The Promise of Hope: An O'Connor Christmas Novella by Julie Lessman Reviewed

 

About the book:

Title: The Promise of Hope

Author: Julie Lessman

Series: O'Connor Daughters of Boston and Winds of

Change

She’s a woman of deep faith,
Till one careless comment steals it away.
He’s a man of deep joy,
Till his wife’s pain takes it away.
Fortunately they serve a God of deep love,
Whose promise of hope brings blessings to stay.

Emma O’Connor’s gratitude knows no bounds. God has healed her painful past with a wonderful marriage, three beautiful adopted children, and a close-knit extended family to call her own. But when one careless comment sows the seeds of discontent over her infertility, both her joy—and her faith—begin to unravel.

Sean O’Connor has never met a woman of deeper faith honed by pain than his precious wife, Emma, which is why he vowed to give her a life of love and joy no matter the cost. But when her spirits dive along with her faith, he’s at a loss how to heal the woman he loves. Until the God of Hope intervenes with the promise of hope.

Goodreads || Amazon

About Julie Lessman

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 18 Romance Writers of America and other awards.

Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Windowwas an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.

You can connect with Julie Lessman on the following social media platforms. Facebook || Pinterest || Twitter and her website.

My Thoughts

Twelve years later and the O'Connor family is still my favorite bookish family. I love that Ms. Lessman keeps adding to the story through Christmas novellas. 

This novella is focused around Emma and Sean O'Connor. While they are the focus you get the entire Boston clan; It's bustling, loud, encouraging, and loving. Everything that I've come to love about the O'Connor's.

Julie Lessman pours her heart, literally and figuratively on the pages of this novella tackling the issue of infertility. My mom struggled with infertility and I remember her telling me how she hated going to church on Mother's Day with mother's being honored when she wasn't one; and going to the base hospital was worse seeing all the pregnant mom's. Like Sean and Emma, my parents adopted my brother and me.

I was crying as I finished it. Ms. Lessman has a way to evoke emotion in her readers which keeps us coming back for more. 

My heart is full and is ready for Christmas! This book will not only put you in the mood for Christmas it will give you that little bit of encouragement we are all needing.

I highly recommend this book!!