One thing I love about Rom-coms is they are fun and light. That's one of the things that sometimes bothers me too. But The Girl's Guide to the Outback doesn't only include lightness and humor, it also contains a meaningful vein of faith, trust, dealing with fear, and following God's path for our life.

Another thing I enjoyed about this story, a huge part, was the Australian setting. It adds so much to the story and gave me a glimpse of a place I rarely visit in my readings. The language jargon was fun and the ambiance is a nice perk to the story.

Characters are usually the strongest pull for me in a story. I love when I connect, root for, and sympathize with the main character. That was the case in this story, but it took me a little longer than I prefer to fully 'get' and have more concern than frustration for Kimberly. I was able to connect with Sam much sooner.

This slow-burn romance is a mixture of sparring fun and uplifting change and put me through many emotions. I was most pleased with the thread of inspiration it instills.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

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.

Happy sigh! I quite enjoyed this sophomore release from Jessica Kate. Set both in the US and Australia, she does an excellent job blending the two cultures and explaining all the Aussie slang for her US readers naturally when it wasn’t self-explanatory, and in a way that wasn’t cumbersome or awkward.

As for the plot and characters, Kim and Sam are marvelous, and I enjoyed the ups and downs and twists and turns it took to bring them together. The secondary plotline between Jules and Mick is excellent as well, and I love how their friendships with Kim and Sam are realistic and help further both the main- and the subplots. Emotions and tension are well balanced and authentic. She does a beautiful job with the push-and-pull, providing reasons for why they respond the way they do, gently bringing them through while pointing to God’s plan in their lives. I totally cried with Kim during her black moment.

I enjoyed it from start to finish and found it hard to put down! I look forward to reading more from Jessica Kate. She’s definitely my new favorite writer from Down Under! Oh, and major props to the cover designer. It’s fab!

A Girls Guide to the Outback was so, so good!! It made me realize it's been a while since I've read a book set outside of the US, but it was just perfect!! I loved the phrase "summer weather at Christmas" because that's been my whole life! No, that doesn't mean I'm an Aussie, it just means that people in South America can also relate :D

I loved the mix of Contemporary Romance, unabashed Christian Faith, and humor. I seriously think I have about 100 highlights on my copy, I kid you not since this book had me laughing, swooning and feeling inspired (or called out) in my faith, that I absolutely know I've found a new favorite author.

I absolutely loved all things Sam, Kim, Jules, Mick, and Straya (and its slang, lol), and think this book deserves all the stars in the sky. Well done Ms. Kate!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Do you enjoy books that feature their geographic location heavily? If you like a story to transport you to another place and invite you in to a whole other lifestyle, you’ll surely enjoy Jessica Kate’s sophomore offering.

A Girl’s Guide to the Outback tells the tricky story of Kimberly, a business whizz who ditched corporate life to work a financially challenged youth ministry, Wildfire, led by the lovely Sam. After months of snarky adversarial co-existence, Sam and Kimberly are faced with losing the ministry or expanding. Sam is uneasy about attempting to grow while Kimberly sees it as the only way forward.

Then Sam’s sister lets him know they’re about to lose the family farm in Australia, and he jumps a flight back, leaving Wildfire in the lurch. With the farm in dire financial straits, a deal is struck whereby Kimberly helps save the farm in order for Sam to return to the US.

What follows is a delightful journey through faith, farming and several disasters as Sam and Kimberly learn to trust each other and put their future in the hands of the one who flung stars in to space. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

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It is amazing to me how just a few words can make you smile or tug at your heartstrings. Jessica Kate really took me on a marvelous ride in this book. I loved the fun cover, the textured feel to it and all the quotable moments in this book.

     When I started reading this book, I immediately noticed how easy it was to relate to the characters. I personally think that it is because deep inside most of us associate with either Sam or Kimberly on some level. They had fun together, teased each other, and they did hurt each other (unintentionally). The making of a quintessentially fun couple. Any great relationship or story is based on how people handle themselves when they are faced with obstacles and Jessica Kate made these characters shine in the way that they handled the obstacles that came up.

