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15 February 2012

"A Heart Revealed" by Julie Lessman, Reviewed by Kim D. Taylor


A Heart Revealed 
(Revell, 2011)

Reviewed by Kim D. Taylor

Opening a book written by Julie Lessman is like opening a treasure box full of good memories. Lessman's characters will steal your heart and her stories will grow your faith. Recently, I read "A Heart Revealed" and couldn't put the book down.

"A Heart Revealed" is about a young woman disfigured by her past. It is a story overflowing with forgiveness, love, and hope. Emma Malloy and Sean O'Conner deliver a stunning performance, on paper that is—a performance not easily forgotten. If you enjoy stories that reveal the "stuff" of life—of heartache and hope, of trouble and salvation—you will love "A Heart Revealed." You will keep coming back for more with Lessman's well-developed subplots and deeply meaningful sub-characters, each unique and challenging, yet Lessman weaves the stories and entangles the characters with such care.

You'll be cheering for Emma and Sean all the way…until you must quietly stand beside them as they face their failures and discover hope for their future.

This is the second book in Lessman's series entitled, Winds of Change. Read Lessman's first book in the series called, "A Hope Undaunted," but have "A Heart Revealed" close by. The third book in this series will release in September of 2012.

 Lessman's artistry shines through in this tale of freedom and forgiveness. "A Heart Revealed" gets a Five Star rating for it's strong characters, high stakes, and thick plot. Read a Lessman novel and you'll find the treasure of a lifetime.


Julie Lessman's books can be purchased at CBD, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores.


Profile PictureBio: Kim D. Taylor writes inspirational historical fiction "Finding Hope Around Every Corner" and is represented by Tamela Murray with the Steve Laube Agency. A member of ACFW, she lives in Virginia where her pastor husband is finishing an advanced degree.  They have two adorable boys. Kim and her family love beautiful places and especially the Mountains of Montana and Idaho, she enjoys writing historical stories set in the mountains.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Julie is giving away a paperback  of this book!  Thank you, Julie!  We are also giving away either an ebook or a pb book of any of Julie's releases to residents of the US (nonresidents - ebook only!).

106 comments:

  1. Aw, KIM, what a WONDERFUL and touching review -- thank you SO much!! And a "treasure box" is such a beautiful description, although some reader's might see it more as a "Pandora's box" since I do love my angst and drama. I would LOVE to take a poll sometime to see how many people A.) threw one of my books across a room or B.) Almost threw one of them across the room or C.) Want to throw Charity across the room!! :) Of course, not Charity so much in this book because she really is a scene stealer with her crazy personality, isn't she?

    Anyway, THANK YOU again, not only for taking the time to read my book, but for writing such a glowing review -- I am BLESSED by you, Carrie, Diana and Teresa more than I can say.

    Hugs and more hugs,
    Julie

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  2. Of course it is so easy to fall in love with the entire cast of vivid characters in your book, Julie. I believe it takes a great mind and a creative heart to craft such an amazing cast of characters.

    Getting to know Emma and Sean was my pleasure and an experience not quickly forgot.

    Tell us if you will what sparked the idea for Emma's character. She is such a bright character and yet darkness loomed behind her.

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  3. Wonderful review.
    I would love to read it.
    Thank you for the chance.
    Wendy
    wdesirees[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  4. I Love, Love Julie's books! Haven't read them all though and would love to win one!
    Blessings...
    Joy
    ibjoy1953(at)yahoo.com

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  5. What a wonderful review, Kim, and thank you for sharing it with us on Overcoming Through Time-WGH! Charity is absolutely one of my favorite characters, once I learned what makes her tick! Throw a Julie Lessman book across the room?...not a chance!

    You bless all of us, Julie, with your wonderful personality, and so many hours of reading pleasure, and for that, we thank you.

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  6. Great review. Would love to read book

    ldwrncpn@comcast.net

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  7. Loved this review! I love Julie and her books, too. She is such a passionate writer...can't wait to read this book. Thanks for the chance!
    jackie.smith[at]dishmail]dot]net

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  8. Wendy, thanks for your kind words. Believe me this review doesn't do the book justice. It was so fun for me to walk beside Emma and Sean, I really felt like I was there. So well done, Julie.

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  9. KIMSTER, So glad you agreed to review this book for us! It is great having you here as our guest!!!

