This past year the Overcoming With God bloggers discussed coming up with a winner for overall favorites of the year. We've started a tradition of each of us compiling a list of about ten favorite books of the year. However, we felt there needed to be an author component to the award, also. We wanted our "The Angel's Heart" Award Winner to have also earned our "You Take the Cake Award." We reserve that award for authors who've gone above and beyond, this past year, when commenting back to our followers.
"Love At Any Cost" was on 4 of 5 lists.
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| Love At Any Cost |
Julie will receive a commemorative plaque from artist Beverly Mayes, of Nashville.
Giveaway: A copy of Julie's BRAND NEW release "Dare to Love Again"!!! You have to "LIKE" her Author Page on Amazon (click here) and leave a comment for Julie here on OWG!
Giveaway: A copy of Julie's BRAND NEW release "Dare to Love Again"!!! You have to "LIKE" her Author Page on Amazon (click here) and leave a comment for Julie here on OWG!
Congratulations, Julie, on being the first winner of "The Angel's Heart" award. It is certainly a well-deserved honor! Thank you for being such a blessing to so many!!
ReplyDeletetexaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Thanks, Brit -- I don't know about "well-deserved," but well-appreciated for darn sure!! :)
DeleteHugs,
Julie
Absolutely well deserved!
DeleteJULIE, congrats for winning this lovely first-time award from all of us "angels" here at OWG! You see, this award doesn't just signify that you write wonderful books (we all know you do and have received awards for that), but this also represents the love and attention you bestow to your many reader friends, and the godly lady we have grown to love here on OWG! And I believe the Lord is well pleased with JULIE LESSMAN for her obedience and the kindness she shows to others even when she is so busy she can't see straight. We love you, JULIE!
ReplyDeleteAw, Diana, trust me -- it's not hard bestowing attention on a group of gals like you! You have ALL been such a blessing to me that I love coming here to see what you're up to, especially since our tastes are SO similar that I trust every single review you guys give us.
DeleteLOL ... and I can't "see straight" whether I'm busy or not, girl -- thank God for contacts!! :)
Hugs!!
Julie
I agree, Diana!
DeleteJulie, we're glad to bless you back like you bless us!
Wow, BIG TIME CONGRATS Julie on winning OWG's FIRST Angel Heart Award!!!! I'm sooo happy for you, you definitely deserve this award and hugs from EACH of us :) You do go ABOVE AND BEYOND and you're such a blessing to all the readers here!! Congrats once again, we love you Jules :)
ReplyDelete*not an entry*
Right back at ya, Kara and OWG!! Talk about "blessings" ... you guys are among my best ones as an author, God's truth. Each of you have lifted my spirits at various times with your kindness and faith, so THANK YOU!!
DeleteDEFINITELY love you back!!
JULIE
We love above and beyond, Kara! I think u r one, too!
DeleteCongratulations, Julie! Well-deserved. I have Love at any Cost on my Kindle and plan to read it soon. Then I will be ready for Dare to Love Again!
ReplyDeleteBrittany McEuen
kbmceuen(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks, Britt! Make sure your read LAAC first due to a big surprise, okay? HAPPY READING, my friend!!
DeleteHugs,
Julie
***I just wanted to let you know not to enter me in the drawing for Dare to Love Again because a review copy of the book showed up in my mailbox yesterday!!! (Happy dance :-) )***
DeleteOkay, yes, I'm a weepy CDQ, but even so I am blinking back the tears right now because I have honestly never received a greater honor than this, God's truth!! When I think of all the truly amazing authors you guys have reviewed over the years, it completely boggles my mind (admittedly, not a hard thing to do!) that you have chosen me for this incredible blessing!!
ReplyDeleteIt's no secret that OWG is not only one of my top, top-favorite blogs, but the OWG gals are also some of my top, top-favorite reviewers whose taste is SO similar to mine that a single review from any of you is enough to get me to buy a book in a heartbeat.
I love you guys and SO appreciate all you have done, not only in supporting me, but Christian fiction in general. You guys ROCK like Gibraltar!!
Hugs and more hugs,
Julie
This is what you get for making our mascara run with your books! haha We love you, too, JULIE, and big hugs from all of us here at OWG! Thanks so much for your kind words.
DeleteOne of the things I love about the other OWG reviewers is that they enjoy similar books. And I think the authors who come in here often have commonalities with one another.
DeleteWe are so very glad to have you be our first ever recipient, Julie, because you are so special! This new series is really lovely, too!
Yay, Julie!!! It's not surprise to me that your books showed up on 4 lists... SO good! Reading them again reminds me why I love them so much... can't help but love the O'Connors! And of course I'm really excited about DTLA and seeing what you have up your sleeve for Allie! =)
ReplyDeleteHugs, and hope all is well!
lubell1106(at)gmail(dot)com
Elyssa, this award is for Julie's first book in her NEW San Franscisco series with NO O'Connors in sight lol. I think you'll love DTLA!!!
