Thursday, November 7, 2019

Review and Giveaway: A Gift Like No Other by Julie Lessman

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About the Book

A Gift Like No Other

Her dream is writing. His is the perfect wife and mother. Until God fulfills them both with a dream like no other. Twelve years ago, Faith O’Connor happily gave up her dream as a copywriter to become a wife and mother, clinging to her husband’s promise she could return someday. But when the opportunity arises to write for the Boston Herald again two days a week, her dream hits a snag … along with her marriage. To Collin McGuire, family is everything because he never really had one of his own. Raised by a father who died early and a mother who didn’t care, Collin is determined to give his children the very best with a full-time mother. But when he denies Faith her dream, he soon discovers he’s denied his own as well … until Christmas day brings a healing through a gift like no other. 


About the Author


JULIE_TURQUOISE IN CHAIR (1)

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together. Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 18 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com. 


 

Review


I do believe that the novel, A Passion Most Pure, is my favorite Lessman novel, and might just be my favorite novel of all time. So I was tremendously excited when she was going to focus her latest Christmas story on Faith and Conner and this story, A Gift Like No Other, does not disappoint.

It has been about 17 years of marriage and three kids later for this very loving couple and they are still refreshingly in love. And at times they are very passionate about that love. So be forewarned, this novel is higher up on the romantic passion scale. Which was alright with me especially since they have some years of marriage behind them and their marriage is still intact.

However, not everything is bliss and both Faith and Conner still have some learning curves in their marriage. Probably all married couples should take note. Author Lessman has a way of showing God’s truth without ever being preachy, she shows it through her characters and what they have learned and realized. There is a lot of gold nuggets in this novella that I took to heart. Sometimes what wasn’t good in a marriage for a time doesn’t mean it will always be wrong. Sometimes spouses dreams need to be realized and as our lovely couple realize, when that is squashed there is a world of hurt. Sometimes our spouses are still affected by the past, and we must love them throught it. There is so much more. If author Lessman wrote a marriage counseling book- I would definitely read it and recommend to others.

I can hardly wait till these stories are in print. Looking forward to the next one.

I was provided with a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Giveaway


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Enter the giveaway HERE.
Giveaway ends November 12 at 11:59pm MT.

Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.

Tour Schedule


Follow along with the tour HERE.

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9 comments:

  1. Loved your review and the mention of the “golden nuggets” Julie sprinkles among the pages. Even after 48 years of marriage, my relationship with my dear husband can benefit from some fine tuning. Great story!

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    1. That is wonderful (48 years)! Marriage is so important, a living thing we couples must nourish.

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  2. WHOA, Boos Mum -- you just blessed the socks off of me with this incredible review, my friend, so THANK YOU!!

    AND you pretty much dropped my mouth with this line: "If author Lessman wrote a marriage counseling book- I would definately read and it and recommend to others."

    WOW, WOW, WOW -- that speaks volumes to me because that is EXACTLY what I hope to do in my books. I am not a doctor, psychologist, counselor, or psychiatrist, but the Word of God has taught me a lot in the realm of marriage, and my 41-year marriage is absolute proof that God's Word WORKS in relationships! All you have to do is ask my husband, who tells everyone that I taught him how to love. Uh, NOT ME, I argue, but the WORD of God that I applied over and over again in all kind of situations! ;) So to God be the glory!!

    Thank you again, and I hope you don't mind, but I plan to use your quote above, girlfriend, so BLESS YOU!!

    Hugs and more hugs,
    Julie

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    1. I do not mind. And I thank God for writers like you who show His Truth. Blessings!

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  3. What a great review! As a fellow lover of A Passion Most Pure I agree that Julie Lessman did a beautiful job in continuing Faith and Collin's story. Have always loved how Julie respects her characters and readers. Am a Journal Jots reader

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    1. Hey, Lynne, thank you for your kind comment. I really appreciate you thinking I show respect for my characters because I actually feel sorry for them. I LOVE drama and angst, so I throw it all at them to keep it out of my marriage! ;)

      Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
      Julie

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  4. Fabulous review! Love Julie!!!

    I'm a Journal Jot reader.

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    1. I agree, Caryl -- "fabulous review,"indeed!! So THANK YOU for coming by, my sweet friend and THANK Jess for being part of my blog tour -- SOOO appreciated!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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