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  10. Wonderful review, makes me want to toss aside all my review books and just sit down for a week plus and read all her books!

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  11. JULIE, I agree with you - this book about Emma is like a Pandora's box where you just don't know WHAT is going to come out in the next chapter. In fact I FB msgd you to make sure something AWFUL wasn't going to happen, lol! I was really looking forward to reading Emma's story as she intrigued me. And I was rooting for Sean, too, to be a happy person and find love.

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  12. Joy, it would be wonderful to win one of Julie's book. (Although, since I did the review, I am guessing I am out of the drawing.) You will love this series. Thanks for stopping by.

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  13. I really enjoy your books and look forward to this newest one.
    Wendy
    wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

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  14. Jen, no offense to the other authors you are reading, but I would do exactly that. You won't regret it.

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  15. Carrie, thanks for the opportunity to be here. I love to tell people about great books I've read and cherish. Hope to have one of my own published soon with my Mountains of Montana Series or my National Park Series!

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  16. Great review! I love Julie's books, can't wait to read this one.

    Patty
    pattymh2000/at/yahoo.com

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  17. Count me in, I love Julie's books.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

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  18. Me, too!

    Ann

    Ann_Lee_Miller[at]msn[dot]com

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  19. Thanks for the opportunity to win Julie's latest book! I've been keeping my eye on this one. :-)

    gwen[dot]gage[at]gmail[dot]com

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  20. Kimster...I like that, Carrie!:) However, I think MB works a little better for me. Somehow Dianaster sounds a little off. lol I need some free time so you can loan this one to me off of your Kindle! Sounds like another "Julie" hit!

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  21. Can't wait to read A Heart Revealed so I can get caught up with those irrepressible O'Connors and find out what they're all up to now! Love this saga Julie has penned-and can't wait for Steven's story later this year!
    hammyflirt@hotmail.com

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  22. HOLY COW!!!! I left the first comment not twelve minutes ago and there are 18 comments already??? YIKES, you guys don't fool around, do you??? All I had time to do was a few dishes and eat my peach oatmeal, but I am fortified now to handle whatever you throw my way!! Uh ... I think ... :)

    You know, it's interesting about those subordinate characters that get a hold of an author and FORCE them to write a book about them!! It seems to happen in a blink of an eye ... or a simple phrase in a scene.

    For instance, Emma was originally just supposed to be a quirky bit-part character by the name of Myrna who was only to appear once or twice in A Passion Redeemed, but she "literally" took my hand and led me in a totally different direction.

    As far as writing a book about her, it began for me with Emma when she goes to see Mitch in A Passion Redeemed when Charity ends up in the hospital. Mitch is such a no-nonsense, gruff type of guy who wanted NOTHING to do with Charity, but when Emma comes to see him, her shy and quietly beautiful personality comes through to soften even a big bear like Mitch. The moment she glances up at him beneath a shy sweep of lashes, fingering a cross she's wearing around her neck and gives him that tender and innocent smile, my heart was lost to her. So when Charity brings her to dinner and she and Sean exchange pleasantries, I knew then that they would be a future book. :)

    Whoops ... sorry for the long answer, but what else do you expect from a gal who writes 500+ page books???

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  23. Hey, WENDY, thanks for coming by and I totally agree -- it's a WONDERFUL review, indeed! Here's hoping you can pull out a win today or on Saturday for my book, okay? Good luck!!

    JOY ... thank you SO much for your enthusiasm about my books and, yes, girl -- we definitely need to complete your collection, so GOOD LUCK in the contest!

    Aw, DIANA, the blessings definitely go both ways with you, Carrie, Teresa and now Kim! You have all enriched my life more than I can say. And after that long-winded answer above to Kim's question, you probably don't want me to say ... :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  24. Okay, so I saw a lot of JULIE in Emma's character until Emma had to deal with a bunch of stuff and process it. What do you think, Julie - does Emma have a lot of you in her?

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  25. I guess I meant more of the spiritual aspect, BTW, in Emma.

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  26. Great review Kim! Always nice to see guest reviewers on the blog. Actually I'm one of them and I love hanging around here.
    Carrie and the girls are doing a great job with this blog!

    Julie, I love to read your long answers! You have a thing with words! I guess that's why everybody wants to read your books. :))

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  27. Love your novels, Julie. Thanks for a great review, and the opportunity to win.

