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Review - A PASSION MOST PURE by Julie Lessman

Captain's Log, Stardate 01.25.2007

A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman

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 shift, it threatens to tear her proper Boston family apart.

Book 1 of the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Most Pure will carry your heart from the sophisticated streets of Boston to the green hills of Ireland as men go off to war and women long for their return. Full of passion, romance, rivalry, and betrayal, it will captivate you from the first page.

Camy here:

This was a wonderfully rich historical romance that kept me guessing until the last few pages about who will win Faith’s heart. I love those kinds of books! I couldn’t stop reading because I had to find out how everything turns out.

The characters are very strong Christians with strong faith. They have a mighty impact on the people around them like Collin, with his anger at God, and Mitch, with his stagnant relationship with the Almighty he grew up with.

This is a more sensual book than typical CBA historical romances, and I loved that aspect of it. It made the characters’ struggles so much more realistic and relatable.

The characters are so well drawn that I felt strongly for each of them. In fact, I hated Charity so much, I kept reading and hoping she’d die or get maimed or something in the next chapter!

The novel’s theme of futile chasing after the wind—pursuing things that have no eternal value—is very deftly woven into the story, and resonated with me quite a bit.

I think this would be a fabulous novel for any teenage girl to read. The sensuality is not graphic, and the struggles of the main characters are things any single woman could relate to. There’s a great deal of realism and yet encouragement in the characters’ actions and choices.

I highly recommend this novel. Fans of Deeanne Gist will probably enjoy this one.
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Comments

Deborah said…
oh thank goodness I'm not the only one who felt that way about Charity. now i don't feel like such a bad person :)
Fri Jan 25, 04:17:00 AM 2008
Kaye Dacus said…
Ooh, thanks for the review. I've been curious about this title and now I'm going to have to go get it. Good thing I've already planned to stop by the bookstore tonight!
Fri Jan 25, 07:47:00 AM 2008
Julie Lessman said…
Camy said: "In fact, I hated Charity so much, I kept reading and hoping she’d die or get maimed or something in the next chapter!"

LOL, you're not alone Camy and Deborah ... I got one e-mail from a reader asking if I would slap Charity for her! Trust me, in book 2, A Passion Redeemed, Charity gets her due. But, oh ... what fun it was to redeem her!! :)

Thanks, Camy, for the great review and for posting it on your site.

Hugs,
Julie
Fri Jan 25, 02:07:00 PM 2008
Amy said…
I, too, loved this book, and am certainly looking forward to seeing Charity redeemed! :)
Fri Jan 25, 03:04:00 PM 2008
LaShaunda said…
I loved this book too Camy. I couldn't put the book down either.

I interviewed Julie on my site.

I'm looking forward to Charity's book.

I can't wait for the book discussion next month. I want to talk about this book.
Fri Jan 25, 03:48:00 PM 2008
Carolynn said…
I can't wait to read this book, I wish I could get it around here, I haven't seen it anywhere! Hopefully the book store or library will get it soon!
Sat Jan 26, 11:33:00 AM 2008
Julie Lessman said…
Thanks, Carolynn, but what a bummer that you can't find it!! I live in St. Louis, so it's a little easier to understand why it's hard to find here (it's sold out in most of the B&N and Borders, probably because I have a large, LARGE family!! ;)), but I don't know why you wouldn't be able to find it unless it's sold out there (dare I hope that's the reason??). I do know that it's being sold in select Wal-marts, so you might try there. If all else fails, check my Web site at www.julielessman.com for upcoming book giveaways in the weeks ahead, including Camy's Loft!

Hugs,
Julie
Sat Jan 26, 02:44:00 PM 2008
Carolynn said…
Thanks Julie, I'll do that! But I live in Canada, so maybe it takes a while longer to get them up here, I'm not sure but I'll keep looking! :) I am so looking forward to reading it!!
Mon Jan 28, 08:16:00 PM 2008
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