Daughter of the Hunter Valley
Paula J Beavan
Reviewed by Helen
What a fabulous debut, truly I fell into this book and loved the setting and getting to know Maddie, to see her grow into a strong and capable woman, a woman who could run a farm in colonial New South Wales and continue with her parent’s wishes and find true happiness made this a story that kept me invested throughout and cheering her on.
Madeline Barker-Trent has travelled to The Hunter Valley devastated at the loss of her mother but looking forward to finally being with her father on the farm in The Hunter Valley, Shelby he has written such beautiful descriptions of the house and farm, but when she arrives nothing is what she thought it would be she is shocked and then a tragic accident leaves her all alone in a strange new world. Maddie is so determined to get on with life and make Shelby what it should be.
Maddie stands firm with her decision even with neighbours suggesting she sell up and move back to England, times are not easy in the colony especially with an underlying scandal but Maddie loves the farm and her new life working with convict labourers she is starting to bring Shelby to what it should be with the help of overseer Daniel Coulter and she is getting closer to Daniel so when a new arrival is about to turn her world upside down and there is danger from bushrangers, Maddie needs to re-think her life.
I was eagerly awaiting this book and was not disappointed at all, it is so well written it shows how strong these woman were they helped build Australia into what it is today. Maddie was thrown in the deep end but did what needed to be done and her courage and strength shone through in this awesome story, this is one that I would highly recommend there is a lot happening and I felt like I was back there with Maddie and Daniel, to see her find happiness in her new life left me feeling very happy. I look forward to many more books from Paula J Bevan.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
Madeline Barker-Trent has travelled to The Hunter Valley devastated at the loss of her mother but looking forward to finally being with her father on the farm in The Hunter Valley, Shelby he has written such beautiful descriptions of the house and farm, but when she arrives nothing is what she thought it would be she is shocked and then a tragic accident leaves her all alone in a strange new world. Maddie is so determined to get on with life and make Shelby what it should be.
Maddie stands firm with her decision even with neighbours suggesting she sell up and move back to England, times are not easy in the colony especially with an underlying scandal but Maddie loves the farm and her new life working with convict labourers she is starting to bring Shelby to what it should be with the help of overseer Daniel Coulter and she is getting closer to Daniel so when a new arrival is about to turn her world upside down and there is danger from bushrangers, Maddie needs to re-think her life.
I was eagerly awaiting this book and was not disappointed at all, it is so well written it shows how strong these woman were they helped build Australia into what it is today. Maddie was thrown in the deep end but did what needed to be done and her courage and strength shone through in this awesome story, this is one that I would highly recommend there is a lot happening and I felt like I was back there with Maddie and Daniel, to see her find happiness in her new life left me feeling very happy. I look forward to many more books from Paula J Bevan.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
5 stars
Expected publication: September 29th 2021 by Mira Books AU