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  28. Thanks, LORI, for coming by to read the review, and I hope it nets you a win -- GOOD LUCK!!

    JACKIE!!! Knew I could count on you, girl, because you definitely keep me company whenever I'm on a blog, something for which I am MOST grateful. You sure are due, my friend, so GOOD LUCK!!

    KIM ... I can hardly believe this is your FIRST review ever posted as a reviewer -- WOW, I AM SOOO HONORED AND BLESSED!! And SOOOOO relieved you didn't think your "first reviewed book" was a stinker! Have you read any of my other books? I can't remember ...

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  29. LOL, JEN ... DO IT!!! :) I'll even sweeten the pot for you, girl, by telling you that if you do sit down and read all my books soon, I will send you A Heart Revealed free! ;) How's that for sneaky?? Thanks for coming by, and HERE'S TO WIN!!

    CARRIE, you SOOO made me laugh when you FB'd me about AHR!! Cannot believe you actually expected me to tell you yay or nay on what happens in the book! You don't know me very well if you think I will spill on a plot because NOTHING makes me happier in writing a book than to surprise the reader with something they NEVER saw coming!! In fact, I was REALLY worried because my agent made me sow hints in as to the big surprise because she felt the reader would feel betrayed if I didn't, but I was worried it would spill the beans to some cerebral types like YOU!!

    WENDY ... thank you SO much for reading my books, girl, and let's see if we can't get AHR into your hot, little hands, okay? Good luck!! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  30. KIM ... I do like Sean too, but I have to admit, my heart belongs to Mitch and Luke. Sigh.

    Hey, PATTY, thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comment -- SO glad you enjoy my books and hope we can send AHR to you soon ... :)

    WFNREN ... Consider yourself "counted in," girl, and here's to a win!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  31. I agree with you Diana. Who in their right mind would throw a Lessman book against the wall?

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  32. Thanks Marian that means a lot.

    Ok, Julie so.......are there similarities between you and Emma?

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  33. CARRIE SAID: "What do you think, Julie - does Emma have a lot of you in her?"

    Oh my heavens, NO, but how I wish!!! Emma is WAY too sweet for me and good. I am definitely more the Charity in that book and I will tell you right now that not only would I do what she did to Marjorie Hennessey in the boardroom, but I have actually done stuff JUST like that over the course of my marriage, which is just further proof that Charity is my alter ego.

    I have to laugh because my sweet hubby reads all my books and when he read Charity's story, A Passion Redeemed, he didn't like her a whole lot. I remember thinking to myself, poor guy -- he doesn't know he's been married to her for over 33 years ... :)

    Okay, Carrie, I just read that you meant you saw a lot of me in the "spiritual aspect" of Emma, which is TOTALLY true!! I may be a Charity type, but God's impact on my life is in the Emma/Faith range for sure. In fact, the message that Emma gives her young neighbor, Casey Herringshaw (named after the dear friend who won my contest!!), is SOOO how I feel and wish I could relate this to everyone I meet that a love affair with God is not only SO POSSIBLE, but EXACTLY what He wants with us!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  34. ANN ... saw you sneak in there, my friend, and good night -- haven't you already won two of each of my books??? You must give them away as presents, which is fine by me!! I'd say "good luck," but I don't think that's necessary ... :)

    GWEN ... that's what I like to hear, my friend, that you are keeping your eye on my books. Now we have to get you a win here so you not only keep an eye on them, but an ear, a heart and mega emotions, right?? Good luck!!

    CHRISTINA ... thank you for following the saga along with me, my friend, and for your kind words. I do think that Steven's story is a fitting end to this passionate O'Connor saga, although it was a wee bit more fitting before my editor made me cut 50,000 words ... including most of the epilogue, but hopefully it will be even better now. :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  35. Christina, I am so excited to read Steven's story too. I'm thinkin' it'll be my favorite yet! But who knows, these O'Conners have all captured my heart.

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  36. If I pretend to be someone else, like say...Roberta Swank, can I be entered into the contest?

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  37. Julie,

    You are a new author to me, but based on the review and all the lovely comments, you won't be new to me much longer. May God bless your efforts to glorify his name with your writing.

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  38. Julie, what does soon mean, I just may have to take you up on it!

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  39. ROBERTA SWANK, I have never seen your name before but I take it KIMSTER knows you!

