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| A Light in the Window by Julie Lessman |
A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW
(2012)
by Noela Nancarrow
AGLOW WITH BRILLIANCE!
‘A Light in the Window’ is a stunningly beautiful prequel to one of the most incredibly fun, intensely romantic, relationship building, and faith-inspiring series you’ll ever read! And this prequel is no less the same!
Eighteen year old Marceline (Marcy) Murphy arrives back in Boston, Massachusetts in the summer of 1895 with her parents, and with the hope and faith her father could find work back in their home town after losing his job. It was with excitement and nerve-wracking trepidation that she was now standing on the doorstep of her treasured life-long friend… elated that she’s about to see her dearest friend Julie, but jittery as a June-bug that Julie’s brother Sam O’Rourke may be home as well! With his charm, humor, and protectiveness, Sam had always been her hero growing up, while leaving an indelible footprint on her heart. Though his wayward ways that Julie had written to her about often, left her shocked, it hadn’t completely snuffed out her teenage infatuation. Marcy largely attributed those shameful flaws in Sam to the influence of his best friend, the dangerously handsome and cocky Casanova, Patrick O’Connor. And she planned to keep her heart well away from both of them.
Untrusting of these two men, Marcy is grateful, although anything but composed, that they’ll both be working with her and Julie on a Christmas play that the girls are organizing to raise money for the St. Mary’s Parish Soup Kitchen. And when she learns that these two flirty Lothario’s are both vying after her affections, it puts her world into an even greater spin. How will this tug-of-war for Marcy’s love affect Sam and Patrick’s strong friendship? And can either of these two rogues of disreputable reputation ever be tamed and transformed from their scandalous ways? And who will finally win Marcy’s heart? Be prepared for an abundance of drama, copious tears, smiles aplenty and quite a few surprises!
The play ‘A Light in the Window’ is based on the Irish custom of placing a candle in the window on Christmas Eve to welcome the Holy Family. This play becomes a beacon of light for many of the story’s wonderful characters, including some of the soup kitchen participants. These rich characters are written with so much depth and warmth, they actually feel tangible! A Light in the Window will warm your heart, your marriage, and your faith, being filled to the brim with passion, sacrifice, grace, and compassion.
Question: Christmas is a time of giving as well as receiving. Have you ever been blessed to have had the opportunity to give or share something memorable to someone else?
Giveaway: Answer the question and leave your email address (unless you are someone we know well!) and you will be entered for the giveaway of this ebook.
Giveaway: Answer the question and leave your email address (unless you are someone we know well!) and you will be entered for the giveaway of this ebook.
Lovely review, Noela! I can't wait to read this book. I have it on my Kindle now. After I do a bunch of paperwork later today I am going to lie down for a nice long read!!!
ReplyDeleteCarrie I LOVE this new REPLY feature!! :) You're in for a treat! :)
DeleteWe've had this for a long time at CQ, TERESA, and when I had Jen redesign I asked for this to be added. The old template did not allow it.
DeleteWonderful review Noela! :)
ReplyDeleteCARRIE, I can't wait either for you to read this!!!!! :) You are going to LOVE it!! I say, read the book first, then do the paperwork! Lol!
ReplyDeleteNo, GOD told me to finish this NOELA, a long time ago and I am finally being obedient, lol, and getting all those pesky tax things together for the accountant!
DeleteLol... and you better listen to Him!! You're going to be so blessed by this story CARRIE! :)
DeleteThanks JENNY!! If you stop by again and leave your email and an answer to the question, you can go into the draw to win this fabulous book!
ReplyDeleteWow NOELA, what a wonderful review - so beautifully written!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you put a lot of effort in it!
See, I used the reply button this time MARIAN! Thanks for pointing that out to me, I can't believe I overlooked it! It's a great new feature isn't it, and it's so perfect for the blog!
DeleteThank you for the compliment my friend! You're getting to know me too well btw, lol... Always thankful to God for helping though!
What an awesome book. Don't ya just Love Julie Lessman and her wonderful stories. And this one is every bit as good as all of hers! Can't get enough of Julie Lessman.
ReplyDeleteI love to give at Christmas. Every year we try to find a family who wouldn't have Christmas and give them a Christmas. The Lord usually sends someone across our paths. It's pretty awesome. I think that blesses me more than any receiving.
Hi DEBBIE, thanks for stopping by! And I couldn't agree more with your statement... there's nothing quite like a JULIE Lessman story!!
DeleteI LOVE that you give a family a Christmas that they wouldn't normally have, what a thoughtful thing to do. Sometimes Christmas can be a sad time for those lonely or lacking the means, so this would be such a blessing!
What a lovely ebook. I love the idea of putting a light in the window for the Holy Family.
