One Woman.
Two Men.
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.”
My Thoughts
After adoring the O'Conner family in the Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change series I was extremely excited to read this prequel about the O'Conner parents! And oh what a book it was! I loved it like I've loved every other one of Julie's books I've read. This author has such an amazing talent and once again played with my emotions. It was such fun seeing a younger Marcy and Patrick and watching their journey to love that we'd gotten hints of in the other stories. On one hand knowing how the story would end up made it easier to read and on the other hand it made it more painful. It was painful to watch all the turmoil they had to go through and watching Marcy almost end up with Sam when you knew how amazing her life was going to be with Patrick. I would get so frustrated during the scenes Marcy and Sam were together and then get a dopey grin on my face whenever she was with Patrick. I loved watching as his love for Marcy transformed Patrick into the amazing hero I knew and loved and brought him close to God. I also loved Marcy and her close relationship with God and how that kept her from making the wrong choices! Oh and I can't write this review without mention how much I loved Patrick's interaction with the kids especially Tillie. It was just so stinkin' cute! I could go on for days on how much I loved this book but I better end it so I can go reread the rest of the O'Conner saga!
About the Author
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 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 14 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as "Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction." Chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Historical Fiction Author of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #4 Novel of the Year and #3 Series of the year. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter and is the author of "The Daughters of Boston" series--A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Book 1 in her "Winds of Change" series A Hope Undaunted ranked #5 on Booklist's Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com
P.S. She's just an all around amazing person!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a signed copy of the Julie Lessman book of your choice!
38 comments:
I like reading this author, she is an amazing funny lady with lot of heart. I always read when I see her name mentioned somewhere. like your review and the fact you are doing many for her looking forward to the new book coming.
Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)
would love to read any of thes. Look forward to new stories too!
mandn(@)wisper(-)wireless(.)com
I like Julie Lessman a lot, such a nice lady ! And I like the review as well - I haven´t read ALITW yet, but I really should do it soon !
Janka H. (janka(dot)halcinova at gmail(dot)com
Great review! To be honest, I feel like you got into my head, because I was thinking the exact same things! I got so frustrated and sad whenever Marcy was with Sam, and when she was with Patrick, I couldn't help but get excited. Plus him with the kids really was adorable! ;)
Thanks for the chance to win! I love Julie's books!
lubell1106(at)gmail(dot)com
Love the interview and would love to win any of your books.
lizd225(at)gmail(dot)com
i loved your review and would love to win one of the books by Julie. She is a fantastic author.
wwchildren at gmail dot com
I read this book before any of the others so I didn't know the characters. She writes in such a compelling way! I didn't like how Marcy was so hot and cold with Patrick, though.
WOW! I have read all the books except for Dare to Love Again, but I own that one and it is one of my upcoming reads! I also have reviewed all these books on my blog. Feel free to check it out: http://kissedbooks.blogspot.com/
Nice review by the way!
This was my favorite of the O'Connor books, but have found myself saying that after almost every one I read! I'm really enjoying the Heart of San Francisco series that Julie is writing. Can't wait for the 3rd one to come out!
Loved this book!!!! It made me want to reread all the others too!
I am just reading this book now. I am so excited to hear that there are others about the O'Connors.
Judy
I've got to read this! I just added it to my Kindle, so I'm excited.
Loved your review, Abbi!
A Light in the Window is absolutely, hands down, one of the BEST books I have ever read!! Like Heidi - this was the first of Julie's books I read, and I am, also, now in a reading marathon of ALL her other books.
But UNLIKE you, I will NOT be reading them all in 9 days (LOL) - you must be one heck of a speed reader, Abbi!! I wish I read faster - so that I could read more books, I have SUCH a long "to be read" list (LOL) - but I am the kind that "savors" every line. It will take me several MONTHS to read to read ALL of Julie's books.
Thanks for the opportunity to win one of Julie's books - she has become my favorite author, and I agree with your comment that she is an amazing person, as well as an amazing author! Love her BOOKS, and love HER - as a person!! She is so kind to, and appreciative of, her readers!!
I have read A Passion Most Pure; currently I am almost done with A Light in the Window, and I know just what you mean! I keep smiling every time Marcy and Patrick are together, knowing that in the end they'll be madly in love. ;)
Would love to win another of Julie's books! :)
~Micaela
bookworm9404(at)gmail(dot)com
Pol-I completely agree! Thank you!
Janka-She is-isn't she?! You definitely should read ALITW soon-it's amazing!
Elyssa-Thank you! I love that we had the same thoughts about Patrick and Sam!
