My review of Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones

About the book:

Maggie lives life on the edge, seemingly unafraid of anything. But the image she so carefully constructed is coming undone.

When a secret from her past resurfaces, Maggie gets a call that sends her home. Her dad desperately needs her help. Her estranged sister has run off, leaving 10-year-old Riley in his care. She returns reluctantly, hoping to help her niece.

There she reconnects with Connor--a once awkward and shy, now handsome, veterinarian. Her feelings skyrocket when she's with him, but she's afraid if she shows him her true self, he'll reject her. Worse, she is terrified of loving him.

An honest, hilarious journey will transform Maggie--if she will just learn to trust more and fear less.

My review:

Jenny B. Jones is one of those rare novelists who writes a fantastic story--every time. I have yet to be disappointed with one of her books. In fact, I know I can expect a deep, emotionally insightful, and compelling story when her name is on the book. Just Between You and Me could very likely be one of my favorite books penned by Ms. Jones, but it's so hard to choose just one.

I loved how this entire story played out. The emotional landscape was rich and thoroughly plowed. The hero was incredibly dreamy and yet realistic and believable. The heroine's issues were compelling, interesting, and clearly well-researched. The minor charactor, Riley, was probably the best portrayal of a screwed up kid that I've ever read. She was totally real and perfectly developed. Everything about her issues rang true. Even the sister, Allison, was shown in a believable fashion. I've worked with numerous mentally ill and drug abusing people in my lifetime and Allison's issues were spot-on as well as her way of dealing with them.

This story really tugged at my heart strings because each character was well-done and could easily be people I've known and loved. On top of all of those high praises I have to add that the romantic tension was delicious and the emotional and spiritual arcs were perfectly done. I can't stand contrived tension or plastic faith inserted into a story to make it fit the Christian label. Worse, it really bugs me when a book is labeled Christian and there is no mention of Christ anywhere in the story.

Everything in this book rang true to me. Just Between You and Me was so good, in fact, that it's making my best of 2009 fiction list. I highly recommend this story.

Just Between You and Me was published by Thomas Nelson. It will be available for purchase in August, but why wait when you can pre-order it now?