Scarlett and the Model Man (#6) by Cathryn Hein

Published: 24 March 2020 (print)/1st April 2025 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher:
Self Published/Bolinda Audio
Pages: 178/4 hrs and 41 mins
Narrator: Elizabeth Brennan
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Romance
★   ★ – 2.5 Stars

He might be the perfect model, but is he the right man for Scarlett?

When up-and-coming artist Scarlett Ash discovers the perfect model in small-town Levenham, she can’t believe her luck. Her creativity abandoned her months ago and with her move to London to take up a prestigious residency fast approaching, she’s desperate for a muse to bring it back.

Surfing dairy farmer Sam Greenwood is delivering milk when a gorgeous girl accosts him. Charmed by her invitation to model for a painting, Sam wants to say no. While Scarlett might be stunning, she’s arty-farty weird, and he’s flat out with his growing dairy business. Somehow, though, he can’t resist.

As Scarlett struggles to find her way with her new work, Sam becomes determined to help. Scarlett is smart, talented and sympathetic to the unremitting toil of dairy farming, and they’re both healing from failed relationships. Soon burgeoning friendship blossoms into so much more.

Knowing that London beckons and her time in Levenham is short, Scarlett resists the lure of love. She has no plans to return to Levenham, and big-hearted Sam deserves more than a brief fling followed by a quick goodbye. Except as their affair deepens, how can she leave the man who’s not only given her back her passion but her heart?

This was an interesting book, a lot more character based than plot compared to the others. It was only a five hour audio but I stopped and started a lot. I don’t know whether there wasn’t enough plot to grab me or I wasn’t as into Sam and Scarlett’s relationship to keep my attention but I found myself tuning in and out a lot as I listened.

Like I’ve found with a lot of the men in this series, they are all a bit sexist and leery in this book too, which might be what the women are all interested in, but the fact Sam wasn’t was a refreshing change.

All the characters we’ve met before come back in roles of various sizes and it is a great way to track timelines and see how the community interacts. One thing I’d’ve loved was an explanation about the vagueness from Eddie, things like information about the painting or the issue with Chrissy – I may have missed something either in this book or the last but it did stand out.

Reading the novellas back to back was like a fun novel. Some of the later books hark back to the first book of course, which also gives a great sense of time passing but no real requirement for a set reading order as you get all the information and context in each novella. Some books were better than others, but I enjoyed how there were hints in one story about the next one. It was a great way to introduce us to new characters without making them feel like they’d come from nowhere.

Having the previous characters make an appearance was nice and helped to bring me back into the story. I didn’t not like the concept of Sam and Scarlett, it was sweet and as I say, Sam was much nicer than the other men, but it wasn’t enough to elevate my enjoyment.

Overall I enjoyed this series and while this final one wasn’t my favourite I enjoyed the journey of reading about these characters’ lives and the different interactions, relationships, and community life. From reading the novel Rocking Horse Hill it was a great way to keep the community alive and I enjoyed seeing the ongoing repercussions and story from that first book into these fun little stories. If there was ever going to be another book in the Levenham series I wouldn’t hesitate to pick it up and see what adventures these characters are up to now. But until then, this final book is a great wrap up of the series and the adventures of this town. Hein has made a nice community with sweet romances to go along with it.

You can purchase Scarlett and the Model Man via the following

WorderyBlackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author

Embrace Your Body Taryn Brumfitt

Published: 19 April 2021Goodreads badge
Publisher:
Penguin Australia
IllustratorSinead Hanley
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★   ★  – 2 Stars

Based on the #1 hit children’s song, this picture book encourages everyone to love who they are, inside and out. Taryn Brumfitt is the fiercely passionate thought leader behind the Body Image Movement and director of Embrace the documentary. She is determined to inspire everyBODY to celebrate their body, regardless of size, color, ethnicity, gender, or ability.

 

According to the blurb it’s based on a song called Embrace but I don’t know it. Unfortunately there isn’t any narrative attached to the pictures. The basic affirmations on each page are nice, but they don’t connect or flow as you turn the page.

