What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?
The core of the story is never to give up because God is always working behind the scenes and can bring people into our lives or change our circumstances right when we most need it. Another big aspect of the book is that things and circumstances don’t define us. Our faith and how we live do.
“An exceptional story of life and love. I love the way the author shows us parts of life of a hero of the military. The things they go through and the pain and suffering it brings to family and friends. . . . I highly recommend this story to everyone who like to read and receive a lift as an extra reward.”
My Publishing Journey
I’ve been writing for a long time. Ever since I was eight, to be exact. I still have the ugly, beat up, green notebook that I wrote my very first little stories in. I had no idea then that I would be a published author. It wasn’t even something I aspired to. I just loved to tell stories, something I inherited from my mom. I might not have even started writing if I hadn’t seen her doing it first. . .
She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. Instead, he switched the topic back to her. “What about your parents? What do they do?”
“Well, my dad’s a farmer and my mom was always a stay-at-home mom.” Simple and straightforward. They loved their lives, and she had loved growing up in it. However, her dreams had always been a bit beyond that. Maybe she’d been foolish.
“A country girl, then.”
Unbidden, a tiny laugh escaped Alex. “Yes, pretty much. A country girl with big dreams.”
“What an outstanding and feel-good-in-the-end book! Two characters, both living a life other than what they had planned, both struggling emotionally. . . . I adored their love story and how they were able to help each other and the faith that finds it’s way back into their hearts. . . . I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Christian Contemporary Romance lovers!”
No Chance Meeting Character Casting
It’s always great for an author when they can have someone “cast” as their character. It really helps bring the character to life in our minds. Here are a few of my celebrity casting choices for the characters in No Chance Meeting. . .
Had Alex received the text two weeks ago, she would have ignored it for a few days, hoping Mindy just thought she was busy and forgot to call. She tapped on Mindy’s name to bring up her contact information and stared at the call button. She would have to be honest about how she had been lately. Mindy would know just by her voice if she tried to conceal her struggles. Did she really want to delve into it? However, today had become about making things right. She hit call. The phone rang twice before Mindy’s voice filled her ear.
“Alex! I’m so glad you called!”
“Hey, Mindy,” she said through a smile.
“It’s so good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too.” Really, her friend’s bubbly enthusiasm was like a balm. She should never have avoided calling.
“No Chance Meeting by Jaye Elliot is a character-driven romance with realistically flawed characters and strong spiritual themes. I’m a firm believer in the way God is always working behind the scenes, leaving nothing to chance, so the title is especially meaningful. It’s refreshing to see a Christian fiction book where God is actually the main character.”
How I am Like/Not Like My Character
Writers always leave pieces of themselves within a story. This can be especially true in regards to their main character. Here are 5 ways my main female character, Alex, and I are alike and then 5 ways we are not alike. . .
“Alex,” she said cheerfully when she looked up. Her gaze drifted to Riley and then back to Alex, sparkling with curiosity.
Alex paused with Riley at her side. “This is Riley Conrad. We work together and . . . he’s my boyfriend. He’s taking me out to dinner tonight.” She shared a quick smile with Riley.
Dia looked positively delighted. This would certainly dominate tonight’s conversation with her friends.
“I loved Alex’s and Riley’s story. . . . This is a new author for me. I enjoyed her writing. I loved how Alex and Riley were so supportive of each other. I plan on reading more by the author.”
Chance meetings, meet-cutes and serendipitous encounters are some of my favourites within Romance & Sweet Romance – how did you want readers to react to the one you’ve given Riley & Alex? What did you love about setting the scene itself and giving a first look at how your life’s trajectory can alter itself in one singular moment?
Elliot responds: The first meeting between Alex and Riley isn’t the cute, swoon-worthy or funny meeting that a lot of romance novels have. Alex is at the lowest point in her life. It’s absurd to her that she, a girl who’s never been on a date in all her near-thirty years, would meet someone right then. But I love it because it shows that God is working even when we think our lives have hit a dead end. He can bring people and things into our lives right when we need them most, even if, in our human minds, the timing seems ridiculous. The whole theme of the book is that things don’t happen by chance. They are part of God’s plan.
TEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT NO CHANCE MEETING
1. I wrote No Chance Meeting for NaNoWriMo 2016. It was the first time I ever participated in NaNoWriMo. I wasn’t sure I ever would and really didn’t think I’d actually make it to 50,000 words. I ended up completing the month with over 60,000. . .
She moved toward the kitchen counter. “Do you want coffee?”
“Always.” With a cheeky grin, Mindy slid onto one of the barstools on the opposite side of the counter.
Alex filled the coffeemaker with the coffee Riley had brought her after his appointment. While waiting for it to brew, she peeked over at Mindy, who was checking her phone.
“He kissed me the other night.”
Mindy’s eyes shot up, and her phone rattled on the counter. Her mouth fell open with a squeal. It was a good thing Alex had given her the news now instead of after handing over the coffee or her friend might have choked in her giddiness.
Top 10 Romantic Pairings
I’m a hopeless romantic, so I tend to do a lot of shipping fictional characters. Here is a look at my top 10 in no particular order. Only one pairing is actually from a book. I’m a very visual person, so I tend to do more shipping of characters from movies and TV than I do for books. I’m sure I’m forgetting some, but these are the ones that jumped to mind immediately. . .
Riley turned to Alex with a smile and held out his arm, drawing her closer. “Granddad, this is my girlfriend, Alex Jennings. Alex, my grandfather, Joseph Preston.”
His smile grew even brighter, if that was possible, and he held out his hand for Alex to shake. Though his skin was wrinkled, his grip was strong.
“I’m very pleased to meet you, Alex. It’s about time Riley found himself a good woman.”
It was impossible not to grin at his enthusiasm. “I’m very pleased to meet you as well, Mr. Preston.”
“Elliott tackles the difficult topic of depression with grace and gentleness, never glossing over the internal battle that Alex wages on her emotions. The faith element of the book is also authentic to the story. I’ll be watching for more from this author.”
No Chance Meeting
(No Chance Love #1)
By Jaye Elliot
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 393 Pages
February 11th 2020 by Living Sword Publishing
Alex Jennings is done with life. After losing her brother in Afghanistan, everything has collapsed around her. Getting laid off from her day job and failing in her art career, she has nowhere left to turn. She once had faith to believe that all things would work together for good, but that faith died with her brother. Now she just wants the pain to end.
Riley Conrad served thirteen years in the military until three bullets sent him home. After a year and a half of physical therapy and scraping together a living, all he wants is to live a simple life and perhaps even open the coffee shop he dreams about. However, the weight of failing his parents’ expectations doesn’t make it easy, and working as a bartender isn’t getting him anywhere fast.
Could a “chance” meeting between Alex and Riley set them both on the path God always intended?
About the Author
We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you’ll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
What was your motivation behind Promise for Tomorrow? Why did you want to write it?
My motivation was to tell a story based on actual events that happened in my family. This book is dedicated to my parents. They had to make the difficult decision, just like the hero did in this story, to sell the family’s farm ground. I witnessed their sense of loss and also their triumph in the years following the sale as they remained steady in their faith and true in their relationships. I wanted to write the story because I detected much potential for the sharing of testimony to the power of faith.
“This is a great story with a sweet romance. It has plenty of heartache and hardships as well as positive uplifting situations in the story. . . . I recommend this book to others who like a good romance.”
A fragment of memory returned. “Karen.”
She glanced up with a question in her eyes.
“When I woke up a few minutes ago, what did I say to you?”
She blushed. “You called me an angel.”
“Then I wasn’t seeing things.” His hazy mind was finally catching up to his vision. “I said that because of how you look right now.”
“There were a few places were the book was a bit slow but, I enjoyed the plot twists. I enjoyed the part where the kids were playing pranks with each other even though, I felt for Karen.”
“Promise for Tomorrow is the first book I have read by Michelle DeBruin. . . . After reading this, I realize she has a great talent at storytelling. . . . I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy clean historical fiction.”
What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?
I would like readers to take away from my book the message that faith wins. Every day. All the time. This is true because God is faithful, and he carries us through trouble to the beautiful plans that he has dreamed up for our lives. When everything seems to be going wrong, or things don’t turn out the way we expect them to, we can still rest in the promises God has made to us because he will deliver and work his plan in our lives in his own good time.
