Published: 22 August 2017 (print)/1st February 2025 (audio) 
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
Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author
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