Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate - Reviewed

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Love and Other Mistakes

By Jessica Kate

Christian Contemporary Romance

Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 352 Pages

July 30th 2019 by Thomas Nelson

Jessica Kate’s hilarious, romantic debut novel proves that some mistakes—including love—are begging to be made again and again.

Natalie Groves once had big dreams. But soon after her fiancé, Jeremy Walters, inexplicably broke off their engagement and left town, her father was diagnosed with cancer. Now tasked with keeping her family afloat, Natalie’s grand plans have evaporated . . . and God feels very far away.

Fast-forward seven years, and Jeremy is back in Charlottesville with an infant son and years of regrets. When his niece, Lili, lands on his doorstep in need of a place to stay, Jeremy needs help—and fast.

An internship opening finally presents Natalie a chance at her dream job, but she needs a second income to work around it—and the only offer available is Jeremy’s. They could be the solutions to one another’s problems, provided they don’t kill each other in the process. When they join forces, sparks fly. But they both know there’s a thin line between love and hate . . . and that love will turn out to be the best decision—or the biggest mistake—of all.

Praise for the Book

“A stunning debut . . . This tale of love and redemption will stay with you long after you've closed the book. A must-read.” —Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress

“Witty. Charming. Heartfelt. I could go on and on about Jessica Kate’s debut novel. From its highly relatable characters to its pitch-perfect dialogue, Love and Other Mistakes is a delightful, romantic read filled with just the right amount of sass. I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud as I watched Natalie and Jem navigate their relationships, careers, and faith. Definitely one of the most enjoyable books I've read lately, and I can't wait to see what’s next from Jessica Kate!” —Melissa Tagg, Carol Award–winning author of Now and Then and Always and the Walker Family series

“Love and Other Mistakes wraps a poignant and warm look at relationships within a smart, sly, and knowing comedic voice. Readers of Sally Thorne and Bethany Turner will be immediately at home with Natalie: an all-too-real heroine who balances whip-smart agency with an endearing vulnerability and whose intersection with long-lost Jeremy helps her forge a path to confidence and discover the woman she was always meant to be. Kate’s unputdownable debut recognizes that all human relationships—familial, friendship, romantic—are worth the keen eye and clever insight of her talented pen.” —Rachel McMillan, author of the Van Buren and DeLuca Mysteries

“If you’re looking for a story with sass on top of style, or a fresh voice pumped full of fun, you need to read Love and Other Mistakes. Then after you’ve enjoyed this—and I’m confident you will—make a date with whatever this exciting new author writes next!” —David Rawlings, author of The Baggage Handler

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Prism Tours: Jessica, what made you decide to write rom-com for your first book?

Jessica: When I wrote the first draft, I didn’t even know you COULD write romantic comedy in a book. Then I discovered Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, then Jenny B Jones’ books, and was like ‘this is what I wanna do’. Each draft of Love and Other Mistakes (which was originally women’s fiction with a strong romantic subplot) got more and more comedy in it, and more and more of Jem’s (my hero’s) point of view. 

About the Author

Australian author Jessica Kate is obsessed with sassy romances. 

She packs her novels with love, hate, and everything in between—and then nerds out over her favorite books, movies and TV in the StoryNerds podcast. When she’s not writing or discussing fiction, she’s hunting the world for the greatest pasta in existence.

Her debut novel Love and Other Mistakes releases July 2019, while A Girl’s Guide to the Outback hits shelves in January 2020.

Receive her sassy short The Kiss Dare FREE when you sign up for her newsletter at jessicakatewriting.com. StoryNerds podcast is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and at www.storynerds.podbean.com.

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My Thoughts:

I love debut novels, and Jessica Kate's Love and Other Mistakes is one of the best and a new favorite. Not only did it make me laugh the character's were real, their struggles were real, and Ms. Kate does a great job of showing how in the midst of not so great choices God shows up and you watch the character's not only fall in love but come to rely on God in a real way.

I love kids in books and Oliver, Jem's son, gives Natalie a run for her money as she becomes his nanny so she can work on being an intern at a church. Add in Jem's teenage niece Lili who is not only struggling with being a teenager but family drama.

I read this book after reading a very emotional one that made me cry and I so loved how much laughing I did. It's a fun rom-com with a great message.

My bottom line: This book met all the things I adore in an inspirational rom-com. Jessica Kate handles tough subjects and real relationships well. The inspirational thread is woven throughout the book like a beautiful ribbon. I highly recommend this book.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher in association with Prism Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tour Schedule

Caught by Surprise ( Apart From the Crowd #3) by Jen Turano - Reviewed

About the book:

Title: Caught by Surprise (Apart From the Crowd #3)
Author: Jen Turano
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: July 31. 2018
Genre: Inspirational Historical Romantic Fiction

Miss Temperance Flowerdew is on her way to work when a stranger suddenly grabs her off the street and sends her on a Chicago-bound train before she can figure out what happened.
When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind the abduction, they're seen alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.
Gilbert is willing to propose marriage--except Temperance will have none of it. She's finally stepped out of the shadow of her relations and won't give up her independence. But when it becomes clear the misunderstanding in Chicago has escalated into a threat on her life and followed her to New York, accepting Gilbert's help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.

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About Jen Turano:

A USA Today Best-Selling Author, Jen Turano has written the critically acclaimed Ladies of  Distinction series, and A Class of Their Own series, published through Bethany House Publishers.

Her novel, After a Fashion, was chosen as a top pick from Romantic Times, as JenTuranowell as being named a top ten romance of 2015 from Booklist.  It is also a nominee for Romantic Times 2015 Reviewers’ Choice Award.

Her book, A Most Peculiar Circumstance, was chosen as a top ten romance by Booklist in 2013.

Her seventh book, Playing the Part, released in the spring of 2016, and will be followed by a new four-book series, Apart from the Crowd. When she’s not writing, Jen spends her time outside of Denver with her husband and neurotic Cattle Dog, enjoying herself as an empty-nester since her son recently abandoned her for the college life. She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/ or visit her on the web at www.jenturano.com. She is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency. Her books may be found in fine bookstores, or follow the Baker House Publishing link to find additional places to purchase her work – http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/authors/jen-turano/1761.



My Thoughts:

I have been a huge fan of Jen Turano since I read and reviewed her first book A Change of Fortune. With each book the cast of characters are more delightful, entertaining, and will put you in a fit of stitches.

I don't usually find others predicaments funny, like getting snatched off the street, but since these were characters and not real it was perfectly appropriate to laugh, and I mean laugh out loud. Which I did a lot of.

One of the fun things about series is that we get to catch up with characters from the previous books in the series. And Ms. Turano places them in funny predicaments as well. So, just when you think you're done laughing, believe me you're not!

I loved Temperance because she says and does what she wants, which definitely goes against society's norm. She's sassy and snarky, which is what I love in an heroine.

The sweet friendship between Gilbert and Temperance was real and so endearing. I loved that he just didn't give up on her. He was a true knight in shining armor.

The secondary characters were just as lovable as the main characters. They supported the story perfectly.

My Bottom Line:

I loved every minute of this story, and the characters. The suspenseful parts were like those of a cozy mystery which was delightful. The faith thread dealt with forgiveness of not only self but others. It was woven nicely throughout the book.

I wasn't expecting a mystery at all, and I had no idea what was going to happen next. The crazy situations that all of the characters found themselves in were utterly hilarious.

If you are looking for a "Calgon, take me away moment," look no further. This book is a perfect historical rom-com and I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.