It started off well by talking about how everyone is different and all bodies can do a range of activities, but from then on the illustrations do a lot of heavy lifting.

Overall it seems like something that might have been better off staying as a song.

You can purchase Embrace Your Body via the following

QBDDymocks | Booktopia

 Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St Jude

Published: 9 May 2023 (print)/11 May 2023 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher:
Penguin Books/Penguin
Pages: 416/9 hrs and 49 mins
Narrator: Georgie Sadler
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult
★   ★   ★ – 3 Stars

We Are Okay meets They Both Die at the End in this YA debut about queer first love and mental health at the end of the world-and the importance of saving yourself, no matter what tomorrow may hold.

Avery Byrne has secrets. She’s queer; she’s in love with her best friend, Cass; and she’s suffering from undiagnosed clinical depression. But on the morning Avery plans to jump into the river near her college campus, the world discovers there are only nine days left to live: an asteroid is headed for Earth, and no one can stop it.

Trying to spare her family and Cass additional pain, Avery does her best to make it through just nine more days. As time runs out and secrets slowly come to light, Avery would do anything to save the ones she loves. But most importantly, she learns to save herself. Speak her truth. Seek the support she needs. Find hope again in the tomorrows she has left.

I looked up how long we’d get before we could know about an asteroid big as or bigger than the dinosaur one and while some answers say years there is also a chance it is a few days so the nine day estimate isn’t far off. As the blurb indicates it is reminiscent of They Both Die at the End but en masse and without the infrastructure or safety nets to help people.

We know it’s happening outside the realm of Avery’s bubble but it is her story we’re hearing so we can only know the reaction around her experience. There could certainly be areas where a lot of different things are happening and I understand that St Jude can’t include everything but while a few bad things happen, it is relatively peaceful, a lot more internal conflict than external. Also the impact is in the United States so who knows what the rest of the world is doing, though I’d’ve loved it if St Jude had thrown in a radio broadcast or something to check in on the rest of the planet.

There is a handy warning at the start of the book about the content which is the best approach, people can’t mark a book down for having something in there they don’t like if they are warned ahead of time and continued anyway.

With suicide intent and the end of the earth looming the story is relatively light. There are strange freedoms and priorities given that the world is ending but I understand it in a way from Avery’s journey of herself and what she needs to do. It doesn’t always make sense, especially around Cass and her family versus her life at university, but I guess if you see it from Avery’s perspective it is about her and knowing who she is and that’s what she has to do.

I think this is a book that needs to be viewed from one angle and not another. The realities of the world ending and the possibly unrealistic way St Jude portrays everyone’s actions shouldn’t take away from the way the story tries to explore depression, identity, and love.

I liked the jump through time as we went from years ago to the final day. It helped break the story up and helped give good character background without needing it through present day dialogue or exposition.

A lot of the secondary characters felt flat and you forget about them unless they are on the page Sadler does a good job narrating and each character is identifiable so that was a bonus.

Overall it was a good book. It isn’t perfect but it covered interesting themes about family trauma, religion, identity, and love. Plus you get the think about what you’d do if the world was ending.

You can purchase If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come via the following

QBDDymocks | Booktopia

WorderyBlackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Overdue: The Misadventure of Bob the Book by Gloria Koster

Published: 1 August 2024 Goodreads badge
Publisher:
Capstone Editions
Illustrator: Pawel Gierlinksi
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★   ★   ★  – 3.5 Stars

Meet Bob. He”s the all-time favourite library book at Wisdom Hill primary school. But Sebastian is nothing like Bob’s previous enthusiastic borrowers. In fact, Sebastian completely forgets about Bob!
Will Bob ever feel the love of a contented fan again, or will he be lost and alone forever? In this eye-opening tale told from a book’s point of view, author and librarian Gloria Koster showcases the joy of reading and the importance of taking care of books.

This story follows the misadventures of a popular book from the school library. It is beloved, highly sought after, and a great read. Until one day it arrives at a child’s home where it is neglected and then lost.

