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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Review: A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman

Posted by Melanie on Sunday, September 09, 2012 with 17 comments

~Personal Copy~
A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
Revell / 2008

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 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.

My rating:
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My thoughts:

 First let me just say that I was completely wrong about this book. I admit it. After reading some reviews on Amazon about it being too "edgy" or "passionate" or something along those lines, I didn't really plan on reading it, but my sister and mother both loved the book so I thought I'd give it a try.

I really don't know what people were talking about. Yes, there were scenes with the mother and father and them talking about love, but the scenes ended before anything like that happened. I mean there were some things that some people might not like - like the lust certain men felt in this book - but I loved the redemption story. Although I didn't particularly care for a lot of the kissing, in my opinion nothing went overboard and I think the characters were realistic.

I finally see what people meant about Charity! Not going into specifics, but let's just say I thought she was very mean and selfish at times - I'm looking forward to reading her book, A Passion Redeemed, to see how/if things change.

There were some shocking surprises in A Passion Most Pure that I did NOT see coming! I was so shocked and it literally brought tears to my eyes (even now, as I'm thinking back on it, I'm getting misty-eyed). One thing in particular about this book that I really loved was that many Bible verses were quoted and faith was a big aspect of the book.

While I don't recommend this book for younger readers, I think mature readers who enjoy historical romance will also enjoy A Passion Most Pure.

 *I won a copy of this book and was not required to review it... I chose to. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
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17 comments:

  1. Charity USeptember 9, 2012 at 12:03 AM

    I can't wait to read this series! I loved the two Julie Lessman's I read...the two first ones from her next series. Can't recall titles at present. ANYWAY. Especially anticipating reading the Charity one for obvious reasons. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julie LessmanSeptember 10, 2012 at 8:29 AM

      Hey, CHARITY -- long time, no see, girl!! How have you been??

      Charity's story, A Passion Redeemed, is my FAVE of The Daughters of Boston series -- LOVE that woman, but then keep in mind that Scarlett O'Hara is my all-time favorite heroine in books I've read!! :) Charity is just SO wonderfully flawed and once she comes to Christ, she is absolutely such a hoot that she makes me laugh whenever she's in a scene -- ESPECIALLY in book 2 of the Winds of Change series!!

      And Mitch??? Don't even get me started!! Hubba, hubba!! :)

      So, I hope you like her a lot when you finally read her story. And although Melanie didn't mention it, I am giving away a signed copy of any of my books in addition to her APMP giveaway, so if you win, I can send you A Passion Redeemed.

      Hugs,
      Julie

      Delete
  2. mnleonaSeptember 9, 2012 at 7:38 AM

    Thank you for the review. I also appreciate you mention a mature reader for the book. Giving it a five star must mean the book impressed you.
    Leona

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    1. Julie LessmanSeptember 10, 2012 at 8:30 AM

      Hey, Leona, thanks for coming by and GOOD LUCK in the contest!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

      Delete
  3. Dawn JanisSeptember 9, 2012 at 8:10 AM

    I'm glad you're reading Julie's books. I bought these a few years ago due to the covers. She looks like Anne of Green Gables from the movies and he looks like a young Antonio Banderas. I have read and reread them. Julie's become one of my favorite authors.

    I'm going to be able to read her newest one for Revell next month, so I'm excited about it.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Julie LessmanSeptember 10, 2012 at 8:32 AM

      DAWN!!! SO good to see you here, girl, and THANK YOU for signing up for the Revell tour of A Love Surrendered AND for reading my books!! WOW ... and for rereading them too!! That's a true compliment. :)

      Good luck in the contest!

      Hugs,
      Julie

      Delete
  4. JulieSeptember 9, 2012 at 9:10 AM

    I'm so glad you liked it! I did too. I can't wait to read Charity's story...I have a couple of review books before I get to it though.

    Julie@My Favorite Pastime

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    1. Julie LessmanSeptember 10, 2012 at 8:34 AM

      JULIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My new best friend!!!! ;) I honestly did NOT think you were going to like my books in the beginning, and I'm not sure why. Maybe because you reviewed one and thought it was just so-so??? Not sure, but I had this silly concern, but WHOA, was I off base!! Your review was one of the nicest I have ever gotten and I am SO grateful for your support, my friend, so THANK YOU again and GOOD LUCK in the contest!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

      Delete
  5. GraceSeptember 9, 2012 at 2:00 PM

    How nice that you ended up liking this book! I have yet to read a book that I liked better then it. I am reading the sequel now. so maybe by the end I will like Charity's story more. I guess I'll have to finish it to see.

