A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman, Book review

Publisher: Revell
ISBN-13: 978-0800734176

Synopsis:

Orphaned in Iowa, Annie Kennedy moves to Boston to stay with her spinster aunt. She longs for romance to fill the void left by her parents' death. But when she falls hard for Steven O'Connor, the man who broke an engagement to her sister, Annie is worried. Will he break her heart too when he discovers who she really is?

With heart-pounding romance, intense family drama, and emotional twists and turns, A Love Surrendered is everything Julie Lessman's many fans have been waiting for.

My thoughts:

Book # 3 in the 'Winds of Change' series, 'A Love Surrendered' brings to readers the depression era and two families: The O'Connors and the Kennedys. Set in Boston in 1932, it is written with passion and will inspire all sorts of feelings. Julie Lessman knows how to grab her readers, proof that she is after all a very good author!

Inspirational, intense and at times extremely romantic, it is none the less imperative for readers to remember the era this story draws its background from. The idea of 'me Jane, you Tarzan' might come across fiercefully at times. Let's remember that women at the time were viewed as having one place and that was in the kitchen (or bedroom and nursery). WWII soon changed this for many as they took their place in the work force in lieu of enlisted men.

There is much to think over once you have finished reading the drama behind Annie and Steven's love story which incidentally is crisscrossed with countless O'Connor family members! I shall describe this as a clan, Irish to be exact, a large family with strong convictions and deep emotions, some volatile and quite impressive. I did not always agree with such forceful display but admit it was fitting for the era.

I found the setting of Ocean Pier and its boardwalk quite intriguing along with the Prohibition agents raids and speakeasies background. 

Finally, be prepared for a surprise or two towards the end (one I will admit I did not see coming!).

Julie Lessman is no newcomer to the writing world and she is a person of convictions herself. You soon realize her writing reflects her faith deeply. I felt she portrays her characters based on this and for that alone I highly recommend her novels to the younger generation. In a society where pressures have become too often the acceptable norm, let's applaud someone who offers deep passion with responsibility! 

4 Stars!

About the Author:

 

Julie Lessman is the popular author of A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied, as well as A Hope Undaunted, which was one of 2010's Booklist Top Ten Inspirational Fiction winners, and A Heart Revealed. 

Julie Lessman has garnered several writing awards, including ten Romance Writers of America awards.

For more on the author visit her website (here).

I received this book free from BAKER/REVELL as part of their blogger review program.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.