Maddy Carmichael was born and raised on the land, destined to one day take over the fourth-generation cattle farm from her father. She’s worked hard all her life to learn the ropes and make a real contribution. But her traditional-minded father continues to overlook her.
Ryder Leckie loves the small Victorian town of Woodford Creek. He works hard managing a farm in the local region. But when his boss’s brother has a riding accident, he is sent to Central Queensland to temporarily help the Carmichaels out. A new adventure, despite his sense of obligation back home.
The last thing Maddy wants is some unknown man coming in and running her farm, and she’s not afraid to let Ryder know. But when farm life throws up trials even too big for her, she is forced to rely on Ryder’s strength and knowledge.
What starts as a working partnership turns into something much deeper. But fraternising with the stockman’s daughter is against the rules. When Maddy’s furious father discovers what clandestine activities Ryder and Maddy have been up to, Ryder is sent packing.
When all seems lost, Ryder must fight for the woman he loves, but that means having the courage to take the biggest risk of his life. When leaving her destiny behind feels impossible, Maddy has to discover that following her heart will lead her to where she needs to be, even if that means starting a legacy of her own.
Jacquie Underdown is an Australian author celebrated for her gripping psychological thrillers and deeply emotive romance novels. Whether she’s exploring the darkest corners of the human mind or the tender vulnerabilities of the heart, Jacquie’s storytelling is immersive, visceral, and unforgettable.
Based in the steamy heart of Central Queensland—where the heat is relentless and the air hangs thick with humidity—Jacquie finds inspiration in the tension between extremes. Her thrillers delve into manipulation, power, and control, while her romances offer catharsis, healing, and the redemptive power of love.
Over a decade ago, Jacquie left behind her business career to pursue writing full time. Since then, she has published over a million words across novels, novellas, and short stories. Her novel Bittersweet was a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year Awards.
Jacquie holds a Master of Letters in Creative Writing and brings literary precision to every book she writes—whether it’s a slow-burning psychological descent or an emotionally charged love story.
When Ryder Leckie was approached by his boss, Frank Carmichael, on Frank's farm in Woodford Creek in Victoria, and asked to head to Queensland to manage his brother's large cattle property, Bunderdoo, as his brother Alan had been seriously injured coming off a horse, Ryder was reluctant. His AFL team were in the grand final and needed him, plus his sister Penny was up to her neck in Uni exams - he couldn't leave. But he was persuaded and a couple of days later, hit the road for the more than 2000 kilometre journey.
Maddy Carmichael was outside when a vehicle pulled up beside her and a stranger stepped out. She was shocked and angry when he said he was there to take over the reins of the farm for the next three months. Maddy knew nothing about it, she was running the farm just fine with the help of her sister Candace and their stockmen. But her father and her Uncle Frank had organised it. Maddy was furious. Things didn't go smoothly for awhile..
As the weeks rolled on, mustering the cattle and preparing them for sale took priority. The weather was hot, humid and hard to get used to; Ryder was suffering. And gradually Maddy and Ryder formed a friendship - but Alan wouldn't allow any of his staff to fraternise with his daughters. Instant dismissal if discovered.
The Stockman's Daughter by Aussie author Jacquie Underdown was an excellent read. I didn't like Alan Carmichael from the outset but his daughters were great - very likeable. Ryder was a genuine, hardworking, honest young man and there were a few exciting, fast paced and funny scenes. I always enjoy this author's work, and this one was no exception. Recommended.
Maddy Carmichael was born and raised on the land, destined to one day take over the fourth-generation cattle farm from her father. She’s worked hard all her life to learn the ropes and make a real contribution. But her traditional-minded father continues to overlook her.
Ryder Leckie loves the small Victorian town of Woodford Creek. He works hard managing a farm in the local region. But when his boss’s brother has a riding accident, he is sent to Central Queensland to temporarily help the Carmichaels out. A new adventure, despite his sense of obligation back home.
The last thing Maddy wants is some unknown man coming in and running her farm, and she’s not afraid to let Ryder know. But when farm life throws up trials even too big for her, she is forced to rely on Ryder’s strength and knowledge.
What starts as a working partnership turns into something much deeper. But fraternising with the stockman’s daughter is against the rules. When Maddy’s furious father discovers what clandestine activities Ryder and Maddy have been up to, Ryder is sent packing.
When all seems lost, Ryder must fight for the woman he loves, but that means having the courage to take the biggest risk of his life. When leaving her destiny behind feels impossible, Maddy has to discover that following her heart will lead her to where she needs to be, even if that means starting a legacy of her own.
