Grasp The Girl From Eureka Compiled By Cheryl Adnams Classified In Brochure

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South Australian writer Cheryl Adnams has published four Australian rural romance novels and a novella, but her new novel represents her first foray into the world of Australian historical fiction.
The Girl From Eureka is a book told with insight, passion and flair, Most of all, it makes a chapter in Australias history highly readable and accessible,

The Girl From Eureka begins in Ballarat in the year, We meet Indy Wallace, who is quite the trailblazer for her time, Indy is a gold miner, working tirelessly in the fields in an attempt to improve the life of her dear mother.
Indy is also quite the wild child and she crosses enemy lines when she falls in love with Will Marsh, a British Army Lieutenant.
Complications arise for this unconventional couple when they become embroiled in the unrest that raises between the miners camp and the military sent in to achieve peace in Ballarat.
Indy and Will find their love and ideals are tested to their very limits, Love and survival go hand in hand in The Girl From Eureka,

Cheryl Adnams first had the germination for her new novel, The Girl From Eureka, when she read the Stella Prize winning book The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka by Clare Wright, which is also now on my reading pile.
Adnams discovered that there were

women that lived and worked on the goldfields, This fact astounded me, especially the working aspect, Adnams explains that this was a time when women were oppressed and there were little opportunities offered by way of asserting their rights or independence.
These were strong willed and determined women, just like Indy Wallace, the central protagonist of The Girl From Eureka, Indys story is riveting from start to finish,

The school history lessons I received barely touched on the Eureka Stockade, Yet now, someyears later, I find myself incredibly drawn to Australias past, When a feminist history is resurrected from the history books and absorbed within an accessible fictional narrative, it never fails to draw appeal.
Cheryl Adnams has definitely displayed a true aptitude for composing historical fiction, crossed with romance storytelling, The Girl From Eureka is a fantastic piece of writing, I do hope this is just the start of many more historical fiction based novels to come from Cheryl Adnams.


The history behind The Girl From Eureka is absolutely fascinating, I was so absorbed. Once I finished this book I immediately sought out a copy of The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka by Clare Wright, which was inspired by this tale.
History came alive thanks to Cheryl Adnams and her latest work of fiction, It is often quite difficult to get the balance between history, facts and key figures right within a historical fiction narrative.
However, Adnams nails it. I think this is due to the level of research she has put into her book, all the hard yards have paid off.
Adnams is also mindful of her audience and the need to present an accessible history within an engaging narrative, I learnt plenty of new information on this turning point in Australias history and I am thankful to Adnams for increasing my working history levels.


The Girl From Eureka has a nice lashing of romance, which is spread through the whole novel, I found this to be a good background to the history, offsetting some of the harsher aspects of this point in time.
I really enjoyed the representation of the characters of both Indy and Will, they came across very well on the pages of this novel.
There is plenty of tension, frustration, heat and opposition coming from these two, but ultimately, true love seizes the day!

Indy is a fantastic character and I enjoyed sinking my teeth into her escapades! She has a genuine sense of love and care for her loved ones which was admirable.
She is also extremely feisty, adventurous and independent, It is a pleasure to see a woman from this period in our nations history attempt to break down the confines of her gender.
This is a positive womens history and I think Adnams does a very good job of highlighting this feminist history to her readership.


There are a fantastic array of characters that colour the pages of The Girl From Eureka, particularly a real bad guy who adds plenty of danger and risk to the story! The actual account of the events before, during and after the Stockade covered in the book bring new light to a challenging moment in Australias early history.
It had me on edge, even though I knew what happened, However, it all comes to light so vividly thanks to Cheryl Adnams, her prose is accurate, measured and captivating! An after reading delight is also included in the back of the book which I greatly appreciated.
The Authors Notes section provides further historical background to the main events and people featured in The Girl From Eureka.


I loved this one, Add The Girl From Eureka to your reading list if you cannot resist Australian historical fiction, or good quality romance fiction.


The Girl From Eureka is bookof theAustralian Women Writers Challenge

Okay why did I high key love this book!!

I wasnt really expecting to.
I thought I would just be here for a trash romance whats new and that was it,

No, no, no, Wrong!! I ended up falling in love with the characters, the story and the setting, So unexpected.

