Good afternoon, Arrowheads! Today I’m back with another book review by one of my favorite contemporary Christian authors, Jenny B. Jones, for her adult romance, Just Between You and Me.

After reading and falling in love with the first two installments of Jenny B. Jones’s Katie Parker series earlier this year, I was super excited to score one of her other books during an ebook sale. Although I didn’t quite like this book as much as In Between and On the Loose, it’s still full of Jones’s southern sass and charm.

The book centers around Maggie Montgomery, who works on a film crew for a travel show. When Maggie receives a call from her estranged father requesting her to return to her hometown ASAP, she’s faced with the dilemma to choose between putting her family or her career first. But, is this the career she really wants? What will God show her once she returns home?

Highlights:

The Humor

When I picked up this book, I totally hoped for the same kind of humor Jones delivered in the Katie Parker series, and I’m happy to say this novel kept me laughing throughout.

Discussing Mental Illness

I admire that this book touched on mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and depression, and what can happen when those conditions are not properly dealt with. Maggie’s sister, Allison, takes narcotic drugs to numb her pain, wreaking havoc on her ten-year-old daughter’s life. In this day and time, with issues such as these becoming more prominent in society, I applaud the author for addressing overcoming these struggles (or dealing with family members struggling this way) from a Christian standpoint.

The Biblical Messages

I enjoyed the sermon Maggie’s pastor gave on Jonah where he emphasized how we as Christians run from our fear of where God’s trying to take us. At this time in my life, it greatly resonates with me.

Lowlights:

Predictability

Unlike the Katie Parker series, this novel reminded me more of a Hallmark-type story, where the girl with a big-time job comes back to her small hometown, meets her dream guy, and saves the day. After being forced to watch dozens of Hallmark movies by my momma (one is playing in the background as I type this XD), this plot structure is all too predictable for me now, and I felt more could have been done to make it more compelling.

The Characters: 

Probably in part to the predictable plot, I didn’t like the characters very much. At times, they were entertaining, but for the most part, they gave off a two-dimensional vibe.

Editing: 

In my Kindle copy, I noticed several typos and formatting errors. In most cases, I don’t point this out in reviews, but this was published by a major publishing house, which has the resources to prevent this.

Overall, while I didn’t like Just Between You and Me as much as the Katie Parker series, it was still an enjoyable read.

Rating: 

Talk to Me, Arrowheads!

What is your favorite Jenny B. Jones book? Drop your recommendations in the comments!

Aim high, stay strong, and always hit your mark.

-Allyson 😀