ReplyDeleteOne of the ways I give back each year is to direct the Christmas Program at church. It's a BIG JOB and a ton of hard work, but it's so worth it to share Jesus with the children. It's what I constantly remind myself: give these kids JESUS while you're directing! It's not about a Broadway performance, it's about the relationships we create as we work together. And I tell the kids their performance is a gift to HIM on His Day!!
kkakins@gmail.com
DeleteHi KARLA, it's a great tradition isn't it?! I think we might all have to do that this year in honour of Julie's beautiful story! :)
DeleteOh I admire your dedication and commitment in directing the Christmas program each year SO much! I know from when my kids were younger and in these programs just how much work it takes! And it is such a valuable and vital ministry in these children's lives! God bless!
NOELA!!! WOW, girl, what a GREAT review -- thank you SOOO much!! Goodness, so many great lines that I had trouble choosing just one to quote for my FB post. :)
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad you joined the crew here -- what a blog this is, with the reviews as fab as the ladies who write them!!
Can't thank you guys enough for all of your incredible support -- talk about "lights" in the window, girls ... :)
And, CARRIE!!! OH MY ... LOVE the new look and new font for the header, but then I've always been a sucker for script and fancy fonts!! ;)
Hugs and more hugs,
Julie
Ohh thanks heaps JULIE!!! You are such a sweetheart, I love you and appreciate your amazing books SO much but it's the inspiration from your brilliant story that enables me to write the review!! :)
DeleteI'm so glad to have joined the crew too and thank God every day for the privelege!! Blessings and big hugs!
HAHA, JULIE, me, too! Jen did a great job with the redesign. More functional, which is what we wanted.
DeleteWow on your review, NOELA, and wow on our new look here!! Beeeaauutiful! I love the reply thingy -- hope I get use to it quickly. So much easier for our friends to spot replies to their fab comments!
ReplyDeleteNoela, this a wonderful review, gf, you sure can write!!
Thanks DIANA!! ;) Love you, and appreciate your support!
DeleteAnd love the new look too, it really is outstanding isn't it?!! The Reply button is fantastic... once I realized it was there! lol!
NOELA!! I am so proud of my sister. This review is terrific and Julie's book is out of this world..what a combination!! GREAT JOB!!
ReplyDeleteAww thanks sister TERESA, haha makes you sound like a nun ;) Seriously, you're the best sister!!
DeleteOh and how true about Julie's book! Shines like the stars!! :)
The fun giving was the first bicycle ~ the putting it together and all the bolts didn't fit or there was an irregular amount of them ~ and the other children as they were older watching the younger one get a repainted, refurbished one they used to ride. So fun.
ReplyDeleteKathleen ~Missouri
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
What a wonderful gift, KATHLEEN! My neighbor repainted his daughter's old bike when I was about 7 yrs. old and gave it to me. I was one happy little girl! We lived in AZ. and had a huge desert behind our house with paths where I could ride like the wind! lol
DeleteI shared my 'Daughters of Boston' books to my neighbor who had surgery for serious complications, with Drs. unsure if she'd make it. She did. She's a voracious reader so I shared my copies with her and then had to replace them for myself! Since she reads non-Christian romance books, I thought she'd totally love these, and get the Gospel message included.
ReplyDeletedesertrose5173 at gmail dot com
LINDA, that is fabulous! I know JULIE LESSMAN would appreciate and be touched by your comment! I'm glad your neighbor has such a good friend in you.
DeleteI love giving to others and helping those in need! Thanks for the giveaway! makeighleekyleigh at yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by MEGAN! Don't you think NOELA wrote a wonderful review?
DeleteGood on you Megan and God bless you!! Good luck in the draw!
DeleteEvery year during the holidays our church reaches out to families in need to provide holiday meal boxes at Thanksgiving and meals and gifts are given to families that wouldn't otherwise have one at Christmas time. We have been privileged to take part in blessing these families. I take no credit for this for it has been the Lord who has provided the increase necessary for my family to be able to be a blessing to someone else in the first place. Without Him we couldn't even help ourselves but He is a faithful provider and has opened doors for us to be able to give out of what He has supplied.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in your contest. winterrose at comcast dot net
LOUISE, the Lord takes care of us and when He wants us to give to others He will also provide that. Isn't He good?! Good luck in the drawing.
DeleteWhat a great review--well written ad makes me want to go get ths book ASAP!
ReplyDeleteAs to giving a special gift to someone--one year, I asked for a family who wouldn't have money for Christmas and then had my group of girls from church, help purchase gifts for each family member and we also took them a tree and sme ornaments for it--then we Christmas caroled them--this was such a special blessing to this family, as well as "my girls" and myself. Sharing with others less fortunate is ALWAYS a special blessing! vmarney at hotmail
Ohhhh, Vicki, that is so sweet! Thanks for sharing that with us. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy by association! Many blessings!!!
DeleteThanks VICKI!! And thank you SO much for sharing, that is very inspiring which is exactly what I was hoping for with this question! God Bless!
DeleteYes I can remember giving food groceries to a family without for the holiday! Was nice to be a blessing to someone without. I really don't have a lot but I'm willing to help those in need. The lady had tears and said I will pay you back. I said not necessary. someday you will be able to help someone pass it on! The season is all about giving not worried about the receiving!
