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Julia #2
Julia's Search for Independence (Volume 1) by June Bryan Belfie
Julia Montgomery, a beautiful young socialite spends a year in Rome, Italy, with her domineering mother and doting father who is there temporarily on business. Deeply affected by a childhood tragedy, Julia has recurring nightmares and suffers from guilt and insecurity.While studying art at the local university, Julia becomes friends with a group of young people including an attractive Italian professor and historian named Antony Scarpelli. She and Antony grow close through the group's regular get-togethers at a local café, and Julia finds herself enjoying the closeness and acceptance of Antony's family.Unknown to her Italian friends, Julia is engaged to a wealthy young businessman back in the States. The union was practically arranged by their mothers from the time of their childhood. Influenced by her family, Julia accepted his proposal believing love would follow. Now she questions that decision.Her faith has never been important to her, but when faced with her many trials, Julia realizes the void in her life and searches for a meaningful relationship with God. A friend from school invites her to India to help at an orphanage, but would Julia's mission work be a way to serve God--or an escape from pain?
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About the author
June Bryan Belfie
34 books48 followersJune Bryan Belfie began writing in her 70s and has written over 30 books. Her Amish novels became best sellers on Amazon Kindle, and her work has been published with both Harlequin and Desert Breeze. You can find most of her books available at Barnes and Nobles in paperback or e-book. Soon audio books will be available for some of her Amish and Christian-based novels.
While raising five children, June found time to take up oil painting and studied under several nationally known artists. She also loved to play the piano, sing, and sew.
In the 1970’s, she and her husband, Jim, purchased and operated a thirty-eight-room country inn located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania where she established an art gallery as well as creative workshops, which took place in a converted recreation hall. Professional artists and writers from all over the country presided over classes held during the summer months.
In addition to inn-keeping, Ms. Belfie has owned a restaurant, cooked professionally, worked in a bank, collected and sold antiques, directed a church choir, and served as a Stephen's Minister.
She enjoys her eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, as well as her adult children and their spouses. She now resides in Media, Pennsylvania.
While raising five children, June found time to take up oil painting and studied under several nationally known artists. She also loved to play the piano, sing, and sew.
In the 1970’s, she and her husband, Jim, purchased and operated a thirty-eight-room country inn located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania where she established an art gallery as well as creative workshops, which took place in a converted recreation hall. Professional artists and writers from all over the country presided over classes held during the summer months.
In addition to inn-keeping, Ms. Belfie has owned a restaurant, cooked professionally, worked in a bank, collected and sold antiques, directed a church choir, and served as a Stephen's Minister.
She enjoys her eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, as well as her adult children and their spouses. She now resides in Media, Pennsylvania.
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June 1, 2016
At first, I liked this book. What's not to like about a girl who gets to spend time in Rome, Italy? I didn't like Julia's relationship with her mother. They seem to always be at each other. I could understand Julia wanting to stay on in Rome a little longer.
After a while though, the constant pull on Julia between her fiance and her new Italian boyfriend started to become repetitive and grating. I didn't really like that she was two-timing her fiance and kept putting off telling him that she no longer wanted to be engaged. Her excuses were just that--excuses! If she really wanted to break it off, she would have . . . either by allowing him to come see her so she could do it in person, or by just telling him over the phone.
And when I got to the point where I thought "surely she'll be making a choice soon" I realized I was only halfway done with the book and realized, I didn't really care which one she chose, I just wanted it to be over!
After a while though, the constant pull on Julia between her fiance and her new Italian boyfriend started to become repetitive and grating. I didn't really like that she was two-timing her fiance and kept putting off telling him that she no longer wanted to be engaged. Her excuses were just that--excuses! If she really wanted to break it off, she would have . . . either by allowing him to come see her so she could do it in person, or by just telling him over the phone.
And when I got to the point where I thought "surely she'll be making a choice soon" I realized I was only halfway done with the book and realized, I didn't really care which one she chose, I just wanted it to be over!
Displaying 1 of 1 review