Elizabeth-Thank you!
Wilani-Thank you and I definitely agree with you!
Heidi-Reading it without knowing the characters previously probably made for a completely different experience! Her writing is fantastic and I agree definitely compelling! Yeah I was a little frustrated with the way Marcy was hot and cold but due to things mentioned in the other series Julie did have to make it a close call with Sam and if she made it too easy it wouldn't be a Julie Lessman book!
Salyna-Thanks for stopping by and your comment! I've read your reviews before and they are great!
Julie-I was the same way-constantly having a new favorite! They are all just so amazing that it's hard to pick! Glad to hear that you are enjoying her new series! I can't wait to read it!
Martha-I don't know if someone could read this one without wanting to reread the others right after! I'm just thankful that I had the time to do it!
Judy-I hope you are enjoying it and that you get to read all of the O'Conner's books!
Kandra-I hope you love it!
Bonnie-Thank you! I completely agree-this is one of the best books ever! I hope you are enjoying all of her other books-they are just so good I don't know how you wouldn't! Haha yeah I do tend to read fast especially these ones! They just grab me and won't let me go till I finish the book! Love your comments about Julie and entirely agree!
Micaela-Isn't it great to watch them fall in love?! I hope you get the chance to read the rest of her books!
I have this one of my e reader. I had known about it before I got it, but I had not realized how long it was- I thought it was short! Don't know whether I'll read it or the other books first.
I love Julie's books. I just finished reading "A Heart Revealed" the other day. 5 star book for sure! I would LOVE to win one of her books! Thanks for the opportunity! :)
Grace-Yeah I can see how you might think it was short! I don't know what I would choose to do if I hadn't read any of them since part of me would want to read them chronologically but at the same time this book is made a little more awesome when you've already read the other ones!
Angie-I loved A Heart Revealed! Emma and Sean are so amazing!
I guess I should have known that *Ms.* Julie's Christmas novella would be long, LOL. I wasn't complaining though -- I always wish her books would never end. :). Thanks for the chance to win!
Lady DragonKeeper-I feel the same way! I'm always sad to see her books end especially A Love Surrendered since it was so much shorter than the other books! I think that's the only time I've found a 400 page book to be too short!
I tried to read this book, but after reading almost all of the O'Connors' books, (I'm still missing Steven's) I just couldn't do it. I started it, but it was too hard to watch Marcy and Patrick go through all that and I really didn't like Sam (I was too fond of Patrick by then).
~Sarah
Booklover-Sorry to hear that! It was hard but I still loved it! I hope you get to read Steven's story soon!
Great review. Since I haven't read any of the Daughters of Boston or Winds of Change series, maybe I should read this one first since I won't know who she ends up with?
I have not read any of her books but I have the first book in the Daughters of Boston and the first book in the The Heart of San Francisco as well as A Light In The Window. I'm looking forward to reading all three of these. I'm also wondering whether I should start with this book or not. Thanks for the giveaway! :)
LadySaotome-Thanks! I honestly can't say! I read it after since it was published later but it might be better to read it before. Though at the same time knowing the characters made it a little more awesome! It really is up to you!
rssmiles-It really is up to you whether you read it before or after but if you like to read things in chronological order then definitely start with this one! But it also would be ok to start with A Passion Most Pure!
Thank you for the lovely review, Abbi! I look forward to reading this and all of Julie Lessman's other books! ;)
Julianna Rowe-Thank you for the lovely comment!
A Light in the Window was such a wonderful book! One of my favorites of hers.
Brittany-It's one of my favorites too though I think I say that about all of them!
I have it but haven't read it - I better get busy!
Melody-Yes you should, it's amazing!
I am currently reading Dare to Love Again and I LOVE it! I laughed through half of the very first chapter. I, too, think this is a great way to lead up to it's release and applaud you for it. Miss Julie is a fantastic Lady and I love her spunky heroines!
Wanda-I am really looking forward to DTLA! Thank you for your kind words! I agree, Julie is fantastic and writes amazing heroines!
I LOVE this book!!!!!!! I got this book for Christmas and had it finished the next day!! In this book Julie Lessman takes you on a wild ride and you enjoy every minute of it!!! I can never pick a favorite between any of Julie Lessman's books. Also, thank you for the lovely review. I feel it portrays this book very well.
Thea-Me too! I took a little longer after getting it to read it because I had a lot of review books and I knew when I finished it I was going to want to reread the rest of the O'Conner books but once I finally started it I finished it really fast too! Yeah picking a fav is really hard when they are all so amazing! Thank you for your kind words!
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