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  40. Susan, thanks for your post. You will love this series. You know what I love most about Julie's writing? How she introduces us to more than two characters. If you are like me, I want it all! Julie writes characters and stories that stay with you.

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  41. When I read all the comments above I can't wait to read Julie's book :)

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  42. Julie, my goal is to only write reviews that I ask for. Meaning...I love the book so much that I want to tell the world (well, my little world, anyway) all about it. So this is high praise indeed.

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  43. Mirjam, you will fall in love the O'Conners as we have. Thank you very much for stopping by...it means a lot to us.

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  44. "Quietly stand by..." This phrase brought tears to my eyes and piqued my curiosity. I would love to read this book!

    Amy deVries
    Personal Leadership Coach
    coachamydevries(at)gmail(dot)com

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  45. I would love to win this book!

    sunshine6892 at hotmail dot com

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  46. Thanks Amy. I know you would love this book.

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  47. Since Roberta Swank is a "no-nonsense" gal, she'd say, "Get off yer duff, git yerself down to yer local readin' parlor and put yer hands on Julie Lessman's "A Heart Revealed."

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  48. Hi Carrie, Diana, Marian and Julie...I'M BACK! Yesterday was not a good day but PTL I'm feeling better. Sounds like yall are having a good time on here today. :) I think after reading the comments and laughing, I feel better. :) Julie I loved the comment about throwing your book against the wall. I didn't do that but if I could have gotten near Charity she might have have gotten a good shaking! LOL! Thank goodness she has become a better person.

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  49. Hi Julie, I have had this book on my wish list since first review. I love your books and can't wait to read A Heart Revealed. I already love Emma so I know the book will be great. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us.
    Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.
    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  50. Hi Teresa!
    Glad to hear that you're feeling better!

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  51. Great review...dougkellywinther@Aol.com...Kelly Winther

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  52. Kelly, thank you for stopping by. It means a lot to me.

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  53. Kallie, glad you came by. Nice to meet another Emma fan!

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  54. Marian, I'm with you! I love hanging around here! It's like a huge pajama party with all of our friends, filled with book talk. I tried to have a pajama party with hubby last night. He woke me up at 2:30 this morning, saying he had a bad dream, so all I did was blab book talk non-stop for....two minutes, and he was out like a light! What a party pooper. I was sooo excited about all of my book talk that after he fell asleep, I couldn't! LOL! Thank goodness I can come here and have all the book talk I want, and no one falls asleep on me. Can't believe he did that right in the middle of my book exposition!

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  55. I'm so glad my bff, Teresa, is feeling better today! PTL!

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  56. Julie is one of my favorite authors! I just love her writing. :)

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  57. LOL Diana! If I can't sleep I'll call you... haha!

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  58. Sounds like a plan, Marian! When you are asleep I'm awake anyway! That man of mine acted like he would never be able to go to sleep after that crazy dream, and two minutes into my book talk I heard...ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz....

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  59. Julie's books are awesome, so I can't help but enter to win won. Thanks for the chance!

    stephludwig at hotmail dot com

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  60. Diana that is sooo funny, sounds like someone else I know...next time you can call me you KNOW I'm awake at all hours of the night. :)

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  61. MARIAN SAID: "Julie, I love to read your long answers!"

    LOL!! Thanks, Marian, but not so fun when you're writing Christmas cards 'cause I always have to write a book!! :) Which is why I gave up sending them out over 20 years ago. No fun starting in July just to get them done by Christmas. :)

    MARIANNE ... Thank you SO much, sweetie -- good to hear!! Now let's see if we can't pull a win out for you today ... Good luck!!

    KIM SAID: "Who in their right mind would throw a Lessman book against the wall?"

    OH, HONEY, YOU'D BE SURPRISED!! :) I have had at least three reader friends tell me they either threw my book against the wall or wanted to and then one wanted me to slap Charity and another wanted me to kill or maim her, so it's pretty clear I elicit STRONG responses with my books! ;)

    Ironically, one of the gals who told me she threw my book across the room was the daughter of my prayer partner who had fallen away from God and was living with her boyfriend and drinking heavily. She told me that she didn't like all the "spiritual stuff" in APMP, but that the passionate romance lured her through. Then she read APR and that's the book she wanted to throw because too much of it hit close to home, but once again, the passion pulled her through. She said by the time she turned the last page, she'd come up to a whole 'nother level with God, then went back to church and straightened out considerably. Now, I'm not saying my books did ALL of that, but even if they influenced her just a little, I gotta tell you -- it just doesn't get any better than that for a Christian author!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

    P.S. MARIAN ... you should have NEVER said you liked my long answers ... bad move!

