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

 

A Passion Denied 

by Julie Lessman

(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!