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| Love at Any Cost |
Another
Jewel by Julie!
In Love at Any Cost, Julie
Lessman sweeps us away on a passion-filled, heartwarming journey to beautiful
San Francisco with its bustling cable cars, crisp bay air, and the smell of
fish permeating the air...from the lush lawns of the very wealthy on Nob Hill
to the poverty stricken streets of the Barbary Coast.
Lovely Cassie McClare, a spunky
Texas oil heiress, heartbroken by a young man who jilts her because of her
family's financial woes, travels to San Francisco for an extended visit with
her fun loving, well-to-do cousins on Nob Hill. Determined never to be taken in
again by a fortune hunting "pretty boy", Cassie finds her resolve
dwindling when she meets the McClares' handsome friend, Jamie MacKenna.
Jamie, an illegitimate young man
from the wrong side of the tracks, is determined to marry a rich girl on Nob
Hill, seek a political career, and obtain enough money for a major surgery for
his crippled sister. Cassie Mclare seems the perfect and most likely candidate
for his plans....which certainly did not include Jamie falling head over heels
for this spunky little cowgirl. But as love grows, secrets kept between them
threaten to tear Cassie and Jamie apart—possibly forever. Will Cassie ever
learn to trust any man again?...and will Jamie ever learn to trust in God
instead of himself?
Julie Lessman has done it again!
I absolutely loved this book! What started out as a light read ended up with as
many twists and turns as the streets of San Francisco! I chuckled and boohooed
throughout this book too many times to count. I also enjoyed the fact that
Julie Lessman includes the seemingly futile romance of Cassie's widowed aunt as
well, and I sooo hope some loose ends will be tied between those two in future
books. With a strong spiritual thread throughout and toe curling romance
within, and an unexpected twist near the end guaranteed to knock you for a
loop!...I think you'll agree with me that this may possibly be Julie Lessman's
best one yet. And that is saying a mouthful as I loved her previous series
tremendously. Way to go,
Julie Lessman!!
________________________________________________________________
GIVEAWAY: We are giving
away a copy of Julie's book with EVERY review this week!
HOW
TO ENTER: Leave
a comment and LIKE Carrie's and Julie's Facebook Author pages (put CFP and/or
JL on your comment):
Good morning Diana. Good review for Julie's new book.
ReplyDeleteI also love her video. I really must have this book, so PLEASE draw my name. :) Will come back later today and see what's going on. I am a follower of both Carrie(CFP) and Julie(JL). Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
MAXIE, bless your heart. Let's hope and pray random number loves you this time. We love your persistency here on OWG...an admirable quality!
DeleteLOL, MAXIE, if anybody deserves a book, sweetie, it's you, so don't give up, okay? I'm saying one for you right now!
DeleteHugs,
Julie
This book sounds so good, I will just HAVE to be reading it! And the video just makes it just that much so!
ReplyDeleteVicki CFP JL
vmarney(at)hotmail(dot)com
VICKI, great to have you back! Is the world traveller back home now for a spell? You will LOVE this book!!
DeleteVICKI, YES ... YOU "HAVE" to read it, my friend, and hopefully you'll win it here so you can!!
DeleteBUT ... if you don't win, book 1 of my 2nd series, A Hope Undaunted, is available for free download right now, so take advantage, okay?
Hugs,
Julie
Yes Diana, I am back home...for awhile. Jon leaves again on Monday, but only to Boulder, CO. (so still in the states this time). I'm waiting until after Mother's Day to join him, so I ca spend Mother's Day with my mom & will have a little longer at home. I'm working on a bunch of "To Do List" items, so I have not been online as much, but trying to catch up. Julie--I am going to grab that free book and work my way towards having more of your books, as I DID enjoy Candle in the Window very much. Just enough to get a taste of your writing skills and know that I enjoy them... See you all on the boards...
DeleteVicki
BTW, MARIAN and NOELA, I added the toe curling romance part just for you two. An inside joke, everyone. ;)
ReplyDeleteHaha I suspected you did DIANA, lol!! I'm still reading that other one and it's frustrating me I don't have more time to read it because I'm hanging out to get to the toe-curling part!! ;) And I'm still trying to figure out what 'floats your boat' means too, lol! Seriously though, I don't think anyone quite writes romance like JULIE!!!