     In the Girl’s Guide to the Outback, we see some really great examples of overcoming obstacles, building friendships, compassion, and patience. There are two main characters Sam and Kimberly who made me smile more in the space of an hour than I usually do all day, and whom I feel will go down as some of my top favorite characters of all time. I would argue that Julie and Mick could be considered somewhat main characters as well, they were great and put smiles on my face as well 😊.

The overall plot was very engaging and was fun to read through. Jessica Kate really made me feel like I had traveled to Australia (Dream Destination!) in the way she described the climate, culture and fun lingo of the area. There were a couple of things that came up that I was not expecting which made this fun read even better.

I cannot more highly recommend reading this book. I give it 5 out of 5 stars for making me feel as though I was in Australia with the well-explained lingo, the great plot twists, and fantastic sets of characters. This was my first book by Jessica Kate and it will definitely not be my last.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest opinion. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Girl's Guide to the Outback was slow in the beginning for me. I struggled to like the characters but I continued to read and I'm happy I did. There were some really poignant moments in the story that touched me and had me rooting for a happily ever after.

Sam and Kimberly have worked together at Wildfire, an outreach to troubled kids and teens, for several years - and have constantly butted heads. At the time when Kimberly pushes through an expansion plan that Sam disagrees with, he gets a call to return to Australia to help his sister on her farm, and quits his job to do so - leaving Kimberly struggling to find a suitable candidate for the position. Six months later, things aren't looking good for either, and each needs the other's skills - Sam's charisma and caring, and Kimberly's organisation and financial skills. Kimberly agrees to come and visit in the hope of getting Sam to return, but when she arrives, each finds that the different circumstances show the other in a different light - maybe they've each been mistaken about the other... But when everything goes wrong, will they be able to overcome their respective pasts to achieve the things they can only ever achieve together?

I suppose it's a known thing that people can be quite different in different circumstances, but I really enjoyed the way that the new setting helped Sam and Kimberly to show other sides of themselves. Through hilarious moments, touching moments, and moments that made me want to tear my hair out at the characters' stupidity, the author kept me engaged and interested in both the story and the characters. Along with all that was the message that we should be relying on God, not ourselves, though it wasn't overdone. All in all, though this was the first time I've read a book by this author and I wasn't really quite sure what to expect given the title, I'm glad that I looked past the title to read the blurb and got hooked! I definitely hope to read more by the author in future. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Now this was the perfect example of how a rom-com should be done! Jessica Kate did a phenomenal job in creating the perfect balance of a love/hate romantic comedy with all the feels. I couldn’t put it down wanting to know what would happen next. There were so many times I literally laughed out loud and yet felt the heart of the characters’ struggles, too. Kimberly Foster was prickly as a cactus, but underneath fierce and loyal. Samuel Payton was a dynamic leader and yet, so afraid of failure. I loved the way their faith and confidence grew as they communicated more. They both had false assumptions rooted in their own struggles. Kate really helped us see how much our focus on our failures and hurts can rob us of all the blessings God has for us. A beautiful story of building trust and faith.

Of course, the whole America to Australia theme is a true favorite for me. I absolutely loved the Aussie slang. Having just been on a holiday there, I found myself relating to her trying to get the slang down. My heart was totally focused on how realistic life in the Outback seemed. I think I even jumped when there was a snake or spider involved! I felt like I was right there and loved Sam’s family. In fact, Jules and Mick just added so much to the storyline with their own relationship struggles. I truly felt the family’s hardships in fighting for their dairy farm and all the work involved. I think the real life struggles in Australia (current wildfires and many losses of home, lives, land, and animals) made my heart root for a happy ending. I loved all the feels, highs and lows of this story.

One of my favorite quotes that had me laughing out loud was when Sam picked up Kate from the bus stop. As Kim’s semi crush hears his voice for the fist time in months…

“Welcome to Australia.” Oh, that voice. A shiver danced between Kimberly’s shoulder blades. It was enough to make a girl throw her passport into the Pacific.” Oh my goodness this quote cracked me up so hard that I laughed out loud! Sam and Mick are totally swoon worthy, too.

Another favorite quote was in how Kim viewed herself and started seeing who she is in Christ.

“God loves you. To Him, there was nothing about you that was unexpected or less than delightful.”

