To Love Anew
In 19th-century England, Hannah Talbot’s abusive employer accuses her of theft to keep his own crimes hidden. Meanwhile, John Bradshaw, a wealthy toolmaker and factory owner, accidentally murders a man while protecting his cousin Henry from the results of his own folly. Both Hannah and John are found guilty, imprisoned and put on board a slave ship headed for New South Wales. Living conditions couldn’t be worse. Fortunately for Hannah, she makes friends who help strengthen her faith that God has not forgotten them, despite the suffering they must endure. So begins this story, the first in Bonnie Leon’s Sydney Cove series.
Supporting characters are well developed and play pivotal roles in this inspirational, romantic historical novel. The plot moves quickly, perhaps a little too quickly, and the unresolved issues at the end of the story leave the reader feeling slightly disappointed. However, the vivid descriptions of the horrible conditions aboard prison ships and the lushness of the New South Wales countryside make the book an interesting read.
