Book blurb…
Alone. Near destitute. But brave and determined. Can Maddy beat the odds to create a new home in the Hunter Valley? An exciting Australian historical debut, perfect for readers of Darry Fraser.
1831, New South Wales
Reeling from her mother's death, Madeleine Barker-Trent arrives in the newly colonised Hunter River to find her father's promises are nothing more than a halcyon dream. A day later, after a dubious accident, she becomes the sole owner of a thousand acres of bushland, with only three convicts and handsome overseer Daniel Coulter for company.
Determined to fulfil her family's aspirations, Maddy refuses to return to England and braves everything the beautiful but wild Australian country can throw at her - violence, danger, the forces of nature and loneliness. But when a scandalous secret and a new arrival threaten to destroy all she's worked for, her future looks bleak ... Can Maddy persevere or should she simply admit defeat?
A captivating historical tale of one young woman's grit and determination to carve out her place on the riverbank.
PRAISE:
'Richly detailed, inspiring and romantic - this engrossing story of a brave young woman overcoming insurmountable odds brings to life the early years of the Hunter Valley with clarity and authenticity.' - Tea Cooper, author of The Cartographer's Secret

My thoughts…
Tea Cooper describes this story as engrossing and I could not agree more.

Maddie is indeed a woman of substance and strength who demonstrates what is needed to survive in the harsh early days in the Hunter Valley. She is strong-willed, brave and vulnerable at the same time. Exactly what I enjoy about novels with a strong woman at its heart.

The best thing to happen to Maddie is Daniel, a man who stands by her side even though he does not have to.

Do they fall in love? Is the ending satisfying? I highly recommend you read their story.

Looking forward to the next book by this author.

Paula J Beavan took 10 years to write "Daughter of the Hunter Valley" but it was well worth the wait! And I hope she doesn't take another 10 years to write another historical fiction book, as I am a fan. Her love of the land and upbringing in this same rural environment shines through as she transports us to a very similar scenario to that of her own ancestors.
If you enjoy the work of Tea Cooper or Darry Fraser, you will love this story of a young woman thrown off the deep end, into running a rural property in New South Wales 1831.
While the dialogue feels quite modern and easy to read, there are enough richly descriptive pictures painted, to transport you to the hot and dusty time and place, which finds brave Madeline Barker-Trent becoming the owner of a huge bushland property, following the deaths of both her parents.
She struggles with their loss, the strange country so different from England and the inner pressure of trying to bring her fathers dream to fruition.
To satisfy the romance buffs, the handsome farm overseer Daniel, catches Maddy's eye and heart...but as is with any novel, love is never easy and takes many twists and turns as the book progresses.
Just the right blend of historical context, romance and adventure made for a book I looked forward to picking up at every opportunity.
Thank you NetGalley, Paula J Beavan and Harlequin Australia for my copy.

Being a past Hunter Valley resident and frequenter of the local wineries I jumped at the chance to read this and so glad I did. Author, Paula J. Beavan, is a local and knows her stuff.

18-year-old Madeline (Maddy) travels alone from England to the Australia after her mother died. The two of them were to join her father at his new property in the Hunter Valley. He had travelled out six years previously to set up his farm and build a homestead. His letters gave glowing accounts of how much he had achieved so it comes as a shock when she arrives to find only a shack, a thousand acres of mostly wild scrubland and three convict with an overseer. Her father’s body is found the next day so Maddy is on her own.

The general opinion of the other settlers is that Maddy should either marry and let her husband deal with the property, or sell up and return to England, but she has no family left there, and has no desire to marry without love, so decides to stay and realise her fathers dream of a stone house and flourishing farm.
This is a debut novel that follows Maddy as she learns the ways of the new and wild country she now lives in. The relationships between the different stratas of society comes alive on the pages - aboriginals, convicts, bushrangers, lower classes and upper classes each have their opinions as to what is acceptable for Maddy. But she forges ahead with her own ideas. On top of this she has to cope with heat, floods, bush rangers and a secret her father has been keeping.

