Birdsville, one of Outback Australia's most recognised places. A frontier town locked between stony, arid deserts located at the end of the famous Birdsville Track. One weekend a year the town is in the headlines for its annual Birdsville races. Straight away readers must appreciate that Fiona will capture the beauty of the desert, even with its isolation, heat and flies of this remote township.

If rural, second chance romance is your vibe, look no further. This is a book that celebrates not only female friendships but also the importance of family and community in these isolated places. Take the return trip with Phoebe as she uncovers long kept secrets and what it means to be part of this community of support and hospitality in this unforgiving landscape.

‘What would it be like to go back home? Pretend she fit in. Blend into Birdsville. Nowhere to hide in a tiny town?’

With such a heart full plot there is nothing not to love. Phoebe hasn't been back to Birdsville since she was a teenager after becoming estranged with her father. I enjoyed the caring nature of all the characters and it's just typical outback behaviour. You look out for your community. The races were a essential but small part of the story which I loved!

Back To Birdsville is a story of healing and hope as much as it is a romance. I loved the setting in and around Birdsville in remote south western Queensland. Author Fiona McArthur has brought the place to life with her detailed descriptions of not only the location but also the daily lives of the locals and the challenges they face because of where they live. I loved the balance between the beauty of the place and drawbacks like the dust and the flies. Phoebe McFadden is the main protagonist. A highly qualified nurse, midwife and hospital administrator, she is returning to Birdsville for her cousin’s wedding after leaving eighteen years earlier following a fight with her father. Birdsville Police Senior Sergeant Atticus Bow, five years her junior, has loved Phoebe since they were children and he’s determined to convince her to stay. While the relationship between these two is the central romance, in the background another romance is playing out between Phoebe’s father Rusty and local health service nurse Gloria. Added to the mix is heavily pregnant teenager Charli, who has come to Birdsville to look for a family link. All these characters are realistically crafted and so, so easy to cheer for. I also loved the various sub-plots that pepper this story; the organisation involved in carrying out a remote rescue and recovery, the build-up to the Birdsville Races and the excitement of the day.
This book has been a joy to read and has left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside and a desire to see Birdsville for myself.

This is a great book! Fiona McArthur always writes amazing rural stories, and this is no exception. I love the setting, Birdsville sounds like a unique place, and the characters were wonderfully written. If you've never read one of Fiona's books before, take this as your sign.