When I read a book I usually form an
impression of characters, and the opinions typically hold true until possibly a
surprise is revealed near the book’s end.
That was not the case in Dare to Love Again. Having read the first book in The Heart of San Francisco series, I had
met the lead character in this book, Allison McClare, and remembered her as a
compassionate, high spirited young lady of great faith. In this, the second book of the series,
Allison is multi-faceted. One moment she
is emotionally wounded and defensive, provoking sympathy from the reader; the
next she is a spoiled, temper tantruming brat that the reader would like to
take by the shoulders and shake! There
are times when she is a bright young educator, totally devoted to her job and
her students, a young women yearning for independence and self-reliance. Yet she is also capable of being
manipulative, self-serving, and at times even cruel (although she eventually
becomes remorseful and apologetic). Her
male counterpart possesses equally diverse character traits: handsome, harsh,
humorous, easily perturbed, petulant, aggressive, honest, shady, compassionate,
loving, angry, … I stayed engaged with the story in order to find out these two
characters’ true character.
One thing that I love about Julie Lessman’s
books is the degree of research that goes into their historical accuracy. Lessman is a master of weaving in interesting
historical information that helps place her readers in the story’s setting.
Allison’s excitement over the sites as she takes her first cable car ride causes
her to take on the role of tour guide for the handsome policeman recently
arrived in the city, allowing us a lens for viewing 1903 San Francisco. The
horrors of life on the Barbary Coast are made evident as Allison, her mother,
and her cousin work to improve the lives of the young girls who make their
homes there. By contrast Lessman paints
a clear vision of the much different life among the residents of Nob Hill, the
home of San Francisco’s elite. Even the
fine points of the dress and hairstyles of the day have been carefully
researched and described. The demands of
morality during this time in the city’s history are clearly viewed in the lives
of the McClare family, some who find them more easily met than others. The
depths of debauchery, not so much different from today, are also evident in the
circumstances found on the Barbary Coast, from which some in the McClare family
may be profiting.
Trust is one of the major themes in this
series of books. The McClare women seem
to be destined to having their hearts broken before finding true romance. In the midst of these trials and heartaches,
they learn the importance of trusting in God’s love, mercy and
sovereignty. They also learn the
importance of trusting their hearts to men who also trust God. I was reminded of the blessing of a husband
who embraces the role of spiritual head of the household, a blessing I enjoy
daily.
Julie Lessman is known for her ability to
create sexual tension between characters while maintaining a storyline that
does not compromise and using vocabulary that does not embarrass. She has demonstrated that ability in Dare
to Love Again. While reading this
book I also learned of a non-fiction book that Lessman has written in which she
shares her secrests, and hopes to teach others as well. Those reading this review who are interested
in writing as well may want to check out [Romance-ology 101] Writing
Romantic Tension for the Inspirational and Sweet Markets.
In my review
of Love at Any Cost I had expressed an interest in the continuing story
of Caitlynn (Allison’s widowed mother) and Logan. I was not disappointed in the way Lessman
continued to develop their love story.
One of the nice things about this series is that the love story of each
book’s main character is a stand-alone read with closure at the book’s end, but
the story of Cait and Logan is a continuing thread throughout the series.
Thank you to Revell, the
publisher, for sending me a copy of Dare to Love Again for my honest
opinion of the book.
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