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Sweet and Faraway
Lesley Wilson went out from England with her cousin Alice for her wedding to Randolph Baxter, part owner of the big cattle station of Coolaroo. Lesley had jumped at the chance of the trip, chiefly because she was trying to forget a broken romance.As her sore heart eased, she learned to be a 'dinkum Aussie', to ride out 'on the run', to sleep on the ground, and to eat round a barbeque. She learned, too, to love Dan Baxter, the Master of Coolaroo. Then came the day when she realised that an old wound had healed and Fate had taken a fresh stab at her heart.
- GenresRomance
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
42 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Walker
103 books26 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Lucy Walker (1907–1987) was the most famous of a few pseudonyms used by Dorothy Lucie Sanders (née McClemans). She was born in Boulder, Western Australia, on 4 May 1907. Her father was of Irish stock, a minister of the Church of England. Her mother was from New Zealand. Dorothy began writing at an early age, despite her father’s scepticism about her ability.
A qualified teacher from Perth College (1928), she taught in state schools in Western Australia until 1936. She continued teaching later in London while her husband, a fellow school teacher whom she married in 1936, completed his doctorate in education.
They returned to Perth, Australia in 1938 but Dorothy Lucie Sanders only began her writing in 1945, producing articles, short stories, and later novels. In 1948 her first novel, Fairies on the Doorstep, was published.
As Lucy Walker, she wrote about 39 romance books:
Fairies On the Doorstep (1948)
Who Leaves the Crowd (1952)
The One Who Kisses (1954)
Sweet and Faraway (1955)
Come Home Dear (1956)
Heaven is Here (1957)
Master of Ransome (1958)
Kingdom of the heart (1959)
The Stranger from the North (1959)
Love in a Cloud (1960)
The Loving Heart (1960)
The Moonshiner (1961)
Wife to Order (1961)
The Distant Hills (1962)
Down in the Forest (1962)
The Call of the Pines (1963)
Follow Your Star (1963)
The Man from Outback (1964)
Reaching for the Stars (1964)
A Man Called Masters (1965)
The Other Girl (1965)
The Ranger in the Hills (1966)
The River Is Down (1967)
Home at Sundown (1968)
The Gone-Away Man (1969)
Shining River (1969)
Six for Heaven (1969)
Joyday for Jodi (1971)
The Bell Branch (1971)
The Mountain That Went to the Sea (1971)
Ribbons In Her Hair (1972)
Pepper Tree Bay (1972)
Pool of Dreams (1973)
Girl Alone (1973)
Monday in Summer (1973)
Runaway Girl (1975)
Gamma's Girl (1977)
So Much Love (1977)
These romance novels were very successful in Australia and overseas. The stories were meticulously researched; the writer travelled extensively in the Western Australian outback, recording details of scenery, personalities and social customs in her notebooks and diaries.
Other pseudonyms used by this author: Shelley Dean, Dorothy Lucie Sanders, and Lucy Walker.
Dorothy Lucie Sanders was widowed in 1986 and died the following year. Her daughter and two sons survived her.
Lucy Walker (1907–1987) was the most famous of a few pseudonyms used by Dorothy Lucie Sanders (née McClemans). She was born in Boulder, Western Australia, on 4 May 1907. Her father was of Irish stock, a minister of the Church of England. Her mother was from New Zealand. Dorothy began writing at an early age, despite her father’s scepticism about her ability.
A qualified teacher from Perth College (1928), she taught in state schools in Western Australia until 1936. She continued teaching later in London while her husband, a fellow school teacher whom she married in 1936, completed his doctorate in education.
They returned to Perth, Australia in 1938 but Dorothy Lucie Sanders only began her writing in 1945, producing articles, short stories, and later novels. In 1948 her first novel, Fairies on the Doorstep, was published.
