Melissa Meeks Reviews Passionate Historical Fiction

A Passion Most Pure
By Julie Lessman
The first book in the Daughters of Boston book series
Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2008)
Historical Romance
ISBN 9780800732110
480pp
$13.99

Reviewed by Melissa Meeks for Bibliophile's Retreat

It is less than two decades into the 20th Century. Two sisters in the city of Boston, Faith and Charity O'Connor, are coming to terms with growing up, love, men, and faith. Faith is nearing her 20th birthday and her sister, Charity has just recently finished at he local high school. The young man that Faith secretly admired since childhood is being enticed by Charity and has changed from the caring, gentle person Faith remembers from their school days. Charity seems to have one motivation which is to take what isn't hers and wrap men around her little finger. Jealousy ensues since she is successful at it and her looks only make things worse.

This book is not only a riveting story but full of emotional dynamite. There are times when I couldn't guess what the next page would bring or even a character was so sure of something that I as a reader couldn’t help being sure too. However the question always remained would it REALLY end that way? Julie Lessman's language evokes a strong emotional response and makes her characters so much richer as the reader not only sees their story on the page but at the same time experiences their sadness, disappointment, frustration, joy and many other feelings along with them. She has crafted a gripping, suspenseful narrative chock full of encouraging nuggets from scripture and wonderful examples of faith/relying on the Lord even when we as fallible humans manage to make a mess of things. Faith learns that while emotions may be out of our control turning to God will get her through those times without compromising her commitment to the Lord. She also learns to forgive and trust through the Lord's strength when it seems impossible to do as well as that prayer truly does move mountains or in this case stubborn men. As long as the Lord is our focus and we rely on him anything is possible and He will as the Psalm says give us the desires of our heart.
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Note: The review blog Bibliophile's Retreat may be found at http://bibliophilesretreat.com/

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