DeleteNOELA, don't you just hate that when you are reading a wonderful book and can't seem to find the time to get back to it. The really toe curling part of the one you are talking about is at the end sooo...:( Now in JULIE'S as you know it's all the way thru the book! lol
DeleteFloats my boat - hmmm - is really my cup of tea, or what really turns me on. Does that help?
Thank you for including that, m d Di. :) I enjoyed reading your review!! ♥
DeleteAnything for you, m d Dutchy. ;) Thank you!
DeleteI guess what I really meant, which I should have said lol, was how did 'float your boat' originate, or in other words, how does that work to mean 'my cup of tea'? :) I don't know if I'm making sense now lol. It's just one of those weird expressions hey? :)
DeleteYep, I agree about Julie's book 'curling toes' throughout haha, which is a sign of a GREAT romance writer!! I hope there's even MORE in the next installment of this fantastic new series! :)
I have no clue how that ever got started, NOELA. Gotta have perfect, deep water to make your boat float, I guess. haha Who knows? Except the smart MR. PURA maybe, who knows the origin of simply everything! And JULIE uses alot of clever colloquialisms in this book. I wonder when and where some of those got started? In the south I guess. :/
DeleteOh, LADIES, to be privy to these inside jokes ... and privy to the source of this "toe-curling romance"!! ;)
DeleteNoela, hate to tell you, but unfortunately, book 2 has WAY fewer kisses because Nick, the grouchy but very ethical Italian police detective hero signs a contract with Logan to avoid all romantic overtures with Alli while he is hired to teach her self defense. And then Logan is so intent on gaining Cait's trust he makes NO overtures even when he has the opportunity, which actually draws Cait's interest even more, but I promise book 3 will more than make up for the lack of kisses in book 2 with a conclusion for Cait and Logan that I hope you will enjoy.:)
Hugs,
Julie
DIANA, I LOVED reading your review, it was great!!! I'm pretty sure JULIE will get back to Cait and Logan and I can hardly wait too... those two NEED to be together!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, NOELA! I really LOVED reading yours as well! Yes, they certainly do. Cait just needs to let go (of the past) and let God!
DeleteNow this a glowing review, for sure! Better even than APMP? Because that one tops my list of Julie's books :)
ReplyDelete(JL) (CFP)
It's a tough call, ANNE. I'm in a twixt 'tween the two, b/c I LOVED APMP as well. All the characters are different (I got so use to the O'Connor family), and once I learned who they all were, I was good to go.
DeleteHey, ANNE, they are actually such different books that it will be interesting to see what you think of LAAC. I have a feeling nothing will knock APMP out of first place for you because I remember how that book affected you, but I sure hope you like LAAC at least, and if Diana's FAB review is any indication, you just might ... ;)
DeleteHugs,
Julie
DIANA HOW DO YOU DO IT? Every time I think "DIANA has outdone her last review" you come up with another one even better. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful job on an absolutely, positively fantabulous book! :) Gotta love, love, love Julie's books!!
TERESA, you are such a doll! I needed that today. You just don't know. Thank you. GOTTA love JULIE and her books!
DeleteTERESA ... you girls are SOOO good for the ol' ego, you know that??
DeleteAnd I totally agree that Diana's reviews just get better and better, each outdoing the next, but then I honestly can say that about each of you ladies. You gals are SUCH a boon to Christian fiction AND to this tired, old author!! :)
Love you!
Julie
Diana, great review! Wow! You ladies are really getting me excited about reading LAAC after reading all of your awesome reviews. I SO can't wait. You just know that anything Julie writes is bound to be good. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteI am a follower of both Julie (JL) and Carrie (CFP).
bookwarp(at)gmail(dot)com
ANGI, this is one to be excited about!!! Thank you for coming by OWG!
DeleteHey, ANG, I am particularly excited to see what you think, my friend, because this series is SO different!! So here's hoping you can pull out a win. :)
DeleteHugs!!
Julie
Hey Diana, good review of Julie's Love At Any Cost. Loved the trailer too. Would love to win this book .. Thanks for the giveaway. CFP and JL . All of these reviews has got me to really want to read this book.
ReplyDeletelizd225(at)gmail(dot)com
Hey, ELIZABETH. Thank you so much! I hope you get a copy ASAP...maybe here! You will love it!
DeleteThanks, ELIZABETH ... I reallllly love the trailer, too!! Revell and Jones House Creative did a knock-out job for sure!!
