in this post: A Wing and a Prayer
Happy February – official (according to me) KissingBooks month! And welcome to another Love Stories giveaway post! This LOVE STORIES giveaway series is thusly named for two reasons – first, because I love stories and second, because I love Love Stories.
Throughout the entire month of February, I’ll be spotlighting swoony Christian fiction & ‘clean read’ romances. Three cheers for KissingBooks!!! So… grab a fan or two, your trusty fainting couch, and maybe a freezer just to be safe and start making your KissingBooks tbr list! Oh… and did I mention there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)
Today’s first book is A Wing and a Prayer by the KissingBook Queen herself, Julie Lessman! Plus she shares her thoughts on the perfect kiss AND a read-from-the-freezer-alert excerpt!
A WING AND A PRAYER
SERIES: The Cousins O’Connor #1
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance
PUBLISHER: Julie Lessman LLC
RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2020
She’s dead-set on giving everything to the war overseas …
Even if it means losing everything in a war of the heart.
A street orphan abused and abandoned by an alcoholic father at age five, Gabriella (Gabe) O’Connor has never let a man stand in her way yet. So when a handsome flight officer thwarts her plans to become a Women Airforce Service Pilot, she’s determined to join the war effort anyway she can. Her chance comes when she “borrows” foreign correspondent credentials from the Boston Herald—where her father is the editor—to stow away on a medical ship to the front.
Lieutenant Reece Kincaid pegs Gabe O’Connor as trouble the moment she steps foot on Avenger Field as a WASP cadet. As the eldest brother of a boy whose jaw Gabe broke in grade school, Reece is familiar with her reputation as both a charismatic ringleader and a headstrong hooligan who’s challenged every male and nun from grade school to college. As her WASP flight instructor, Reece eventually expels Gabe when she pulls a dangerous stunt. But when he is an evacuation pilot in France eight months later, their lives intertwine once again, exposing them to a danger as perilous as the German tanks roaming the Reichswald Forest: a love that neither expects.
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the perfect kiss?
by Julie Lessman, author of A Wing and a Prayer
Mmm … the perfect kiss? That’s a little bit like asking about somebody’s favorite food, isn’t it? I mean, come on—some people like their chili flamin’ hot and others like it mild and sweet.
Which means that the “perfect kiss” to some might be a nose nuzzle while to somebody else—like moi—it’s a lip lock that not only curls your toes, but your tummy as well.
But for me, the real secret to a great kiss are the emotions surging around it like a romantic riptide that rolls in and out. Sure, you have to get the actions right, taking the reader through the step-by-steps of a kiss as if they’re watching a movie. But it’s those waves of emotions before and after the “kiss” that sweep the reader through a tsunami of feelings that will hopefully leave them breathless and gasping for more.
One of my favorite things to do with a kiss—which, in fact, is why the two examples you’ll find at the link below are what I consider my “perfect kisses”—is to use powerful emotions to frame a powerful kiss. For instance, my favorite love scene that I’ve ever written is from A Hope Undaunted and takes the reader through the ebb and flow of several strong emotions before and after “the kiss” (or “kisses” as in the first example below). In this example, the actual kiss portion of the scene begins with caring and concern on the hero’s part, then swells to shock, attraction, passion, more shock, anger, revenge and finally retribution and regret for both hero and heroine.
Deep breath …
Okay, I’m sorry, but for me as a CDQ (caffeinated drama queen), the more emotion the better, and I think for the reader, the more emotion, the better the kiss! Which is why the second example at the link below, also from A Hope Undaunted, is my second favorite kiss because it has all the elements I like in a love scene—tenderness, passion, humor—unleashing a groundswell of emotions from the hero’s malaise to his jealousy, attraction, longing, shock, gratitude, desire, embarrassment and humor.
Ready to see what I’m talking about? Here’s a link on my website that has my first and second favorite kissing scenes that I’ve ever written. Why? Because when it comes to emotions, both are SO multi-dimensional! But, don’t take my word for it—YOU be the judge. And remember … a few drops of Tabasco doesn’t make the chili bad … only a little spicier!
http://www.julielessman.com/favorite-kissing-scenes Note from Carrie: Bring a fan 😉
But … what’s my favorite kiss I’ve written most recently? Well, I’d have to say it’s from book one of my new WWII series, The Cousins O’Connor series, A Wing and a Prayer, which releases, of course, on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. Here’s the jacket blurb:
She’s dead-set on giving everything to the war overseas …
Even if it means losing everything in a war of the heart.
