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The Traders #3
The Trader's Dream
The Trader's Dream is the third novel in Anna Jacobs' wonderfully atmospheric new saga series 'The Traders', set in Europe, the Orient and Australia's Swan River Colony.
Bram Deagan dreams of bringing his family from Ireland to join him in Australia, where he now runs a successful trading business.
But when a typhus epidemic strikes Ireland, it leaves the Deagan family decimated. And, with other family members scattered round the world, it is left to Maura Deagan to look after her orphaned nieces and nephew.
Forced to abandon her own ambitions, and unsure whether she is ready to become a mother-figure to three young children, Maura recognises that their only hope is to join Bram in far away Australia. So they set sail on the SS Delta, which will carry them there, via the newly opened Suez Canal.
It is only when a storm throws her and fellow passenger Hugh Beaufort together that Maura realises this journey may also give her a chance to pursue a dream she set aside long ago - to have a family of her own. That is, until someone from Hugh's past threatens to jeopardise everything . . .
Bram Deagan dreams of bringing his family from Ireland to join him in Australia, where he now runs a successful trading business.
But when a typhus epidemic strikes Ireland, it leaves the Deagan family decimated. And, with other family members scattered round the world, it is left to Maura Deagan to look after her orphaned nieces and nephew.
Forced to abandon her own ambitions, and unsure whether she is ready to become a mother-figure to three young children, Maura recognises that their only hope is to join Bram in far away Australia. So they set sail on the SS Delta, which will carry them there, via the newly opened Suez Canal.
It is only when a storm throws her and fellow passenger Hugh Beaufort together that Maura realises this journey may also give her a chance to pursue a dream she set aside long ago - to have a family of her own. That is, until someone from Hugh's past threatens to jeopardise everything . . .
413 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
118 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Anna Jacobs
233 books513 followersAnna Jacobs has 87 novels published as of April 2019. She writes historical sagas and modern novels alternately, and in the past has written historical romances and fantasy novels (the latter as Shannah Jay).
She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com
Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.
She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com
Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 24, 2024
4.5 stars
The Trader series book three.
Loving this series! ❤️❤️❤️
Library loan
The Trader series book three.
Loving this series! ❤️❤️❤️
Library loan
June 17, 2018
Maura and Hugh
Another fantastic read some of the deaghans on way to Australia beams dream to have his family there but a lot of mystery on the way 5 STARS for a perfect read .
Another fantastic read some of the deaghans on way to Australia beams dream to have his family there but a lot of mystery on the way 5 STARS for a perfect read .
June 16, 2022
Mon avis en Français
My English review
Je suis toujours attentive aux sorties de cette auteure, qui a créé un univers énorme avec des pays différents et des personnages qui s’entrecroisent constamment. Nous suivons Maura, la nièce de Deagan ainsi que son frère et sa sœur.
Après une épidémie de Typhus, Maura qui avait enfin réussi à se créer la vie qu’elle désirait est rappelée chez elle. Malgré elle, elle se retrouve responsable de trois enfants dont les parents sont morts et dont elle est la seule à pouvoir s’occuper. Mais il y a une solution : Bram, son neveu a proposé aux membres de sa famille de venir le retrouver en Australie. Même si elle n’en a pas vraiment envie, elle sait que c’est la seule solution viable. Pourtant le voyage sera loin d’être simple, mais elle pourrait bien rencontrer l’amour de sa vie.
Comment à chaque fois, je me suis laissée emporter par l’histoire, les lieux, les paysages si différents des autres et surtout par une aventure loin d’être facile. J’étais impatiente que la famille soit réunie enfin et j’ai été ravie quand c’est arrivé.
Nous retrouvons de nombreux personnages comme je le disais, et c’était un réel plaisir de les revoir. J’attends la suite avec impatience !
My English review
Je suis toujours attentive aux sorties de cette auteure, qui a créé un univers énorme avec des pays différents et des personnages qui s’entrecroisent constamment. Nous suivons Maura, la nièce de Deagan ainsi que son frère et sa sœur.
