Daughter of the Murray in Aussie Readers

Nov 22, 2016 Brenda rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, own-read, arc, net-galley, aussie-authors, read-on-kindle, 2016-release

Georgie Calthorpe had been living with her Uncle Tom, Aunt Jemimah and cousin Elspeth at the homestead Jacaranda on the Murray River for the past few years and was terribly unhappy. The house had fallen into disrepair; the stock and grazing were negligible – her only pleasure was riding the few remaining horses. MacNamara and Douglas were the two she favoured, though MacNamara was the one she rode most often. But the day the son of the household, Dane MacHenry arrived home after four years absen Georgie Calthorpe had been living with her Uncle Tom, Aunt Jemimah and cousin Elspeth at the homestead Jacaranda on the Murray River for the past few years and was terribly unhappy. The house had fallen into disrepair; the stock and grazing were negligible – her only pleasure was riding the few remaining horses. MacNamara and Douglas were the two she favoured, though MacNamara was the one she rode most often. But the day the son of the household, Dane MacHenry arrived home after four years absence was the day it all changed for Georgie.

In view of Dane’s anger at the state of the homestead, and blaming Georgie for its decline, she decided to flee. But Georgie was an innocent and naïve young woman, not used to the way of the country away from the security of the place she’d called home. Meanwhile Dane was livid to discover Georgie had fled with his beloved horse, MacNamara. He gave chase, heading for Echuca where he was sure she would be holed up…

Conor Foley was an astute businessman who owned and ran paddle steamers up and down the Murray River, delivering supplies to the outlying communities. He also had his eye on Georgie for his wife. What would happen when he discovered Georgie missing from her home? And would Foley be able to fulfil his wish to marry Georgie and take her to his home in Melbourne?

Daughter of the Murray is set in country Victoria in the 1890s when women had no say and the suffragette voices were just beginning to be heard. Aussie author Darry Fraser has chosen a beautiful part of the country for the setting of her historical fiction novel - the Murray River and surrounding countryside is awash with birds and wildlife, thick with bush and the river is peaceful and tranquil (mostly) I’ve been there and love the area. I didn’t enjoy the first half of the novel as much as the second; parts of the voice didn’t seem to fit the time frame and didn’t feel like a trait of the era. That said, I would still recommend Daughter of the Murray to historical fiction fans.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
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May 02, 2017 Helen rated it really liked it

This is a story that will take you back to the days of the big paddle boats on The Murray River when times were tough and woman pretty much did what they were told but let us meet Georgina Calthorpe this feisty woman wanted more than being told what she should do and where she should go and stood up for herself and I loved her what a heroine and the perfect hero for her, arrogant and determined but caring Dane MacHenry I highly recommend that you sit back and enjoy this story.

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