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A Girl’s Guide to the Outback
How far will a girl go to win back a guy she can't stand? This funny, sweet, and romantic story proves that opposites do attract—and that God has a sense of humor.
Samuel Payton is a passionate youth pastor in Virginia, but beneath the surface, he's still recovering from the blow of a failed business and insecurities he can't shake. His coworker, start-up expert Kimberly Foster, is brilliant, fearless, and capable, but years of personal rejection have left her defensive and longing for a family. Two people have never been more at odds—or more attracted to one another. And every day at work, the sparks sure do fly.
When Kimberly's ambitious plans for Sam's ministry butt up against his risk-averse nature, Sam decides that obligations to family trump his work for the church. He quits the ministry and heads home to Australia to help his sister, Jules, save her struggling farm. As Kimberly's grand plans flounder, she is forced to face the truth: that no one can replace Sam. Together they strike up a deal: If Kimberly comes to work on Jules's dairy farm and lends her business brains to their endeavor, then maybe—just maybe—Sam will reconsider his future with the church.
As Kimberly tries her hand at Australian farm life, she learns more about herself than she could've ever expected. Meanwhile Sam is forced to re-evaluate this spunky woman he thought he already knew. As foes slowly morph into friends, they wonder if they might be something even more. But when disaster strikes the farm, will Sam find it within himself to take a risk that could lead to love? And will Kimberly trust God with her future?
Samuel Payton is a passionate youth pastor in Virginia, but beneath the surface, he's still recovering from the blow of a failed business and insecurities he can't shake. His coworker, start-up expert Kimberly Foster, is brilliant, fearless, and capable, but years of personal rejection have left her defensive and longing for a family. Two people have never been more at odds—or more attracted to one another. And every day at work, the sparks sure do fly.
When Kimberly's ambitious plans for Sam's ministry butt up against his risk-averse nature, Sam decides that obligations to family trump his work for the church. He quits the ministry and heads home to Australia to help his sister, Jules, save her struggling farm. As Kimberly's grand plans flounder, she is forced to face the truth: that no one can replace Sam. Together they strike up a deal: If Kimberly comes to work on Jules's dairy farm and lends her business brains to their endeavor, then maybe—just maybe—Sam will reconsider his future with the church.
As Kimberly tries her hand at Australian farm life, she learns more about herself than she could've ever expected. Meanwhile Sam is forced to re-evaluate this spunky woman he thought he already knew. As foes slowly morph into friends, they wonder if they might be something even more. But when disaster strikes the farm, will Sam find it within himself to take a risk that could lead to love? And will Kimberly trust God with her future?
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2020
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April 7, 2021
3 stars
A Girl's Guide to the Outback started out not good for me... honestly it was really slow, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and I found most of them rather unlikable. As time went on, I did start to enjoy the book more and like at least a few of the main characters (primarily this follows Kim and Sam, but also Sam's sister, Jules and her love interest). This story was about family and faith, and those parts were executed well, but the romance fell pretty flat for me.
A Girl's Guide to the Outback started out not good for me... honestly it was really slow, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and I found most of them rather unlikable. As time went on, I did start to enjoy the book more and like at least a few of the main characters (primarily this follows Kim and Sam, but also Sam's sister, Jules and her love interest). This story was about family and faith, and those parts were executed well, but the romance fell pretty flat for me.
Audio book source: Hoopla (library borrow)
Story Rating: 3 stars
Narrators: Lauren Woodward
Narration Rating:3.5 stars
Genre: Contemporary romance
Length: 8 hours and 58 minutes
February 19, 2020
Full of humor and snappy banter, A Girl’s Guide to the Outback is loaded with fish-out-of-water Australian fun. And yet Jessica Kate tells a far deeper story. Kimberly and Sam and Jules are each hurting in their own ways, each searching for identity, and each running from what they most need. These three compelling characters pulled me in to the story and had me finishing it in record time – despite a crazy-busy schedule on my end! Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended!
September 13, 2024
Samuel Peyton, an Australian, is an enthusiastic and charismatic youth pastor for the Wildfire Ministries in Virginia. He took this on after leaving behind a failed business that cost his father money and put their family property in Queensland under great pressure. The thorn in his side at Wildfire is Kimberly Foster, a co-worker. Kim always seems to be at odds with Sam, especially when it comes to spending money to raise the profile of Wildfire. Despite their differences there is an attraction between them.
When Sam receives a call from his sister Julie, Sam doesn’t hesitate to quit the ministry and head back to Australia to help. Family must come first. Kim has never known what it is to have a caring family since her father died when she was 11 and her mother who she was sent to live with was distant and uncaring. They still have no sort of relationship. But Kim loves working with the kids at Wildfire and is devastated when Sam quits as Wildfire seems to find it impossible to find a suitable replacement for him.
She ends up striking a deal that involves her coming to work on the farm in Australia for six weeks. In return Sam will reconsider coming back to Wildfire to train his replacement. But Kim hopes he will end up staying.
Farm life is very different to what Kim is used to or expects. She encounters all sorts of problems but she is determined not to give up. In the course of working there the relationship between her and Sam changes. But then disaster strikes.
I really liked Kim, Sam, his sister Jules, her friend and on again off again boyfriend Mick, and Butch, a man of few words.
The setting is great, you can almost feel the heat and the flies and the dangers that threatened. I loved the gentle, humorous tone and some of the banter, Aussie slang and expressions as well as great descriptions. Maybe a little too neatly resolved towards the end but over all it is an engaging read with a lot to recommend it. Very obviously Christian in outlook but it works well, and reactions fit the characters.
One quibble was several times characters ‘snickered’ all within a few pages which I found irritating. Thankfully it disappeared after that until once more later in the book.
It is book two in a series but it reads fine as a stand alone.
Samuel Peyton, an Australian, is an enthusiastic and charismatic youth pastor for the Wildfire Ministries in Virginia. He took this on after leaving behind a failed business that cost his father money and put their family property in Queensland under great pressure. The thorn in his side at Wildfire is Kimberly Foster, a co-worker. Kim always seems to be at odds with Sam, especially when it comes to spending money to raise the profile of Wildfire. Despite their differences there is an attraction between them.
When Sam receives a call from his sister Julie, Sam doesn’t hesitate to quit the ministry and head back to Australia to help. Family must come first. Kim has never known what it is to have a caring family since her father died when she was 11 and her mother who she was sent to live with was distant and uncaring. They still have no sort of relationship. But Kim loves working with the kids at Wildfire and is devastated when Sam quits as Wildfire seems to find it impossible to find a suitable replacement for him.
She ends up striking a deal that involves her coming to work on the farm in Australia for six weeks. In return Sam will reconsider coming back to Wildfire to train his replacement. But Kim hopes he will end up staying.
Farm life is very different to what Kim is used to or expects. She encounters all sorts of problems but she is determined not to give up. In the course of working there the relationship between her and Sam changes. But then disaster strikes.
I really liked Kim, Sam, his sister Jules, her friend and on again off again boyfriend Mick, and Butch, a man of few words.
The setting is great, you can almost feel the heat and the flies and the dangers that threatened. I loved the gentle, humorous tone and some of the banter, Aussie slang and expressions as well as great descriptions. Maybe a little too neatly resolved towards the end but over all it is an engaging read with a lot to recommend it. Very obviously Christian in outlook but it works well, and reactions fit the characters.
One quibble was several times characters ‘snickered’ all within a few pages which I found irritating. Thankfully it disappeared after that until once more later in the book.
It is book two in a series but it reads fine as a stand alone.
Read
March 11, 2020This is a heavily Christian romance with two couples. Unfortunately, one of each couple bugged me heavily and the Christian aspect fell flat, too. I persisted to the finish because the setting was on the awesome side of interesting and I really wanted Kimberly to be happy.
