A girl's guide to the Outback : a novel
by Jessa Kate · 2020
Samuel Payton is a passionate youth pastor in Virginia, but below the surface, he’s still recovering from the blow of a failed business and insecurities he can’t shake. His coworker, start-up expert Kimberly Foster, is brilliant, fearless, and capable, but years of personal rejection have left her defensive and longing for a family. Two people have never been more at odds—or more attracted to one another. And every day at work, the sparks sure do fly. When Kimberly’s ambitious plans for Sam’s ministry butt up against his risk-averse nature, Sam decides that obligations to family trump his work for the church. He quits the ministry and heads home to Australia to help his sister, Jules, save her struggling farm. As Kimberly’s grand plans flounder, she is forced to face the truth: that no one can replace Sam. Together they strike up a deal: If Kimberly comes to work on Jules’s dairy farm and lends her business brains to their endeavor, then maybe—just maybe—Sam will reconsider his future with the church. As Kimberly tries her hand at Australian farm life, she learns more about herself than she could’ve ever expected. Meanwhile Sam is forced to re-evaluate this spunky woman he thought he already knew. As foes slowly morph into friends, they wonder if they might be something even more. But when disaster strikes the farm, will Sam find it within himself to take a risk that could lead to love? And will Kimberly trust God with her future?
Rating: 3.00/5 from 1 ratings · Heat: 1 · Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Reviews
Carrie Reichelt — 3/5
Sam and Kimberly work together at Wildfire - a Christian outreach. They bicker but there’s some underlying tension underneath neither want to admit to. Sam moves back to Australia to help his sister (Jules) run the family farm when she calls to tell him things aren’t going well financially. Jules ends up inviting Kim to use her skills to assess what could be done to save it. Insert drama because Sam and Kim can’t do anything but bicker and NOT admit they LIKE like each other. The story itself is heartfelt: all about family, faith, making those hard decisions. What bugged me was the narration. When she was supposed to be talking like Kim (American) she’d say things like “scons” instead of “scones.” And there were no breaks! I know there were breaks in the book between characters but there were no section pauses in narration. Only at chapters. So it would take a bit to realize it was a new character speaking. THAT is why I can’t give more stars. Sorry…