Good Hope

The Cape of Storms Trilogy #1

by C.M. O'Neill

Holland 1651. A young woman finds herself between the devil and the deep blue sea and chooses the latter. To escape a murderous French aristocrat, she seeks shelter on a ship lying at anchor in the harbor, inadvertently becoming a stowaway on a vessel bound for the southern tip of Africa.

Armed with little more than a stubborn streak, and a pair of boots, she embarks on an adventurous and dramatic voyage of self-discovery.

This debut novel sweeps the reader along an epic journey across the Atlantic and onto Africa’s wild and untamed shores.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2022

About the author

Author CM O’Neill writes dramatic, action-packed historical novels. Her plots focus on staying true to historical events with deep and compelling characters.
When she is not writing, she can be found nose-deep in biographies, journals, and history books, feverishly doing research for her next book.
If you want to know when said next book will come out, please visit her website at http://www.cmoneillbooks.com, where you can sign up to receive an email when she has her next release.
O’Neill was born and raised in South Africa. At age 21, she immigrated to New Zealand, where she received a degree in Psychology from the University of Auckland. After fifteen years, she moved to Brisbane, Australia, with her husband, children, and two old cats. She began writing her debut novel after an obsession with long-forgotten heroes who profoundly impacted the world we live in today.
You can connect with C.M. O’Neill in a number of places. She regularly connects with readers on Instagram and Facebook and will respond to comments personally.

Reviews

[Laurel White]

Adventures on the Seas

Definitely loved this book. Never once did the story slow down. Original descriptions of emotions and surroundings, characters you could love and characters you could hate.
Definitely worth spending your time taking this trip.

[David Pospisil]

Good story and excellent characters.
Immediately onward to book 2

[Schalk Steyn]

WOW!

As an SA citizen and a lover of our history I really enjoyed the plot. What a wonderful start to our country's history.

[Jackie]

Mixed feelings

I wanted to make a comment about this book, but could not pin down exactly what it was I wanted to say. The more detail about the workings of a ship, and all the very nice crew people on it somehow annoyed me, and I did a lot of skip reading as I finished the book I think it was just too much...too much detail, too much misfortune and too much story, but never the less , readable

[Lois Nuber]

My heart is saddened.

Good Hope was a strong story of survival. Although it moved slow at times it kept my interest long enough to keep me turning the pages. What an awful era to have lived through and have to fight every day to survive. Based on a true story this book is worth reading.

[Mike R. Lewis]

Great story of a Contagious Disease and Historical Sailing Ships

This is one of the best books I have ever read, the characters are so clearly defined. Personalities messed into a truly super-read. The Seas Majesty, the Ships, the Captains, the Crews, and the sickness captured my imagination and I could read thousands of pages of this author's writings.

[Robert C. smith]

Outstanding Historical Fiction!

O'Neill has a gift of creatively bringing history back to life with a few creative changes! Readers will feel close to the characters and their struggles! One of the best books I've ever read!

[DALE T KRUPLA]

I enjoyed reading this book very much. And miss it now that it's finished. I look forward to your next one. A Part Two would be welcomed. 😉

[Dean McIntyre]

GOOD HOPE by C.M. O'Neill -- Danielle is a young woman in Holland in 1650, living with her physician father in his apothecary and office, assisting with the work, medications, and seeing to the needs of patients. An aristocratic and rich seaman pressures her father into illegal drug work and he is killed for refusing while Danielle witnesses the murder. She escapes, dresses as a young boy, and stows away on a Dutch East Indies trading vessel departing to establish an outpost and colony at the Cape of Good Hope on the southern tip of Africa. She is pursued by the murderer, meets and interacts with various characters, including several captains, the newly appointed governor and his wife, soldiers, sailors, passengers, and a love interest. The voyage across the Atlantic is filled with strong characters, intense action, difficult circumstances, threatening storms, hunger, disease, and many occasions for Danielle to practice her skills as a medical healer. The tale is based on actual historical events, ending with a cliff-hanger that will undoubtedly lead to a sequel. Enjoyable reading.

