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The Moonshiner
Australia, 1961. Joan Yelland arrives at a remote cattle station determined to put the past behind her. Will a handsome stranger on horseback show her the way to a brighter future?
"Lucy Walker is Australia's Queen of Romance. She writes just what the reader ordered." Daily Mirror
Joan is a beautiful society heiress and model. But the Sydney scene leaves her unimpressed and with a broken heart. Could she find fulfilment in the harsh ways of the outback?
Edmond Roderick is the rugged station manager at Lantana. He's unlike any man Joan has ever met. But is he already promised to another woman?
Shelley Easton has grown up in the outback. She never misses a chance to make Joan feel out of place. Will she convince Joan to leave Lantana ... and the man they both love?
Joan soon faces the tough realities of station life. She must rise to the challenge when a cyclone threatens the homestead and everyone in it. Can Joan prove to everyone, and herself, that this is where she belongs?Lucy Walker's gentle, clean romances give readers a fascinating insight into the landscape, people and customs of rural Australian in the mid-twentieth century.
"Lucy Walker is Australia's Queen of Romance. She writes just what the reader ordered." Daily Mirror
Joan is a beautiful society heiress and model. But the Sydney scene leaves her unimpressed and with a broken heart. Could she find fulfilment in the harsh ways of the outback?
Edmond Roderick is the rugged station manager at Lantana. He's unlike any man Joan has ever met. But is he already promised to another woman?
Shelley Easton has grown up in the outback. She never misses a chance to make Joan feel out of place. Will she convince Joan to leave Lantana ... and the man they both love?
Joan soon faces the tough realities of station life. She must rise to the challenge when a cyclone threatens the homestead and everyone in it. Can Joan prove to everyone, and herself, that this is where she belongs?Lucy Walker's gentle, clean romances give readers a fascinating insight into the landscape, people and customs of rural Australian in the mid-twentieth century.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1961
22 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Walker
100 books27 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 17, 2025
Beautifully written tale of a poor little rich girl who travels to her godmother in the Northern territory of Australia to heal a broken heart. Hero is the station manager who keeps everyone going during a cyclone. Heroine proves her worth by tending to a sick mother and daughter.
Both the OM and OW were selfish people who didn't deserve their happiness. I'm glad heroine has buckets of money to ensure their (H/h) continued prosperity. Heroine should always have her cute shoes and hats.☺
Both the OM and OW were selfish people who didn't deserve their happiness. I'm glad heroine has buckets of money to ensure their (H/h) continued prosperity. Heroine should always have her cute shoes and hats.☺
June 14, 2023
Editing to add: This is probably my favorite romance ever, of all the hundreds I’ve read. It’s beautifully written, and you know the main characters are worthy of each other. They both respect and admire each other — it’s lovely to watch.
This is slow-going if you are used to modern or even vintage MB/HR, because the h's transformation gets genuine attention. If you read patiently, it captures so many tiny, evocative details about Outback living. The h is a gem and the H is worthy of her. And that love declaration had me misty-eyed -- just beautiful.
Don't read this if you are feeling at all impatient. Wait until you have the time and are in the right mindset.
This is slow-going if you are used to modern or even vintage MB/HR, because the h's transformation gets genuine attention. If you read patiently, it captures so many tiny, evocative details about Outback living. The h is a gem and the H is worthy of her. And that love declaration had me misty-eyed -- just beautiful.
Don't read this if you are feeling at all impatient. Wait until you have the time and are in the right mindset.
May 22, 2024
What lovely prose!
(Although the modernized cover is crap... shoulda kept the older 60s cover)
Joan has always lived under her mother's thumb. She's a sweet person and lovely to look at. She wants to be more, but nobody ever gives her a chance. So she runs off to be with her godmother in the Australian outback after her mother ruins her first romance.
There she meets the Moonshiner.
But her Godmother's niece claims that the Moonshiner is hers and everyone else seems to think so too. The niece, Shelly is this annoying know-it-all who does her passive aggressive best to keep Joan in her place. She doesn't mean to be mean, but she sure does a great job of it without even trying.
The godmother however, seems to see Joan and understand. The Moonshiner believes lies told about her. And her old beau that the mother shook off, returns to muddy the waters.
Yet the story is full magical moments. The author really made me feel like I was there for the short but eventful week that brings Joan into her Moonshiner's arms.
Loved it!
Safety is fine.
(Although the modernized cover is crap... shoulda kept the older 60s cover)
Joan has always lived under her mother's thumb. She's a sweet person and lovely to look at. She wants to be more, but nobody ever gives her a chance. So she runs off to be with her godmother in the Australian outback after her mother ruins her first romance.
There she meets the Moonshiner.
But her Godmother's niece claims that the Moonshiner is hers and everyone else seems to think so too. The niece, Shelly is this annoying know-it-all who does her passive aggressive best to keep Joan in her place. She doesn't mean to be mean, but she sure does a great job of it without even trying.
The godmother however, seems to see Joan and understand. The Moonshiner believes lies told about her. And her old beau that the mother shook off, returns to muddy the waters.
Yet the story is full magical moments. The author really made me feel like I was there for the short but eventful week that brings Joan into her Moonshiner's arms.
Loved it!
Safety is fine.
February 25, 2021
Wistful tale of a sad, city girl. Who soon finds a happy place for herself in the remote Australian outback. And in the heart of the gallant hero - the moonshiner.
Joan - the poor little rich girl - as a character is endearing & would evoke empathy and a sense of belonging in any reader. She starts off like a shy, bumbling idiot but ends up as a darling of the homestead !
While the rest of the community took a week to take a shine to her, the hero of course dint need that long. He took one look at her on Day 1 walking towards him with an outrageous red hat, impractical designer clothes and sad eyes, and he was a goner !!
She took precisely another couple of hours to fall for him on Day 1. Her secret tryst with a horse riding moonshiner on a lost track on a moonless night becomes the most poignant memory of her lifetime.
And that little episode did strike an emotive cord with me as a reader too. All of us women do long for such moments of romantic madness, how much ever practical and sensible we claim to be !!
The practical sensible girl in me says "The whole story is over in a week ! Whirlwind romances don't last". But the deeply hidden hopeless romantic silently argues "Who cares whether it lasts the toughness of life ahead. Those few moments of magic will be cherished for a lifetime !"
While the leads take a week to discover/declare their love, the OW and OM take one look at each other and dump the leads quite unceremoniously !!! Wow ! How unflattering for the leads, but nevertheless enjoyable !!
4.5 stars, read on a quiet rainy evening when you are all by yourself. You can feel the magic too :)
Joan - the poor little rich girl - as a character is endearing & would evoke empathy and a sense of belonging in any reader. She starts off like a shy, bumbling idiot but ends up as a darling of the homestead !
While the rest of the community took a week to take a shine to her, the hero of course dint need that long. He took one look at her on Day 1 walking towards him with an outrageous red hat, impractical designer clothes and sad eyes, and he was a goner !!
She took precisely another couple of hours to fall for him on Day 1. Her secret tryst with a horse riding moonshiner on a lost track on a moonless night becomes the most poignant memory of her lifetime.
And that little episode did strike an emotive cord with me as a reader too. All of us women do long for such moments of romantic madness, how much ever practical and sensible we claim to be !!
The practical sensible girl in me says "The whole story is over in a week ! Whirlwind romances don't last". But the deeply hidden hopeless romantic silently argues "Who cares whether it lasts the toughness of life ahead. Those few moments of magic will be cherished for a lifetime !"
While the leads take a week to discover/declare their love, the OW and OM take one look at each other and dump the leads quite unceremoniously !!! Wow ! How unflattering for the leads, but nevertheless enjoyable !!
4.5 stars, read on a quiet rainy evening when you are all by yourself. You can feel the magic too :)
July 16, 2014
This book is very special for me: my godmother gave me some books for my 13th birthday that included Lucy Walker and Victoria Holt and some others to help pass the summer vacation.
I remember reading and re-reading them many times.
I remember reading and re-reading them many times.
August 16, 2017
Always loved this story.........but would've liked to see Shelley get a bit of the crap back that she dished out.
July 13, 2023
I read this romance early in September 2022 and then again now at the end of October. I gave it 5 stars in September but did not write a review. So this is it.
This is a wonderful love story. Too bad Walker had them fall in love within a week of meeting. Not very believable. (Having said that I admit I fell in love with my own husband 63 years ago in one meeting. We are married very happily now 62 years.)
