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Hennessey #1
The Remittance
London 1874- When his friend William Hennessey turns up on his doorstep at midnight needing somewhere to hide, John Willis doesn’t realise how much his life will change. A few days later, the two friends are about to board The Remittance , an immigrant ship bound for New Zealand. They discover William’s father has booked them into steerage and instead of the allowance he was expecting William only has three hundred pounds to live on. John has even less money. William decides his father has arranged things this way as some sort of test, or punishment and he’ll obey him and go to New Zealand. John isn’t so sure, until he sees Daisy Hammond, another passenger, and sets about winning her heart. Both William and John have trouble adjusting to life in steerage, its hard and uncomfortable, but they find ways to make it easier. William meets Charlotte who is going to NZ to start a high-class brothel and she is travelling with all the girls who will work for her. John and William make friends with Courtney Samuels who is travelling home to New Zealand. Courtney tells them goldfields are about to open near where he lives, and they should come with him and join the goldrush. They decide they’ll stick with Courtney and try goldmining. The Remittance is the stunning first novel in the Hennessey series. A gripping, action packed romance set in the days of sailing ships and high adventure. If you like unforgettable heroes, breath-taking love stories, and vibrant details, you'll love this book. Lovely. Romantic. Exciting.
Buy The Remittance
Buy The Remittance
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2019
96 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 30, 2019
It’s 1874 and William Hennessey is on the cusp of explaining that he will not be returning to university when instead he finds himself explaining that the allegations made against him after one reckless afternoon, are untrue. Williams parents arrange for him to escape facing the consequences, along with his good friend John, aboard the Remittance, bound for New Zealand under assumed names. However it’s not all plain sailing when it appears that Hennessey Snr appears to have cut off all wealth to his wayward son, and William and John find themselves sleeping in the bowels of the ship with all the other single men. But three months at sea is a long time, long enough to find your own entertainment, make new friends and enemies. Really enjoyed meeting William John and the others and look forward to reading more about them.
July 1, 2019
The first book of a trilogy, this one has all the elements to be an interesting saga...a hero who you could call spoiled, one with a past to escape which he migrates and attempts to build a new life.
Complete with friendships and new relationships as well as the past catching up, it is a good start to the story of William Hennessey.
Complete with friendships and new relationships as well as the past catching up, it is a good start to the story of William Hennessey.
December 3, 2019
The first in a series of books that I enjoyed. well written.
May 12, 2019
England 1874, wealthy Cambridge student William is bored of his life and he decides to go on an extensive trip to France.
He accompanies his parents to their neighbours house where an afternoon of fun sees William's life change forever.
Along with his boyhood friend, they set sail to New Zealand. The journey is arranged by his father; rather than travelling in style the men find themselves sharing with the ordinary people.
On the long voyage they make both friends and enemies as well as plans for their future.
I look forward to reading more about William and John.
He accompanies his parents to their neighbours house where an afternoon of fun sees William's life change forever.
Along with his boyhood friend, they set sail to New Zealand. The journey is arranged by his father; rather than travelling in style the men find themselves sharing with the ordinary people.
On the long voyage they make both friends and enemies as well as plans for their future.
I look forward to reading more about William and John.
June 17, 2019
This is an interesting and enjoyable read. I particularly liked the historical aspect of British people emigrating to New Zealand for the variety of reasons given in the book. The characters were lively and I felt drawn to the story and I wanted to know what would happen. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
June 14, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. I found the writing excellent and the characters really stay with you as the reader. Being on the ship was wonderful.
November 7, 2019
The Remittance by Meg Buchanan.
London, 1874. William Hennessey has left university and is planning a trip around Europe. He’s come home to his parent’s estate to inform them of the decision but instead spends his first afternoon pheasant shooting with his friend John Willis who works at the estate as a carpenter.
That evening, William joins his parents at the neighbouring estate and meets Alethea and her brother Theobald. Alethea is flirting with him and William finds her appealing. The next day, against his better instincts, William makes love to her. Afterwards, Alethea makes it clear she expects they will marry. When he refuses, she threatens to make him regret that decision. Suddenly he’s badly hurt and fleeing for his life with John Willis riding shotgun.
