By 1840 the colony of New South Wales was expanding. Transportation of convicts to the east coast ended, and many free squatters set out to settle on lands to the south. In 1836, the Government in London authorised Governor Bourke to establish a settlement in The Port Philip District of New South Wales, and an Association was formed to make the district a separate colony. Timothy, Tiger and Bella … Tiger and Bella Carstairs eldest son has turned 21. Bored with his Government job and intent on seeking adventure and a new life away from Sydney, Tim decides to journey south in an endeavour to find this adventure, accompanied by his Uncle Carlos. Where else to find it, but in a newly formed settlement.
In the 1840s the road south might not be as hazardous as the one across the mountains travelled by his parents when he was a child, but the month long journey overland holds many dangers and challenges to be faced. Escaped and ex-convicts seek the easy life by forming gangs to take what they can where they can. Forced to fight off the intruders who take claim to the land they have cared for over many, many generations, the Indigenous people are faced with many trials and battles of their own.
Not the least of Tim’s personal challenges is a young headstrong woman who, uninvited, takes it upon herself to join him on his travels. When they reach their destination, their troubles have only just begun.
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There are parallels between settling the American West and expanding the Australian colonies after the penal colony was ended. People pushing back the edge of the frontier, traveling out into the dangerous unknown. Some for adventure, some for riches, some to find a place of their own. But it takes a special kind of brave, and a special level of independence and resourcefulness.
These characters had it in spades. Tim is bored with his government job. Jo wants out from under her uncle’s thumb. And so they stock up on supplies and head out. Only problem is, Tim wasn’t planning on taking Jo – he believes a rough trail is no place for a lady. But Jo is no wilting lady. She’s spirited and smart and headstrong. What starts as friendship turns into a romance that is tested every step of the way, by both internal and external conflicts. Bad weather, dangerous wildlife, treacherous roads. Not everyone they meet is honorable. The Aboriginal populace is not happy about settler encroachment and defiling sacred lands.
There’s something here for everyone. I really enjoyed this story, and had no difficulty following given I haven’t read the first two books. I really liked the heroine Jo, even though her stubborness gets her in trouble when she doesn’t listen to the voice of reason. I really liked Tim’s patience and even-handedness. The pace flowed along through a great setting and interesting plot. The reader never gets bored!
This story took me up and down. I enjoyed the feisty Jo and her zest for adventure even when she got more than she bargained for. Tim was mostly sweet as well as overly protective. Their attraction through all of the danger and journey kept me reading. There were moments of tears and some laughs. I loved the history of Australia which was woven into the story as well. I recommend this story.
I received a copy of this story through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.
What I thought in maybe the first 20 pages was going to be a good read of young people and life turned out to be a really good read of all ages facing the challenges of life in a new land. People of all ages enduring the hardships of moving to a land the government said they could take for a pittance. Of course, it happened to be land inhabited by natives. Sound like the United States taking away and settling land that many thought belonged to Native Americans? It is somewhat the same idea but not your same old story.
This story told by Tricia McGill has intense characters. Strong characters you’ll enjoy and some bad ones you’d just as soon do without. Not much different than life is it? It’s listed as being of the historical romance genre. Many of you have seen me write here that I am not a romance genre girl and I’m still not. It’s true that in the journeys of this story a few people fall in love. This too is not much different than life. But I didn’t have to read about their intensely personal bedroom feelings. Was it implied or even mentioned a little? It was, but somehow it all seemed a part of the flow of the story.
It all seemed to blend in to one of those stories that keep you turning the pages as fast as you can. I didn’t want to take a break with this book, and I didn’t take many.