My Thoughts /
3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐
Jacquie Underdown is an Australian author who lives in Central Queensland, Australia. Her novels, Bittersweet and One Hot Christmas, were finalists in multiple categories in the Australian Romance Readers Association awards in 2019 and 2020. Bittersweet was a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year Awards in 2019.
Although not new to writing, The Stockman’s Daughter is Underdown’s first ‘official’ dip into the field of contemporary rural romance.
Maddy Carmichael is a fourth-generation cattle farmer. She lives on Bunderdoo Station with her father, Alan, and two sisters, Felicity, and Candace. Born and raised on the family property, Maddy’s entire life has revolved around the prosperity and longevity of Bunderdoo. All three girls work the business with their dad, but Maddy holds a genuine love for the land and is a tireless and hard worker. She secretly hopes to take over the reins when her father can no longer work at the helm.
When her father is thrown from a horse and seriously injured, Maddy’s dreams about running the property come to a crashing halt. From his hospital bed, Alan Carmichael calls his brother, Frank, and arranges for Frank’s farm manager – a fellow called Ryder Leckie, to travel up to Queensland and manage the day-to-day activities of the ranch while he’s recuperating from his accident.
Naturally, problems arise when Ryder arrives at Bunderdoo to take up his new position as (temporary) farm Manager. It seems Alan has neglected to let the girls in on what he’s arranged….oh, whoopsie! The hunky new farm manager is greeted with stiff opposition from Maddy…..naturally. But Maddy has no other choice but to comply with her father’s request. As the weeks roll by, the farm is busy with preparations for mustering and selling off the cattle, and the stand-off between the two has transformed into a quiet friendship. Over time, Maddy sees Ryder’s true passion and understanding for the land and realises she may have jumped the gun about his real intentions as far as Bunderdoo were concerned. A spark develops between the two……naturally.
An enemy to lovers (rural) romance follows. While this is nothing new, it comes with a strong farming theme that runs throughout the entire course of this novel – which was most enjoyable. Underdown has created strong, likeable characters. Maddy Carmichael is smart, she knows the meaning of hard work and is very hands-on. She has faced tough times, dealing with the death of her mother and her father’s grief over her passing; but she remains loving and empathetic and has a never give up attitude. Her male opposite, Ryder Leckie, is the perfectly written rural cowboy. Hardworking, knowledgeable, responsible, considerate; oh yeah – and HOT! Leckie has a heart of pure gold.
Even though this is not a once in a lifetime type of story, it was, nevertheless, a very easy and enjoyable read. If you have a weakness for rural fiction, it would (definitely) be worth adding to your reading repertoire.
‘The stockman’s daughter. The farm kid. The rural brigade.’
The Stockman’s Daughter is the latest novel from Jacquie Underdown, an author who specialises in the field of small town fiction. The Stockman’s Daughter is author Jacquie Underdown’s first official foray in the field of contemporary rural romance and it is a fine addition to the genre. I enjoyed the rural escape this novel offered me.
Maddy Carmichael and Ryder Leckie lead the events in The Stockman’s Daughter. Underdown’s heroine Maddy is a young woman with a strong affinity to the land. Maddy is a fourth generation cattle farmer and she has her sights firmly set on her family’s property, which she has earmarked to take over from her father. Maddy is a tireless and hard worker. Maddy has toiled on the land for the good of her family’s property but she also holds a genuine interest in her work. Maddy’s father is a stickler for tradition and he doesn’t wish for Maddy to take over the reins of the farm, despite her innate ability to run the family property with ease. Problems arise when the hero of this tale is sent to help out at the Carmichael property following an accident. Ryder Carmichael takes his new position in his stride but he meets stiff opposition from Maddy. Ryder is encroaching on Maddy’s turf and she is disappointed that Ryder has been appointed to the farm following the accident. But when a difficult situation arises, Maddy must swallow her pride and she turns to Ryder to help get her out of a bind. Slowly, Maddy begins to wake up to Ryder’s knowledge, understanding and true passion for the land. Something begins to spark between the two, but Ryder knows it is inappropriate for him to enter into any kind of relationship with the daughter of his employer. But this attraction cannot be denied and an affair ensues. When Maddy’s father discovers the truth, Ryder is told to leave. But these two hearts cannot be separated and they continue to fight for what they want in love, even if it means making big changes to their lives.
