The Darlings of the Downs - The Downs, #1

A heart-warming Australian historical rural family saga with a love story at its core. Book one in the Downs series. They say bad things come in threes... Tragedy forces the teenaged Cleary sisters to join the thousands leaving Ireland for the fabled good life in the colonies. But at the bottom of the world, they encounter dangerous and disconcerting characters, prejudices they thought they'd left behind, and choices that can only drive them apart.
Through the eyes of the dutiful and naive, Roisin; lovelorn stalwart, Grace; and feminist artist Stella, The Darlings of the Downs explores the secrets and the ties that bind families from one generation to the next and the impossible choices women make for the people they love. Set against the backdrop of colonial and post-war era Australia, this richly layered historical family drama traces the delicate threads of cause and effect throughout five generations. Features a discussion guide for book clubbers.