Review + GIVEAWAY: Love's Silver Lining by Julie Lessman

Love’s Silver Lining
By Julie Lessman
Silver Lining Ranch #1
Indie, 2018


Summary

NOTE: This book is a sweet inspirational with a slightly higher level of romantic passion.

Desperate to escape an arranged marriage to a womanizer, twenty-two-year-old Maggie Mullaney flees New York for Virginia City, Nevada with her Aunt Liberty, two spunky suffragists intent on bettering the lives of women. Fresh out of nursing school, Maggie hopes to devote herself to serving others rather than just one man, a goal quickly affirmed when she encounters Blaze Donovan, a womanizing cowboy who both riles and rouses her pulse. But when Aunt Liberty’s parents’ house burns down, she and Maggie are coerced into staying at the ranch of Liberty’s ex-husband, Finn McShane, who just happens to be the uncle of the cocky cowboy Maggie had hoped to avoid.

If there’s one thing twenty-nine-year-old Blaze Donovan can’t abide, it’s respectable women who spout piety and prayer, so when he butts heads with perky Maggie Mullaney at St. Mary Louise Hospital, he wants to stay as far away from her as he possibly can. Unfortunately, she now lives in the bedroom next to his in his uncle’s ranch house, a revolting development that sends Blaze to The Ponderosa Saloon more than usual. But when Maggie interferes in Blaze’s life by converting his favorite “disrespectable” girl, Blaze is determined to make her pay. Only problem is—the price HE has to pay may be a little too steep for his heart.

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My thoughts

Virginia City, Nevada 1885

A Julie Lessman book is meant to be savored. It’s like a breath of fresh air, standing out from other historical romances because of its uniqueness. Richness of characterization, snappy dialogue, humor, romantic chemistry that’s off the charts, and spiritual nuggets that not only inspire, but might even challenge you … all this and more is found in Love’s Silver Lining.

Whichever one of Julie’s books I’m reading at the time is usually my favorite, but with the western setting of the Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie has outdone herself. I can’t explain why; it just clicks with me. But it starts off with such a shocker! One thing I especially enjoy about Julie’s books is the inclusion of a secondary romance involving an older couple, but Libby and Finn in this case?! I mean, they were happily married at the end of the prequel, For Love of Liberty – weren’t they? Now it’s 17 years later …

Julie has created a family saga filled with endearing – sometimes frustrating – but mainly such endearing and memorable characters that I didn’t want to reach the end and close the book. Finn has become a well-respected rancher and Libby is still very involved in the suffragette movement. Into this mix comes Maggie, Libby’s niece and nursing school graduate, and Finn’s nephew, Blaze … “a hero with a heart of gold, but with more stubbornness in his veins than silver in the Comstock,” according to Sister Frederica. Expect lots of sparks to fly!

“Never forget, son, that bitterness is like handing

your enemy a loaded gun to wound you all over again.”

– Paster Poppy to Finn

While all the sparks and passion are tons of fun, what elevates Julie’s stories to a whole other level, in my opinion, is the spiritual aspect. You might think that Maggie and Blaze are the main characters, or even Finn and Libby, but the main character is actually God. Love is expressed throughout in many forms – for friends, family, and romance – but through these characters, we see a God who is passionate about people. The importance of not only personal faith, but a shared faith in marriage is also key.

Love’s Silver Lining is delightful in every way and I eagerly await more stories to come. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Singing Librarian Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________

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, and Isle of Hope 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 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. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at http://www.julielessman.com.

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GIVEAWAY

I am thrilled that Julie is so graciously giving away an e-copy of Love’s Silver Lining. To enter, please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then let me know you shared by leaving a comment on this blog post. If you’ve read any of Julie’s books and have a favorite story or series, please share that as well.

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Tuesday, July 10. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: Giveaway is open internationally.