“Promise for tomorrow is the second book in the series. I did not read the first book. This book is written as a stand-alone, but I would still recommend reading the first book. I plan on reading . . . Hope for Tomorrow.”
The Top Ten Facts to Know About the Series and Characters
1. The character of Karen Millerson, the heroine, is based on my grandmother, Elizabeth Van Zante. She grew up during the 1920’s and then accomplished the completion of her college education during the depression, earning her bachelor’s degree in math and Latin. She went on to teach math at two different high schools before marrying my grandfather in 1947. . .
“If you are looking for a sweet romance on the prairie look no further than Promise for Tomorrow. . . . Through it all however, Karen and Logan did make a great team. Especially all that was thrown their way. Their story made for an enjoyable read to pass the time with.”
After a few moments Mama murmured, “Oh, my goodness.” Her gaze returned to him. Joy radiated on her face. “You’ve gone and fallen in love with our own dear, sweet Karen, haven’t you?”
Logan bit his lip. Never in his wildest dreams did he see things coming to this. Mama really should mind her own business more often.
“This is tremendous!”
Apparently no answer form him meant a “yes” in his household.
“I love a clean, sweet romance with obstacles that the characters must overcome and this one has plenty of obstacles and plenty of faith to get through the hard times. . . . There are characters I rooted for and some others who just annoyed me but in this book I always wanted Karen and Logan to live their best possible live because they deserved it after everything they went through.”
The Inspiration and Research for Promise for Tomorrow
*
The inspiration for this book, and for the entire Tomorrow series begins with the creation of the heroine of the story, Karen Millerson, who is a schoolteacher. She is from Chicago and has the training to teach English at a high school level. This character is based on my grandmother, Elizabeth Van Zante. She grew up during the 1920’s and then accomplished the completion of her college education during the depression, earning her a bachelor’s degree in math and Latin. She went on to teach math at two different high schools before marrying my grandfather in 1947. . .
“What a wonderful book full of faith. Michelle D Bruin has a delightful way with words that truly warms the heart. . . . If you love historical romances with a Christian background, then don’t miss this amazing book. You’ll find yourself lifted up as you read without even realizing it. Beautifully written Michelle!”
Top Ten Tips in Teaching at a Country School and Running a Dairy Farm
This list is based on the real-life experiences of the heroine and hero of the Tomorrow series, Karen Millerson and Logan De Witt.
Young women receiving their training to teach school should understand that they can only teach as single women. Marriage means the end of a career. This is because school administrators want to encourage married women to set a high priority on their own homes and families. . .
“Despite having not read the first book, I was able to get right into this one. . . . This reminded me of a more grown-up version of “Little House on The Prairie”, which is probably why I really enjoyed it. . . . Beautiful, inspiring, and timeless are just some of the words to describe this book. The cover is simple, colorful, and just gorgeous. It drew me in as if in advertising a place to stay at the farm.”
What is your favorite genre to read? What about that genre draws you?
My favorite genre to read is also the genre I write in, Christian Historical Fiction. I’m drawn to this genre by the things I learn about a historical era or setting, as well as by the layers of spiritual truth written into the story. Christian fiction serves as an effective tool to demonstrate how faith shapes us and how God works in a person’s life.
“If you’re looking for a clean romance with a strong Christian theme, Promise for Tomorrow is a sweet choice. It’s not a complicated story, and the characters pride themselves on living a simple life. . . . I appreciated how the characters praised God for the positive in every situation, no matter how bleak the day looked. If you’ve read Amish fiction before, this book has a similar vibe.”
Promise for Tomorrow
By Michelle De Bruin
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 290 Pages
November 19th 2019 by Mantle Rock Publishing
Living a life of faith isn’t going the way Logan and Karen hoped until some special visitors arrive and offer them their future back.
Karen Millerson dreamed of teaching high school but now finds herself boarding with a farm family and teaching country school. She is engaged to marry Logan De Witt and is getting prepared to share in ministry with him. But when she gets blamed for the tragic fire at the school, Karen’s future grows uncertain.
Logan De Witt is working to clear his family’s name with the bank. But when he breaks his leg, hindering his ability to work the farm, Logan is faced with life-changing decisions. When his best friend can’t offer the help he requested, can Logan find a way to care for his family and court Karen at the same time before his love for her destroys all of them?
