To Love Anew (Sydney Cove Series #1) [Kindle Edition]

Bonnie Leon (Author)

Book Description

Hannah Talbot has no one. Forced to leave the only home she's ever known, she works for a cruel employer who brutally takes the one thing she has left--her dignity. When she is banished from London, she is certain God has turned his back on her.

John Bradshaw was a successful businessman whose untamed spirit sometimes wanted more. When he is betrayed by those closest to him, he loses everything--his wife, his business, even his freedom. John's and Hannah's paths are about to cross. Aboard a ghastly, nineteenth-century prison ship from London to Australia, John and Hannah must keep hope alive and trust God's unconditional love.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A heart-gripping journey toward forgiveness and love Hannah Talbot has no one. Forced to leave the only home she's ever known, she works for a cruel employer who brutally takes the one thing she has left--her dignity. When she is banished to an Australian prison, she is certain God has turned his back on her. How could he--or anyone else--ever love her again? John Bradshaw is a successful businessman, but his untamed spirit wants more. Little does he know what he will have to endure to find the adventure he seeks. Betrayed by those closest to him, he loses everything, even his freedom. There is no returning now. His life is not his own. Now aboard a ghastly prison ship, John and Hannah are about to cross paths. What will happen when two hearts filled with pain discover how to love anew? This first book in the Sydney Cove series will capture your heart. "Hannah's predicament hooked me on the first page and kept me turning pages through the entire book. This may be Bonnie's best book yet."--Jeannie St. John Taylor, author, illustrator, speaker "Bonnie Leon has masterfully written another moving story full of page-turning excitement. I love her ability to write life onto a page in a way we all can relate to."--Maxine Marsolini, author of Raising Children in Blended Families and Blended Families "Bonnie's fans will love cheering for her characters. No protagonists more deserve a happy ending."--Bette Nordberg, author of A Season of Grace

About the Author

Bonnie Leon is the bestselling author of more than ten historical fiction novels. She stays busy teaching women's Bible studies and speaking at writing seminars and conventions. She and her husband, Greg, live in Glide, Oregon.

Product Details

• File Size: 1753 KB
• Print Length: 297 pages
• Publisher: Revell (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001GQ2BC2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #675,458 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 66 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Part of me LOVED it the other parted just WANTED to. January 4, 2008

By Rena

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Let me preface this by saying that, despite the 3 stars, this was a very good book and, while I wouldn't rave about it, I would tell my friends it was worth reading. It seemed well researched and I learned alot while reading it. I loved the plot.

The basic premise is this: After her mother dies, Hannah is left to fend for herself... alone. She is hire as a housekeeper where she is raped by the master of the house (the judge). She flees and later gives in to hunger and steals. She is caught and who presides over her trial? Her angry ex-boss. She is sentenced to work in Australia. Meanwhile, John kills a man in self defense WHILE defending his cousin (who steals his money and flees with Johns wife while John in prison). He is also sentenced to Australia.

Alright, so... I don't know how it happened but John fell in love with Hannah at first sight while aboard the prison ship. While in Australia, John falls deeper in love and Hannah also gains feelings for John.

The biggest flaw with this book is that I DON'T KNOW HOW ANY OF THIS HAPPENED!!! When did this love-falling happen? They never spent any TIME together in the book!!

I really liked Hannah. Her character was developed very nicely and you knew her feelings (excepting how she managed to fall in love with a man I thought she had contact with a mere handful of times!). You knew why she felt her guilt and why she couldn't overcome it.

John seemed likeable enough. It's just... well, I really didn't gain any insight into his character. I felt bad for him. I understood his rage. I didn't understand how he fell in love... and I don't know his feelings.

So, to sum up: I loved the plot. I loved the history. I liked Hannah and the secondary characters. I didn't DISLIKE John... I liked him the way I like the smiling cashier at the grocery store- for a stranger-- seems nice enough but beyond the nametag I don't know a whole lot more. I would have given this 5 stars had I just understood or believed the love connection.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars a good read January 14, 2008

By Mandy

Format:Paperback

I had never read anything by Bonnie Leon before. But the book looked like it had a great plotline so I decided to read it. I loved Hannah!! She was a great main character and I felt you did get to know her throughout the book. To be honest though, I don't know if I liked John. He was not talked about nearly enough, and I don't exactly get how the two of them fell in love. He saved her life, and then they had a few meaningless conversations. Then all of a sudden they both are thinking about their love for each other. All around, the plot was excellent. But if you are going to add romance into a book, it has to be talked about and expanded on much more!!

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Bonnie Leon succeeds again. August 20, 2007

By A. K. Shorey

Format:Paperback

To Love Anew is a heartwarming story of a life renewed from ashes. Hannah's circumstances spiral downward after her mother's death. When she's sent on a prison ship to Australia, she faces dreadful conditions. As a reader, I loved how Bonnie Leon showed so many details of life aboard convict ships, and what faced the survivors when they reached Australia. The book is filled with memorable characters and situations. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

More About the Author

Storytelling has always been an integral part of Bonnie Leon's life. From childhood, she cherished the legends and family history handed down through her Aleut ancestors.

Throughout the ensuing years, Bonnie dabbled at writing but didn't seriously consider becoming a professional author. Instead, as a young woman, she happily stepped into the full-time profession of homemaker and mother. Pollywog hunting, finger-painting, blackberry picking, and creating fun messes in the kitchen with her children are some of her most precious and irreplaceable memories.

When her youngest child was nine years old, Bonnie decided it was time to return to the working world. She took a position in her hometown, working with the elderly and handicapped.

Then on June 11, 1991, her world was shattered when a log truck hit the van she was driving. The accident left her unable to work, and after months of rehabilitation she was told by physicians that she would never return to a normal life. Facing a daunting fight to reclaim her life and feeling as if she had nothing to offer the world, she asked God to give her something to do that mattered.

His answer came when she received a scholarship to attend the Oregon Christian Writer's Summer Conference. That conference ignited Bonnie's passion for literature and for writing, and she has been writing ever since.

Her first book, The Journey of Eleven Moons was released by Thomas Nelson in 1994 and made the CBA bestsellers list.

Since that time, she has written and published nineteen historical novels. Two of her series, The Sydney Cove Series, and The Queensland Chronicles, published by Revell, were published in Dutch-language editions by Ultgeverij De Banier bv, an organization based in The Netherlands. Her books are truly being read across the globe!

And with each book she writes, her love for the craft and the challenges of writing grows. "The learning never ends," she says, "But I relish the challenge of becoming a writer known for quality storytelling."

In addition to her work as a writer, Bonnie has a passion for teaching of all kinds, especially on the art and intricacies of storytelling. She teaches at conferences and workshops and says, "There's nothing more thrilling than to see a student's eyes light up with understanding as she grasps the concepts of the writing craft and begins to believe she can tell stories someone else will want to read."

Bonnie is also a regular speaker at women's church groups, writing groups, and business organizations. For more information on Bonnie's speaking topics and schedule, please click here.