The Stockmen

by Rachael Treasure

Rosie Highgrove-Jones grows up hating her double-barrelled name. She dreams of riding out over the wide plains of the family property, working on the land. Instead she's stuck writing the social pages of the local paper.

Then a terrible tragedy sparks a series of shocking revelations for Rosie and her family. As she tries to put her life back together, Rosie throws herself into researching the haunting true story of a 19th century Irish stockman who came to Australia and risked his all for a tiny pup and a wild dream. Is it just coincidence when Rosie meets a sexy Irish stockman of her own? And will Jim help her realise her deepest ambitions – or will he break her heart?

The Stockmen moves effortlessly between the present and the past to reveal a simple yet hard-won truth – that both love and the land are timeless . . .

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Australia, Contemporary

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Rachael Treasure lives in southern rural Tasmania with her two young children. She is passionate about encouraging non-readers to read, inspiring farmers to consider regenerative agricultural practices and animal handlers to better understand their dogs and livestock. She is a graduate of Orange Agricultural College and has a Bachelor of Arts (Communication) from Charles Sturt University, Bathurst. She has worked as a jillaroo, rural journalist, ABC radio broadcaster, professional woolclasser, part-time vet nurse, family farm manager, drover and stock camp cook. She has written 4 novels and a short story collection, all bestsellers.
Follow her on facebook:
www.facebook.com/rach.treasure

Reviews

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grooming horses and sheep- A world I never thought existed. It was very fascinating to read this account.
Then there was the interesting history of Kelpies, and a heart-warming romance. I was happy to soak-in the enchanting rural Australian setting.

I don't think I have read any other book set in Australia. This was probably the first one I read, and that too some time ago.

[Joanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Keira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this book on the recommendation of a friend. Having already tolerated Jillaroo, I thought perhaps this would be better. I was wrong.

The book has a good story, and starts well. Rosie, working for a local newspaper, researches the life of Jack Gleeson, a stockman from the 1850s. However, the impossibly unrealistic characters, predictable storyline and erratic chronology really grates my nerves with this book. In one situation, just after visiting the 1850s, the reader returns to the present for all of about two paragraphs before again being transported back in time to the previous week as the main character remembers a conversation from that time. There we remain for the rest of the chapter.

The quality of writing reminds me of compulsory high school creative writing assignments, and the limited vocabulary results in many repeated words and phrases. I often overlook this while reading, however, in favour of a good story.

As a result, I give this book a generous three stars because at the heart of it, the story (in my eyes the most important part) is a great tale through the heart of Australia, and the origins of both the stockmen who worked the land and an iconic breed of dog that has remained a part of stock culture today.

[Kim Hine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and it was fun because Ive been to a few of the places mentioned. Nice easy read.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis of book:
Rosie Jones is the daughter of a station owner. Her fiancé dies in a car accident while having sex in the back of the ute when it is being driven. Rosie's father reveals he is not really her father and takes off with her maternal aunt. Her mother hires a handsome Irishman to help out on the property. They fall in love working the property (while nearly drowning in a flood). He believes he is not good enough for her and leaves. In the meantime Rosie gets the farm back on track, raises pups, finds out her brother is gay and finds out her real father is a local stockman who works for the paper.

While doing all this she is writing a news story about the man who developed the Kelpie blood line.

I do like Rachel Treasure's books. They are easy to read and are a lot of fun. This book had a lot of interesting facts about the founding of the kelpie line. A detraction from the book was the ending. I thought the ending of the book (where Jim comes back all of a sudden) was a bit out of kilter with the rest of the book.

[Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d probably give it three and a half if I could. Read the book in nearly one sitting. It was comfy and easy to read both plot wise and writing wise. I liked Rosie, who was a mostly well fleshed-out character who was likeable for the most part. Jim was rather one dimensional and seemed only to signify the polar opposite of what we’re told Sam was. The relationship didn’t have much chemistry in it, and the conflict of the romantic partnership was predictable and fell flat in terms of climax. Rosie’s problems didn’t entirely revolve around her boyfriend though, and even if the book is a romance it was refreshing.

[Trena · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a fact I am biased in my judgement. When one reads a book its an adventure and an escape to wonderful places ,situations and emotions. It takes a certain kind of skill to not only combine all three But allow new friends into the mix. Loved this book and yes as always felt warm and fuzzy when reading it .Hope 2018 brings much success more books Rachael

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this tale of the origin of the Kelpie and life around Casterton from the 1800s to modern day. Jack Gleeson's story in particular left me a bit emotional. If you're ever visiting this gorgeous part of the world do it around the annual Kelpie Festival on the June long weekend and make sure to have this book in hand!

[Brooklyn Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked the storyline and the character of Rosie and her development. But there was no chemistry between Rosie and Jim. Absolutely none, he just felt like a fill in character that I had no attachment to. The end of the book got very predictable. I liked the story of Jack more than I did the main story

[Sharna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up around Kelpies and having an appreciation of their history and contribution to Australian farming, I thought this book was a clever way to acknowledge this.
It is clear that Treasure has a passion and extensive knowledge about the great Australian working dog.
A great read.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I particularly enjoyed the history component of it.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Aussie story by Rachel Treasure. It is so easy to relate to the people and places she writes about as they are the true Aussies.