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  62. That's interesting, Julie, b/c that is not the first time I have heard of someone turning back to God by MISTAKENLY reading a Christian book! That has to be very satisfying to a Christian author! I told you before after reading Faith's story in a Passion Most Pure, I felt like I needed to get saved again! She wasn't perfect, but she handled things the way I feel a Christian lady should, and conviction crawled all over me. LOL! That was some years back when I read her story; hopefully I've improved with age.

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  63. SUSAN SAID: "May God bless your efforts to glorify his name with your writing."

    RIGHT BACK AT YA, girl, and I'm thinking the same about your books. If these girls endorse them, then they are definitely books I want to read! :)

    JEN ... LOL!!! You went for that like a bass on a hula grub, girl!! "Soon" means that if you read the first four books by April 15 (and post a short 3-line review on Amazon?), you let me know, and I will send you a signed copy of AHR. Which means you will have to read APMP pretty soon just to see if you even like it enough to want to read the others, right???

    KIM SAID: "You know what I love most about Julie's writing? How she introduces us to more than two characters."
    OH, GIRL, I KNEW I LIKED YOU!! When I first started reading Christian romance, there were two things that bothered me. 1.) There wasn't the level of passion I wanted in both the romance AND the spiritual side and 2.) I HATED falling in love with a hero and heroine in a series, then you just saw cameo appearances in the next book, like they didn't have a life anymore. HATE THAT!! So I decided that ALL of my characters would have a "life" in these books, which makes it complicated but SO true to life, in my opinion.

    Besides, I LOVE writing passionate romantic scenes between the hero and heroine, which I couldn't do with Sean and Emma's story because Emma is married. Let me tell you, it sure helped being able to write VERY passionate sub-stories for Katie and Luke and Mitch and Charity (both are married couples) in that book. That gave me my romance fix in a story where I can't have the hero and heroine be romantic for a while since their love S-L-O-W-L-Y ripens and grows into love following a slow ten-year friendship where SHE is married.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  64. Great Interview, I would love to win this awesome Book.
    Blessings to you all

    ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  65. MIRJAM, YES!!! Then my work here is done! Happy reading, sweetie. :)


    KIM SAID: "Julie, my goal is to only write reviews that I ask for. Meaning...I love the book so much that I want to tell the world (well, my little world, anyway) all about it. So this is high praise indeed. "

    WOW and DOUBLE WOW!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH, Kim, for opting to write this review -- I am BLESSED!!


    AMY SAID: ""Quietly stand by..." This phrase brought tears to my eyes and piqued my curiosity. I would love to read this book!"

    Amy, I TOTALLY AGREE!! Talk about having a way with words -- Kim's writing of the review itself was SO beautifully crafted. Here's the full line, which touched me as well:

    "You'll be cheering for Emma and Sean all the way…until you must quietly stand beside them as they face their failures and discover hope for their future."

    And for a line or phrase to jump out at you and make you WANT to read the book clearly indicates that Kim has a real skill with her pen and her words.

    Thank you SO much -- both to Amy for coming by and leaving a comment AND Kim for making even ME want to reread the book!! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  66. Hey girls! Guess what book just moved to the top of my reading list?!? You get one guess.... :)

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  67. CATHY ... trust me, girl, not HALF as much as I want you to read this book, so here's to a win in this contest and GOOD LUCK!!

    TERESA!!! Back from the dead and with a sense of humor, no less -- PRAISE GOD!!! And, yeah, Charity elicits a WHOLE range of responses in APMP, none of them good, but she was SOOOOOO much fun to write AND redeem, I'll tell you that! ;)

    MISS KALLIE!!! Girl, it's SO good to see you here, and you are right up there with Jackie S. and Karen K., two faithful reader friends like yourself who always pop up on my blog giveaways. I can't tell you HOW MUCH I wish I could just send you all a free book, but then my hubby would shoot me and there would be no more books!! :) But here's to a win soon, my friend.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  68. Julie, well I won APMP from you and loved it! So I better get reading and I have not read the others yet!

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  69. The cover of the book is so elegant. It reminds me of a large portrait I once viewed at an art museum. The book sounds like a really good read, too.

    Please enter my name into the drawing for the book. Blessings, Janice
    jsmithg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  70. Hey, KELLY, thanks for coming by and leaving a comment -- there's NO better way to win a book and make new friends. In fact, I win about 4-6 books a year myself leaving comments on the blogs on which I want to win, so GOOD LUCK!! And if you don't win today, come back through Saturday for more chances AND check my website calendar. :)

    DIANA SAID: "our friends, filled with book talk. I tried to have a pajama party with hubby last night. He woke me up at 2:30 this morning, saying he had a bad dream, so all I did was blab book talk non-stop for....two minutes, and he was out like a light!"

    ROFLOL!!! Diana, that is TOO cute and TOO typical of most of our hubbies, I'm guessing. I will do the same with Keith, and he tries SO hard to pretend he's listening, but I see the lids droop and flutter and I know that I am better than Sominex to that man!! :)

    MARISSA!!! Hey, girl, and you are one of my faves too, trust me, ESPECIALLY since you were one of my first entrants in my new contest, so THANK YOU!!

    AND SPEAKING OF MY NEW CONTEST ... I am having a random drawing for newsletter recipients where ALL you have to do is vote for your favorite authors (NOTE: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE FOR ME!!) in Family Fiction's Magazine's contest, and I will enter you in my contest to win a $25 gift card and a signed copy of ANY of my books, including my next release in Sept., A Love Surrendered. So anybody who is interested, here is the link to the contest. Just vote to support your favorite authors across all genres and let me know via e-mail or in a comment, and I will enter you. GOOD LUCK, and here's the link:

    Family Fiction Magazine Readers' Choice

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  71. Janice, I agree this cover certainly jumps off the bookshelf at you.

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  72. Julie, you and I can talk multiple characters until the cows come home. Ask my critique partners and they will tell you my Multi-POV stories keep them very busy.

    I definitely consider you a kindred spirit and I can't wait for the last of the O'Conners to tell their story.

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  73. STEPH!!! Sooo good to see you drop by, my friend, and here's hoping it nets you a win! :)

    DIANA, WOW ... your comment gave me goose bumps because that is SO what I hoped would happen to all of us -- a Holy Spirit tap on the shoulder from God to say, "Hey, kids of the King -- you CAN have a living, breathing relationship with the God of the Universe and a love affair like no other."

    INGRID ... thanks for coming by to leave a comment, and as I told Cathy above, I want you to win WAY more than you do, so GOOD LUCK!!

    WHOO-HOO, SARAH!!! Way to go, girl, and WAY TO GO, Kim and Teresa for your OUTSTANDING reviews that twisted Sarah's arm -- GOOD JOB!!

    Tell me, Sarah, have you read any of my books before? Because if not, I'm BEGGING you to start with book 1 in this passionate family saga, A Passion Most Pure. You see, there are a number of BIG surprises in book 1 that would be ruined if these series are read out of order, although they can be read out of order, of course. And APMP did win American Christian Fiction Writer's Debut Book of the Year in 2009, so I promise you it doesn't bay at the moon (i.e. it's not a dog) ... uh, I hope! :|

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  74. I still think Roberta Swank deserves a spot in the drawing, she is very deserving.

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  75. JEN ... WAIT ... is this Jen W.??? I know you review books, so I am sure you are slammed, darlin', but anything I can do to get you to up my books on that TBR list of yours, I'm not too proud to do, trust me!! :)

    JANICE, what a nice thing to say about my cover -- THANK YOU!! My actual FAVE of all my covers is A Passion Most Pure, but then when you see the guy on the cover, you will understand why. HUBBA, HUBBA!! :) Good luck in the contest, sweetie! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  76. Julie, yes this is Jen W. so April 15 th I so can do it! If I still count....and I think I can even do longer than 3 line reviews!

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  77. Sarah you have made a good choice! You won't be sorry, I know you can tell what a great person Julie is by reading her posts on here. And all that greatness comes out in her books. :)

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  78. JEN, When you do your review, please let Diana and Teresa and me know so we can put up the link on our FB pages.

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  79. KIMSTER, AKA Roberta Swank, I feel pretty sure we can hook you up with some more Julie Lessman books, lol! I personally know your crit partner! The one who you make fun of for blogging. It is lots of fun, isn't it!