Other Books in the Series
Hope for Tomorrow
By Michelle De Bruin
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 294 Pages
October 23rd 2018 by Mantle Rock Publishing LLC
When Logan De Witt learns of his father’s sudden death, he returns home to the family’s dairy farm. During his stay, he discovers his mother’s struggle with finances and his younger sister’s struggle with grief. Concern for his family presses Logan to make the difficult decision to leave his career as a pastor and stay on the farm. As a way to make some extra money, he agrees to board the teacher for their local school.
Karen Millerson arrives from Chicago ready to teach high school but her position is eliminated so she accepts the role of country school teacher. Eager to put her family’s ugly past behind her, Karen begins a new career to replace the trust she lost in her own father who had been in ministry when she was a child.
Logan and Karen both sense a call from the Lord to serve him, but neither of them expected that one day they would do it together.
Can Karen learn to trust again? Will Logan lay aside his grief in exchange for God’s purpose for his life?
About the Author
Michelle De Bruin lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in Religion with a Christian Ministry emphasis, and in Music. Michelle is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with mental and physical disabilities. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2015. Michelle writes inspirational historical romance about people who live in rural communities. Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small-town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle’s stories distinct. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story. Her first book, Hope for Tomorrow, released in 2018. The sequel, Promise for Tomorrow, released November 2019.
What was your motivation behind THE FIFTH AVENUE STORY SOCIETY? Why did you want to write it?
The idea came after I spoke to a local writers group. One of the leaders mentioned their “story circles” and an idea was born. The Story Circle was the original title and had seven characters instead of five. But from the beginning it was about a group of strangers discovering who they were as they told their stories. The idea hit me so profoundly I went home from the meeting and wrote a synopsis in minutes and fired it off to my agent. He wrote back, “Love it!” The story felt right. I could “see” it so I knew I had to write it.
“As always, Rachel Hauck’s character development is spot on. She created a world filled with believable characters and a story with a beautiful, spiritual thread. Wonderful storytelling. “
The door opened, and the discussion crashed to a stop. Jett rose to meet who he believed was the fifth member of this weird, cockamamie “society.”
“Lexa?” If possible, the world stopped spinning. His heartbeat slowed, and his thoughts careened together.
She moved across the threshold with ease, hitched her backpack on her shoulder, and raised her sparkling hazel gaze.
“Jett? You’ve got to be kidding me.” She had more heat in her eyes than the flames in the fireplace. “Did you do this? Send that stupid invitation?”
“This is an interesting, unique tale of how one event resulted in opening new discoveries in five individuals which changed each of their lives path forever. It is a story of freedom, unity, redirection, understanding, tolerance, acceptance, and many more topics.”
“We still don’t know why we’re here.” Chuck glanced at each of them, his attention lingering longer on Coral than the others. “Don’t you want to know who sent the invitation?”
“What if the invitations were some promotional thing for the library? Sent to five random people. I get stuff ‘to the resident of’ all the time,” Lexa said, the presence of Jett starting to seep into her skin.
Did she want to punch him? Yell at him? Run away and never clap eyes on him again? Hug him? Yes, yes, all of the above.
“The story started strong and tapered off towards the middle. However, I am glad that I stuck through the novel because I love[d] seeing the true story of each character unfold. I enjoyed seeing that each character was able to find themselves and find each other.”
“The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck is a moving story that goes on my “best of the best” list. The bookstore setting is atmospheric and charming, the characters rich and endearing, and every word of the prose is to be treasured. It’s a story of friendship, renewal and second chances, with a few heartwarming moments that moved me to tears. . . . Highly recommended.”
“I give this book a resounding 5 out of 5 stars for the amazing characters and their individual stories, for the story of friendships coming from nothing, and for showing how the faith of one can affect many. I highly recommend picking this book up to read.”
“Rachel Hauck is my new favourite in Contemporary INSPY . . . From the choices of her words to how she tucks in references which cross-relate to the revelations she’s making about her characters; Hauck has this innate ability to connect you to her story and gives you a reason to ache for another chapter, another moment in this world she’s created with a story you don’t wish to exit. . . . by the time I first reached the Fifth Avenue Story Society’s meeting space, I knew how much I was loving this experience . . . I was beyond smitten and dearly delighted that this became the first Hauck novel I read and it definitely will not be my last! Ooh, my dear stars… the joy of it!”