[Anne-Marie Webster]

An excellent read and a new author for me. Danielle thought her life was firmly established and satisfying as her physician father's assistant. As a staunchly honorable man, he paid with his life for not bending to the demands of a greedy, vile sea captain. Danielle, as the witness to his murder finds herself fleeing for her life. Boarding a ship bound for the African coast of Good Hope she experiences a vastly different life under the strict rules of Captain DeConinck and is held in suspicion as the possible murderer of her father or a spy. Facing challenges as a stowaway, an outspoken female and an apt apothecary provides this historical novel with some exciting scenarios and fuels the readers desire for the heroine to succeed in her journey to find her new life, purpose and a sense of home.

[PAMpublish]

Well-written and researched captivating story about the daughter of a physician working out of their apothecary store in the mid 1600s Holland. However, Nineteen-year-old Danielle flees for her life when her father is bludgeoned by an aristocrat when he refused his illegal activities. Trying to escape them, she hides in one of the many boats in port, finding herself on the way to Good Hope at the tip of Africa with the purpose of establishing a fort. Although very gifted in healing, her strong will results in putting herself in dangerous situations. Author obviously did much research in her ongoing descriptions of life at sea off the coast of Africa. The book is long and although I prefer closure, it remained open ended for a sequel.

[Rhonda Jarema]

This book was an interesting adventure story of a young woman, Danielle, thrust onto a ship unexpectedly as she tries to escape from men trying to murder her. The ship was heading to Africa to start a community. Although she only meant to hide briefly after awaking from a nap, Danielle realizes she is off at sea as a stow away. Many adventures follow as she learns she has skills as a medic that surpass that of the doctor on board the ship, due to training under her father, who sold herbs and medicines. I look forward to the next book!

[Beth]

Set in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden age, Danielle, assistant apothecary to her physician father stows away on a Dutch East Indies trading vessel, headed to the CAPE of GOOD HOPE in order to escape with her life. This historical fiction novel based on a true story is packed with fascinating characters, dramatic story lines and well researched historical details. The narrative kept me glued to the book and anxious to read the next in the series as the ending is a cliffhanger.

[Mary Webb]

Fast moving historical fiction

In 1651 Holland, the 29 year-old-daughter of Van Meyerhof, the town physician who runs the local Apothecary, witnesses a murder and stows away on a local ship. The story that follows involves surviving a storm, sickness, and a romance. Having enjoyed this first book in the Cape of Storms Trilogy, I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.

[Barry Brown]

Great Job on Good Hope

A truly excellent debut novel. CM has done an admirable job in blending and balancing history, action and romance without ever falling into the pitfalls that each of these genres are filled with.

If the sequel existed I would buy it now; I can offer no greater praise.




PS: Ships berth, not birth. ;-)

[Trana Mathews]

A quick and enjoyable read. Lots of action scenes moved the plot forward at a steady pace. Based on researched facts, the author did a great job of bringing history to life. Believable characters and descriptions added to my enjoyment. I appreciated the explanation of fact versus fiction at the end.

[Susan Tauster]

A freebie I acquired and based on the reviews, gave it a try. Overall I liked it and appreciated the historical aspects and research that went into it. But it was too long, IMO, and certain sections dragged, prompting me to skim. Not sure I have the patience for the other two books in the trilogy.

[Ian Stopforth]

Good reading of “Good Hope”

What a wonderful tale of bravery, hope and love during tumultuous times.
One cannot avoid being deeply touched and longing for the story to evolve and develop.

[leslie spilman]

Gripping story

Historical fiction told by a master storyteller. I didn’t want to put it down. I had to wait to order the next in the series or nothing would have gotten done around the house.

[Betty]

Good story with a lot of feelings good and bad. A lot of things to get through. Wish for a better end but it was a good read!

[Michelle]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel.I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so . Shelley Ma

[Marla]

Interesting for the setting & time. Not my type of emotionality.