It was a little jarring the first time we hit Jules's PoV because I thought this was a single-couple romance. Also because Jules is an emotional goblin who reads years younger than her stated 31. It's probably just as well we don't get Mick's PoV (her ex-boyfriend who is a way better man than she deserves) because actually seeing first-hand the hell she puts him through could have potentially broken my attachment enough to dnf. Her blind devotion to the family farm is unreasoning and unrelenting and I suppose I could have found it more engaging if there was any kind of payoff she was looking forward to. But there wasn't. She has no romantic potential in the region, no hope for a family some day, so she's essentially choosing to caretake a dying prospect for a family legacy that ends, explicitly, with her. So its function on the story was very much like a negative motivation* in that she clung to it in an unreasoning way that didn't actually add anything to her prospective future.
And Sam wasn't any better. Sigh. Okay, Sam is actually worse. He has this fear thing wrapped in guilt that haunts his every action, both romantically and professionally. He gets called on it a lot and many people tell him his guilt isn't justified and that his fear is unreasoning. But he still clings to it in the teeth of losing everything he says he wants; again, both romantically and professionally. So it's a giant negative motivation* that he clings to out of weakness and cowardice.
But the even worse aspect of this fear is that it undermines the Christian faith that is supposed to be at the core of his character. He supposedly has this gift for ministering to teens. And I loved how Kimberly understood and supported that gift and how that is her initial draw to him. And yet Sam spends the entirety of this story resisting his calling. Worse, he has to be reminded, repeatedly and by multiple sources, to give his fears to God and to choose his path in faith. Indeed, this entire story would have short-circuited had he lived what he preached! And I find that a very curious way to go about depicting a character of supposed faith. And I want to be careful because there can be some great story in the struggle to live up to your own ideals and people fall short all the time and those stories are important, I think. But Sam doesn't so much struggle as he simply fails to show up. Until the epiphany in the end, of course. But by that time it was very much too late.
Kimberly is awesome, though. I loved her devotion to her faith and to the community of faith and how she has these outstanding talents that she'd like to put in service to building the faith of others. So even though she's awkward with people and knows she can't do the work herself, she still does her best to support the things she finds important and that includes the Wildfire ministry built up around Sam. And I loved even more how deeply she threw herself into Sam's family farm, both to help immediate needs and to gain an understanding of their financials on a basis deeply enough to do actual and lasting good for their future. And I love that she delivers hard truths even though she knows the most likely outcome is alienating those she wants so badly to like, accept, and respect her. She's my kind of people and my heart ached for her.
And Kate has a great hand with the side characters, giving them depth and emotional resonance beyond the mere needs of the story. Sam's mother stands out as a particularly dynamic example, even though, or likely because, she is so unsympathetically judgmental to start.
So I didn't love this, but it isn't awful, either. I finished the whole thing and didn't regret sticking it out to the end. But it's all Kimberly and the setting/secondary characters that did it for me.
No rating on this one for . . . reasons. It's complicated. Which is why there's a link...
A note about Chaste: All the main characters have strong Christian faith and they don't even consider having sex in the course of the story—as you'd expect, I think. Frankly, this is very well done and exactly how I'd expect those characters to function given their background and expectations. Indeed, this is a very good example of how single adults with the expectation of chastity before marriage function internally.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
It was a little jarring the first time we hit Jules's PoV because I thought this was a single-couple romance. Also because Jules is an emotional goblin who reads years younger than her stated 31. It's probably just as well we don't get Mick's PoV (her ex-boyfriend who is a way better man than she deserves) because actually seeing first-hand the hell she puts him through could have potentially broken my attachment enough to dnf. Her blind devotion to the family farm is unreasoning and unrelenting and I suppose I could have found it more engaging if there was any kind of payoff she was looking forward to. But there wasn't. She has no romantic potential in the region, no hope for a family some day, so she's essentially choosing to caretake a dying prospect for a family legacy that ends, explicitly, with her. So its function on the story was very much like a negative motivation* in that she clung to it in an unreasoning way that didn't actually add anything to her prospective future.
And Sam wasn't any better. Sigh. Okay, Sam is actually worse. He has this fear thing wrapped in guilt that haunts his every action, both romantically and professionally. He gets called on it a lot and many people tell him his guilt isn't justified and that his fear is unreasoning. But he still clings to it in the teeth of losing everything he says he wants; again, both romantically and professionally. So it's a giant negative motivation* that he clings to out of weakness and cowardice.
But the even worse aspect of this fear is that it undermines the Christian faith that is supposed to be at the core of his character. He supposedly has this gift for ministering to teens. And I loved how Kimberly understood and supported that gift and how that is her initial draw to him. And yet Sam spends the entirety of this story resisting his calling. Worse, he has to be reminded, repeatedly and by multiple sources, to give his fears to God and to choose his path in faith. Indeed, this entire story would have short-circuited had he lived what he preached! And I find that a very curious way to go about depicting a character of supposed faith. And I want to be careful because there can be some great story in the struggle to live up to your own ideals and people fall short all the time and those stories are important, I think. But Sam doesn't so much struggle as he simply fails to show up. Until the epiphany in the end, of course. But by that time it was very much too late.
Kimberly is awesome, though. I loved her devotion to her faith and to the community of faith and how she has these outstanding talents that she'd like to put in service to building the faith of others. So even though she's awkward with people and knows she can't do the work herself, she still does her best to support the things she finds important and that includes the Wildfire ministry built up around Sam. And I loved even more how deeply she threw herself into Sam's family farm, both to help immediate needs and to gain an understanding of their financials on a basis deeply enough to do actual and lasting good for their future. And I love that she delivers hard truths even though she knows the most likely outcome is alienating those she wants so badly to like, accept, and respect her. She's my kind of people and my heart ached for her.
And Kate has a great hand with the side characters, giving them depth and emotional resonance beyond the mere needs of the story. Sam's mother stands out as a particularly dynamic example, even though, or likely because, she is so unsympathetically judgmental to start.
So I didn't love this, but it isn't awful, either. I finished the whole thing and didn't regret sticking it out to the end. But it's all Kimberly and the setting/secondary characters that did it for me.
No rating on this one for . . . reasons. It's complicated. Which is why there's a link...
A note about Chaste: All the main characters have strong Christian faith and they don't even consider having sex in the course of the story—as you'd expect, I think. Frankly, this is very well done and exactly how I'd expect those characters to function given their background and expectations. Indeed, this is a very good example of how single adults with the expectation of chastity before marriage function internally.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
December 30, 2019
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Well not bad. I just didn't realize when I got this via NetGalley this was a Christian romance. I tend to stay away from that genre because I just don't enjoy it at all. It didn't help that I realized half way through that this was a sequel to another novel with some of the same characters. This was cute though and I just gave it four stars though it didn't wow me that much. A very solid romance that I can see readers who enjoy Christian fiction enjoying.
"A Girl's Guide to the Outback" follows Samuel (Sam) Payton a youth minister living in VA. Plot reasons cause Sam to quit his job at the church and return to his family's farm in Australia to help out his sister Jules. Sam's coworker Kimberly chases after Sam in order to get him to come back to the ministry with an agreement that if she manages to help the farm become profitable he will return. Sparks fly.
Honestly I didn't find Sam or Kimberly that gripping, they had some hilarious banter and they are obviously attracted to each other. Everything is very PG-13.
There's also a side romance story going on with Sam's sister and their neighbor Mitch. When did we start doing that in romance books? Can we get back to just focusing on the leads and that's it?
The writing was okay and the flow was too.
The setting was fun though since I have only read a handful of romance books that have taken place in Australia.
