Wednesday, November 14, 2012

A Light in the Window

GIVEAWAY

LESSMAN, JULIE
A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW

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 Review:

Fans of Julie Lessman's work will find lots to rejoice about in this angst-riddled but inspirational Christmas tale. Rabid fans will also notice some wonderful personal touches in this story as well. :-) They made the read so much fun!

Lessman's gift of storytelling culminates in this last book about the O'Connor clan. Ironically, it is the prequel and the story that started it all. I appreciated the opportunity to discover Marcy and Patrick's romantic beginnings. Their solid, sometimes volatile and always passionate romance was the glue that bound the Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change series together for me. But fear not -- you will love this book even if you haven't read any of the others. But, if you have, you'll love A Light in the Window that much more.

Lessman uses the Irish Christmas custom of keeping a lighted candle in the window to welcome the Christ child as the basis for the inspirational thread in the story. Love the imagery of that and how she uses her characters to illustrate that we can all be a light unto the world by reflecting Christ's love and forgiveness. A moving Christmas message that will make my celebrations deeper and more meaningful this season.


Giveaway Opportunity:

NOTE: THIS BOOK COMES IN E-BOOK FORMAT ONLY. I DON'T HAVE A KINDLE BUT IT WAS SIMPLE ENOUGH TO DOWNLOAD ONTO MY LAPTOP. If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Light in the Window, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 18 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

26 comments:

  1. I want to find out who wins her heart!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  2. I'm a new fan of Miss Lessman's. Would love to win!! :D

    spyg93(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  3. Julie Lessman is, hands-down, one of my favorite authors! I'm so looking forward to this prequel and would love to win a copy!

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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  4. I've never read holiday stories before because I felt they're so gimmicky, but well, when fav authors start putting them out, I have to read them. :) I might be getting over the gimmick hangup....

    rmjagears AT gmail DOT com

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  5. I have loved all of Lessman's books. My favorite being her first A Passion Most Pure. Would love to win this one. Thanks.

    sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com

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  6. I love Julie's books. I can't wait to read this prequel to her O'Connor books!!

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  7. Good luck, rubynreba!

    Glad you're a new fan, Rosie. Julie Lessman's books are awesome!!!!!

    Liz R. -- I know -- Julie has a knack for making her stories come to life, doesn't she? All the emotions and details and relationships. They are rich!

    Melissa, I love holiday stories. Don't even mind if they get schmaltzy. This one doesn't. I think you'll like it.

    Hmmm. Not sure if I can pick a favourite, Amy, but I loved A Passion Most Pure as well.

    You'll get a real kick out of the prequel, Ladette!

    Good luck everyone!

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  8. Kav, thanks for the review. I haven't, yet, read any of Julie's books, but I love Christmas stories, so this one would be a good one for me to start on.
    may_dayzeeATyahooDOTcom

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  9. You've got that right, Kay. A Light in the Window would be a great place to start. Good luck!

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  10. I have enjoyed the books that I have read by Julie Lessman, and would love to read A Light in the Window. Thank you for the chance to win that book.

    Blessings,

    Tammi

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  11. I just finished the last book in the Winds of Change series, would love to read this to complete the O'Conner saga. I'm sorry it's only an e-book so I can't have it on my shelf with all of the others=) I do have a Kindle, so at least I can enjoy it even if I can't pass it around.

    Patty
    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  12. KAV!!! OH MY GOODNESS ... just found your review through a Google Alert and am SOOO BLESSED by your kind words!! Thank you SO very much for reading it in the first place, then writing such a WONDERFUL review AND offering a giveaway!! You are a true blessing, my friend!!

    I am entering you in both my Kindle Fire contest with 6 pts. (5 pts. for buying the book, 1 pt. for posting a review on your blog) AND in my review contest (1 pt. for the review), so let me know if you post it anywhere else (FB, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.) per my contest specs here: JULIE’S CONTEST, okay?

    Hugs and more hugs,
    Julie

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  13. Julie -- you never cease to amaze me. I think there must be clones of you that bounce around cyberspace keeping tabs on things! :-) Thanks for writing such wonderful books!

    Glad to find another Lessman fan here, Tammi. Good luck!

    Ooohhhh -- Patty, I'm jealous. I still have to get that last book -- Steven's story. They were late coming into Canada -- at least my bookstore up here and by the time I got there they'd sold out!!! So I hate to wait while they ordered more. I'm picking one up tomorrow and that will be my weekend read. Can't wait! Good luck with this draw!

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  14. I have not read anything by Julie yet but she is on my must read list. I would love to win!

    mafinnegan(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ~Melissa

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  15. She belongs on your must read list for sure, Melissa! You won't be disappointed! Good luck!

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  16. I can't wait to rad A Light in the Window!!! I've heard GREAT things about it! Thanks for the giveaway!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  17. Thank you for the great review and giveaway! I would love to win a Light in the Window!

    samanthaakuiper(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. I absolutely love Julie's books about the O'Connor family; I've read them all except this prequel. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of A Light in the Window.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  19. How exciting for a chance to win the ebook version of a Light in the Window.

    deamundy(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. Thank you for the drawing for this book. Enter me, please. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  22. Julie is one of my favorite authors and A Light in the Window sounds so good. Please include me!
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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  23. I love Julie Lessman books. I just finished A Love Surrendered on Thursday and it DID NOT disappoint! I really enjoy how she includes Charity, Faith, Sean and Katie in the following books. Would LOVE to win A Light in the Window. Reading about Patrick and Marcy will be such a good book!

    Battles2001@hotmail.com

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  24. Looking forward to reading the prequel! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Jes
    jswaks at gmail dot com

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  25. I would love to win and read this! shopgirl152nykiki(at)yahoo(dot)com

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