Title: Isle of Hope
Author: Julie Lessman
Publisher: Self
Release Date: November 3, 2015
ABOUT
THE BOOK
She
stole his heart.
He stole her peace.
Can hope steal their pain?
At the age of eighteen, Lacey Carmichael was a wild girl bent on fun, promised to Jack Carmichael, a straight-and-narrow pastor’s kid bent on the seminary. When her father kicks her out of the house, she runs away from Isle of Hope, turning her back on everything she loves. Now, eight years later, she’s back as a woman of faith, hoping to make amends to the father she defied, the boyfriend she deserted, and the best friend she denied. Only the bridges she’s burned are still smoldering, kindled by an adulterous affair by Jack’s pastor father that damaged his son’s faith. But can a turning of tables—and hearts—lead the way back to “hope” for them all?
He stole her peace.
Can hope steal their pain?
At the age of eighteen, Lacey Carmichael was a wild girl bent on fun, promised to Jack Carmichael, a straight-and-narrow pastor’s kid bent on the seminary. When her father kicks her out of the house, she runs away from Isle of Hope, turning her back on everything she loves. Now, eight years later, she’s back as a woman of faith, hoping to make amends to the father she defied, the boyfriend she deserted, and the best friend she denied. Only the bridges she’s burned are still smoldering, kindled by an adulterous affair by Jack’s pastor father that damaged his son’s faith. But can a turning of tables—and hearts—lead the way back to “hope” for them all?
MY THOUGHTS
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" - Romans 15:13
One of my favorite verses and coincidentally a verse mentioned on page 381 of Julie Lessman's Isle of Hope. This wonderful verse keeps popping into my head ever so often since I started Isle of Hope. And I was pleasantly surprised to see it on the page. I mean, now that I think about it, I shouldn't be surprised, because God knows what He's doing when He inspired Julie to write such beautiful and riveting stories.
I was hooked with Julie's Daughters of Boston series, starting with A Passion Most Pure. With Isle of Hope, her first contemporary Christian fiction, it again reminded me why she's one of my favorite authors. She's authentic in her stories, giving readers the true nature of emotions, thoughts, and desires in her characters. The struggles of pride, pain, forgiveness, and the balance of physical, emotional and spiritual passion valiantly written in the few hundred pages of each of her books. How could one not be drawn to her stories?
"The moment when you read a line that is so beautiful you just close the book and stare at the wall for a minute." - Anonymous
That is how I felt about this book. In Isle of Hope, we are revered by the many twists and sub-plots that will get your blood boiling, heart pounding, eyes teary (and maybe tears streaming), nose sniffling, teeth clenching, fists curling and yes, a tingling of warmth from the heart to every part of you. I love this book, no doubt about it. This may even be my favorite of hers to date, but I'll have to reread her other ones to confirm. *wink wink. Themes of mistakes past, redemption and forgiveness will hit home for many, and ultimately the reach of hope for "there is no hope without forgiveness." (436) I stopped many times to tag, note, think and yes, stared at the wall for a minute or two. Julie's many phrases and ideas provoke thinking, reflection and inspiration. Don't worry, there's also a great deal of humor she packs into her novels. Loved the banterings of the characters in Isle of Hope, and who could not love the references to our Tuesday night favorite, NCIS? Julie's eloquence of words makes the transition from humor to personal thoughts to emotions seamless and realistic.
There are so many quotable quotes I want to share, but there might be a copyright issue, so I'll just leave with one more. "God's love is unconditional because if it wasn't, all of us would be lost. When one is loved so desperately and so unconditionally as we are loved by God, our hearts long to respond. To love Him back in a way that will not only glorify Him, but bless us as well." (320) Julie's words in her books amplifies how magnificent our God is, inspires and reminds us that we are forgiven, loved and there's always hope.
NOTE: I received a complimentary e-copy of this book as part of the Singing Librarian Book Tour.
TO PURCHASE A COPY: Amazon
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Julie Lessman,
award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of
San Francisco series, was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut
Author of the Year and voted #1 Romance Author of the Year in Family
Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards. Julie has
garnered 17 RWA and other awards and made Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational
Fiction. Her latest novel, Surprised by Love, appeared
on Family Fiction magazine’s list of Top Ten Novels of 2014. Her
indie book A Light in the Window is an International Digital
Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best
Award winner.
You can contact Julie and read excerpts from her books at www.julielessman.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter. Check out Julie’s group
blog, TheSeekers, Writers Digest 2013, 2014, and 2015 “Best 101
Websites for Writers,” and Julie’s own personal blog, Journal Jots, voted blog of the month
in the Readers’ Choice poll of Book Fun Magazine.
GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 1--Singing Librarian Books
November 2--Just Commonly
November 3--Between the Pages | Anna Weaver Hurtt, Author
November 4--Faith, Fiction, and Fun
November 5--Buzzing About Books
November 6--Reading is My Super Power | Smiling Book Reviews
November 7--Wishful Endings
Isle of Hope sounds like a good story with suspense and drama.
ReplyDeleteANNIE!!! WOW, thank you for SUCH a beautiful review, my friend -- it brought tears to my eyes! You are a blessing to me!
ReplyDeleteHugs and more hugs,
Julie
Loved your review, Annie - thank you!! Glad this may be your fave of Julie's books - it is such a special book, just thinking about it fills me with emotion. I know God will use it to bless others and draw them closer to Him via the healing of broken relationships!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Bonnie. It truly was a special read. Thank you again for your kind words.
DeleteThank YOU, Julie for a wonderful book. I really had a great time and deep sense of connection reading your beautiful words and stories. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis book I want :-) Win or no, it's on my tower of Pisa TBR....lol!! Thank you for the chance
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful! Love your Pisa tower....mine is not as architecturally as pleasing as yours.
DeleteLOL, Trixi ... that is too cute about your "tower of Pisa" TBR!! Let's hope we can get it into your hot, little hands so we don't tip that sucker, eh?
ReplyDeleteHugs and GOOD LUCK!
Julie
Great Review, I loved the banter between characters as well. Julie's writing is great. There were so many emotions in this book, I could not put it down.
ReplyDeleteLISA ... thanks for coming by, my friend -- hope you win!! :)
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Julie
Great review! I can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDeleteJulie Lessman is one of my favorite authors!
ReplyDeleteIs it this post or is it The Civil War, A Thousand Shall Fall + Giveaway post? Who knows?
ReplyDeleteClue Six: This sounds like a great book too!
ReplyDelete6. This contemporary fiction has references to one of my favorite TV shows, NCIS. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
ReplyDelete