MY REVIEW:
A Hope Undaunted revisits the O’Connor family as well as other characters introduced in Lessman’s Daughters of Boston series. Katie O’Connor and Cluny (Luke) McGee are all grown up but still striking sparks in their love/hate relationship. New characters have been introduced and some of them will hopefully be more fully developed in a future story.
As in her earlier novels, Lessman has boldly written a story filled with passion yet laced with faith. Characters are lifelike with realistic emotional struggles. The plot moves like a roller coaster with highs and lows, twists and turns, and always a surprise right around the corner. This is definitely not a predictable storyline. It may (or may not) end as you anticipate, but it will keep you wondering right up to the end.
Personally, I did think A Hope Undaunted was a couple hundred pages too long. By the time I finished it, I was ready for some of the characters to make up their minds already. I was worn out. The story was very well written and would be an excellent choice for those who are often disappointed when their book reaches the end. A Hope Undaunted definitely gives the reader plenty of bang for their buck.
Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Passion during the Roaring Twenties
New romance series will appeal to fans of Deeanne Gist.
A Hope Undaunted is the first book in the highly anticipated new series, Winds of Change, from award-winning author Julie Lessman.
This highly charged romance takes readers to Boston, while the 1920s are drawing to a close. Katie O’Connor is the epitome of the new woman—feisty, smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jake fits all of her criteria for a husband—good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and head-over-heels in love with her.
But when Katie is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jake? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?
A Hope Undaunted has been lauded by Booklist: “A rich girl and a poor boy find that love can be the great equalizer in Lessman’s engrossing tale, which has more awareness and sizzle between the hero and heroine than your average inspirational romance.”
Publisher’s Weekly has praised Lessman, saying her “writing skill is noteworthy” in A Hope Undaunted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie Lessman is the author of A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Lessman has garnered several writing awards, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She lives in Missouri.
Praise for A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman
“A rich girl and a poor boy find that love can be the great equalizer in Lessman’s engrossing tale, which has more awareness and sizzle between the hero and heroine than your average inspirational romance.” – Booklist review
“Lessman’s writing skill is noteworthy.” – Publisher’s Weekly
“Lessman writes my favorite kind of book: the kind I can’t put down.” – Siri Mitchell, author of She Walks in Beauty
“Captivating characters, richly drawn, along with riveting and thought-provoking scenes. Julie Lessman has written a novel that resonates throughout with constant reminders of God’s unconditional love.” – Maggie Brendan, author of Heart of the West series
“With deft plotting and sparkling, true-to-life characters, A Hope Undaunted delivers an emotionally intense, spiritually satisfying read that you will not forget!” – Laura Frantz, author of The Frontiersman’s Daughter and Courting Morrow Little
“A passionate romance with characters that touch every emotion. ” – Judith Miller, author of Somewhere to Belong, Daughters of Amana series
“I love her work, and this may be the best book yet.” – Mary Connealy, author of Doctor in Petticoats and Wrangler in Petticoats
“Ms. Lessman’s exquisite talent for expressing the deep passions, joys, and torments of the soul will endear you to her characters.” – MaryLu Tyndall, author of Surrender the Heart
