Welcome to the Blog Tour for Anything by Kristina Welch, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! If you're a fan of YA/NA this is a story right up your alley! I was sent the audiobook for this tour. Check out my review below as well as an excerpt.
About the Book
Title: Anything: A Romance for Jesus Freaks
Series: Mayberry University Series #1
Author: Kristina Welch
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: February 1, 2025
Genre: Christian YA Romance
Two guarded hearts.
He’s breaking down walls and she’s building them higher
A match made in Heaven, or a blueprint for disaster?
After the fiery downward spiral of senior year, Kit Talbot crash-lands on a quirky college campus where traditions rule and dorm floors act more like family. It’s just weird enough to keep her mind off the wreckage she’s leaving behind.
Enter Levi Whitaker, known as the swooniest guy on campus. Magnetic, confident, and far too much like the ex who sent her life into that PTSD-tainted nosedive. Levi seems to be everywhere, focused on her like she’s the only girl in the world—even indulging her sugar addiction with delivered treats. But Kit’s self-preservation instincts are sharper than ever, and she deflects him like Wonder Woman blocking bullets.
That is, until Levi’s quiet faith and humble apology start to break down Kit’s defenses. He loves Jesus in the dreamiest way, looks like wow, and ... somehow triggers the flashbacks she fights so hard to avoid. Every minute with him is a risk she isn’t sure she should take. Should she protect them both from the chaos of her life or learn a bravery that feels irresponsible?
As Kit fights to keep her life safe and manageable, she leans into her faith, clinging to the Bible verses God whispers to her heart. Clearly, he’s up to something, but the healing she prays for isn’t happening the way she wants.
Why is God silent on the prayer she needs most?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
Excerpt
Haymitch interrupts my thoughts. “How ’bout you, Jeeves? You been here two years. What’s your take on Texas?”
“I think the barbecue here is the best I’ve ever had,” Levi says.
“Preach,” Austin says.
“The brisket is some’n else,” Haymitch agrees. “Wish I could introduce you to ‘Bama White Sauce though.”
“Let’s make it happen.” Levi says.
“Christmas break? Maybe we can drag Samwise away from his family for a couple o’ days.” “If you can convince Janie,” Austin says.
“Janie?” Sophie asks.
“My baby sister.”
“He don’t like tellin’ his sister no,” Haymitch says to us.
“Aw,” Sophie says to Austin. “You’re a softie.”
“She’s, what, seventeen now?” Haymitch asks.
“Nearly. She’s still a baby.” Austin sends a look to Haymitch, who raises his hands in innocence.
“Janie won’t like it,” Levi says to us, “but convincing her might be within our power.” “You could sell a megaphone to a mime, Jeeves,” Austin says.
Haymitch sputters a laugh.
“We’ve hung out with her at The Farm many times,” Levi explains.
“It’s not actually a farm,” Austin says to us.
“It’ll always be The Farm,” Levi says.
Every time he speaks, his smooth voice is a magnet pulling me back, forcing my gaze to him. Each time, it’s a zap of pleasure I can’t afford. Sophie dives in headfirst, but I can’t. Not after Aiden. No matter how kind or gentle Levi seems, I have to make better choices this time. Desperate for a distraction, I turn to Mia. “How are your sisters?”
Maybe she can anchor me back to solid ground.
My Review
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The author narrated the book, which I think helped it to flow well since she knows the story inside and out. Sometimes it was hard to know who was talking because her voice didn't change much with the characters.
We get to know Kit who has just started college. We know immediately that something awful has happened in her past because of her reaction to Levi, one of the most popular guys on their college campus. Also, he sets his eyes on Kit, the one girl who has no interest.
You immediately feel for Kit. The author brings out her trauma and trauma response in an authentic way. Now, I know we all react to events differently, but when we find out what happened, I felt like Kit's reaction is more than I would've expected for the entirety of the story. Overall, I think the author validates how any victim might feel.
Levi was easy to hold at arm's length because I think most popular guys at college get a bad wrap. You know the ones: rich, handsome, athletic, etc. Sadly, that's not who he is inside, but he had no control over how God designed him nor the family he was born into. He was ready to break out of that family mold, though.
Levi, though not knowing why Kit behaved the way he did, continued to gently pursue her. You could tell Kit was in a mental battle. She wanted to be "normal" and just move on with life instead of freaking out at the sound of a car door slamming shut or a guy wanting to hold her hand. Because of the way her friends reacted in high school, the last thing she was going to do was spill the tea with her new college friends.
With Levi's patience and Kit continuing to try and try and try to move forward they begin to make some headway. God is moving, but it's a long haul. There was a lot of Scripture and discussions of faith in the story, which I really cheered on because it was so great!
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series because this one really grabbed my attention and held it!
About the Author
Photo by Brooke Ashlee Photography
When Kristina Welch isn't adventuring around the world with her husband and three little blondies, she's home near Denver, Colorado. She thrives on date nights, forest hikes, and peanut butter cookies. Her days include half-homeschooling her kids, thrifting for treasures, regretting DIY home projects, and babbling to Jesus wherever she is.
Connect with Kristina by visiting kristinawelchauthor.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a Book Hugger’s Bundle of leather bookmarks, Christian stickers, book tabs, reading light, signed copy of Anything, and a $25 B&N gift card!
(1) winner will receive a College Life Bundle of a notebook, pens, sticky notes, popcorn, mug, signed copy of Anything, and a $20 Starbucks gift card!
(1) winner will receive a Devo Time Bundle of a Bible, highlighters, book tabs, tea lights, signed copy of Anything, and a $25 Etsy gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 24, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 3, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