ReplyDeletejoeym11@frontier.com
DIANA, what a lovely gesture! And even though we don't do it for this reason, the more we give the more God gives back to us! It's His way.
DeleteDIANA, I just wanted to say thanks for sharing that also. My husband had lost his job for our first Christmas and while I was just happy we were together, I thought we'd have nothing for Christmas until someone from dropped a box of groceries around unexpectedly. It meant SO much... especially at that time of the year!
DeleteWe never know when it could be us in need. God exspects us to give if we have. I would rather see someone happy for just little things we can do no matter how little or much we have. I see it as all we have belongs to God we are his servants here on earth to spread His love <3.
DeleteOne year (as a pastors family)we had asked our church to sponsor Christmas presents for a family whose father was in prison. One deacon said...let him (prisoner)figure out how to give them gifts, he got himself put in there. I sat there shocked, not believing a Christian could be so hard hearted. When we got home our 4 kids asked if they could speak to us. (Since I was a stay at home mom, money was tight). They suggested that we take the $100 we used to fill their stockings and use it to buy the gifts. My kids are adopted & all came from abusive situations & were broken that these other kids would receive nothing for Christmas. We agreed to do so. We took the list of gift requests & realized it was for big ticket items...nintendo, games, etc. We prayed about what to do. The very next day a family comes over to our house & said that every year they give $100 to a family they feel the Lord leading them to - & it was us! The very next day a lady called & said that she worked at cleaning HUD appartments & was allowed to keep anything left behind. She wanted to know if we could use a new nintendo with several kid games? The next day a guy came by with day old holiday cakes all decorated fancy & gave us several. The Lord had given us everything those children had asked for plus more. The $100 was used to fill our kids stockings. Even now it brings me such JOY to share as - my kids learned so much from this experience, much more than some of the church members in that small church.
ReplyDeletemissionwife@hotmail.com
God is so good!
DeleteMelody--I loved hearing your story--God really does bless us when we bless others and your kids learned the true meaning of Christmas and giving.
DeleteWow MELODY, that gave me goosebumps! God obviously wanted to bless that family!! Isn't it just like the Lord to give over and above?! And how true, that really was the best lesson your kids could ever have! Kids learn so much more from experience and what they see than they ever do just from words alone. Thanks SO much for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteHave you had the chance to enjoy JULIE's beautiful story yet?
I love to give! It's so much more fun than receiving=) I mentor a little girl in a Big Brother/Bib Sister like program, and to be able to give to someone like her who has so little is always fun for me.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading Julie's latest, hope to be reading it soon.
Patty
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
It is SO much more fun isn't it PATTY! I love that you mentor a little girl in that program, your time and your love is one of the best gifts you could ever give! God bless you!
DeleteHope you get to read Julie's book soon, you will be blessed to read about mentoring in that very story!
Usually we buy chickens or other animals from the World Vision catalog for some families in other countries. These really help them survive day-to-day. shopgirl152nykiki(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHi VERONICA, World Vision really is a wonderful organization and a great way we can also help the less fortunate, and those catalogues give great ideas as to the practical ways we can help! We sponsor a little girl through World Vision called Praise. :)
DeleteThanks SO much for stopping by and sharing!!
Our tradition for the past several years is to buy less for each other and buy warm hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, socks, long underwear, sweatshirts, etc. for the homeless in our area. We have so much and they deserve the basic needs. Thanks for a lovely review and for offering another giveaway!
ReplyDeleteNancee
quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Thanks NANCEE, and like TERESA says below, that is a wonderful thing you're doing! And as we do it for them, we are doing it for Jesus! God bless you!
DeleteNANCEE what a great thing to do, it always makes good to share with someone in need. That is what Christmas should be about. Just like God showed His love for us by sending Jesus we can share His love by giving to those in need. :)
ReplyDeleteI have been blessed to give in many ways at Christmas.The one most valuable gift I have given is to have always included my mom on everything during Christmas and throughout the year.I have also been on the receiving end so so so many times.I just wish everyone would give all year and not just at Christmas.There is such a need right now throughout the world.I really wish I had the funds to help with all that are in need.jackie_tessnair@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteJACKIE you're so right, there is a great need in the world and sometimes even in our 'backyard' that remains the same throughtout the year!
DeleteYour mum is very blessed. Thank you for stopping by to comment!
We always try to find a way to give toys for children at Christmas. Usually a family need comes through the church; if not, we give to other toy drives around the area.
ReplyDeleteI love Julie and her books, and can't wait to read this one!!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
She is a great author!
Jackie Smith
jackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net
Thanks JACKIE for sharing! It's great to put a smile on a kid's face at Christmas!!
DeleteI'm with you on JULIE and her books!! Both amazing!! You will love this one just as much as her others!
CONGRATS to DIANA, our winner this week on OWG for the Julie Lessman giveaway of her new ebook A Light in the Window!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I am anxious to read it! Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteDiana
Congratulations!! You will just love it! :)
Delete