1653 - In the untamed wilds of Southern Africa, a fledgling colony fights against the unforgiving grip of nature and the specter of starvation. Amidst this crucible of hardship, a spirited, young woman emerges, seeking her place in a world where survival demands more than resilience – it demands rebellion. Brave, compassionate, and unyieldingly stubborn, she navigates the treacherous landscape, only to find herself ensnared by her own daring. The perilous path woven by her actions intertwines with heartbreak and sacrifice, molding her destiny.
Inspired by true events, From Lambs to Lions is a tale of tenacity, impossible choices, and unbreakable spirits determined to defy the odds.
All I'm guilty of is surviving, and for that, I will not apologize.
— Danielle Van Aard —
1652 - On the run from her father’s murderer, Danielle flees into the night, blindly seeking refuge. Desperation leads her to a ship anchored in the harbor. Despite her intentions, circumstances spiral beyond her control, and she finds herself an inadvertent stowaway bound for the untamed southern tip of Africa, unintentionally joining the expedition to establish a settlement under the leadership of Governor Jan van Riebeeck.
From the moment of her discovery, her world collapses into a pit of suspicion and uncertainty. A sinister threat looms—one who sees in her not just a stowaway, but a witness who must be silenced.
Her only chance for survival lies in how quickly she learns to trust herself, find her inner strength, and embrace her tenacity and resilience before confronting the pivotal choice between following her heart or surrendering to the path fate has laid out for her.
Author CM O'Neill writes dramatic, action-packed historical novels. Her plots focus on staying true to historical events, with deep and compelling characters that make you feel like you know them personally when passing their statues on the street or seeing their names in a textbook.
When she is not writing, she can be found nose-deep in biographies, journals, and books about how to sail a seventeenth-century three-master merchant vessel or cook a hippopotamus steak.
Good Hope is her debut novel.