DeleteNow ... if I can just do a knock-out job for you with LAAC, we'll be sittin' pretty!!
Good luck!
Julie
CFP/JL. would love to win this. Looks greAt! RHONDA
ReplyDeleterhonda_nash_hall@comcast.net
It is that indeed, RHONDA! Good luck!
DeleteRHONDA ... and I would "LOVE" to see you win this too, so GOOD LUCK!!
DeleteHUGS,
Julie
Looks like a good read. Sure would love to win this book. The cover is beautiful! Shirley Culpepper bluebell5071@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteSo are the pages within, SHIRLEY! The luck of the Irish to you in the drawing!
DeleteThanks, SHIRLEY!! And I agree that Revell did a GREAT job on this cover -- a real sassy look to it, which fits the heroine to a T! :)
DeleteGOOD LUCK!
Julie
I so love reading new reviews of the above authors books. I have two here to read and review myself. May the Lord bless each of you who share your work for the Lord and May he continue to bless your writing in the future.
ReplyDeleteLinda Marie Bradt Finn
LINDA, thank you so much for the blessing! And may He bless you back abundantly in the same way. You have such a kind and godly spirit...I've seen you around cybertown. :)
DeleteLINDA!! So good to see you here, girl, and I have my fingers crossed that this will net you a win, so GOOD LUCK!!
DeleteHugs,
Julie
OH. MY. GOODNESS!!! Talk about somebody "doing it again," YOU, DIANA, have managed once again to make me grin ear-to-ear with a truly FABULOUS review!! For some reason I did not think this would be a favorite for you because I know how much you loved the O'Connors, so you have BLOWN me away with this incredible review.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this line: "What started out as a light read ended up with as many twists and turns as the streets of San Francisco!" LOL ... TOOOOO cute!!!
Thank you SOOOO very much, my friend, for keeping the smile on my face throughout this truly AMAZING week of reviews on OWG -- I am blessed beyond measure, I assure you all!!
I've got a CRAZY day with edits due by this week and a daughter getting married in a little over THREE DAYS, but I promise I will pop by tonight to respond to ALL comments -- it will my pleasure and my therapy after a NUTSO day, I assure you!!!!
Love you guys SOOO very much and appreciate you more than I can say. :)
Hugs and more hugs, then more hugs on top of that!!
Julie
JULIE, I have more than enough love to share with the O'Connors AND the McClares. Once we got acquainted I couldn't get enough of this fun-loving, wonderful family!
DeleteA wedding in 3 days? Congrats on gaining a new "son!"
Hugs back atcha, JULIE! We at OWG simply love you! Who wouldn't? And I can't wait to be reunited with the McClares once again!
Wat a wonderful review Diana, I honestly think it is the best I have read from you....all of yours are great..but love this. I have seen Julie's commercial on Youtube..and this book just looks wonderful. I have wanted to read her work. I won one of her books but it is the 3rd in a series. I have to save up to purchase the first 2 before I can read it..I am a little crazy like that. I don't like to start in the middle =)
ReplyDeletePlease enter me: sunydey26@aol.com
And just have to say I love OWG. I cannot tell you what a blessing you women are. I might not comment all the time..but I am always reading and each one of you have touched my heart. I love Teresa's poems too..just great!
JOHNETTE, it's viewers such as yourself who make OWG such a blessing to us as well! And thank you for the kind words about my review. We are our own worst critics for sure, b/c I felt like I didn't do JULIE'S awesome book justice. Teresa's poems are wonderful, I agree!
DeleteYou can start this book now since it is the first one in Julie's new series, but I agree with you on reading the others in order. That way you can get acquainted with each family member -- book by book. You won't want to miss a one! I have read all of Julie's books and they are the BoMb! lol
We are so blessed to have DIANA as our Senior Reviewer JOHNETTE! Mother's Day is coming--ask someone to get you those copies that you are missing! I agree, TERESA's poems are great!
DeleteThank you for your kinds words to all of us, Johnette! Blessings to you.
DeleteWAVING AT YOU JOHNETTE!! You are a sweetheart and always bless my heart with your love for the Lord. We are so glad when you drop by to see us. :) Good luck in the drawing!! :)
DeleteHey, JOHNETTE, and I couldn't agree with you more about this blog and these amazing women. Each one of them have touched my life over and over as well, and they are a true blessing to the Christian community, both individually and collectively.
