Hope Undaunted

Katie O'Connor is a spunky young woman with high standards for herself and the man she will marry. But when she breaks her father's curfew with Jack one too many times, she finds herself punished for the summer. Her punishment? Spend the summer volunteering at the Boston Children's Aid Society, which she finds makes her childhood nemesis, Luke McGee, her boss.

I LOVED reading A Hope Undaunted! Katie, being the baby of the O'Connor family, was always a minor character and seeing her all grown up now was unbelievable.

A Hope Undaunted was a wonderful book and I highly recommend it. I would strongly suggest that you read the Daughters of Boston Series before you read this book - as this story is a continuation of a family saga. Julie Lessman's books are my all-time favorites, ones I can read again and again! ( )

Sometimes a work of fiction appears to be on the surface a simple enough story, whether it be adventure, suspense, mystery, romance, or what have you. Sometimes, however, one is greatly mistaken if they assume such a simple focus on the part of the author. Some authors like to be ambitious, and attempt a more sweeping story. Whether the author succeeds at this task is up to the reader to decide.

This is the view that I take as I think about *A Hope Undaunted*, Book One of the *Winds of Change* series of novels by Julie Lessman. Less of a straight-forward series, and more a series of interconnected stories, the series focuses on the trials and travails of the O'Connor family, a clan of strong, stubborn but pious, Irish Catholics in Boston on the cusp of the Great Depression.

To choose the “Roaring 20's” as a backdrop is not all that new an idea. Other authors have written similar stories, except for one difference, which is that Lessman pulls no punches in how she presents the history of the period. Fear, increasing poverty, recovering from one war, and (I assume given the serious tone of the series to date) soon to be nearing another one. The uncertainty and doubt as the country and world face immense trials, and prepare to face a world that is radically changing around them, is perhaps an even stronger theme than the novel's central love story.

The main protagonist of the first book, Katie Rose O'Connor, is the audience's focal point into this time of trial and fear. I found myself able to recognize myself in her fears for the future, given our own economic woes (not that they are the same thing, but it does help one to realize it is nothing new to have such fears, or problems, if on a smaller scale). For the same reason, I could empathize with the war veteran son's sense of unease and wandering spirit. It's hard to connect with those who have a different view of life than you do, caused by such wildly different experiences.

I have not said much about the love story yet, because it is a veritable roller-coaster ride. No easy endings are to be had. A happy ending, yes, but decidedly *not* an easy one. I, for one, question the ending, as I would have preferred what *could* have been, to what was. For that matter, and this is the main drawback of the story, the author took great pains to stress a Biblical theme in regards to the romantic subplot, but then literally drubbed the impact of said Biblical lesson, by ensuring that the supposed “ideal” ending occurred for Katie. Despite this, the romantic storyline was moderately enjoyable in it's culmination, and the other plots were deeply satisfying to read (thus more than making up for the deficits in the romance plot.

But in a very key way, I have a hard time focusing on the love story aspect, because, as I said at the beginning of this review, the story was so much more than this. It is a family saga, and a look at how folks survived a very harrowing time in our nation's history due to their faith in God. I think that that is the best, and whether Lessman intended it to be so or not, the most important element and even lesson, of the book.

We are going through so much in this country. A down economy, plummeting international prestige, a moral crisis with unrestrained sexuality running rampant in our culture, a military increasingly blamed for our problems and not given the honor they deserve, children growing up in homes without a mother and a father. Our country needs guidance, and to return to the principles that we were founded upon. Those principles are the precepts of God's Word, and we can come back. As with the Civil War and it's aftermath, the “Roaring 20's” shared many of these same problems with today (well, barring the geopolitical aspects, but that is a risk of loss therein given our suffering these problems once more).

Can we recover? With God's help we will do so. This book is “inspirational” in a way that so few are. It inspires one to look at how much we can attain individually, and as a nation, under God. It also shows us that with faith in God, life is not a time of ease, but it *is* a time of (if God wills, physical and earthly, but *always* spiritual) triumph, as we are truly “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37b).