[Kerrie Paterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Juanita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captures the essence of both the "old Australian country folk" and "the new'" very well. An enjoyable read.

[Leearnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I makes me want to work on the land and find my own Stockman

[Sheree Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite Rachael Treasure book, I couldn’t put it down. Very interesting to read about the birth of the Kelpie breed of dog

[Kerrie McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Vicki Basham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful interesting story

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Aussie read. Kept you interested from the start. The history of the Kelpie was great. A great read Rachael Treasure.

[Sharon McKinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t like the history part of the dogs in this book. So gave up reading those parts and it still made sense.

[Kristy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely novel and fantastic history of the Kelpie dog weaved into it.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Treasure Chest #2
Second book from this biddy is an average read, with some interesting parts, but it never really grabbed me, and I'll probably forget about it quite quickly.

[Jacquie McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachael is one of my most favourite authors. Her writing and stories just get better worth each book. It's a real pleasure to have her take me on these journeys.

[Sarahs bunte Welt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eine total langweilige Australien Saga, die mich nicht abgeholt hat. Man nehme eine behütete Figur, die nicht in die Zeit passt und lässt sie ihren Weg gehen. Das reicht nicht aus.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good easy read

[Jenny Rushforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book....I loved learning about Jack Gleeson & Kelpie his dog....
Rachel’s a great Writer....
Thank you Rachel for a great read.
I loved the characters....

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stockmen
by
Rachael Treasure

Whilst I have always enjoyed Rachael Treasure books The Stockmen, I think will rate among my favourites, if for no other reason than it is set in Western Victoria, where I spent 55 years of my life. I also had a Black and Tan Kelpie dog (Brandy) which as a six-week-old pup ran out from its litter to greet me. For the next thirteen years, he was my one and only work colleague and mate. His first and only litter of pups was born a few weeks prior to his death. The pup I kept (Ginger) kept lasted fourteen years making a total of 27 years with father and daughter.

But, enough of my reminiscing and on with my review.

Rosie Jones was kept away from learning how to be a farmer by her parents, especially her mother who is intent on climbing her own social ladder at the expense of her daughter’s wishes.

Rosie’s fiancée, Sam, meets an untimely death after which Rosie’s boss assigns her to research a story about an Irish stockman of the nineteenth century and his kelpie dogs, for a series of articles to be published in the Casterton paper prior to the inaugural kelpie auction.

Her only distraction is a real Irish stockman (Jim) her father employs to help on their farm. Jim is good with animals and teaches Rosie how to train a litter of pups. As with all romances, it always appears that the happy couple is not going to make it. However, all’s well that ends well.

Another enjoyable audiobook from Rachael Treasure made so much better because it was set in my backyard, so to speak.

I rated The Stockmen as a five-star audiobook.


At the time of writing my review other Goodreads readers had awarded The Stockmen
an average of 4.13 stars, from 827 ratings and 47 reviews.

[Preet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie Highgrove-Jones feels constrained in her life. She's stuck taking the social pictures for the local newspaper and is engaged to the best looking and talented man in town, but she's not happy at all. She longs to be outside and working on the farm and with animals. Something happens that shakes not only her, but also her family, and what once seemed to be a happy and perfect existence and family begins to fall apart. Rosie is given an assignment while her life's upside down to do research on Jack Gleeson and the famous Kelpie breed in order to help her town. Plus the entry of a new stock man Jim shows her where her true happiness may lie.

Rachael Treasure has written four books, and this is her second book. Having loved her other books, I eagerly started reading this one and found it to be slightly different from her other books. Yes, it was just as captivating as her other books and I read it one go. Yes, it was action packed and I really enjoyed it. The only thing different that I noticed was the amount of drama in the book. Some parts of it read like a tabloid or even an episode of the Jerry Springer Show and it seemed more suitable to a bonkbuster, rather than in a semi-serious novel. I really enjoyed the historical parts of the book and the way it added another layer of depth to the story.

Rachael Treasure is an avid horsewoman, mother of two children and lives in Tasmania with them and lots of animals. I'm really hoping she writes another book soon. This book was published in 2004 and has also been published with the title Timeless Land. Her latest book was published in 2010 and is titled The Cattleman's Daughter/Through the Fire.

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a little different to the first 2 books I read by Rachael but it still a good read.

It seems to be loosely based on a poem called “Kelpie” about an Irish Stockman and dog breeder Jack Gleeson. His story is secondary to the main story.

Rosie Highgrove-Jones wants to be plain old Rosie Jones and when her parents break some unhappy news to her that is what she decides to be called. She also wants to work the family farm rather than work on the local paper and if she has to work on the local paper she wants to do stories about the people and animals not the social pages.

When her brother Julian leaves home because he has had enough of being manipulated by his father Gerald, Rosie’s mother Margaret brings in Irishman, Jim Mahoney to help on the farm. Jim teaches Rosie a lot and when she is given the animals of her deceased fiancé he helps her with them too. Their story seems to run parallel with the story that Rosie is doing for her paper on Jack Gleeson and his dogs. Jim thinks that he a Rosie come from different worlds and would not make it in a long term relationship so after an altercation he leaves – and Rosie tries to get on without him. She knows that they will do well together but what can she do to get him back?