Après une épidémie de Typhus, Maura qui avait enfin réussi à se créer la vie qu’elle désirait est rappelée chez elle. Malgré elle, elle se retrouve responsable de trois enfants dont les parents sont morts et dont elle est la seule à pouvoir s’occuper. Mais il y a une solution : Bram, son neveu a proposé aux membres de sa famille de venir le retrouver en Australie. Même si elle n’en a pas vraiment envie, elle sait que c’est la seule solution viable. Pourtant le voyage sera loin d’être simple, mais elle pourrait bien rencontrer l’amour de sa vie.
Comment à chaque fois, je me suis laissée emporter par l’histoire, les lieux, les paysages si différents des autres et surtout par une aventure loin d’être facile. J’étais impatiente que la famille soit réunie enfin et j’ai été ravie quand c’est arrivé.
Nous retrouvons de nombreux personnages comme je le disais, et c’était un réel plaisir de les revoir. J’attends la suite avec impatience !
April 19, 2020
Love this series!
This third book of the series centers on the trader, Bram's, Aunt Maura and begins at her employment in service in England. There is a typhus epidemic in Ireland where the Deagan Family are affected and three children are orphaned. Maura is contacted as nearest next-of-kin to decide on the children's future.
This series is very well written and interesting making it impossible to put down. No dead spots here. The descriptions of travel from Ireland to Australia during the 198th century are well documented. What an adventure!
I definitely want to continue reading this series and will recommend to fellow readers of historical fiction. Great plot. Interesting characters. Fascinating subject matter.
This third book of the series centers on the trader, Bram's, Aunt Maura and begins at her employment in service in England. There is a typhus epidemic in Ireland where the Deagan Family are affected and three children are orphaned. Maura is contacted as nearest next-of-kin to decide on the children's future.
This series is very well written and interesting making it impossible to put down. No dead spots here. The descriptions of travel from Ireland to Australia during the 198th century are well documented. What an adventure!
I definitely want to continue reading this series and will recommend to fellow readers of historical fiction. Great plot. Interesting characters. Fascinating subject matter.
June 6, 2020
Another brilliant story
I just loved this book Maura was a wonderful family member to have taken care of the children and taken them to Bram in Australia and meeting such a lovely man Hugh and his daughter Adele to help her along the way.I felt quite sad for Dougal he was very lonely I'm hoping thing's will change for him at some later time.I hope we will know more in the next book.
I just loved this book Maura was a wonderful family member to have taken care of the children and taken them to Bram in Australia and meeting such a lovely man Hugh and his daughter Adele to help her along the way.I felt quite sad for Dougal he was very lonely I'm hoping thing's will change for him at some later time.I hope we will know more in the next book.
October 7, 2020
I loved this book and I am getting into the series. I love how she has kept alol the same characters even though it’s a new book. She entwines them all together in some way. This must be hard for her to do. I am off to read the fourth book.
March 20, 2022
If you'd like to experience what travelling to and settling in Australia was like in the mid 1800s, and generally what life was like in that time period, then you probably will enjoy these books as I am. It's so beautifully written that I'm hardly aware that I'm reading, but I'm right there with them. I haven't enjoyed a series so much since reading Lucinda Riley's Moon Sisters series. Each book tells the story of a different family travelling from Ireland and or England, and why they are making the move. These people become interlink in the next book.
March 30, 2022
As much as I enjoyed this book... the writing skill of the author is pretty underwhelming. It just never gave me the satisfaction and it seemed like the author could not find any right words to write down. Nevertheless I never regretted reading this and I'm hoping I could find the other books of this series.^^
Read
November 16, 2022I'm enjoying this series so much! I hate that I have to wait for the next one from my library. I want to read the next two now! These books are so well written, when I couldn't get the next two in this series, I put another two books of Anna Jacobs' on hold instead! I can highly recommend this series - I really enjoy reading about the early days of Fremantle and Western Australia.
