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Sunlight Over Shadow
It’s Christmastime in Sydney in 1851 and carpenter John Leary is spending it with his beloved sister, her husband and their little son. John is a lucky young man, because most newcomers to the colony are on their own in New South Wales and have left family far behind, while they seek their fortune in the goldfields or the risky enterprises of Sydney town.
The year before, John emigrated from Ireland with the blessing of his parents, but they disapproved of Maureen’s choices. A woman ahead of her time, she went against their wishes to train as a teacher in a Protestant institution and live alone in Dublin. Even worse, she was raped by her landlord on the very eve of John’s departure from Ireland.
Here in Sydney, John vows to offer the help he could not give her in that crisis. Will she heal faster by confiding what happened to her, or has the marriage to Liam Forde been her pathway out of trauma? John yearns to know how the miracle of their love and marriage occurred.
This is Maureen’s story: of how a friend and a would-be avenger came to her aid, and of her journey from shame and horror to accepting intimacy with a man, once she mustered the courage to share the truth about the worst day of her life.
The year before, John emigrated from Ireland with the blessing of his parents, but they disapproved of Maureen’s choices. A woman ahead of her time, she went against their wishes to train as a teacher in a Protestant institution and live alone in Dublin. Even worse, she was raped by her landlord on the very eve of John’s departure from Ireland.
Here in Sydney, John vows to offer the help he could not give her in that crisis. Will she heal faster by confiding what happened to her, or has the marriage to Liam Forde been her pathway out of trauma? John yearns to know how the miracle of their love and marriage occurred.
This is Maureen’s story: of how a friend and a would-be avenger came to her aid, and of her journey from shame and horror to accepting intimacy with a man, once she mustered the courage to share the truth about the worst day of her life.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2022
18 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Michael Beashel
16 books16 followersMichael Beashel is an International Best Selling Australian Historical Fiction Writer
Sydney born to Irish forebears who immigrated to New South Wales in the 1860s and settled in Millers Point. He is married and lives in Sydney’s inner west having spent his youth in Bondi. Beashel was head of Asset Development for a global accommodation services company registered on the NY Stock Exchange and has struck a blow at senior levels in some of Australia's iconic construction companies including a ten-year stint at Lend Lease. In Sydney, Government restorations to Customs House and the Town Hall accompany commercial buildings completed in the private sector. In South East Asia, Beashel managed a construction division building apartments and hotels in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
This industry, its characters, clients, trades people, designers and bureaucrats, have provided a rich material for his writing. He has an eye for the emergence of Sydney’s built form, from the early days of the colony to the present, and a love of construction. He says about his writing, “it’s a passion and I revel in using the building industry as a tapestry to weave a great tale seasoned with historic facts and with memorable characters.”
Beashel’s seven published novels and two novellas in The Australian Sandstone Series showcase 19 century Sydney from the ground up and have garnered critical review. Unbound Justice the first novel has won No 1 In Amazon Rankings in three countries. A contributor to The Last Post and Afloat Magazines and he has appeared on ABC National Radio celebrating his novels. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Building) from Sydney’s UTS and is a member of Writing NSW.
Beashel is currently working on his next projects, more novels in The Australian Sandstone Series set in the 19 century.
...
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Sydney born to Irish forebears who immigrated to New South Wales in the 1860s and settled in Millers Point. He is married and lives in Sydney’s inner west having spent his youth in Bondi. Beashel was head of Asset Development for a global accommodation services company registered on the NY Stock Exchange and has struck a blow at senior levels in some of Australia's iconic construction companies including a ten-year stint at Lend Lease. In Sydney, Government restorations to Customs House and the Town Hall accompany commercial buildings completed in the private sector. In South East Asia, Beashel managed a construction division building apartments and hotels in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
This industry, its characters, clients, trades people, designers and bureaucrats, have provided a rich material for his writing. He has an eye for the emergence of Sydney’s built form, from the early days of the colony to the present, and a love of construction. He says about his writing, “it’s a passion and I revel in using the building industry as a tapestry to weave a great tale seasoned with historic facts and with memorable characters.”