Well not bad. I just didn't realize when I got this via NetGalley this was a Christian romance. I tend to stay away from that genre because I just don't enjoy it at all. It didn't help that I realized half way through that this was a sequel to another novel with some of the same characters. This was cute though and I just gave it four stars though it didn't wow me that much. A very solid romance that I can see readers who enjoy Christian fiction enjoying.
"A Girl's Guide to the Outback" follows Samuel (Sam) Payton a youth minister living in VA. Plot reasons cause Sam to quit his job at the church and return to his family's farm in Australia to help out his sister Jules. Sam's coworker Kimberly chases after Sam in order to get him to come back to the ministry with an agreement that if she manages to help the farm become profitable he will return. Sparks fly.
Honestly I didn't find Sam or Kimberly that gripping, they had some hilarious banter and they are obviously attracted to each other. Everything is very PG-13.
There's also a side romance story going on with Sam's sister and their neighbor Mitch. When did we start doing that in romance books? Can we get back to just focusing on the leads and that's it?
The writing was okay and the flow was too.
The setting was fun though since I have only read a handful of romance books that have taken place in Australia.
January 27, 2020
I really loved this book. I think from the very start it was the characters that drew me in.
I found all the characters so incredibly likeable.
I loved the Aussie accent, phrases and the descriptions of Australian life and the land.
I was rooting for the jules and Mick and was happy with their ending as much as Kim and Sam.
I lovely read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found all the characters so incredibly likeable.
I loved the Aussie accent, phrases and the descriptions of Australian life and the land.
I was rooting for the jules and Mick and was happy with their ending as much as Kim and Sam.
I lovely read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 24, 2019
I had the great pleasure of reading Jessica Kate's sophomore novel, A Girl’s Guide to the Outback, for endorsement, and let me just say...I loved it! Kate's first novel, Love and Other Mistakes, was a different sort of read for me. I still found myself recommending it because, as a storyteller, Jessica Kate has so many skills that come through on the page, even if the story wasn't exactly for me. But A Girl's Guide to the Outback gave me exactly what I wanted. It is a rom-com with depth, but with the focus firmly planted on the two most important components of romantic comedy: romance and comedy. I loved every minute of my time with Kimberly Foster and Samuel Payton, and highly recommend their story!
May 23, 2020
4.5 stars
"She has more faith in me that I have in myself."
Kimberly Foster and Samuel Payton endured (or enjoyed . . . depending on who you asked or what day of the week it was) a love/hate, fire/ice relationship for three wonderful years. . . if you cared to define butting heads twenty-four-seven as a "relationship". It ended badly. Sam resolutely returned to Australia to help his sister stabilize their fledgling family farm business and Kimberly unsuccessfully led the once vibrant Wildfire youth ministry through two failed successors.
So, what possible reason could Kim have for getting on a jet plane and traveling half-way around the world to Australia in order to convince Samuel Payton that he was burying his God-given talents on a dairy farm? Miraculously, she didn't have to. Sam's sister Jules came up with the idea. Jules was under the delusion that Kim's business savvy was just what they needed to reorganize their assets. Kimberly, on the other hand, had a sneaking suspicion that the experience was going to end up being a pitiful crash-and-burn notation on her resume. But my oh my, if she secretly crushed on Samuel Payton in Virginia, when he stood in front of hundreds of adoring teenagers, how would she ever manage to control her infatuation when the man rode a tractor across the fields of Australia?
This book is amazing. It has zip, it has character, it sizzles, it tingles, it laughs, it cries, it peels back the layers of its soulmates with the precision of a surgeon . . . .with no intention to destroy, but in order to heal, . . . . in order to face fears, so that they might move forward with freedom, and grace, and certainty . . . that God's ways are always higher than ours. I loved it, and so will you! Plus . . . Sam and Kim together? . . . they are worth reading thousands of pages! ( and Jules and Mick aren't so bad, either!)
"She has more faith in me that I have in myself."
Kimberly Foster and Samuel Payton endured (or enjoyed . . . depending on who you asked or what day of the week it was) a love/hate, fire/ice relationship for three wonderful years. . . if you cared to define butting heads twenty-four-seven as a "relationship". It ended badly. Sam resolutely returned to Australia to help his sister stabilize their fledgling family farm business and Kimberly unsuccessfully led the once vibrant Wildfire youth ministry through two failed successors.
So, what possible reason could Kim have for getting on a jet plane and traveling half-way around the world to Australia in order to convince Samuel Payton that he was burying his God-given talents on a dairy farm? Miraculously, she didn't have to. Sam's sister Jules came up with the idea. Jules was under the delusion that Kim's business savvy was just what they needed to reorganize their assets. Kimberly, on the other hand, had a sneaking suspicion that the experience was going to end up being a pitiful crash-and-burn notation on her resume. But my oh my, if she secretly crushed on Samuel Payton in Virginia, when he stood in front of hundreds of adoring teenagers, how would she ever manage to control her infatuation when the man rode a tractor across the fields of Australia?
This book is amazing. It has zip, it has character, it sizzles, it tingles, it laughs, it cries, it peels back the layers of its soulmates with the precision of a surgeon . . . .with no intention to destroy, but in order to heal, . . . . in order to face fears, so that they might move forward with freedom, and grace, and certainty . . . that God's ways are always higher than ours. I loved it, and so will you! Plus . . . Sam and Kim together? . . . they are worth reading thousands of pages! ( and Jules and Mick aren't so bad, either!)
December 10, 2019
This book was so completely hilarious and absolutely swoon-worthy at the same time, it is one of the tales that genuinely deserves the title of rom-com. Of course, how can it be anything but with the four most stubborn young, single people in any kind of proximity together?
We have the lead couple, practical Kim the business woman come to get back the charismic youth pastor, Samuel- even though they can't stand each other (despite the fact that they are both attracted to the other). Then there is Samuel's sister Jules, who takes the stubborn prize, as she tries to stay in control, and Mitch, her neighbor who once loved her... and still does, actually.
Throw all of them together onto a farm in the Australian outback where literally everything is trying to kill them and bankrupt the farm, and it was bound to get interesting. Especially as each of the characters were dealing with their own secret heart-aches: rejection, failure, surrender, and patience respectively.
It all ended just right, too. But if it hadn't ended, and just kept going- I wouldn't have minded that either. I need more rom-coms like this one in my reading list.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher, and the thoughts and opinions are my own.
First published on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...
We have the lead couple, practical Kim the business woman come to get back the charismic youth pastor, Samuel- even though they can't stand each other (despite the fact that they are both attracted to the other). Then there is Samuel's sister Jules, who takes the stubborn prize, as she tries to stay in control, and Mitch, her neighbor who once loved her... and still does, actually.
Throw all of them together onto a farm in the Australian outback where literally everything is trying to kill them and bankrupt the farm, and it was bound to get interesting. Especially as each of the characters were dealing with their own secret heart-aches: rejection, failure, surrender, and patience respectively.
It all ended just right, too. But if it hadn't ended, and just kept going- I wouldn't have minded that either. I need more rom-coms like this one in my reading list.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher, and the thoughts and opinions are my own.
First published on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...
February 12, 2020
4.5
What a delight. With characters from her debut Love and Other Mistakes, Jessica Kate’s A Girl’s Guide to the Outback delivers an entertaining rom-com with plenty of heart and depth.
Ministry leader Samuel Payton is passionate, charismatic, and a tad risk-averse. Co-worker Kimberly Foster has great, but expensive plans to expand the ministry, so naturally, she and Sam can’t help butting heads. He figures it is time for him to leave when he gets a call that his family could use his help in Australia—but Kim cannot let him go that easily.
The story then follows the (mis)adventures of this pair—and another charming couple, too!—as they work through the predicaments before them (and the baggage holding them back). I enjoyed every word of their experience and definitely look forward to reading more from Jessica Kate. In the meantime, if you need a rom-com pick-me-up read (especially with Valentine’s Day this week), I highly recommend reading this one.
