Published: 10 November 2015 (print)/1 December 2024 (audio) 
Publisher: Cathryn Hein/Bolinda Audio
Pages: 106/3 hrs and 20 mins
Narrator: Ayesha Tansey
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Rural Romance
★ ★ ★ – 3.5 Stars
It’s Levenham’s wedding of the year but unlucky-in-love Harry Argyle has more on his mind than being groomsman.
After yet again nearly colliding with an escaped horse while driving home to the family farm, Harry Argyle comes face-to-face with its pretty owner, and doesn’t hold back his disapproval.
Confronted by a bad-tempered giant on a dark country road, beautician and new arrival in town Summer Taylor doesn’t know who to be more afraid for: herself or her darling horse Binky. It’s not her fault Binky keeps escaping. The alcoholic owner of the paddock she rents won’t fix the fence and Binky can be sneaky when it comes to filling his stomach. But no matter how big and muscled the bully, she refuses to be intimidated.
When Harry’s wedding party book a session at the day spa where Summer works, both she and Harry are horrified to be paired together. Grudgingly, they agree to make the most of it – only for the session to spiral into disaster. Realising he’s made a dill of himself in front of sweet Summer yet again, Harry vows to set things right.
Summer isn’t about to easily forgive the man who called her horse stupid, no matter how brave and kind, but with everyone on Harry’s side, even fate, resistance is hard. Can these two find love or will Summer’s wayward horse put his hoof in it again?
Being a novella this is a quick and easy read but manages to fulfill all the requirements of a cute love story. The depth of character is there and with a few words Hein can bring this town to life and expand on the story we’ve already built upon.
I enjoyed the grumpy nature of Harry and how he and Summer both have justifiable causes for their apprehension for one another. The stakes and issues are real, the dangers of car accidents, loose horses, and fences only the start of the troubles.
Hein brings real cause for conflict with her characters and also the need to have characters prove they’ve changed, or show they are not who they first appear. Harry is a sexist guy but there is hope for some redemption by the end of the book otherwise there’s no reason to root for Summer and he to mend their relationship.
The small town country feel we gain from book one is there to welcome newcomer Summer, but Hein also makes sure we can start right here and not miss a step as we get to know this town and these characters.
There is heart, community, and faith in doing the right thing. It’s a great continuation of the series but also a great story in its own right.
You can purchase Summer and the Groomsman via the following
Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson
Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible
This fourth entry and prequel tells the story of Lundy, a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should. 
When Rini lands with a literal splash in the pond behind Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, the last thing she expects to find is that her mother, Sumi, died years before Rini was even conceived. But Rini can’t let Reality get in the way of her quest – not when she has an entire world to save! (Much more common than one would suppose.) If she can’t find a way to restore her mother, Rini will have more than a world to save: she will never have been born in the first place. And in a world without magic, she doesn’t have long before Reality notices her existence and washes her away. Good thing the student body is well-acquainted with quests… 
She’s about to have the night of her life. Over and over again.
In this funny and frothy novella that picks up where the New York Times bestselling The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue leaves off, freshly minted couple Monty and Percy fumble through their first time together.
