Carry Me Away (Blue Wren Shallows #2) by Dorothy Adamek

Book Synopsis

Inspired by the incredible true story of an Australian shipwreck and those who survived to tell the tale.

When the Black Swallow sinks off the Australian coast in 1877, Australian midshipman Tom Darley rescues English passenger Ada Carmichael from the disaster that claims her entire family. News of the only two survivors enchants the world, but Ada needs to hide before secrets and old foes find her. Tom is chasing big dreams of a crumbling house he will convert into a small hotel ~ but the promising start he’s acquired now sits at the bottom of the sea. 


Inexplicably entangled, Ada and Tom lean upon each other to make sense of the tragedy that’s displaced them. But when scheming journalists observe their affection they drag Tom into life-altering riches and a news-worthy romance he cannot resist. So he arranges for Ada’s protection where only he might find her ~ the quiet Phillip Island farm of his friends Shadrach and Finella Jones. 


And that’s where real trouble finds them. When heroic promises fail to shelter, and love refuses to be silenced, only surrender will pluck Ada and Tom from where life has wrecked them. 

My thoughts:

Carry Me Away is a beautiful and heartfelt novel inspired by the true story of an Australian Shipwreck and I got swept up in this novel from the very first page.  It is such an emotional read filled with characters who I absolutely adored, well there is one character who was truly despicable but he played an important role in the storyline.

The setting of Australia in 1877, Tom Darley and Ada Carmichael are two survivors of the shipwreck that took the lives of so many, including Ada's entire family.  Oh, how I cried for her loss but kept hoping she would have  the life she deserved.  I cannot imagine the pain of losing my loved ones like she did.  Tom and Ada  both suffered the loss of family and friends not to mention there personal possessions.  They shared a bond formed by the tragic events they shared but it seemed impossible for them to live a peaceful life once journalists discover where they were staying which led Ada to go into hiding at the home of Shadrach and Finella Jones. I loved this couple so much and was glad Ada had a safe place to stay away from the prying eyes of the public.  The reader gets to learn all about silkworms, which I have to admit was pretty interesting. Shadrach and Finella are characters from the first book in the series so you may want to read that book first to get to know them better. 

Overall, I thought this novel was one of the best I have had the pleasure of reading, it's impeccably written and truly compelling which is why I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are completely my own.