November 3, 2020
Enjoyable follow up this time about Bram's aunt and their surviving nieces and nephew of the Typhus epidemic in Ireland and their adventures leaving Ireland to join Bram in Australia via the Suez Canal.
November 13, 2023
Ce tome de la série se concentre sur la traversée vers l'Australie ce qui le différencie des deux précédents. Même après de nombreux romans sur le même sujet, l'auteure parvient encore à nous surprendre.
February 20, 2018
4 1/2 stars!
July 17, 2018
Brilliant
July 9, 2020
Loved it.
Wow. Loved this one of the Traders series. A wonderful love story with some sad,true to life moments to it. And what a wonderful ending to it.
Wow. Loved this one of the Traders series. A wonderful love story with some sad,true to life moments to it. And what a wonderful ending to it.
January 20, 2022
Fabulous read ,on to the next book in the series
January 12, 2024
Another great story!
Lovely ending as per usual.
Lovely ending as per usual.
August 24, 2025
Book 3 in the Traders series, a must read. Onto book 4!!
December 21, 2025
Im in love with this series 😍
May 30, 2022
I love these books I’m on number 3 of 5. They’re the type of book you can’t wait to pick up again. 5* excellent.
December 18, 2012
I haven’t read the first two novels in Anna Jacobs' The Traders series so I was going in a cold when I read The Trader’s Dream. You can read it as a standalone book, but it does help readers if they know some of the back story. Luckily, Anna has notes on all of her books (she’s written more than 50) on her website, giving me all the context I needed. The series is set in Singapore and Western Australia in the 1860s, and for fans, there are recognisable character links to her Swan River Saga, such as Conn Largan (Destiny’s Path).
Bram Deagan, the “hero” of The Trader’s Wife and The Trader’s Sister, has settled in the Swan River Colony with his wife Isabella and their son, Arlen. Two years after risking everything to set up as a trader, his Bazaar is doing well enough and he’s looking at buying a home – it seems that all his dreams are coming to fruition. Except one thing. He dreams of bringing his family from Ireland to join him in Australia so they too can have better lives. He writes to the landowner in Ireland, asking him to communicate his offer of sponsoring his brothers and sisters to immigrate.
But when a typhus epidemic strikes Ireland, it leaves the Deagan family decimated. And, with other family members scattered round the world, it is left to Maura Deagan, Bram’s young aunt, to look after her orphaned nieces and nephew. The news comes just as she is promoted to Assistant Housekeeper, another rung up the ladder in the grand English house she works in; suddenly she has to take on the role of a mother figure to Brenna, Ryan and Noreen and she’s not sure she’s ready for that. When she hears of Bram’s offer, she realises this is for the best and makes plans to sail to Australia on the SS Delta.
The journey takes her through the newly-opened Suez Canal (the opening was an event Anna waited 10 years to include in a story) and introduces her to fellow passenger Hugh Beaufort. The two are instantly attracted, but are restricted from pursuing a romantic attachment for several reasons: Hugh is already married (but his wife has run off with another man) and the two come from different social classes. The second point is highlighted by a vindictive passenger who wants Hugh to notice her own daughter; when that fails, she convinces the ship’s captain that Maura’s morals fall short of impeccable. Will Maura’s long-buried dream of having her own family ever be realised?
Although Bram features in this book (he is the trader), Maura really is the heroine and the story is as much about her dream as Bram’s. She develops well as a character; although she is at first reluctant to set aside her own ambitions to take on three children, she quickly adapts to her new role and bears no grudges towards the children. She’s likeable and decent; the reader comes to hope there is a happy resolution to her romantic problems, just as much as Maura does.
Fans of Anna Jacobs will lap up this instalment to the Traders series. It's a well-written, pleasantly light read that doesn't demand much except your time (and maybe a "cuppa" while you read). Two more books are set to be released in 2013 for The Traders series, which will continue the story of the Deagan family (and keep fans happy).