A street orphan abused and abandoned by an alcoholic father at age five, Gabriella (Gabe) O’Connor has never let a man stand in her way yet. So when a handsome flight officer thwarts her plans to become a Women Airforce Service Pilot, she’s determined to join the war effort anyway she can. Her chance comes when she “borrows” foreign correspondent credentials from the Boston Herald—where her father is the editor—to stow away on a medical ship to the front.
Lieutenant Reece Kincaid pegs Gabe O’Connor as trouble the moment she steps foot on Avenger Field as a WASP cadet. As the eldest brother of a boy whose jaw Gabe broke in grade school, Reece is familiar with her reputation as both a charismatic ringleader and a headstrong hooligan who’s challenged every male and nun from grade school to college. As her WASP flight instructor, Reece eventually expels Gabe when she pulls a dangerous stunt. But when he is an evacuation pilot in France eight months later, their lives intertwine once again, exposing them to a danger as perilous as the German tanks roaming the Reichswald Forest: a love that neither expects.
Here’s my favorite kiss from that book, where the reluctant hero has just brought the heroine (who is on crutches) home, and she thanks him with a kiss on the cheek that not only veers into something way more on her part, but way more than the hero ever wanted.
Alex gasped, but the sound was swallowed up by the press of Gabe’s lips, soft, pliant and hungry, fusing to his with a need that ignited his own. It was only a catch of his breath, but it seemed like eons that he wrestled with his conscience and lost, returning Gabe’s kiss with a fire that seared his very soul.
Her crutches crashed to the ground when she rose on tiptoe to slip her arms around his neck while their mouths united in a mating he never wanted to end. He lifted her off her feet, molding her body to his with an intensity that shocked him. Groaning, he butted her to the wall while his mouth explored hers, his passion apparently buried so deep, he’d never even known it was there.
Well, he knew it now, and it scared him silly.
“Gabe,” he whispered, voice hoarse as he carefully set her back down, his breathing as ragged as hers. Retrieving her crutches, he gently prodded them beneath her arms before he cradled her face in his hands. “Please forgive me. I never should have done that—”
Her eyes widened. “No, Alex, there’s nothing to forgive—”
“Yes, Gabe, there is.” Struggling to regain control, he took a step back, fortifying himself against the hurt in her eyes. “I am your superior and I stepped over the line, which never should have happened.”
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.
Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 18 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers’ Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.
Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.
Julie Lessman is offering one of my readers a $15 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of winner’s choice of any (1) book by Julie Lessman or the entire Isle of Hope series in ebook! (gift card & ebook set are open internationally; signed copy is open to US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What interests you most about A Wing and a Prayer? What do you think makes the perfect kiss? Do you have a favorite Julie Lessman kissing scene?
My family loves reading so hearing about another great book I appreciate. Thanks for sharing and also for the giveaway.
Hey, James, thanks for coming by! If you are a WWII buff, this book could be for you because the research was daunting but OH, sooooo good!! 😉
Hugs,
Julie
How did I not know about this author?! I’ve got a lot more reading to do…such a fantastic problem to have!
Oh Lynette, you are in for a treat!!!
I don’t know, Lynette, but if you don’t win here, send me a private FB message after the contest is over, and I will send you a free (and award-winning!) e-book, okay?
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
I love WWII historical fiction! Thanks for sharing!
you’re welcome, Julie!
Thanks for interest, Julie, and trust me — the research was SO intense that I now know more about WWII than I ever thought I would, which is good because May 8th is the 75th anniversary of D-Day, so it was great timing!
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Interesting story line.
Thanks, Kim! And the romance ain’t bad either! 😉
Hugs and here’s to a win!
Julie
CARRIE!!! I can’t thank you enough for this great blog feature, my friend. Gabe is ready to meet you, even if I’m not (due to massive edits!!) 😳.
HUGS!!
Julie
Thanks for the fun post, Carrie and Julie! I absolutely love historical fiction (especially when it has romance included), and this book sounds so fascinating! It’s going on my wish list!
Hey, Winnie, I love historical fiction, too — it is my absolute fave, although I write both historical and contemporary romance (emphasis on the romance!). If you have never read any of my books before, I will make the same offer to you that I made to Lynette above. If you don’t win here, send me a private FB message after the contest is over, and I will send you a free (and award-winning!) e-book, okay?