After Bob the book is keen to go home to another reader he soon becomes despondent when he realises he isn’t going to be read, and almost gets in a range of mishaps around the house. I liked this book compared to other library themed books because this one is about the other side of borrowing library books: when they are left at home and no longer able to be shared by everyone.

Bob even provides the reader with book care tips, which again, compared to other library book themed books it great. This book doesn’t celebrate being scribbled on or stained, or dropped in the bath. This is about keeping books safe and clean so others can enjoy them.

The illustrations are simple but full page and colourful. The narrative text is incorporated similarly to a comic book or graphic novel, but the layout remains in the picture book style.

I loved that our borrower Sebastian isn’t entirely to blame and the story shows a great way librarians can gently follow up and support readers who do keep their books out too long.

And, as someone who has borrowed a lot of books from the library, the irony is this book is itself overdue. But now I’ve written this up I can return it to the library shelves where it can be borrowed by the next keen reader.

Overall, this is a great story about reminding people to return their books on time as other people may want to read them.

You can purchase Overdue via the following

 BooktopiaWorderyBlackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

Eddie and the Show Queen (#5) by Cathryn Hein

Published: 10 September 2019 (print)/1 March 2025 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher:
Self Published/Bolinda Audio
Pages: 268/5 hrs and 56 mins
Narrator: Madeleine Chaplain
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Romance
★   ★   ★   ★ – 4.5 Stars

When horticulturalist Alice Lindner goads her ex-boyfriend Eddie Argyle into a fundraising contest, she doesn’t expect him to take it seriously. Winning small-town Levenham’s inaugural Wine Show crown will take dedication and hard work, and all Eddie cares about is chasing skirt. Besides, a win will be Alice’s tribute to her late mum. No way is Eddie getting his hands on the crown.

Big-hearted farmer Eddie never understood why love-of-his-life Alice dumped him. Yeah, it’d been a difficult time with her mum’s illness, but he’d loved her the best he could and losing her left him adrift. Now he has the opportunity to prove himself by winning not only the crown but maybe Alice’s heart in the process.

Will Eddie’s enthusiasm ruin Alice’s tribute and with it all hope of a second chance? Or will Alice realise that the real prize isn’t in the past but with the man who wants to be her future?

This is a delightful book full of interesting plot and wonderful characters. I loved Eddie, he’s such a sweetie and I loved the arc and journey between himself and Alice. Hein balances the history, the present, and the emotional bundle involved really well. The conflict that drives their interactions was decent, full of misunderstandings and young emotions, neither willing to look beyond the initial reactions, both in need of growth.

The competition battle between the pair is a fun way to keep up Alice’s dislike for Eddie but also a creative way for him to show his good intent and how he’s not the man she thinks he is. I loved reading Eddie’s perspective. He doesn’t take himself too seriously and is up for a bit of fun for a good cause which brings a lot of humour to the story. But at the same time he has a good heart and tries his best to do the right thing. It was a great contrast to see Eddie’s perspective of his behaviour versus Alice and the broader community.

All the characters we’ve met in previous books are there – a nice bonus of a series set in a small town. You don’t need to have read anything in order but if you have, then seeing these past characters pop up is a little joy and hark back to previous adventures. I like the progress of time in this type of series. While some things happen concurrently others take place months or years after other evets and it’s good to see the town going on with their lives.

There is a lot of character depth which is always tricky with something so short and with so many players involved. On one hand, knowing the history of everyone else did a lot of heavy lifting but they are also good, solid secondary characters. Even if you aren’t aware of their histories from other books you get a real sense of who they are.

This is a fun, light-hearted read even with the seriousness of Alice’s motivation and her emotional hurt. Being so young is a benefit and it’s easy to see their foolishness but also their stubbornness playing out in a way that you know they only need to see what is right in front of them to know everything is going to be ok.

You can purchase Eddie and the Show Queen via the following

Dymocks | WorderyBlackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author

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