A Passion Most Pure Review & Giveaway

If you love a romance with strong characters and conflict, this is the book for you. And if you love a historical that carries you away and plops you in the middle of that time period, run to the bookstore now and get this book. If you love both, then A Passion Most Pure, Julie Lessman’s debut novel, will delight you.

Faith O’Connor is the oldest daughter in a large Irish-Catholic family in Boston. Her heart beats with a passion to serve her Lord. At the same time she’s ready to find a man and settle down. Not just any man though; she’s determined to wait for a passionate love that will honor her God.

Patrick and Marcy O’Connor’s own relationship is being tested by their feuding daughters, the growing threat of war, and their own weaknesses.

This book is packed with characters who make you love them, hate them, cry with them, laugh with them, and hope with them. They are real with the struggles and desires that all of us have. Faith is not a perfect heroine. Her life is packed with struggles and sometimes she makes the wrong choice. Charity is the perfect foil, as the second daughter who is desperate to find someone who will love her and will do and offer whatever she thinks it will take to achieve that. I can’t wait to see what Julie does with her in book two! And the contrast of the parents love with the daughters’ search for love was very well done.

The setting, whether Boston or Ireland, is well-crafted. The conflict real. The book filled with black moments. And the ending is very satisfying while a tad bitter-sweet.

I loved this book. It’s a debut that reads like it was written by a seasoned author. I highly recommend it!

Now a note: my friend Stephanie recently read this book, too. Her reactions reminded me of a couple of my initial ones. If you read my interview with the author yesterday, then you know Charity's something else. That really annoyed Stephanie and she's not sure she can be redeemed. That's what has me intrigued about book two...There's also an element with the love triangle that will leave you wondering who to root for. I loved the way it was resolved...but I think all of us close to the end wonder who exactly to root for. Ah, to have such choices LOL :-)

Leave a comment for a chance to win this book. I'll pick a winner next Wednesday! And be sure to check out yesterday's interview with Julie for a great look into her heart and writing.