This review is also posted on Hallie Reads.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
What a delight. With characters from her debut Love and Other Mistakes, Jessica Kate’s A Girl’s Guide to the Outback delivers an entertaining rom-com with plenty of heart and depth.
Ministry leader Samuel Payton is passionate, charismatic, and a tad risk-averse. Co-worker Kimberly Foster has great, but expensive plans to expand the ministry, so naturally, she and Sam can’t help butting heads. He figures it is time for him to leave when he gets a call that his family could use his help in Australia—but Kim cannot let him go that easily.
The story then follows the (mis)adventures of this pair—and another charming couple, too!—as they work through the predicaments before them (and the baggage holding them back). I enjoyed every word of their experience and definitely look forward to reading more from Jessica Kate. In the meantime, if you need a rom-com pick-me-up read (especially with Valentine’s Day this week), I highly recommend reading this one.
This review is also posted on Hallie Reads.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
January 29, 2023
Много пъти книгите са ми отваряли очите за собствените ми бушуващи емоции и как може да реагирам на тях. Трудностите идват от там да отговоря на предизвикателствата и на ударите и да остана цяла.
* " Смелостта може и да боли, но имаше своите награди. "
A Girls Guide to the Outback ме държа будна до късните часове на нощта. Може би защото бях запозната с усиления труд в собствена ферма , може би заради емоционалната жажда за одобрение или поради несигурността в изборите, които правя, но героите тук можеха да са ми и духовни близнаци. Австралия е страна, в която да изкарваш прехраната си от земята, е истинска руска рулетка. Колкото и страст да влагаш в дните, колкото и часове да прекарваш с животните или на полето , колкото и поколения преди теб да са поддържали фермата, природата винаги има по една жестока изненада в ръкава си. И банките също.
Кимбърли, Самуел, Бътч, Мик и Джулс имаха всеки поотделно своите малки рани в сърцата и заедно всички голямата вяра , че вършат онова, в което са най - добри. Искаха да имат корени и връзка с миналите поколения. Но сърцата им като разперени клони отиваха към щенията на душите им.
* " Нещото, за което често си ядосан, не е нещото, за което всъщност си ядосан.“
Винаги е трудно да погледнем в огледалото, когато сме изпаднали в немилост пред себе си. А книгите много често ни карат да се оглеждаме в образа на страниците, да виждаме себе си под друго име, в друга епоха и в различна земя. И да разберем по - добре себе си, да спасим душите си като спрем да мразим онези, които са ни нанесли най - болезнените травми и да научим, че любовта идва в образа на онзи, който вярва в нас ,дори когато ние сами вече не си вярваме. И че приятелите остават с нас независимо колко пъти ние се отричаме от тях.
Знаменита книга! Струваше си цялото безсъние в студената януарска нощ!
* " Смелостта може и да боли, но имаше своите награди. "
A Girls Guide to the Outback ме държа будна до късните часове на нощта. Може би защото бях запозната с усиления труд в собствена ферма , може би заради емоционалната жажда за одобрение или поради несигурността в изборите, които правя, но героите тук можеха да са ми и духовни близнаци. Австралия е страна, в която да изкарваш прехраната си от земята, е истинска руска рулетка. Колкото и страст да влагаш в дните, колкото и часове да прекарваш с животните или на полето , колкото и поколения преди теб да са поддържали фермата, природата винаги има по една жестока изненада в ръкава си. И банките също.
Кимбърли, Самуел, Бътч, Мик и Джулс имаха всеки поотделно своите малки рани в сърцата и заедно всички голямата вяра , че вършат онова, в което са най - добри. Искаха да имат корени и връзка с миналите поколения. Но сърцата им като разперени клони отиваха към щенията на душите им.
* " Нещото, за което често си ядосан, не е нещото, за което всъщност си ядосан.“
Винаги е трудно да погледнем в огледалото, когато сме изпаднали в немилост пред себе си. А книгите много често ни карат да се оглеждаме в образа на страниците, да виждаме себе си под друго име, в друга епоха и в различна земя. И да разберем по - добре себе си, да спасим душите си като спрем да мразим онези, които са ни нанесли най - болезнените травми и да научим, че любовта идва в образа на онзи, който вярва в нас ,дори когато ние сами вече не си вярваме. И че приятелите остават с нас независимо колко пъти ние се отричаме от тях.
Знаменита книга! Струваше си цялото безсъние в студената януарска нощ!
August 12, 2021
A reread for me. I am glad I read the 1st book in the series Love and Other Mistakes later this year for it to make more sense. Samuel is the youth pastor for a organization. Kimberly is in charge of the business side of the organization. One Samuel and Kimberly butt heads over a new program Samuel moves back to Australia. The program isn't working they want Samuel back so Kimberly flies down under to get him to come back. They she goes on their farm and gets knee deep in farm work but also tries to save the farm itself. During this time Samuel and Kim start to have feeling for each other. Can Kim save the farm and have a relationship with Samuel or will she come back to the Untied States empty handed. This go around I gave it 4 stars. The book is still wonderful but at parts I did find it go at a slower pace. I still recommend this book because it is great. Also read the first book as well, both fit perfectly together!! Hope you read and enjoy!!
April 21, 2022
~4.5 stars!~
This was the perfect book for me to read on our cruise. I found it in the ship's library and was pleasantly surprised with the selection of books they had! The last cruise I had been on only had a couple because of covid. But on this one I think they sanitize them before putting them back on the shelf so that's a win win lol I have never heard of this author before, but found out she has another one as well that I'm looking for to listening to on hoopla later 😄
I love the enemies to friends to lovers trope so this book was right up my alley. I loved how the leads complimented each other well and balanced each other out. Was refreshing! And I could relate a lot in some ways with Kim. Being not as good with words, especially spoken xD, but being better at thinking through things and giving the facts. I also have a tendency to be direct with my thoughts and be a little blunt at times, but I don't mean any harm or ill intent by it. It's more just trying to inform so people can be aware, but I know not everyone wants to hear any of that (Kind of like how Jules was in the book with Kim's advice hahaha) So that's something I'm trying to be a little more self aware about when I am that way 😅 I had an ex like Sam in that he was very extroverted, good at talking with people, and was very charismatic. So that was a little interesting lol In some ways their relationship reminded me of ours. But also in some ways I guess I could relate to Sam, as far as being more cautious at first with trying new things. The ending was actually a little different than I was expecting, but overall I thought this was a fun read though and would definitely read/listen to it again! Looking forward to reading the author's next book!
This was the perfect book for me to read on our cruise. I found it in the ship's library and was pleasantly surprised with the selection of books they had! The last cruise I had been on only had a couple because of covid. But on this one I think they sanitize them before putting them back on the shelf so that's a win win lol I have never heard of this author before, but found out she has another one as well that I'm looking for to listening to on hoopla later 😄
I love the enemies to friends to lovers trope so this book was right up my alley. I loved how the leads complimented each other well and balanced each other out. Was refreshing! And I could relate a lot in some ways with Kim. Being not as good with words, especially spoken xD, but being better at thinking through things and giving the facts. I also have a tendency to be direct with my thoughts and be a little blunt at times, but I don't mean any harm or ill intent by it. It's more just trying to inform so people can be aware, but I know not everyone wants to hear any of that (Kind of like how Jules was in the book with Kim's advice hahaha) So that's something I'm trying to be a little more self aware about when I am that way 😅 I had an ex like Sam in that he was very extroverted, good at talking with people, and was very charismatic. So that was a little interesting lol In some ways their relationship reminded me of ours. But also in some ways I guess I could relate to Sam, as far as being more cautious at first with trying new things. The ending was actually a little different than I was expecting, but overall I thought this was a fun read though and would definitely read/listen to it again! Looking forward to reading the author's next book!