“This book is bound to be a movie at some point. The characters (and there are several) each have their own spunky personalities that need to be shared with the world. I love the contrast between them, from their backgrounds to their livelihoods.”
“If you haven’t read any books she’s written so far than I have no hesitation in recommending you start with this one. I absolutely loved the premise and the characters . . . I thought The Fifth [Avenue] Story Society has some heartbreaking moments but also there is hope, hope for new beginnings, hope for brighter futures and best of meeting new people who will change your life for the better.”
“I still say people can live selflessly, you know. There are couples who get along, don’t argue. Marriages where love conquers all.”
“Really?” Jett’s expression conveyed his doubt. “I’ve never seen one.”
“Well, you’re looking at the remaining half of a solid, giving marriage.” Ed glanced around the circle. “Granted, you don’t see much of what Esmerelda and I had in these modern times. All I see here is you kids with heartbreak. I don’t know what happened to you, Chuck, but I can see pain in your eyes.” He patted his new friend’s broad shoulder. “Lord only knows what happened with Coral and you two.” He waved at Lexa, then Jett. “Esmie and I chose the way of love. It was the sixties, so naturally love was on our minds. We decided things together, and when she was right, I said sorry. When I was right, she made my favorite pot roast.” He fell against his chair. “She made the best pot roast.”
“Stepping inside The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauk is like stepping inside the library itself–warm, cozy, and with a bit of mystery. . . . The Fifth Avenue Story Society offers a little bit of something for every type of readers, and is a wonderful fit for those who enjoy cozy reads involving bookstores, family, and business, with maybe even a little romance.”
“One day when you’re like forty or fifty, you’ll look back on your life and wonder what happened to the Jett Wilder who hoped, who dreamed. You’ll be completely unaware that your shallow, lonely existence was carved out by a faded, twisted memory of a morning on a mountaintop. That you’re haunted by the ghost of your dead brother.”
“That won’t happen. What you just said.”
“In some ways it already has, Jett. Between you and me.”
“Hauck’s writing quickly draws the reader in, and it’s easy to feel a part of the unlikely group. Character development is strong. I loved that the story was told in multiple POV’s, as it gives the reader the full picture, and you’re really able to connect with each person. . . . I had a hard time putting this one down, as I couldn’t wait to see how things turned out in the end.”
“Before you do anything else, go put this book on your TBR pile! However you keep track of the books you want to read…whether you add them to Goodreads or you write them down…do it now. You need to read The Fifth Avenue Story Society.
This is a story that you will never forget. . . . I felt this story so deeply. The characters’ stories aren’t my stories, but that’s the point. Deep down, we’re the same.”
“I love Rachel’s books. I love her stories and how they can be very realistic and believable!! Her writing is amazing!! She [definitely] wrapped up the ending to this story very well . . . Wonderful plot and Characters that you can believe in and some you can even make friends with.”
“I found myself not being able to put it down. . . . This book was heart-breaking, frustrating, and touching to read. It even had a haunting sadness to it. Still, there were elements of hope and even some humor. . . . My heart nearly broke at one point when it looked like everything was falling apart. Yet, at the end, everything came together and in a beautiful way.”
All excerpts from The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck. Used with the permission of the publisher, Thomas Nelson. Copyright © 2020 by Rachel Hauck. Learn more at TNZ Fiction.
The Fifth Avenue Story Society
By Rachel Hauck
Christian Contemporary Romance
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 400 Pages
February 4th 2020 by Thomas Nelson
Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.
Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.
Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.
Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.
Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.
When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to reveal their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.
Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.
Praise for the Book
“Hauck inspires and uplifts with this mix of tales.” – Publishers Weekly
February 10th:
@momfluenster
@brenyandbooks
February 11th:
@simplehomemama
@angelakreais
February 12th:
@irishgirliereads
@christenkrumm
February 13th:
@suziewaltner
@ya.its.lit
February 14th:
read_by_a.cave
@courtneyec90
you’ll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
Sam grinned at her and winked.
She stopped. No way. This was weird.