As Lucy Walker, she wrote about 39 romance books:
Fairies On the Doorstep (1948)
Who Leaves the Crowd (1952)
The One Who Kisses (1954)
Sweet and Faraway (1955)
Come Home Dear (1956)
Heaven is Here (1957)
Master of Ransome (1958)
Kingdom of the heart (1959)
The Stranger from the North (1959)
Love in a Cloud (1960)
The Loving Heart (1960)
The Moonshiner (1961)
Wife to Order (1961)
The Distant Hills (1962)
Down in the Forest (1962)
The Call of the Pines (1963)
Follow Your Star (1963)
The Man from Outback (1964)
Reaching for the Stars (1964)
A Man Called Masters (1965)
The Other Girl (1965)
The Ranger in the Hills (1966)
The River Is Down (1967)
Home at Sundown (1968)
The Gone-Away Man (1969)
Shining River (1969)
Six for Heaven (1969)
Joyday for Jodi (1971)
The Bell Branch (1971)
The Mountain That Went to the Sea (1971)
Ribbons In Her Hair (1972)
Pepper Tree Bay (1972)
Pool of Dreams (1973)
Girl Alone (1973)
Monday in Summer (1973)
Runaway Girl (1975)
Gamma's Girl (1977)
So Much Love (1977)
These romance novels were very successful in Australia and overseas. The stories were meticulously researched; the writer travelled extensively in the Western Australian outback, recording details of scenery, personalities and social customs in her notebooks and diaries.
Other pseudonyms used by this author: Shelley Dean, Dorothy Lucie Sanders, and Lucy Walker.
Dorothy Lucie Sanders was widowed in 1986 and died the following year. Her daughter and two sons survived her.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 7, 2022
I was hoping that I had just stumbled upon another great vintage author whose work would keep me entertained - authors like Mary Burchell and Betty Neels - two of of my favorites. However, it did not work out that way.
This is another example where I differ from so many other reviewers. The story lacked spark, had a non-existent plot, and the secondary / tertiary characters actually detracted from the story.
I can't figure out all the five-star reviews. This was duller than leftover dishwater.
I gave it two stars, and that was overly generous.
This is another example where I differ from so many other reviewers. The story lacked spark, had a non-existent plot, and the secondary / tertiary characters actually detracted from the story.
I can't figure out all the five-star reviews. This was duller than leftover dishwater.
I gave it two stars, and that was overly generous.
January 13, 2026
Read for the third time and how did I enjoy it. This book will give every reader a good idea of what it might have been like to live on a horse and cattle station in Northwest Australia. And the love story between Dan and Lesley is beautiful. Highly recommended.
Beautiful Romance in Outback Australia
Read again and give it five stars again. A lovely book.
Finally, a good Lucy Walker romance. I think I read this one in 2020. I really liked it this time. Leslie accompanies her cousin, Alice from England to Australia and to Coolaroo, a station run by Dan Baxter to marry Dan's younger brother, Randolph. Walker shows what life is like on a large horse station and Dan is simply a honey.
Beautiful Romance in Outback Australia
Read again and give it five stars again. A lovely book.
Finally, a good Lucy Walker romance. I think I read this one in 2020. I really liked it this time. Leslie accompanies her cousin, Alice from England to Australia and to Coolaroo, a station run by Dan Baxter to marry Dan's younger brother, Randolph. Walker shows what life is like on a large horse station and Dan is simply a honey.
August 27, 2017
When you read older books like Lucy Walker you have to read them as they are written and not judge them by what is written now. Lucy Walker writes lovely soft and romantic stories. I love the aw moments.
This story is definitely an "AW" book.
This story is definitely an "AW" book.
June 16, 2025
Holy page count, Batman! Descriptions of cattle musters, horse races, wedding preps, daring rescues and Outback history dominate this very sweet romance. The romance would have been a novella without all the atmosphere. But that's okay. I find that part of the world and that time (1960s?) fascinating.
If you don't, you're going to be bored and skimming. But do stop at the parts where the H/h actually interact. He's an interesting character. While he's head of the family and king of the Outback station where his younger brother is marrying the heroine's cousin - he's also described as "shy." He's man of a few words and when the heroine argues with him (she says a lot she doesn't mean) he just turns and walks away and doesn't talk to her again for a few days. That's a tough dynamic to deal with and heroine ties herself in knots over him.
But he's a sweetie for all of his emotional constipation. There's a scene towards the end where the heroine is injured and hero is perfect. Just perfect. He's tough and sweet and yes, a bit shy. Such a nice moment.
There are lots of secondary characters with their own emotional foibles and backstories. The heroine gets to know them well because heroine is in an insular, isolated community and that's all there is to do (besides work). You truly experience the Outback as a reader.
So I would recommend for Lucy Walker fans, but would caution anyone else.