February 15, 2020
I loved this book! A Girl’s Guide to the Outback was such a fun romance in a great setting. Sam and Kimberly were secondary characters in the book Love and Other Mistakes, however, this book definitely reads as a stand alone novel and there are no worries if you have not read Love and Other Mistakes.
This book had so much heart and I loved all of the nuances to this unique story. It was interesting to see how both Sam and Kimberly struggled with things that had happened in their pasts and allowed those situations to impact the decisions they made and what they were willing to risk (or not risk).
The chemistry was great between these two and I also loved the secondary romance between Jules and Mick, which was a second chance possibility for two people who allowed each other to slip away the first time arounnd.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
This book had so much heart and I loved all of the nuances to this unique story. It was interesting to see how both Sam and Kimberly struggled with things that had happened in their pasts and allowed those situations to impact the decisions they made and what they were willing to risk (or not risk).
The chemistry was great between these two and I also loved the secondary romance between Jules and Mick, which was a second chance possibility for two people who allowed each other to slip away the first time arounnd.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
November 13, 2019
This is the second time that I have been privileged to read a Jessica Kate book on #netgalley. While I enjoyed her first book at times, it was a bit too personal. That rarely happened in her second book. The storyline is excellent and complicated. While parts of the story have a happy ending, parts do not. I feel like this is true to real life. Because the author is from Australia, the setting is definitely true to life. I really enjoyed the setting and the characters. Several main themes include unconditional love, forgiveness, acceptance of ourselves and second chances. Although those ideas are emphasized, the book does not seem preachy. With this book, I moved the author up to me, "I can't wait until she releases her next book" list. Romance is an element, but so are struggles and setbacks that we all face. My strong recommendation is my own opinion!
February 3, 2020
3 Reasons to Love & Fear the Outback
Not only have I never read anything by Jessica Kate before, but before reading the synopsis of her book, I’d never heard of her. Right about that time, friends started buzzing about her debut novel, Love and Other Mistakes. Reviews were mixed, but none bad. I had to read this one for myself.
Not only was I treated to a well-written, humorous look at the psyches of two psychologically damaged humans. The way Ms. Kate then took her characters through a process of self-discovery and eventually through Biblical lenses just shows that people still write solid Christian fiction without making it icky and preachy. Well done!
Not only that, but Thomas Nelson still publishes them. *thud* Thank you, TN for the apparent shift back to your roots as a real Christian publisher. Praying it sticks.
The book—seriously, it’s awesome. I kept waiting for that thing to happen—the one where my stomach bottoms out and my heart sinks down with it. That thing where all my hopes for this great book become dashed against mediocrity.
Spoiler. It doesn’t happen.
Instead, Jessica Kate keeps us riveted to the page, makes us believe we’re there with snakes and spiders and kangaroos. We hear the accents, see the love for shortening everything to a nickname ending in “ie,” and end up slathered in Vegemite. What more could we want?
How about those reasons to love and fear the outback?
Love:
As a green American with no clue what life is really like in Australia, it feels very much like one of the “last frontiers” to me—like my life in Mojave as a girl. Except with electricity and running water. They have that. We didn’t. But… I bet we had better cell service…
Blunt speaking. Seriously, if all Aussies are like the characters in A Girl’s Guide to the Outback, I’d be in heaven there. While I’ve learned to couch my words in other words that ensure people know that I care about them even as I say what I think, it’s not natural. I’d rather be able to say, “I think that shirt looks hideous” rather than have to say, “Well, it’s not my favorite, but it sure looks comfortable” as a lead into a final, “Yeah, I really don’t think it’s flattering.” I can just hear several of those Aussies saying, “Seriously? Why would you buy such an ugly shirt?” God bless the Aussies.
Romance. If your heart goes pitter-patter at romance, well. I suspect the Outback is the place to go. More on that in a bit.
Fear:
The weather. It sounds rather extreme to me—kind of like where I live. Except we don’t have cyclones in the desert—and rarely tornadoes. We do have earthquakes, so maybe we’re even on that. What do I know? Still, when your whole world can be upended by a little wind… ahem.
Critters. Again, we have them here. Scorpions, rattlers, all the creepy crawlies. Still, there aren’t that many and not as deadly as the stuff out there. Just sayin’. If you want to stay safe, go where there’s not much in the way of crawlies—like Greenland or Antarctica. 😀
Romance. If this book (and half the movies I’ve seen that take place in Australia) is any indication, if you’re looking for romance, go get lost in the Outback somewhere and pray for rescue. May the spit swapping—erm, I mean kissing commence. Seriously, this book has what I love and hate about romance. It’s real… believable. Understandable. And it’s also sprinkled with those things. Sighness.
If that’s not enough of a hint as to what’s in the book, I don’t know what else to tell you. Great storytelling combined with lovable characters and realistic faith make A Girl’s Guide to the Outback the first book to land on my 2020 favorites list. So glad I requested and received that review copy. Even more thrilled that I loved it.
Recommended for lovers of romance, readers who enjoy some spiritual meat to go with the candy, and folks who are still intrigued by people who leave out half the letters when pronouncing their own country’s name.
Not only have I never read anything by Jessica Kate before, but before reading the synopsis of her book, I’d never heard of her. Right about that time, friends started buzzing about her debut novel, Love and Other Mistakes. Reviews were mixed, but none bad. I had to read this one for myself.
Not only was I treated to a well-written, humorous look at the psyches of two psychologically damaged humans. The way Ms. Kate then took her characters through a process of self-discovery and eventually through Biblical lenses just shows that people still write solid Christian fiction without making it icky and preachy. Well done!
Not only that, but Thomas Nelson still publishes them. *thud* Thank you, TN for the apparent shift back to your roots as a real Christian publisher. Praying it sticks.
The book—seriously, it’s awesome. I kept waiting for that thing to happen—the one where my stomach bottoms out and my heart sinks down with it. That thing where all my hopes for this great book become dashed against mediocrity.
Spoiler. It doesn’t happen.
Instead, Jessica Kate keeps us riveted to the page, makes us believe we’re there with snakes and spiders and kangaroos. We hear the accents, see the love for shortening everything to a nickname ending in “ie,” and end up slathered in Vegemite. What more could we want?
How about those reasons to love and fear the outback?
Love:
As a green American with no clue what life is really like in Australia, it feels very much like one of the “last frontiers” to me—like my life in Mojave as a girl. Except with electricity and running water. They have that. We didn’t. But… I bet we had better cell service…
Blunt speaking. Seriously, if all Aussies are like the characters in A Girl’s Guide to the Outback, I’d be in heaven there. While I’ve learned to couch my words in other words that ensure people know that I care about them even as I say what I think, it’s not natural. I’d rather be able to say, “I think that shirt looks hideous” rather than have to say, “Well, it’s not my favorite, but it sure looks comfortable” as a lead into a final, “Yeah, I really don’t think it’s flattering.” I can just hear several of those Aussies saying, “Seriously? Why would you buy such an ugly shirt?” God bless the Aussies.
Romance. If your heart goes pitter-patter at romance, well. I suspect the Outback is the place to go. More on that in a bit.
Fear:
The weather. It sounds rather extreme to me—kind of like where I live. Except we don’t have cyclones in the desert—and rarely tornadoes. We do have earthquakes, so maybe we’re even on that. What do I know? Still, when your whole world can be upended by a little wind… ahem.
Critters. Again, we have them here. Scorpions, rattlers, all the creepy crawlies. Still, there aren’t that many and not as deadly as the stuff out there. Just sayin’. If you want to stay safe, go where there’s not much in the way of crawlies—like Greenland or Antarctica. 😀
Romance. If this book (and half the movies I’ve seen that take place in Australia) is any indication, if you’re looking for romance, go get lost in the Outback somewhere and pray for rescue. May the spit swapping—erm, I mean kissing commence. Seriously, this book has what I love and hate about romance. It’s real… believable. Understandable. And it’s also sprinkled with those things. Sighness.