William’s father helps them escape and books them passage on the immigrant ship, The Remittance, heading for the colonies. Will the men searching for them realise where they’ve gone? Can William curb his impulsive behaviour long enough to survive the journey?
This was a good read little slow. I liked William and John. 4*.
London, 1874. William Hennessey has left university and is planning a trip around Europe. He’s come home to his parent’s estate to inform them of the decision but instead spends his first afternoon pheasant shooting with his friend John Willis who works at the estate as a carpenter.
That evening, William joins his parents at the neighbouring estate and meets Alethea and her brother Theobald. Alethea is flirting with him and William finds her appealing. The next day, against his better instincts, William makes love to her. Afterwards, Alethea makes it clear she expects they will marry. When he refuses, she threatens to make him regret that decision. Suddenly he’s badly hurt and fleeing for his life with John Willis riding shotgun.
William’s father helps them escape and books them passage on the immigrant ship, The Remittance, heading for the colonies. Will the men searching for them realise where they’ve gone? Can William curb his impulsive behaviour long enough to survive the journey?
This was a good read little slow. I liked William and John. 4*.
August 5, 2019
A gripping action packed thriller, the first in the Hennessey series. Featuring William Hennessey, heir to the Hennessey fortune and set in 1874, a reckless decision and a false accusation change the direction of William’s life forever. A dangerous but exciting adventure awaits the Hennessey heir. This is a well written novel, with fascinating characters and a great storyline. I enjoyed this novel and could not put it down, I’m looking forward to the next books in the series.
October 7, 2019
I have now completed the series... I am so glad I stuck with it. I was not sure about the first book. I kindof liked the hero, but was a little bit mad at him that he got himself caught up in this situation. The action was a little slow to start as I was reading, but really got going towards the end. So, stick with this series! Be patient and you will discover a wealth of characters and their stories to love.
June 12, 2023
An accusation of Rape, sends 2 young men into exile. Wanting to retrieve his trunk from the family town house, he is attacked and badly assaulted by the accusers brother and two heavies.
They go aboard the boat that William's father has arranged their passage on. Not in a cabin as William had supposed but in steerage.
After 80 days they make land in Auckland, New Zealand.
They go aboard the boat that William's father has arranged their passage on. Not in a cabin as William had supposed but in steerage.
After 80 days they make land in Auckland, New Zealand.
October 14, 2019
I received a copy of this book from TBC Reviewers request- Thank you
This is the first book in the Hennessy series – set in the 1800’s and follows the story of William who seems to be king of poor choices and bad luck!
An engaging story that had me keen to read the next instalment
This is the first book in the Hennessy series – set in the 1800’s and follows the story of William who seems to be king of poor choices and bad luck!
An engaging story that had me keen to read the next instalment
February 11, 2026
A fast paced adventure.
If you like lots of action and a good story line with many characters in land and sea, this is the book for you. Enjoy this tail of a journey from rural England to Auckland.
If you like lots of action and a good story line with many characters in land and sea, this is the book for you. Enjoy this tail of a journey from rural England to Auckland.
January 11, 2020
Well written with historical details.
Well written historical fiction with believable characters. I enjoyed reading about the ships that sailed from England to New Zealand.
Well written historical fiction with believable characters. I enjoyed reading about the ships that sailed from England to New Zealand.
July 30, 2019
Found this a very interesting read. The journey on the ship made for a wonderful story and the characters kept it lively.
June 18, 2019
It's 1874, William is bored and is planning to spend time in Europe although his parents are unaware of these plans. William spends an afternoon with a young lady who the makes false allegations about him. His father arranges for him to leave the country in a hurry.
William and his friend John find themselves on board The Remittance bound for New Zealand. The journey takes three months during which they make friends,enemies and for John love and marriage.
John and William on arrival in New Zealand head for the goldmines.
A great story, leaving readers wanting to read the next book to see how they fare.
William and his friend John find themselves on board The Remittance bound for New Zealand. The journey takes three months during which they make friends,enemies and for John love and marriage.
John and William on arrival in New Zealand head for the goldmines.
A great story, leaving readers wanting to read the next book to see how they fare.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews