My Blog's 10th Year Birthday Bash: Julie Lessman's book giveaway

Welcome to the 17th day of my blog's birthday bash!

Please welcome my author friend Julie Lessman.

She's here to graciously give away a total of 10 ebook copies of her stories to five winners! Each of the five winners will receive a copy of Isle of Hope and A Light in the Window.

Enter the book giveaway contest via the Rafflecopter widget the end of this blog post. Only residents of the USA are eligible to receive a signed paperback copy of this author's books. International residents will only receive ebook copies due to costs of mailing books outside of the USA.

Let's learn a little bit more about Julie and her books ...

Author Bio:

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, and Silver Lining Ranch 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 2015, Best of 2014, 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 titled 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 www.julielessman.com.

~*~

Back Cover Blurb for Isle of Hope: 

Can a wild girl gone good rebuild bridges with a good boy gone bad?

She’s the girlfriend serving up temptation. 

He’s the pastor’s kid bent on serving God.

Till tragedy separates them for eight long years. 

Now she’s a woman of faith, back to make amends to the father she defied, the boyfriend she deserted, and the best friend she betrayed. 

But can a turning of tables—and hearts—lead the way back to “hope” for them all?
                                                                              
                                                                                 ~*~

Back Cover Blurb for A Light in the Window:

One Woman. Two Men.

One stirs her pulse, the other her faith.

But who will win her heart?

Marceline Murphy, a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues, catches the eye of two of Boston’s most notorious. Patrick O’Connor and Sam O’Rourke are best friends with a bond like brothers … until they meet one woman neither can have.

Overseeing St. Mary’s Christmas play—A Light in the Window—Marcy wrestles with her attraction to both. But when disaster strikes, she’s destined to discover the play’s message firsthand. For although two men have professed their love, only one has responded to the light in the window.

~*~
Connect with Julie:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieLessmanAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/julielessman
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/julielessman/

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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12 Days of Christmas Book Giveaways: Julie Lessman's Christmas stories

Let's welcome my author friend Julie Lessman to the blog!

She's our first guest for my blog's holiday series, "12 Days of Christmas Book Giveaways" and she's certainly the most generous because she wants to give away a bundle of SIX e-books to EACH of the six winners of this book giveaway contest!

Enjoy this special treat because it's only happening once (the other authors are not giving away these many books but they are each giving away at least one, so stay tuned)!

Now let me tell you a little bit about Julie and her wonderful Christmas stories:

This is Julie:

Author Bio:

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, and Silver Lining Ranch 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 www.julielessman.com.

 ~*~

These are Julie's books:

Book Blurb for A Light in the Window:

A Light in the Window: An Irish Christmas Love Story (Award-winning Novel)

One Woman. Two Men.

One stirs her pulse, the other her faith.

But who will win her heart?

Marceline Murphy, a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues, catches the eye of two of Boston’s most notorious. Patrick O’Connor and Sam O’Rourke are best friends with a bond like brothers … until they meet one woman neither can have.

Overseeing St. Mary’s Christmas play—A Light in the Window—Marcy wrestles with her attraction to both. But when disaster strikes, she’s destined to discover the play’s message firsthand. For although two men have professed their love, only one has responded to the light in the window.

Here's the video for A Light in the Window: http://bit.ly/1ROm4d6

~*~

Book Blurb for A Whisper of Hope:

A Whisper of Hope — An O’Connor Christmas Novella (associated w/Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change Series):

She’s desperate for a baby.

He’s desperate for an empty nest.

Love is desperate to surprise them both.

With a husband dead set against adoption,

Charity O’Connor Dennehy has barely a whisper of hope

for more children. But if hope doesn’t disappoint …

will it be enough to find a precious bundle under her tree?

~*~

Book Blurb for The Best Gift of All:

The Best Gift of All — An O’Connor Christmas Novella (associated w/Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change Series): 

She longs to be the perfect mother.

He just longs for his wife.

Until they receive ... the best gift of all.

Everyone knows Lizzie and John Brady have the perfect marriage.

But when Lizzie’s desire to be a good mother

eclipses her desire for her husband, the honeymoon is definitely over.

Can the spirit of Christmas heal their hearts when Lizzie gives John the best gift of all?

~*~

Book Blurb for A Dream Fulfilled:

A Dream Fulfilled — An O’Connor Christmas Novella (associated w/Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change Series):

She’s always dreamed of a best friend.

He’s always dreamed of a large family.

Until hope intervenes with a dream fulfilled.

Katie O’Connor McGee learned early on not to let anyone get too close. Picked on mercilessly in school because of an unsightly handicap, she kept everyone at arm's length, including three big sisters seven to fourteen years older. As far as Katie was concerned, friends were meant to be restricted, not embraced.

But when she meets Arlene Campbell and her little girl, Addie, during playtime at a park with her own children, she discovers a friendship for which she’s waited a lifetime. A dream hidden deep in her soul she didn’t even know existed until she connected with a woman who would change her life forever, teaching her the depth and sacrifice of true friendship.

Luke McGee has dreamed of having a large family since he roamed the streets of Boston as a virtual orphan, finally finding a home—and his heart—in a marriage to Katie O’Connor and their two young girls. However, once Katie’s time and affection shifts toward a new friend who needs her, it creates turmoil in Luke’s happy home. It doesn’t help that as Director for the Boston Children’s Aid Society, Luke works long hours providing homes and hope for troubled children on the streets.

But when he reaches out to one hardened little boy, his hope to make a difference suddenly coincides with that of his wife’s, sowing the seeds of a dream fulfilled for them all.

~*~

Book Blurb for A Gift Like No Other:

A Gift Like No Other — An O’Connor Christmas Novella (associated w/Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change Series):

Her dream is writing.

His is the perfect wife and mother.

Until God fulfills them both with a dream like no other.

Twelve years ago, Faith O’Connor happily gave up her dream as a copywriter to become a wife and mother, clinging to her husband’s promise she could return someday. But when the opportunity arises to write for the Boston Herald again two days a week, her dream hits a snag … along with her marriage.

To Collin McGuire, family is everything because he never really had one of his own. Raised by a father who died early and a mother who didn’t care, Collin is determined to give his children the very best with a full-time mother. But when he denies Faith her dream, he soon discovers he’s denied his own as well … until Christmas day brings a healing through a gift like no other.

~*~

Book Blurb for The Gift of Grace:

The Gift of Grace — A Frontier Christmas Novella (formerly part of the Cowboy Christmas Homecoming Collection):

She’s the Accident to His Prayers …

Pastor Cole McCabe isn’t sure he’ll survive the holidays

with his new housekeeper and nanny.

She’s caught fire to the kitchen, dyed his long johns pink,

and scorched nearly everything she cooks.

But he’s desperate, and she’s as destitute as they come.

Even though she’s no good with her hands,

Grace sure has a way with her heart.

She’s brought a warmth into Cole’s home,

added color to his daughters’ lives, and broken

down the wall he’s built up since his beloved wife died.

But when Grace’s past threatens Cole’s family,

she’s given one last chance to be home for Christmas ...

if she hasn’t burned it down yet.

~*~

Book Giveaway Details:

Enter this multiple book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a bundle of these books written by Julie Lessman, by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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25 Days of Christmas Stories: Interview with Julie Lessman, inspirational romance author

Let's welcome Julie Lessman to the blog today! She's kicking off our "25 Days of Christmas Stories" blog series and you are in for a treat! 

Julie is an inspirational romance author whose stories have on many awards. She's a big deal in the Christian book market and she's here today to talk about three of her holiday stories, two of which are included in a box set.

Not only is Julie sharing all these fun details about her work, she's agreed to give away three of her books, two of which are each in a boxed set which means the winner of the box set will get a total of FOUR books (three by other authors, one by Julie)!

She's very generous, eh?

But that's not all, Julie said that each of the 3 winners may choose which prize they want to claim. Here are photos of what Julie has to offer each winner:

Hope for the Holidays Historical Collection

Home for Christmas Historical Collection

A Light in the Window

Simply wonderful, isn't it? Now all you need to do to enter this book giveaway contest is to fill out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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Let's begin the interview with Julie! 

*Words from Alexis are in bold, words from Julie are not in bold

~*~

Alexis: It’s delightful that you’ve written not one, not two, but three lovely Christmas stories, Julie! Thank you for agreeing to share details on each of your novellas today!

Let’s begin the interview starting with the our main feature today, your novella, “The Best Gift of All.”  

Why did you write this story? What is it about? How do you want it to impact your readers?

Julie: This sounds silly, I know, but I wrote this story because I miss the O’Connors terribly, the close-knit Irish family from my first two series, the Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change. I SO fell in love with this passionate family that it’s just fun to revisit them each year via Christmas novellas about the various couples.

This year’s novella, “The Best Gift of All,” focuses on the third O’Connor daughter, Lizzie, and her husband John Brady, dealing with a very sensitive issue that actually almost destroyed a marriage of a good friend of mine. Which is exactly why I wrote it—to impact readers who may be making the same mistake in their marriage as Lizzie does in hers. Here’s a brief blurb: 

Everyone knows John and Lizzie Brady have the perfect marriage. But when Lizzie’s desire to be a good mother eclipses her desire for her husband, the honeymoon is definitely over. Can the spirit of Christmas heal their hearts when Lizzie gives John the best gift of all?

In “The Best Gift of All,” you portray John and Lizzie Brady as the perfect married couple. What did they do to earn that merit? In what ways do you hope their story will impact your readers, especially when we find out that not all is well this Christmas with The Brady Family? 

The other O’Connor siblings have always teased John and Lizzie about having the perfect marriage because they never fight, never seem to have problems, and Lizzie has all but worshipped John since she was thirteen. Known as the quiet and shy romantic of the family, Lizzie is the perfect buffer to her three older sisters, all of whom have strong-willed personalities. From Faith with her redheaded temper and Charity with her playful plotting, to Katie with her strong suffragist views, all three have experienced their fair share of marital bumps in the road. Unlike Lizzie and John … uh … that is, until now.

When Lizzie’s “doting worship” suddenly switches from her husband to her children, it fosters bitterness in both John and Lizzie, creating a strained and sometimes volatile relationship instead of the “perfect marriage” they enjoyed before. As I mention in the reader notes at the back of the novella, “The Best Gift of All” is actually based on the real-life situation of a couple I know who not only experienced damage in their marriage from this problem, but damage to the father’s relationship with his children as well. I knew then that this was an important issue to address, so I pray this story is a blessing to those who need it.

What life lessons will The Brady Family learn and how does their faith in God play a role in healing their hearts?

A VERY important lesson for couples today, as expressed in the excerpt below when Lizzie confides to her sister about her bitterness towards John...Because of Lizzie’s deep faith in God, her sister is able to pierce her heart with the truth—a truth that eventually gives both Lizzie and John, “the best gift of all.”

Okay, I have to ask: What exactly is “the best gift of all” in The Brady Family story? What can you tell us without giving away the story? 

Come on, Alexis, you know I can’t tell you that, but let’s just say it’s a gift that can’t be wrapped in ribbons and bows!

Now let’s talk about your other Christmas novella, “A Whisper of Hope.”  

What foreshadowing does the story title “A Whisper of Hope” have in light of the characters and their journey?

“A Whisper of Hope” is about the lovable busybody in the O’Connor family, Charity O’Connor Dennehy, and trust me—as a women who spends her life “plotting” to get what she wants, the word “whisper” is most appropriate! And what Charity wants is another baby, but her much older husband Mitch is not so inclined, so Charity takes it upon herself to change his mind. And if you knew Mitch Denney, you’d know he is the most stubborn of all the O’Connor spouses, butting heads with Charity from the moment she first seduced him in book 1 of this family saga, A Passion Most Pure. So you might say that Charity doesn’t have a “whisper” of a prayer in changing Mitch’s mind. But then … all it takes is a “whisper of hope,” right?

What can you tell us in a few words about your leading lady Charity O’Connor Dennehy and her husband’s relationship?

Charity is passionate, headstrong, and manipulative. Mitch is passionate, stubborn, and part mule, and nothing in marriage comes easily to these two. But … they’re saved by their faith … and a love that is deep and true and very passionate. 

Finally, let’s spend some time talking about one more of your Christmas novels, A Light in the Window: An Irish Christmas Love Story. 

A Light in the Window is a beautiful title for a Christmas story! What picture do you hope this title paints in the mind of your readers?

Thank you, Alexis! This title is actually based on three things: 

1) Putting a “light in the window” is an old Irish Christmas tradition. 

2) It’s the name of the fundraiser play for the parish homeless shelter in the book. 

3) It’s symbolic of the heroine’s faith in that only one of the two heroes truly responds to the “light in the window,” which is the love of Christ in her heart.

I love your tagline for your novel about the two men in your leading lady Marceline Murphy’s life—“one stirs her pulse, the other her faith.” Love it! What can you tell us about these two remarkable men? Is there a lesson for the ladies here within? Please explain.

Oh, yes, a BIG lesson that I hope all young women will heed! Patrick O’Connor and Sam O’Rourke are the two Southie rogues who break hearts left and right, turning the head of every woman they meet. Uh … except one! Here’s the video my artist hubby did for A Light in The Window, which gives you a better idea about the story. It also stars my daughter as Marcy in the video and on the book cover.

Tell us a bit about Patrick O’Conner and Sam O’Rourke. What makes their world go round? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

Patrick and Sam are two best friends who are like brothers and very used to getting their way with women. Sam is from a good Catholic family with a strong faith base, but Patrick is not, with a home life that is very dysfunctional. Their biggest weaknesses, other than their penchant for women, is their lack of faith.

What is it about Marceline that makes these two men fight to win her heart?

First of all, Marcy is the first woman who doesn’t give them the time of day at first, so she’s a challenge. She’s had several bad experiences with good-looking “rogues,” and wants nothing to do with them, which naturally piques both Patrick’s and Sam’s interest. But it’s her purity of heart and deep faith that draws them both, although they aren’t fully aware of that and really want nothing to do with faith.

Let’s close with a few questions for you as the author. 

Why do you love to write fiction? 

I love to write fiction because for me, it’s the easiest ways to teach the many, many lessons I have learned—all the hard way, I might add—as a mother, wife, and Christian.

How does your faith in God play into your storytelling?

Well, let’s put it this way—without God, there would be no books, period. God is not only my reason to write, He is my inspiration, my motivation, my confidence and my talent. Like Michael W. Smith sings in his incredible song, “Breathe,” God is “the air I breathe.” I love romance, make no mistake, but without God in the middle, it is flat, empty, pointless. So I guess you could say that although I write books heavily laced with romantic passion, they are also intensely spiritually passionate as well, with God always firmly anchored in the middle. 

What’s one thing this Christmas season you want to do that know one else knows?

Go see lots of movies with the love of my life because we seldom venture out to the movies, although we do love them. I am totally blessed to be married to a man who actually enjoys watching Hallmark movies with me, so it doesn’t get any better than that over the holidays.

Thanks for the interview, Julie! Merry Christmas and God bless you! And Merry Christmas to you and yours as well, Alexis, and thank you for hosting me on your blog—it’s been fun! I will say that I love to hear from reader friends, so if they like, they can contact me and read excerpts from my books at www.julielessman.com, or through Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or Pinterest or by signing up for my newsletter.

I also have a blog called “Journal Jots,” which is a very laid-back journal to my reader friends, or readers can check out my favorite romantic and spiritual scenes from each of my books on the “Excerpts” tab of my website. In addition, I can be found daily at The Seekers, a group blog of 13 published authors that inspires, encourages, teaches, and informs aspiring writers on the road to publication and beyond. Although Seekerville has been listed on Writers Digest 2013 and 2014 “Best 101 Websites for Writers,” it is also a blog devoted to readers as well.

~*~
Author bio: 

Julie was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered 17 Romance Writers of America and other awards. 

Voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also named on Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction list. Her latest novel, Surprised by Love, appeared on Family Fiction magazine’s list of Top Ten Novels of 2014, and her independent novel 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. 

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets.

You can contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.