“Oh, come on.” He leaned out the door, grasped her forearm, and pulled her in. With the door shut, the three of them sat shoulder to shoulder . . . thigh to thigh. Kimberly rolled down her window and tried not to think about how, even on a day so hot she felt like a roast duck, the sensation of Sam’s warmth against her side was exquisite.
Jules fired up the engine, and Sam shifted the vehicle into first. “Okay, Jules, take us on a tour. Pretend we’ve never seen the farm before. Take us to all your favorite spots and tell Kim about them.”
“I like watching Sam and Kimberly going back and forth, continuing to spar but then learning to appreciate each other, becoming friends, and developing a slow burn of a relationship. Secondary in this story is the relationship between Jules and her ex-boyfriend Mick. All four of them have so much to work through, and together it seems more possible.
And I especially loved having the Australian setting for this one for something a little different in my reading.”
“Mick, can I ask you something?”
He swiveled to look up at her. “My response to that question has never stopped you before.”
“What’s your girlfriend’s name?”
He dropped his gaze and grimaced.
She clenched her teeth. She’d been an idiot. There was no girlfriend. And that joyful unicorn currently shooting rainbows around her brain could shut up, because any soft thoughts toward Mick were unwelcome here.
“The characters are very endearing and the dedication to family and God, inspiring. There is so much of real life challenges portrayed, the whole story felt real. . . . This is a great book for older Young Adults to read, as it is for Adults.”
Ahead of her, Sam walked toward the yard gate, oblivious to the jealousy that oozed through her veins. Between Butch, Jules, and Mrs. Payton—due home in a couple weeks for Christmas—Sam had a real family. A real family with a real home.
A home now under more threat than they realized.
In addition to getting her Wildfire work done, Kimberly had spent late-night hours since she’d arrived scouring the six months’ worth of financial documents Jules had given her, looking for a way to free up the cash they needed.
“I loved the story and even got a few laughs out of it as well. . . . I finished this book all in one day. It was so good that I couldn’t put it down. Plus, it made my cold afternoon go by faster. I love a good story like that.
I highly recommend.”
“A Girl’s Guide to the Outback is a cute, sweet, and funny read. . . . Ms Kate does do a good job of showing how paralyzing their fears are, though, and allows them to work through them, giving us a very sweet HEA in the end.”
“What great spunky and sassy characters! They were magnetic and completely drew me into the story. I loved that there was not only the primary romantic couple but a secondary one as well! . . . The accents were cheery and adorable, reading about the cattle and sheep ‘stations’ (ranches to all you Americans) goings-on and just living day to day life in the sunny Outback ‘Down Under’.
All in all, a fun and romantically recommendable book!”
“A Girl’s Guide to the Outback is a hilarious, inspirational rom com, and you’re going to love it! . . . I’m not going to spoil this completely adorable book for you because I know you will love it, and I want you to discover all of the swoon-worthy, heart-wrenching, heartwarming, and inspiring moments yourselves. Not only are the main characters well-developed, but the supporting characters also are. . . . A Girl’s Guide to the Outback is a Christian romance book, and I found moments of deep wisdom within its pages.”
“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. . . . 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.”
“. . . it had moments which made me smile . . . . I found a compelling story about seeking out the personal truths in all our journeys and owning those truths even if it means making radical changes in our lives.”
“I really enjoyed this interesting story from author Jessica Kate. . . . The cast of mixed characters give a lot of flavor to the story. There are many times you will find yourself laughing, and there are some sad moments a[s] well. The Christian lifestyle was weaved throughout the story in a somewhat subtle way. And it had a sweet ending. . . . If you are looking for a humorous, sweet yet crazy read, this is one you will love.”
“A Girl’s Guide to the Outback penned by Jessica Kate is such a delightful read. Parts are filled with humor but there are serious undertones which the author blended perfectly. . . . I became involved and invested in this novel because the story is fascinating, moves at a great pace and I loved the setting. I like that this novel is suitable for all ages which is why I highly recommend it.”
“Jessica Kate imbues the story with wit and humor all the way, adding an element of pure fun. But that doesn’t mean things don’t get heavy, as emotions spike and relationships go sideways. And even though things don’t work out the way they were expected to, the end of the story is satisfying enough to make any reader melt in her seat.
