Heartthrob

About the Book

Book: More Thank A Heartthrob

Author: Kari Trumbo

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: September 28, 2021

Trumbo_More_Than_a_Heartthrob Whoever said beauty is only skin deep lied. Beauty begins from within.

Jazzy is comfortable in her own skin, but the world cringes at it. Her personal armor since her teen years, makeup hides the scars that make anyone who sees them wince. The true test of any friend is: will they accept her without it?

Chris races to Hooper Island to escape a life-altering situation. The only person he knows and can trust there is a woman he met once. It wasn’t a good meeting. Lost and lonely after being the center of attention in Hollywood, he won’t risk losing the one friend he has.

Befriending Chris poses a risk Jazzy is loath to take. If anyone will reject her for her scars, it’ll be a guy whose life is focused on beauty. But as she helps him work through his own problems and his struggles with faith, will she gather the courage to pluck the plank from her own eye?

Once alone and vulnerable, will Jazzy and Chris rely on one another? Or will the force of their polar opposite lives push them apart—for good.

More Than a Heartthrob continues the Hooper Island stories of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

kari Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn’t) South Dakota.

Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.

More from Kari

Hello Readers!

Welcome to the blog tour for More than a Heartthrob. I hope you’ve had a chance to read about the book a little. Thank you to today’s blog host and to Celebrate Lit for the tour and for publishing this great set.

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like everyone was staring at you for whatever reason? For me, it’s my weight. I’ve been overweight since my second year of marriage when I made a personal (and poor) decision to take a medication that made me gain a lot of weight quickly. And because of back pain, I’ve never been successful in shedding it.

For Jasmine (Jazzy), it’s her scars and lack of hair that she hides under makeup and wigs. She’s carefully kept them a secret her entire life. Only her friends and family know. She even has a beauty vlog (video blog) where she talks about faith and gives beauty tips.

But she isn’t happy. She’s lonely because it’s all fake. The skin she shows the world isn’t hers. I know I feel like that sometimes when I hide behind baggy clothes or sit behind a table so no one can really see me.

But, do people really think in their heads what we think they are? All that worry is spent, but it is fruitful? The answer to that, is no. Do some people judge us on our looks, behavior, or faith? Absolutely, but this book challenges the view that people “always” do.

Jazzy is challenged to forgo what she thinks makes her beautiful, it’s a twist on the old beauty and the beast story and I think you’re going to enjoy it. Especially because the guy who believes in her most, is the one society says should be the most critical, a Hollywood actor.

I hope, if you’re one of those people who wishes for a tall plant to hide behind when you’re in a crowded room, that you’ll find a kindred spirit in Jazzy.

Kari

MY REVIEW

It’s nice to come back to friends that you have gotten to know recently. That’s what this series is to me. Each author has a unique style and I love reading their adventures. This story is especially nice because it deals with our self image. Many of us don’t feel confident in the way we look, so that makes us shy away from people. I couldn’t wait to see how the author would handle this topic.

I am familiar with Jazzy but I feel like I know her better in this story. She has scars that may make some uncomfortable, but she tries to not ket it bother her. She is a little shy but when she is asked to befriend someone she does it with her whole heart. I remember Jazzy meeting Chris before and it didn’t turn out well.

Chris is a famous actor but I didn’t get the impression that he used that to his advantage. He does have a past that will soon cause doubt in people’s mind about him. It’s not everyday that someone dies in his apartment from an overdose. Without waiting to prove himself innocent from any wrongdoing, he takes off to the island to hide. I could tell he feels alone and needs a friend. What a surprise that Jazzy is the one to reach out to him.

When the two have a disagreement this is where we get to really see who they are. Chris is so defensive that he won’t give Jazzy a chance. What a burden he must carry believing that everyone judges him because of a past mistake. They both have one thing in common and that is trust issues. The author explores this in a way that opens the door for healing. I love how Chris and Jazzy slowly express their feelings while still holding back just a little. I do that a lot myself. I will only share so much until I close myself off from people. It is a safety mechanism we all use at one time. It’s hard to trust when you have been hurt. The good news is that God is right there waiting with open arms to heal your wounds.

I really enjoyed the story and seeing where Chris and Jazzy would end up. Through their trials they were able to find a deeper relationship with God. There is always a reason why something happens and this story reflects that “all things work for good for those who love God.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.