DeleteSee, Elyssa??? This is only one of the MANY reasons I love you and Em ... you reread my books!! ;) And I know what you mean about the O'Connors. I have tons of books to read for review and endorsements right now, but just last night I got the MOST overpowering urge to read A Hope Undaunted again (my fave, I think because Katie and Luke are just SO fun together!), that I literally had to fight it because I was in the middle of another book. So when I hear of my reader friends rereading, it makes me not feel so strange ... uh, unless we're all "strange" together, which is a distinct possibility and possibly the reason you like my books in the first place. ;)
DeleteI'm excited for you to read DTLA too, because I want to see what you and Em think. Let me know, okay? Biting nails here ...
Hugs and HAPPY READING!!
Julie
Aw, Julie, you're so sweet! I promise that you're not strange... I reread all the time! It just feels like I'm catching up with old friends. =) Funny that you mention AHU, because the other day when I was reading it, I was reminded of why it was my favorite out of all of them (I LOVE Katie and Luke together too!)... so good!
DeleteI promise that when I get my hands on a copy of DTLA, I'll let you know what I think... I know that I'll love it, so no need to worry there! =)
Hugs!!!
Congrats to Julie!!! I've heard such wonderful things about your books from my daughter, who loves them! She got my sister to reading them (she started with ALITW and is on APMP now), and she's enjoying them very much. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway!
jennycohen104(at)gmail(dot)com
This new series is marvelous!
DeleteJENNY!!! Trust me, I love your daughter as much as she loves my books because she and her best friend Em are SUCH a blessing to me. NOT to mention that Elyssa was SUCH a hard sell!! Em kept trying to get her to read my books, but nooooooooo, she wouldn't do it. Then finally we got to her ... bwaaaa! ;)
DeleteHope we can hook you, too, my friend, so GOOD LUCK!!
Hugs,
Julie
Wow! Congrats Julie! This is awesome! I've read almost all of your books a couple months ago (still missing Stephen's) and loved them! They're some of my all time favorite books! :D
ReplyDeleteI would like to be entered in the giveaway, please. I liked Julie's author page on Amazon. I would love to win this book! Thanks!
~Sarah
P.S. my email is booklover1492[@]rocketmail[dot]com, just in case you need it. :)
Well you did it right, Sarah, because that is what is required to enter :) Blessings!
DeleteOh, Sarah, THANK YOU!! And, girl, we have to get Stephen's book to you because it's a tear-jerker saying goodbye to those O'Connors, I'll tell you!! Dare to Love Again is a LOT lighter and funnier, although it has its moments ... ;)
DeleteGOOD LUCK in the draw, my friend!
Hugs,
Julie
Whooo! How awesome that Julie won the award!!! What a great giveaway for an amazing author on a wonderful blog!!! Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletethejesusfreak62(at)gmail(dot)com
Uh oh, you need to like her Author page and let us know to enter! Blessings!
DeleteHey, Jesus Freak, thank you and DO come back and tell Carrie you LIKED the author page so she can enter you, okay? Would NOT want you to miss out, sweetie. :)
DeleteGosh, "Jesus Freak" is SO familiar, I know I know you, but I can't remember whose addy that is, so let me know your name too, okay?
GOOD LUCK!!
Julie
Sorry about that, Carrie! I'm actually entering for my daughter (Elyssa), so I've already "liked" the author page. =)
DeleteJulie is a great choice for this award. I've read all her books and am eagerly awaiting Dare to Love Again. It would be fabulous to win a copy here. I "liked" Julie's Amazon page. Thanks for giving away a copy of her new book.
ReplyDeletepmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Thanks, Pam! We'll put you in the contest!
DeletePammy!!! Good to see you, girl, and cannot wait for you to read DTLA and see what you think, okay? Good luck, my friend!
DeleteHugs,
Julie
How exciting..Congratulations Julie!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Tina
Thanks, Mrs. Tina -- cute name!! And good luck in the contest! :)
DeleteHugs,
Julie
Congrats JULIE!! I can't wait to get to read Love At Any Cost. It's on top of my TBR stack, so it won't be too long, I promise. :) So happy you won the prize!!
ReplyDeleteIt is really good, Marian.
DeleteOh, gosh, Marian, it ALWAYS makes me nervous when you OWG girls read my books, so biting nails here!! Hope you enjoy it.
DeleteHappy reading, my friend!!
Julie
Congratulations, Julie. You deserve it. I am looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteLANI!!! How have you been, you sweet thing? I've missed you lately and hoping everything is okay. Would LOVE to see you win DTLA, so you go, girl!!
DeleteHugs,
Julie
Why am I not surprised that you won this award, dear Julie?