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  80. Julie, Diana, and Teresa I am just back from a doctor's appointment with my son and then we met up with my daughter. I was so disappointed that my blingy Valentine looking cell phone cover from her (my Valentine gift) did not fit - bit tears over that, well not really but I was disappointed. It was all glittery and pink and red and purple and gorgeous!!!

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  81. LOL, JEN ... you're ON, girlfriend!! :)

    TERESA SAID: "And all that greatness comes out in her books. :)"
    Don't know 'bout any "greatness," but I'm a flamin' CDQ (caffeinated drama queen), so THAT DEFINITELY comes out in my books ... :)

    CARRIE SAID: "I feel pretty sure we can hook you up with some more Julie Lessman books"
    LOL ... you make me sound like a drug you gotta have. I wish ... :)

    And, OH MAN, CARRIE ... don't you just hate that when a gift you LOVE doesn't fit??? I'll tell you what, anything with glitter, red and purple on it and I am SO there! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  82. Love her books!!! This is a must get but need the first one too! Teresa Sego

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  83. JULIE I am ROTFL! Now I know I am better, if only someone would help me get off the floor! The Lord knew what He was talking about when He put in Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..."

    GF we must have been going through the same line when God made us...if you go through my closet there is red, red, red, purple, purple and some black! And lots of bling!

    CARRIE So sorry your Bling didn't fit your phone. :( I'm with you on liking the BLING! The "Shinier" the better! My son teases me that I have "ADOS" Attention Deficit OoH SHINY!

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  84. Julie, it has been my honor and pleasure to spend the day with you. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing one of my favorite books, "A Heart Revealed."

    You are an amazing writer and your stories will stay in the hearts and minds of your readers for years to come. We look forward to your next release, "A Love Surrendered" which comes out in September.

    Carrie, and all the team, at "Overcoming Through Time." I enjoyed being here today and I know I speak for Julie and myself when I say, "thank you for having us."

    Let's do it again...soon!

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  85. TERESA, JULIE apparently doesn't realize her books are addictive!!! ADOS, huh! I love shiny blingy stuff - this was a cover for my new HTC Merge which I still haven't really figured out, but... She took it back to see if we can get one that snaps on right - one corner didn't.

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  86. KIM, I know what you are going to do tomorrow. You are going to call at some point and ask how my proposal is coming. Yes, I have been working on it and will incorporate the last of the edits on the first four chapters tomorrow. Got my comparables question answered, too! No, JULIE LESSMAN is not a comparable because she is INCOMPARABLE (writer pun!)

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  87. KIM, Thanks so much for the guest post and we really enjoyed having you on the blog. Come back again. Really! Hugs!

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  88. JULIE, We appreciate you hanging out with us today (again, lol! you are such a good sport) And I will have my bibliotherapy review up on Saturday. I was so touched by Emma being abused to the point of physical scarring and yet how you showed her spiritual path to bring healing. Blessings!

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  89. Julie - thanks for the give away. The review really makes me want to get the book now! Kim - thanks for the review.
    And Carrie - thank you for recommending Julie's books to me.
    Sharon

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  90. TERESA, tell you what -- if you and Kim go to ACFW this year, I told Kim that we need to have coffee or lunch together, and we will all wear either purple or red and then LOTS of bling. I'd say purple and red together except I don't want us to look like we belong to the Red Hat Society, you know? I may be old, but I sure don't want to look it!!

    KIM, being here on your day was a TOTAL pleasure, my friend, so THANK YOU for your wonderful review and kind encouragement. Hope to return the favor some day when you are published.

    CARRIE, it is SO much fun being on your blog, girlfriend because Diana is right -- it IS like a great big party and SOOOO encouraging to everyone from me to anybody comes by. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday!!

    SUSAN!!! I just read Carrie's amazing review of your book on Amazon and I am STOKED!! OMG ... I was a HUGE Swamp Fox fan when Disney had that series on in the 60s, and the blurb references Frances Marion, so I'm thinking you're a must read, girl!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  91. WHOOPS, SHARON ... you slipped that comment in before I could add it to my last comment post, so you get yours all to yourself!!