And how about those communication skills that make us not like each other, when it’s really that we haven’t walked in each others shoes. Don’t you wish someone was there to point out why we aren’t getting along?! Apparently, that’s what Sam’s sister, Jules is for…

“Sam’s overly cautious, and you take it too personally when someone rejects your ideas.”

I highly recommend “A Girl’s Guide to the Outback.” It hit every expectation and then some. Travel, romance, and faith with all the feels. If you love this book, you might love Kara Isaac’s Then There Was You.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My review in a nutshell - "Reading this book was like watching all my favourite rom-coms and falling in love with them all over again. It was equal part cute and funny and had me swooning over the characters more than once"


Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for this ARC and for the chance to share my thoughts on this book.

This was my first Jessica Kate book and it's safe to say that I loved it. Starting with the great cover with fun characters , engaging dialogues and vivid portray of life in Australia - this book has it all. The storyline is very refreshing. I haven't read something like this yet. Sam and Kimberly were adorable together. We all could see how smitten these two were with each other from the very first chapter. There was a lot of chemistry between these two. Another noteworthy part of the book was Jules and her love story. It was very clever of Kate to tell both the love stories in just one book. So this makes it both friends to lovers / second chance romance. The farm life of Australia depicted in the story was another thing which made this a very fun read. The way the author handled the emotions and different relationships in the story was something to talk about. Also I loved Sam and Kimberly. These two were generally good people and even better partners together. I loved their banter and the way these two loved each other even when they fought. I would say a made for each other couple with their common love for doing something good.

I heartily recommend this book. It deals with love, life , relationships and faith. I loved the way this story was told. I found Kate's storytelling to be clever and engaging and it certainly left a mark. So if you love a friends to lovers / opposite attracts story with a Clark Kent hero and his more than competent better half then be sure to check it out. If you want a good second chance romance , you will find that too in Jules and her husband. Overall, its safe to say that you won't be disappointed for this book is as cute as its cover and has all the makings of a wonderful and unique romance novel.

Hope you all will love it as much as I did and be sure to check it out. It releases on Jan 2020.
Happy reading.
P.S. if you like enemies to lovers book genre then you can surely give Jessica Kate's debut novel 'Love and Other Mistakes' a try. It's a great book too.

I was thrilled to read new to me author Jessica Kate’s recent release A Girl's Guide To The Outback. The intriguing title and cover of A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate drew me in. The story follows American, Kimberly Foster, and Australian, Samuel Payton, on a dairy farm in the Australian Outback. It was such a unique setting that I felt more informed about the world after reading this story. I love thinking I may have picked up some great Aussie slang along the way.

I am a big fan of romantic comedies, and I was hoping that I would be laughing and sighing as I read A Girl’s Guide to the Outback. The good news for me is that I was able to do both. I laughed out loud and there were many sigh worthy scenes throughout the book.

I feel like the author Jessica Kate is an author to watch. She is witty, her characters are interesting, and her story is fun to read. I highly recommend A Girl’s Guide to the Outback.
I was given a copy through NetGalley and not required to write a positive review.

These books are so fun, and I am delighted to have found a new author to love! The sequel to "Love and Other Mistakes", in "A Girls' Guide to the Outback" we get to better understand the very driven Kimberly and the extremely conflicted Sam.

Although this is a sequel, you could read it as a standalone, if absolutely necessary. :) (I always believe your reading experience will be highly enriched by reading the first one, you know, first.)

Business Manager for the non-profit Wildfire, started by Sam Payton, Kimberly Foster can best be described as determined...determined to meet goals, to succeed, and to find love (although she is loathe to admit it). With a challenging childhood and generous heart, she will do whatever it takes to help kids.

Sam Payton may have founded Wildfire but he is not sure how to navigate it's growth without anyone in need slipping through the cracks. When his family in Australia needs help, he leaves the US...and Kimberly eventually follows, because without his agreement to return her proposal will not have support and Wildfire may close down. And without Kimberly's expert assessment and advice, Sam's family business may not recover.

As you can imagine, when the city girl gets to the outback, hilarity ensues...and we just may see a romance or two, if some of our characters can get over their pride and guilt! ;)

I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

This is the novel I have been waiting for from Jessica Kate! Her fun sassy attitude comes through on every page. The way she takes readers across the world to Australia makes me want to pack my bags and head to the outback!