ReplyDeleteThere are many Christian fiction authors that I have come to respect and love - but you absolutely DO, without a doubt, "take the cake" - because you do ALWAYS make the time to comment to your followers, whether on the blogs, Facebook, e-mails, etc., etc.. You will NEVER know just how much your comments, and other expressions of love and kindness - mean to your readers, and how much they love and appreciate you, in return!
In addition to all that loving kindness to everyone, you write some of the most wonderfully inspirational books, ever! Books that make the readers run the gamut of emotions, from laughter to tears - with some anger, surprise, and "on pins and needles" suspense thrown in, for good measure. Books from your godly heart and soul, via messages from the Lord, that inspire your readers to make Him central in their lives. I SO agree with Diana - the Lord must be well pleased with you, for your obedience to Him, and loving kindness shown to others!
The angels heart not only signifies a wonderful book, but YOUR heart - also! You've stolen my reader's heart, and I love you AND your books! Congrats, and THANK YOU, to all the OWG ladies - I love them, and OWG, also!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
OWG
Liked your author's page (long ago, LOL)!
BONNIE!!! As God is my witness, NO blog would be the same without seeing your sweet name appear in the comments, my friend. And talk about "angels" ... you and sweet Carrie and the OWG gals get my angel pins for darn sure!! I don't know what I would do without your support, truly. Wish I could put you ALL on the payroll, but that would mean I would have to make money first ... ;)
DeleteHugs,
Julie
WOW! Congratulations, Julie! I'm SO happy for you, my sweet friend! You deserve it. How cool that you are the first recipient of the award. No need to enter me as I just received my copy of Dare to Love Again. And I wanted to say 'hello' to Carrie, Diana, Teresa, Marian, and Noela! :)
ReplyDeleteANG!! Thanks for coming by, you sweet girl, you and I cannot WAIT to see what you think of DTLA and your name in my book. SOOOOO wanted it in there!!
DeleteHugs,
Julie
Awww, thanks Julie! I can't wait to dive in. I know I'll love it! <3
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Julie!!! Very well deserved!
ReplyDeleteamyputney89 [at] gmail [dot] com
Thanks, Amy ... true or not, it IS greatly appreciated!! :)
DeleteHugs,
Julie
Congratulations JULIE for winning this award - how TRULY deserving of it you are my friend!!! Not only do you write the most spectacular books, but lady you are one of THE most kindest, friendliest, sincerest, sweetest, and generous people out there in the literary world!! It's always such a treat when you come onto the blog, not only commenting on your own reviews to everyone who stops by, but you also regularly pop in on other authors reviews to encourage them and also us on our reviews - so, a very big THANK YOU for your encouragement and the JOY you spread around!! Love you always!!! x
ReplyDeleteOkay, Noela ... stop that right now or you're going to make me blubber like a baby, and it's not a pretty sight, trust me!! :)
DeleteSeriously, thank you SO much, you sweet thing, for your kind words. When Carrie announced your were joining the crew, I was SO excited because you SO fit, my friend. Every single member of this blog is incredibly kind, sweet, generous, and gentle when it comes to reviews, something I SO admire! Which is why YOU fit so well and why I am SO thrilled to receive this honor. Not because of the award, but because of the people who had a say in it. The respect of the reviewers on this blog is crucial to me because I care so much what you think. Why?? Because I flat-out like you so much!! So there!!
Hugs!!
Julie
LOL, well you ALMOST had me crying, but the smiles won out!! ;) I'm SO thankful to God everyday for Carrie and for this blog; for the opportunities to promote such amazing books; opportunities to hopefully encourage others; AND the treasured friends I've made through OWG!! Congrats again - can't think of another who deserves this first award more!!!
Delete"Ditto" to what Noela said. LOL--this is why in 2014 I will rarely be writing reviews--we have so many talented reviewers in this group who write with such panache! Hugs!!!
DeleteYay for you! I've only started reading your books but I was impressed when you replied to a comment I left on the Soul Inspirationz forum. It's so great when authors reach out to their readers with personal responses. Thanks for being so personable :)
ReplyDeletecolorvibrant at gmail dot com
Aw, Heidi, you are MORE than welcome, you sweet thing, and thank YOU for giving my books a chance -- MUCH appreciated!! Happy reading and if you like them and post a review, be sure and let me know so I can enter you in my contest to have a character named after you in my next book, a signed copy, and maybe a $50 gift card!! And if you don't like them ... well, never mind. :)
DeleteCongratulations, JULIE!!! You are a sweetheart :) {{hugs}}
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Julie. I'm not surprised that you are the first winner of this first time Award. You and your books are very popular with the many authors, as well as your readers. I have liked your Amazon page. AND, I would love to win your book. Thanks to OWG and you for a chance to do so. MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com
ReplyDelete