Amelia Fraser is a bush pilot, she’s spent the last three years constantly on the move, and not staying in one place for long. Amelia does have a soft spot for animals and she rescued and cares for a magpie and a possum. Amelia arrives in Settlers Bridge, she’s going to do some temp work for the council and her friend Dr. Taylor Hartmann has organised a hanger to store her plane.

Heath Brennan is a widower, he bought a farm near Settlers Ridge, and because he wanted to get as far away from his past as he could and be closer to his father Sean. Heath is a recluse and he hates leaving his property, and he’s mourning his wife and the life they had together. Charlee is Heath’s nineteen-year-old daughter and she has turned to drugs to numb the pain of losing her mum and to cope and she’s a mess. Heath can’t believe his once beautiful daughter is a shell of her former self and he doesn’t trust her and they barely speak and when they do Charlee pushes his buttons and Sean steps in as a referee.

I received a copy of Wings Above the Mallee by Léonie Kelsall from Allen & Unwin and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This story grabbed my from the first page, I couldn’t wait get to know the characters and discover how the plot would unfold. A narrative about living in a small Australian country town, where everyone is trying to help and pry or get you to join a committee or group, what a heavy burden loss and grief is, finding forgiveness and recovering, dealing with addiction and giving someone a second chance, overcoming a tragedies and being able to move forward.

I really liked how caring for animals and injured wildlife gave Amelia a purpose and she shared this with Charlee, it provides an outlet for their emotions and they heal both themselves and the animals.

Léonie Kelsall writes novel’s that make you think and about topics which one day will affect us all, or someone we know, and she explores the good things in life and like love, friendship and family, and the difficult situations such as death and grief, addiction and illness and in a caring, considerate, insightful and thoughtful way and I highly recommend Wings Above the Mallee and five stars from me.

I finished this book a while ago and have been thinking of how to write my review. While I did enjoy it I found it quite emotionally draining as Amelia, Heath and even his daughter Charlee had all been through some devastating times in their lives. I guess that made it easier for them to understand and support each other, eventually.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.