If that’s not enough of a hint as to what’s in the book, I don’t know what else to tell you. Great storytelling combined with lovable characters and realistic faith make A Girl’s Guide to the Outback the first book to land on my 2020 favorites list. So glad I requested and received that review copy. Even more thrilled that I loved it.
Recommended for lovers of romance, readers who enjoy some spiritual meat to go with the candy, and folks who are still intrigued by people who leave out half the letters when pronouncing their own country’s name.
June 14, 2022
Jessica Kate has produced an incredible story of foes to friends, with hysterical, witty lines that will have you laughing out loud in no time. Filled with good humor this page-turner will keep you up well past your bedtime in your desire to know what happens with Kimberly, Sam, Jules, and Mick.
From the time we encounter Kimberly in her potato head costume we are enamored with her personality and zest for life. As we get to know Kimberly, we see a side of her that is unexpected and makes her even more relatable. As she struggles with feelings of not being wanted, we can't help but root for her as we have all felt that at times.
We meet Sam in his Captain America costume and fall in love with this hero. Not your typical youth pastor, he is also fun-loving and full of life. He connects with his students on a level that Kimberly can only dream of. He is level-headed, a deep-thinker, and seemingly self-assured. The more we get to know him the more relatable he becomes as well, as he harbors insecurities and guilt that he is dealing with. He and Kimberly butt heads quite a bit, but their engagements are hilarious and full of zingers. If they could get along, would they accomplish more?
I absolutely loved this story. It is well-written, the narrator possesses a wonderful voice and the Australian accent sticks with you. The descriptions are so colorful that they come alive, and you can see them. I was impressed over and over again with how engaging the story was, how descriptive it was, and the overall flow of the story. We not only get to meet and get to know Kimberly and Sam, but we also meet Jules, Sam's sister, and her ex-boyfriend/Sam's best friend, Mick, and we get to know their story as well. Usually, when you have so many characters some can get lost in the shuffle, but that did not happen here. I felt like I was there getting to know them all.
I also enjoyed the references to pop culture that were thrown in. I heartily recommend A Girl's Guide to the Outback to anyone who loves a good romantic comedy. I had never read anything by Jessica Kate before, but I will be looking for more from this author, and I would advise you to do the same.
- Reviewed by Cindy D. (UCL Volunteer)
From the time we encounter Kimberly in her potato head costume we are enamored with her personality and zest for life. As we get to know Kimberly, we see a side of her that is unexpected and makes her even more relatable. As she struggles with feelings of not being wanted, we can't help but root for her as we have all felt that at times.
We meet Sam in his Captain America costume and fall in love with this hero. Not your typical youth pastor, he is also fun-loving and full of life. He connects with his students on a level that Kimberly can only dream of. He is level-headed, a deep-thinker, and seemingly self-assured. The more we get to know him the more relatable he becomes as well, as he harbors insecurities and guilt that he is dealing with. He and Kimberly butt heads quite a bit, but their engagements are hilarious and full of zingers. If they could get along, would they accomplish more?
I absolutely loved this story. It is well-written, the narrator possesses a wonderful voice and the Australian accent sticks with you. The descriptions are so colorful that they come alive, and you can see them. I was impressed over and over again with how engaging the story was, how descriptive it was, and the overall flow of the story. We not only get to meet and get to know Kimberly and Sam, but we also meet Jules, Sam's sister, and her ex-boyfriend/Sam's best friend, Mick, and we get to know their story as well. Usually, when you have so many characters some can get lost in the shuffle, but that did not happen here. I felt like I was there getting to know them all.
I also enjoyed the references to pop culture that were thrown in. I heartily recommend A Girl's Guide to the Outback to anyone who loves a good romantic comedy. I had never read anything by Jessica Kate before, but I will be looking for more from this author, and I would advise you to do the same.
- Reviewed by Cindy D. (UCL Volunteer)
February 8, 2020
You'd find two love stories in this book. Love stories between two different set of people but above all between the individuals and God.
There is a lesson in this book for everyone. This book is filled with sweet humor, breathtaking chemistry, grit, fearlessness, loyalty, trust in God...
First of, we meet the fiery, fearless Kim and the sweet, scared Sam. Their's was a roller coaster of insecurities, unrequited admiration and respect and a lot of self discoveries. I've never seen a book deal with deeply buried insecurities like this book.
Sam carried his insecurities like a signpost on his forehead, Kimberly had been wounded by those who should have loved her and that made her somewhat fearless and archenemies with Sam for a long time. I loved reading about their individual and collective journeys to letting go and moving on with God's purpose for their lives. It was so sweet how they complemented each other. A lot of hurt and words flew around but the important lesson here was when God is involved nothing stops Him.
Their story will inspire you to make changes you've been afraid and reluctant to.
Then we meet Mick and Jules. Jules is Sam's sister and in charge of their family farm in Australia that has been in the family for four generations. She allowed her place in the farm to define and cage her. Mick was frustrated with Jules because of their past. Jules had life changing decisions to make if only she could trust God and learn that she wasn't defined by what she did but by Whose she is.
There is something for everyone in this book. No review would do it justice. You just have to read the book yourself.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
There is a lesson in this book for everyone. This book is filled with sweet humor, breathtaking chemistry, grit, fearlessness, loyalty, trust in God...
First of, we meet the fiery, fearless Kim and the sweet, scared Sam. Their's was a roller coaster of insecurities, unrequited admiration and respect and a lot of self discoveries. I've never seen a book deal with deeply buried insecurities like this book.
Sam carried his insecurities like a signpost on his forehead, Kimberly had been wounded by those who should have loved her and that made her somewhat fearless and archenemies with Sam for a long time. I loved reading about their individual and collective journeys to letting go and moving on with God's purpose for their lives. It was so sweet how they complemented each other. A lot of hurt and words flew around but the important lesson here was when God is involved nothing stops Him.
Their story will inspire you to make changes you've been afraid and reluctant to.
Then we meet Mick and Jules. Jules is Sam's sister and in charge of their family farm in Australia that has been in the family for four generations. She allowed her place in the farm to define and cage her. Mick was frustrated with Jules because of their past. Jules had life changing decisions to make if only she could trust God and learn that she wasn't defined by what she did but by Whose she is.
There is something for everyone in this book. No review would do it justice. You just have to read the book yourself.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
June 10, 2021
3.5⭐️
First thing to note is, wow is there a TON of pop culture references!!!!! Too many for my taste.
Kimberley, passionate about Wildfire (an organization that loves on & and shares the Gospel with teenagers) sets out on what some might call a fool’s errand. That is, leaving the US for the Australian outback to try to convince Wildfire’s former Youth Pastor, Sam, to return to the ministry.
As she is welcomed to their family farm by his sister Jules, things get a bit tense between Kimberley & Sam. He sees her as a profit-hungry, ladder-climbing business woman and wants nothing to do with her capitalizing the once-wholesome Wildfire.
Amidst this, Jules is trying to revive the failing family farm and asks Kimberley for her business advice, which does not sit well with Sam.
The faith in this is nice as many of the characters discover what it means to serve God and follow His lead rather than relying on their own common sense. I also laughed out loud a couple of times, so that’s always great in a book!
First thing to note is, wow is there a TON of pop culture references!!!!! Too many for my taste.
Kimberley, passionate about Wildfire (an organization that loves on & and shares the Gospel with teenagers) sets out on what some might call a fool’s errand. That is, leaving the US for the Australian outback to try to convince Wildfire’s former Youth Pastor, Sam, to return to the ministry.