    Have a lovely week,
    Grace

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julie LessmanSeptember 10, 2012 at 4:25 PM

      WOW, GRACE ... you sure know how to make an author's day, girl -- THANK YOU!! Trust me, you won't like Charity better than Faith by the end of APR, but you WILL like her A LOT more than you did in APMP, I hope! And, gosh, by the fifth book in the saga, if Charity isn't one of your favorites in these two series, I'll eat my hat! She is a SCREAM in A Heart Revealed, at least to me, and made me laugh in every scene she's in, even the sad ones!

      So stick with her, my friend, and you will love her, guaranteed!

      Thanks again for coming by and encouraging me and Mel.

      Hugs,
      Julie

      Delete
  6. GaniseSeptember 9, 2012 at 3:31 PM

    I'm also a Julie Lessman fan and I'm thinking of re-reading this series.
    Can't wait for A.L.S and I'm glad you liked the 1st book!

    Hopefully you'll fall for the O'Connors too :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julie LessmanSeptember 10, 2012 at 4:28 PM

      GANISE!!! Hey, girl, thanks for coming by to do what you do SO well -- bless the socks off of me!! I cannot WAIT to send you a signed copy of ALS, either!! I should be getting my author copies mid- to late September, so as soon as I get them, YOU get it too!!

      Love you!!
      Julie

      Delete
  7. Julie LessmanSeptember 10, 2012 at 7:55 AM

    MELANIE!!! First of all -- THANK YOU soooo very much for the fabulous review!! And, as I mentioned to you before, PLEASE give your mom and sister a giant hug for me!!

    Secondly, THANK YOU for seeing past the strong romantic "passion" of this book to the real "passion" of my heart -- a passion for God that I believe should be so easy and natural that it's almost like breathing. That's the kind of passion the heroine has for God, and it spreads like wildfire through this family throughout the course of six books.

    A lot of people do not understand why I merge strong romantic passion with strong spiritual passion, but there's a very definite reason why my tagline is "Passion with a Purpose" and I go into great detail as to WHY I take this approach in this blog I wrote called "Life on the Edge." Here's the link if anybody cares to see my real heart on this subject:

    Life on the Edge

    I am out of pocket most of the day, but will be back late tonight to respond to all comments.

    Anyway, thanks again, Mel, for your kind words AND for giving my books a chance. You may be happy to know that the Marcy/Patrick Christmas e-book prequel, A Light in the Window: An Irish Christmas Love Story, is WAY less romantically "passionate" as is my upcoming series "The Heart of San Francisco" beginning with book 1 "Love at Any Cost," which releases in April. :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MelanieSeptember 10, 2012 at 2:44 PM

      Thanks, Julie, for this great comment! :) I'm looking forward to the interview/giveaway tomorrow! :)

      I'm excited to read A Passion Redeemed and the rest of your books (I hope to read all of the O'Connors books this month).

      Delete
    2. Julie LessmanSeptember 10, 2012 at 4:30 PM

      Hey, MEL, soooo sorry I got the days mixed up for the interview. I actually got it right on my website calendar, I think, just not in my head -- no surprise there!! ;)

      I'm getting more Internet time than I thought I would, so YAY -- I'm able to drop in more often. :)

      Hugs,
      Julie

      Delete
  8. Loraine ErteltSeptember 11, 2012 at 1:05 PM

    I have just been introduce to Julie Lessman's books by a friend on Goodreads and can't wait to get started reading them. I love historical fiction and historical Christian fiction is even better!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Julie LessmanSeptember 11, 2012 at 7:11 PM

    LORAINE!!! I just now saw your comment here, so THANK YOU for coming by AND for your willingness to read my books. And PLEASE thank your Goodreads friend for me, okay? Whatever you do, PLEASE begin with book 1 A Passion Most Pure because she may have already told you, THIS is a family saga best read in order due to a number of HUGE surprises, and APMP won American Christian Fiction Writers Debut Book of the Year in 2009, so hopefully it's a safe bet! ;)

    Thanks again, Loraine, and HAPPY READING!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

    ReplyDelete

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Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

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