. In the introductory portion I refer to the leading physical features of that part of the North Island of New Zealand known as the King Country, relate the leading incidents connected with its history, describe the condition of the native race, and explain the object with which my journey was undertaken. The succeeding chapters deal with my visit to the Maori King when presenting my credentials from Sir George Grey at the tribal gathering held at Whatiwhatihoe in October, 1882. The description of the Lake Country includes my route from Tauranga, on the East Coast, to Wairakei, and which led me through the marvellously interesting region familiarly termed the Wonderland of New Zealand, while in the pages embracing my explorations in the King Country I record events as they occurred from day to day over a lengthy journey which was delightful on account of its novelty and variety, and exciting by reason of the difficulties, both as regards natural obstacles inseparable from the exploration of an unknown region under the unfavourable conditions by which I was constrained to carry it out, and the deep-rooted jealousy of the native race against the intrusion of Europeans into a portion of the island which is considered by them to be exclusively Maori territory. When it is considered that in company only with my interpreter, and with but three horses—ultimately reduced to two—and with what scant provisions we could carry, I accomplished considerably over 600 miles of travel, discovered many new rivers and streams, penetrated almost inaccessible regions of mountainous forest, found extensive areas of open plains suitable for European settlement, traced the sources of three of the principal rivers of the colony, examined the unknown shores of its largest lake, ascended one of the highest mountains of the southern hemisphere, experienced degrees of temperature varying from 80° in the shade to 12° below freezing-point, and successfully traversed from South to North, through its entire length, a territory with an area of 10,000 square miles, and which had been from the early history of the colony rigorously closed to Europeans by the hostility of the native tribes, it may be readily seen that the explorations, by their varied nature, disclose many important facts hitherto unknown concerning a vast and beautiful portion of New Zealand; and while they cannot fail to prove of practical utility to the colony, they will, I venture to think, be a welcome addition to geographical science. The map appended to this work may be said to form the most complete chart of the interior of the North Island as yet published. Up to the present time the extensive territory embraced by the King Country has, owing to the obstruction of the natives, never been surveyed, and consequently many of its remarkable physical features have remained unknown, the existing maps of this part of the colony being mere outlines. As, therefore, considerably more than half of the country traversed was through a region which was, to all intents and purposes, a terra incognita from the commencement of my journey, I adopted a system of barometrical measurements and topographical observations, and thus secured a supply of valuable material, which I mapped out from day to day, while the names of mountains, rivers, valleys, and lakes were obtained from the natives by the skilful assistance of my interpreter, who was at all times unceasing in his endeavours to carry out this part of the work with accuracy.

Henry De Vere Stacpoole (1863-1951) was born in Kingstown, Ireland. A ship's doctor for more than forty years, Stacpoole was also an expert on the South Pacific islands. His many books contained detailed descriptions of the natural life and civilizations which he was so close to at home. His most famous work is "The Blue Lagoon" (1908).