A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Pages: 505 Trade Paperback
Date Published: September 1st, 2010
Publisher: Revell Books
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What happens when the boy she loved to hate becomes the man she hates to love?
The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O’Connor is the epitome of the new woman–smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband–good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face-to-face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?
480 pages was not long enough for any of the books in the first series, so why would you think 505 pages would be? A Hope Undaunted is the first book in the Winds of Change series, but really the fourth book for the Daughter’s of Boston continuing the saga and story of the O’Connor daughters with a passion. Through the adventures with these Irish girls we have learned about “a passion most pure”, “redeemed” and even “denied” yet now we turn to learning about hope. More specifically about “a hope undaunted”. Around page 185 all I could do was sigh. At 275 pages into the story I never wanted it to end, but to continue on and on bringing these characters to life off the page and surrounding me in their historical romantic lives. By the time I got to just beyond 400+ pages, I had so many thoughts surging around my head that I hardly knew how to put pen to paper with my thoughts. I hardly know what to share in a review and just to express how much I love it. (Even with a sinus infection and craving sleep, I needed to read more and find out what would happen next with all the energy in my soul.) This morning with just over a hundred pages to go I found myself relating back to the story and found it interweaving itself in my morning devotional. It even found it’s way in a thought provoked blog post –> http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2010…
Julie Lessman is an artist with words on a page. Her characters are so real and I find so many relatable times that I have to reflect and go back and really seek forgiveness or God’s will in certain cases of my own past. She tells a story that is entertaining and romantic. The passion is on the page but also in the tingling of your toes. The fervor with which characters like Faith, Brady and Emma pray comes off the page and gives a guidance and hopeful light to just how a friend of the faith should be. I know these characters come by it honestly, because that is the kind of woman Julie is. Full of a heart of faith and it shows on the page and beyond. This on-going story of the O’Connor family is a lesson of the importance of faith and the dire importance of prayer and it is a story for anyone and everyone. Most romances are for women, but Julie’s books are different, they are for the men who want to know how to romance their women as well as for the women readers.
As this is the first book in a series, you could read it alone, but I highly recommend that you start with the Daughter’s of Boston and A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed and A Passion Denied first to really be able to understand the characters and the changes that occur in their lives.
Katie O’Connor has her plan, but might just change her hopes to be in the Lord and follow a different path. Knowing in my life how things can change when you put your hope in the Lord, I can only imagine what is in store for Katie.
Undaunted by definition means “unshaken in purpose,” and/or “showing courage and resolution”. Hope is something that we all have when we map out and plan our next steps, but only when God is in charge of those steps is our hope undaunted.
*Thanks to Revell Books for providing a copy for review.*
Book 2, A HEART REVEALED, tells the forbidden love story of Sean O’Connor and Emma Malloy.
Book 3, A SOUL RESTORED (working title), will be Steven O’Connor’s story during the exciting era of Prohibition, speakeasies, dance marathons, gangsters, G-men and era criminals like Bonnie & Clyde and John Dillenger.
About the Author:
Julie Lessman is the author of A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Lessman has garnered several writing awards, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She lives in Missouri.
Connect with Julie:
Twitter @JulieLessman
Facebook Page
Have you read the latest release from author Julie Lessman? Well grab yourself a copy and jump into the discussion at the Goodreads Christian Historical Fiction discussion group. Of course the forum is open 24/7 but make sure to stop by on Thursday, September 30th through out the day to chitchat and interact with author Julie Lessman. Ask her anything and poor out your heart about her latest A Hope Undaunted.
http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/95191-discuss-a-hope-undaunted-with-author-julie-lessman
Down an excerpt from RevellBooks.com
Related posts:
Review and FIRST Chapter of A Passion Most Pure
FIRST Chapter of A Passion Redeemed
FIRST Chapter of A Passion Denied
“Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell,
a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
It’s a Giveaway Extravaganza! Kindle Giveaway,
Facebook Party and Book Bomb – OH MY!
Visit the Roaring 20’s with Julie Lessman in the Technology and Romance KINDLE Giveaway! Julie’s latest series has just ‘shimmied’ it’s way onto the scene with book 1 in The Winds of Change series, A Hope Undaunted!
Find out more about the book, Julie here.
Enter The Technology and Romance KINDLE Giveaway!
One Grand Prize winner will receive a KINDLE preloaded with Julie Lessman’s latest title. The Prize Pack (valued at over $150.00) includes:
To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form and be sure to tell your friends about the contest.
Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on October 7th.
Not only is Julie hosting the fabulous KINDLE giveaway, but also a FACEBOOK PARTY and a BOOK BOMB!!!
Are you ready for PRIZES GALORE??? Then come to the Facebook Party!
How does a gift certificate and a signed book given away EVERY 10 minutes during an hour-long Facebook party sound? (Yeah, we think it sounds pretty great too!) On October 7th at 5pm PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST, & 8:00 EST) Julie is inviting you to attend the A Hope Undaunted Facebook Party! She’ll announce the winner of the KINDLE and in addition to the prizes every 10 minutes, she’ll also be giving away great prize baskets filled with even more Romance and Technology (Netflix, Starbucks, Amazon.com, Champagne body Lotion, Pearls, & more!)!
BUT WAIT … there’s more (and no, this is not an infomercial … it’s WAY better!). If you participate in the Book Bomb on October 7th you’ll be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com. All you need to do to participate is buy a copy of A Hope Undaunted on October 7th and send your receipt (just transaction number from store, store name & date) to amy@litfusegroup.com! Each book purchased equals one entry, buy 10 books get 10 entries!
All this fun begins with Revell’s blog tour SEPTEMBER 19-25, when 122 blogger/reviewers will post reviews about A Hope Undaunted, followed by the Book Bomb and Facebook Party!
So mark your calendars with these important dates:
September 19-25: A Hope Undaunted will be making an appearance on blogs across the country (and beyond!) in Revell’s blog tour!
September 20th: The Technology and Romance KINDLE Giveaway launches (contest runs 9/20 – 10/6)
October 7th: Book Bomb Day (where everyone is encouraged to buy the book online at the same time!) and Facebook Party – meet and chat with Julie, win some great prizes & find out who won the KINDLE!
Share Julie’s Giveaway Extravaganza on Facebook, Twitter or your blog and we’ll enter your name into our random drawing to win 50 smackers to Amazon.com!
Once you’ve tweeted, posted on Facebok or added the button to your blog/website – simple email Amy and let her know you helped spread the word. Easy.
Here is a sample post for both Twitter/Facebook:
Tweet This: @JulieLessman is giving away a KINDLE and tons more during her giveaway extravaganza! Details here: http://ow.ly/2Czbn Pls RT
Share on Facebook: Julie Lessman is celebrating her new release, A Hope Undaunted by giving away a KINDLE, having a Book Bomb and a Facebook Party! Prizes Galore – don’t miss the fun! http://ow.ly/2Czbn
Or add this button to your blog or website! (Copy and paste it from the contest page - since you cannot copy from my website) Then email Amy and let her know you did!
