Category: Historical Fiction Publisher: Books We Love
ISBN-10: 1773626973
Type: Fiction
Pages: 140
Copyright: July 3 2019
ISBN-13: 9780228608493
Price: $10.08 (eBook)
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.
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 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.
Excerpt
Tim stood, and stared down at the small woman still huddled on the bed, asking, “Will you be all right if we leave you now? Bracken will stay with you.”
She nibbled on her lower lip, and then asked, “Do you think I might share with you?”
Tim looked at Carlos, unsure what to say in answer to that. Carlos saved him making a decision by saying, “You can sleep in my bed, Jo, and I will take yours. How does that suit? The night is well-nigh over now anyway, as we must be up at sunrise.”
“Thank you.” She pulled the blanket tighter about her and put her bare feet to the floor. “I would really like that. I fear I would not sleep another wink in this bed.”
Tim gestured for her to go before him. With Bracken at her side, she went to the door. Before going out, Tim sent Carlos a small salute. Carlos grinned and flopped down on her bed.
Uncertainly she stood just inside the room and looked around. “Which one should I take?” she asked.
“Perhaps you will feel more secure with mine—it is away from the door.” He pointed to his bed. “And mine has not been slept in.” The covers on Carlos bed were rumpled.
“Thank you, Tim. You are a kind person, I am lucky to have you as a friend,” she said as she lay back and pulled the covers over her.
Uncertain what to do, Tim lay on the top of the covers. Normally he slept in his under breeches, as most men did, but perhaps if he started to strip off, she might become wary, thinking he was just as bad as her attacker. He patted Bracken’s head when his dog licked the hand hanging over the edge of the bed. Jo’s soft and even breathing told him she was soon sleeping, but he had a feeling he would not get much sleep this night.
Professional Reviews
“A Journey through History” Rosemary Morris
Some of the characters in Mystic Mountains and Distant Mountains feature or are mentioned in Challenging Mountains the third novel in the Settlers series set in 1840 in the colony of New South Wales. The colony is expanding now that convicts are no longer transported to the East Coast, and free squatters settle on lands between Sydney and Port Philip in the south.
Tim is bored by his position in a government office. Jo, whose parents were killed at the gold mines by bush rangers, is equally bored with her life. When Tim is about to leave for Port Philip with his Uncle Carlos, Jo, dressed as a boy, accompanied by Billy, a native, who wants to find his family, arrives. She is determined to join them and insists she can cope with the month-long-journey, says she has enough money for her needs and that Billy, who promised her father to look after her, will be an asset. In search of adventure and a new life in Port Philip, a new settlement, they set out. Jo thinks she can take care of herself. She ignores Tim’s advice about avoiding predatory males. “Despite Jo’s, at times, stubborn ways, she is a beautiful, talented woman.” Tim cannot decide if he wants to marry her. “There were times when he thought Jo was wise beyond her years. In comparison he was like a green youth. Then again she would offer him challenges he would relish.”
The author introduced me to the history of New South Wales, which I knew little about. She also took me on an interesting journey from place to place, during which the characters encountered ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’. After naïve Jo, dressed as a young man, is assaulted, they are deserted by their wagon master and his team. From then on, they encounter almost naked natives, are attacked by bushrangers, make dangerous river crossings and are horrified by a murder. Halfway to Port Philip, they no longer think of their expedition across challenging mountains as an adventure.
When I reached the end of Challenging Mountains, I was completely satisfied and, with regret, parted with Tim and Jo.
“An Era's Ending” Janet Walters
“I enjoyed reading the final book in this trilogy about the mountains of Australia. Both the hero and heroine bring different challenges to the story. Along with their adventure, the hero's uncle has his own challenges. Reading about the frontier days in Australia showed me many things I didn't learn in school about this wide and varied land. The heroine and hero both have strength and courage.”
