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Australian Destiny #1
Code of Honor
They were sailing toward an untamed land of limitless riches, but their dreams seemed to demand a sacrifice of the CODE OF HONOR Turn-of-the-century Australia holds one of the world's most magnificent settings for this first book in the new Australian Destiny Series. Responding to an offer of indenture, Samantha Connolly and her sisters have attempted to escape a bleak future in Ireland by emigrating to Queensland. Circling half the globe, she discovers a land she never anticipated or desired yet her home is now oceans away! Their master, sugar planter Cole Sloan, is embroiled in legal tangles and economic woes while trying to keep his plantation afloat. Samantha's middle sister is fortunate to find a beau in the local preacher, and Samantha is drawn to Sloan. But callousness and unethical dealings have sullied the man or is he a victim of his past and present circumstances? A magnificent first book in a saga born out of a nation of rogues, adventurers and dreamers
277 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1988
13 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 23, 2020
With no work or marriage prospects for her in her native Ireland, Samantha Connolly seizes an opportunity to go work in Australia—as an indentured servant to one Cole Sloan. But Cole's legal and financial struggles, along with his callous ways and shady business dealings, put Samantha in a precarious position in Code of Honor by author Sandy Dengler.
From the first page of this first book in the Australian Destiny series, I was taken in by the fluid, expressive style of a clear wordsmith. The author blends beauty with a measure of bite and danger in this layered story that comes alive Down Under.
A few jumps in the timeline, particularly in the novel's opening stages, made it difficult for me to get into the characters at first, but I got a better feel for them after a while. Samantha has an imperfect but admirable head on her shoulders, and I appreciate that the question of romance in her life isn't maneuvered into a fairy-tale answer. Likewise, while there's more evangelistic content than I go for in fiction these days, I'm glad "come to Jesus" moments aren't forced in to wrap up the story with a tidy, shiny bow.
I'll admit I was nervous about seeing how the author would depict Aborigines. I wasn't surprised by some of the characters' thoughts about people of color, but overall, there's nuance and dimension to the racial/cultural themes, with more than one side and perspective that significantly comes to light.
I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
From the first page of this first book in the Australian Destiny series, I was taken in by the fluid, expressive style of a clear wordsmith. The author blends beauty with a measure of bite and danger in this layered story that comes alive Down Under.
A few jumps in the timeline, particularly in the novel's opening stages, made it difficult for me to get into the characters at first, but I got a better feel for them after a while. Samantha has an imperfect but admirable head on her shoulders, and I appreciate that the question of romance in her life isn't maneuvered into a fairy-tale answer. Likewise, while there's more evangelistic content than I go for in fiction these days, I'm glad "come to Jesus" moments aren't forced in to wrap up the story with a tidy, shiny bow.
I'll admit I was nervous about seeing how the author would depict Aborigines. I wasn't surprised by some of the characters' thoughts about people of color, but overall, there's nuance and dimension to the racial/cultural themes, with more than one side and perspective that significantly comes to light.
I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
March 30, 2023
Although there were portions of this book that were challenging to decipher (I looked for a Glossary), I learned so much about the Australian way of life from the perspective of multiple characters! I've been intrigued about Australia since the first time a missionary visited our church when I was a little girl. I would love to visit someday and hold a baby Koala! Recommended for older teens and above.
March 9, 2025
So when I was most of the way through this book I described it to my husband as "solidly average," which was making me on the fence about reading the rest of the series. I realized it was neither boring nor exciting and I didn't find myself caring about the characters, but it wasn't torturous to read either. But the climax and ending were interesting, so I've decided I'll progress on to book #2 to see what happens.
November 24, 2016
Well written historical novel about Irish immigrants and how they fared in Australia in the early 1900s.
November 2, 2022
D. fiction, historical fiction, Australia; series (Australian Destiny, #1); from stash, discard
April 25, 2015
Sooooo...... this was quite a surprise. With a title like "Code of Honor" I was thinking military... possibly police story. But the cover made me think it could be a romance novel.