I can see why Anna's books are so popular with her fans - their "happy ever after" endings leave a nice, warm feeling just like a comfortable blanket and a hot chocolate on a cool night. She has a knack for telling a good story - 50+ books is testament to that. For lovers of light, romantic historical fiction yet to discover Anna Jacobs, I'd recommend giving her novels a try - check her website to see the extensive list.
The Trader's Dream is available from good bookstores. This copy was courtesy of Hachette Australia.
For more of my reviews, see www.writenotereviews.com
Bram Deagan, the “hero” of The Trader’s Wife and The Trader’s Sister, has settled in the Swan River Colony with his wife Isabella and their son, Arlen. Two years after risking everything to set up as a trader, his Bazaar is doing well enough and he’s looking at buying a home – it seems that all his dreams are coming to fruition. Except one thing. He dreams of bringing his family from Ireland to join him in Australia so they too can have better lives. He writes to the landowner in Ireland, asking him to communicate his offer of sponsoring his brothers and sisters to immigrate.
But when a typhus epidemic strikes Ireland, it leaves the Deagan family decimated. And, with other family members scattered round the world, it is left to Maura Deagan, Bram’s young aunt, to look after her orphaned nieces and nephew. The news comes just as she is promoted to Assistant Housekeeper, another rung up the ladder in the grand English house she works in; suddenly she has to take on the role of a mother figure to Brenna, Ryan and Noreen and she’s not sure she’s ready for that. When she hears of Bram’s offer, she realises this is for the best and makes plans to sail to Australia on the SS Delta.
The journey takes her through the newly-opened Suez Canal (the opening was an event Anna waited 10 years to include in a story) and introduces her to fellow passenger Hugh Beaufort. The two are instantly attracted, but are restricted from pursuing a romantic attachment for several reasons: Hugh is already married (but his wife has run off with another man) and the two come from different social classes. The second point is highlighted by a vindictive passenger who wants Hugh to notice her own daughter; when that fails, she convinces the ship’s captain that Maura’s morals fall short of impeccable. Will Maura’s long-buried dream of having her own family ever be realised?
Although Bram features in this book (he is the trader), Maura really is the heroine and the story is as much about her dream as Bram’s. She develops well as a character; although she is at first reluctant to set aside her own ambitions to take on three children, she quickly adapts to her new role and bears no grudges towards the children. She’s likeable and decent; the reader comes to hope there is a happy resolution to her romantic problems, just as much as Maura does.
Fans of Anna Jacobs will lap up this instalment to the Traders series. It's a well-written, pleasantly light read that doesn't demand much except your time (and maybe a "cuppa" while you read). Two more books are set to be released in 2013 for The Traders series, which will continue the story of the Deagan family (and keep fans happy).
I can see why Anna's books are so popular with her fans - their "happy ever after" endings leave a nice, warm feeling just like a comfortable blanket and a hot chocolate on a cool night. She has a knack for telling a good story - 50+ books is testament to that. For lovers of light, romantic historical fiction yet to discover Anna Jacobs, I'd recommend giving her novels a try - check her website to see the extensive list.
The Trader's Dream is available from good bookstores. This copy was courtesy of Hachette Australia.
For more of my reviews, see www.writenotereviews.com
August 3, 2016
In the third book of this series we're introduced to more of the Deagan family thanks to a tragedy that leaves three children orphans. Along comes Maura who is determined to provide for the one child she thinks she now has to take in without letting it interfere with her plans for life, but then she's told that three children need her. Her hesitation was actually really refreshing. Here's a woman who knows what she wants to do and even the call of family doesn't bring her running to help. She's pressured into taking the three children over to Australia because Bram has already written and expressed his wish for his family to join him, and now that these children have no one other than Maura, she realises it'll probably be best for them to go there.
