Customer Reviews

Just Between You and Me: A Novel of Losing Fear and Finding God (Women of Faith (Thomas Nelson))

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just Between You and Me is a perfect example of what women's fiction is supposed to be--moving, meaningful, and freaking hilarious.

From the get-go, I was in love with the author's style, her stellar one-liners, the expertly woven threads of tension, and the sizzling romance.

Maggie Montgomery is a cinematographer who's not afraid of anything--except going home. But when a family crisis has her cooling her heels in her hometown of Ivy, Texas, Maggie must face her demons and the reality behind her own façade.

I especially loved Maggie's fight or flight tendencies and how they played out as the author unfolds the story. Readers are allowed to see through Maggie's responses to the hidden depths they come from, and the result is a three-dimensional character you can't help rooting for.

The secondary characters in this novel are expertly drawn as well. Particularly, Riley, Maggie's neglected ten-year-old niece. I could see her hardened little face and hear her angry words. And, as in the real world, there are no pat solutions for wounded people, but that doesn't mean there's no hope.

Jenny B. Jones weaves a poignant tale full of delectable dialogue, believable situations, and toe-curling romantic tension. I highly recommend this book for lovers of women's fiction. You will not be disappointed.

At 11:30 last night, I started reading Just Between You and Me, believing I would read a few chapters before drifting off to sleep.
I was so, so wrong.
I finished this book in one tremendous gulp--it was literally impossible to put it down! Jenny B. Jones is completely hysterical, keeping every page at the same pace as the one before it. She never shies away from a scene-stealing course of dialogue, and it's a breath of fresh air in a market that's often written without humor or wit.
Maggie Montgomery is believably flawed and incredibly realistic, which will only spark the reader's love for her that much more. As the story progresses, Jones crafts a story of growing up, going home, and giviing in. With her family drama, Maggie watches as her niece is left virtually motherless and her father seems to actually like her (a far different reality than Maggie lived in her youth). She returns home to Ivy, Texas to deal with the mama drama her sister Allison has created, and finds answers to questions she never thought to ask, cures to fears she's harbored forever, and a very attractive verternarian who resembles Patrick Dempsey. There is nothing in this story that is forced, unbelievable, or over-sweetened. It's real, it's funny, and it's inspiring. Just Between You and Me is a wonderful novel that I would definitely toss in my beach bag, let my best friend borrow, and recommend to anyone that loves a good Christian fiction story.
I inhale books, so it is quite a statement that I am about to make. This novel is possibly the best I've read in 2010! Don't hesitate to read it or I'll hunt you down! (Not really, I'm not a creeper...and I so don't have the time to find your address and program it into my GPS).
As intoxicating as she is funny, Jenny B. Jones is such a force to be reckoned with. I only expect more stellar writing from this talented author!

Jenny B. Jones debut into women's fiction, Just Between You and Me, has been chosen as a 2009 WOMEN OF FAITH novel. In a departure from her quirky, action-filled Young Adult books, Jenny brings the same fun style to an adult audience.

Ivy, Texas is the last place Maggie Montgomery wants to go, but at the urgent request of her dad, she returns to her hometown. She'd rather be skydiving or rappelling or any number of other things in her adventurous life as a photojournalist. Once Maggie returns to Ivy, getting away is not as easy as she'd hoped. Neither is facing the fears from her past and the people she's hurt growing up in Small Town, America.

The story is one fraught with hilarious mishaps and filled with tenderness. Maggie's niece, Riley, has experienced more than any ten year old should, and it is only to save her that Maggie agrees to stay. A budding romance with the local vet, a sister (Riley's mom) with a drug addiction, and a haunting memory give Maggie's story layers that kept me guessing and reading until the last page. The author packs a lot of humor into the pathos for a light, faith-filled book with a message for young and old alike. Only by reliance on God can we embrace and conquer our deepest fears.

Highly recommended for a summertime read . . . or anytime you need a pick-me-up!

What do you get when you mix a snarky, daredevil girl with a nerdy, hunky veterinarian, then add a troubled niece, a mentally ill sister, a dysfunctional father and the guilt of a dead mother? You get Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones, and one great read that will have you laughing one minute, dealing with your own "stuff" the next and wishing you were Maggie Montgomery locking lips with Ivy's most eligible bachelor.

