Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet Book Review
Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet is a story about second chances, learning to rely on God, and realizing that it’s good to dream big.
This story follows Julia and Samuel 20 years after their relationship ended in betrayal and secrets. Both have had to face huge obstacles, and because of that, they have grown in their faith.
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Julia Monroe Begins Again
Author: Rebekah Millet
Pub. Date: Oct. 24, 2023
Series: Beignets for Two book 1
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
Rating: 4 stars
Spice: none
Content Warnings: mentions death, infidelity, miscarriage, sexual harassment, & injury
Synopsis:
Julia Monroe has just turned forty and hopes this next decade goes much better than the last, in which she became a young widow raising two children on her own. With both her boys off to college, it’s time for new beginnings, and she can finally focus on expanding her New Orleans-based cleaning business–but God has other plans. Samuel Reed, the ruggedly handsome Green Beret who broke 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 keep her distance from him if she wants any chance of keeping history from repeating itself, but her meddling best friend has other plans to throw them together. It seems inevitable that Julia will have to face her past with Samuel, but only if she can work up the courage to embrace the kind of new beginning she never thought she’d see again.
Spoiler-Free Book Review
Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
What I Liked
- It was so refreshing to read a romance about characters that were older (and somewhat more mature). I also really enjoyed how faith was woven throughout the story in a natural way. This story is different from anything I’ve read before, and I’m impressed considering this is the author’s debut novel.
- Samuel was a complete sweetheart and honestly a dream guy now that he has overcome past mistakes. He was so thoughtful and kind to Julia even though she didn’t treat him that well.
What I Didn’t Like
- Julia was a frustrating character. For her age, I felt that she could still be pretty immature at times (especially compared to Samuel and her best friend, Kate). I am glad that she grew throughout the story, but I hated how it took her so long to forgive for past mistakes when she herself made plenty of poor decisions in her own past.
Final Thoughts
I would recommend this story if you enjoy second chance romances with a slow burn, characters over 40, and characters that are Christians.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase a copy of this book at the following retailers:
Bookshop.org (supports independent book stores) [affiliate]
Libro.fm (audiobooks that support independent book stores) [affiliate]
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Amazon [affiliate]
Books a Million (BAM) [affiliate]
Have you read Julia Monroe Begins Again?
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