Patrick's Journey (The Rourke Saga #1) in Aussie Readers

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Mar 24, 2015 Brenda rated it really liked it

Shelves: aussie-authors, 2014-release, read-on-kindle, own-read, historical-fiction, first-in-a-series

4.5★s

1790 in Ireland and seventeen year old Patrick Rourke was the eldest of his siblings; his life was the farm which his father and mother ran together. Their finances were tight and their lives were simple – but they were content. When Patrick took his few coins to the fair that Sunday, he looked forward to a few hours entertainment with his friends. His sweetheart Catherine was dancing; he was always tongue tied around her, but they had been friends for years. The red coats were in attendanc 4.5★s

1790 in Ireland and seventeen year old Patrick Rourke was the eldest of his siblings; his life was the farm which his father and mother ran together. Their finances were tight and their lives were simple – but they were content. When Patrick took his few coins to the fair that Sunday, he looked forward to a few hours entertainment with his friends. His sweetheart Catherine was dancing; he was always tongue tied around her, but they had been friends for years. The red coats were in attendance and the Irish did their best to steer clear of them. But when Catherine was humiliated by an arrogant and drunken British Army officer, Patrick lost his temper, striking him – and that was the beginning of an immense change to Patrick’s life.

After several events, each escalating into further trouble, Patrick found himself falsely accused but in prison. The result of the court appearance saw him sentenced to seven years transportation to the penal colony of New South Wales; his life was shattered – he would never see his beautiful Catherine again, or his family. The depression and dark thoughts plus the anger that was never far from the surface took hold of his life.

Whilst on the prison ship Boddington, Father Michael O’Court, chaplain to the prisoners, befriended Patrick. Slowly but surely Father Michael brought Patrick to see that his life’s journey was taking a different direction – it was up to him what he made of it. Their arrival in Sydney began a series of challenges made different by the fact that Patrick was a convict. But he worked hard wherever he was placed – he was determined to make a new and better life in this land. Would Patrick succeed in his goal to become a free settler? And would he ever see his native Ireland again?

I thoroughly enjoyed Patrick’s Journey by Aussie author Roy T. Humphries. Based on the real life history of an ancestor, this historical fiction novel is interesting and enjoyable, while being heart breaking yet uplifting. I have no hesitation in highly recommending Patrick’s Journey to lovers of historical fiction, especially one set mostly in Australia.
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Nov 12, 2020 Kay rated it liked it

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