Sunday, February 16, 2020

A Girl's Guide to the Outback | Book Review


My Review

Once again, being a romcom (and me a not-so-romantic), I wasn’t 100% sure what I was getting into. But I love comedy, so why not give it a try? And it was funny. Sometimes really awkwardly funny more than just can’t-help-but-laugh funny, but there was humor twined throughout the story.

The Australian setting was really cool, and I feel like Jessica gives a great tour-guide in her book, explaining terminology and such that we Americans aren’t used to.

The storyline overall was very interesting. In a way, it moved slowly for me—as a lot happened while the main plotline crawled forward. Or maybe I was just impatient to get to the solution faster (because I’m more of a Kim personality).

The characters were diverse and interesting. I loved their backstory and how it was woven into the present-day struggles they faced.

The spiritual thread definitely made this book stronger. At first I was wondering if it was going to be a typical world-influenced, mission-building story, but that seemed to be the misconception of one MC’s point-of-view in the beginning. There were many times when the story seemed independent of a spiritual plot, but when it came down to the end, it was a beautiful message of surrendering to God’s hand (and leaving it there) and releasing past confusion and discouragements when He’s leading an individual on a new path.

Everything that could be defined as “romantic content” was what made me the most uncomfortable. I’m just not appreciative of descriptions such as “her uterus did a backflip of approval” and “sexy” as a description and wondering if a girl has pajamas on under her robe. I guess… they may be very real guy/girl thoughts, but I personally feel like these are fleshly lusts that aren’t what should be paraded for a God-honoring, clean romance. I realize these are my personal thoughts, so if things like that don’t bother you as a reader, you’ll probably find nothing wrong with this book. There are some passionate kisses, but overall it would be considered a clean romance.

 *I received this book from Celebrate Lit and happily provided my honest review*

About the Book
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 below 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?
Click here to get your copy.
About the Author
Australian author Jessica Kate writes inspirational romances with wit, sass, and grit. Jessica is a screenwriting groupie, cohost of the StoryNerds vlog and podcasts, and her favorite place to be—apart from Mum and Dad’s back deck—is a theme park. She has traveled North America and Australia, and samples her favorite pasta wherever she goes—but the best (so far) is still the place around the corner from her corporate day job as a training developer. She loves watching sitcoms with her housemates and being a leader in a new church plant. Visit her online at jessicakatewriting.com; Instagram: jessicakatewriting; Facebook: jessicakatewriting; Twitter: @JessicaKate05.

Exclusive Excerpt

Click here to read an exclusive excerpt of the book!

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