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26 June 2012

Guest Review by Helen Wakefield: Julie Lessman's "A Passion Denied"

 A Passion Denied, Daughters of Boston Series #3
(Revell, 2009)
Review by Helen Wakefield

A Passion Denied is the third and final instalment in Julie Lessman’s The Daughters of Boston Series.  After the stories of Faith and Charity, it’s the quiet sister’s turn.   Lizzie O’Connor is all grown up and no longer sees John Brady as a brother figure.  But for some reason, this man refuses to return her love.

I read all three books in quick succession, drawn in by Julie’s dramatic and passionate writing.  But I have to admit, when I started reading A Passion Denied, I was a little blasé.   I wasn’t expecting anything new or earth shattering.  I figured Julie had packed all the drama she possibly could have in the first two books in the series.

Suddenly, a new character arrives on the scene and in an instant I sat up and took notice.  Now  I was utterly intrigued.  Where was this story going? My mind went wild with possibilities as I read on.  But there was no way I could have guessed where the story went – plot twists, after all, are a Julie Lessman specialty!

I was shocked at Mr-Goody-Two-Shoes Brady’s past, but I admire the fact Julie isn’t afraid to touch on controversial issues.  The truth is, the world sees these issues on a daily basis, and just because we’re Christian doesn’t mean we’re sheltered from them.

Julie deals with the issue of guilt, and the importance of obtaining forgiveness not only from God,  but from ourselves and one another.  One of the messages I got from this novel is that nothing is beyond God’s forgiveness.

A Passion Denied is full of the unexpected – Julie has the drama dial turned all the way up.    There’s plenty of eye popping deception and manipulation to keep you flicking pages in a hurry.   Fans of Faith and Charity will be happy to know they still get an insight into their lives.  Their present struggles make for entertaining subplots, and Marcy and Patrick have their own set of troubles.  Everything is sewn up nicely in the end and I was left with that warm O’Connor family feeling, and a few tears of joy as well J


Helen Wakefield runs the book review blog, Book Review Sisters, with her sister, Jessica.  They review Christian historical fiction, women's fiction and young adult fiction, usually with strong romantic elements.  Helen is currently working on her first book, a Christian young adult novel set in her home country, Australia.


Here is the link for Julie Lessman books available for purchase through Amazon (click here.)


GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Julie's books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback. Three giveaways this week!

88 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I'd love to win "A Passion Most Pure", in paperback form. I've been dying for it, as I've said before.

    katelynmwhitley@yahoo.com

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  3. Wow, great review Helen!! Loved your comment how Julie writes on the issue of guilt/forgiveness and that nothing is beyond God's forgiveness.....that's SOOOOOOO important for us readers to understand on a daily basis, well said!!
    I LOVE your blog, Helen (and Jess), I'm your newest follower :)
    Please enter me for A Passion Denied, I already have the first two and would love having the entire Daughters of Boston series. I confess I have not read them yet, but I promised Julie I would read them in order and I'm looking forward to them!!
    *waving to Katelyn*
    Thank you ladies for this giveaway and thank you Julie for your awesome stories, blessings!!
    Kara
    wman4jc@aol.com

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  4. Katelyn - Thanks for coming by! And all the best with the draw :)

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  5. HI HELEN! Welcome to OTT-WGH...Thanks for the great review. Pretty cool you are doing this all the way from Australia!! What time is it there now? It's 8:45pm here and I am notorious for not sleeping well so I might pop in with you later on tonight! :)

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  6. Kara - So glad to meet you! And very flattered you like Book Review Sisters :) We're honoured to have you as our newest follower!

    I hope you can get your hands on "A Passion Denied" soon, and then get stuck into the books. They are wonderful reads :)

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  7. Teresa - thank you for the warm welcome! It's now 11am on Wednesday :) I'm just ducking out to get some groceries, but will be back again soon ... and so I'll see you later if you're still up!

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  8. Helen, thank you so much for being with us on OTT! I absolutely loved your review, and can definitely tell you are a writer! I love movies and books that take place in Australia, and when I use to read secular books, The Thornbirds was my favorite book as well as movie. Now, of course, I just read Christian fiction, but you don't find many that have Australia as the setting.

