Mary's Guardian (Paperback or Softback)

Carol Preston uses historical research and real characters to create an understanding of life as a convict. William is transported to Australia, after years on the streets. Clinging to the hope of a better life, he looks for possibility in an unknown country. But being a convict isn't easy. When William finds and surprises young Mary with a proposal, their life together begins. Their journey from convict to family life is anything but happily ever after. Through grief, floods, triumphs, friendships, love and faith they grow in the harsh new country. A fictionalised story based on actual events and characters in early settler history.

Mary's Guardian (Turning the Tide Book 1) Entertaining history February 10, 2016I enjoy reading historical fiction and this series is even more interesting than most, as it's based, not only on Australia's colonial days, but on Carol Preston's own family history. She's taken a little poetic license to fill in the gaps, but the people were real and the situations they find themselves in have clearly been well researched by the author. The tale of two convicts overcoming their past to make a life in a new country is not an uncommon theme, but it is well done here, providing an entertaining novel steeped in history.

Paula Vince reviewed Mary's Guardian Authentic Australian historical fiction January 21, 2012This book is a must-read for any Aussie who has enjoyed reading the abundance of American historical, frontier-style fiction available on our market. There is nowhere near as much authentic Australian material and truly needs to be, as the history of our Great Southland is equally rich and powerful. Carol Preston has taken upon herself the job of researching her family tree in early settler times to bring us an awesome story based on true people and facts.

Written as a fictionalized account, we get to share first-hand the gruelling journey aboard a convict ship and the challenge of setting up subsistence living in a land which is hotter and harsher than anything anybody had imagined. The wonderful descriptions of the land can only have been written by an Aussie who lives here and knows what she is talking about.

Her hero, William Douglass' staunch optimism has an input on his fellow characters from the 1700s and modern readers alike. His sweetheart, Mary, is so easy to relate to and understand, that we can't help loving her too.