A very enjoyable historical romance. Matilda is the daughter of a convict who is recommended to Kit as a companion for his two young sisters now that he has inherited the family property. Matilda is a lower class citizen and treated as such by Kit's mother. Kit and Matilda are attracted to each other but this would seem to be a budding romance destined for failure due to the expectancy that Kit would marry a suitable well bred girl. One sister is friendlier towards Matilda from the beginning but eventually both girls grow to love and respect her. Also true love wins through in the end.
The references to Jem, the Aboriginal stablehand, I found to be very interesting, giving an insight into his inbuilt knowledge of the land and devotion to the family.
This book is easy to read and would be enjoyed by anyone wanting to know more about those early pioneering days.
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Matilda's Freedom Kindle Edition
by
Tea Cooper
(Author)
Format: Kindle Edition
Tea Cooper (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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An unconventional woman clashes with colonial society in this spicy and sweet Australian-set historical romance.
His carefree bachelor days over, Christopher Matcham returns to Sydney to take responsibility for his mother, two stepsisters, and the family property. Fortune smiles on him when he is introduced to Matilda Sweet, a woman in need of work. Though unusual, Christopher senses that her fresh ideals and positive outlook can only benefit his sisters, so he hires her as a companion.
By the time they arrive at Christopher’s family home, the two are fast friends. But Matilda’s unorthodox ways and her convict heritage make her a second class citizen to the family. Christopher has responsibilities, and they include an advantageous match. A breeches-wearing, fish-pond-swimming, plain-talking convict’s daughter will never figure in. After all, romance is a luxury the upper classes cannot afford…
His carefree bachelor days over, Christopher Matcham returns to Sydney to take responsibility for his mother, two stepsisters, and the family property. Fortune smiles on him when he is introduced to Matilda Sweet, a woman in need of work. Though unusual, Christopher senses that her fresh ideals and positive outlook can only benefit his sisters, so he hires her as a companion.
By the time they arrive at Christopher’s family home, the two are fast friends. But Matilda’s unorthodox ways and her convict heritage make her a second class citizen to the family. Christopher has responsibilities, and they include an advantageous match. A breeches-wearing, fish-pond-swimming, plain-talking convict’s daughter will never figure in. After all, romance is a luxury the upper classes cannot afford…
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherEscape Publishing
- Publication date1 July 2013
- File size644 KB
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Product description
About the Author
Téa Cooper lives in a stone cottage on one hundred acres of bushland, just outside the time - warp village of Wollombi, NSW Australia. When she isn't writing, Téa can be found haunting the local museum or chatting to the locals, who provide her with a never - ending source of inspiration. --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Product details
- ASIN : B00D5G562S
- Publisher : Escape Publishing (1 July 2013)
- Language : English
- File size : 644 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 268 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: 50,332 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 833 in Western Romance (Kindle Store)
- 868 in Western Romance (Books)
- 974 in Victorian Historical Romance
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Tea Cooper is an Australian author of historical and contemporary fiction. In a past life she was a teacher, a journalist and a farmer. These days she haunts museums and indulges her passion for storytelling.
Website: http://www.teacooperauthor.com
Blog: http://www.teacooperauthor.com/blog.html
Twitter: @TeaCooper1
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TeaCooper
Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/LtrSn
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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from Australia
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Reviewed in Australia on 28 September 2015
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2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 28 November 2014
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The old saying, true love never runs smooth, is a fact in this story. Set in Australia when convicts were seen as a lower class, and the elite ruled supreme, two people, each from different sides of the fence meet, and its love at first sight. This is a beautiful story of strength, truth and courage. How do you stand against the social norms of the day? Matilda has modern idea's, she is straight forward and courageous. The man she falls in love with, Kit, on the other hand feels he owes his mother and sisters an obligation to marry socially well. But how does he stop the strong feelings that Matilda stirs in him? How does he get his mother to see Matilda in the same light that he does? Read the story and you will find out.
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Reviewed in Australia on 6 September 2020
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I enjoyed the descriptions of the area where it is set and the historical background
Reviewed in Australia on 6 October 2014
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Enjoyable read as are all Tea Coopers novels. Historically set in Australia the characters are good as is the storyline. I find I can always learn something about Australia when the research has been done by the author to make the storyline more plausible.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 21 March 2015
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In the beginning, i thought the story was too out-dated and old fashioned. A bit hard to relate to. But i found myself getting in to the story after a while, and enjoyed where it headed.
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Reviewed in Australia on 13 August 2020
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Kept me interested till the very end. By coincidence I am currently researching a family of convicts in Tasmania. thanks
Reviewed in Australia on 7 March 2015
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I enjoyed going back to the early pioneers of this country and how tough life really was and what people had to do for survival a beautiful love story loved Matilda's strong character
Reviewed in Australia on 5 June 2015
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this was another really good book anyone who likes to read would enjoy it
Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2018Verified Purchase
Loved it! Was a brilliant read I could not put it down right from the start it was so good

A Woods
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great little read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 November 2013Verified Purchase
Enjoyed this book very much - it brought back fond memories of visits to that part of the world. Looking forward to reading the next one.
