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

27 Aug 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 2 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers, Levenham Love Story, Novella, Romance Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

Wordery |  Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author

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

04 Aug 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers, Levenham Love Story, Novella, Romance Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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 | Wordery |  Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author

Chrissy and the Burroughs Boy (#4) by Cathryn Hein

30 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers, Levenham Love Story, Romance Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Published: 22 August 2017 (print)/1st February 2025 (audio) Goodreads badge
Publisher: Cathryn Hein/Bolinda Audio
Pages: 176/4 hrs and 42 mins
Narrator: Ayesha Tansey
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Rural Romance
★   ★   ★ – 3.5 Stars

No girl forgets her first crush. The least he could do is remember it.Chrissy James has only been home in small-town Levenham a few weeks when her teenage crush plays hero and saves her from an aggressive drunk. Seven years ago, Nick Burroughs was the school hottie while she was the overweight girl with braces, bad hair, and an unrequited obsession with the sports star every girl in school wanted. Her failed efforts to attract Nick’s attention still burn.

Chrissy sure has his attention now, but she’s older, smarter and focused on settling into her new dream job as wine marketer. No matter how sexy he’s grown, or how keen his interest, Nick will need to do a lot more than see off a drunk if he wants to win her over.

But Chrissy doesn’t count on the determination of a Burroughs boy in love. Nick will do anything to recapture Chrissy’s heart, even if it means acting the romantic fool and embarrassing himself in the process.

Will Nick’s efforts to make amends for the past backfire or will Chrissy’s career thwart everything? 

Three books under our belt we are well into the dynamics of this small country town. Chrissy arriving home gives her a chance to catch up with old friends, recap what’s happened with their books, and get reacquainted with the town. It’s also a great way to fill in readers who aren’t going through the series in order.

The characters once more are powerful on the page, their whole beings come to life as Hein uses words skillfully to capture someone’s essence right away. The Aussie voice shines through and the country friendliness and community returns as we see more of this town and the residents.

The connection to previous books remain, we see a continuation of their stories in the background, Chrissy’s job is a good spot to learn about the local events and find out information. That’s one thing I enjoy about these books is the organic way information is shared and told. It isn’t orchestrated in convoluted ways to have everyone just happen to all be in the square to hear something or have one busybody sharing news around town. It’s a thriving community and as people go to businesses and use the services you get to know people, even if they aren’t all the close knit friends.

I liked this, it wasn’t as enjoyable as the others but it connects well with the previous stories. With Danny and Beth getting together in the previous book we’re introduce to the Burroughs boys and in Hein’s creative writing we’ve opened a door to find out more about the rest of the Burroughs family.

Nick tries to make up for his bad behaviour when they were younger and I understand Chrissy’s apprehension. I liked how Nick accepts his failings and it was sweet how he tries to fix it. It’s the kind of book where you are on both characters side. I understand Chrissy’s perspective, but it is endearing to see Nick tried to make up for past behaviour.

As a continuation of the series it was a good stepping stone and I liked the gradual way we’re moving out from the original group, expanding the town while keeping the key figures and town staples.

You can purchase Chrissy and the Burroughs Boy via the following

 Dymocks | Blackwell’s

Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author

 

Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence by Doris (Nugi Garimara) Pilkington

16 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Australian Women Writers, Classic, Fiction Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Published: 30 May 2023Goodreads badge
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Pages: 192
Format: Paperback
Genre: Novella
★   ★   ★   ★ – 4 Stars

A Stolen Generations story of astounding courage: three Aboriginal girls, taken from their mothers, escape barefoot back to their beloved homeland in East Pilbara.

This is the true account of Nugi Garimara’s mother, Molly, made legendary by the film Rabbit-Proof Fence.

In 1931 Molly led her two sisters on an extraordinary 1600-kilometre walk across remote Western Australia. Aged eight, eleven, and fourteen, they escaped the confinement of a government institution for Aboriginal children removed from their families. Barefoot, without provisions or maps, tracked by Native Police and search planes, the girls followed the rabbit-proof fence, knowing it would lead them home.

Their journey – longer than many of the celebrated treks of recognised explorers – reveals a past more cruel than we could ever imagine.

Based on a true story this is a personal account of the journey Doris’ mother and relatives took to return home after escaping confinement as part of Australia’s Stolen Generations practices.

I was surprised to find this book was only published in the 90s. For some reason I thought it was a long classic from the 60s that had been turned into a film later on. But the movie on which it was based came out not long after this was published.