As she is welcomed to their family farm by his sister Jules, things get a bit tense between Kimberley & Sam. He sees her as a profit-hungry, ladder-climbing business woman and wants nothing to do with her capitalizing the once-wholesome Wildfire.
Amidst this, Jules is trying to revive the failing family farm and asks Kimberley for her business advice, which does not sit well with Sam.
The faith in this is nice as many of the characters discover what it means to serve God and follow His lead rather than relying on their own common sense. I also laughed out loud a couple of times, so that’s always great in a book!
January 7, 2024
Jessica Kate's second full-length novel is a delight. This Australia-set romance is a breath of fresh air. Sam and Kimberly's enemies-to-lovers potential has only grown more pronounced since they were introduced in Love and Other Mistakes. Though they share a passion to minister to hurting youth, their different visions on the future of the Wildfire ministry have only grown more pronounced as the two continually clash, driving Sam home to his family's farm in Australia. With Wildfire in jeopardy, Kimberly resolves to do anything to bring Sam back to the States, including lending her business acumen to Jules, Sam's sister and owner of the family's financially troubled dairy farm. This is a classic fish-out-of-water tale as Kimberly struggles to cope with the rigors of working farm life. But united in their drive to save Jules' farm, both Kimberly and Sam begin to realize that everything that made them so incompatible before may have masked a professional partnership - and a personal relationship - worth saving.
Kate leans into her years growing up on a dairy farm to give Kimberly's intro to the farm an authentic flair and heart. Jules and Sam's struggle to save their family's heritage is heartbreaking and inspiring in turn, written with a compassion and authenticity that speaks not only to the farming experience but to anyone who has struggled financially to make - and sustain - a dream (all too relatable in the current pandemic economic environment!). And speaking of Jules, her secondary storyline with Mick was every bit as romantic and swoonworthy as Sam and Kimberly's! Its a rare thing to find a B plotline as strongly developed as theirs, that in no way detracts from the main characters' development.
Both romantic plotlines ask each character to confront how they will choose to respond to change. Fear of change and fear of vulnerability are twin forces capable of driving one to stay stuck in a place that is not necessarily bad - however it can be less than what comes when one embraces a life
of sold out trust in the God who made us to pen a life story better than we could ever dream. Both Sam and his sister each face this choice on some level, challenged to hold loosely to the history that made them when change becomes inevitable. And both Kimberly and Jules struggle to balance strength with vulnerability, and loved each woman's journey toward boldly braving the risk of rejection in order to step into a future each thought long out of reach.
Girl's Guide is a rom-com lover's dream! Kate's peppered it with Aussie slang and saturated it in the color and atmosphere of her gorgeous homeland. Its so refreshing to read a contemporary inspy novel set outside the US. With compelling characters and realistic relationship development, this is the rare unapologetically inspy novel that is never heavy-handed. Kate balances faith elements with humor, her characters living and struggling with faith, fear, and the future in a compelling, realistic way. Very highly recommended. I cannot wait to see where Kate takes readers next!
Kate leans into her years growing up on a dairy farm to give Kimberly's intro to the farm an authentic flair and heart. Jules and Sam's struggle to save their family's heritage is heartbreaking and inspiring in turn, written with a compassion and authenticity that speaks not only to the farming experience but to anyone who has struggled financially to make - and sustain - a dream (all too relatable in the current pandemic economic environment!). And speaking of Jules, her secondary storyline with Mick was every bit as romantic and swoonworthy as Sam and Kimberly's! Its a rare thing to find a B plotline as strongly developed as theirs, that in no way detracts from the main characters' development.
Both romantic plotlines ask each character to confront how they will choose to respond to change. Fear of change and fear of vulnerability are twin forces capable of driving one to stay stuck in a place that is not necessarily bad - however it can be less than what comes when one embraces a life
of sold out trust in the God who made us to pen a life story better than we could ever dream. Both Sam and his sister each face this choice on some level, challenged to hold loosely to the history that made them when change becomes inevitable. And both Kimberly and Jules struggle to balance strength with vulnerability, and loved each woman's journey toward boldly braving the risk of rejection in order to step into a future each thought long out of reach.
Girl's Guide is a rom-com lover's dream! Kate's peppered it with Aussie slang and saturated it in the color and atmosphere of her gorgeous homeland. Its so refreshing to read a contemporary inspy novel set outside the US. With compelling characters and realistic relationship development, this is the rare unapologetically inspy novel that is never heavy-handed. Kate balances faith elements with humor, her characters living and struggling with faith, fear, and the future in a compelling, realistic way. Very highly recommended. I cannot wait to see where Kate takes readers next!
March 7, 2020
This story was a charming read. What I found myself loving most was the setting. Having never been down under, I've enjoyed learning the culture through this fun book. This novel was well-written - filled with witty banter and engaging characters. I can't wait for more from this talented author.
August 27, 2023
I was so sad I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I just couldn't connect with the characters, and unfortunately the point of views throughout the story kept jumping back forth and too quick a pace for me.
March 25, 2020
4.5/5 stars!
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
April 6, 2020
So funny! So cute! So lovely! This author got my attention.
December 18, 2019
This book was a total surprise. I don't know what made me request it, but I'm glad I did. So, so good!
Kim and Sam are the main characters but we also see Jules and Mick, who already have a past relationship between them.
When Kim goes to Australia to help Sam's sister, Jules, with her dairy farm's financial situation, she's hoping to convince Sam to return to the US to continue is work as a youth pastor in charge. Kim is new to everything but she doesn't hesitate to help with whatever is needed.
The setting was amazing and it provided the backdrop for Sam and Kim to get past their perceived animosity towards each other. But they've actually been crushing on each other for three years and don't know how to deal with their emotions.
I loved this story and couldn't put it down. Highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
Kim and Sam are the main characters but we also see Jules and Mick, who already have a past relationship between them.
When Kim goes to Australia to help Sam's sister, Jules, with her dairy farm's financial situation, she's hoping to convince Sam to return to the US to continue is work as a youth pastor in charge. Kim is new to everything but she doesn't hesitate to help with whatever is needed.
The setting was amazing and it provided the backdrop for Sam and Kim to get past their perceived animosity towards each other. But they've actually been crushing on each other for three years and don't know how to deal with their emotions.
I loved this story and couldn't put it down. Highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
February 18, 2020
The writing style was strange ... Not bad but not super either ...
I was really confused while reading this story ...
Had a long time until I got used to the style , But unfortunately I couldn't connect with the story or the characters
I was really confused while reading this story ...
Had a long time until I got used to the style , But unfortunately I couldn't connect with the story or the characters
April 3, 2022
This was such a cute read. For most of the book this was 3-3.5 for me, I got distracted many times and had a hard time connecting at times to the characters but the ending 25% made it bump to 4 stars. Super cute read and liked the Christian faith content. 💙 More to come in a reading vlog update ☺️
February 9, 2020
A GIRL'S GUIDE TO THE OUTBACK is a story of finding self worth not in others, but in the God who loves you, and being willing to let go of fear in order to let God work in your life. The setting is rugged and charming, with characters who struggle with self-doubt and loss, but who find friendship, family, and love. Highly recommended to inspirational romance fans!
This story was a roller-coaster ride of humor, friendship, struggle, disaster, faith, family, and romance that pulled on all my emotions. I laughed and cried, smiled and swooned. The characters were all easy to relate to and I loved them so much! I also liked that there were two different romances. Sometimes that can be a problem for me in a story, but it worked for me here. I loved all the banter between the love interests and the ribbing between siblings and friends. These characters, particularly Sam and Kim, have some deep heartache and fears to work through. It really broke my heart watching them deal with their hurts, both from the past and during this story. However, it made the sweet and happy moments that much sweeter. There was one thing that tied things up maybe too perfectly having to do with Kim's mom that could have been left out, but that was a small thing. Otherwise, I enjoyed every minute of this story.