    And yes, I will let Teresa spend the night with you here, as I will be sawing logs (not literally, of course, lol!) Thanks again for sharing your review with us, Helen!

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  9. Welcome HELEN!!! you've come a far piece to visit with us here and we are so glad to have you! Settle in and make yourself comfortable. I'm taking my arthritic body off to bed! Hugs!

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  10. Great review! With Julie you're always guaranteed an emotional roller coaster and I love every minute of it!

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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  11. LIZ.. you are so right and it's Sooo much fun! :)

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  13. Would love to read this one!!
    smilesalot2010(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. Diana - I'm so glad you liked the review. I was a bit nervous actual ... this is my first guest review!! And I'm really touched that you said you can tell I'm a writer - I'm not sure anyone has said that to me before :)

    There are a growing number of Aussie Christian fiction authors, so it's exciting and encouraging to hear you enjoy Australian setting. I spoke to someone just yesterday who was staying at the original Thornbirds house for the weekend :)

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  15. MORGAN...would love for you to also! Good Luck! :)

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  16. DIANA please saw at least one log for me! LOL!

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  17. Liz - nice to see you :) Julie certain knows how to create drama, doesn't she?

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  18. Great review... the book sounds wonderful!! Obviously, I NEED all three :)!!

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  19. Hi Helen..did you get lots of yummy food??? As you can see I'm still hanging in here. :)

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  20. Teresa ... yes, bought more chocolate than I should have LOL ... but it's so cold here at the moment, all I feel like doing is eating!!

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  21. Morgan - all the best in the draw! Hope you get to read it soon :)

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  22. Helen...you can send some coolness here and some chocolate too! LOL Just read the weather report for this weekend...Friday is supposed to be 103 and Saturday is supposed to be 105! Too HOT!

    Think I will call it a night...it's been good talking to you! Thanks again for the great review!

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  23. HELEN!!!!! Girl, what a WONDERFUL review!!! Gosh, it makes me miss this story and want to go back and read it again, so THANK YOU for so capturing the essence of what this book is all about.

    And, grin, I am SO thrilled that I could ramp up the roller-coaster for you on this one despite your initial "blase" mindset, thinking I'd used all the tricks in the book on the other two novels and wouldn't have any surprises in store. Ironically, I felt EXACTLY the same way when I started writing this book, but mostly because I like drama (surprise, surprise!), and to be honest, I didn't see a lot of drama in either a sweet, quiet thing like Beth (which is why I changed her name to Lizzie, to spice her up in my mind a wee bit) or a squeaky clean Billy Graham type like Brady, which is why I gave him such a dark past.

    To be honest, Brady's past was A LOT darker, but my editor made me cut it because she said it was too dark for the Christian market, which disappointed me, but in the long run was the right decision.

    Anyway, GREAT review, my friend, and I thank God for the day we met on a blog last year when you left a comment saying you had never read any of my books. Now we are buds and prayer partners in a sense, so YAY!!

    HUGS,
    Julie

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  24. Hey, KATELYN ... I sure would love to send you a signed copy, my friend, so thanks for coming back today to leave a comment and GOOD LUCK!!

    KARA!!! A girl after my own heart, reading books in order -- good for you!! And we will do our level best to try and get this book into your library with the others so you can dive in, uninterrupted!!

    LIZ ... "an emotional roller-coaster," indeed because as a certified CDQ (caffeinated drama queen), I just HAVE to get my fill of drama in my books so I don't infuse it into my marriage ... ;)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  25. Hey, MORGAN, LOVE your addy -- smilesalot 2010 -- SOOO CUTE and I hope it's true!! And trust me, girl, I would LOVE for you to read this one too, but if you win here, I'll be sending book 1, A Passion Most Pure if you haven't read any of my books before because this is one series best read in order, okay? Good luck!!

    Oh, HELEN ... WOW!! To stay at the original Thornbirds house would be SO cool -- LOVED that movie and book!!