Anyway, model Joan is fed up with her wealthy mother's life in Sydney and in Mountain View,
their sheep farm nearby, holding the reins of her life and managing to get her male friend, Ben Arnold, turned off since she says he is a womanizer and out for a rich wife. Broken hearted, Joan runs to her godmother who lives in the outback on a small homestead Upon her arrival Joan meets Shelley, her godmother's grandaughter who tells her that the homestead is run by a manager named Edmond "who is her property." Shelley leads her to the homestead while the river is up and the man who helps her get across Joan thinks is the manager, Edmond. While stopping on the way to the homestead to have billy tea, Joan takes a walk and gets lost in the forest. She is found by the Moonshiner, a name taken from early settlers who used to smuggle rice and turn it into alcohol. Now all that is left is a dangerous path through the mountains. It is dark and Joan cannot see who is helping her but The Moonshiner stays in Joan's memory even during the cyclone that hits the homestead. When it is over and all the men leave to go on a muster, including Shelley, Joan goes to help out the boundary rider's wife who is ill and her 4 year old daughter to the surprise of all. Meanwhile, Ben Arnold shows up again. How will Joan face him and Edmond who has since the beginning hypnotized her. How does Joan manage to find her true love? Recommend that you read this one. The heroine is smart, the hero is marvelous and different from most of Walker's heros.
This is a wonderful love story. Too bad Walker had them fall in love within a week of meeting. Not very believable. (Having said that I admit I fell in love with my own husband 63 years ago in one meeting. We are married very happily now 62 years.)
Anyway, model Joan is fed up with her wealthy mother's life in Sydney and in Mountain View,
their sheep farm nearby, holding the reins of her life and managing to get her male friend, Ben Arnold, turned off since she says he is a womanizer and out for a rich wife. Broken hearted, Joan runs to her godmother who lives in the outback on a small homestead Upon her arrival Joan meets Shelley, her godmother's grandaughter who tells her that the homestead is run by a manager named Edmond "who is her property." Shelley leads her to the homestead while the river is up and the man who helps her get across Joan thinks is the manager, Edmond. While stopping on the way to the homestead to have billy tea, Joan takes a walk and gets lost in the forest. She is found by the Moonshiner, a name taken from early settlers who used to smuggle rice and turn it into alcohol. Now all that is left is a dangerous path through the mountains. It is dark and Joan cannot see who is helping her but The Moonshiner stays in Joan's memory even during the cyclone that hits the homestead. When it is over and all the men leave to go on a muster, including Shelley, Joan goes to help out the boundary rider's wife who is ill and her 4 year old daughter to the surprise of all. Meanwhile, Ben Arnold shows up again. How will Joan face him and Edmond who has since the beginning hypnotized her. How does Joan manage to find her true love? Recommend that you read this one. The heroine is smart, the hero is marvelous and different from most of Walker's heros.
May 16, 2025
Thoughtful heroine who cared more about the feelings of a girl she just met than seeking out happiness at the expense of others.
The supposed OW she looked out for didn’t even consider her when the situation was reversed. This heroine deserves her happy ending, a super capable and smitten hero and hopefully lots of beautiful hats (he’s definitely going to get her another red one!), shoes and scope for learning home crafts.
The supposed OW she looked out for didn’t even consider her when the situation was reversed. This heroine deserves her happy ending, a super capable and smitten hero and hopefully lots of beautiful hats (he’s definitely going to get her another red one!), shoes and scope for learning home crafts.
February 18, 2023
The Moonshiner
Really love outback settings,lovely characters,very romantic being a Moonshiner,loved the anticipation of Joan and Edmond,thoroughly enjoyed the story and the way it happened.
Really love outback settings,lovely characters,very romantic being a Moonshiner,loved the anticipation of Joan and Edmond,thoroughly enjoyed the story and the way it happened.
July 4, 2024
This is a lovely, gentle story!
July 31, 2024
good read
Typical Lucy Walker, an enjoyable read.
Read these as a girl and I am enjoying them still, 50 years later%
Typical Lucy Walker, an enjoyable read.
Read these as a girl and I am enjoying them still, 50 years later%
January 10, 2025
Definitely one of LWs winners. I love the subtlety of the LW romance. You really have to dig for those little pearly moments! Joan's story is a bit different to all the others due to her being so suave. Usually they're incredibly naive.
September 6, 2016
A young woman flees her life as a socialite in Sydney after her mother drives off her fiance.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews