Meg Keneally

I'll admit, I'm always intrigued by historical fiction based on real-life women from history. Gwyn is tough, smart, and determined even in the face of what appear to be insurmountable odds. This isn't a story for the faint of heart - there are moments that will make your heart race, and others that will make your skin crawl. Keneally did an excellent job of bringing the setting and characters to life, unfolding the story around you as though you had stepped right into the pages. This truly did justice to the unforgettable life of an extraordinary woman.… (mehr)

In 1783 in Cornwall, Jenny Trelawney’s father dies, and her family is hard-pressed to survive. To avoid starvation, she turns to highway robbery. She eventually caught and sent to prison. She is fortunate not to be hanged and is sent to the new Australian penal colony. This book tells her story, including her transport by sea and her daring escape. Along the way, she suffers many hardships and tragedies.

Even though Jenny is no saint, I found myself rooting for her. She is a strong woman who refuses to be mentally defeated. She protects the vulnerable and befriends the aboriginal people. She is hardened by a difficult life but maintains her dignity and concern for others, as much as possible, in harsh conditions.

The book is a fictional version of the life of Mary Bryant, a real person. In the Afterward, the author indicates what is true and what is fiction. I was captured by the narrative and enjoyed the writing style. If you enjoy realistic historical fiction that does not employ excessive romanticism, check this one out.… (mehr)

Set in the late18th and early 19th centuries the story commences with protests about working conditions and pay in mills and factories in Manchester. Sarah, the heroine of the story moves to London and ultimately boards a vessel en route to Sydney Australia. Further adventures and challenges continue when the ship on which she is travelling is caught in a silent storm.
Her life in early Sydney causes her to consider some of her earlier views on the social issues of the day and realisation that she has the possibility of a happy life.
This book is very well researched and the writing is enjoyable but most of the characters remained one dimensional.… (mehr)