Well, it was neither... although there were people right and left who were attracted to each other and some marriages, the main characters were employer/employee. Whoops... hope that didn't give much away.
Samantha was born and raised in a large Irish family, but times were tough. A future with husband and family were not in the cards for women in County Cork. Sam sees a notice that a plantation in Australia would pay passage there in exchange for 3 years of service, room and board on the farm. She takes the offer after a family tragedy, and two of her sisters come along.
The rest of the story is about Samantha's honor to stick to her agreement and do the best she can at her new place of employment for a handsome rugged farm owner, Sloan. Attraction, yes, but he is focused on his property and self, where she's focused on doing what she must and do right by her "master". There may be a little more to it than that, because, you know... things HAVE to get complicated... but what it is, I'll never tell. :)
Kinda feel sorry for the people who gave this book a low rating. Clearly they didn't get it. This was a really good book.
There were a number of good characters that added to the story line, from unique Aborigines, to a meddlesome but honorable preacher, sisters who don't have the same ideals as Samantha, Sloan and his self-serving, yet magnetic ways, and an older recluse who becomes a big part of the plot later on.
The first thing that attracted me to this book, and made me actually sigh and say, "Aaaaaah" was Ms. Dengler's writing. Finally, after a number of books I'd have no problem deleting from my Kindle library, here's a book worth reading!!! Real people, real writing, real drama, real plotline. Love it.
Just a brief exposure to her writing, and there were so many more quotables, but here goes... "In Ireland the constant green seemed a sort of backdrop to life, a landscape canvas against which the major characters of the drama of Samantha Connolly played their roles. This rain forest, though, was a living thing unto itself, a dense and brooding entity."
There were surprises along the way... what you think might happen (because you are so used to stories being predictable) might not happen here. I love that!!!
Do I recommend this? You bet!!!
Enjoy
Well, it was neither... although there were people right and left who were attracted to each other and some marriages, the main characters were employer/employee. Whoops... hope that didn't give much away.
Samantha was born and raised in a large Irish family, but times were tough. A future with husband and family were not in the cards for women in County Cork. Sam sees a notice that a plantation in Australia would pay passage there in exchange for 3 years of service, room and board on the farm. She takes the offer after a family tragedy, and two of her sisters come along.
The rest of the story is about Samantha's honor to stick to her agreement and do the best she can at her new place of employment for a handsome rugged farm owner, Sloan. Attraction, yes, but he is focused on his property and self, where she's focused on doing what she must and do right by her "master". There may be a little more to it than that, because, you know... things HAVE to get complicated... but what it is, I'll never tell. :)
Kinda feel sorry for the people who gave this book a low rating. Clearly they didn't get it. This was a really good book.
There were a number of good characters that added to the story line, from unique Aborigines, to a meddlesome but honorable preacher, sisters who don't have the same ideals as Samantha, Sloan and his self-serving, yet magnetic ways, and an older recluse who becomes a big part of the plot later on.
The first thing that attracted me to this book, and made me actually sigh and say, "Aaaaaah" was Ms. Dengler's writing. Finally, after a number of books I'd have no problem deleting from my Kindle library, here's a book worth reading!!! Real people, real writing, real drama, real plotline. Love it.
Just a brief exposure to her writing, and there were so many more quotables, but here goes... "In Ireland the constant green seemed a sort of backdrop to life, a landscape canvas against which the major characters of the drama of Samantha Connolly played their roles. This rain forest, though, was a living thing unto itself, a dense and brooding entity."
There were surprises along the way... what you think might happen (because you are so used to stories being predictable) might not happen here. I love that!!!
Do I recommend this? You bet!!!
Enjoy
August 3, 2015
The first in a series, this book caught my interest in the first few pages. Samantha Connolly was born and raised in Ireland, but there's nothing for her there anymore. Doomed to finish life as a spinster, she gambles on an advertisement asking for indentured servants in Australia.