Known for her Young Adult novels, Jenny B. Jones has won me over for good with her novel aimed at a more grown up crowd. Jenny nailed the market and the fears, hopes and dreams of her thirty year old protagonist Maggie Montgomery who returns to her home town to deal with her abandoned niece and a boat load of trouble she left behind. Little did she know that the town of Ivy would hold grudges against her wayward days or that the high school nerd would capture her attention and heart. But Maggie's got bigger fears to conquer when she must revisit the night and lake that took her mother's life.

I'm not one for romance, but give me a tough girl with "attitude" and get her into all sorts of trouble, how can I not go along for the ride!

Hilarious and well written. I cried, laughed, hurt, and grew alongside Maggie and her family. What great truth that God is bigger than our fear. I can't wait to read more by the talented Jenny B Jones!

Ever since I read So Not Happening I've been a Jenny B. Jones fan. While I've enjoyed all her YA books I was excited to find out she'd written an adult novel. Just Between You and Me has the perfect blend of humor, romance, poignancy, and faith, all intertwined into a touching story that stays with you long after you close the cover. Her best book so far (and I've read every one of them). Don't miss this wonderful story. You'll fall in love with it just as I did.

Jenny B. Jones is AMAZING! Her novels are inspirational, uplifting, romantic, and entertaining.

I recently read and adored Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones. Immediately after completing Save the Date, I purchased Jenny B. Jones' other adult Christian fiction novel, Just Between You and Me: A Novel of Losing Fear and Finding God. I loved Save the Date, but I have to say that I loved Just Between You and Me even more.

Just Between You and Me was a hilarious and romantic story that delivered some relatable, relevant, and powerful messages. This novel focused on how fear can hold people back, how God should be the one running our lives, and how people get too busy in their lives and forget about what's important, like family and God.

All of the characters in this novel, even the supporting characters, were sensational!!

Maggie, the main character, was hilarious and relatable. She's a driven, independent woman whose life is centered around her career as a cinematographer. She never planned on returning to her hometown, helping raise her sister's daughter, or falling in love. She had her plan, but God had a plan of His own.

I absolutely adored Riley, Maggie's niece. Her sarcastic personality and her mischievous behavior cracked me up. She's a wild child; she's known for putting bubbles in the town fountain, gluing her substitute teacher to a chair, skipping school, running away, and beating up bullies. Her snarky comments and rebellious actions were hilarious; however, the motivations behind her actions weren't funny at all. Acting out is how Riley copes with the pain and insecurity from being neglected and abandoned by her mother. Riley made me laugh, but her situation broke my heart. She had an extremely hard life for a young child, and there were many times when I just wanted to wrap my arms around her and protect her.

Maggie and Connor's relationship was perfection! I loved their witty banter, their initial love-hate attraction, Maggie's nerd comments, their late night adventures, and their slow but steady friendship. They have a beautiful story; it's definitely worth reading :)

I gave Just Between You and Me: A Novel of Losing Fear and Finding God by Jenny B. Jones 5 STARS. This novel was phenomenal; it was a sweet romance with entertaining characters and a moving plot. I have zero complaints! I recommend this novel to all adults who enjoy adult Christian fiction. I can see myself re-reading this story down the road, and I look forward to reading any Christian fiction novel Jenny B. Jones writes in the future.

-XOXO
READING, EATING & DREAMING

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I'm exhausted...and I'm not the least bit sorry because this book was WELL worth the 2:00 AM bedtime!!!

I fell in love with the characters right away, and didn't want the story to end. The author wove so many wonderful details into the story that made you feel as though you were a part of the things that were happening. The story flowed so well and the writing style was wonderfully easy and fun to follow. Such a great, uplifting, hopeful story. Loved the Scripture that the author seamlessly wove into the story, great compliment to the story rather than being preachy or over the top!

I will be buying many more books from this author in the future, starting right now!

The tale is thought provoking and well-spun, with artfully crafted dialogue and descriptions. As a reader of almost exclusively Christian fiction the last 20 years, it seems a low bar has been set simply because we've been so grateful to have the genre! This author pulls ahead of the pack with the top-notch "Just Between You and Me". Hopefully there'll be more like it, but after devouring this book I went for Jones' other title not in the YA category ("Save the Date"). Sorry to say it falls in the predictable romance-novel framework and the spark is missing.

This is one of those books you just can't put down. I read this in about 2 days and stayed up way to late reading it!!! I loved the characters and it was a totally believable book! Jenny is one of my new favorite authors!! After reading this I looked for more from her, but the other books looked a little younger than what I was looking for! I can't say enough good things about this book!!