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The Cedar Cutter

Tea Cooper

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Apr 29, 2016 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley, aussie-authors, read-on-kindle, own-read, 2016-release, historical-fiction, arc, autographed-book

Roisin Ogilvie and her six year old son Ruan were tired, hungry and a little bruised by their journey on the old cart when they arrived in Wollombi in 1855. The town was bustling with activity as a wood chopping competition concluded – the winner a big, handsome Irishman whose name Roisin later discovered was Carrick O’Connor.

As Roisin settled into the town with Ruan, she gradually started losing her tension and worry – her headlong rush to leave Sydney had been tempered by concern for Ruan’s sa Roisin Ogilvie and her six year old son Ruan were tired, hungry and a little bruised by their journey on the old cart when they arrived in Wollombi in 1855. The town was bustling with activity as a wood chopping competition concluded – the winner a big, handsome Irishman whose name Roisin later discovered was Carrick O’Connor.

As Roisin settled into the town with Ruan, she gradually started losing her tension and worry – her headlong rush to leave Sydney had been tempered by concern for Ruan’s safety; her Aunt Lil’s help was such that she couldn’t have done it without her. Now, comfortable in the old cottage she’d worked hard to make liveable, and letting the local ladies know about her dressmaking abilities, Roisin’s new life with Ruan was looking positive.

Carrick was one of the team of cedar cutters working in the district. The majestic cedar trees were worth a great deal of money – Carrick’s aim was to make enough to afford his ticket back to Ireland; he had a score to settle and bitter revenge in his heart. But his eye had been taken by the new arrivals in town; Roisin and Ruan reminded him of home – Ruan especially. An immediate bond had formed between the boy and Carrick…

Just as Roisin was at her happiest, the past reached out to her with terrifying consequences. But this time she would fight. She would not run again – her anger and fear fuelled a determination in her that she hadn’t felt before. And when she heard the devastating news about Carrick she was distraught. What could she do? Her new life had suddenly been turned upside down – it was up to her to set it to rights again…

The Cedar Cutter by Aussie author Tea Cooper is another brilliant historical fiction novel by this author and set in an area I’m particularly familiar with. The characters are well constructed; the research into the time quite obvious. I felt a deep empathy for Roisin; and Ruan is a little boy who reminded me of my own childhood and the antics we got up to! The blending into the story of the local natives; the rum drinking, loud mouthed cedar cutters and the strength of the women of the town – all combine to make an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable read. Hard on the heels of her previous best seller, The Horse Thief, the author has another winner with The Cedar Cutter in my opinion. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
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