The Wikipedia page has interesting history on how Doris found out about the story and it documents the stages this story went through – from original draft in the 80s until a reworking to what we know today. It is also surprisingly different from the movie which was my first introduction.

It still contains the harsh realities of what the children and families in these Aboriginal communities endured, but there are also differences from the movie – less abduction more informed intent and little chance to fight back against government regulations.

The included letters and telegrams show that no one followed orders or the rules and had their own interests – surprise surprise. That hurt to read because of how avoidable it all could have been, at least for this family.

There is also the blatant reminder about how abhorrent this actually was and for how many decades this went on. This is a book everyone should read, it’s a short book but important because while it is a little fractured, a mixture of story elements and explanations from transcriptions, it flows well and tells the story.

You can purchase Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence via the following

QBD |  Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery |  Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Rebel Spirits by Paula J Beavan

26 May 2026 2 Comments

by Amy in 5 Stars, Australian Women Writers, Historical Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Published: 27th May 2026Goodreads badge
Publisher: Paula J Beavan
Pages: 350
Format: ebook
Genre: Historical Romance
★   ★   ★   ★   ★ – 5 Stars

In the harsh world of nineteenth-century Australia, honesty has a price—and some risks can’t be undone.

Irish immigrant Ellen Maguire is fighting to keep her family’s roadside inn, The Harp and Hound, from ruin. With the railway diverting travellers and her father lost to grief, desperation drives her to a dangerous distilling illegal poteen from her grandmother’s remedy book—a venture that could save them or destroy them.

When injured Englishman Jack Bell arrives searching for his missing niece, Ellen offers him shelter. Attraction flares—but her family’s future can’t be put at risk, not even for love.

As Ellen’s illicit trade draws the attention of sly-grog operators, ruffians, and the colonial authorities, pressure mounts on every side. Then Jack’s niece appears—with secrets of her own, and a threat that could ruin everything.

Torn between protecting her family and telling the truth to the man she loves, Ellen must decide how far she is willing to go.

Perfect for readers of Tea Cooper, Jackie French, and Darry Fraser, Rebel Spirits is a sweeping Australian historical romance filled with danger, mystery, and heart.

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book by the author for review.

What I loved about this story is it captures the strength, resilience, and despair of not only the family struggles and heartbreak, but also living in a colony town in the middle of the Australian bush and realising the bush isn’t always your friend. It is a compelling story of found family as well as real family and a desire to establish foundations for the future.

This book is aptly named because while Ellen is rebelling against the law, she herself is a rebellious spirit who doesn’t always line up to what a woman of her time is “supposed” to be doing. Colonial women doing most of the real work is reflected well, with Ellen’s brother and father scheming and keeping secrets from her, taking her stuff unasked, all while she fights to keep the family afloat without much thanks.

The writing is well suited for the historical setting but it is easy to understand and helps cement the bygone era without alienating modern readers. Through detailed and vivid descriptions Beavan captures the harshness of bush life, of colonial men and their approach to women – their wives or strangers – and how women must endure and adapt because of the men around them.

Beavan is good at building drama and tension without affecting the gentle pace. There is mystery around family secrets, tension around the local constable and the natural environment, and the uncertainty over whether Jack will find his niece.

The easy banter between Ellen and Jack is charming and it was delightful to watch as they go from strangers, to friends, to something more. With Ellen’s toughness and Jack’s easy curiosity they make a great pair.

As a character Ellen is a delight; she has the propriety of a woman and she tries very hard to maintain that while completely unaware she bucks expectations at every opportunity because things need to get done. For every time she tries to be proper there are three other instances of her sneaking out in men’s clothes and being socially improper some way or another.

I enjoyed reading about the history of the Hunter region that is woven through the story, and the author’s note goes into additional details as well about the real history it’s based upon. Seeing this little family in a town struggling to survive was powerful, it might end up being a losing battle – mother nature and the reality of progress being what it is – but the determination of people to make their roots and fight for what they want is admirable.

There’s excitement and tension, a sense of community and a clear admiration for the bush. The characters are full of life and their own pasts which comes across naturally and is woven wonderfully into the current storyline. The realities of early colonists is there from orphans to migrants, as well as the hardships of enduring those in control and those who want power. All of that alongside an incredibly sweet love story filled with stubbornness, admiration, and compassion.

Rebel Spirits is due to be published 27 May 2026

You can purchase Rebel Spirits via the following

 Dymocks | Booktopia | Wordery |  Blackwell’s

 Amazon | Amazon Aust | Author website

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