What will it take to open his eyes to the love that’s right before him?
A Review of Julie Lessman’s new novel, “A Hope and a Prayer”
What will it take to open his eyes to the love that’s right before him?
Hope and Bren’s friendship in “A Wing and a Prayer” becomes the spotlight romance in Julie Lessman’s latest addition to the O’Connor family series, “A Hope and a Prayer.”
Hope and Bren have been best friends since they met at the army hospital where Hope worked as a nurse and Bren served as an aeromedical evac pilot. While Hope falls for Bren at first sight, Bren falls hard for Gabriella, Hope’s cousin, who happens to be in love with his best friend Alex.
“Oh, Bren,” she whispered, putting her head in her hands. “How I wish I could save you.”
But there was only One who could save him, and only one Friend she could go to petition that help.
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Blotting tears with her fingers, she slowly turned to make her way to the chapel at the end of the hall, desperate to find a place where she could unburden her soul.
To weep.
To pray.
And to seek solace…from the One who would never let her down…
And truly, the best friend I have…
Julie Lessman’s readers will find her new novel characteristically passionate and complicated. Adept at bringing characters to life, the author’s ability to intertwine their individual stories of faith in God is not only believable but inspirational, as well. Be prepared to walk away inspired after certain scenes in which God’s truth is spoken into the lives of Bren and Hope.
You may also expect to have a fluttering heart after passion-packed scenes that show how powerful love can be when kept within God’s precepts. Julie always has more than one love story in her books, and I particularly enjoyed the scenes between Hope’s parents, Mitch and Charity Dennehy. After more than 20 years of marriage, their mature love is every bit as passionate as the young love growing between Hope and Bren.
“She’s not the only one on cloud nine, Little Girl. I’ve been grinning nonstop ever since he told me. Which, as you know,” he said with a nuzzle of her lips, “is not like me unless I’m in bed with you…”
“Oh Mitch…” She lunged to kiss him again, and he devoured her with his mouth until they both pulled away breathless.
“Sweet mother of mercy,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with desire as he fanned his hands down the sides of her body, “you are the sexiest woman alive, and I can never seem to get enough of you.”
Julie tackles some tough subject matter as she describes the atrocities carried out in the Nazi concentration camps of WWII. I wrestled the most with this part of the story but acknowledge that it had to be included to fully appreciate the struggles of the characters who had witnessed the aftermath of the holocaust. I found it heartbreaking and difficult to read; however, Julie does an excellent job of guiding the reader through these grim scenes.
He grunted, “Trust me—I didn’t think I would either, but a visit to hell is a powerful motivator for facing the truth in one’s life.”
“Ohrdruf?” she asked quietly, and just the word drifting in the air tainted his mood.
“Yeah. A proverbial hell if ever there was.” He plowed a shaky hand through his hair. “I tell you, Hope, one bullet in the brain is not near enough for that monster responsible for all of this, so I hope his true suffering is just beginning in hell. He was nothing but a vile coward living in style 55 feet under his chancellery while his henchmen carried out his heinous crimes against humanity. Atrocities I’ve seen first-hand at Ohrdruf and will never be able to blot from my mind.”
My favorite character is the five-year-old orphan from France, Max, who suffers from strabismus (crossed eye) and plays a key role in getting Bren’s life on track. It would be difficult not to fall in love with Max whose sweet, charismatic personality is a bright light through the dark times in the novel. I found myself wishing I could pull him out of the pages and shower him with hugs and kisses, just as Hope does in the story!
“Yes, ma’am.” Carefully opening the pillbox, Max looked in the mirror per his routine, and Hope was gratified to see a glimmer of hope instead of sadness in his reflection.
“Dear God,” he said in a hushed voice, “Hope says You love me very much and want to heal me like you did for her sister Winnie, so if that’s true, could you please heal my eyes too? And also can you please give me a wonderful family someday—he paused to peek up at Hope with an impish smile—“like Uncle Bren as my papa and Nurse Hope as my mama—"
If you enjoy reading historical Christian romance novels that are packed with desire, this is the book for you. Julie’s tagline is passion with a purpose, and it shows in her writing. The scenes may have you melting, but they’re always clean and demonstrate the kind of passion that can exist between a husband and wife when God is at the center.
If you prefer Christian novels that are light on passion, then this is not the book for you. Although “A Hope and a Prayer” is a wholesome story where passion is kept within the bounds of God’s precepts, it does have a decidedly alluring romantic element.
Those who listen to my podcast, LiteraryScape Book Club, know that we use a 3-Lasso rating system when ranking books. Julie Lessman’s novel, “A Hope and a Prayer,” certainly deserves 3 Lassos. This story checked all my boxes when it comes to a great read and had me ‘hooked and hog-tied’ from the beginning to the very last page. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the O’Connor family series! Until next time, happy and blessed reading!
P.S. If you haven’t signed up for our live Q & A session with Julie Lessman on Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. (EST), click here. We would love to have you join us as we discuss “A Hope and a Prayer,” the latest addition to the O’Connor family series.
A Hope and a Prayer gets a 3-lasso rating.
Julie Lessman’s book A Hope and A Prayer gets a 3 lasso rating!
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She’s in love with her best friend.
He’s in love with her cousin.
But when the war reveals a gift so rare,
Will they be saved by a hope and a prayer?
As Head Nurse at 2d Hospital in Nancy, France, Lieutenant Hope Dennehy is known for her healing touch, especially when it comes to mending the wounds and spirit of her best friend, Lieutenant Bren O’Neill. When Hope’s cousin breaks Bren’s heart, Hope is always there, helping to heal him with a friendship so anointed and deep, it threatens to break her heart too.
Flying high as a daredevil aeromedical evac pilot in the European Theatre, “Lieutenant Love” O’Neill crashes and burns when the woman he loves falls for another. Depending on the support and prayers of Nurse Hope Dennehy to save him, Bren re-evaluates his free-wheeling lifestyle when he witnesses the heinous atrocities of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Suddenly nothing in life is as important as taking care of those he loves … or is it? Battling demons from his past, Bren learns that only one thing can truly save him from himself.
Want to start at the beginning? Fall in love with the entire O’Connor family. Click on our affiliate links below to get a copy of all the O’Connor stories!
About the Author
A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman writes 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 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-2020, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction.
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 at www.julielessman.com.