Like the other two books, we get a journey on a ship which is where drama undoubtedly occurs. Maura hits it off with an upper-class man via her interactions and care for his sick daughter, but their social standings make it highly improper and she's accused by a jealous woman of having morals beneath what the captain demands. Then Hugh's estranged wife crops up, appearing at one of the destinations they stop at before their arrival in Australia, and another spanner in the works occurs. When Hugh had the decision between keeping quiet or telling Maura the truth, I was rooting for him to be truthful because we all know how lies tear people apart, but it seems that keeping it from her would've probably been for the best! His estranged wife was really something and had she actually died at sea like they make up, I would have been glad. Her utter disregard for her daughter was something I could accept - after all, not everyone ends up loving their children, especially at times when many had no choice about having them as contraception didn't exist and abortion was illegal and highly frowned upon - but victimising herself was just too much. All very much believable, mind you, especially when the truth comes to light later on, but women like her are terrible.
I genuinely enjoy reading this series and unfortunately I don't have the final two at hand, but the moment I get them there's no doubt I'll push aside any book I'm reading to finish this series. I love reading about Bram and his family and thoroughly look forward to the two concluding books.
Like the other two books, we get a journey on a ship which is where drama undoubtedly occurs. Maura hits it off with an upper-class man via her interactions and care for his sick daughter, but their social standings make it highly improper and she's accused by a jealous woman of having morals beneath what the captain demands. Then Hugh's estranged wife crops up, appearing at one of the destinations they stop at before their arrival in Australia, and another spanner in the works occurs. When Hugh had the decision between keeping quiet or telling Maura the truth, I was rooting for him to be truthful because we all know how lies tear people apart, but it seems that keeping it from her would've probably been for the best! His estranged wife was really something and had she actually died at sea like they make up, I would have been glad. Her utter disregard for her daughter was something I could accept - after all, not everyone ends up loving their children, especially at times when many had no choice about having them as contraception didn't exist and abortion was illegal and highly frowned upon - but victimising herself was just too much. All very much believable, mind you, especially when the truth comes to light later on, but women like her are terrible.
I genuinely enjoy reading this series and unfortunately I don't have the final two at hand, but the moment I get them there's no doubt I'll push aside any book I'm reading to finish this series. I love reading about Bram and his family and thoroughly look forward to the two concluding books.
January 11, 2014
The Trader's Dream is book three of the latest historical undertaking by Anna Jacobs, The Trader Series.
These books have a rich mix of characters travelling to and from Fremantle, Western Australia. Each story supports the growing business endeavours of Bram Deagan a minor character in the preceding three book historical series by Anna Jacobs, The Swan River Series. Bram was an impoverished Irish Immigrant with a passion to make good.
In book one of The Trader Series, The Trader's Wife, Bram finds a wife and supporting business partner, Isabella, in Singapore before establishing an emporium in Fremantle. In book two, The Trader's Sister, Bram's sister Ismay, desperately journeys from Ireland hoping Bram can help her survive.
The primary focus of The Trader's Dream is upon the journey undertaken by Maura, Bram's Aunty who leaves behind a promising future in England to accompany three orphaned and destitute children to Western Australia in the hope that Bram will adopt them and secure their future thus allowing Maura to recover something of her own. Though in an Anna Jacobs novel nothing ever seems to follow the chosen or obvious path.
The Trader's Dream has a wonderful diverse mix of new and pre-loved characters cleverly introduced to draw the reader into the most delightful web of intrigue, injustice and satisfaction ever likely to be encountered within the cover of a single novel.
There is a minor character in this book, named Eleanor, who is quite possibly the most engaging, beautiful, romantic and elegant person I've ever read about. I live in hope that the author will see fit to revisit Eleanor in a future novel.
Anna Jacobs take on creating fiction never fails to impress. For The Trader's Dream, five stars.
I believe the next novel of the series is titled The Trader's Gift. I'll be purchasing my copy the day it appears on bookshelves.
These books have a rich mix of characters travelling to and from Fremantle, Western Australia. Each story supports the growing business endeavours of Bram Deagan a minor character in the preceding three book historical series by Anna Jacobs, The Swan River Series. Bram was an impoverished Irish Immigrant with a passion to make good.