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Loving this book Julie! You always write the best kiss scenes!! 🥰🥰🥰
Aw, thanks, Abbi — I SO appreciate you being part of my blog tour, my friend. And if you think the kisses are warm in the CBA version, girlfriend, just wait to you read the ABA version — HUBBA, HUBBA!! I hope to release that book, entitled In Love We Trust, this summer so if you want to be on my blog tour for that one, let me know, okay?
Hugs and more hugs!
Julie
Gabe O’Connor has her own book! I enjoy reading the main stories of characters from previous books. 🙂
Oh, me too, Roxanne! ESPECIALLY the O’Connors, because they are SO fun to write! And there’s lots of family scenes in this book, so even though it takes place mostly in Sweetwater, Texas (where Gabe is a WASP trainee) and in the European Theatre (where she is a fraudulent foreign correspondent), there’s plenty of O’Connor banter to go around!
Good luck, and Happy reading!
Hugs,
Julie
I enjoy reading books about the war. So interesting! Thanks for the chance to win!
Hey, Faith, I LOVE your name, my friend! The heroine of my first book, A Passion Most Pure (which was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Book of the Year) is named Faith as well, and that book takes place during WWI, so if you like books about war, that might be one you could look into. Although in A Wing and a Prayer (my latest), there’s A LOT more war to love.
Good luck, and here’s to a win!
Hugs,
Julie
I love to read historical romance. The perfect kiss is shared with the one you love.
Oooo, good one, Rita — I like that!
As I mentioned above to Winnie, I love historical fiction, too — it is my absolute fave, although I write both historical and contemporary romance (emphasis on the romance!). If you have never read any of my books before, I will make the same offer to you that I made to Lynette above. If you don’t win here, send me a private FB message after the contest is over, and I will send you a free (and award-winning!) e-book, okay?
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
I love Julie O’Connor Books, I love a good family drama.
LOL … thanks, Patty — you are so sweet! And I would LOVE to be named Julie O’Connor because I LOVE the O’Connor family and consider them my alter-ego family, so “Julie O’Connor” fits somehow! 😉
And since you have obviously read one or two of my books, you know I love family drama, too, which is why my husband LOVES the fact that I write them. That way, I can put all the drama and angst into my fictional family instead of my real one. Good way to save a marriage, you know? 😉
Hugs and good luck!
Julie
I like books set during the war so I’m interested in this one. Plus, you can’t beat a Julie Lessman book for entertainment!!!
Aw, Anne, THANK YOU! I guarantee Gabe will definitely “entertain,” although you may want to throttle her a time or two, but in the end, hopefully you will love her too.
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
And hopefully I won’t throw the book across the room! haha
LOL … oh, no promises there, girlfriend! 😉
Hugs,
Julie
I love everything I have read by Julie Lessman and I want to read about the next O’Connor falling in love ! She can write a feel good romance like no other .
Hey, Rebekah, THANK YOU sooooo very much for your sweet comment — MUCH appreciated, my friend! Don’t you just love those “feel good” romances? I’m an emotional person (uh, ya think??!!), so I like to FEEL everything when I read, which is why I write like that. I judge the emotional appeal of my own books by how many tissues I go through when I’m doing my final proofing. My record is 30-something tissues on A Heart Revealed, I believe. 😉
Here’s to a win, Rebekah, and GOOD LUCK!
Hugs,
Julie
Julie Lessman’s kissing scenes are swoon worthy! She is one of my favorite authors! I love the spiritual depths she conveys.
CARYL!!! Oh, girl, I cannot thank you enough for posting such AMAZING reviews for the Isle of Hope series. WOW, you blew me away, and I am incredibly grateful, not only for you taking the time to write and post reviews, but for your friendship as well.
HUGS AND MORE HUGS!
Julie
The time period fascinates.
I know, Mary, right?? ESPECIALLY on the 75th anniversary of WW2 (75th for D-Day last June, and 75th for VE Day this May 8.
I will admit I am NOT a huge research-lover, but WHOA, did this book pull me in! And trust me, most everything in this book that happens to the heroine, actually happened, based on real WASP and WWII stories. And the fun tidbits I was able to include? Gosh, who knew Coca-Cola was Hitler’s favorite drink when he watched one of his favorite movies, Gone With the Wind??!!