    LADETTE ... LOL!! Yes, ma'am, you do, so here's to a win!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  26. Ladette - yes, you definitely need all 3! Then once you're done, you'll have to go onto the Winds of Change series too. Lots of drama filled reading ahead of you :)

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  27. Yes, I am another who will want all three! Wonderful review, Helen. Thanks for sharing your love of great books with us.
    Blessings
    Dotti :)

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  28. Hi Julie!! So honoured to be part of Julie week here at OTT :) You originally had a DARKER past for Brady?? Goodness me! I can't imagine!

    Yes Julie, God takes us on interesting journeys, and brings people together in unique ways! I'm so blessed to know you're praying for me, all the way on the other side of the world!!

    Thornbirds ... should I admit now I've never read the book, nor seen the movie? Let's attribute my lapse to my (young) age, as opposed to my un-Australian-ness lol

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  29. Teresa - hope you have a good night's sleep! I'll try and fan some of the coolness over to you. I could do with some 105 temps lol. I'm over winter.

    I'm wrapping up for bed now ... going to get in early, because for a change my daughters were asleep by 7:30pm (instead of 9pm...). I'm guessing you'll all start waking up soon? Hope you all have a lovely day!

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  30. Hi Dotti! So glad to see you here, and glad you liked the review :) Hope you're having a good night!

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  31. Carrie - been praying for you today! I hope that you've managed to have a good night's sleep. Blessings for you today! And thanks so much for inviting me to guest review. It's lovely to come and visit :) The flight wasn't even that bad ... :D

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  32. Awesome review HELEN!
    Australia I hear? CARRIE, you're really going international!! :))
    Helen, if you're 14 hrs ahead of C, T and D, then you must be 8 hrs ahead of me in the Netherlands.

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  33. Good Morning Helen, hope you have a good night's sleep also. Not much for me, only about 4 hours here. It was great having you on OTT-WGH. :)

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  34. Great review! I'm so looking forward to reading Julie's books- can't wait!!! Thanks for the great giveaway!

    lubell1106(at)gmail(dot)com

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  35. Julie's books look wonderful! I can't wait to read them and see for myself what the buzz is all about! =) Please enter me!

    jennycohen104(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. Great interview and great giveaway! I'm looking forward to reading Julie's books!

    thejesusfreak62(at)gmail(dot)com

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  37. DOROTHY ... YES ... I would like you to have all three also, so entering today (and tomorrow) is a GREAT idea, so GOOD LUCK!!

    HELEN ... JUST got done praying for you and your family, my friend, not 20 minutes ago, so I am hoping you are doing well. And, yeah, I wanted a over-the-top dark past for Brady to juxtaposition against his squeaky-clean image, but I guess my imagination is a wee bit more fertile than the Christian market wants ... ;) And, LOL, never read or seen Thornbirds??? Yes, you ARE too young, then, my friend, but if you tell me you never read GWTW or seen it ... you're in trouble!!

    ELYSSA!!! I'm gonna get you yet, girl, you just watch, and after all these wonderful reviews and the gentle prompting of good friends (smile), we are going to make a "passion" reader of you after all, so good luck in this contest!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  38. Oh, JENNY, I can't wait either!! Maybe we won't have to wait too much longer if you win in this contest -- fingers crossed and prayers said!!

    JESUS FREAK ... gotta love an addy like that, you know?? Sounds like you haven't read my books, either so I'm pulling for all you first-timers so we can get you HOOKED, God willing!! Good luck!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  39. Awesome review! Loved this book SO much! Gonna have to read it again at some point soon! Although, I'm not sure about Brady being a "goody-two-shoes", I thought he was just doing his best. He got a little confused, but that doesn't mean we don't still love him. hehe! ;)

    Emreilly303(at)gmail(dot)com

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  40. Crossing my fingers for a win here! Win or not, however, I can pretty much promise that my friend will love your books, Julie! She seems to go for the romantic types. lol!

    Jreilly316(at)verizon(dot)net

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  41. JULIE, now I am dying to know Brady's really dark past. I can imagine...

    DOROTHY, I was gonna mention you as an Australian writer I had listed on my MidAtlantic group and could not figure out why she was in Australia HELEN!!!

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  42. REILLY family, I have your copy of The Colonel's Lady sitting on my couch ready to go to the post office, but am in an arthritis flare up. It will be coming, though!!!

