Chasing Kensie JustRead Tour {book review and giveaway}
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Chasing Kensie by Drew Taylor, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Chasing Kensie
Author: Drew Taylor
Publisher: Taylor Made Publishing
Release Date: December 23, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Romance
She moved to Alaska for a fresh start. He made her the object of his wry affection.
Kensington Smith, a high school English teacher fueled by coffee and plaid, looks for the good in people. The hot-but-vexing P.E. teacher and football coach, who is unfortunately her best friend’s older brother, is the exception. When he’s tapped to assist her with the annual Winter Solstice Dance, he rewrites Kensie’s long-held lesson plans of loathing as he reveals the man behind the flirtatious façade.
Nicolas Lancaster has a little thing for the pretentious, people-pleasing English teacher of Crescent Cove High School… a thing where he revels in riling her up. But as his proclivities shift and he chases the heart of the woman he’s taught to despise him, Nick begins to understand the pain behind the practiced smile she dons—a mirror that reflects his own inner demons.
Two hearts. Two histories.
One source of Hope.
Chasing Kensie is a Christian contemporary romance sparkling with Alaskan winters, unknown feelings, and a love that will light up the darkest of nights.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
Also Available
Excerpt One:
“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Lancaster?”
He grinned a sardonic, white smile. “Just wanted to drop in and see how my favorite pretentious
English teacher was holding up.” He feigned a whisper. “Don’t tell my sister.”
Unable to control herself, Kensie rolled her eyes. She loved Nick’s sister—Braelee–who taught
in the room next to hers. Braelee quickly became Kensie’s best friend a month into teaching at
Crescent Cove.
Nick continued his explanation of his current uninvited attendance in her classroom. “The
students can be absolute beasts this time of year. And, well…” He glanced up at the board.
“Teaching The Hunger Games is probably not helping with their…animalistic instincts. Tell me.
Are they enjoying the story? Are they eating knowledge out of the palm of your hand? Or are
they bored out of their minds, counting down the minutes until they can have some fun in my
P.E. classes?”
“Plato said physical training must be balanced with cultivating the mind. Literacy is important.”
Kensie’s tone was quipped. She’d had it with this self-important, cocky, tone-deaf man. Why
wouldn’t he just leave her alone already?
“I never said literacy wasn’t essential.” Nick grinned, popping off that ridiculous dimple of his,
and Kensie knew she’d made a mistake in the heat of her anger. “Come on, now, Windsor. You
teach rhetoric. You know that’s a straw man tactic. Don’t use logical fallacies on me, especially
quoting Plato while doing it.”
“You’re a logical fallacy,” Kensie muttered under her breath.
Excerpt Two:
“You can always call me, Kensie.”
“I did think to call you, but…”
“But what?”
“I didn’t want to bother you.”
Nick had a feeling that wasn’t the real reason, but the temperature was steadily plummeting,
and they needed to get off this road. Nick crept toward her and gingerly placed his hand on her
shoulder. He moved like a sloth so she wouldn’t flinch away.
“You are never a bother to me, Kensington.” Then he tacked on with a cheeky smile, “And even
when you are a teensy bit bothersome, it’s never the kind of bothersome that makes me upset
with you or makes you a burden to me. It’s the kind of bothersome that makes me a little
addicted to experiencing it more.”
Kensie’s jaw dropped open, and she blinked a few times as she comprehended his words. He
didn’t give her time for a rebuttal, however. “Here.” He handed her the keys to her car,
instructed her on guiding the car, when to softly brake, and how much distance to keep between
the two of them when rolling to a stop. Then, the two of them were on their way back to his
house, and the entire way, Nick found himself genuinely and wholeheartedly praying aloud for
the first time in a long time.
Excerpt Three:
“You’d be surprised, I guess. This instance wasn’t the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the
last.” She didn’t miss Nick’s tilt of the head in question, but she kept on talking. “When those
questions start invading my headspace, I make myself recite scripture. I remember that He says
I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. That He knows every hair on my head. That He will take
care of me more than He takes care of the birds. That He will never leave me or forsake me.
That He knows my appointed days.” Kensie held his stare, willing him to hear her as tears
overwhelmed her. “That He sent His son to die for my sins. I mean, what more can God do to
reassure me that He cares and that He’s with me?”
Nick fought back more drops of emotion, releasing a masculine groan as he surrendered.
“You’re right. He’s here. He’s with me. Everything I went through led me to this moment. With
you. And if you’re here in front of me, He has to care. Because He knows I don’t deserve you.
Not after how I’ve treated you and how I’ve lived my life these past few years.”
Kensie took his hands between hers. “This isn’t about me, Nick. Even if I wasn’t here in this moment, God still cares about you, and He’s waiting for you to run back to Him.”
My Thoughts
About the Author
Drew Taylor writes modern closed-door chick-lit romance stories from a Biblical worldview. She believes faith-based romance can be full of heart, humor, healing, and hope while showcasing the reality of our fallen human condition. Her redemptive and engaging stories point to the One who embodies true love–Jesus Christ.
Drew lives in the great state of Mississippi where she teaches high school English. When not teaching or writing, she enjoys reading, baking, researching conspiracy theories, and spending quality time with the people who mean the most to her.Connect with Drew by visiting drewtaylorwrites.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive signed paperback copies of Chasing Kensie and Reverie with book swag plus a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Coffee Gift Card of winner’s choice!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 5, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 12, 2026. 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!
Sounds great
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