In this episode Tiffanie and I will be discussing the third and final book in Julie Lessman’s Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Denied. We dig into this shocking romance story and share some funny memories that are like what the O’Connor family experiences.

If you have been reading this series from the beginning, then you know all about Katie Rose and her stubborn ways. She and Cluny, a young boy Brady takes in, really know how to push each other’s buttons. Of course, during one of their battles Katie Rose is caught by Patrick. He’s unaware of how Cluny has provoked her. Check this scene out.

 

“Wait, aren’t you going to say something nice about me?”

He turned and grinned, the victory in those blue eyes as sure as the cocky tilt of his chin. “Sorry, Katie Rose. Ain’t enough candy in the world.”

Katie blinked. Then cut loose with a kick tin his shin that nearly doubled him at the knees.

“Katie Rose? What the devil are you doing?” Patrick could hardly believe his own eyes. Was the dim lighting of the hall playing tricks, or had he just seen his eleven-year-old daughter haul off and kick Cluny? Sweet heaven, but she was a bully!

(Julie Lessman, A Passion Denied, page 263)

 

I’m sure we’ve all been Katie’s shoes. Trying to plead our case, but our parents are only going off what they saw or heard. This scene reminded me of a little fight I got into with a boy at Katie’s age. Unfortunately, my mother only heard my reaction to his unkind comment. Needless to say, I took a punishment, that my parents ended up coming back and apologizing for. You’ll have to listen to our podcast episode to hear the whole story.

Izzy and Brady’s first kiss does not go as one might think. In fact, I think Brady’s reaction will surprise you. Check out their first kiss.

 

“Beth, are we okay?” He ducked his head to search her eyes, then brushed her hair back from her face. A smile shadowed his lips. “Still friends?”

Friends. A deadly only a kiss could cure. Resolve stiffened her spine. “Sure, Brady…friends.”

He smiled and tucked a finger under her chin. “That’s my girl. Now what do you say we pray about some of these things?”

He leaned close with another quick kiss to her brow, and in a desperate beat of her heart, she lunged, uniting her mouth with his. She felt the shock of her action in the jolt of his body, and she gripped him close to deepen the kiss. Waves of warmth shuddered through her at the taste of him, and the essence of peppermint was sweet in her mouth.

“No!” He wrenched back from her hold with disbelief in his eyes.

(Julie Lessman, A Passion Denied, page 62)

 

When Brady finally feels free enough from his past to pursue Izzy, he takes her fishing. Their experience is quite entertaining and again similar to one of my own. Only I didn’t hook my husband in the pants with the fishhook! You’ll have to listen to the podcast to get the full scoop, but until then enjoy this funny scene.

 

She bit her lip and tentatively took the rod. “Well, okay, but I’m not sure I’ll be all that good. Let’s see, I hold it like this…then I press this…and then I do this…” In one fierce jerk, she whipped the line high over her head and yanked it back down.

“Whoa, little buddy, the fish are in the lake, not in my trousers,” Brady said with a chuckle. He carefully took the rod from her hands and reached back to disengage the hook from the seat of his pants.

(Julie Lessman, A Passion Denied, page 326)

 

In the last novel, A Passion Redeemed, Julie blew her readers away with the revelation of Charity’s past and Mitch’s. Believe or not, she throws a shocker out about Brady’s past that will blow her readers away! In fact, Izzy doesn’t handle the news well herself.

 

“Is it true?” Lizzie shouted. Thoughts of his depravity flashed in her mind, and she felt sick to her stomach.

He turned and walked to the back of the shop.

Lizzie followed, her heart hammering in her chest. “I want to know, Brady. Is it true?”

He kept his back to her and lowered his head, his tension obvious from the muscles straining his shirt.

…Her fury rose and she flew at him from behind pummeling him hard with her fists.

He spun around to fend her off, and Collin restrained her from behind. “Lizzie, stop!”

She wrenched against Collin’s hold, her chest heaving as revulsion rose in her throat like vomit. “It’s true, isn’t it?”

… “Yes.”

(Julie Lessman, A Passion Denied, page 408)

 

Whew! What an intense scene! You are going to love the up’s and down’s of Izzy and Brady’s love story.

LiteraryScape gives A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman 5 out of 3 lassos because we are sure it will have you hooked and hog-tied from beginning to end! 

The adventure, mystery, and romance level for A Passion Denied are as follows:

Adventure = Mocha

Mystery = Latte

Romance = Double Latte

Rating Scale: espresso=very little, mocha = medium amount, latte = a lot

Don’t forget to visit Julie Lessman’s website to learn about her amazing giveaway! You could win a character named after you in her next book A Dare and a Prayer, a signed paperback copy, and a $25 Amazon gift card. Click here to learn more!