When Nat's fiance, Jem, left her 10 weeks before her wedding, her life fell apart. She felt she had done something wrong to cause the break-up and his fleeing the city for Chicago. When her dad was diagnosed with cancer, she left college to help pay the bills and support her family. As her life is spiralling out of control, the last thing she expects is for Jem to return with a nine month old son seven years later. When she needs a job, she does not think it will be nannying for Jem. As her dad's cancer returns, her dream job about to fall into her lap and her relationship with Jem rekindling, she falls apart. She can't do it all! Should she be trying to doing it all? Where does God want her to go? What path should she follow?

Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate is about family, finding yourself, dealing with the past and trying to find your happily ever after. There is romance, heartbreak, trust issues, illness, faith and more. Once I started this book, I had a hard time putting it down, just one more chapter.... I wanted to find out what was going to happen between Jem and Nat, Lily and her parents, Jem and his father, Lily and Nick, Mike and Steph and so on. I became invested in the characters, they were believable and relatable. I felt their pain, their self-doubt and fear. Nat is so confused. She thinks she is doing what she needs to do, working in ministry has been her plan all her life and this is her chance, but at what cost? Jem is conflicted. He wants to reconcile with Nat and his father, but there seem to be so many roadblocks. Can forgiveness open the doors to reconciliation? There were many times I was angry with the characters. Can't they just get over themselves? Why don't they see what they are doing to each other? Human nature caused them to make so many mistakes, but real, human mistakes anyone could make. Recognizing those mistakes and their effect on others, forgiving themselves and others, following the path God has for them and praying for guidance will help to heal and rebuild those relationships, if they can take the first step.

This was an emotional story, from happiness to anger, fear, heartbreak, sorrow, grief, sadness, love and more. It ran the gamut. I wanted to help these characters move forward. I was totally invested in their lives and enjoyed this story very much. If you like contemporary fiction, Christian fiction, family drama or second chance stories, then pick up Love and Other Mistakes, you won't regret it.

Natalie was broken-hearted when her fiance Jem broke off their engagement 7 years ago. She has had a series of other disappointments and heartaches since then, including having to quit university after her adored father was stricken with cancer and working a run of dead-end jobs, including the most recent from which she's been made redundant. Now single-dad Jem is back in town with his baby son and needs a nanny. There is no way that Natalie would consider working for someone she still hates, but it's her only option at the moment. Can they forgive each other and give their relationship a second chance or is this yet another mistake to add to the list? But wait ... there's more. Although Natalie and Jem are the main characters, Jem's 16-year-old niece Lily is also a POV character. Her family is disintegrating around her and she comes to live with Jem until things settle down. There are a lot of other issues that I won't go into due to spoilers. Suffice to say, this is not your standard rom-com.

This is Jessica Kate's debut novel and I think she's done a good job with some complicated material. I was expecting a fairly light romance, but there are a lot of heavier issues. The writing style is good and there are a lot of fresh, creative metaphors and similes, often with a bit of sass and quirk. I've never read a novel that described monthly pain as Edward Scissorhands doing the salsa in someone's uterus before! However, there were a lot of pop culture references (e.g. singers, actors, brand names) that were lost if you didn't know who/what they were. Some of those will also probably date fairly quickly, but I did like the originality.

Through the characters and story development, we see that life is messy. These were not cardboard cutout characters, but real people with flaws. Different aspects of Christian faith are also dealt with, as the characters have to work through various issues such as forgiveness and identity. Although it was great that the story had a deeper level, I felt there were a few too many issues. Natalie and Jem had a lot going on just with their own relationship, Jem's baby, and issues they had with their own parents and why Natalie was pushing herself to win a ministry internship. However, there was another whole story to do with Jem's niece and the problems in her family. The fact that Lily was 16, also pushed that more into YA territory and probably could have been a separate book in itself.

However, I liked the interesting take on Jem and Natalie's situation and I was motivated to keep reading to see how it all panned out. If you like a light fluffy romance, this book probably won't be for you. But if you like to see real people grappling with difficult decisions and life choices, this book has a lot to recommend it.

This was a fun romance but it also had a lot more going on as Natalie was dealing with so much. I loved the humor in it but I actually wished there had been more of that and not quite so much of everything going wrong. Natalie's trying to juggle so much and I found myself getting a little overwhelmed imagining it! I liked her but I couldn't picture wanting to be a leader in a ministry so I couldn't really relate to that. I could relate to thinking for years you were going to do one thing and having a hard time letting that go. I liked Jeremy, too, and his baby stole the show! I could just picture how adorable he was. I really felt for Jeremy and the tough relationship he had with his dad. He never felt like he could measure up and that influenced how he viewed God. Lili also struggled with trying to be perfect as a pastor's kid and believed her parents' and God's love depended on that. My heart broke for Lili and what she was going through with her parents. It would be awful to be put in the middle like she was. I was glad that the truth came out in multiple situations and people finally got clarity on the past so they can move forward. Natalie and Jeremy both had a strong faith now and struggled with forgiveness. There were some good romantic moments. I also loved that a couple characters were Australian, like the author. It was fun to listen to their accents in my head as I read the book! I would recommend this story if you like romance mixed with heavier life issues!

I received this book from JustRead Tours. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

I struggled reading this book. It started off good, but fell flat for me. It just didn’t seem logical and was a bit confusing with all the characters.

There are three POVs and stories going on about life and forgiveness. When it rains it pours for Natalie. Life is catching up to her. Nat's dad has had cancer for a while and doesn't feel the best lately. She's been helping her parents pay the medical bills so her savings is gone. Obligated to pitch for her office to not close in 20 minutes that's when she gets a phone call saying she's the emergency contact and needs to come quick. Presentation didn't happen, she and her coworkers lost their job. On top of that, her ex-fiancé is back in town with a new bundle of joy and needs a babysitter. The only good thing in her life is a new opportunity for an internship that could lead to her dream job after a few months. She needs another job to pay the bills, something that is flexible. Now she's seeing a lot more of her ex than she ever wanted to.

Jeremy is a single dad that moved back home for a job. Baby mama, Chloe, is out of the picture so its just the two boys trying to figure out their new normal. With Natalie babysitting for him during the day and his niece in the afternoon maybe he can finally live up to his father's expectations and reconnect with the people he left behind years ago.

Liliana has a passion for art but when her newest project gets broken when she catches her dad cheating with her teacher, she doesn't know how to repair her life. Her dad asks her not to tell anyone what she saw. Needing a break from her dad and the trouble at home, Lili temporarily moves in with her Uncle Jem to help babysit her cousin but she has no one to turn to.

The whole time I was reading the book I just wanted to snack on M&Ms! Natalie is obsessed with all the flavors, and so am I. She hides them around the house and always has some handy. I can totally relate! I may or may not have a gigantic variety bag of snack sized candies in my cupboard now.

I liked how real all of the characters seemed. Life is messy and even though this is a romantic comedy the romance really was light in the background. Everyone in the story has there own pile of problems they are dealing with. Life is hard, I can sympathize.

I was shocked to learn that Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate is a debut novel. How is that possible? Kate’s writing is that of a pro with several celebrated novels under her belt. I found the characters in this story to be original, complex, and authentic. The way each character works through (or doesn’t) their true-to-life issues felt very relatable. I found myself laughing hysterically one minute and then sobbing the next as my heart was sucker-punched by an event I didn’t see coming. The thematic discussions that permeate the text are timely and often made me stop to either think about my past or consider how I would deal with whatever dysfunction the character was currently experiencing. For me, Love and Other Mistakes was quite the interactive read and I loved every second!

Natalie, the story’s heroine, has dreamed of one day following in the footsteps of her beloved minister-father and becoming a major leader in a church ministry. She has convinced herself that the only way to make her earthly, and Heavenly, father proud is by throwing herself into ministry at the expense of everything and everyone. Natalie often puts her job first above family and friends because she craves approval. What’s funny is that Natalie hates most of what the job entails — public speaking and being in front of large crowds. Natalie’s myopic drive to be a top member of a church ministry ends up burning her out to the point of near exhaustion, and it virtually destroys her significant relationships. Natalie’s real issue, of course, is that she isn’t listening to God and following His path for her. Instead, she is forcing her own path based on what she thinks God and her dad want her to do. When we force our own path instead of following God’s we lose out on so much, and we often end up hurting our loved ones in the process. Being sacrificial to God does not mean we sacrifice others to get to the path we think we need to walk. I literally cheered out loud in my living room when Natalie realizes this very important Truth. And, I really appreciated the reminder to check in with God and make sure I’m following His path, not my own.

Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate is an outstanding read that I highly recommend. If you are in the mood for a hilarious, heartbreaking, romantic read with timely themes then I recommend you run to your local bookstore today to purchase a copy of this novel. You will not be disappointed that you did.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate is a dynamic debut novel. This Australian author brings a fun and interesting twist to Christian fiction with Australian characters living in the United States. Sometimes I found myself reading this book and I would forget about the Australian influences, only to be jarred out of the story by unfamiliar words. While this did take me out of the story for a bit, overall, I found the Australian elements really interesting. Ms. Kate excels at dialogue between characters in difficult situations. This novel is real and deals with really difficult topics. While it is hopeful, I would not characterize it as rom-com or sassy. Rather, I think it is a well-crafted contemporary novel. This novel could easily be classified as a young adult novel, especially with the ages of the main characters and the themes of the novel. It is inspirational, but I think it would have benefited from more Christian elements to counteract the heavy themes. The novel's ending felt a bit too easy of a resolution, again because of the heavy topics. I hope these are further dealt with in a subsequent novel, because there is definitely enough unresolved issues for another great novel. While this novel is not exactly what I expected, I would recommend it to readers of young adult fiction and contemporary fiction. I received a digital copy of this novel from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Such a cute, summer read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Natalie & Jeremy! I’ll be looking for more from Miss Kate in the future!



*thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review*

I read this book last week and I didn't realize when I went in to it that it was going to be a christian redo of Love Actually, I didn't find myself really pulled to any of the characters, they all seemed a little flat to me. The cover and blurb were a bit misleading to me, it shows me that it is going to be a light funny little rom=com and I didn't get that much at all, there were a few funnyish moments and even less actual romance if you ask me. I read a lot of romance books and this just wasn't one. The writing itself was fine, I just think this one missed the mark for me.

ARC from Netgalley.

Wow, all I can say is, this story blew me away! Keep the tissues close by as you are reading LOVE AND OTHER MISTAKES by Jessica Kate. She will have your emotions all over the place. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop! The twists and turns made it impossible to put down, as I had to know what was going to happen to Jem and Natalie after so much heartache! Will Natalie ever be able to explain to Jem how hurt she feels? What an awesome story. All of Jessica’s characters feel genuine and relatable and put your emotions on one heck of a roller coaster ride. As you are reading, you will find yourself cheering for all of them, praying they can work out their problems and be happy once again.

LOVE AND OTHER MISTAKES is all about family, dealing with the past and trying to find your happily ever after. It had me flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission. Jem left Natalie at the alter years ago and when she finds out he is back in town, well, let’s just say she isn’t very happy. He is now a single father and comes up with this ridiculous idea that Natalie could work for him as his son, Ollie’s nanny! What??

Jem tries so hard to be the man Natalie deserves, but he just can’t seem to get it quite right. Men!! It was so much fun watching these two dance around each other and their feelings. You will find yourself shaking your head at Jem screaming “open your eyes man! How can you not see what is going on?” At least that’s what happened to me! LOVE AND OTHER MISTAKES is a heart tugging but funny story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down! You also won’t be able to stop yourself from laughing at Jem and his manly thoughts!

LOVE AND OTHER MISTAKES is without a doubt one of my top funniest books I’ve read in 2019 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. My heart broke for Natalie and how she was trying so hard to please everyone except herself. Then there is Jem’s niece, Lili, who will break your heart even more. She is dealing with so much and luckily for her she has Nick to guide her through it all. Jessica Kate sure can hook the reader with her writing! I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead Publicity Tours through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Natalie Groves life isn’t shaping up to what she imagined for herself. As the daughter of a prominent pastor, she intended to follow in her dad’s footsteps and also be a leader in ministry. Her dreams crashed around her when her fiancé dumped her seven years prior as well as her dad getting diagnosed with cancer. Now all Natalie can do is work whatever jobs necessary to help her financially burdened parents.

When Natalie thinks that life couldn’t possibly get any worse (that’s how it always goes right), she discovers that her fiancé Jeremy (Jem) has moved back to town. He’s now a single dad to 9 month old Ollie, and he’s in desperate need of a nanny. While this is not the ideal arrangement, Natalie learns that she’s a front runner for a ministry internship that she’s dying to have, and she needs flexible hours, which the nannying position would provide.

When I initially picked up this book, I assumed that it would be a light hearted romantic comedy that revolved around Natalie and Jem. However, that is not the case at all. When the story isn’t alternating between Natalie’s and Jem’s POV, we see the story of Lili, Jem’s 16-year-old niece who discovered that her pastor father is having an affair with her art teacher. Lili’s arc was the most heartbreaking throughout the story because she’s forced to keep this information secret, which creates so much internal struggle and animosity.

This book heavily focuses on the mistakes that each of the characters have made throughout their lives and the consequences that follow. However, we do see how each of the characters go through their own paths to redemption, which I really appreciated seeing.

Overall, if you love a good family drama as well as contemporary romance then you’ll definitely enjoy this book.

Thank you to JustRead Tours and Thomas Nelson Books for providing an ARC. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

My Thoughts on Love and Other Mistakes:
Love and Other Mistakes is a fast reading cute novel. While it's a romance it adds other aspects as well that allow for deep thinking.

When I first picked up this book I thought it was just going to be a romance. A cute story about how this couple finds each other after years apart and a broken engagement. Then they realize they're still in love, a few bumps in the road, and they get married. Cute and sweet mostly.

But instead, I got this book.

It's. . . wow.

This book is so much more than that.

Here you have this book and yes it's a romance, but it's also so much more. Within the pages of Love and Other Mistakes you're going to see a single dad, an affair, an out of wedlock pregnancy or two, hidden sins, hard lessons learned, lies, and so much more. It's so much more than a romance book and I think you should read it.

I read the book in an afternoon/evening. It was so good I didn't want to put it down. So many twists and turns that I was not expecting and so much good food within the pages.

Have you ever struggled to forgive? I know I have. And then I know that forgiving isn't forgetting as well as forgetting isn't forgiving are some key things that I've thought on before so it's nice to see a character in a book struggle with this too.

Definitely a new to me author that I'm now wanting to read more from. This is one to watch!

I enjoyed watching Natalie come to terms with who she is and who she was created to be versus who she thinks she should be. She had plans for her life and her future and they didn't happen. Now she has a second chance to make those dreams come true. But can she? And is it who she truly wants to be after all?

Add in some other hard topics like alcohol, drugs, appearances over truth, lies, and so much more. I was actually almost shocked at all the hard things that could be written into one book. Can't wait to find my next title by this author.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

There’s a fine line between love and hate . . . And for the last seven years, Natalie Groves has hated Jeremy Walters.



Natalie Groves was meant for great things. But soon after her fiancé left, Natalie’s father was diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly her grand plans evaporated . . . and God felt very far away. Fast-forward seven years, and an internship presents Natalie a chance at her destiny—but she needs a job to work around it. And the only offer available is worse than a life sentence. Her ex Jeremy, now back in town, is desperate for help with his infant son and troubled teenage niece, Lili. And Natalie may be just the one to help Jeremy . . . provided they don’t kill each other in the process. When Jeremy and Natalie join forces, sparks fly. But will either of them get burned along the way?



My Thoughts: This was a fun novel to read although it deals with multiple issues and it’s a lot to unravel here. If you read the title it says love and other "mistakes" and that is what the author is dealing with in her storyline. The author Jessica Kate teaches the reader in an inferred way how to deal with difficult situations. While em and Nat provide a good deal of comedic material throughout the novel, the reader will find very funny. This was an enjoyable novel to read, the author has created great characters that will win their way into the readers' imagination and hearts.


What I did enjoy was the author's sense of humor and she gave a good explanation of the gospel message in the book.


If you are looking for a good read this is one to pick up.

What a fantastic debut! By the time I got to the end of the first chapter, I was already in love with this author’s voice. It’s the kind of deep point of view that really immerses you in the story, and it reads as naturally and enjoyably as a conversation with your best friend. Best of all, it was obvious from the first chapter that this story would do justice to the complex emotions involved in the love/hate relationship between Natalie and Jeremy.

Even so, I was surprised by the depth and breadth of this story, particularly where Jeremy’s niece Lili was concerned. She finds herself in a really difficult position that only becomes more difficult as the story progresses, and the way her character was written was absolutely spot on—her personality, her emotional tumult, and the way she responded and interacted throughout the story. Fabulous characterisation!

And that goes for Jeremy and Natalie, too. This is as much a story of their personal growth as it is their gradual reconciliation—more points in favour of this author! Character growth is so satisfying! And even when Natalie was doing her darnedest to hold on to her anger, she and Jeremy had a chemistry I couldn’t help but enjoy. And I don’t mean romantic chemistry so much as the chemistry between two people who bounce off each other in conversation and in life. Which made those romantic moments that much more enjoyable when they came.

So, what else do you need to know about this story? First of all, it’s a novel about imperfect people. And imperfect Christians. And in the case of one secondary character in particular, an imperfect Christian who’s making a right royal mess of other people’s lives (and his/her own) as a result of some selfish choices. This story doesn’t moralise over those choices; it simply allows the consequences speak for themselves. And they spoke loud and clear as far as this secondary character was concerned. Even so, some readers may feel that the story didn’t deal with said secondary character as thoroughly as it could have. Personally, I think that’s simply because that wasn’t the point of this story. This story was about the effect those choices had on the main characters in this story.

Secondly, this is a family drama as much as it’s a contemporary romance. At times the subject matter is a little heavy, and just like in real life, things aren’t picture-perfect by the end of the story, but there was a lightness to the author’s writing style that counterbalanced this without undermining its impact, and through it all was the message that God is faithful, even when those around us (or perhaps we, ourselves) let us down.

Bottom line? I’m super keen to get my hands on the next book from this author!

Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate is a delightful contemporary romance. Brimming with romantic tension, the story captivated and entertained me as Jem and Natalie find themselves drawn to each other despite their past. I adore second chance love stories and this one did not disappoint.

I liked that Love and Other Mistakes didn't shy away from life difficulties. There's family dysfunction, a sick loved one, and the struggles of a single parent. Good themes, including a prominent one about forgiveness, are present and contribute a pleasant level of depth to the story. I felt the ending was slightly rushed. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate and look forward to reading her next novel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

I liked the light, rom-com opening to the book. The banter between Jem and Natalie was romantic as you sensed there was more to their breakup. Humor and references to pop culture kept the story carefree in parts. The last part of the book takes a gut-wrenching turn and gave the book lots of substance. The message of God’s Love and the value He has in a person and not what they do will definitely speak to faith-filled readers and maybe many non-believers. Some of the secondary characters were more flawed than in other Christian fiction I have read and I could appreciate the candidness of the difficult relationships. The mostly happy, while true-to-life ending was a needed way to wrap up this story.
My reviews and opinions are my own.

I've wanted to read this book ever since I first heard about it, and now I finally am telling you about it. It's a debut novel from a young Aussie author!! (And because I'm always on the lookout for new favorites, I couldn't wait to see what this one was all about!!)

I found the story to be just a bit confusing, it felt as though there are lots of characters, and the story keeps jumping around.

The main character is Natalie. She's an intriguing heroine. Feisty. Determined. And yet, unsure of herself and her life.

And then there's Jem. Her ex-fiance. I was suspicious right from the get-go that deep down they still had feelings for each other. But because of their history, it's not evident. Except for how much they 'dislike' each other. But now they have to learn to get along, be friends, even, because Jem is back in town.

The story is a lot of their bickering, back and forth. It seems a bit shallow, because you jump in right in the middle of it all. Kind of 'in the dark' as to what exactly happened with their relationship and all of that....so it feels just a bit shallow.

But. Then, there are also real-life issues faced in these pages. Family issues. Forgiveness. Terminal illness. Difficult parents...well the list could go on and on. The author has written all of these into this story in a lovely way. It adds depth to the story, without making it too preachy.

Considering the fact that this is a Christian fiction story, there could be a bit more of the Christian element involved. It's there, but not overly so.

All in all, I found this a great story. Mostly what I'd consider a light, easy read. And it's perfect for summer.

I'm excited to see what else this new, young author from Australia cranks out!!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Natalie Groves has never recovered from the breakup with her fiance when she was 19. It's been seven years, and she has yet to get her life back on track. When Jem returns to town -- a single dad, no less, with infant son in tow -- and asks her to be his nanny, she can't believe his audacity.

Things begin perking up when she has the chance to intern at her dream job. Knowing she needs income and flexible hours if she's going to swing this opportunity, she begrudgingly agrees to nanny Oliver. Anything to find purpose in her life again.

When the story isn't bouncing between Natalie and Jem's point of view, Jem's niece Lili takes center stage. She's sixteen and dealing with the affects of her pastor father's secret affair. Sure she's done something to cause her dad to stop loving their family, Lili grapples with big emotions and sometimes experiments with substances in order to cope with the pressure eating her up inside.

While I thought Jessica Kate's writing style was strong, I feel that this book missed the mark. It's not funny enough to be considered a comedy. Marital unfaithfulness, pregnancy outside of marriage, teenage drinking, childhood diabetes, cancer, the impending death of a parent, and family dysfunction across multiple generations do not a lot of laughs make. There is mention of cursing and one direct curse word hurled from one angry character to another. That's a lot of serious content.

My other objection to the story was that Natalie was completely unbelievable as someone wanting to go into ministry. Though she shows great care to Lili, there was literally nothing else that made me think she would be a good youth worker. Lili has more church involvement mentioned than Natalie does. And while she's supposedly under great financial strain because of helping her parents with their medical bills, she was only working one low-paying job before that company went under, which should have left her plenty of time for volunteering, if youth ministry was indeed her passion. Motives are questionable all the way around. I still don't know why Jem moved back to town. The infidelity was a plot point that the author seemed unsure how to handle directly so it pops up whenever she needed it to move emotions along, and simmers quietly, never fully resolved, otherwise.

I've enjoyed Jessica Kate on her podcasts, and hope her future releases focus on her writing strengths and quirky characters.

I received my copy of the book from JustRead Tours. All opinions in this review are my own.

I have been reading about Love and Other Mistakes on social media for a couple of months now and was looking forward to reading it. I had a mental image of it being lighthearted, humorous, Chick Lit set in Australia - after all, the author is from there. . .

My first surprise was that the story doesn't take place in Australia. It is set in Virginia! However, Natalie's parents are from Australia, as is the dynamic youth leader, Sam, she is hoping to intern for. This wasn't a disappointment, merely a surprise.

The tension between Natalie and Jem over his actions seven years earlier was intense. Natalie was still so hurt, especially when he showed up with a baby! She had so many trials and it seemed like she wouldn't ever get a break. While I empathized with her, she was a little over-the-top unkind to him. Her need to learn to forgive him was very evident.

Jem was a gem. Really! He had an overpowering love for his son, Ollie, and was so cute when he played with him. Yet he was also clueless.

My favorite character was Lili's friend, Nick. This teenage boy thrived despite difficult circumstances and his love for his family was amazing. He demonstrated selfless love and was quite loyal.

The overall tone of the story was quite a bit more serious than I expected. Although humorous things were happening in parts and some clever lines made me smile, the problems the characters were dealing with were quite serious. Natalie's dad was in remission from cancer. Jeremy's niece, Lili, discovered a secret that ripped her world apart and drove her to do things she would have previously considered unthinkable. Jem and his dad had major issues with each other. And these are just a few of the situations.

Readers who enjoy reading about characters dealing with real-life type situations and learning to overcome will want to give this debut novel a go.

This book is described as romantic comedy. There is some good humor from time to time but the majority of the book deals with some very heavy issues. There are several dysfunctional people and relationships in it. I think it would be a hard novel for a reader who had a childhood where the parents argued a great deal and you hoped your good behavior would fix the situation. Issues of infidelity and pregnancy outside of marriage are also prominent in this book. The novel is not escape literature by any means as there is almost constant stress on at least one of the main characters.

Kate includes several subtle lessons in the plot such as dealing with difficult or hurtful situations. There is also a very good explanation of the gospel message in the book. While the romance aspect of the novel resolves nicely, I felt there were some issues from the dysfunctional people and relationships left hanging. Kate's writing style is good. I just found the subject matter too intense for my “romantic comedy” taste.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.