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Joyously Retired Teacher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely story about hardy Australian settlers finding their destiny
Reviewed in the United States on 9 September 2013Verified Purchase
Strong, resilient Matilda is just the mate for Kit Matcham, but he's too determined to be responsible to his family obligations to see it. She's lovely and fun to be with, and he confuses his attraction to her with simple male lust. She's the penniless daughter of a convict who can offer his mother and sisters no connections to the Sydney society they deserve. He's been practically engaged his whole life to the privileged daughter of a wealthy Sydney family, and he owes it to the memory of his stepfather to see it through.
Matilda knows from the start there is little hope for a match between her and Kit, but that doesn't prevent her heart from wandering into forbidden territory. She falls in love with Kit, his sisters, the ranch, and knows it will be a wrench leaving it all behind, but how can she stay and watch Kit marry and start a family with another woman? Especially considering the mutual physical attraction between them.
Americans in general aren't taught much about Australia, especially its history, and I found this book both charming and enlightening. Both countries were settled by strong, determined pioneers, many of whom fled the Old Country--freely or forcibly--seeking a new start. While many didn't make it--victims of harsh weather conditions, poverty, and unwelcoming natives--those who did became the foundation of brand new nations who would eventually make their mark on the world.
I love the folklore in the story--the legend of Tiddalik's cave and the frog who wouldn't share with others. Wollombi must be a fascinating place, and I am determined I will see it for myself someday.
Matilda knows from the start there is little hope for a match between her and Kit, but that doesn't prevent her heart from wandering into forbidden territory. She falls in love with Kit, his sisters, the ranch, and knows it will be a wrench leaving it all behind, but how can she stay and watch Kit marry and start a family with another woman? Especially considering the mutual physical attraction between them.
Americans in general aren't taught much about Australia, especially its history, and I found this book both charming and enlightening. Both countries were settled by strong, determined pioneers, many of whom fled the Old Country--freely or forcibly--seeking a new start. While many didn't make it--victims of harsh weather conditions, poverty, and unwelcoming natives--those who did became the foundation of brand new nations who would eventually make their mark on the world.
I love the folklore in the story--the legend of Tiddalik's cave and the frog who wouldn't share with others. Wollombi must be a fascinating place, and I am determined I will see it for myself someday.
2 people found this helpful
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Wordfrenzy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Australian historical
Reviewed in the United States on 22 September 2013Verified Purchase
A wonderful Australian historical romance set between Sydney and the country town of Wollombi. Kit Matcham has spent the past few years travelling and enjoying life as a carefree bachelor. But with the death of his stepfather, he must take on management of the family property and responsibility for his mother and two stepsisters. Matilda Sweet is in need of paid work to save her father's land from repossession. Kit is immediately drawn to the bright, unconventional young woman who delights his sense of adventure when she rides in men's breeches rather than a woman's riding habit. He offers her a position as companion to his sisters. Social conventions are turned on their head when Matilda moves into the family property and Kit's mother is threatened by her son's attraction to the daughter of a convict. Unfortunately Matilda's naive hope that her growing feelings for Kit might lead to marriage is trampled when he announces he is returning to Sydney to collect his bride.
This story is filled with colourful, three dimensional characters who draw the reader into their roller coaster emotions and complex responses. Even secondary characters like the silent and taciturn Aborigine, Jem are intriguing. The setting is so vividly described you know the author has personally wandered this bushland, travelled the roads and crossed the rivers depicted in her novel. Her story pulls at the heart strings and you find yourself wanting to grab Kit and his mother and shake them by the shoulders until they see sense. A wonderful, rollicking tale and in keeping with everything else I have read from Tea Cooper.
This story is filled with colourful, three dimensional characters who draw the reader into their roller coaster emotions and complex responses. Even secondary characters like the silent and taciturn Aborigine, Jem are intriguing. The setting is so vividly described you know the author has personally wandered this bushland, travelled the roads and crossed the rivers depicted in her novel. Her story pulls at the heart strings and you find yourself wanting to grab Kit and his mother and shake them by the shoulders until they see sense. A wonderful, rollicking tale and in keeping with everything else I have read from Tea Cooper.
2 people found this helpful
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Manaus
4.0 out of 5 stars
New World and New Life
Reviewed in the United States on 30 January 2014Verified Purchase
This book takes one across the world as new settlers; the difference being that the girl goes as a governess with the owner of a property. Set in the 1800s it does a good job of getting under the skin of the girl and you can empathise with her. The description of the new land is very pictorial and the writer has a grasp of the environment but also you do see this world clearly through the eyes of an intelligent young woman. It may be two centuries ago but she is very modern in her views and observations. Matilda is aptly named and you grow to like her, marvelling at the strength of the Victorian woman coping with life's problems. She is definitely a strong character and the book moves through her different adventures at a rapid pace. She is a capable horse woman and has other attributes that make one wonder, but these are insignificant details put against the broad spectrum of life on a property in the early days of settlement. As the writer says at one stage, she is "a mixture of feisty tomboy and shy debutante, all wrapped up in one delightful package". Enough said - an endearing book.
One person found this helpful
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