A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Passion Most Pure
(Revell January 1, 2008)
by
Julie Lessman
ABOUT THE BOOK

She's found the love of her life. Unfortunately, he loves her sister ...

As World War I rages across the Atlantic in 1916, a smaller war is brewing in Boston. Faith O’Connor finds herself drawn to an Irish rogue who is anything but right for her. Collin McGuire is brash, cocky, and from the wrong side of the tracks, not to mention forbidden by her father. And then there’s the small matter that he is secretly courting her younger sister. But when Collin’s affections suddenly shift her way, it threatens to tear Faith's proper Boston family apart.

Refusing to settle for anything less than a romantic relationship that pleases God, Faith O'Connor steels her heart against her desire for the roguish Collin McGuire. Collin is trying to win her sister Charity's hand, and Faith isn't sure she can handle the jealousy she feels. Full of passion, romance, rivalry, and betrayal, A Passion Most Pure is Book 1 of the Daughters of Boston series.

MY REVIEW:

Truly, this book has left me breathless. A first novel? Unbelievable!! This book captures the very essence of what God intends for love to be between His children!! The passion, the truth, the poignancy of true love between a man and a woman is captured within this story! Julie Lessman does a beautiful job of showing the shallow imitation of love that human lust represents in this fallen world. She sets it in beautiful, passionate contrast to what physical love can be like between two people who love each other and find the oneness God speaks of when He teaches about the intimacy of marriage between His children.

This book is a long read (477 pages!), but after the first few chapters, you become so swept away into the world of Boston before WWI that you totally lose yourself. Honestly, I read this book very quickly and was able to escape into its pages and the romance of the story to the point of complete distraction. This book does cover a LOT of ground, and if I found any fault at all, it would be that the layout of the book was not as clear as it could be. When the point of view shifted from one person to another – even from one location to another – it sometimes seemed abrupt because there was no mark on the page to indicate a change. This was especially true when time had elapsed, and I found myself re-reading the first paragraph again after the shift. Otherwise, you couldn't ask for a more well-written novel!

Julie Lessman is one to be watched! Her romances will be shooting sparks as they fly from the shelves!! I imagine it will inspire some breathless romantic evenings among her readership as well! (BIG SMILE!) Pick this book up and prime your heart for unforgettable romance! After all, as designed by our Heavenly Father, how can it be anything but wonderful? I can’t wait for the next one!