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  43. I am dying to read A Love Surrendered. So that would be my pick if I win!:)
    Thanks for this chance to win!
    dymesich(at)juno(dot)com

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  44. LEAH you are very welcome and maybe you will be the lucky winner! :)

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  45. Great review, Helen! I would love a copy of book two in the series -- a passion redeemed. Thanks Julie, for the opportunity!

    gwen(dot)gage(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. Hey, EMILY, SO glad to see you back today, my friend, and thanks for your sweet comment about APD! And I agree, Brady wasn't necessarily a "goody two shoes," but I have this tendency to be partial to bad boys (uh, have you noticed???), so when I started writing APD, I just needed to rough Brady's reputation up a wee bit to pass my "bad boy" muster, which I did, so I was satisfied. ;) And, Emily, YOU are the one trying to convince Elyssa to read my books, right? I forgot who it was for a while, but now it all comes back to me -- GOOD GIRL!! ;)

    Hey, JOHN ... er, Emily? If Elyssa is the romantic type, then, YES, I agree that she will like my books ... I hope! :|

    CARRIE ... what are you doing out of bed, girl!!?? I know you are not feeling well, so Helen, Teresa, Marian and I will be here -- you don't need to be! As far as Brady's past, the original story had WAY more shocking things in it, which I can tell you in an e-mail sometime since I don't want to give a spoiler here.

    Ironically, I had a number of reader friends/reviewers who thought Lizzie was too hard on Brady in the end and felt it showed her in an immature light. But the truth is, it made perfect sense in the original ms. because what he did was bad enough to push her completely away, trust me, without anybody wondering why!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  47. Oh, MAN, EMILY ... you won The Colonel's Lady?? That is absolutely one of my VERY favorite books in the whole world, so I just KNOW you're gonna love it!!!

    Hey, LEAH, I can't wait for you to read it either, my friend, because it will be fun to get feedback on the last O'Connor book from some of my favorite reader friends!

    LOL, GWEN ... you're going to need to win quite a few contests to get the full collection, but it's been done before, trust me!! I have at least six reader friends who have won anywhere from three to four to five of my books, no joke! And at least you have AHU in e-book, right? Mmmm ... hopefully you will like it enough to want to invest in the paperbook as well ... ;) Good luck!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  48. Hehe! YES! Julie, I did win The Colonel's Lady. Can't wait to get my hands on it! Of course, now that I know you loved it...I'm even more excited! Looks like I'm in for another winner! lol! Hugs!

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  49. I loved A Passion Denied, as I did all of Julie's books, and would love to win a paperback copy of it. Thanks for all the reviews and giveaways you have on your blog.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  50. Oh, EM, you are going to SO love Colonel Cassius McLinn -- hubba, hubba!! Honestly, is there anything better than a great hero??? Laura writes some of the best out there, and I simply cannot say enough about her books and MaryLu Tyndall's!! Happy reading!!

    PAM!!! Hey, girl, I would be THRILLED to be able to send you a signed copy of APD, my friend, so here's to a win!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  51. Thank you for the great Review of this book, it looks awesome, I will look for the first two as soon as I get done here :). Please add me to your Giveaway.
    Blessings to all

    ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  52. Wow goed review, I live Julie's Brooks And this sounds like a winner again.
    Woud love to read the Daughters of Boston series

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  53. Morning all! Anyone fancy some vegemite toast??

    No ...?

    Ok, more for me then :)

    Looks like you've been busy while I slept!

    Carrie - hope you're feeling better! Been praying for you last night and this morning.

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  54. NO, HELEN!!! No vegemite toast. What is that? Still feel horrible. I ate rice with goats milk and dried cherries for dinner just now. Thanks for the prayers!

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  55. What is vegemite? It's a yeast extract us Aussies use as a spread. You basically have to be reared on it lol ... my girls were eating it on their toast by 7 months of age.

    I'm sorry you still feel horrible :( Will keep praying. I can't imagine how difficult that sort of pain must be.

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  56. Did someone mention Colonel Cassius McLinn? *hand to forehead, fainting* Julie - hubba hubba are the right words!

    Ingrid, Mirjam ... thanks for coming by, and I hope you can get your hands on all three Daughters of Boston books!

