What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sandstone Series #6
Rough Currents
Jess Walsh is a working mother in 1831 New South Wales, managing the myriad of tasks for the innkeeper. her long-time husband Brian, ensuring all their work is done to the approval of “squire” Solomon Wiseman. Additionally, Jess, supervises the food stores needed to sustain the men working on the Great North Road, a massive project which sits alongside her inn and across her beloved Hawkesbury. In her rare quiet moments, she worries over the courtship of her only child Deirdre with a stonemason. Life is good but life is to change tragically when death strikes close to her. Lt William Dodds the Road’s military surveyor feels sympathy for her and is encouraged by Deirdre to help her mother. Jess claws her way out of her grief and starts to develop her friendship with Dodds. Yet in this, she is thwarted by her unremitting views on the military and the upper classes, both of which contributed to her conviction and transportation as a convict. The relationship with Dodds deepens when kidnap and violence are thrust upon them. No sooner has life returned to Wiseman’s Ferry, when Jess is to discover the reason behind her father’s bankruptcy and tragedies, brought about by a person she holds dear. Shady dealings, women’s determination, nature’s fury and pioneering struggle are all painted onto the canvas of the burgeoning Australian colony.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2022
46 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Michael Beashel
16 books16 followersMichael Beashel is an International Best Selling Australian Historical Fiction Writer
Sydney born to Irish forebears who immigrated to New South Wales in the 1860s and settled in Millers Point. He is married and lives in Sydney’s inner west having spent his youth in Bondi. Beashel was head of Asset Development for a global accommodation services company registered on the NY Stock Exchange and has struck a blow at senior levels in some of Australia's iconic construction companies including a ten-year stint at Lend Lease. In Sydney, Government restorations to Customs House and the Town Hall accompany commercial buildings completed in the private sector. In South East Asia, Beashel managed a construction division building apartments and hotels in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
This industry, its characters, clients, trades people, designers and bureaucrats, have provided a rich material for his writing. He has an eye for the emergence of Sydney’s built form, from the early days of the colony to the present, and a love of construction. He says about his writing, “it’s a passion and I revel in using the building industry as a tapestry to weave a great tale seasoned with historic facts and with memorable characters.”
Beashel’s seven published novels and two novellas in The Australian Sandstone Series showcase 19 century Sydney from the ground up and have garnered critical review. Unbound Justice the first novel has won No 1 In Amazon Rankings in three countries. A contributor to The Last Post and Afloat Magazines and he has appeared on ABC National Radio celebrating his novels. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Building) from Sydney’s UTS and is a member of Writing NSW.
Beashel is currently working on his next projects, more novels in The Australian Sandstone Series set in the 19 century.
...
see more
Sydney born to Irish forebears who immigrated to New South Wales in the 1860s and settled in Millers Point. He is married and lives in Sydney’s inner west having spent his youth in Bondi. Beashel was head of Asset Development for a global accommodation services company registered on the NY Stock Exchange and has struck a blow at senior levels in some of Australia's iconic construction companies including a ten-year stint at Lend Lease. In Sydney, Government restorations to Customs House and the Town Hall accompany commercial buildings completed in the private sector. In South East Asia, Beashel managed a construction division building apartments and hotels in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
This industry, its characters, clients, trades people, designers and bureaucrats, have provided a rich material for his writing. He has an eye for the emergence of Sydney’s built form, from the early days of the colony to the present, and a love of construction. He says about his writing, “it’s a passion and I revel in using the building industry as a tapestry to weave a great tale seasoned with historic facts and with memorable characters.”
Beashel’s seven published novels and two novellas in The Australian Sandstone Series showcase 19 century Sydney from the ground up and have garnered critical review. Unbound Justice the first novel has won No 1 In Amazon Rankings in three countries. A contributor to The Last Post and Afloat Magazines and he has appeared on ABC National Radio celebrating his novels. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Building) from Sydney’s UTS and is a member of Writing NSW.
Beashel is currently working on his next projects, more novels in The Australian Sandstone Series set in the 19 century.
...
see more
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 14, 2022
‘It was broad and swift and impossible to tread.’
