Announcements

Our next Coffee and Books event will be on October 5th from 9:00-10:00am EST. Enjoy an hour of book talk with authors Julie Lessman, and Lynn Shannon. This is a free event, but you do need to register to save your spot. Head on over to www.literaryscape.com/events to register today. We look forward to seeing you on October 5th!

We are also running a survey during the month of September where readers can help us schedule our 2025 Coffee and Books events. Vote for the best day and time that works for you to attend. Then tell us which authors you would like to meet. The survey goes out each Friday in our newsletter. If you are not signed up, head on over to www.literaryscape.com/newsletter and sign-up today. This Friday will be the last day to vote.

The Unwavering Faith crowdfunding campaign continues. I am thankful for everyone who has purchased a book. At the time of this recording, we are just 31 books away from unlocking the first bonus item which has changed. We have also removed the leather bound book option. You now can get a copy of either a paperback or hardback or both of the limited-edition cover. Head on over to www.literaryscape.com/campaign to see the updates. The link will also be in the show notes. Please consider sharing this campaign with others as we work toward the goal of publishing Unwavering Faith.

That’s it for announcements. Let’s jump into this week’s bonus episode featuring Julie Lessman’s devotional What’s the Story, Morning Glory?

Episode Notes

Welcome to the Blog Tour for What's the Story, Morning Glory? by Julie Lessman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

If you follow our podcast and have listened to Julie Lessman’s most recent interview with us, then you know all about her ‘novotional’. It is a devotional unlike any other. I have linked Julie’s interview in below.

Before we jump into my review of What’s the Story Morning Glory by Julie Lessman I want to make you aware that I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I want to explain the format of What’s the Story Morning Glory and then I’ll dive into the meat of it. She starts each chapter with the real story. This is a story from her life that serves as an example for the chapter’s topic. This is followed by a scene from one of her novels that highlights the chapter’s topic/lesson. Julie follows the scene with several scripture verses that address the topic. After the scripture she provides three to six steps for how to put the scripture into action. Finally, she ends with a prayer her readers can pray. Full details and the back cover blurb can be found at the bottom of the blog post for this episode.

Julie is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. Her heart is on fire for God and she will always speak the truth. Her heart for God and her desire to share him with others is so evident in the stories she shares from her life, that you will be moved to tears and closer to God.

Here is an example of one of her personal stories she shares.

“God’s will is for you to be holy,

so stay away from all sexual sin.

Then each of you will control his own body

and live in holiness and honor—

not in lustful passion like the pagans

who do not know God and his ways.” 

~1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 NLT

Chapter Eight

From Promiscuity to Purity: Being Single in an Amoral World

1.) The Real Story:

“What do you mean, ‘it’s different with me?’” I skidded to a stop in my boyfriend’s driveway on the way to his Corvette, rooted to the asphalt like the lamppost by the steps to his house. He’d just had the audacity to brag about how proud he was of his little sister because “she was still a virgin.” 

“Come on, Julie, she’s my sister, so of course it’s different.”

Yeah, it was different all right. She was the one he admired and respected because she was moral while I was merely the girlfriend who gave him whatever he wanted free of charge.

No morals.

No respect.

No peace.

Being a product of the “Free Love” era of the 60’s and 70’s, I wasn’t a Christian back then and bore a major grudge against God, but even I could see the disparity between the two, something that literally rocked me to the core.

I think that was the beginning of a seed of understanding for me that God’s precepts—His morality instead of the world’s amorality—was the way of life instead of death, like Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NIV so succinctly states:

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” 

The “understanding” ramped up to a whole new level after Joy brought me to the Lord and told me sleeping with my boyfriend was sin. 

“God never shows me that in the Bible,” I argued, chin thrust high as I defended my version of “Bible roulette”—a haphazard method of opening the Bible to read just anywhere, somehow never coming upon passages on sexual sin. Which obviously meant they weren’t for me, right? 

Head drops in hand.

And, yes, I really was that stupid. But then the world’s amorality makes you stupid, blinding you to the blessings of God. 

The courage Julie had to share her deepest struggles could only have come from God. As I read the devotional my heart was splayed open. I had to face what she calls little foxes that were keeping a barrier between me and God. It hasn’t been pretty but so freeing as I fall on my knees before God and He gathers me in His loving arms.

Hearing someone’s personal testimony always relights our fire for God and spurs us on. Julie’s ‘novotional’ is packed with her personal testimonies. I have yet to read a devotional that has moved me and drawn me closer to God like hers has.

I cannot thank Julie enough for following God’s prompting as this devotional she co-authored with Him has been life changing. If you are looking for an inspirational and practical guide to deepen your relationship with God, then I highly recommend Julie Lessman’s devotional, What’s the Story Morning Glory. There are links in the show notes below where you can pre-order the devotional. It will launch on October 1, 2024, which is just around the corner.

Julie has a blog tour giveaway where (1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a character named after them in Julie's next book & a signed paperback copy of that book, plus a signed paperback copy of What's the Story, Morning Glory! Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post so you can enter for a chance to win the blog tour giveaway.

Until next time happy and blessed reading!

Also Available

About the Author

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, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 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 2014, Best of 2015, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-20, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was 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.

Connect with Julie by visiting julielessman.com to follow her on social media, read both romantic and spiritual excerpts from her books, or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a character named after you in Julie's next book & a signed paperback copy of that book, plus a signed paperback copy of What's the Story, Morning Glory!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 24, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 1, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for print copies. Gift card open to all locales. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!