    Thanks for coming by AND for your interest in my books -- that blesses me, ESPECIALLY the fact that my sweet friend, Carrie, recommended me. I'm thinking of cutting her paycheck one of these days ... :)

    Good luck in the contest ... I believe you got in right under the wire. :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  92. LOL you know that I'm one of those gals who has thrown your books against the wall because your characters can be soooo darn frustrating! Hahaha I totally love all the drama so keep it coming. ;-)

    XOXO~ Renee C.

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  93. Julie, one of the things I love about your books are the covers. In fact my buying Passion Most Pure was on an impulse while at Lifeway. I saw the cover (the girl looks sorta like Megan Follows of the Anne of Green Gables movies and the man looks like a younger Antonio Banderas) and bought it and loved it! I am so looking forward to reading this one. I'd love to win a copy.

    dawn(dot)janis(at)gmail(dot)com

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  94. RENEE ... LOL, yes, YOU were one of the ones I was thinking of, sweetie, and Rel is, too, because I know Mitch ticked her off in AHR!! And gosh, to me, all he does is make me love him more!! We are all SO different except that we ALL love romance, so how fun is that??? Thanks for coming by, Renee. :)

    DAWN ... that blesses me SO much because the only cover I really and truly loved A LOT was APMP. And I have cute story about the cover model for Faith O'Connor. She is actually a sweet Catholic gal named Mary who is VERY Irish and who contacted me after the book came out. I told her back then that I bet the book would sell like hotcakes because of her and Collin on the cover. Mary's boyfriend thought that was so cute, that he started calling her hotcakes. :) Thanks for coming by and here's to a win!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  95. Julie, I am so excited! I will keep you up to date as I go! I think I can do it!

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  96. LOL, JEN, I'm excited that YOU are excited, my friend, so happy reading! Gosh ... I hope like them or this could be a real chore for us both ... ;)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  97. LOL, JULIE!! "P.S. MARIAN ... you should have NEVER said you liked my long answers ... bad move!"

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  98. Julie, I am pretty sure I will love that seeing that I loved APMP, now just need to write that review for you and start reading the next. Have a wonderful day!

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  99. MARIAN ... Just a hint: I'm #12 of 13 kids, so I tend to talk and talk and talk just to get a word in, and goodness, you should see me eat!! :)

    JEN ... hope so! Not real smart to send a book to somebody who pans it in a review ... YIKES!! :)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  100. CONGRATS AMY!!! You are the WINNER of a paperback book of A Heart Revealed written by Julie Lessman. Check your email!
    Many blessings and thanks so much for coming by the blog for the review and celebration this week!

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  101. I re-read parts of "AHR" earlier this week ... Valentine's Day may or may not have influenced that ... haha. But on a serious note, it was just the encouragement I needed as a "single", so thank you Ms. Julie! =)

    jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

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  102. Wow there are a LOT of comments!!:)
    I would love to get this book. I absolutely LOVED it!! I am dying to read A Love Surrendered.
    Oh I just saw that your giving away a copy of any of Julie's books?
    If I get picked I would love a paper back copy of A Passion Redeemed. It is still my favorite of Julie's books! Mitch is just WAY to sexy!:)

    dymesich(at)juno(dot)com

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  103. LDK!!! Oh, girl, I am SO happy that I could encourage you on Valentine's Day of all days because other than New Years, there is NO more OVERRATED day in the calendar than V-Day!! Whether you are married, engaged, dating or not, the expectations ALWAYS exceed reality, trust me! But it tickles me to no end that my books can lift you up, my friend -- YAY!!

    LEAH!!! Trust me, I am DYING for you to read ALS, too, because I do think you will like it -- Steven and Annie are SO fun!! And OH MY, YES!!! Mitch Dennehy is hands-down WAAAAAAYYY too "sexy" for his own good (and Charity's!!), as is Mr. McGee. Sigh. Thanks for coming by, Leah, and I think this giveaway is over, but I have one more on this blog this Saturday, so come back AND be sure to check out my website calendar too, okay?

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  104. Julie...thanks for this giveaway...hope all is well w/ you and your family...how's rory?

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  105. Hey, KAREN, Rory is GREAT, thank you for asking!! Actually babysat her today, and I was the only one who could make her smile (out of me, my hubby and daughter), so don't think THAT doesn't melt a grandma's heart!! :)

    Karen, I have one more giveaway going on this Saturday, and Jackie S. and Miss Kallie already won, two reader friends who are as diligent as you, so it's YOUR TURN next, darlin'!! Good luck!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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