Wiseman’s Ferry, Hawkesbury River 1831. Brian Walsh is the innkeeper for Solomon Wiseman’s inn and his wife Jess manages much of the day-to-day work. Jess also supervises the food stores required by the men working on the Great North Road under the supervision of Lieutenant William Dodds. Jess worries about the courtship of her daughter Deidre with a stonemason working on the road: do they have a future together?
A tragedy turns Jess’s life upside down. And then Jess discovers something from the past which threatens her equilibrium.
Some of the characters in this novel will be familiar to those who have read other books in Mr
Beashel’s Sandstone Series. While it is not necessary to read those books in order to follow this story, I recommend the entire series as Mr Beashel covers several aspects of life in colonial New South Wales. Jess herself is a strong and likeable character, as is William Dodds.
I recommend this series to anyone interested in historical fiction set in 19th century New South Wales.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Wiseman’s Ferry, Hawkesbury River 1831. Brian Walsh is the innkeeper for Solomon Wiseman’s inn and his wife Jess manages much of the day-to-day work. Jess also supervises the food stores required by the men working on the Great North Road under the supervision of Lieutenant William Dodds. Jess worries about the courtship of her daughter Deidre with a stonemason working on the road: do they have a future together?
A tragedy turns Jess’s life upside down. And then Jess discovers something from the past which threatens her equilibrium.
Some of the characters in this novel will be familiar to those who have read other books in Mr
Beashel’s Sandstone Series. While it is not necessary to read those books in order to follow this story, I recommend the entire series as Mr Beashel covers several aspects of life in colonial New South Wales. Jess herself is a strong and likeable character, as is William Dodds.
I recommend this series to anyone interested in historical fiction set in 19th century New South Wales.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
September 24, 2022
Michael Beashel has got to be one of the best historical fiction authors that I have run across. He does his homework, and is able to weave his tale with accuracy, while enticing the reader from the very first page. I was not so interested in historical fiction until I ran across Beashel and I must say he has me hooked. I can't wait for his next novel to appear on the scenes. I received this novel from BookFunnel, and this is my true and honest review.
October 19, 2022
I fell in love with this book! The characters are so well developed and convincing I felt a part of the story. A very good series to read that not only entertain you but one where you learn a lot about the period, the land and the way of live. This is a feel good tale of hard working settlers standing up to difficult situations involving personal prejudice, escaped convicts, conniving women and always the river. The descriptions of the land are a delight and makes you feel as if you are there with the characters, making the land as one of the characters as well. The cave scenes were so exciting and I loved King, the terrier. With a huge amount of research this book is historical fiction as it’s very best. Also there is a very strong female character and it makes you have a book hard to put down. You will find love, heartbreak, heartache, but also resilience and will to survive in this book as well.
Read
September 23, 2022With a huge amount of research this book is historical fiction as is best. Add to this a very strong female character and you get a book hard to put down.
You find love, heartbreak, heartache, but also resilience and will to survive.
The descriptions of the land are a delight and makes you feel as if you are there with the characters, making the land as one of the characters as well.
A very good series to read that not only entertain you but one where you learn a lot about the period, the land and the way of live.
You find love, heartbreak, heartache, but also resilience and will to survive.
The descriptions of the land are a delight and makes you feel as if you are there with the characters, making the land as one of the characters as well.
A very good series to read that not only entertain you but one where you learn a lot about the period, the land and the way of live.
September 21, 2022
As a huge fan of the beginning of those James Michener books where he took you through the history of the land and its influence on people, I have to say this series gives me the same delight. The land shapes the people as much as the people shape the land. Here as in the other stories there is success and failure, heartbreak and love and always nature, capricious, nurturing and unforgiving. I'm enthralled by the characters and the story in this series.
June 10, 2025
Yet Another Cracker Yarn!
This author is fast becoming a good friend. Brilliant character development and plausible plots blended with historical authenticity. Must read more Beashel!
This author is fast becoming a good friend. Brilliant character development and plausible plots blended with historical authenticity. Must read more Beashel!
September 11, 2022
An amazing story about who’s life is definitely not easy. She has a lot to deal with. The year is 1831 and we see what people are going through. Loved it.
January 21, 2025
The was a really enjoyable read and a constant page turner, The depiction of early Colonial life in and round Sydney gave me better understanding to this historical era of NSW. A 5 star read again
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews