Carry Me Home by Dorothy Adamek, © 2015

Blue Wren Shallows trilogy, Book One

An Australian historical romance set in the pioneering era of the 1870s, on Victoria’s majestic Phillip Island.

Finella Mayfield hates two things: liars and thieves. And she’s determined to marry a man who’s neither. Chasing her dead father’s dreams, the twenty-year-old English bride arrives in Australia in 1875 for an arranged marriage. Anticipating her future as village preacher’s wife, she records her thoughts in her Everlasting journal.

   But instead of her fiancé, Finella is met by Shadrach Jones, a poor farmer sent to collect her from the busy Melbourne pier.

   This is not what her father planned. And it’s only the beginning of the unraveling of Finella Mayfield ~ the bride with no groom.

   All Shadrach Jones longs for is rows of mustard and chicory. He’s busy growing a farm near the Phillip Island fishing village of Cowes, and caring for Molly, his simple sister. Far from the brutal life they remember with their ex-convict father, Shadrach’s building something new.

   But he’s also made a promise to a dying friend. To collect and marry the English girl destined to never be a preacher’s wife.

   Can Shadrach convince Finella she has a future with a farmer? Can he convince himself, knowing his family secrets will haunt their future?

~*~

I have long awaited this beautiful novel of hope and love to become her very own.

~*~

Finella Mayfield may think she has come to a detour, but indeed it is her true destiny, hoped for, just for her. Her descendants will long love her heritage ~ built upon the desires of her heart.

Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
   Psalm 119:111 KJV

Truth prevails.

As irony might profess itself, arrogant and self-defeating, it will arise as the mist across the waters, alive and real and fulfilling.



Wrapped within her wedding ribbon of fine delicacy, her Everlasting journal became remnants of a crossing she was ne'er to forget for the sorrow it brought with it. So necessary to continue on, in the long moments after, may gleaning be made of truth scattered across the waters.

A beautiful story of discovered hope. A brilliance of desire coming forth loving others for who they are. Discovering who "I am" being unraveled from the past.

The days are cold now, as the sun glints across the water. Uncertain of her next step, Finella Mayfield leans on what has been. The comfort hearth. Pride set aside, she sets forth alone with no one to lean upon. Futile beginnings turned to ash left to heap against the wind. Chills surfaced as she remembered. Tossing cares aside, she returned to the bidding draw of yesterdays. Comfort, how strange, for it was cold and brittle there; undetermined worth of today left to fade in the shadows of regret and turmoil she had thought left behind. Arid breath, soothing winds of the soul, stilled and held at bay until another day, captive by love. She yearned for what might have been, unable to see the treasures of today. No hope arose, vision scant. Shallows...

I loved how Finella finds Truth in her days that goes beyond finery into the heart. I held my breath and coached her to find her way and not become subservient to what she had known. Are we truly blinded to what others see so clearly circling around us? Molly was so vital to the story, her love and trust building and her memory so outstanding in bringing truth to the surface. I was a little concerned about Aunt Sarah's visit until she leaves dominance behind and sees life as it is. Have we carried through a lifetime perceived conversations, until another adds to it from their reflection that completely changes what was said? And Shadrach Jones, Molly's brother, so patient as he goes about his days trying to make them better. How often do we have expectations we do not see matched to what is before us? This is a story I will be reading again to savor each detail anew. I especially like the journaling throughout. What a pleasant way to reveal Finella's heart's longings.

Australian author, Dorothy Adamek, writes Displacement Fiction ~ the stories of people upended by tragedy and trauma, and their struggle to belong in their new worlds. Couched in romance, her fiction is set in the late Victorian era.

   Author of the Blue Wren Shallows trilogy, she lives at Crabapple House in Melbourne with her Beloved and their three children, twenty fruit trees and Gilbert the Cat.

   A graduate of La Trobe University, Dorothy studied Literature, History and Education. She taught secondary school English and English As A Second Language. She loves black and white floors, collects blue and white china, and makes apricot jam every summer.

   Her favourite holiday destination is Phillip Island, the real life setting of Carry Me Home, book one in the Blue Wren Shallows trilogy.

  Awards

2103 Winner RWA-FHL Touched By Love Contest

2014 Winner Historical Category TARA Award

***Thank you to author Dorothy Adamek for inviting me to be part of the unveiling of book one in the Blue Wren Shallows trilogy and sending a review copy to me. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***

Watch for Book Two ~ Carry Me Away