After his business failed and his father died, Samuel Payton decided it was time to leave Australia and try his hand at something new. He makes his way to Virginia and sets out to help others by becoming a youth pastor. He works with Kimberly Foster, a start-up expert that is working through her own personal issue of rejection from her mother who never really wanted her. Sam and Kimberly don’t always get along as their personalities clash, but they can’t help the attraction they feel towards each other. When Sam gets news from home that his family needs help, he decides that even though he loves being a youth pastor the recent troubles they have had and the conflict with Kimberly needs to take a back seat to helping his family. As Sam leaves, Kimberly finds herself in a bind to find his replacement and board members start to lose confidence in her. Kimberley’s at a loss and knows it is hopeless to try and convince Sam to come back, when he calls her for help with their family business troubles. They make a deal that if she comes to help then maybe Sam will reconsider returning to the states with her. The longer Kimberly is in Australia, the more Sam realizes he made a mistake leaving the job he loved and the woman he thought he could never get along with becomes someone he can’t see not being in his life.

With fun, sassy characters and a setting that will transport you to the great outback, readers will enjoy this new book by Jessica Kate. Her first novel was good, but I knew she could do better. I was waiting for this one right here. She is from Australia and brought a totally new feel to this contemporary romance. The Aussie slang along with the setting was a perfect blend to keep me engaged and entertained. Kim had never been to Australia and her main knowledge with the country was based on her interactions with Sam, which transplanted me as the reader to her character. I have always wanted to go to Australia and see the land, so as Kimberly made her way there and spent time with Sam and his family I felt as if I was traveling with her. And when Sam’s sister went to the Gold Coast I felt as if I was sitting on the beach watching the sun set with her. These little moments brought the book alive for me while making it all feel authentic. This story hit so much deeper for me than a lot of the contemporary romance I read. If Jessica Kate can keep this up as she continues to write, she has a bright future ahead of her. This is a light and fun read, not suspenseful, but still a quick read. I recommend this to readers that enjoy a romance with a little bit of sass at just the right places.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

I'll be the first to tell you that Christian fiction is definitely not in my wheelhouse at all. I usually stay away, not because I don't believe, but because I generally am not fond of being told I'm a loser if I haven't been saved (and yes I've read plenty that had this theme). This book did NOT do that to me in the least. It was a sweet story. Would I classify it as Rom Com...probably not. Romantic in some aspects, and yes maybe a funny moment or two but not really a comedy either. For me, what I took away from this story is that you are loved even when you don't know, realize or want to be. That family sticks together through thick and thin even if you feel you have disappointed them in some way. That you need to trust in yourself, in the process and yes, in God to guide you to where you need to be. That you need to see yourself as others see you. I enjoyed the story more than I expected to.

This is my second book to read by Jessica Kate (first one reviewed here) and after rereading my review, I must say that Jessica did not disappoint me. With this offering, she offers laughs, passion, and tears. Her characters are engaging, believable, and likable.

Kim has drive to make her dreams come true, but there's something holding her back. Sam has the God-gifted talent to reach out for is dreams, but he, too, is being held back.

Then, there's Sam's sister, Jules, and her ex-boyfriend, Mick, both have things to work out for their relationship as well.

Kim and Sam work in a ministry to teens called WildFire. Kim has huge dreams to expand the ministry and Sam wants nothing to do with expansion. Just as she's about to make her proposal to the board of directors, Sam is called home to help Jules with the farm. When Sam gets to the farm, he sees that he needs Kim's special skill set to save the farm. He calls her up and asks her to come see what she can do.

I really can't give much more of synopsis without giving away some main points of the plot that the readers should discover for themselves. Again, I have to say that Jessica's writing has improved by quite a few notches. She has filled out the plot with intriguing characters and complex settings. This is a five star book with thumbs up and a border collie/toy poodle cross puppy.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Jessica Kate crafts characters who I enjoyed following to Australia and back. High-powered Kimberly travels to Sam Payton's dairy farm in 'Straya to convince him to return to the States and their Youth Ministry--Wildfire. Little does Kimberly know, she will have wild times in Australia and stoke a fire in her heart for the gifted Aussie youth pastor. But, Jessica Kate gives us double trouble. Sam's sister Jules tries to keep the family farm from foreclosure while keeping the handsome vet next door at bay. When everyone starts dealing with their past hurts and consults God about their future, we get an ending that will leave you wanting more. An excellent read and a story that will have you booking a flight to the Outback.

