Love at Any Cost by Julie Lessman – A Book Review

As a fan of Christian fiction, I have read many Christian novels that had a romantic flare whether as the main story line or as a subplot.  I have read none that sizzled like this novel by Julie Lessman.  It was reminiscent of the novels I read as a twenty-something before I discovered Christian fiction.  Yet, Lessman was able to build the tension and make stolen kisses seem like so much more without compromising the integrity of herself, her characters, or her readers. I will definitely read more books by this author.  (I had one this one as part of a Christian fiction scavenger hunt.)

Love at Any Cost puts Caitlyn McClare in the role of a progressive reformer like Eleanor Roosevelt and Frances Willard, as passionate as, but more subdued than, Carrie Nation.  Like many women of that era, she is at first reluctant to step out of her traditional role as a woman, but decides to place social reform as a priority in her life, quoting Edmund Burke, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing,” realizing that speaks to women as well.  As the matriarch of the McClare family, she nurtures her family and cares for their spiritual health while struggling with her own desires. Lessman leaves us wondering about the path Cait’s love like will take, and I’m hoping she’ll continue to be featured in The Heart of San Francisco series.

The main character in this novel is Cassidy McClare, her romance with the persistent Jamie McKenna providing the sizzle in this story.  Cassidy, wounded by a money loving lothario back home in Texas, is on guard against all men when she encounters Jamie.  She struggles with keeping Jamie at arms’ length, and helping him to discover an authentic faith in God.  Just when you think you know how Cassidy and Jamie’s story is going to come to closure, Lessman introduces a totally unexpected turn of events making it impossible to put the book down until the final page is turned. 

I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.  

Great giveaway, a trip to Kim Vogel Sawyer's bed and breakfast: http://is.gd/Teb9Z1

One Glorious Ambition - a book review

Teachers of reading should be readers. As such, I would like to occasionally post reviews of books I have read. I received One Glorious Ambition by Jane Kirkpatrick free of charge for the purpose of reviewing. I was not encouraged to write the review with any particular viewpoint in mind, only to share my truthful opinion after reading. I was not paid or rewarded in any way for the following review.
When I looked at the choices of books to consider reviewing, I was thrilled to see a title by author Jane Kirkpatrick. I had read two of her books a few years ago, and found them to be among those special books that lingered on the fringes of my memory, frequently inserting themselves into life’s events and circumstances. I selected One Glorious Ambition anxious for a similar experience. What I quickly realized was that I had misjudged the time it would take to read this text, which I learned was based on the life of Dorothea Dix, an educator and crusader for the humane treatment of the insane. This was no light read, or feel good story, but a heavy, sometimes dark story of a troubled heroine. Kirkpatrick writes about Miss Dix in such a way that her depression finds its way into the crevices of one’s mind, and breaks in reading are needed to once again fill those places with light. Yet it also pulls the reader back to the story with a desire to know that Miss Dix also finds a way to air out her soul, to breathe in light.
In this story Dorothea Dix waits a long time for God to “set upon her heart that specific cause that should be her one glorious ambition,” meaning her purpose in life. Ms Kirkpatrick has found her glorious ambition in writing as a means to share God’s story through the story of His people. Ms Kirkpatrick’s gift of word choice paints vivid mental images, visual and emotional, that tug at the reader’s heart. Ms Dix found hers in championing the needs of the insane. In her diary she writes, “Relieving the suffering of others will relieve my own,” and , ”As I am homeless I will create homes for the insane,” Family issues growing up had a lifelong impact on Ms Dix. A lifetime of disappointments did not sway her from what she knew to be her God given purpose. I will resist the temptation to close this review with a comment concerning Ms Dix’s success or failure in her quest.
I would recommend this book to historical fiction and biography fans alike, with the suggestion to trust the author enough to continue to read to the end.

The Loom: a Book Review

The Loom
by Shella Gillus
I picked up this book free on my Kindle. After reading it, I would have been more than willing to have paid for it. The story is meaningful, the themes interesting. The author paints clear mental images with beautiful language. It is true, sometimes we don’t understand what we have until we get what we want.