Daughter of the Hunter Valley is well-researched, well-written and really interesting and I hope there is a new Paula J. Beavan novel soon.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I was drawn to this book because of the comparison to Darry Fraser who I absolutely adore. The comparison is a good one-I loved this book!! Maddy is the ultimate heroine and my heart broke numerous times at her plight. Surrounded by unforgettable characters, this is a lovely book of the early Australian colony and the hardship women, in particular, faced.

What a fascinating debut novel Daughter of the Hunter Valley has been. Meticulously researched this book made me feel as though I were sitting on rock watching life unfold nearly 200 years ago in the Hunter region of NSW. While there is a romantic thread that carries through the story, it is Maddy’s story as a pioneer woman in a place that was very different to the Wiltshire area of England where she grew up that captured my imagination. Author Paula J Beavan has clearly studied the history of the area in great detail because she brings to life the day to day world of farmers, landed gentry and their convict labourers in a realistic and believable story. I admired Maddy for her strength of character and her perseverance in the face of hardship and adversity. Her story is not only entertaining but also informative and intriguing.

Imagine it is 1831, New South Wales and you have just arrived after a long sea voyage, by yourself. Your mother has just died, and you are travelling to settle in this new, foreign country to live with your father. This is what happened to the heroine of this satisfying debut historical fiction novel by Paula J Beavan.

Madeleine (Maddy) Barker-Trent arrives in the newly colonised Hunter River to find her letter to her father telling of his wife’s death has not arrived and the much-vaunted house does not exist. Within a day, Maddy becomes the sole owner of a thousand acres of bushland, no knowledge of farming or Australian conditions and only three convicts and overseer Daniel Coulter for company.

The trials and tribulations that beset Maddy range from the mundane (making soap), to man management (using convicts), natural disaster (it is the Hunter River!), and violence (specific to that time). Maddy is determined not to be beaten and to fulfil her parents’ vision of a new life in the colony.

There is quite a cast of characters, and it is hard to decide at first who is important to the story. The assigned convicts, an orphaned child, the overseer, visitors from England - they are one thing, but the minefield of ‘society’ is quite another. The petty nature of manners, the evilness of gossip is well depicted. There is also a real feeling of solidarity in relationships built on the shared knowledge of the difficulty of surviving and thriving in this new settlement.

Depiction of the Australian flora and fauna is authentic and feels real. Maddy enjoys the smell of eucalyptus and the bush. She is intrigued by the birdlife, and this is well described with love and obvious affection by the author. Horses feature in a big way and emphasise the limitations of farming and travel in those days without the combustion engine.

The story reads like the fleshing out of a diary or a journal. Weather, the daily routine, meals, agriculture, animal husbandry - all are described with care. The historical detail feels authentic, and it is obvious the author has done her research well.

This book is a wonderful piece of historical fiction and Maddy is an inspirational heroine with a well-drawn and interesting cast of supporting actors.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsAustralia for the ARC

What an absolute delight to read Daughter of the Hunter Valley by debut author Paula J Beavan.

Having left England after the death of her mother, Maddie arrives in the NSW Hunter Valley in 1831 and is confronted with the sudden death of her father. A young but determined woman she decides to stay and build her parent’s dream home and property. It’s a tough land and environment especially for a woman but she is strong and independent.
A wonderful journey with some very tense and dramatic moments with hostile women, unpredictable convicts, roaming bushrangers and romantic challenges!

I loved the location as I lived in that area and the dramatic landscape with droughts and then heavy rainfall with flooding rivers is so realistic.

An enjoyable historical read.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Harlequin Australia for a copy to read and review.

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.

Paula’s debut novel is a wonderful colonial adventure set in the Hunter Valley in 1831. Following the death of her mother in England, Maddy travels to NSW to find her father and comes to the realisation that the promises from his letters had been full of lies. When he then also dies, she decides to stay on and work the property fulfilling her parents’ dreams.