So, I hope you get to enjoy the experience along with Gabe … via a win.
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Julie’s books are so good!! I can’t wait to read Gabes story!
Oh, Megan, I can’t either — I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, my friend. Thank you SO MUCH for your kind comment, and here’s to a win!
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Must admit absolutely LOVE Julie Lessman,the O’Connor stories and love the idea about reading more about a grown up Gabe and the O’Connor cousins! What makes a great kissing scene is not only the kiss itself ,but the before and after and Julie is one of the masters at this,hence the kissing queen title. 🙂
Hard to pick ,but I would have to say one of my favorite kisses of Julie Lessman’s is one of her rare sweet ones (Not to say I don’t like a little fire 😉 ) . It’s between Steve O’Connor and Annie Kennedy in A Love Surrendered. It’s a lovely,charming scene especially since Annie’s little sister Glory is there too encourage the romance between the two. Must say a big thanks to Julie for her inspiration and entertaining swoon worthy stories!!
LYNNE!! Always love seeing your name pop up, my friend, so THANK YOU for all of your support.
I had no idea you preferred the “rare sweet” ones, girlfriend, so I guess I need to write a few more of those for you, because they are definitely “rare”! 😉 But the “OZ” kiss, as I refer to the one you mentioned, is one of my favorite too. 🙂
HUGS AND MORE HUGS!
Julie
Sounds really great. I love kissing scenes.
LOL, Lori … if you love kissing scenes, girlfriend, then I hope you read the two examples I gave in the link above, because I’d love to hear what you think. And if you would like to read even more, here’s a link on my blog called KISSES, KISSES, KISSES, where I list a whole bunch of my favorite types of kisses — from the “Caveman Kiss” to the “Mental Kiss.” 😉
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Oh my goodness! The best kisses are in “A Hope Undaunted” but I also love a kiss in “Grace Like Rain”!!! Julie is kissing queen😍😘
Oh, Tiff, GOD BLESS YOU!! And I hear you on A Hope Undaunted — that is my FAVORITE of all the books I’ve written because Luke McGee is just flat-out HUBBA, HUBBA!! But Mitch and Charity come in second in the red-hot romance category, at least for me, which as you know — I LOVE to write!!
Thank you SO much for your support and your kind comment — MUCH appreciated, my friend.
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
I’m interested in A Wing and a Prayer since I’ve read all of Julie’s books. It will be fun to read Gabe’s “grown up” story. Julie is a master at writing kissing scenes. There are so many that I don’t have a favorite.
Hey, Pam, THANK YOU, my friend! I hope it definitely will be “FUN” to read Gabe’s story because never have I written a character who gets into more trouble than Gabriella Dawn, even Charity! But Gabe shapes up in the end, which is what really matters, so all’s well that ends well!
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Reese and Gabe are amazing characters! I’d love to read their story!
Thanks, Jeanna. I’d love for you to read their story, too, so here’s to a win!
And, LOL … I just NOW realized that I never changed my jacket blurb on Amazon to reflect the heroe’s updated name, which is now Alex instead of Reese. DUH!! Thanks SO much for bringing this to my attention, my friend, and GOOD LUCK in the contest.
Hugs!!
Julie
I like the time and the setting of the book, sounds like a lovely read. I rarely come across books like these nowadays.
Hey, Calvin, thank you for coming by! To be honest, I wasn’t so sure I was going to like the time and setting for this book, but I had no choice because this is a continuation of a family saga of a close-knit Irish family of six siblings begun in WWI, an era which I absolutely loved. Those two series (Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change) cover the era from 1916 to 1933, and since I wanted to begin trilogies for each of the O’Connor cousins, WWII was their time period to fall in love. BUT … once I got into the research (which was massive, by the way!), I fell in love with both the time and setting too.
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Beautiful cover
Hey, Nancy, THANK YOU!! I will admit I prayed LONG and HARD about the right cover for this book because as part of my Irish family saga, I wanted it to be really good. I love it a lot, so thank you for your kind comment.
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Julie,
You are a new Author to me as well! I know of your name but now that I’ve read these 3 excerpts, I definitely want to read MORE of your writings! You latest book is written during my favorite era – WWII. That group will forever be The Greatest Generation. My Sweet Daddy is a part of that group. He is 94.5 years old, still lives independently, is very active in several different groups as well as being a faithful member of his Church. He & my Mother had the Greatest Love Story ever!
Oh, Lisa, that is SOOOO cool, my friend, and I would love to hear a wee bit more about your mom and dad’s love story, so if you come back to see my comment, just give me a little jacket blurb of it, okay?
And since I am a new author to you, I will extend the same offer to you that I did to Lynette above and that is, if you don’t win here, send me a private FB message after the contest is over, and I will send you a free (and award-winning!) e-book, okay?
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Thanks for this historical set during my favorite era. This is meaningful,captivating and memorable. Such an important, profound and unforgettable era. I would love to read this treasure of a story.
Thank you, Anne, and you are so right, my friend! The WWII era is SO very meaningful for what it accomplished and how it stamped out an unspeakable evil! This novel is chock full of WWII details and tidbits, but I will say that at its heart it is a pure romance, both between the hero and heroine and with God.
Hugs and GOOD LUCK in the the contest!
Julie
Absolutely LOVE every Julie Lessman book I have read (which is ALL of them 🙂 I can’t wait for Gabe’s story. I love how Julie makes you feel like you are in the middle of the story. She is so good at connecting you with the characters. I am counting down the days until her book releases!
YES!!!
Aw, Chasity, thank you SO much, you sweet thing — you started my day off with a HUGE smile! And thank you for reading my books, too, my friend — MUCH appreciated! If there are any of my novellas you haven’t yet read (there are seven, including the A Glimmer of Hope, which is a free download), you let me know, and I will be happy to send you one in e-book, okay?
Regrettably, I do have to admit that for the first time ever, I have had to extend a release date on a book. Gabe’s story, A Wing and a Prayer, will now release two weeks later on April 1 instead of March 17 due to extensive edits, so I apologize for that. 🙁 But, I promise, the book is a whole lot better than it was because God gave me some extra fun things to put in, so it’s all good. 🙂
Hugs and more hugs,
Julie
I have read all the novellas to!! As soon as I see a release by Julie Lessman I am downloading (or pre-ordering) Every book is guaranteed to be a page-turner!
Okay, you just flat-out made my day, my sweet friend, so THANK YOU!!
God bless and GOOD LUCK!!
Hugs and more hugs,
Julie
What interests me the most about A Wing And A Prayer? I think the fact she’s willing to go overseas even if it means losing everything and how things turn out 8 months later when their lives intertwine again and they find a love they both they never expected.
What do I think makes the perfect kiss? A kiss that’s gentle, spontaneous, full of love and genuine.
Do I have a favorite Julie Lessman kissing scene? No I don’t. Julie Lessman is a brand new author to me but I like books like A Wing And A Prayer. Something tells me or at least I hope I will soon have a favorite Julie Lessman kissing scene.
I do want to thank you for introducing me to Julie Lessman meezcarrie and I look forward to reading and reviewing her print books.
I do hope I win so I can so I read and review A Wing And A Prayer.
Hope I win.
Oh Crystal, you are in for a treat! Julie’s books are marvelous!!
Oh, Crystal, you’re just the type of reader I’m looking for — a new one! 😉 Thank you for your interest, my friend and here’s to a win!
Since you have never read any of my books before, I will make the same offer to you that I made to Lynette above. If you don’t win here, send me a private FB message after the contest is over, and I will send you a free (and award-winning!) e-book, okay?
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
This book sounds like it would be non stop action. I really like reading WW11 stories. I would love to read this book, thank you for the opportunity to win it.
Hey, Judi — well, not sure it’s non-stop action unless you’re talking about “romance,” but there is a lot of WWII-located action in the 2nd half, and actually more than any of my other books, so I do keep it moving. 🙂
Thanks for coming by and GOOD LUCK!
Hugs,
Julie
never read this author
Hey, bn100, as I mentioned above, since you have never read any of my books before, I will make the same offer to you that I made to Crystal above. If you don’t win here, send me a private FB message after the contest is over, and I will send you a free (and award-winning!) e-book, okay?
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Sounds like an interesting read!
Gosh, Sarah, I sure hope so! 😉
And hopefully you’ll get to find out firsthand if you win, so thanks for coming by and GOOD LUCK in the contest!
Hugs,
Julie
I love historical Christian fiction and A Wing and a Prayer sounds sooo good! I like how the story line is about the Air Force and the WASPs. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book!!!
Hey, Alison, I’ve been thinking of you A LOT because you have a character named after you in A Wing and a Prayer, so you also get a free signed paperback copy. I hope you like your namesake in the book and GOOD LUCK in the contest.
Hugs!!
Julie
Woo Hoo! I am so excited to read about my namesake in A Wing and a Prayer!!! Thank you so much, Julie, and also for the FREE signed copy of this book!! 🙂
You’re welcome, my friend — you earned it! Thanks SO much for your support. 🙂
Hugs!
Julie
I enjoy books set during the World War II time frame. Also, as I have read several of Julie’s books, I find they are always very good reads!
Hey, Cathy, THANK YOU! And it’s especially fun to read WWII books during the year of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, right?
Hugs and here’s to a win!
Julie
I just love Julie Lessman. All of her books have been fabulous and I can’t pick a favorite. She is just plain amazing!
AW, Kate, thank you SOOO much, you sweet thing — MUCH appreciated!! I hope you enjoy Gabe’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. 🙂
Hugs and more hugs!
Julie
I agree that the perfect kiss is all about the setting, the emotions going into it, and what happens after. I just finished reading a book that had a perfect first kiss!
Okay, Arletta, you canNOT make a statement like that and NOT tell us the name of the book, my friend, so please share, both the title and why it was the perfect kiss, okay?
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
I have enjoyed Julie’s books and I like WWII stories.
Hey, Paula! Thank you for coming by and your kind comment. And good luck in the contest!
Hugs,
Julie
What an interesting story! My Dad was a navigator in WW2 and flew over Italy and eastern Europe. Would like to read this one!
Oh, Vivian, how cool is that, my friend! Sounds like you would definitely have a stake in this one, then, so here’s to a win.
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
I’m so glad I came across this awesome review because Christian historical fiction is my absolute favorite! This book sounds sooo good and I can’t wait to read it!! The first kiss is perfect in my opinion too.
Aw, Sally, thank you SO much for coming by and for your kind comment! I don’t know if you have ever read any of my books before, but if not and you don’t win here, contact me via private FB message, and I will send you a free e-novel, okay?
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Love the cover design! The perfect book kiss for me has lots of emotion that the reader can feel through the characters.
Hey, Heidi, thanks SO much for your kind comment! And I couldn’t agree more about your idea of the perfect book kiss, Heidi, so bring ’em on!! Thanks for coming by and GOOD LUCK in the contest!!
Hugs,
Julie
I love the cover.
Hey, Jodi, THANK YOU!! I actually had another model/direction in mind, but that ended up not working AT ALL, so I prayed long and hard about it, and VOILA! Suddenly I found this model, and my cover designer took it from there, creating what I think is one of my best covers ever, so I was very grateful.
Good luck in the contest!
Hugs,
Julie
This book sounds amazing
Hey, thanks, Sara — I sure hope so for all the research time it cost! 😉 I don’t know if you have ever read any of my O’Connor Family saga that begins with The Daughters of Boston series and continues on to the Winds of Change series, but if not, you are about to be introduced to this very passionate Irish family, so I hope you enjoy them as well as the book itself.
Hugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
I love reading WWII romance books. This book sounds so good! Can’t wait to read it!
Hey, Tiff, if you like WWII ROMANCE (accent on ROMANCE), then trust me, you’re in for a lot of fun, so good luck in this contest!
Hugs,
Julie
I am so excited for this book! Ever since the O’Conner saga ended I have been longing for another book about them. They’re pretty much my favorite fictional family of all time. It’s impossible to pick a favorite kissing scene, but one of my favorites from a Julie Lessman book would have to be the very first kiss between Collin and Faith. A Passion Most Pure was the first of Julie’s books I’ve read and I fell in love with the chemistry between those two characters. It was a short scene. Collin was mad at her at first and then (rogue that he is) kissed her. She slapped him but the memory of that kiss haunted her for a long time. Sigh!!
I love WWII stories so the setting sounds quite interesting to me! I always love a strong and feisty feminine heroine too! I don’t have a favorite kiss because it depends on the mood that I am in at the time. I am new to Julie Lessman’s books…I may just have to start the Daughters of Boston series to acquaint myself with this family!
Oh, Lisa, if you like strong and feisty heroines, than A Wing and a Prayer is definitely for you because she is my strongest and feistiest heroine yet. BUT … I have lots of them, so I hope you do check out my books. In fact, to help you do just that, I would be honored to send you a free e-book, the prequel love story that kicks off the Daughters of Boston. If you are interested, send me a private FB message telling me we talked on Carrie’s blog, and I will be happy to send it to you, okay?
HUGS and GOOD LUCK in the contest!
Julie
Oh, Jacinta, GOD BLESS YOU!! I have, too, been longing for the O’Connors in full novel form, which is why I write an O’Connor Christmas novella every year — I miss them!
And, OH, I remember writing that very first love scene of mine with Collin and Faith in the park, because you’re right — I love a host of emotions in a love scene as I talk about in this blog. Collin goes from cocky, to surprise at the attraction, to anger, to shock once again at the attraction, to fear at feeling it, and then right back to cocky again. And, yes, the memory of that kiss haunted for a long time, for both Collin AND Faith. AND you and me, apparently, too! 😉
Thanks so much for taking me back down Memory Lane AND for your kind comment and support. Here’s to a win in the contest, my sweet friend.
HUGS!!
Julie
WHOOPS … I accidentally wrote this down below, Jacinta, so I’ll repeat here.
Oh, Jacinta, GOD BLESS YOU!! I have, too, been longing for the O’Connors in full novel form, which is why I write an O’Connor Christmas novella every year — I miss them!
And, OH, I remember writing that very first love scene of mine with Collin and Faith in the park, because you’re right — I love a host of emotions in a love scene as I talk about in this blog. Collin goes from cocky, to surprise at the attraction, to anger, to shock once again at the attraction, to fear at feeling it, and then right back to cocky again. And, yes, the memory of that kiss haunted for a long time, for both Collin AND Faith. AND you and me, apparently, too! 😉
Thanks so much for taking me back down Memory Lane AND for your kind comment and support. Here’s to a win in the contest, my sweet friend.
HUGS!!
Julie
Jacinta … I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong, but I wrote a response to you that appears as a new comment below, so I rewrote it by clicking on YOUR reply button, but the same thing happened — it posted below as a new comment. SO … I’m trying this one more time. Hope you see it.
Hugs,
Julie
I am drawn to Gabriella’s character. I want to see her succeed despite her upbringing.
I try not to remember the kiss scenes in books. I would be confessing lustful thoughts all the time as a single woman of God.
Hey, Sonnetta, you’ll be happy to know that Gabe does FINALLY succeed despite her upbringing, but not before going through a LOT of growing pains.
As far as the kissing scenes, my books are probably not the best to read if you try not to remember the kiss scenes because my tagline is “Passion with a Purpose,” and that purpose is to present young woman today with romance according to God’s precepts (i.e. morality and purity before marriage), but with passion.
Let me say, however, that I truly admire your stance as a single woman of God because that’s not easy in today’s amoral world, so you go, girl!
Hugs,
Julie
I have heard of Julie Lessman’s books, but I haven’t yet read any. There are a couple series I have on my TBR list, including The Daughters of Boston. Congrats on your new release. Sounds like a good one and I love the cover!
Thanks SO much, Holly, for your kind comment, and let me just say that you are JUST the type of reader I am looking for — new blood!! 😉
If you have The Daughters of Boston on your TBR list, how about I kick you off with an e-copy of the prequel love story to that series? If you are interested, send me a private FB message telling me we spoke on Carrie’s blog, and I will send you the free e-book, okay?
Hugs and good luck in the contest!
Hugs,
Julie
Oh my goodness, I missed it! I am so excited that another O’Connor story is coming out. I can’t wait to read it. All the others were fantastic and I know that this one will be, too. Also, looking forward to the time period and setting. I don’t often read WWII, so it should be a change.
Oh, Caitlin, nooooo … and with your name too!! 😥
Thank you SO much for your sweet comment and support for the O’Connors. But all is not lost because I am having a giveaway of a signed paperback copy of A Wing and a Prayer OR the entire Isle of Hope series in e-book when I guest blog on Seekerville on … you guessed … St. Patrick’s Day! And, Cait, I have a blog tour coming up where I will also be giving away a copy, so please check in at my Journal Jots blog mid-month to see where those giveaways will be, okay? And if you’re not subscribed to my Journal Jot blog, I would highly recommend it because that’s where I announce everything first, darlin’.
Thanks again, Cait, for coming by!
Hugs,
Julie