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
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Blurb for Treasured LandOn Patrick Griffin’s deathbed, he asks his daughter Brigid to do the unthinkable–leave the Township of Melbourne with a dangerous convict. If she grants his request and risks trekking into the desert with a stranger, she could lose everything she’s come to know. Ultimately, she could end up alone, with nothing but her father’s memory. After being thrown into jail, Nathaniel O’Connor comes out of the experience bitter and ready to leave the gold rush life well and truly behind him. He is determined to take for himself what he feels Patrick Griffin has stolen from him. The only thing standing between him and his goal is Patrick’s headstrong daughter, Brigid.
Forced to work together, Brigid and Nathaniel embark on the journey of a lifetime. Traveling across the vast, unexplored countryside, they face not only the elements but also a ruthless man driven by shocking greed. Their challenges draw them together, and their experiences could not only change their outlook on life forever but turn their hearts to one another as well. Sometimes, though, what the heart needs and what the heart wants are two different things. Each has a choice to make, which may result in a loss neither wants, that of a Treasured Land.
Brigid wanted to hold her breath in anticipation, silently praying they could make it past all the tents and men, without a scene. Harmonicas sounded out here and there through the night, played by the men who were winding down from a long day in the sun. The air was crisp and clear, with only the lingering scent of fires from supper floating on the light breeze. Stars littered the dark sky, lighting their way yet concealing them in the shadow of night. It was almost enough to put her to sleep. She was tired, and again they were on the run, but this time toward Melbourne. Life certainly hadn’t been the same for her since meeting Nathaniel, and she had a feeling it wasn’t ever going to be, either.
2.
3.“Welcome to the land, our home. Be welcome to pass by here,” Sam said, his voice coming in just after the old man spoke to them. They continued that way, the old man talking with Sam interpreting what was said. “The welcome dance also awakens the spirits of our ancestors. They welcome you, too. We want to tell you a story, a story that has changed the lives of this people.”
Nathaniel turned to look at Brigid at the same time she turned to him. They both had no idea where this was going to lead, but the old man had their attention, and all they could do was listen.
4. Nathaniel had to move swiftly to catch Brigid across his arms when she promptly fainted. He looked over the dead body of their supposed supper and frowned at Sam.
“Hey, boss, give her this.”
Nathaniel watched Sam pull a bunch of leaves of some sort out from the back pocket of his pants. He held it to his lips before shoving it in Nathaniel’s shirt pocket. “For dyinmang belly.”
Nathaniel just stared at Sam, not knowing what to say just then as he continued to hold a limp Brigid in his arms. Sam stood and began to drag the kangaroo away. Nathaniel was simply speechless to all that just had taken place, and he sighed as he looked back down to Brigid.
5.“I would not have let you live the way we had and would have been angry at Patrick if he brought you out there. I am angry at him because it had come close to that.”
She did smile at him this time. Her pink lips parted, revealing her lovely straight teeth, and his chest swelled, honoured to have been the recipient of it. “Why do you smile, Brigid?”
“Because, Nathaniel, it did nae make a difference anyway. Ye are mad at him now, and I am living somewhat the way he did.”
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