Beashel’s seven published novels and two novellas in The Australian Sandstone Series showcase 19 century Sydney from the ground up and have garnered critical review. Unbound Justice the first novel has won No 1 In Amazon Rankings in three countries. A contributor to The Last Post and Afloat Magazines and he has appeared on ABC National Radio celebrating his novels. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Building) from Sydney’s UTS and is a member of Writing NSW.
Beashel is currently working on his next projects, more novels in The Australian Sandstone Series set in the 19 century.
...
see more
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 30, 2025
When Maureen, independent of her family, teacher in a Protestant school and living alone in Dublin, much against her family's wishes, was confronted by her landlord in the privacy of her home, raped and beaten violently, she thought her life had ended. In hospital recovering from her injuries, and never mentioning what had really happened to her, her good friend Jane discovered the truth. But what could she do about it?
Meanwhile John, Maureen's brother, emigrated to Australia, making a new home for himself in Sydney, New South Wales. He felt guilt at leaving Maureen, not knowing the details of what had happened, but was assured by her friendship with Jane, knowing she would care for his sister. Christmas in 1851 was a happy one for John, as he was able to join Maureen and her new husband who had recently emigrated themselves.
Sunlight Over Shadow is an historical novel by Aussie author Michael Beashel, set mainly in Ireland, partly in Sydney. Maureen was a feisty young woman, shattered by her ordeal but determined to move forward with her life as best she could. Recommended.
Meanwhile John, Maureen's brother, emigrated to Australia, making a new home for himself in Sydney, New South Wales. He felt guilt at leaving Maureen, not knowing the details of what had happened, but was assured by her friendship with Jane, knowing she would care for his sister. Christmas in 1851 was a happy one for John, as he was able to join Maureen and her new husband who had recently emigrated themselves.
Sunlight Over Shadow is an historical novel by Aussie author Michael Beashel, set mainly in Ireland, partly in Sydney. Maureen was a feisty young woman, shattered by her ordeal but determined to move forward with her life as best she could. Recommended.
April 12, 2023
This story binds together the earlier ones in the Sandstone series, although it can be read in isolation. John Leary, sets sail for a new beginning in Australia, leaving behind his sister who has just been raped and beaten by her landlord. She does not want to press charges as she knows it would not be in her favour.
This story expands on this, her fight to keep her teaching job, her struggles to come to terms with the rape, her love and appreciation of her new husband. Written in the 1850’s, a period when women were still expected to stay at home, this story describes the emotional stress of having been raped, and Maureen’s struggles to overcome the trauma.
Although the author is a man, his description of the rape and following trauma are worthy of a woman’s experience.
It reads easily, emotions are sensitive and well delivered without the graphic details.
This story expands on this, her fight to keep her teaching job, her struggles to come to terms with the rape, her love and appreciation of her new husband. Written in the 1850’s, a period when women were still expected to stay at home, this story describes the emotional stress of having been raped, and Maureen’s struggles to overcome the trauma.
Although the author is a man, his description of the rape and following trauma are worthy of a woman’s experience.
It reads easily, emotions are sensitive and well delivered without the graphic details.
December 21, 2022
A beautiful story of love given unconditional, and love accepted. A story of a young girl who strikes on her own leaving Londo to seek her future in Australia. Her parents disapproved. They felt she should train to be a teacher or another professional and go with job in hand. Maureen new better, or so she thought. She is raped her first weekend there. This teaches the reader about unconditional love, and how the horror of rape must be shared before healing can start. A novel that should be read by all. I highly recommend this novel and hope to read more in the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my true and honest review.
February 29, 2024
Classic Backstory
I'm really getting into the rhythms of this author. Having already read his trilogy, this one expertly filled in some family history and created friendship with yet another fine character.
I'm really getting into the rhythms of this author. Having already read his trilogy, this one expertly filled in some family history and created friendship with yet another fine character.
February 27, 2023
This book is not your typical historical romance because it touches on some sensitive issues. However, I found it to be interesting and well handled. I recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews