I'm sorry to say that this book was not for me, I'm not sure if it was the lackluster writing or the fact I felt nothing for the main characters Sam or Kimberly. It felt like we started in the middle of a story, the introduction felt rushed and I did not realize this was a Christian book, thankfully it was not the kind that mentions faith every page.

I think if you're a fan of Hallmark movies you might like this.

Thank You Netgalley and Thomas Nelson.

I was interested in reading this book based on the description. However, the writing style wasn't good and I almost gave up after the first couple of pages as it just really wasn't good. This was a quick read but I didn't enjoy it too much.

I really wanted to love this book! I was so hopeful after I read the first in the series, Love and Other Mistakes.
I just couldn't connect with the main characters, Sam and Kimberly. Not that they were bad characters, it just wasn't for me!

I’m going to be honest and start off by saying that I almost put this book down after the first few pages after I read the following line, “Kimberly’s uterus did a backflip of approval.” when the main character sees her boss in a Captain America costume. I’m no prude, but that line rubbed me the wrong way for a couple of reasons: 1) I personally feel like this is a poor way to describe being attracted to someone; and 2) it doesn’t seem like something that is appropriate for a Christian romance novel. And then there was a description of Kimberly from Sam’s point-of-view that seemed more lustful than just mere attraction. However, after the first two chapters it seemed to get better and I didn’t cringe as much. For the most part it was an okay story, however about halfway through the story started to lag, but once I got passed the 70% mark it picked up again.

Now I feel like I’ve spent enough time focusing on the negatives, it’s time to talk about some of the things I liked about this book.

First, I liked how this book is set mainly in Australia. I enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about the culture and the slang. I think I enjoyed reading about the different kinds of foods, especially discovering that there are a few brand names of food that are available in South Africa (where I grew up).

I also liked how we see both Sam and Kimberly struggle with self-doubt ad trying to figure out their purpose in life. I personally think there were times when Sam was too hard on Kimberly and often shot her down without listening to her ideas and how she came up with them.

I also liked the relationship between Sam’s sister (her name escapes me right now) and Mick and seeing both of them wrestle with past hurts.

However there were times when the plot seemed repetitive and I think that’s why I eventually felt like it dragged on.

Overall, this was an okay read there were quite a few things I didn’t like. The plot was good, but also dragged at times. The main romance seemed to more lust-filled for about half the novel than I would’ve liked, but it was still okay. 2.5/5 Stars.

A fun title that felt lighthearted even though the characters were dealing with real issues. The plot did feel a little far-fetched, though, and also left me wondering if I had missed a prequel. The character introductions were lacking a bit as it jumped it right into the story without giving a lot of background up front.

Hysterical, heartwarming and oh so good! Crack this book an embark on a journey across the world, meet rich characters that you will quickly fall in love with and jump into a story that pulls you in and makes you feel like you are part of the story.

A Girl’s Guide to the Outback transports readers to a rustic and lively Australian farm to be surrounded by natural beauty, rugged famers, and diverse creatures...some friendly and some not so much. For Kimberly Foster, Samuel Payton, founder of Wildfire Youth Ministries, falls into the unfriendly creatures category. But when her career and the organization she’s put several years of energy and passion into are on the line, she’ll fight to convert Sam from a nemesis to an ally, even if it means immersing herself in his rough Outback world and risking snake bite and heartbreak in the process.

Although this story’s setting is fun and enthralling, the character development is just as compelling. Kimberly’s struggle to mask her deep loneliness and low self-worth with ambition is heartrending and relatable, as is Sam’s battle with guilt and inadequacy. Their path to understanding one another and discovering the depth of God’s love and healing is beautiful and authentic. In addition, the side characters are well drawn, particularly Jules, Sam’s lovably tough and independent sister.

Watching all three of them find their way through faith, friendship, and love is often amusing, sometimes moving, and constantly entertaining. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys funny, uplifting romance with a healthy side of the great outdoors.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was not obliged to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I received A Girl's Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate for free in exchange for an honest review. It was a quick and enjoyable read. A little predictable, but I would read more by this author.

A little too cutesy for me without enough drama but still enjoyable. I would read more from Kate in the future but would go in with the mindset that this is "cleaner" than the rom-coms I usually enjoy.

A quick read . This is the first book that I have read from the author and enjoy the setting. The author introduces Sam, Kimberly and Jules all facing different circumstances, each looking for identity, but yet running from what they need most.

I loved the easiness of this read & the overarching theme of God’s faithfulness throughout. I felt like the characters were well evolving characters, showing the reality of change over time & growth over different situations & I felt like the storyline was so cute! Kinda like a hallmark movie. Overall i’d definitely recommend for anyone looking for a cute, easy, clean romance!

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher through JustRead Tours. A positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely adored this book! It was a fun romp through the Australian Outback, complete with relatable and unique characters, each with their own set of baggage and big personalities. I adored the way the book explored their relationships with each other, especially the family relationships. Not to mention the beautiful themes of God's unconditional love and forgiveness that were conveyed in what seemed to me like an honest and natural (not preachy) way. Plus, the book's hero, Samuel Payton, is amazing.

Wonderful book!
Really liked reading this fresh and outstanding book. It was a real pleasure to read it.
Thanks for the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance

Kimberly Foster and Samuel Payton butt heads at every turn until finally, Sam decides to move back to Australia leaving the ministry Kimberly works for struggling. She has to face the fact that they need Sam, so she strikes up a deal. She’ll help Sam’s sister with the floundering farm in hopes that she can convince Sam to come back to the ministry.

Kimberly travels to Australia and soon finds herself battling deadly snakes, learning farm life, and falling for the man she thought she didn’t like. Can Kimberly and Sam set aside their differences and save the farm while fighting their feelings for one another?

Jessica Kate does it again with her second book. This quirky, fun romance will delight readers and leave them wanting more. Not only does the author spin a tale, but she also gives us a look at life in Australia.

The characterization in this book is superb. I fell in love with both Kimberly and Sam as well as Jules and Mick.

The imagery in this well-crafted novel literally put me right into the pages. Well done.

I love this author’s voice. It’s fun, quirky, and original.

I give A Girl’s Guide to the Outback four stars. This tale will make you laugh out loud as well as delight in the storyline.

**I received a NetGalley e-copy of this book by the author and Thomas Nelson for my honest opinion.

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9daaAkgQqH/

28) A Girl’s Guide to the Outback
By: Jessica Kate @jessicakatewriting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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I’m a BIG @jessicakatewriting fan, and this book was a surprise pseudo-sequel to Love and Other Mistakes. This is my first/only book of March...work has been crazy and I’m binge watching @pumprulesbravo. (For the record, I wish I was reading more books and watching less TV, but I only have 3 more seasons.)
#callireads2020 #romcombooks #christianromance #audiobooks

A Girl's Guide to the Outback tells the story of brilliant Kimberly and youth minister Sam. When Sam leaves the States and returns to his hometown in Australia to help his sister save the family farm, Kimberly ventures to Australia to help Sam and his sister discover why their farm is failing. As city-girl Kimberly embraces life on a dairy farm and all that is involved in its daily operations, Sam sees a side of Kimberly that he's never seen. Her brilliance covers up a lifetime of hurt and uncertainty that slowly comes to light. The story is lighthearted and sweet, but has a depth throughout the entire saga. Family relationships are explored, questions answered, and love discovered. This book is an absolute delight to read and a nice change of pace from many of the contemporary novels on the market today. Well worth a read!

A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate was a sassy, Christian, romance novel from start to finish.

The character’s all felt so real because their flaws were evident. Sam and Kim are the main love story and they battle it out the whole book. They reminded me a bit of little kids on a playground. They don’t treat each other the best, but you can tell there is this underlying attraction for each other. While Sam and Kim were the main love story, I preferred the love story between Sam’s sister Jules and the vet Mick. I found their relationship more relatable. They also both work in professions that I am more familiar with. Both relationships are full of self-doubt, forgiveness, and second chances.

Faith over fear was the main lesson woven throughout this entire book. Some characters handle those challenges and callings from God better than others. It also talks about the guilt and shame we often feel, and how God does not want that for us. He wants us to live our lives. Lastly, this story demonstrates that at the end of a tragedy is a new beginning and positive growth and changes that occur from the ashes.

I find some Christian novels to be overdone. I mean that they squeeze God into every little word and sentence. The stories often feel repetitive and that a message is more to be drilled into your head, instead of a seed being planted and nurtured. Sure, Sam is a youth pastour and towards the end you do get a lot more talk about trusting God, but it did not feel forced. It felt very natural.

The only issue I had with this book was the formatting. This was an advanced reader copy on a Kindle device and so sometimes lack of spacing led to parts of the story blending together instead of showing a break or change to a different point of view. At times this was challenging and frustrating.

If you enjoy sass, romance, and the Australian Outback this book is a perfect read for you.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley. All opinions expressed are 100% my own and are no way influenced by getting an ARC.

Not many books are set in Australia so I was intrigued by the premise but was ultimately disappointed. I didn't care for the characters and wasn't. captivated by the story. It just fell flat for me.

The cover and description appealed to me, and it ended up being a cute romance. I didn't realize it was a Christian novel, but it didn't bother me here. I read the book in a day. The characters were interesting, and the descriptions of the locale fascinating. There was some inside Aussie humor that I didn't understand completely but the slang was fun to learn about.

4 stars.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.