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  57. Marian ... hi over there! Though I imagine you're asleep right now. Yes I believe we are 8 hrs ahead of Netherlands at this time of year :)

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  58. Could be worse, HELEN - we are having all kinds of disasters here in the USA - terrible fires raging in Colorado, flooding in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and also a tropical storm and flooding in Florida.
    Yes, MARIAN should be in bed. It is 6 hours ahead of us so after midnight there. So weird to think that you are almost halfway through tomorrow over there!!!

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  59. I love the review. I don't think that I have every read one of Julie Lessman’s books - so would love to have one to add to my collection. I like to read reviews on books before buying a book from an author I haven't read before. Really think you do a great job keeping things interesting without saying too much:).
    - Jen
    jking23(at)kent(dot)edu

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  60. Sorry I'm so late to the party!! Oh my goodness, just reading this review, Helen, brought me such fond memories of when I read this book!!! Perhaps I'll read it all over again. Thanks for the great review. I already have the book! Waving at Julie!! Love you all!!

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  61. CARRIE, I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but vegemite toast sounds a heap better than rice with goat's milk and dried cherries. Shudder! I hope you are sleeping off that pain and don't see my sassy remarks until tomorrow. Love ya, and just know you have a host of ppl praying for you!

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  62. The guest review was wonderful. It makes me want to read it all over again! Please enter me in the giveaway.
    samanthaakuiper(at)gmail(dot)com

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  63. SAMANTHA...we would be delighted to enter you! GOOD LUCK! :)

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  64. Hey, INGRID ... you're mind kind of gal, my friend -- already thinking about going after all three books in the DOB series -- GOOD GIRL, because they are definitely best read in order, so GOOD LUCK!!

    MIRJAM!!! How are you, girl?? And correct me if I'm wrong, but you've only read A Hope Undaunted, right? If so, then, YES, we definitely need to get the DOB series in your hot, little hands, so GOOD LUCK!!!

    Oh, HELEN, I'm with Carrie -- no Vegemite for me, even though I know it is an Aussie staple. But then we Americans are VERY prissy about what we eat and a lot of us (not all of us) won't deviate from the norm. But you chow down, you sweet thing, and I'll stay with my chunky peanut butter! ;)

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  65. What a great review. Book and series sounds amazing!
    Campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  66. CARRIE!!! SAY IT AIN'T SO -- "rice with goats milk and dried cherries for dinner"??? And I thought Vegemite sounded bad!! I love rice and I love cherries, but together??? With goat's milk?? Uh, I'll just take your word for it ... :)

    HELEN SAID: "Did someone mention Colonel Cassius McLinn?" ME-ME-ME!!! WHOA, BABY, and I thought Mitch and Luke were HOT!! The Colonel is sssssss-sizzzzzzling!! LOL ... I am SUCH a juvenile delinquent when it comes to heroes, I swear! :)

    JEN, you are SO right -- I love Helen's review too!! And, oh girl -- a newbie to my books??? Just the type of reader I like because it is SOOO much fun introducing new readers to the "very passionate" O'Connor family, so I sure hope you win, my friend -- GOOD LUCK!!

    HUGS,
    Julie

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  67. MARYLU!!! GOSH, this has been SO much fun being on OTT because I think you and I have talked more in the last week than ever before, which I LOVE!! Thanks for coming by and ONLY ONE MORE DAY TILL VEIL OF PEARLS -- WHOO-HOO!!!!!

    LOL, DIANA ... I just read your "shudder" in response to Carrie's dinner and I laughed out loud. Why? Because I had written "cold chills" and then erased it because I didn't want Carrie to think I was badmouthing her choice of food. But since you already did ... COLD CHILLS!!!

    SAMANTHA, I TOTALLY agree -- Helen's review IS wonderful, and YES, it actually made me want to read APD all over again too! And crazy as it sounds, I am SO attached to this family (been living with them in my head OVER 50 YEARS if you consider I started writing about them after reading GWTW at the age of 12!!), that I reread all of the books prior to the release of the next one, so this August will be the LAST time I get to do that. Sigh. :(

    AMY, I sure would love to see if you think so after you read book 1, A Passion Most Pure, so here's to a win, my friend -- good luck in the contest!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  68. I'm a Julie fan have all her books except A LOVE SURRENDERED would love that one thanks.