I enjoyed reading A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate. Between the vivid descriptions and the Australian words, it felt like I was in Australia -- the absolutely charming setting for this enemies-to-friends novel!

A Girl’s Guide to the Outback entertained and held my attention throughout. This well-written novel satisfied my romance expectations while diving deep into the hearts of Sam and Kimberly as they worked through the hard issues holding them back in life. True-to-life, the characters struggle as they deal with their insecurities, fears, and unhealthy patterns. Their struggles felt authentic and I was rooting for both of them to overcome.

I recommend A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate to readers who enjoy inspirational contemporary romances. I would not consider it a romcom (romantic comedy), though it did make me laugh occasionally and has a super-cute cover. As a bonus, there are two love stories happening in this novel and I enjoyed them both.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Samuel Payton ist der Gründer einer Jugendkirche in Virginia, die mit ihren Hilfsangeboten erfolgreich vielen jungen Menschen den Glauben wieder näherbringen konnte. Kimberly Foster wurde vor 3 Jahren engagiert und ist mittlerweile zuständig für Finanzen und Planung. Ihre Ausrichtung liegt trotz einer gescheiterten Erweiterung weiter auf Wachstum zu einer Großkirche, aber Sam will keine weiteren Verluste riskieren, da das gespendete Geld aus seiner Sicht an anderer Stelle nötiger gebraucht wird. Er lehnt ihre aktuellen Pläne für ein neues Center vehement ab, verkennt dabei aber, dass es ihr vornehmlich auch um die Kinder und die Gemeinde als Familienersatz geht.

Doch dann erreicht ihn der dringende Anruf seiner Schwester Jules aus Queensland Australien. Sie teilt ihm mit, dass sie mit der elterlichen Milchfarm die Raten der Bank nicht mehr aufbringen kann. Der Betrieb ist seit vier Generationen in der Familie und Sam hätte ihn eigentlich übernehmen sollen, doch vor 8 Jahren ist er nach der Pleite mit seinen Cafés nach Amerika gegangen. Diese eine Rate aufzubringen wird ihm nicht schwerfallen, aber wie soll es weitergehen? Als der Kirchenvorstand der vorgeschlagenen Erweiterung zustimmt, kann er es nicht mit seinem Gewissen vereinbaren und nimmt es als einen Fingerzeig Gottes und kehrt in die Heimat zurück. Die Geschichte springt dann um 5 Monate weiter. Für Kimberly läuft es mit der Erweiterung der Kirche nicht wie geplant, sie können einfach keinen wirklichen Ersatz für Sam finden. Daher soll sie ihn zur Rückkehr bewegen. Umgekehrt kommt Sams Schwester auf die Idee Kimberlys finanziellen Rat für die Farm einzuholen.

Kimberly schließt mit Sam einen Deal ab. Sie schaut sich die Finanzen der Farm an und kommt zwei Wochen über Weihnachten nach Australien, dafür muss er später sechs Wochen seiner Zeit opfern und versuchen einen Ersatz zu engagieren.

Es trifft quasi Feuer auf Wasser, es zischt und qualmt. Es geht Schlag auf Schlag zwischen den Beiden. Eine Achterbahn der Gefühle, ein Auf und Ab, ein Hin und Her. Sie schälen einander in ihren Auseinandersetzungen und Gesprächen nach und nach die Schichten schlechter Erfahrungen und verletzter Gefühle ab, legen sie frei und eröffnen so neu Möglichkeiten. Als man langsam für sie zu hoffen wagt, treten schwere Schicksalsschläge ein und stellen erneut alles auf den Kopf. Das Buch dreht sich auch um eine wunderbare zweite Romanze. Fühlt sich wie ein großartiges Goodie an.

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.

This was a fun read with a strong sense of place and believable characters. I found the Inspirational aspects to be well-done and they fitted seamlessly into the story. Unfortunately, I wasn't entirely sold on the central relationships. My full review can be found at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.