Jam or Marmalade for Tea

An Australian Historical Story.

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

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?

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Martha Hamilton is the eldest of four orphans who struggle to survive alone. Caught stealing, she is 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 for 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 to save her siblings?
Why is marmalade important for their future?
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Preserving food in colonial days was a necessity. Many of the 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 the creation of the 'Holey Dollar and Dump', Australia's first coinage in 1814, coins were rarely used to purchase food.
Governor Brisbane, like those before him, had enemies out to feather their own nests.

If you love Australian history, you will love this.

Buy your copy of "Jam or Marmalade for Tea" to see how they handle their sticky situation