When you have no other choice than going to Bellbird Bay…

Synopsis

When successful university lecturer Alison Wells’ life unexpectedly falls apart, she follows in her brother’s footsteps and escapes to the coastal town of Bellbird Bay on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Neil Simpson loves teaching and his position as principal at a prestigious boys’ school in Brisbane. But when scandal rocks the school, and he learns his father’s health is failing, he has no choice but to return to his hometown of Bellbird Bay.

Determined not to be a burden to her brother and his new partner, Ali is considering her options when her world and Neil’s collide. Having avoided commitment all her life, Ali is unprepared for the force of her attraction to the man who is trying to come to terms with the upheaval in his own life.

As fate conspires to keep them apart, can this small town work its magic on these two lost souls?

My review

Alison Wells is a successful university lecturer. But faced again with the unchanging  ‘man’s world’ at the university, she decides to take a temporary step back and escape to Bellbird Bay, where her brother is living.
She sees this as the perfect opportunity to think about her future, and whether she sees it still at the university, knowing it will be a constant fight against sexism.
Ali isn’t the only one seeking refuge at Bellbird Bay. Neil Simpson has always enjoyed teaching and loves his position as a principal at a prestigious boys’ school. But even if his name has been cleared after a scandal, it takes more for people to truly believe it. And  with his own father’s health problems, returning back home is the only thing Neil can do.
When Ali and Neil, neither one of them is prepared for the mutual attraction… But with Ali not believing in love and romance due her parents’ history, and Neil’s problems, is this the time that Bellbird Bay’s magic won’t work?

Returning to Bellbird Bay is always a pleasure, and I can never wait to start reading the next story taking place in this wonderful place.

And I have to say, I didn’t get disappointed! Although, I did in several occasions…
Now, it has nothing to do with the story itself, but more with what our characters have to go through, and the injustice of it all.

Let’s start with Ali.
We can clearly see she is passionate about her job and she truly cares about her students. But it angered me to see how easily not only her concerns were dismissed, but how she had to keep on fighting for equality. The men at the university were absolutely archaic, sticking together no matter what and not having a sense of righteousness.
I completely understood why Ali had to put some literal distance when she was (not so) slightly forced to take some time off.

And then there is her sad background. While I was over the moon that she found her brother again, the fact remains that her parents for sure scarred her in her vision of love, romance and commitment. It saddened me to see her refusing any kind of bond with someone she is interested in, because of that past.

Yet it was lovely to see how Ali slowly gives in to her feelings, even if she doesn’t see that those feelings are of the ‘love – kind’. It only shows that no matter how hard someone is fighting against love, when it comes, you can do nothing about it…

I don’t know what story saddened, or angered me the most. Because it’s clear that Neil hasn’t been dealt with amazing cards either…
While his name has been cleared after the scandal at his school, not everyone believes his innocence. And how can you change someone’s mind when they are so certain of it?
To make things even more complicated, his own father is not getting any younger and is having several health issues, making Neil wonder what the right thing to do is…
Oh why not, let’s also add the worries over his daughter and an ex – wife who doesn’t understand that their daughter should do what makes her happy, and not pursue a degree she isn’t passionate about.

With such characters, it would seem impossible that Ali and Neil would end up together, especially as they both have no idea where their future may be.
Ali has a chance to return to the university for a position she has been dreaming of, but is she willing to return to a place where she has to keep fighting for every little bit?
Especially when she has another opportunity, that perhaps can be more rewarding and satisfying in other aspects. And even more important too.
And a chance to be closer to her sibling again, to make up for all the lost time, even if it wasn’t their fault.

And Neil also has a lot to ponder… His daughter seems to be happier than ever at Bellbird, and is ready to stand on her own feet. But Neil himself is struggling with his own future. Is returning to teach the answer? Even if that will take him far away from his father, who may need him more even he won’t admit it?

While this story was very easy to read, it also makes you think… not only about the injustice of the past, or the scars we have. But also about the direction we want to take in the next phase of our lives, no matter what our age is.
Maggie Christensen manages again to write a compelling story about wonderful characters. And even if in this story it may have seemed impossible, she manages to put the magic of Bellbird Bay at work again, for people who truly deserve it.
And all of this, surrounded with lovely, kind, warm and even funny side characters that we all have loved before and still love!