    Hi to you Julie, I know you are are going to read this because you are good. ;P You are one author that does read and stay in touch with your tours. wonderful job. I don't know how you keep up. Happy weekend to you

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  69. LOL, ABI -- only because I LOVE talking to reader friends who become more "friends" than "readers" to me, of which YOU are one!! In all honesty, one of the best things that has come out of me getting published are the friendships I have made with incredible readers like yourself, so YES, I do love to keep up with them. Nothing noble about it, truly, it's just something I LOVE to do, so it's not a hardship ... and a definite priority! Thanks for coming by, my friend, and I hope I get to send you a signed copy of ALS from this contest!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  70. Hi everyone,

    the other half of the book review sisters had found the time to drop by!! :) I don't get on much at the moment as my daughter has decided that day sleeps are a stupid idea and so I'm kept away from the computer almost all day!

    Lots of great comments going on! I'll have to read the the rest of your books Julie! :)

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  71. Well, JULIE and DIANA, the rice and goat's milk and dried cherries were because that was all I could tolerate. And no cold chills - I heated it up, lol!

    JESS!!! WELCOME!!! We love having your sis here as our guest this week and we are so glad to have you come visit, too! And thanks to both of you for having me visit in Australia last month, virtually of course, visiting your blog!!! JULIE's books are ADDICTIVE!!!

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  72. Hi Carrie,

    Thanks! Happy to drop by. We were happy to have you visit our blog last month...maybe one day you'll get to visit Australia for real!

    Yes Julie's books are addictive!

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  73. I agree with Julie, great review that makes me want to go back and read it again. I am keeping this series on my bookshelf and will probably read them again at some point!

    Patty
    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  74. JESS!!! Hey, girl, so glad to see you here with your sis!! And, YES, you will have to read the rest of the books, my friend, for an extra dose of drama in your life, if nothing else ... although with a little one who refuses to take naps, I'm sure you've already got your fair share ... ;)

    CARRIE ... ohhhhhh, I see ... WARM "rice and goat's milk and dried cherries" ... BIG DIFFERENCE!!! Now I have hot shudders and cold chills ... ;)

    PATTY ... My copies are on my shelf, too, but I have to admit, they look pretty dog-eared after all the times I've reread them now. But for me, rereading them is like looking through a family album, so I visit at least once a year as I said above, right before the next one comes out, just to refresh. Thanks for coming by and GOOD LUCK in the contest!!

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  75. Dear Julie, I' m wel thanks , on vacation at the moment And caching up on some reading :) true just one book, but love it non the less.
    So please enter me in the competition.
    mirjam( ad) fotoflits ( dot) com

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  76. Love Julie's books! Please put my name in the hat!

    writer_weaverATyahooDOTcom

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  77. MIRJAM and ANNA, I will put both of your names in the hat!

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  78. JEN KING, you are the WINNER of our first drawing for the week, using random.org. Congrats!!! Now to find our which Julie book you would like to receive!

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  79. I am a huge fan of the O'Connor family.

    Love you, Julie :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  80. Congrats Jen King, enjoy the book!!

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  81. Congratulations Jen King! Hope you enjoy whichever book you choose :) They're all great!

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  82. MIRJAM ... have a great vaca, my friend and happy reading!!

    ANNA ... thank you, sweetie, for coming by and for your kind comment. :)

    KAREN!!! Yes, you are, my friend, and I sure know it ... your support means more than I can say!!

    HELEN ... this was SO much fun with you and the OTT girls today, so THANK YOU again for the great review and hugs all around!!

    CARRIE ... hope you are feeling better, my sweet friend, and THANK YOU for all you do!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  83. Thanks Julie, was really nice but am back home again.
    Jen King Congrats!
    Carrie if Jen does'nt respond you cn always write me and I will sacrifice myself and see what vook I would like, haha

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  84. I have not read this series. Kathleen
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  85. MIRJAM and KATHLEEN, you should take JULIE up on her special offer about reading the first book and reviewing! Thanks for coming by!!!

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  86. KATELYN SHEAR!!!! You are the last WINNER, chosen by randomizer per JULIE. She will be contacting you! CONGRATS!!!

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