In book one of The Trader Series, The Trader's Wife, Bram finds a wife and supporting business partner, Isabella, in Singapore before establishing an emporium in Fremantle. In book two, The Trader's Sister, Bram's sister Ismay, desperately journeys from Ireland hoping Bram can help her survive.
The primary focus of The Trader's Dream is upon the journey undertaken by Maura, Bram's Aunty who leaves behind a promising future in England to accompany three orphaned and destitute children to Western Australia in the hope that Bram will adopt them and secure their future thus allowing Maura to recover something of her own. Though in an Anna Jacobs novel nothing ever seems to follow the chosen or obvious path.
The Trader's Dream has a wonderful diverse mix of new and pre-loved characters cleverly introduced to draw the reader into the most delightful web of intrigue, injustice and satisfaction ever likely to be encountered within the cover of a single novel.
There is a minor character in this book, named Eleanor, who is quite possibly the most engaging, beautiful, romantic and elegant person I've ever read about. I live in hope that the author will see fit to revisit Eleanor in a future novel.
Anna Jacobs take on creating fiction never fails to impress. For The Trader's Dream, five stars.
I believe the next novel of the series is titled The Trader's Gift. I'll be purchasing my copy the day it appears on bookshelves.
October 1, 2013
I'm a long-time fan of Anna Jacobs and, with The Trader's Dream, she doesn't disappoint. This is the third book in a series of five about an Irish trader, Bram Deagan, settling in Western Australia (Anna's own home) and I loved the story. Bram's dream is that his family should follow him to Australia. When many of them are wiped out in a typhus epidemic, Bram's aunt Maura, only three years older than Bram, finds herself responsible for her orphaned nephew and neices. Forced to give up her own ambitions, she has no option but to take them to Bram in Australia. Of course, this being a love story, she falls in love on the voyage. She also learns to love the children, who are an engaging bunch. A lovely story, excellently portrayed. I can't wait to read The Trader's Gift when the paperback comes out in January 2014.
December 23, 2012
I am a fan of Anna Jacobs and really enjoy all her books - they are just light, easy reads that you can easily escape into another world for a while. The Trader's Dream is the third in 'The Traders' series and i have loved following Bram Deagan and his family on their journey from Ireland to Australia in early settlement days. And picking up this book was like visiting that family again. I would recommend you read the first two though 'The Trader's Wife' and 'The Trader's Sister' or better still begin with 'The Swan River Saga' - Farewell to Lancashire, Beyond the Sunset and Destiny's Path which came along first, with Bram in the background, then he got his own trilogy!!
April 27, 2014
A 3.5 stars read for me. A wonderful ending to the Traders trilogy and definitely better than the second book. I must admit though, the first in this series will always remain my favourite. I love the way in which Anna Jacobs combines Australian history with the story and will definitely be searching for more of her books at my local library. A definite must read series.
January 19, 2013
Romantic book of the year award for 2012 - story of a young woman who finds herself bequeathed parental responsibilities for her niece and nephew, orphaned by fever in her home village. She comes to Australia to search for a better life for her new family with a brother who has established a business in Perth.
November 9, 2014
Bram realizes his dream to bring his family over from Ireland. What he doesn't realize is that most of his family has died from typhus. His aunt Maura is the only surviving relative living nearby so she is asked to accompany the 3 children to Australia. En route she falls in love with a stranger and realizes a dream too.
August 16, 2015
So lovely to understand the family, because although a new story with new characters , I feel comfortable , as old characters bought back in and included in the story, I am fascinated how long the journey was from England to Australia, and how they all travelled, had the class distintion inthe cabins, but the story never did!
November 14, 2012
Unfortunately didn't grab me .
Another 20 pages waiting for something to happen.
Might try it again another time.
Another 20 pages waiting for something to happen.
Might try it again another time.
July 5, 2013
Was ok enjoyable in parts but long winded in parts too, not as good as the first 2 books in the series but an ok read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews