Author: Maya Linnell
ISBN: 9781760529802
RRP: $29.99
Publication Date: June 2019
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
To say it was a great read is quite frankly an understatement! For a debut novelist I was so impressed with her style of writing and felt totally invested in the characters within.
The novel tells the story of Penny who left her family farm and became a top marketing executive living the high life with a great well paid job, city apartment living and a handsome boyfriend. When a mosquito bite leads to a diagnosis of Ross River Fever and leaves her collapsed on the floor during a meeting, she is advised to take time away from her life and recover. She returns to her family farm in the Victorian country where her father still runs the property and her 3 sisters live nearby. What she doesn’t expect to find is her ex-boyfriend who she left high and dry many years before, and he works on the property! I loved Tim’s character and also how much he cared for his brother who had a disability.
When a tragic accident occurs Penny must decide whether to return to her old life and the stresses within or stay and take over running the property. And should she keep her long term boyfriend when she still harbors feelings for her old one.
The author went to great lengths to set up the story in this book and I can see that it will become a series with the other three sisters having their own stories to tell in the future. This was an excellent rural story that had a lot of different elements to it, a bit of romance, some domestic violence, unfaithfulness, small town gossip and much more. The descriptions of life on a working sheep property were enjoyable as well as informative with the ups and downs that farmers go through.
I am looking forward to see what Maya has to bring to her next novel. I’m so pleased that another quality Australian author has arrived!
This guest review was submitted by Janine, one of our Beauty and Lace Club members. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Janine.
Wildflower Ridge is available now through Allen & Unwin and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin 15 of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Wildfire Ridge so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
Janine is a customer experience officer at her local library – and a certified bookaholic!
It’s very hard to believe this is Maya Linnell’s debut novel! All I can say is wow and it was a pleasure to be chosen to read and review Wildflower Ridge.
I found the story to be a real page Turner which was extremely hard to put down. It was well researched and left you wanting more. I felt like I was part of the McIntyre family.
Congratulations on an amazing book, I cannot wait for the next!