The Stockman’s Daughter is an enemy come lovers rural romance novel with a strong farming thread that runs through the whole course of this novel. Although this is Jacquie Underdown’s first release in the field of rural romance, I think that Underdown has done the genre proud.
There were a number of aspects in this novel that worked for me. Firstly, I appreciated the presentation of the characters in The Stockman’s Daughter. The female lead protagonist of the tale, Maddy Carmichael, is a character that I immediately took a clear liking to and I was able to feel a great deal of admiration for this young woman. Maddy knows the meaning of hard yakka and her inner strength really appealed to me. Maddy faces some tough setbacks as the book progresses, which did upset me quite a bit. Despite this ordeal, Maddy doesn’t give up and we eventually see her triumph. I enjoyed Maddy’s character growth and the inroads she made to getting what she truly wanted in life was a pleasure to oversee. Overall, I was really inspired by Maddy’s positive attitude and I definitely wanted her to succeed!
The male lead of this tale, Ryder Leckie, is the ultimate romantic hero and the perfect rural romance prince. He is hardworking, knowledgeable, responsible and considerate. Ryder has a heart of gold which seems to shine through the pages of The Stockman’s Daughter. I really loved the dynamics that played out between Maddy and Ryder. I also appreciated the heated sparks that were exchanged between Maddy and Ryder. The forbidden romance scenes definitely made my heart beat fast! In both leads we gain a clear snapshot into the life of a cattle farmer. This was an interesting focus, which is presented with plenty of insight and authenticity. Jacquie Underdown’s commitment to the research side of things in this aspect of her novel is to be applauded.
Jacquie Underdown showcases the beauty of the Australia’s rural landscape thanks to her setting descriptions. From the endless sparse blue skies, to the fertile landscape and the animal life that populates this story along the way, rural fiction readers will be pleased with the content in The Stockman’s Daughter. The conclusion was satisfying but also slightly open, paving the way for a possible continuation of this book into a sequel or a series.
A story of tradition, love, persistence, bravery and uphill battles, it was a pleasure to read Jacquie Underdown’s contribution to the rural romance genre. The Stockman’s Daughter offers readers a wonderful farming life escape tale. If you have a weakness for contemporary Australian rural fiction, The Stockman’s Daughter is one novel you should add to your reading list.
*Thanks extended to the author for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Stockman’s Daughter is book #99 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
Western romance lovers will fall in love with “The Stockman’s Daughter” even though it’s set in Australia instead of the U.S. The cultural differences add an interesting element to what might otherwise be just another romantic trope.
Maddy Carmichael’s life has been the family ranch. As one of four daughters, she has done every job and worked tirelessly, always assuming she is the likely heir apparent to take over when their father dies or can no longer do the work. But her uncle brings in Ryder Leckie to manage the ranch while her father recuperates from an accident. Maddy makes no secret of her initial resentment and tries to sabotage the changes Ryder makes. Eventually she sees the changes are actual improvements and she begins working in partnership with Ryder. Their partnership soon becomes a deeper relationship and even though they know her father insists on a no fraternization policy, they give into their mutual attraction. Are they prepared for Ryder’s imminent return to his hometown? How will her father react when they openly declare their love for each other?
Author Jacquie Underdown has created characters to fit seamlessly into their down under environment, while embracing the cultural differences that might otherwise make us western readers stumble. The characters come to life in such a way that it feels like they’re old friends. The plot is well developed and the pacing never falters. There were occasions when I wished the author had included a brief definition or explanation of some of the terminology but decided in the end it would be more distracting. Suffice it to say that I’m looking forward to reading more of Ms. Underdown’s work. Four stars.
Jacquie has gifted fans a beautifully written touching love story that will melt your heart. Maddy Carmichael has always worked the land, born and raised on the family property she hopes one day to lead them into the future. Her father, set in his old fashioned ways and with three daughters and no son to inherit he believes his grandson should be the rightful heir. Ryder Leckie, loves his job managing a farm in Woodford Creek but when his boss’s brother has an unfortunate accident he is sent off to Queensland to manage Maddy’s family farm. Maddy detests the man who has come to run the business when she is quite capable to do it herself but her father even from his hospital bed thinks they all need a man to run things. What begins as heads butting, the two develop feelings much deeper than either of them expected. This creates many problems and will Maddy and Ryder get their happy ever after? A natural rural love story, typical of the country boy meets girl tale but it’s the way the lovers get there that make this story so special. Maddy is headstrong and determined, Ryder is handsome and courageous, both the leads make the plot so memorable and so stunning to read. Jacquie’s writing really makes you believe every word on the page. By the end of it, I had a crush on Ryder. I’m wondering if there’s a sequel in the works, some side issues weren’t addressed the way I would have liked, overall it’s a great addition to the rural romance genre.