In the end, was it what I wished for? With a charming Australian setting for most of the story, wonderful characters, sweet romance, and an emotional journey that will pull on the reader's heart, there's much to love. Grab this one if you're an inspy contemporary romance reader! I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to see what Kate writes next!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This story was a roller-coaster ride of humor, friendship, struggle, disaster, faith, family, and romance that pulled on all my emotions. I laughed and cried, smiled and swooned. The characters were all easy to relate to and I loved them so much! I also liked that there were two different romances. Sometimes that can be a problem for me in a story, but it worked for me here. I loved all the banter between the love interests and the ribbing between siblings and friends. These characters, particularly Sam and Kim, have some deep heartache and fears to work through. It really broke my heart watching them deal with their hurts, both from the past and during this story. However, it made the sweet and happy moments that much sweeter. There was one thing that tied things up maybe too perfectly having to do with Kim's mom that could have been left out, but that was a small thing. Otherwise, I enjoyed every minute of this story.
In the end, was it what I wished for? With a charming Australian setting for most of the story, wonderful characters, sweet romance, and an emotional journey that will pull on the reader's heart, there's much to love. Grab this one if you're an inspy contemporary romance reader! I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to see what Kate writes next!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
February 1, 2020
Full of Aussie slangs and humour, this delightful book will have you laughing and crying as the characters wade their way through major life decisions and romantic entanglements (and a whole heap of cow muck).
Kimberley does everything she can to keep Wildfire, a youth drop-in Center, surviving. She even has big plans for expansion, if she could just get founder and youth pastor Sam on board. But instead, they constantly butt heads. When Sam up and leaves the program after rejecting her expansion plan she has no choice but to follow him to his family dairy farm in rural Australia in the hopes of winning him back. While in Australia, Kim falls in love with Sam’s tenacious sister and the family history that is wrapped up in the farm - everything she’s never had. But as she and Sam form a tenuous truce to start working together, the sparks start to fly as each reveals a hidden side of themselves. But can their relationship last if their plans fall apart?
While I enjoyed the story of youth ministry start ups, big dreams and a dairy farm to save, it was the characters that I really fell in love with. Kim is so outwardly strong and confident. But I could relate to the quivering, hurt mess she is inside. She has never felt like she belonged, never felt like she was worth anything, constantly striving to be good enough for her demanding mother. And Sam, through his blinded fear, has contributed to that. Sam, for his part, has been burnt from past failures and from misplaced criticism. His fear drives him, leaving him constantly at odds with Kim’s ambitious plans. While their new plans succeed and fail, it is the mending of the heart that drives this story. Kim and Sam start, not quite as enemies, but with plenty of shared hurt and past inflicted wounds. As they work together on Sam’s family’s farm - and Kim doesn’t hold back, jumping straight into the messy work- they share more of themselves and learn to really listen to each other. Their growing relationship is slow to start and certainly doesn’t jump from enemies to attraction. But once that spark does creep in, whoa boy, talk about chemistry.
Alongside Kim and Sam’s stories, is Sam’s sister Jules. She is committed to saving the farm and keeping her ex, vet Mick, at arms length. I’ll just say, there is a fantastic bonus romance to enjoy.
There is pretty much every Aussie slang referenced in this book, but it’s not too over the top. And it’s written for a USA audience, with the explanations for the sayings, words or objects woven into the story (and for the record, Vegemite is awesome).
A Girl’s Guide To The Outback is a fun and funny romance with plenty of heart.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Kimberley does everything she can to keep Wildfire, a youth drop-in Center, surviving. She even has big plans for expansion, if she could just get founder and youth pastor Sam on board. But instead, they constantly butt heads. When Sam up and leaves the program after rejecting her expansion plan she has no choice but to follow him to his family dairy farm in rural Australia in the hopes of winning him back. While in Australia, Kim falls in love with Sam’s tenacious sister and the family history that is wrapped up in the farm - everything she’s never had. But as she and Sam form a tenuous truce to start working together, the sparks start to fly as each reveals a hidden side of themselves. But can their relationship last if their plans fall apart?
While I enjoyed the story of youth ministry start ups, big dreams and a dairy farm to save, it was the characters that I really fell in love with. Kim is so outwardly strong and confident. But I could relate to the quivering, hurt mess she is inside. She has never felt like she belonged, never felt like she was worth anything, constantly striving to be good enough for her demanding mother. And Sam, through his blinded fear, has contributed to that. Sam, for his part, has been burnt from past failures and from misplaced criticism. His fear drives him, leaving him constantly at odds with Kim’s ambitious plans. While their new plans succeed and fail, it is the mending of the heart that drives this story. Kim and Sam start, not quite as enemies, but with plenty of shared hurt and past inflicted wounds. As they work together on Sam’s family’s farm - and Kim doesn’t hold back, jumping straight into the messy work- they share more of themselves and learn to really listen to each other. Their growing relationship is slow to start and certainly doesn’t jump from enemies to attraction. But once that spark does creep in, whoa boy, talk about chemistry.
Alongside Kim and Sam’s stories, is Sam’s sister Jules. She is committed to saving the farm and keeping her ex, vet Mick, at arms length. I’ll just say, there is a fantastic bonus romance to enjoy.
There is pretty much every Aussie slang referenced in this book, but it’s not too over the top. And it’s written for a USA audience, with the explanations for the sayings, words or objects woven into the story (and for the record, Vegemite is awesome).
A Girl’s Guide To The Outback is a fun and funny romance with plenty of heart.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
February 17, 2020
Thank you to Jessica Kate, Thomas Nelson Books & NetGalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
When I received this novel, I didn't know that it was a sequel. It isn't listed as so, therefore, I had no clue. I read this book really with no problem, but after reading the first book, Love and Other Mistakes, I really understand the characters more than I did before and can give a true review on A Girl's Guide to the Outback.
The first thing I really enjoyed about this novel was the humor. Even through this is classified as a "Christian romance", I thought there were a lot of good moments that I didn't expect. There are some parts that are genuinely funny, but others that are so awkward that you can't help but giggle at the weirdness of it.
The characters were straight up damaged. I loved learning about Sam and Kimberly. I read their stories and I found it really interesting. They developed so well through this novel that by the end, I was really rooting for whatever outcome I was bound to get.
Learning about Australia was such an amazing part of this story. I've never traveled outside of the United States and I feel like I had been to Australia after reading this book. It was very detailed and I got to really see how Australians act and talk. I didn't think it was too over-the-top like some books with a foreign setting.
Overall, I think that Jessica Kate did a fantastic job with this one. I loved learning about the characters and how they work, by themselves and together. I am definitely giving her other novels a try!
When I received this novel, I didn't know that it was a sequel. It isn't listed as so, therefore, I had no clue. I read this book really with no problem, but after reading the first book, Love and Other Mistakes, I really understand the characters more than I did before and can give a true review on A Girl's Guide to the Outback.
The first thing I really enjoyed about this novel was the humor. Even through this is classified as a "Christian romance", I thought there were a lot of good moments that I didn't expect. There are some parts that are genuinely funny, but others that are so awkward that you can't help but giggle at the weirdness of it.
The characters were straight up damaged. I loved learning about Sam and Kimberly. I read their stories and I found it really interesting. They developed so well through this novel that by the end, I was really rooting for whatever outcome I was bound to get.
Learning about Australia was such an amazing part of this story. I've never traveled outside of the United States and I feel like I had been to Australia after reading this book. It was very detailed and I got to really see how Australians act and talk. I didn't think it was too over-the-top like some books with a foreign setting.
Overall, I think that Jessica Kate did a fantastic job with this one. I loved learning about the characters and how they work, by themselves and together. I am definitely giving her other novels a try!
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