A Girl’s Guide to the Outback is a humorous story filled with life, laughter, and a whole lot of cows, perfect for those who love clean romance with a little bit of comedy.”
“What a cute book! I loved the setting and I loved getting to know the characters in this book. They had depth and personality. This author is great at creating scenes that I can easily visualize in my mind and I love how it all played out so vividly.”
“I enjoyed Jessica Kate’s debut novel, but she’s outdone herself in The Girl’s Guide to the Outback. Kate’s sophomore release felt much more rom-com to me than her first book, yet there was still some wonderful depth to the story amidst the humor. . . . I adored that there are two romances in this book (Jules and Mitch are the second couple) and the peek into a lesser-known side of living in Australia.”
“. . . while this starts off as a hate/love, romantic comedy, there is so much heart and depth to it. . . . This is an absolutely adorable, heart-warming, and light-hearted read with serious messages throughout. The writer’s style was easy to follow and she moved the story along more and more. So much so that I found it hard to put this book down. It was just **THAT** good! Even when the writer threw in a realistic, heart-stopping, and shocking tragedy – I had to keep reading.
“I am giving A Girl’s Guide to the Outback a very well deserved five plus stars. I have already highly recommended it to my friends. Readers who enjoy a sweet romance will not want to pass on this one. I loved it!”
A Girl’s Guide to the Outback
@mamabear_reads
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Shadow and Stone
(Frey Saga #5)
By Melissa Wright
New Adult, YA Fantasy
Paperback & ebook
February 4th 2020
No bargains unpaid.
After a perilous clash with the fey, the changeling who betrayed the paramount of their laws–and threatens the safety of both realms–has gone into hiding. As Frey and her Seven recover, concealed plans and furtive bargains begin to unravel, putting in danger their old guard and new.
They’re on unsteady ground.
Scattered and healing, those sworn to protect the North and its lord work to secure their footing. They are running out of time to cure the darkness poisoning the fey lands, before it overflows into the rest of the realm. But Ruby has gone missing, and this time it seems of her own accord.
They’re out of time.
If they don’t stop her, she’ll face the deadly changeling alone. But more forces are at play than it seems, and the fey lord confined on his lands by treachery and two half-human elves has made a bargain of his own.
Guest Post: What You Need to Know About the Frey Saga
New to The Frey Saga? Check out what you need to know to jump into this world of magic, elves, and fey. (Warning: this post containers spoilers for the first three books.)
Types of magic
Magical energies are divided into light, dark, and that of the fey. These energies to do not play well together (and neither do their owners).
What makes Frey special?
Freya, Lord of the North and the Dark Elves’ Kingdom, is a halfbreed. She’s not only able to use the magic of both the light and dark energies, but she’s also half human–a weakness as far as any of the North are concerned. She’s managed to keep her throne despite that though, in no small part due to her rare ability to control animals. She’s been known to use birds of prey, wolves, and mountain cats, and readers can expect a few larger beasts as her talent grows.
Who’s the villain?
It depends on who you ask. Light elves oppose the methods of the dark and dark elves the light, but both hate the fey. The fey court is headed by the fey lord Veil, whose power is strong enough to shift the seasons. Veil—like all fey—engages in dangerous games and relies heavily on deceit and trickery.
Cast of characters
Frey’s high guard is known as the Seven, a once ragtag band of elves turned warriors including a halfblood fey, her horse trader brother, the strongarm, the wizards, the quick one, and the brooding hero/love interest: Chevelle.
The story so far
After meddling with powers and making deals with the fey, Frey’s predecessor was removed as Lord of the North. A great many lives were lost in the battles that followed, including Frey’s mother, and as heir to the throne Frey has much work ahead of her to set things to right. She’s finally settled into her place as ruler and her Seven and guard are loyal and true, but a darkness was set free during that meddling that threatens not only her people, but all elves and fey.
What’s next
In The Frey Saga Book V: Shadow and Stone, Frey faces her biggest challenge yet. A deadening of magic is spreading through the kingdoms and one of her Seven has gone missing. As fey treacheries and past secrets unravel, Frey’s duty as Lord might force her into a bargain that could destroy them all.
About the Author
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Author Autobiography:Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
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