Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman - REVIEWED

About the Book: (from the publisher)

A sassy socialite burned by love.

A jaded cop burned by the upper class.

Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire … and a whole lot of sparks!

In book 2 of the "Heart of San Francisco" series, Spunky Allison McClare is determined to be a fearless, independent woman, resorting to a mammoth hat pin for protection on her way to and from the school where she teaches. But when she takes a notion to explore the wild Barbary Coast she quickly discovers she is no match for rum-soaked brute strength.

Detective Nick Barone would rather do almost anything than teach this sassy socialite jiu-jitsu, but it seems he has little choice in the matter. Sparks fly every time the two meet until a grudging friendship develops into something deeper. But when Nick suddenly leaves town, Allison realizes he’s a fraud just like all the rest of the men she’s cared for. Does she dare love again?

My Thoughts:

Miss Lottie Da and Mr. Pain-in-the Nick!! I love it !!  Julie Lessman combines romance, humor and deep wounding and healing in her latest novel, Dare To Love Again.   In the story she explores timeless societal boundaries between the have’s and have-nots and the universal pain of rejection, the consequences of wrong choices and the desire to reach out and share your heart with others.  In a way unique to Julie, she creates characters who are real and realistically flawed. The reader quickly becomes part of the lives of these characters, and the laughter and tears that are provoked as the story unfolds leaves behind a very satisfied customer!

I don’t remember when I have laughed out loud as often as I did while the relationship between Nick and Allison unfolded!  This couple gets off to a very uncertain start to say the least!! Both have been deeply wounded by others, and those hurts spark a series of very heated encounters that entertained almost too much!!  And Uncle Logan has to deal with a very precarious relationship situation as well.  The combination of characters trying to open a school for underprivileged girls in a very dangerous neighborhood creates an unforgettable setting within which the story unfolds.  The longing for independence, love and meaningful relationships and life purpose are also very real and present.

I’ve always enjoyed Julie Lessman’s novels, but Dare To Love Again is truly a gem!!  I HIGHLY recommend this to all readers!!

About the Author:

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 14 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction.”

Chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Historical Fiction Author of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #4 Novel of the Year and #3 Series of the year. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series—A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Book 1 in her “Winds of Change” series A Hope Undaunted ranked #5 on Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010.