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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book. All opinions belong to me.
After the first chapter, I honestly didn't think I was going to like this book. I was so wrong. Sam, Kim, Jules, and Mick grew on me with every chapter. The pacing of the story is amazing. The characters are the most lovable and relatable I have read in a long time. Kim literally had me in tears several times over the course of the book.
After the first chapter, I honestly didn't think I was going to like this book. I was so wrong. Sam, Kim, Jules, and Mick grew on me with every chapter. The pacing of the story is amazing. The characters are the most lovable and relatable I have read in a long time. Kim literally had me in tears several times over the course of the book.
Dual continent love story featuring characters from another of Jessica Kate's title Love & Other Mistakes, though it could be read as a stand-alone. I absolutely loved the banter between Sam and Kimberly, and coud relate to it alot considering it reflected my own love story. This is Christian fiction, but not very preachy which can sometimes be a turn-off. I did find it odd that nobody seemed to bat an eye that Kim stayed in Sam (and Jules') childhood home/farm for her entire month stay. Granted nothing sexual happened, they worked through healing their friendship and fell in love but still the temptation was clearly there considering she was always worried her clothes were too tight or see through and he was often shirtless due to farm work chores. Regardless, a sweet romance with an ending that foreshadows a possible new title following Jule's and her romance story.
What I read: A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate
Why I picked it up: I’d favorited it on Hoopla and needed a listen for this trip so I tried it.
How I read it: On audio at 1.5, accents are hard to understand any faster.
What it’s about: Kimberly has ambitious plans for her ministry and now that Sam has gone back to Australia everything is failing. She agrees to come to the farm to try to help them if he agrees to come help her find his replacement (or just come back!).
What I liked: I loved the setting and hearing the different Australian slang peppered throughout.
What I disliked: I would have liked a narrator change when the perspectives changed throughout. It was hard to follow who was telling their story when with a single narrator.
Genre: Christian romance.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and maybe better reading than listening.
Why I picked it up: I’d favorited it on Hoopla and needed a listen for this trip so I tried it.
How I read it: On audio at 1.5, accents are hard to understand any faster.
What it’s about: Kimberly has ambitious plans for her ministry and now that Sam has gone back to Australia everything is failing. She agrees to come to the farm to try to help them if he agrees to come help her find his replacement (or just come back!).
What I liked: I loved the setting and hearing the different Australian slang peppered throughout.
What I disliked: I would have liked a narrator change when the perspectives changed throughout. It was hard to follow who was telling their story when with a single narrator.
Genre: Christian romance.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and maybe better reading than listening.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this sweet Christian romance because it wasn’t just “fluff” but featured 3D characters who were flawed and afraid but grew and learned to trust as the story progressed. I also loved the imagery (from an Australian author) of the workings of a dairy farm in the Outback.
This is really TWO love stories, both fleshed out nicely...Kim and Sam and Jules (Sam’s sister) and Mick...and I loved both of them equally. Loved the humor as well.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson for providing me with an ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
This is really TWO love stories, both fleshed out nicely...Kim and Sam and Jules (Sam’s sister) and Mick...and I loved both of them equally. Loved the humor as well.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson for providing me with an ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Saying I didn't like this book would be an understatement... there was not one thing not one single thing in this book that I liked. I couldn't get a hold on any of the characters and but Kimberly was the worst I wouldn't even know where to begin to list all the things I hated about her because there were a lot.
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Well not bad. I just didn't realize when I got this via NetGalley this was a Christian romance. I tend to stay away from that genre because I just don't enjoy it at all. It didn't help that I realized half way through that this was a sequel to another novel with some of the same characters. This was cute though and I just gave it four stars though it didn't wow me that much. A very solid romance that I can see readers who enjoy Christian fiction enjoying.
"A Girl's Guide to the Outback" follows Samuel (Sam) Payton a youth minister living in VA. Plot reasons cause Sam to quit his job at the church and return to his family's farm in Australia to help out his sister Jules. Sam's coworker Kimberly chases after Sam in order to get him to come back to the ministry with an agreement that if she manages to help the farm become profitable he will return. Sparks fly.
Honestly I didn't find Sam or Kimberly that gripping, they had some hilarious banter and they are obviously attracted to each other. Everything is very PG-13.
There's also a side romance story going on with Sam's sister and their neighbor Mitch. When did we start doing that in romance books? Can we get back to just focusing on the leads and that's it?
The writing was okay and the flow was too.
The setting was fun though since I have only read a handful of romance books that have taken place in Australia.
Well not bad. I just didn't realize when I got this via NetGalley this was a Christian romance. I tend to stay away from that genre because I just don't enjoy it at all. It didn't help that I realized half way through that this was a sequel to another novel with some of the same characters. This was cute though and I just gave it four stars though it didn't wow me that much. A very solid romance that I can see readers who enjoy Christian fiction enjoying.
"A Girl's Guide to the Outback" follows Samuel (Sam) Payton a youth minister living in VA. Plot reasons cause Sam to quit his job at the church and return to his family's farm in Australia to help out his sister Jules. Sam's coworker Kimberly chases after Sam in order to get him to come back to the ministry with an agreement that if she manages to help the farm become profitable he will return. Sparks fly.
Honestly I didn't find Sam or Kimberly that gripping, they had some hilarious banter and they are obviously attracted to each other. Everything is very PG-13.
There's also a side romance story going on with Sam's sister and their neighbor Mitch. When did we start doing that in romance books? Can we get back to just focusing on the leads and that's it?
The writing was okay and the flow was too.
The setting was fun though since I have only read a handful of romance books that have taken place in Australia.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this so much! Great characters and plenty of literal LOL moments (plus what's not to love about Australia and Aussie slang?). I so enjoyed watching each character grow over the course of the read, too (including Sam's mom haha). Excellent character development and interaction with each other. Plenty of humor, travel, sibling banter, and overall entertainment.
I absolutely loved this book!! It is a must read, especially if you love romantic comedies, all my gushing here: https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/09/a-girls-guide-to-outback.html