‘What had started as their dream had become a millstone around Maddy’s neck, and the weight of it was drowning her.’

Being a woman of this era, Maddy is confronted with the harsh Australian outback: convicts for labourers, destructive weather patterns and even bushrangers. The story tells how she works hard to make a life for herself in this new, yet wild land. It depicts a strong female lead who shows great strength, bravery and determination to persevere despite the many obstacles. There is also a romantic element to this tale but for me, this was not the strongest or most engaging element.

‘I am convinced you have my best interests at heart, but I was not raised to follow the accepted conventions.’

What I loved about this story was the way Paula captured the feel for what life would have been like for colonial Australians. I appreciated her writing ability to accurately portray descriptions of both the landscape and how dangerous the elements could be. Paula has obviously done her research as I felt swept away to a time and place from almost two hundred years ago. Whether it be the extremes of weather, the remote living or the lurking dangers both natural and man made.

‘It’s a tough land. It’s harder, dryer, and hotter than anything we’re used to. I don’t know if your pa would have made it work, but there’s steel in your spine that will keep you trying long after you could have, perhaps should have, given up. And that’s the kind of person this country needs.’

For a trip to the past when life on the land was often harsh and unforgiving, Paula provides us with a heroine to cheer for. A sensational debut novel and I look forward to more stories from Paula.

‘Maddy was seated in a kitchen with a convict and a hired overseer, about to share a pot of tea. Her life was reduced to two thousand acres in a colony on the far side of the world and she’d never been happier.’






This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Eighteen-year-old Madeleine Barker-Trent had left England, which had been her home her whole life, and also her beloved mother who had recently died. Maddy and her Mama were to join their father in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Australia, after he’d been there for some time, building up his property, Shelby, for them, the land on the edge of the Hunter River, the house on top of a hill overlooking the vast Australian bush. It was 1831 when Maddy arrived, after a long trip on a ship to Sydney, then more travel to finally arrive at Shelby. But Maddy’s letter to her father hadn’t arrived and he was shattered to hear of his wife’s death. Though pleased to see Maddy, he needed time to come to terms with his wife’s death.

The big house Papa had bragged about was barely started, the small ramshackle hut where he laid his head at night barely big enough for one person. When Maddie’s Papa’s body was found, she realized she was now truly on her own – no parents, no siblings. Maddie’s grit and determination to follow her parent’s dream through saw her flouting all the ‘rules’ of society, and when she picked up Jane from Parramatta as her maid, Jane proved herself as a hard worker, diligent and thorough. She was also a friend to Maddie. Along with Daniel Coulter, Shelby’s overseer and several convicts, Maddie and Jane began to prove their worth.

Around the district were other landowners whom Maddie came to know. She also discovered the danger of bushrangers, the malicious gossip from certain people, and the knowledge that the hard work was never done. Her horse, Red, was the one relaxation she allowed herself – a quiet ride for an hour or so, did her the world of good. But change was coming, and with it, danger. What would happen to this English girl who had never set foot outside England before arriving in the colonies?

Daughter of the Hunter Valley is the debut novel of Aussie author Paula J. Beavan, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Hunter Valley is my home as well – it’s a large area and encompasses many towns and cities, but back in the 1800s it would have been a wild and dangerous place. I did find Maddie a little annoying at times, but I also found myself rivetted to the pages as I raced to the finish. A fabulous debut, I hope Daughter of the Hunter Valley is the first of many for this author. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

In 1831, Madeleine Barker-Trent journeys to Australia after her mother’s death, to seek out the father she has not seen for several years. She arrives to find that the life that she believed her father to have, from his letters to her, is not what she thought. A day later, her father tragically dies, and she finds herself the owner of Shelby. The thousand acre property comes with three convicts and the handsome overseer Daniel Coulter. Determined to fulfil her family's aspirations, Maddy refuses to return to England and decides to make a life for herself in the Australian wilderness. Soon Maddy must face violence, danger as well as loneliness.
This is a vividly described story of a woman facing the challenges of the harsh Australian countryside. The perseverance shown by Maddy makes for a great read and even more so with the detail given to the struggles faced by her. The writing flows easily and I found myself completely enthralled from the start.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Paula J. Beavan’s debut novel is a delightful coming-of-age story set in the Hunter Valley. Maddy arrives in NSW in 1831, following the death of her mother back home in England, to find that her father’s letters had been full of lies. When he then also dies, she decides to stay on the property and fulfil her parents’ dreams. But she is a woman, the Australian outback is harsh, there are convicts, weather and highwaymen. And what will happen when she falls in love?

I really enjoyed this historical novel. A few loose ends and leftover questions but I feel the lack of some resolutions lends credibility to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the Australian setting, the rich historical details and the background stories of some of the convicts. The romance unfortunately is not so strong and the ending is very abrupt and unsatisfying.

What a sparkling debut by Paula J. Beavan! I am thrilled to have read this stunning, well delivered story brimming with courage, resilience and passion. It captivated my attention from the very first page.

Madeleine Barker-Trent leaves the comforts of England in 1831 and sails for six months across the world to join her father in the Hunter Valley. Their joyful reunion quickly evaporates. Unexpected heartbreak and disappointment meet her almost as soon as she arrives in the colony. Amid the severe dryness and heat of December, confusion floods her mind when she surveys the truth and progress of her father’s dream. Letters received at home show a different reality of his success. She is faced with the task of making a difficult decision. Against all odds, and with determination, she aims to fulfil the dream her parents started.

Due to Paula’s meticulous research and strong world-building skills, I was swept into the centre of Australia’s early colonial days. She paints a vivid picture of a harsh unforgiving land of extremes with severe droughts and floods. Those of us who live in this country today with all the conveniences of the modern age, would find it challenging to be transported back to the 1830s when immigrants (including the convicts) tried desperately to carve out a sane existence. This taxing life broke many and sent numerous back to England.

We are not only supplied with an authentic setting but also a carefully crafted, believable cast with whom we can relate. Maddy, unlike her rival Ella, does not rely on the comforts of England. Maddy has grit on her side. As a reader, we cheer her on believing she will succeed where others failed. But not without obstacles in her path or family surprises. She fights for the choice to build a life without a husband who might limit or control her. But are her convictions sustained once meeting and getting to know the handsome Daniel Coulter? He is a reliable and dedicated man working the land to its potential. As the overseer of her one thousand acres of bushland, Daniel’s contribution and presence are substantial. Maddy is faced with new emotions and findings as she tries to succeed.

I would not be thorough with my review if I did not mention the Proverbs 24:27 reference at the start of the novel. For I believe it reveals Maddy’s moral upbringing and how her faith guides her conscience. Though she is not perfect, and as a human grapples with anger, honesty and hurt, her ‘kind heart’ eventually prevails in her decision making. We see her sacrifice her own happiness for others. The Christian cross and Bible appear in the story in gentle measures as firm signposts and symbols of her beliefs.

At all times we get a clear picture of who Maddy is, even when unexpected circumstances disrupt or confuse her. She is a smart woman whose quick thinking saves her during her bushranger encounters. She is not a typical woman of the 1830s (other characters have noted this, too) and does not live by the rules of the era. She knows what she wants, believes in hard work, does not care about the opinions of others and is determined to live her life as she sees fit. Including fulfilling the dream begun by her parents. And for that, she will do everything she can to make it happen—while still helping others along the way.

As for the pacing of the story, Paula never gives anything away too quickly. Little by little the plot unfurls while the tension thickens steadily. Like Maddy in her thoughts and actions, Paula holds her cards close to her chest. This stirs our curiosity and keeps the pages turning. There are numerous road blocks to the truth with tangled threads to sort and choking vines to cull. Then there is Maddy’s desire to remain single and her attraction battle with Daniel. If given a chance, what or who will she choose?

