SUMMARY
From the author of The Convict’s Bounty Bride comes a new Australian historical about a free settler and the wife he chooses from a workhouse…
For Irish convict Colleen Malone, being framed, transported to Australia and forced into prostitution seemed like the worst that life could throw at her. Then she fell pregnant to a client and was sent back to prison by her cruel owner. Now, her only hope of a decent life for her and her baby is to find someone to marry.
Widower and former London businessman Samuel Biggs arrived in Australia hoping to put his grief behind him. When James Hunter offers him a job on his Parramatta farm, he accepts eagerly. He’ll put his back into his new work, and bury any thoughts of new love and marriage in the rich earth of his new home.
However, all plans are compromised when Samuel is manipulated into visiting a workhouse to choose a new housekeeper, and Colleen seizes her chance — literally grabbing Samuel and begging for her life. The only way Samuel can oblige is by marrying her, but on one thing he stands firm — there is no way he will fall in love…
ABOUT LENA
In her previous lives, Lena Dowling has been a lawyer, policy analyst, and an administration manager. While Lena was born and raised in New Zealand, it was during a stint working ‘across the ditch’ in Australia that she took up writing in earnest. Having found her inspiration in The Lucky Country, Lena writes Australasian themed romances about gutsy, intelligent heroines, and the men who dare to love them. Lena currently lives in beautiful, sub-tropical Northland, New Zealand, with her own computer-code-writing hero.
His Convict Wife by Lena Dowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
His Convict Wife tells the story of Colleen Malone and Samuel Biggs. Both are characters that have been placed into circumstances somewhat out of their control. It covers the hardships of life for a convict and the relationship that develops between the two.
Colleen was convicted of a crime she did not commit and as punishment, was sent to Australia with her cousin to serve her sentence. Almost immediately they are taken to O’Shanes which although the owner markets the place to newcomers as a “respectable boarding house” it really is a bawdy house and the girls are put to work. After 7 years, Colleen finds herself pregnant and because he feels like he can’t use her, Danny O’Shane decides to send her back to The Factory (the gaol for convict women). Despite her initial thoughts and concerns around being separated from her cousin, this happens to be a good thing for Colleen.
Samuel Biggs has recently lost his wife and made the decision to go to Australia. James Hunter, someone he used to work for, currently lives there and when he lands, he immediately finds him to reconnect. By doing so, he is offered a job as overseer on the Hunter farm. By accepting the position, he also agrees to go with Lady Hunter to The Factory to find more help for her in the house as she has been overwhelmed.
While breaking stones at The Factory, Colleen sees Lady Hunter and Samuel and after Samuel shows Colleen how to properly break the stones, she takes a chance and begs him to ask for her on a Ticket of Leave which would allow her to work at the Hunter farm. To avoid anything that could lead to more than an arrangement (as he sees what Thea Hunter is trying to do), Samuel does ask for her. He is told that based on her background, the only way Colleen would be able to leave with him is if he marries her. To avoid any future entanglements being pushed on him, Samuel agrees to this and a few days later finds himself wed to Colleen.
Initially the arrangement is just that. Colleen takes care of the household and he takes care of the farm. They get to know each other and find they enjoy each other’s company but Samuel has convinced himself that he doesn’t want or need anything more. Unfortunately for Colleen she needs to act fast and get him into bed so that he will think her baby is his.
Eventually their relationship becomes more than just an arrangement but there are a lot of secrets that as a reader, you know will come back to haunt them. In this case, it not only impacts the relationship between these two characters but also with the Hunters. Things might have been a bit different had everyone been up front from the beginning but it is understandable why Colleen didn’t reveal everything. Keep in mind – I’m not saying it is ok….I am saying it is understandable. She had serious fears that if she gave away her secrets, she would be sent back to gaol and potentially lose her baby when it was born.
Samuel has to come to terms with what he has committed to and what is important to him. The question is whether he can get past what he now knows about his wife or whether this will keep them living separate lives.
Overall I thought this story was well done. We get just enough backstory to understand where both of these characters are coming from and ultimately, how important this future is to them. This is a fairly quick read and after digging I realized it is a companion novel to the Hunter’s story. If you enjoy a book with solid characters, an interesting story and a developing romance that definitely has a bumpy ride, you will might also enjoy this one. Additionally, I loved the cover and that is really what prompted me to request this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Escape Publishing for the review copy.
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