DeleteAnd, Johnette, GOOD NEWS!! I know you are probably waiting for book 1 A Passion Most Pure, and I have it on GOOD AUTHORITY that it will be available for FREE DOWNLOAD this summer, so check my Journal Jots blog every Friday as I will post there when it happens.
Also, sweetie, did you know you are on my prayer hit list? I told you on some other blog a while back that I would pray for you and I have been. :)
Hugs,
Julie
Definitely on my list of books to read!
ReplyDeleteI liked both Julie and Carrie's pages. JL and CFP
Kim LitlePokie@aol.com
Hey, KIM ... do you know that every time I see your addy -- LitlePokie," I smile? It just sounds so cute!
DeleteHope you win a book here, my friend, because you have been MOST diligent!!
Hugs,
Julie
Welcome to OWG, KIM. Thank you for showing your support for JULIE'S books and be sure to put this one at the top of that wishlist. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks for the giveaway! I liked both Facebook pages under Bethany Ward. :)
ReplyDeleteBethany
bethanydaughteroftheking{at}gmail{dot}com
Hi, BETHANY! I have a niece named BETHANY...love that name!! Thank you for "liking" Julie's and Carrie's pgs.
DeleteHey, BETHANY ... thanks SO much for LIKING our pages and stopping by ... hope it earns you a book!!
DeleteHugs,
Julie
BETHANY,
DeleteCongrats! You are the winner of our last copy of JULIE's wonderful new release! CONGRATS! Per Random.org you were selected! Blessings!
Noella, I think this was just the way someone expressed themselves about something that really excites them. Something they really like. But, no=one probably knows who the first person was that said it. Maxie
ReplyDeleteGreat explanation of making my boat float, MAXIE! Some things you know the meaning of but it's hard to explain. And most of these sayings we really don't know the origin of, you're right. All that being said, JULIE LESSMAN'S books truly make my boat float! lol
DeleteLOL, MAXIE AND DIANA ... I just LOVE idioms like that because they are so fun!! In book 3 of the Heart of San Francisco series, Meg spends a year in Paris with a French girl's family who then comes to stay with the McClares for a year, and it's been SO fun having "Lilly" butcher various idioms, so I've been learning about LOTS of them!
DeleteI'm glad my books can "float your boat," Diana -- your review DEFINITELY "floats" mine -- Princess cruise style!! ;)
Hugs,
Julie
WOW!! High praise indeed - "this may possibly be Julie Lessman's best one yet".
ReplyDeleteCFP JL
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I loved it, MARY, but I have loved all of her books so I may have said that after each one! lol I surely don't remember...
DeleteLOL, DIANA ... I think you HAVE said that after each one!! Which is only ONE of the very many reasons I love you, my friend. :)
DeleteMARY ... I hope you get to read it and see for yourself ... maybe with a win here?? GOOD LUCK!!
Hugs,
Julie
Every review I read about this book I want it even more! Thank you for the chance to win it.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a fan of CFP and JL on facebook.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
It's fantabulous, WENDY! I hope you get a copy asap! If you don't win it here, become a blog stalker. LOL I'm sure there will be other giveaways, too!
DeleteWENDY, I KNOW ... me too!! ;) These OWG gals are top of the line when it comes to reviews in Christian fiction, and the fun thing is they ALL have their own unique style -- LOVE THAT. Heck, I LOVE THEM!!
DeleteGood luck in the contest, my friend. :)
Hugs,
Julie
Wonderful review - I really must read this book! I am a fan of both CFP and JL on facebook and otherwise...lol
ReplyDeletebettimace(at)gmail(dot)com
BETZ, we need to start a CARRIE/JULIE fan club! lol Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteLOL, BETZ ... YES, you do!! And I hope it starts here ... with a win!
DeleteGOOD LUCK!
Hugs,
Julie
I can't wait to read this one of Julie's books. I have enjoyed her other books. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteJL
ldwrncpn@comcast.net
Thanks for coming by, LORI! I know JULIE appreciates your support of her books! :)
DeleteThanks, LORI, for reading my books -- MUCH appreciated!! This is a big departure from the O'Connors -- quirkier, funnier, lighter -- but there's still a wee bit of drama and angst toward the end because goodness, I can't go cold turkey, right??
