Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet Book Review

About the Book:

Samuel was back. It seemed unfair to be blindsided. And in church no less. Shouldn't there be a commandment about that? Thou shalt not step foot inside thy ex's place of worship.

Julia Monroe has just turned forty and has high hopes for a fresh start after the last decade of her life abruptly left her a young widow and a single mom. With both her boys off to college, she can finally focus on expanding her New Orleans-based cleaning business. Julia is ready for new beginnings--but God has other plans. Samuel Reed, the ruggedly handsome Green Beret who shattered her heart over twenty years ago, has returned to town and is the kind of distraction she never saw coming.

After their first interaction in years leaves her mind spinning and her emotions out of control, Julia knows she needs to avoid him if she wants any chance of preventing history from repeating itself, but her meddling best friend keeps throwing them together. And now it seems inevitable that the man who was hard to forget might just be impossible to resist.

You can read an excerpt here.

My Review:

This is a romance that develops within a Christian context. Is there really a possibility of redeeming a past hurtful experience so the potential of renewed romance can blossom? Forgiveness is hard. Recognizing God has changed a person is also hard. Admitting feelings are still there is hard too.

The characters are crafted to fit their roles in the romance. I can relate to Julia's hesitancy to renew a romance when she has been hurt so deeply. It is only by submitting to the Holy Spirit that she can do it. Samuel was a little pushy for me. I felt he was too flirty for someone who has truly been changed by God. I do wish he had been a little more humble in his approach to Julia.

I must have missed catching most of the humor in the book. As an older reader, I was expecting less flirty behavior. This is a romance for younger readers who are more used to sexual allusions and references to physical attraction. Also, there are some references to intimate female bodily functions that would limit this novel to female readers.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

About the Author:

Rebekah Millet (rebekahmillet.com) is a Cascade Award and ACFW First Impressions Award-winning author of contemporary Christian romance novels. A New Orleans native, she grew up on beignets and café au lait, and she loves infusing her colorful culture into her stories. She exasperates her husband by rearranging their furniture and being a serial plant killer, while her two sons keep her laughing and share her love of strawberry Pop-Tarts. You can find Rebekah on all social media platforms. Photo Credit: Ken Schallenberg

Bethany House Publishers, 384 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)