Thursday, October 4, 2012

A Writer's Review of “A Love Surrendered" by Julie Lessman

I hardly know what to write... where to start... except to say I am so in love with the words in this book. No, scratch that—I think I’m in love with all of the words in all of Julie Lessman’s books.


I spent a long time reading A Love Surrendered—longer than usual because, first of all, my preparing for the ACFW conference got in the way, then attending the conference took up about a week, and then I felt the need to go through my own 88,000 word manuscript (in three days) one last time before sending it off... but mostly, because I just plain didn’t want it to end!

Ah, yes—all the while I was thinking about Steven O’Connor and Annie Kennedy—trapped in the midst of their intense, angst-filled relationship. When will he see how double-minded he is? Why won’t he admit he’s in love with her? When would she tell her sister? And HOW ON EARTH ARE THESE TWO EVER TRULY GOING TO BE TOGETHER? 

Yes, well. You get the gist. 

And then there’s the whole entire rest of the 400+ page book filled with sub-plots involving the parents and the other five siblings (and their spouses) of the O’Connor clan... and oh, how they’re all still so intriguing!

At the end of Chapter 14... I’m pretty sure I was in love the most right there. It still gives me chills just thinking about it. I took a picture of the words on my kindle so I can see them anytime I want. These potent, soul-stirring words have nothing to do with the romance between the two star-crossed lovers, but between the God of the universe and one stubborn, hard-headed man—and that man’s heart being won over by the best Lover of all. 

Oh... and he was.

Thankfully there is still one more booka prequel, actuallyabout the OConnor clan that comes out next month in eBook form. A Light in the Window is the (ever-complicated, Im sure) love story between the OConnor parents, Patrick and Marcy... and I JUST downloaded it to my kindle in preps for a blog tour next month (Yippee!). You can just bet you know what book Ill be reading next. Its true, I wish I could have Julies words pumped into my veins. 

I received a complimentary and unedited (it hasn’t quite been through the complete editing process yet) eBook version of A Love Surrendered by Revell Books (through NetGalley.com) in order to give a review containing my complete and utterly honest opinion. 

I give Julie Lessmans A Love Surrendered 5 GLOWING Stars.

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READ THESE BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Daughters of Boston” Series
     

The “Winds of Change” Series
         
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And One Last Thing!
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Love At Any Cost, book one in Julies new series “The Heart of San Francisco comes out in April!
 
 Fooled by a pretty boy once,
shame on him.
Fooled by a pretty boy twice,
shame on me.

Jilted by a fortune hunter, cowgirl Cassady McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who would just as soon hogtie a man as look at him … until Jamie MacKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well lassos her heart. But when Jamie discovers the woman he loves is poorer than him, Cassie finds herself bucked by love a second time, sending her back to Texas to lick her wounds and heal her heart. In her absence, Jamie discovers money can’t buy love, but love built on faith can set a heart free, a truth he discovers a little too late … or is it?

5 comments:

Nancy Kimball said...

Loved it!

Julie Lessman said...

Oh, Dawn, LOVE the "GLOWING 5 Stars," my friend -- BLESS YOU!! Your review made me laugh out loud from sheer joy, so THANK YOU soooo much!!

I entered you in my review contest with 2 pts., sweetie, so you go, girl!! Let me know if you post it anywhere else, okay?

Hugs,
Julie

Dawn Crandall said...

Thank you again, Julie, for writing such fabulous books! :D

Joanne Bischof said...

Dawn, I've been seeing these books around and they look great! I've heard such good things about them. When I saw the cover for her latest, it just caught my eye right away! Its so beautiful!

Dawn Crandall said...

I've read them all in order as they've come out, Joanne... and it's so hard to go a whole year in between their release dates! And I thought I'd share--your Be Still My Soul is in my TBR pile on my desk now. I can't wait to read it!