If you've been following me/this blog for long, you'll at least know this one thing: I absolutely adore Julie Lessman. Both as an author and as a person. Y'all, I devour every book this precious woman writes because they are all simply SO GOOD!
And now the time has FINALLY come for her next release, the third installment in the Cousins O'Connor series, A Dare and a Prayer!
This book is...whew. It was by far her heaviest book, because she tackles the tough topic of child sex-trafficking a way that was tasteful but also very honest. A Dare and a Prayer is not for the faint of heart (or readers under the age of 18), but those who can handle the discussion of child trafficking (as well as Julie's trademark passionate romance and even more passionate sharing of God's Word) will challenged and inspired by this book, trust me!
Now, before I introduce y'all to the story, I wanted to mention that Julie will be donating a portion of her book sales from A Dare and a Prayer to a Project Eden, an organization that helps fight human trafficking. This mission is so important, and the themes of this book showcase just how much in a way that truly breaks your heart for what children across the world suffer today.
~ the book ~
He’s a hotshot who takes up a dare.
She’s an aspiring missionary who wants to beware.
But will love become a gamble with a dare and a prayer?
Lieutenant Henry Dennehy is a cocky and carefree fighter pilot in the Pacific Theatre of WW2, known for scoring big, both in the sky and on land. But when his buddies offer a bet he can’t refuse to turn the head of the “untouchable” nurse at 369th Station Hospital—a woman who’s shot down more flyboys than the enemy—he’s bound and determined to win. Problem is, if he wins the dare, will he lose at love?
Lieutenant Amy Leigh MacArthur was on her way to the mission field when she detoured to fight for her country instead, an Army nurse whose interest lies only in healing the wounded and teaching orphans to read. Certainly not in men, and definitely not in Henry Dennehy, the boy who ridiculed her years ago as a shy and homely teen. But when Henry pursues her and won’t take no for an answer, Amy finds a way that gives him no choice.
Until, that is, love does the same for them both ...
~ 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. 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, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 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” 2017-20, 2021 and 2023, 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.
~ the giveaway ~
To celebrate the release of A Dare and a Prayer’s, Julie has not one but TWO contests going on where you can win the following:
GRAND PRIZE (2 chances to win!):
~ $50 Amazon gift card or $25 Amazon gift card
~ Choice of three of Julie’s e-books or one of her signed paperbacks
~ A character named after you or a loved one in her next book and a signed paperback copy
~ Your choice of one paperback from Julie’s list of top-selling CBA authors, including Tamera Alexander, Colleen Coble, Rachel Hauck, Denise Hunter, Robin Lee Hatcher, Nancy Naigle, Cara Putman, Deborah Raney, Katherine Reay, Becky Wade, and Beth Vogt.
RUNNERS-UP PRIZES (8 chances to win!):
~ Choice of three of my e-books
~ OR choice of one of my signed paperbacks (based on her private stash)
~ OR choice of one paperback from a list of the above-mentioned top CBA authors (based on her private stash)
~ the tour ~
October 1 — Radiant Light Blog
October 1 — LiteraryScape Book Club
October 2 — Grace Johnson Spotlight (you are here!)
October 3 — Britt Reads Fiction
October 4 — Where Faith and Books Meet
October 5 — A Baker’s Perspective
October 6 — My Favorite Pastime
October 7 — Reading is My SuperPower
October 8 — Writing Between the Lines
October 9 — Locks, Hooks, and Books
October 10 — Splashes of Joy
October 10 — Saraina Whitney Blog
October 11 — Radiant Light Blog
October 12 — Miss Pippi Reads Blog
October 13 — Christian Bookaholic
October 14 — Grace Johnson Review
October 15 — Scraps of Life Blog
I am so excited to be sharing my review on the 14th, so y'all stay tuned! I'd love to know...have y'all read anything by Julie Lessman? What are some tough issues or themes you wish books would address more often? How do you think fiction can impact what we think or inspire use to act in real life?
#bookspotlight #spotlight #christianfiction #historicalfiction #WWIIfiction #romance #historicalromance #christianromance #julielessman #giveaway #blogtour #entertowin
(Pst! My Amazon links are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission from any qualifying purchases made through those links at no extra cost to you.)