DeleteHugs,
Julie
Would love to win this! I am in need of a really, really, good read for some Mommy-down-time! LOL
ReplyDeleteOh, CATHY, YES!! I pride myself on writing "Calgon, take me away" type books, so here's hoping you win so you can soak in Cassie and Jamie's story while hubby watches the kids!! ;)
DeleteHugs,
Julie
Hey, CATHY! Four kids and a husband...hmmm...I just can't imagine why you need some me time. lol I hope you get a chance to get away from it all with this GREAT book by JULIE! :)
ReplyDeleteYou all seriously know how to write reviews that make us all want to run out and grab a copy! You could totally sell me a telephone book from another country! ;)
ReplyDeleteCFP JL
Susan P
farmygirl at hotmail dot com
LOL, SUSAN! Hmmm...I never tried writing a review for a phone book. Especially from another country. I'd rather sell everyone on JULIE'S books -- way more fun!
DeleteAMEN TO THAT, SUSAN ... the day I met these gals and discovered they liked my books was a BLUE BANNER DAY for me, trust me!! Now they've all become dear friends as well, so it's a double blessing. :)
DeleteGOOD LUCK!!
Hugs,
Julie
Woud love to win this! A huge Julie Lessman fan right here! I like both of their Facebook pages. =)
ReplyDeleteBattles2001@hotmail.com
Melissa
MELISSA, I so hope you get a chance to read this!! It's simply the best!
DeleteMELISSA!!! Thanks, my friend, and here's to a win!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Julie
All of you ladies write great reviews. I'm hard pressed to come up with a few sentences to post a review on Amazon when I really like a book!
ReplyDeleteCFP
JL
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
Bless your heart, PATTY! Thank you. MS. JULIE LESSMAN herself told me (when I was first starting out and felt like my reviews were lousy), "Honey, it's the stars that count -- the stars!" lol So, PATTY, remember those 5 stars are what they need. ;) And if your 2 sentences are heartfelt...it just doesn't get any better than that!
DeletePatty--I'm with you--I really need to get busy and write reviews for the last several books I read including Julie's Candle in the window... I enjoy writig whe I have the time, but sometimes, finding the time can be difficult. LOL
DeleteVicki
Some reviews flow and can be written quickly and others have taken me an hr and a half or longer. So I never know and do allot myself the time...just in case it happens to be a "not flowing" one. LOL Thanks for sharing, Vicki!
DeleteHey, PATTY ... I get tons of e-mails from WONDERFUL reader friends who write me long letters telling me how much my book meant to them, and that TOTALLY blesses the socks off of me. But as Diana mentioned above, the BEST way to tell an author "thank you" is to support them with a good review. Publishers Weekly stated that good reviews are critical to an author's sales, so that's why I try to encourage people to post them for ALL authors they love.The great thing is a review only has to be 2 or 3 sentences long and does NOT have to restate the plot. Just speak your heart like Diana mentioned, with something as simple as "I really enjoyed this book -- it entertained while drawing me closer to God. It's kind of like playing it forward -- repaying a kindness with a kindness. :)
DeleteHugs,
Julie
VICKI, OH YES!!! I would absolutely LOVE a review from you on A Light in the Window if you enjoyed it. But, uh ... if you didn't ... never mind. ;)
DeleteAnd guess what? If you do post a good review on ALITW, let me know by contacting me through my website, and I will enter you in my random drawing to have a character named after you in my next book and a copy of that book, okay?
Hugs,
Julie
Julie,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your newest release. I would love to read it and get to know you as a writer.
jeanne.doyon@gmail.com
JEANNE, once you read your first JULIE LESSMAN book you won't be able to stop! And lucky you, you can read her first 2 series back to back! I had to wait in between! :)
DeleteThank you, JEANNE, and I would "LOVE" for you to get to know me better, too, and vice versa, so here's to a win, my friend.
ReplyDeleteWhenever someone expresses an interest in reading my books, I usually suggest checking out the EXCERPTS section of my website at the link below to read samples of my favorite romantic and spiritual scenes for each of my books. This will give you a good idea of my style of "passion with a purpose" writing. Here's the link and GOOD LUCK!!
JULIE'S EXCERPTS
THEN ... book 1 in the 2nd series, A Hope Undaunted, is available for free download RIGHT NOW, so I hope you take advantage!!
Hugs,
Julie