The Stockman's Daughter is about family, tradition and romance. Maddy Carmichael grew up on a large cattle farm in Queensland and dreamed about taken over the property after her father died. When her father fellow off a horse he was training, Maddy Carmichael thought she would be in charge of the farm in his absence. However, she was wrong. Her father asks his brother to hider someone to take control. When Ryder Leckie arrived at the property, Maddy was devastated. The readers of The Stockman's Daughter will continue to follow Ryder and Maddy to find out what happens.
The Stockman's Daughter is the first book I have read of Jacquie Underdown. The Stockman's Daughter is an enjoyable book to read, and I could not put the book down. I love Jacquie Underdown's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine with each other throughout this book. The Stockman's Daughter is well written and research by Jacquie Underdown. I like Jacquie Underdown description of The Stockman's Daughter's settings that allowed me to imagine being part of this book's plot.
The readers of The Stockman's Daughter will learn about running a large multi-crop and stock property in Queensland. Also, the reader's will learn about family traditions and how they can affect everyone around then.
A good story about sisters on a farm in Australia thinking they might inherit from their dad on day not knowing he would only leave it to a male grandchild. When Ryder shows up to manage the farm while the dad heals from a bad fall he butts heads with Maddy the oldest sister only to fall in love with her later. The dad has a no fraternizing policy withe girls so Ryder and Maddy must sneak around their affair. The book goes on but you need to read it to find out what happens. Good read
I will open by saying I am not a fan of the romance genre, but found this book to be quite palatable by skipping over the steamy bits. I was a little disappointed as I have read The Secrets Mothers Keep which was quite gritty and I really enjoyed it. In this book Ryder heads north to Queensland from Victoria to assist his bosses brother who has been seriously injured. Ryder is going to assist managing the large cattle station but meets opposition in the owner's daughter Maddy, who believes she is quite capable of running the station single handedly. As you can imagine sparks fly between the two of them, along with some long smouldering stares. On the whole an enjoyable plot, but just not my cup of tea.
The Stockman's Daughter takes you to a family farm in far North Queensland where Maddy Carmichael was born and raised with her two sisters. After her father has an accident, Maddy assumes the reigns to care for their property, that is until she discovers her traditional-minded father has arranged for Ryder Leckie to leave his brother's farm in Southern Victoria to manage things in his absence.
Strong willed Maddy is not about to let an out-of-towner take over her farm and makes sure Ryder knows it. Ryder, just wanting to do a good job until he can return to Victoria, eventually comes to a truce with Maddy, which soon turns into mutual respect, before blossoming into much more. However, fraternising with the Stockman's Daughter is against the rules. When her father finds out will Ryder stand by Maddy or will he return to Victoria with his tail between his legs?
This is a well told story with a strong and capable female lead and her equally matched counter part. The development of the relationship between the characters is feisty and organic allowing the reader to connect well with them both. Underdown sets the scene beautifully easily enabling the reader to feel like they are experiencing the views for themselves as opposed to just reading from the page.
In some places I felt the story was a little predictable however is it a romance, and there is only so far you can stray from the happily ever after before you are in a new genre. Having said that there was still plenty happening to keep me turning to the next page.
For those of you who are fans of the Australian rural romance genre you should definitely have a read of this one.
This was ok. There was so much detail about the cattle and the fields and the mustering that I started to skip over it to find some story. I thought the heroine was a bit naive being taken for granted by her dad. It all ended happily but I wish it had gone on a little bit longer to see what happened after she’d left.
Maddy Carmichael is a fourth generation cattle farmer and she has worked tirelessly on her family’s property. She loves the land but also enjoys her work and can't imagine doing anything else. Maddy’s father is a traditionalist and unhappy that he has three daughters and no son to take over once he's gone. When he's injured in an accident, his brother sends Ryder Leckie to mange the farm. Of course, Maddy is not going to put up with that. She knows how to manage her farm and resents Ryder showing up, expecting to take over.
This is a typical "enemies to lovers" romance. I found the atmospheric setting of Queensland, Australia, made it more interesting to me. The author did a great job of putting the characters in situations that enhanced the growth of their relationship. The setting is definitely the star of this contemporary romance.