July Book Review

We are nearing the end of July, so that means it is time for my monthly reading list. Reading has become my reprieve from the daily chaos of caring for a newborn, my home, a husband, three dogs, two cats, and all of our activities. I always have at least two books going at the same time: one Kindle book that I can read on my iPhone anytime anywhere, and one physical book. Occasionally I will have an audiobook in the mix as well. This month I read 7 books – 4 physical books, 2 e-books, and 1 audiobook. July has been my favorite reading month so far this year, and one book is in the running for book of the year. (I feel like I say that every month!) My favorites were Redeeming Love and The Perfect Couple.

I also wanted to let you know that I have started an Instagram page dedicated to all things BOOKS! You can follow along at @jcm_reads. I will be sharing my up to the minute book reviews and connecting with other #bookstagrammers and would love to have you hang out with me too!

As always, I would love to hear what you’re reading in the comments. Let’s get to the REVIEW!

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler | Amy Byler becomes a single mom when her husband has a midlife crisis and moves to Hong Kong leaving Amy and their two children with no child support. Amy puts on her big girl panties and gets a job as a high school librarian. But when her husband reappears and asks to spend the summer with their children, bookworm Amy is given the opportunity of a lifetime – to spend her summer in NYC living like a fashionista on a fashion magazine’s dollar. She gets a total mommy-makeover, new do, new wardrobe, and maybe a new man? Amy is then faced with the decision to bring her children into this new exciting lifestyle she has discovered or return to her previous life. REVIEW I really enjoyed this story. It definitely has mixed reviews on Amazon. It is a short, light read that is uplifting. If you’re a mom dreaming of a vacation away from your kids, a wardrobe makeover, or just a fun girls trip to NYC, this would be a great read for you. I will say 3/4 of the way through the book I was ready for the ending, but I was completely surprised by the ending. I’m glad I read it through. RATING: 3.5 out of 5 

Redeeming Love | California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea, a man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything. Michael obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening comes overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does…the One who will never let her go.  REVIEW Why, oh why, did I wait so long to read this book? I’ve been told so many times through the years that this is one book that sticks with you forever – and it will. It’s long, yes, but oh so good. And moving. I stayed up for hours reading, and I didn’t want the story to end. Please read this book. If you’ve never taken my advice about a book review before, please read this one! RATING: 5 out of 5 

Where the Crawdads Sing | For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens. REVIEW I didn’t love this book. I know it’s like a favorite everywhere and has five stars on Amazon. What am I missing? It’s a great story. I love the talk of nature and history, civil rights and prejudices, love and murder. But why was this book such a big deal? Like I said, I think it’s a good read and will give it a good rating. I just don’t understand the hype. I listened to the audio version of this one, and I highly recommend it. The inflections of voice are perfect. The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing this story to life! RATING: 4 out of 5

Down and Out in Beverly Heels | Former actress Meg Barnes used to have it all. But her lifestyle of the rich and famous has turned into a reality show for d-listed starlets. Lost in her Louboutins, she has one man to thank: her con man of a husband. Meg’s ex “made off” with half of Hollywood’s wealth in an epic real estate scam. The FBI thinks Meg may have been involved.  Determined to prove her innocence, Meg teams up with her quirky, movie-obsessed friend to track down her fugitive husband and exact justice. But getting her life, and her career, back on track is harder than she expected. Especially when her life is threatened. REVIEW This fast paced mystery is a lot of fun. It also puts homelessness in perspective. Not all homeless women are the “bag lady” type. You never truly know what’s going on in a person’s life. I really enjoyed the story all the way to the end. I wish the characters were described a little more. I envisioned the lead as a Pamela Anderson look-alike since we never were told what Meg really looked like. There could have been more character development. That aside, it’s a cute, quick read. RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Gospel Centered Kids Ministry | Seven out of ten kids will walk away from church after they turn eighteen. About five will return when they have families of their own. But two will never return. Clearly, something isn’t connecting with our kids. As kids ministry leaders, we need to take a hard look at what we are missing in our kids ministries and provide kids the one thing that will satisfy them and keep them connected to the church—the gospel. In this book, the author addresses how to communicate with and encourage gospel-centered leaders and parents as part of your ministry. REVIEW This book had me at page one. Wanna know why? He talks about the space program. I’m that easy. He parallels walking on the moon with effective gospel presentation. Brilliant. It truly points at the heart of a Bible study and how to take the point to the gospel and not a moral takehome. This is an excellent read for anyone working in children’s ministry or who has young children and wants to make sure they are being properly discipled. RATING: 5 out of 5

I’ve Got My Eyes on You | After a party when her parents are away, eighteen-year-old Kerry Dowling is found fully dressed at the bottom of the family pool. The immediate suspect is her boyfriend, who had a bitter argument with her at the party. Then there is a twenty-year-old neighbor who was angry because she didn’t invite him to the party. Or is there another suspect who has not yet been seen on the radar? Kerry’s older sister Aline, a twenty-eight-year-old guidance counselor, is determined to assist the prosecutor’s office in learning the truth. But, she does not realize that now she is putting her own life in danger. REVIEW One thing I like about MHC’s books is she can write a suspense novel without getting dirty. You know those authors I’m talking about. I liked this book. I was able to read it straight through in pretty much one day. The characters and story line are well-developed and you find yourself caring about the teens in the book. I piced up on #whodunnit pretty early though. Maybe this was just an easier read?  RATING: 4 out of 5

The Perfect Couple | It’s Nantucket wedding season; The Otis-Winbury wedding promises to be an event to remember: the groom’s wealthy parents have spared no expense to host a lavish ceremony at their oceanfront estate. But it’s going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons after tragedy strikes: the Maid of Honor’s body is discovered in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony-and everyone in the wedding party is suddenly a suspect. REVIEW This has been my favorite Hilderbrand book to date, and I’ve read several! I loved everything about this story: Nantucket, the suspense, the betrayal, the wedding planning, the zoo, etc. The best part of the storyline is EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of the bridal party and families is a suspect and easily could be a murderer. You just have no idea – until the last two pages. You have to read it! RATING: 5 out of 5

Shop my July picks by clicking on the titles above!

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Since my reading has really taken off this year, I have set more concrete goals for myself. I have set a challenge to read 75 total books in 2019. If you are interested in following me on Goodreads, you can find my page here. There you can see what I’m currently reading and what’s next. Each month, in addition to fiction (historical fiction is my favorite!) I plan to read one non-fiction or Christian inspirational book as well as one marriage or parenting book. I will review them here as well.

To see the complete list of books read this year click here.

Thanks so much for stopping by!