Arabelle's Shadows by Fleur Gaskin

Book review: Arabelle’s Shadows by Fleur Gaskin

I thought this was going to be a book about the easy lives that I perceived most models live. I discovered industrious, jet-setting girls who are flat out busy attending auditions but rarely make enough to cover their expenses. This is probably the truth for all but the top 10% in the modelling world.

I expected a story about the shallow minds of models and the stories of what they get up to. I discovered psychologically damaged young girls who are often taken advantage of.

I hoped I would find some interesting sexual content to excite the male mind. I found myself ashamed to be a bloke considering the father and male friends or Arabelle.

Any single bloke who thinks that a brief affair with a young (perhaps drunk) attractive girl is harmless will have second thoughts when they read this gripping novel.

My eyes were opened wide but not in the way expected. I will definitely be more sympathetic in my attitude to models in the future and consider the correct attitude to the fairer sex in all circumstances. 

It is not often you read a book by a female that portrays the attitude of blokes (and their sex drive) so well. It is sad but enlightening, thank god the end was uplifting.

Modern Suburbia by Chris Merlo

Modern Suburbia by Chris Merlo

Lovable villains who sometimes concern you with their attitude but it comes together really well in the end and explains the start of the novel and some of the hero’s actions. Nathan is the star and he goes through hell after being arrested driven by a big axe to grind against his boss.

At first Nathan seems like a very sloppy getman for the bigger fish but gradually his master plan is revealed to us. The risk he takes keep us right on the edge and we expect his demise in several of the action-packed scenes.

There is something in this novel for gamblers, computer nerds, fight fans, copbugs and unexpectedly romance seekers! It’s four out of five for me and had to keep it going to the end to see what the outcome could be. Have to admit I did not guess but found one of the final scenes where Nathan gloated to his imprisoned enemy worrying because he was putting his forthcoming fortune at risk.