Jam or Marmalade for Tea

Two orange cats, an injured soldier and a shipload of convict women.  What can possibly go wrong? How does a convict girl end up in Government House making jam?

Jam or Marmalade for Tea

England 1820s to New South Wales 1825 (Governor Brisbane Era) 


Martha Hamilton is the eldest of four orphans struggling to survive on their own. She is caught stealing, tried, convicted, and transported to New South Wales. With her family gone, she becomes despondent. Life holds no meaning for her, and the ocean waves look inviting.

Captain Guy Manning is a frustrated and injured redcoat soldier returning to Sydney to take up a new assignment. He notices Martha trying to jump overboard and rescues her. How do two cats bring them together?

A convict ship is no place for romance, and she’s far too young anyway, isn’t she? 

Can Guy save her and forge a life together for them? What connections does he have to try and save her siblings? Why is marmalade important for their future?

Paperback ISBN 9781923097933    eISBN9781923097285

A NaNoWriMo  2023 book winner

Release date - January 26th 2025

Preserving food in colonial days was a necessity. Many convict women came from cities and had no idea how to cook, let alone preserve food. Government rationing of food lasted until the 1840s, and then that stopped. For those with such cooking skills, market stalls were how they bartered their produce for other items.
Even after creating the 'Holey Dollar and Dump', Australia's first coinage in 1814, coins were rarely used to purchase food.
Like those before him, Governor Brisbane had enemies out to feather their own nests.

If you love Australian history, you will love this.