Book Review: Magpie's Bend by Maya Linnell

 

 

I have read both of Maya's other novels and she has come to be one of my most enjoyable rural fiction novelists, so I was happy to be given the opportunity to read her third novel, Magpie's Bend.

For those that may not be aware, Maya's previous two novels feature the McIntyre family; a family of four sisters, Angie, Penny, Diana and Lara, and their father Angus. Whilst the books don't need to be read in any particular order as they make great stand-alone novels, I would recommend reading Maya's other two novels if you can find the time as they are well worth a read, particularly if you enjoy stories with a lovely sense of community, belonging, family and a little love thrown in!

In Magpie's Bend, the reader is back in Bridgefield, a small rural town, and this time Lara is the family member that the story centres around.

Lara is a bush nurse and single mother to her teenage daughter Evie. She was once married to a man named Sam but it ended in disaster, and she has been wary of wearing her heart on her sleeve ever since. 

Toby Paxton is a new resident to the town; he is a journalist that has been sent to Bridgefield to run  the local newspaper. He's also divorced and a father to a teenage daughter named Holly.

When an accident occurs at Bridgefield's general store, Toby is introduced into Lara's life as she uses her nursing training to provide first aid to the store owner, Mrs Beggs. 

When the town comes to realise that the store may have to be sold, Lara makes it her mission to save the shop from being sold to out-of-towners who want to revamp it. But she soon realises that she won't be able to win the fight on her own.

The community rallies around whilst Lara, along with the McIntyre family and Toby, come up with fundraising ideas to save the store. As she spends more time with Toby developing ideas, she soon realises that her feelings for him are growing. But will she be able to trust a man again? And will they be able to save the store?

The cast of characters in Magpie's Bend make the story what it is. Their can-do attitudes and resilience shine through. There is a real sense of community and support for each other.

Add in the beautiful descriptions of the rural landscape, plus mouth-watering desserts interspersed throughout the story and you can see why this is a book that will certainly entertain. I look forward to reading more novels from Maya.

Magpie's Bend is released today through Allen & Unwin.