Note to self: Plot summary: this is the one where the English heroine accompanies her English cousin to her wedding in the Outback. Cousin is marrying the younger brother of the hero. Heroine then waits around for them to return from their honeymoon. There she learns to forget the cad she left behind in Englad and to fall for the hero, of course. The primary tension between the heroine and the hero is their view of what the newlyweds will need to have a successful marriage. Both are trying to control a situation that is not their business and they eventually realize it.
If you don't, you're going to be bored and skimming. But do stop at the parts where the H/h actually interact. He's an interesting character. While he's head of the family and king of the Outback station where his younger brother is marrying the heroine's cousin - he's also described as "shy." He's man of a few words and when the heroine argues with him (she says a lot she doesn't mean) he just turns and walks away and doesn't talk to her again for a few days. That's a tough dynamic to deal with and heroine ties herself in knots over him.
But he's a sweetie for all of his emotional constipation. There's a scene towards the end where the heroine is injured and hero is perfect. Just perfect. He's tough and sweet and yes, a bit shy. Such a nice moment.
There are lots of secondary characters with their own emotional foibles and backstories. The heroine gets to know them well because heroine is in an insular, isolated community and that's all there is to do (besides work). You truly experience the Outback as a reader.
So I would recommend for Lucy Walker fans, but would caution anyone else.
Note to self: Plot summary: this is the one where the English heroine accompanies her English cousin to her wedding in the Outback. Cousin is marrying the younger brother of the hero. Heroine then waits around for them to return from their honeymoon. There she learns to forget the cad she left behind in Englad and to fall for the hero, of course. The primary tension between the heroine and the hero is their view of what the newlyweds will need to have a successful marriage. Both are trying to control a situation that is not their business and they eventually realize it.
April 21, 2025
Much as I love Lucy walker and this book was perfectly good as one should expect from a Lucy walker but however I was left feeling that it lacked the final communication which happens when they both realise their feelings. I feel like Dan never really expressed his feelings clearly to Leslie and how long and how much she had been in love with her. Throughout the book there were several occasions when they could have expressed themselves better or shown some emotion. Leslie I could understand but Dan just seemed too aloof till the end and then suddenly he doesn’t even explain how he loves her well. Overall I love the ending but I wished they had talked more. 3.5 stars rounded up because I love her books too much to grade her lower
May 6, 2021
Beautiful and wondrous sense of time and place. It is another era in a far and unfamiliar place. This is a story of a young English girl who travels to the Australian outback accompanying a cousin who is to be married.
As she is assimilated into the family and the way of life she took me with her spinning a web that made it hard to put this book down. Lesley is very endearing and one of the ways that this is manifested by the way her thoughts return to the plight of deprivations still commonplace in England such as little beef and second helpings an uncommon occurance. HEA well deserved.
As she is assimilated into the family and the way of life she took me with her spinning a web that made it hard to put this book down. Lesley is very endearing and one of the ways that this is manifested by the way her thoughts return to the plight of deprivations still commonplace in England such as little beef and second helpings an uncommon occurance. HEA well deserved.
March 8, 2023
I found an old copy of this one as an honorback at the library. Written in 1968, it classifies people by their non-whiteness and has major "little wife" vibes. The writing style wasn't for me, and I'd call it more of a drama than romance.
October 25, 2024
I am with the other reviewer that just cannot comprehend the 5 star reviews. The characterisation is all over the place, the heroine is DULL and I don't understand why any of them would want to marry the hero. Moreover, the writing is disjointed and the plot is silly.
June 22, 2022
Sweet and Faraway
I love outback stories,everyone on the station works hard,wives and husbands,all living under beautiful Australian skies,all so equipped for the Outback.
I love outback stories,everyone on the station works hard,wives and husbands,all living under beautiful Australian skies,all so equipped for the Outback.
August 6, 2011
One of my all time favourite Lucy Walkers. I've read it so many times it's almost ingrained in my psyche... but this time I was disappointed to realise that Dan had never kissed anyone before!!!! All of a sudden he went from dashing hero to slightly dashless. I'm heartbroken. Still: sweet, naive heroine, harsh outback, tall-dark-silent-type hero...it will always be a classic in my heart.
April 23, 2016
C. fiction, Australia, mom's stash, discard
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews