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| GIVEAWAY |
LOVE AT ANY COST
He's looking to take care of his family. She's looking to take care of her heart.
Trouble is . . . love's looking to take care of them both.
Cassidy McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who would just as soon hogtie a man as look at him. Jilted by a fortune hunter, Cassidy travels west hoping a summer visit with her wealthy cousins in San Francisco will help her forget her heartache. But no sooner is she settled in beautiful California than Jamie McKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well, captures her heart. Can love prevail when Jamie discovers that Cassidy is poorer than he is? And can Cassidy ever learn to fully trust her heart to a man?
Bestselling author Julie Lessman brings the delectable Gilded Age to life in this sumptuous new series. Join your favorite romantic storyteller as she moves to the hills of San Francisco for more romance, passion, and surprising revelations.
My Review:
Someone should report Julie Lessman for Cruelty to Characters! She certainly knows how to put them, and subsequently her readers, through the wringer. But that's what I love about the whole Julie Lessman experience -- emotional overload with a happy ending. Though, let me tell you I couldn't predict how that could even be possible in this book! Lessman throws a few major curve balls into the plot that left me with heart palpitations and gasping for air! I love when an author surprises me like that!
Cassidy is such a fun, spunky, wonderful heroine. Loved her from the minute I met her and lived every second of her story right along with her. Not always a comfortable ride, but exhilarating nonetheless.
Jamie is the perfect flawed hero -- a man who doesn't grasp that what he perceives as weakness is really strength until it is very nearly too late.
Warning -- you might want to wear asbestos gloves while reading Love at Any Cost because sparks fly from Cassidy and Jamie's first meeting and continue to sizzle right to the very end. I'm sure the author wouldn't want any of her devoted fans to get singed!
Lessman captures the essence of the time period with vivid descriptions that propel the reader through time. She has an amazing gift for painting pictures with words while not bogging the story down with details. Words flow, pouring out a compelling plot that will keep you distracted from the real world until you are done. Be prepared for a marathon read.
And, as with all Lessman's books, a profound inspirational message lies at the heart of the story. It touched me as I am sure it will all her readers. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in this new series...and have to admit to being heartily relieved to discover that I adore the McClares just as much as I do the O'Connors.
Giveaway Opportunity:
If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Love At Any Cost, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, 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 April 14 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
Wow, such a great review! LOOOVED your comments, Kav, this sounds like another winner for Lessman :) Would love a copy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway, blessings :)
Kara
wman4jcATaolDOTcom
A couple of my friend's have been commenting about the "cruelty to the characters" makes me intrigued!
ReplyDeleteHave never read one of Julie's books so would love to win one and give it a try. Thanks for the chance, Kav!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kara! It's definitely a winner that you don't want to miss. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIntrigued is good, Melissa! Good luck!!!!
THUD -- that's me hitting the floor in a dead faint, Cheryl! Goodness, we have to remedy that! This is the perfect book to start you off then, because it's the first in a new series! Good luck!
Amazing review! Looking forward to reading this one, thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletegatorade635(at)gmail(dot)com
Such a fun and clever review, Kav! :) I agree with Kara!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the chance to win a copy!
~Amber
amberstokes[at]corban[dot]edu
Thanks Abbi and Amber! Good luck!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win this one! I've read three of Julie's books now and they were all simply amazing. Looking forward to reading more! :) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletecharityu.austenite[at]gmail[dot]com
I love this review...been a huge fan of Julie - thanks for the chance to win!! =)I just love the look on the girl on the cover...she's seems so sassy -just like in your review.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I haven't read any of her books yet though I've come across them on goodreads. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCharity, Julie is an amazing author, isn't she? With any luck you'll be reading a fourth book soon.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great covers, isn't it, Eliza? Sassy really is conveyed in her stance! This is one instance where the cover does the book justice. Good luck.
Heidi -- be still my heart -- we need to Lessman you up so you can be an emotional basketcase too! Good luck!
I loved your review! Would love to win this so I could see just how cruel she is to her characters! ;)
ReplyDeletesylvesternatorATyahooDOTcom
This sounds like another great book from Julie!
ReplyDeleteFun review Kav and thanks for the giveaway!
sunshine6892 at hotmail dot com
OMIGOSH, KAV!!!!!!!!! I am REELING from giddiness over your AMAZING review!!!! Deep breath, Julie ...
ReplyDeleteOH MY ... you have blessed the socks off of me with this review, my friend, more than I can say. This series is such a departure for me in that it's shorter, less complicated, less passionate, both romantically and spiritually than my O'Connor books, and deliberately lighter and funnier too. I have been DYING for feedback, and yours is only the third review I've gotten so far, and boy, is it a killer review or what???!!
So thank you SO much, and I hope you are prone to posting your reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads because I would LOVE to see this on there. Then let me know if you do and I will enter you in my newsletter review contest, okay?
I encourage any of your readers who want even more chances to win any of my books to check out my Journal Jots blog where I am running a HUGE contest for a Kindle, a character named after them in my next book, a signed copy of that book and five top CBA books from my personal library (all new!) Here's the link, just in case anybody is interested:
JULIE'S JOURNAL JOTS BLOG
And, Kav, I will never stop praying till you have that job that is abundantly, exceedingly more than you hope, think or pray. :)
Hugs and more hugs,
Julie
I would love to win. Thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeletedeamundy(at)gmail(dot)com
I LOVE Julie's novels...thanks for the chance to read her latest one, Kav
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I'm reading Julie's e-book right now and will soon be ready for another Julie fix=)
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love spunky women and sparks make it an exciting book!
ReplyDeleteCarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
CAROL!!! Pardon me for butting in here, but if you like sparks between a spunky woman and a to-die-for hero, PLEASE download A Hope Undaunted, which is FREE right now on Amazon and B&N. It is the 4th book in this passionate family saga, but it's definitely a head-butting, spark-flying type of story and my fave of all the books I've written. It does ruin a big surprise in the first book, A Passion Most Pure, reading them out of order, but heck, AHU is free right now, so why not??
DeleteHugs,
Julie
What a wonderful review! I can not wait to read Love at any Cost!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this chance to win!
dymesich(at)juno(dot)com
Dear Kav,
ReplyDeleteThanks for entering me in the giveaway. I would love to win this book to give to my church library.
Thanks!
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Julie, Julie, Julie -- I have to laugh at your claim that this book is less passionate. My singed eyebrows beg to differ. And yes, I'll definitely be posting it around. And thanks for your continued prayers!
ReplyDeleteEveryone -- good luck!
LOL, KAV ... they'll grow back ... I hope!! ;) Thank you SOOOO much for posting it on Amazon, my friend. I just send an e-mail on the Seeker loop telling them that you have to be one the kindest human beings on the planet!!
DeleteLove you!!
Julie
This sounds really good, would love to win it, thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
It is great, Wendy! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading Julie's latest!
ReplyDeletemissionwife@hotmail.com
Really enjoyed your review! Now I HAVE to read this book!
ReplyDeleteJasmine A.
montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com
Grinning after reading this. This is the first review of Love At Any Cost that I've read and I'm SO happy that you enjoyed the book!! I'm glad that you mentioned in the end that you like the McClares as much as the O'Connors. That probably is a concern for Julie's fans (especially those of us who fell hopelessly for the O'Connors!) But why worry because this IS after all a book by Julie Lessman, a very favorite in Christian Fiction.
ReplyDeletePlease don't enter me! I have a copy coming (soon hopefully).
Thank you for sharing this good review, Kav!
*Smiling* @ Julie's Comment. So excited for you, friend!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ganise and you're right -- no need to worry about the end result when Julie Lessman is the writer. I was just so blue after reading the last O'Connor clan story I swore I'd never love another fictional family like that again. Oops -- I was wrong. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I don't mind if the characters have to suffer (not too much!) if there is an HEA in store for them. At least that gives me something to look forward to :)
ReplyDeleteCambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
Kav, I enjoyed your review so much! I am excited about Julie's new series and would love to win a copy of Love at Any Cost
ReplyDeletemay_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com
Thanks Kav for this great review. I think Julie is great too! Seems most people love her. I sure do. I would so love to win her book. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteMaxie Anderson mac262(at)me(dot)com
This is a wonderful review of Julie's new book. I'm really looking forward to reading this new series. I'm relieved that you like the McClares as well as the O'Connors. I've read all of Julie's previous books so I have a special place in my heart for the O'Connor family.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving us a chance to win a copy of Love at Any Cost.
pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
I love Julie's books! I'm very excited to read her new one!
ReplyDeletemarissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com
I'd really enjoy this book. Thanks!
ReplyDeletepbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Love Julie's books. Of course I'd love to win this one.
ReplyDeletemchapman (at) windstream (dot) net
You worded it perfectly about putting us thru the wronged with Julie's characters. I'm reading Hope Undaunted now and Katie is driving me crazy! Charity did in another book. Wonder if Julie draws personality traits out of a hat?
ReplyDeletemissionwife AT hotmail DOT com
Good luck everyone!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a hot review! I've been anxiously waiting for Love at Any Cost, now I know to prepare myself for the fun and the romance. Thanks for an an awesome review.:)
ReplyDeleteworthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Your welcome, Merry. And you're in for a thrill when you read it. Good luck!
ReplyDelete