One stirs her pulse and the other her faith.
But who will win her heart?
Marceline Murphy is a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues. But when two of Boston's most notorious pursue her, she encounters a tug-of-war of the heart she isn’t expecting. Sam O’Rourke is the childhood hero she’s pined for, the brother of her best friend and a member of the large, boisterous family to which she longs to be a part. So when his best friend Patrick O’Connor joins in pursuit of her affections, the choice seems all too clear. Sam is from a family of faith and Patrick is not, two rogues whose wild ways clash head-on with Marcy’s—both in her faith and in her heart.
While overseeing the Christmas play fundraiser for the St. Mary’s parish soup kitchen—A Light in the Window—Marcy not only wrestles with her attraction to both men, but with her concern for their spiritual welfare. The play is based on the Irish custom of placing a candle in the window on Christmas Eve to welcome the Holy Family, and for Marcy, its message becomes deeply personal. Her grandmother Mima cautions her to guard her heart for the type of man who will respond to the "light in the window," meaning the message of Christ in her heart. But when disaster strikes during the play, Marcy is destined to discover the truth of the play’s message first-hand when it becomes clear that although two men have professed their undying love, only one has truly responded to “the light in the window.”
I GIVE THIS BOOK: 4 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
I LOVE Julie Lessman's novels and was super excited when I was given the opportunity to read this one before it was released. However, while I liked this one, I wasn't as enthralled with it as I was with her other books. In fact, I was kind of disappointed with it - which I hate to say, but it's the truth. This is her shortest book, to date, but it took me the longest to read! I kept putting it down, mostly because Marcy was getting on my nerves. Don't get me wrong, the story was still good, but knowing Marcy as the mother from Lessman's other books, I felt her behavior was quite strange in this book. I know she was a lot younger and everything, but she was so biased against one person and hardheaded too! She refused to think differently about him and consistently thought the worst of him. While with another person, who had the same reputation, she behaved the exact opposite.
Another part that was annoying was the ending. It was very confusing and WAY TOO ABRUPT!!! After reading A Passion Denied, I was looking forward to reading about a certain event, but that wasn't even in the book!!! I think it should have been, and was very disappointed that it wasn't. However, I can understand, in a way, it not being in the book for those who haven't read her other books and will read this one first. Then again, reading this book made the whole scene in that book seem really strange - if you've read that book, I'm sure you know to which scene I'm referring.
I loved the whole Christmas play theme and the way the men got involved in helping with it was both funny and ironic. I think I would have enjoyed the story more had it been available to read first, especially since this is the prequel to the other ones and I knew what the ultimate outcome was going to be. Even though I was disappointed with it, I'm glad I read it and any fan of Lessman's books will definitely want to read this one too, but may feel the same way I did.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction.” Chosen as #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Series of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #5 Novel of the Year and #4 Historical Fiction Author of the year.
MY THOUGHTS:
I LOVE Julie Lessman's novels and was super excited when I was given the opportunity to read this one before it was released. However, while I liked this one, I wasn't as enthralled with it as I was with her other books. In fact, I was kind of disappointed with it - which I hate to say, but it's the truth. This is her shortest book, to date, but it took me the longest to read! I kept putting it down, mostly because Marcy was getting on my nerves. Don't get me wrong, the story was still good, but knowing Marcy as the mother from Lessman's other books, I felt her behavior was quite strange in this book. I know she was a lot younger and everything, but she was so biased against one person and hardheaded too! She refused to think differently about him and consistently thought the worst of him. While with another person, who had the same reputation, she behaved the exact opposite.
Another part that was annoying was the ending. It was very confusing and WAY TOO ABRUPT!!! After reading A Passion Denied, I was looking forward to reading about a certain event, but that wasn't even in the book!!! I think it should have been, and was very disappointed that it wasn't. However, I can understand, in a way, it not being in the book for those who haven't read her other books and will read this one first. Then again, reading this book made the whole scene in that book seem really strange - if you've read that book, I'm sure you know to which scene I'm referring.
I loved the whole Christmas play theme and the way the men got involved in helping with it was both funny and ironic. I think I would have enjoyed the story more had it been available to read first, especially since this is the prequel to the other ones and I knew what the ultimate outcome was going to be. Even though I was disappointed with it, I'm glad I read it and any fan of Lessman's books will definitely want to read this one too, but may feel the same way I did.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***
BOOK DETAILS:
- File Size: 567 KB
- Print Length: 279 pages
- Publisher: Ten Talents Press; 1 edition (November 9, 2012)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
- Language: English
- ASIN: B0091JZXXK
- Available to purchase now at Amazon
- Available to purchase (Nov. 9) at Barnes & Noble/ Christian Book/ Smashwords
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law and new granddaughter, and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series, which includes A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Her “Winds of Change” series features A Hope Undaunted, which ranked #5 on Booklist's Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010 and is followed by her most recent release, A Heart Revealed. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.
Here are Julie's other books:
After the prequel, they are best read in the order shown (The top row first, L-R, then the bottom row, L-R).
TWO GREAT CONTESTS!!!.jpg)
Click on the picture (above) to find out how you can win a Kindle Fire or have a character named after you in Julie's next book!!! One of the entry options is to get someone to buy A Light in the Window, so if you buy the book because you saw it here would you let me know? I would greatly appreciate :D
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