On Tour with Prism Book Tours
each stop of the tour, you’ll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
“I liked sooooo very much about this book. I found myself literally LOL-ing at times, to the startled reactions of those around me (on the train or at the nail salon). The author is downright hilarious, and I appreciated how she incorporated humor into some very serious topics.”
Describe your book in 25 words or less.
To land her dream internship, a woman must nanny her ex-fiancé’s infant son and deal with his troubled teenage niece.
(I have five words left, so–) sassy, love/hate, comedy, drama.
“Jessica Kate has written a novel that many teens can relate to. On one level it is about relationships and forgiveness. On another level it is about God’s love for us even when we think no one loves us and the people who should care the most about us fail. . . . I would not hesitate to add this to my K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for high school age and adults.”
“This is a delightfully, entertaining novel addressing the topics of love, betrayal, facing problematic situations, forgiveness and other Christian ethics.”
Did you have a favorite character in this novel and who is it?
Jessica: This is a weird answer, but NICK! I know, he’s not a main character, but this teen math nerd has a Nirvana T-shirt, knows how to hot wire a car, and raises baby chickens as a surprise to cheer up his mother. He’s such a sweetie pie!
“I really enjoyed this story of love, forgiveness, loss, and compassion. The characters are complicated and the author does a great job of describing them, how they are feeling, and moving them forward in a positive way. . . . I appreciated how they came back to their faith and trusted God to help see them through.”
SLB: What inspired the idea for this story?
Jessica Kate: Complicated answer! The actual plot – entirely fictional. But the emotional journeys? I started writing this book at 22, working a job that didn’t lead anywhere, single, and unsure where I fit in life. I felt like I was missing out on my purpose—and so did my main character, Natalie.
“For a debut novel I thought that one was pretty impressive and I liked that author had characters from various age groups and blended them perfectly within the pages of this book. A story of family and friends and how at times we have to make sacrifices to help not only your loved ones but those who are need of help. too. . . . Overall this storyline is much more tender than I thought it would be and that’s just fine with me. I like the writing of Jessica Kate and I will read more of her work.”
“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.”
“It was dramatic narrative interwoven with romance, forgiveness and sense of family. It was interesting to read about the challenges in Natalie, Jem and Lilli’s lives and how they overcome their hardships and past. I would recommend reading it.”
“In the midst of all the drama and heavy issues was just the right amount of humor to keep it a lighter and more entertaining read. . . . I personally really enjoyed it. It was still clean, just more real. As such, I could see that it could appeal also to a wider audience who might not generally prefer Christian fiction as well. This is a great, quick read that I would certainly recommend, and I cannot wait to see what Jessica Kate has in store for us next!”
Q. Do you write full time or do you also have another job outside of being a wonderful author?
A. I work full-time as a training developer at a small bank. It’s fun getting to use my creativity in a team context, especially when we make training videos. I like to pretend I’m Steven Spielberg 😉
“I do think that this is a really good read. Natalie and Jem are an adorable couple, taking care of an adorable baby, and Lili is an amazingly relatable teenager. And the heavy, emotional scenes are balanced well with lighthearted moments that show the brighter side of life. There were a few moments which seemed unrealistic, but those played more into the comedic side of the story, making them easier to roll with.”
Jessica, what would you like your readers to take away from Love and Other Mistakes?
Hope! Life, family and love can all be messy and scary—but God is bigger than the mess and brings us love and joy!
“There is a lot going on in this story! . . . In a way, these problems almost made the story seem a bit more realistic, because we often get plagued with multiple life events that cause stress and chaos. Life is not pretty; it is messy. . . . I also want to point out that while this is listed as a Christian contemporary romance, you are not going to have Christianity shoved down your throat. To me it was more of a way at looking at how even Christians do not have perfect lives. But these people are, at the same time, using their faith to help them through. . . . So I think readers who are not necessarily interested in Christian romances would also enjoy this one.”
What is one piece of advice your character, Natalie, would give us about love?
Natalie at the start of the book would bark a slightly bitter laugh and shrug, then change the subject.
Natalie at the end of the book would say that if you don’t understand how God loves you (and that your value has nothing to do with your good works or mistakes), then it’ll make your relationships much harder.
It’s when you get that clear understanding from God about your own value, then that love can more easily spill over to others.
“Natalie Groves has big dreams and hopes but, when her fiancé, Jeremy Walters, suddenly breaks up with her, she felt lost. Her father was then diagnosed with cancer, which left Natalie struggling to keep her family afloat while nursing her broken heart. With her grand plans in the rearview mirror, Natalie’s relationship with God is also stilted. . . . Overall, I think it’s a decent read for young adults.”
“This was a good debut novel! I loved the author’s writing style and voice! . . . I don’t often remember quotes or make note of them, but this one really stood out to me and touched my heart. “The truth is you are far more than a job, a ministry, or even a calling. You are a person created and saved by God, no matter what your job is or what you do in life.”
Overall, this is a good story.”
1)What inspired you to first start writing this book?
The original seed of an idea was a story about a man and a woman who were raising a kid, but they weren’t a couple. From that I got the idea of Natalie nannying her ex-fiancé’s son and it all grew from there!
I adore love/hate stories, so the idea of ex’s having to work together is one I find endlessly entertaining! 😀
“This is a nice and interesting read. There is a lot going on in this story. . . . The author handles each situation going on in the story really well. . . . Overall, this debut novel is pretty good. It’s fun to read, and will keep you entertained for quite a few hours. I really think the younger generation would love this book, as in late teens and early 20’s.”
“Love and Other Mistakes is a good read. It has some cute, fun, and delightful moments that made me laugh out loud. There were some tearing up moments that made me want to grab the tissues. . . . I believe it is worth a read.”
Love and Other Mistakes
