Shenandoah Dreams

sigh It cannot be over! It's okay really. Another series is coming. Yes, yes I know it's not the O'Connor clan in Boston, we're jumping to San Francisco, but it is the heart and the artistic quill of Julie Lessman putting ink to the page, so I will survive. A Love Surrendered is amazing, but why am I surprised? Oh, well I mean I'm not surprised, it is just that I really wish I had a better word that amazing. I suppose you could read this one alone, but why deprive yourself of the rest of the “whole family” story? Yes, yes, you could definitely read this one and go back and delve into the rest, but you might spoil the surprise that is really in the pages of the first one. Now, now... I will review this book - but this is the end, the sixth book of a saga, and the third and final book in this trilogy (The Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change). If you are a mature reader ready to open up your imagination to the wonders of romance and how it can be used when in the proper avenues that God intended, you will be surprised and enthralled at the wonderful peace and love that God will provide.

A Love Surrendered is the story of the second of the brothers O'Connor, a story of past mistakes, present trials, and future blessings to join that of his sisters and other brother. Throwing in a flavor of Irish Boston and a hint of small town newbie Julie Lessman weaves an amazing canvas that reminds me a bit too much of a past that I'd rather forget. Julie does that. She finds plots and characters that are so real and jump from the page into the reader's heart and imagination and cause a relationship that only helps one to grow both in their own spiritual presence but also in the emotional well being as well.

Annie, Gracie, Suz or Susannah Grace is an amazing woman learning who she really is and where she is going in life. I've found myself relate to Julie's heroines in the past, but never before was there one so dead on that it was a bit shocking to see how much I could relate. (If only I read this before certain events in my life...) Oh to the blessing that this book and story might provide for such gentlemen and ladies to truly glean from others mistakes, or almost mishaps instead of making their own.

Steven is probably my favorite of Julie's heros to date. (Is that possible?) From the very first scene I knew that I loved him, and I did through out. Now I want to go back and read the entire saga and search the pages for the bits and pieces of him that came onto the page interwoven in the rest of his family's story. How amazing is it to be able to relate so much to a male character and really know all the bits of his heart both to the unforgiveness to his own mistakes as well as the thought that there is just no point. Watching Steven be able to grow and learn the true love of Christ brings a sigh to my heart and it's the kind of thing I just want to give this book to everyone I meet and scream, read it! Read the whole series! Your life will change!

The kicker for me is that I downloaded this book as a galley and converted it for my Kindle, it's not even out yet (well I suppose you can buy a Kindle copy now, early) but I cannot wait to get my hands on a real copy, because you better believe this is going on my keeper shelf. The desire for this journey started around my birthday in 2007 shortly after I first started reading and reviewing as Creative Madness that Makes Me Myself (now Creative Madness Mama). It was in 2008 when I really found Julie's writing, and in 2009 when I met Julie in person. I have to say that she is the most amazing prayer warrior I have ever met and it shows through on her pages. They are not preachy in an overwhelming way, but it brings through and highlights the scriptures in an enlightening way just begging for more.

I think I read once that someone said if only we could get another story from Julie once a month. Oh if that would even be enough?! A Love Surrendered is one of those stories that is a perfect example of why I read and the types of things I want to share and promote in Christian Historical Fiction.

While this is Annie and Steven's story it's also more than that. This is a touch on Katie and Luke, Emma and Sean, Charity and Mitch, Faith and Collin, Marcy and Patrick and of course Gabe the addition as well. It's amazing what Julie packs on a page, and boy would I love to go to one of those Thanksgiving dinners!

Thanks to Revell Books for loaning an eBook through Netgalley, you better believe I'm going to add a real one to my shelves!

posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2012/11/21/a-love-surrendered-by-julie-lessman/