'Daughter of the Hunter Valley' not only shows us the working life of the colony but its leisure interests, too. Just as in Jane Austen’s world, where the dance is an important social activity, we also see its purpose here in the colony. A Ball becomes an essential community event. This enjoyable gathering of all inhabitants offers a welcomed relief from a tough land that suffers with droughts and floods. Of course, it can be a beehive for gossip, as Maddy learns, where unsolicited opinions and wagging tongues run wild: including talk of her independence and untraditional ways.

This novel, that was ten years in the making, shows its heart boldly. It is a well-crafted, compelling page turner with depth, desire and determination. I loved it from start to finish and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an exciting journey with convincing characters through colonial Australia. 5 Stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Netgalley and publisher Harlequin Australia for an ARC to review.

For the most part, I enjoyed this Australian historical.

Following Maddy's journey to beat the odds and create a new home in the Hunter Valley was at times exciting but unfortunately, the overall plot lacked the romantic connection I desired between Maddy and Daniel.

I have been reading a lot of historical fiction books lately with many being pretty full-on and some even a bit depressing. This one was a nice change full of hope and determination (even though there was some hardships and sadness).

It is a book that is easy to read but still has plenty of substance. It pulls you in and takes you on a journey of a time long ago, a life that is hard but beautiful. It is a great book and an interesting and engaging read.

Madeleine Barker-Trent makes the long sea journey from England to the new settlement of Australia in 1831, she finally arrives in New South Wales and she hasn’t seen her Papa in six years. He owns property in the Hunter Valley, he’s been busy building a house and establishing his farm. She discovers her father’s living in a hut, in his letters he made it sound like he had made far more progress and it’s not what she was expecting at all.

The next day her father tragically passes away, Madeleine’s only eighteen, she’s now the owner of Shelby, a thousand acres of scrubby bushland, with three convicts and an overseer Daniel Coulter to help her run the property. Maddy doesn’t want to return to England, she’s determined to stay and the kind Garrick family help her. The other settlers assume she should marry, she needs a man’s guidance and it’s the best option for a woman on her own The wonder of a new land amazes Maddy, the vegetation, vibrant birds and native animals are all fascinating.

Maddy needs a maid, her only choice is to go to Parramatta Goal and employ a convict. Jane's a hard worker, good company and Maddy doesn’t feel so lonely. Shelby’s a hive of activity, their busy planting crops, caring for sheep, milking dairy cows and growing potatoes. Life in Australia is hard, the weather is extremely unpredictable, it’s either too hot, pouring with raining and the never by river floods. It's a dangerous place, a bushranger targets Shelby and Maddy’s exposed to the violent side of the new colony. A young boy called Luke is left in her care, his mother disappears, people start to talk about her strange ideas and she discovers her father’s secret.

Daughter of The Hunter Valley narrative is about Madeleine making a life for herself in a new, remote and wild land. Despite all the obstacles, she perseveres with incredible strength, bravery and determination. Paula J. Beavan’s debut novel is full of details about life in the new colony of Australia, it’s interesting, well written and I highly recommend
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review and five stars from me.

Madeleine has lost her mother and braved the seas to come to the hot, untamed Hunter Valley. Within a day of her arrival, she loses her father - and discovers that he has omitted many things in his letters home. There is no grand house. There is backbreaking work to be done, especially if she wants to hold onto her father's land and his dream. But help can come from unexpected places - and so can love.

A stunning debut novel - and I certainly hope it isn't Beavan's last. I stayed up way too late just to finish this, because I enjoyed the book so much (though now I wish I had savoured it a bit!). A lot of research went into this and it shows. The writing itself is superb and flows so well, which is part of the reason I couldn't put it down. I will admit that I was easily enthralled by the setting because my own ancestors arrived near the area at practically the same time as Madeleine!