Cole Sloan had a lot of Australian land and little money. The laws had changed and no longer allowed him to use the native black people for slave labor. Enticing Irish lasses to his shores was the perfect solution. Or so he thought.
Sam's sisters, Meg and Linnet, sell themselves into indenture along with her. They arrive in Australia hoping for a better life and husbands. What they find is hard work, a steamy tropical jungle, crocodiles, and a master who drives a hard bargain.
This is the type of book that doesn't wrap up many loose ends at the finish. It more or less pauses at a logical point, to be picked up again in book 2. If you enjoy long historical sagas, this is a good one.
Cole Sloan had a lot of Australian land and little money. The laws had changed and no longer allowed him to use the native black people for slave labor. Enticing Irish lasses to his shores was the perfect solution. Or so he thought.
Sam's sisters, Meg and Linnet, sell themselves into indenture along with her. They arrive in Australia hoping for a better life and husbands. What they find is hard work, a steamy tropical jungle, crocodiles, and a master who drives a hard bargain.
This is the type of book that doesn't wrap up many loose ends at the finish. It more or less pauses at a logical point, to be picked up again in book 2. If you enjoy long historical sagas, this is a good one.
November 28, 2019
It's 1905 in Australia. Samantha Connolly and her sisters, Margaret "Meg", and Linnet are unable to find husbands in Ireland and times are tough. The three girls decided they will emigrate to Australia as indentured servants. Little did they know that they would enter a world totally different from what they were used to and be treated like slaves even through slavery had been abolished.
This first book in the Australian Destiny series started out a bit slowly; but as the story developed, I was pulled into the beautifully described scenery and the events taking place especially in Samantha's life. Samantha was very much a forthright, "tell it like it is" person. Cole Sloan, the sugar cane plantation owner, is a mix of contrasts making it hard to tell if he is a hero or a villain. His treatment of other people adds to this. Once the story started moving, I found myself entranced and look forward to reading book 2 in this series.
This first book in the Australian Destiny series started out a bit slowly; but as the story developed, I was pulled into the beautifully described scenery and the events taking place especially in Samantha's life. Samantha was very much a forthright, "tell it like it is" person. Cole Sloan, the sugar cane plantation owner, is a mix of contrasts making it hard to tell if he is a hero or a villain. His treatment of other people adds to this. Once the story started moving, I found myself entranced and look forward to reading book 2 in this series.
December 25, 2013
Truly enjoyable read! Sam and her sisters take a chance at a new future by indenturing themselves to Cole Sloan. Moving from the lush green hills of Ireland to the rugged, hard lands of Australia proves trying enough, but throw in the volatile personalities of Sloan, owner of Sugarlea plantation, Luke Vinson, the young headstrong preacher, and an aborigine or two and life truly is exciting. Sandy Dengler brings Australia and its people to life in Code of Honor Australian Destiny Book #1. Action, adventure, and excitement abound within the pages of Code of Honor.
December 4, 2015
I especially enjoyed this book because its unquiness. I mean, a story about an indentered servant isn't the type of book I read often. Despite Cole Sloan's rotten life, I found it was hard not to like a him a little. I think especially when he tries to protect Samantha toward the end that I was really hoping he'd get his life turned around. A good book to read...definitely not the typical one!
December 27, 2010
realistic ending, strong characters, neat setting-Australia
April 15, 2014
Very impressed by this book. Story of strong minded, independent woman who becomes an indentured servant. Challenges to do her duty without surrending her will or sense of what is right.
April 30, 2014
Wonderful Christian Historical Fiction about Queensland Australia in the early 1900s. Nice story line with a lot a cool history sprinkled in.
May 26, 2015
Read this book back when it first came out. Really liked the history of Australia and characters. Read all three books in series.
August 29, 2015
An intriguing story filled with fascinating details of life in 1905 Australia.
March 10, 2024
3.5 stars
Aussie sheep farmers, very cool and interesting.
Aussie sheep farmers, very cool and interesting.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews