A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman - Reviewed!

ABOUT THE BOOK: (from Revell Publishing)

Orphaned in Iowa, Annie Kennedy moves to Boston to stay with her spinster aunt. She longs for romance to fill the void left by her parents' death. But when she falls hard for Steven O'Connor, the man who broke an engagement to her sister, Annie is worried. Will he break her heart too when he discovers who she really is?

With heart-pounding romance, intense family drama, and emotional twists and turns, A Love Surrendered is everything Julie Lessman's many fans have been waiting for.

MY THOUGHTS:

“Because they’re too precious to risk doing it our way, a way that’s left both of us hollow and unhappy.” (p. 373)

Some members of the second and third generation of the O’Conner clan are learning first-hand the dire 

consequences of doing things apart from God’s strength and guidance.  In fact, there are plans that go so far astray – simply through acts of stubbornness and pride – that the effects ripple through the lives of almost every character in the story.  Living hollow, unhappy lives outside of God’s will and purpose is a choice every believer faces every day.  Will the members of the O’Conner clan choose wisely?

A Love Surrendered carries the earmarks of Julie Lessman’s writing style to an ever more refined state.  Passion burns beneath the surface of many relationship in the story, and by the time the reader reaches the last page, they have a very clear and beautiful picture of what God’s gift of marriage is meant to look like.  Julie builds such strong, vibrant  and flawed characters that the reader is drawn into the story and held captive the entire length of the novel.

The O’Conner clan have become familiar and dear to Lessman’s fan base by now, and to read A Love Surrendered is like an exciting yet comfortable visit with dear friends.  I can’t begin to imagine what comes next for Julie’s readers! Whatever it is will reflect God’s passion and tender mercies through the life of her characters.

A Love Surrendered is another perfect blend of passion, faith and family that will leave readers well-satisfied. 

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 2011 Readers' Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Series of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #5 Novel of the Year, and #4 Historical Fiction Author of the year. She resides in Missouri with her family and is the author of The Daughters of Boston series and the Winds of Change series whose first book,A Hope Undaunted, ranked #5 on Booklist's Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010. You can contact Julie through her