First of all our gal Indy is a BADASS BITCH, Shes seriously one of the coolest and most boss ass ladies Ive ever read, She be out here doing THE most, And not accepting shit from anyone, She does sometimes loose cred because she did think with her romance brain and not her smart girl brain sometimes but well forgive her.
Most of the time she would not let anyone get away with being a wanker, including Mr William who needed a push off the ledge sometimes.
And the scene in the river, . . o. O girl I I wish I had that confidence,

And William. Ugh. I love him. Such a cutie. Such a romantic. But also sometimes an idiot, He was empathetic and smart and brave too though, Couldve had his resolution earlier and in a better way but hey ho thats the way it goes,

Their relationship was well played out! They were on opposite sides and firm in their beliefs which made for some intense, exciting and funny sparring of intelligence between the two characters.
Their relationship was a pleasure to read about,

The setting was super interesting! I never knew about the Australian gold mining history, The descriptions were immersive and really helped me place my mind there, It felt well researched if a little embellished at times,

The overall storyline was fun and exciting! Not too much romance but not too much mining, The romance never overshadowed the story,

But also points deducted for the only aboriginal character in this book being called “Whitey” Not a book about Australia being high key racist, couldnt be : Bare minimum was trashed by racist name even though I know they called him that cause of his teeth or whatever.
So stupid just give him an actual name Great Book

Just finished Cheryl Adnams, The Girl from Eureka, and loved it.
A great Historical novel. Great characters, loved Indy, a strong Independent Woman who isnt afraid to speak here mind, I highly recommend Cheryls book to everyone, Ballarat was already a place struggling with an imbalance of justice,

Having read her contemporary novels in the past, I knew I was in for a good story in this latest offering by Cheryl Adnams, but I have to say, I really feel as though she has found her true calling here in historical romance.
The Girl From Eureka was a terrific read, action abounding right from the very first page, the town of Ballarat as it was in the midth century recreated with vigour and atmosphere.
This novel put me in mind of a Poldark inspired adventure, but right here on Australian soil: the miners clashing with the crown, unrest and rebellion, a soldier with a conscience, a feisty heroine attempting to break through the traditional female barriers, and a love story against all odds.


Three years. Three years shed lived in this commune of contradictions, So much wealth and so much poverty existing side by side, It had been an adventure for sure, But, like any adventure, it had provided its fair share of challenges too, And, despite so many people living so close together, it could be a lonely place,

I spent the first ten years of my childhood growing up in southeast rural Victoria, and like many school children within this region, I visited Ballarat on several occasions for school excursions and I learnt my Eureka Stockade history as well.
I havent come across any fictional accounts of this tumultuous history prior to reading this novel Im not sure whether this is because they dont exist or that they just havent come to my notice.
Either way, I love nothing more than reading fresh historical fiction, and The Girl From Eureka certainly offered me that.


They were headed to the goldfields, along with the rest of the city it seemed, I remember the mass exodus from Melbourne, It was like Moses leading the Jews across the Red Sea, People just up and left their jobs at the post office, the ship docks, Teachers abandoned schools, farmers gave up their properties and cattlemen and shearers left stations to travel to these rural fields to stake a claim.


Cheryl has researched with finite care and her findings have been woven into the narrative with the skill of a strong storyteller.
She paints a vivid landscape and treats the history she is writing about with respect, I loved how she offered a dual perspective of the Eureka Stockade within this story: both the miner and the soldier.
There are some interesting points within her author notes that are worth reading, particularly where she highlights the unease felt by many soldiers about the events of the Eureka Stockade, so much so, that high numbers deserted the army post battle.


Are we not seeing here democracy and independence on fledgling legs being requested Will rolled his eyes at Georges look, demanded then by immigrant miners who just want to see some results from the taxes they pay.
A right to vote in this country they live in, a right to have a seat in the legislative council regardless of whether they own land or not and the right to purchase that land should they wish to and have the means Land they could sew and reap, land on which they could raise livestock.
Would this country not be a better place if more industry could be found other than at the end of a pick and bucket of dirt
Careful, Will, George teased.
Your words smack of dissent,
Is it dissent, George Will asked thoughtfully, Or decency

The tensions within Ballarat play out and mount in tandem with the love story between Will and Indy, but the romance never overshadows the history.
Given that Will and Indy are technically from opposing sides, this political tension often wedges itself between them, They were both honourable characters, firm in their beliefs and true to their purpose, Their intellectual sparring made for some entertaining reading and the attraction they felt towards each other was heated, Despite this, each had a personal journey they needed to traverse before being able to join together,

She was a woman without choice, In that moment she understood what Will had been trying to tell her, The Army was his home, just as this band of rebel miners was hers,

The Girl From Eureka offers a realistic account of the events leading up to the Eureka Stockade, including the battle itself.
Its a story thats brimming with tension and action, rich in atmosphere and charged with emotion, Highly recommended.

A makeshift flagpole had been erected, While the Union Jack was flying, it was soon lowered and another flag was raised in its place, Indy had to admit it was impressive, The five white of the Southern Cross constellation, connected by white stripes on a field of deep blue it was a symbol for the people of a new Australia.
A defiant departure from the tyrannical rule of Her Majesty under the Union Jack, The Australia Flag. It was clear the miners had been planning this revelation for some time,


Thanks is extended to Escape Publishing via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Girl From Eureka for review.
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