Recommended. ( )

NCLA Review - The 1920s is the setting for this latest novel by author Julie Lessman. As the era draws to a close, smart and feisty Katie O’Connor is looking for a husband. But it will not be easy for her to choose between her good-looking, well-connected and wealthy boyfriend Jake, and the man she swore to despise forever. The reader will discover what happens when the boy she loved to hate becomes the man she hates to love. Although well-written, this book was entirely too long and may be daunting to read for many. Although this is the first book in the Winds of Change Series, readers will first want to read Lessman’s other books about the O’Connor family (Daughters of Boston series). This book could have been written more concisely by eliminating some historical information that was not essential to plot and character development. Rating: 2 —MF ( )

I was thrilled to receive a review copy of this moving, heart warming epic story. I had read all three books in her Daughters of Boston series and couldn’t wait to read this first book in the Winds of Change series. The author's character descriptions, with their reactions to each other and their situations, made me feel as if I were watching them on a big screen, taking in every detail, hook, line and sinker.

Katie O’Connor is the main character, and is the youngest and feistiest of the O’Connor sisters. It’s the roaring twenties and Katie has big plans to marry rich, go to law school and be the first woman to gain a seat in Congress. She wants to be in a position of influence to change the plight of women and children.

Jack, Katie’s boyfriend, adores her and fits all the criteria for her plan beautifully; that is, until Katie is forced to work with Luke McGee during the summer of 1929. Sparks start to fly between them on all fronts, even as they butt heads at work. They’d known each other as kids. Luke was mean then, and it didn’t appear he changed much. Why did Luke bother her so much now? Couldn’t she let her childhood memories go?

Luke says, “You know, Katie, you’ve always been a cold and callous little thing, but I actually believed it was just a front. You know, a thin coat of steel to protect your fragile little heart? But I was wrong. Seems that steel is as thick as that stubborn head of yours when it comes to making life decisions…You’re a cold, cold woman, Katie O’Connor…your ‘plan’ is your god, and God help anybody who gets in your way.”

“Katie couldn’t believe his words. …I want to be a lawyer, mother- to blaze the way for women who think they need a man to take care of them, women like Mrs. Rhodes at church—everyone knows that tyrant she lives with beats her. But will she leave? Not on her life. And in the end, it will probably cost her hers...Was it wrong to have a plan? She had her plan! God was some fairy tale for weak people, right?”

I thoroughly enjoyed every second I spent reading this novel. I got caught up in the characters and their drama. I couldn’t believe Katie and the lengths she would go to, to maintain the forward progression of her plan. And, the fight inside her heart to do what was right was a constant challenge. I got a kick out of the family gatherings, filled with games, conflict, resolve, love and great fun. I felt as if I were in the middle of it all. I smiled big at the satisfying ending and a book filled with an array of colorful characters and their situations. Julie included the entire O’Connor clan I got to know in her other books, with a few additions. Julie is a master story teller. I love how she naturally wove their struggle with God and His direction for their lives. It wasn’t preachy but realistic. Julie’s writing touches all the reader’s senses and pulls on your heart strings, as she makes you feel like you really know and care about this family. This book's a keeper. I’ll definitely be reading this book again, you will too!

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Finding Hope Through Fiction www.psalm516.blogspot.com ( )

Of the three books I received for review from Graf-Martin Communications this month (October), I was most excited about reading this one. I mean, just look at the cover! It’s not often that you see a 1920s-themed novel, particularly inspirational fiction, and this one sounded like a good read to boot.

Oh, how quickly things change.

I almost didn’t finish the book. It’s long – over 500 pages – and by the time I made it halfway through, I didn’t care about any of the characters or what happened to them. In fact, I put the book aside and said to my husband “I can’t finish this, I’m so bored”. But I ended up finishing it for one reason alone: I had to fall asleep early a few nights in a row (I had to get up earlier than usual for a few mornings) so I used to book to help me fall asleep. I know, it’s a terrible thing to admit, but this book just wasn’t for me.

However, I’m going to put a big asterisk on my statement, because I suspect the story will actually find a very wide audience, and here’s why: The whole entire book reads like a soap opera. I’m completely serious – if you like watching soap operas, you will probably love this book.

Here’s what didn’t work for me:

- Ten billion characters: There were way, way too many characters in this book, and by the end of the novel, I still didn’t have straight who was married to who and whose kids were whose… and I read fantasy, people. I’m no stranger to large casts, but when everyone in the book looks and sounds the same, it’s very confusing. But you know who has large casts that are hard to keep straight? Soap operas. Yep.

- Changing points of view without changing voice: Sometimes, a scene would end, only to pick back up in the exact same spot in the next scene break, but from the point of view of the opposite character. Now, this is an interesting way to provide insight into your characters and give a sense of perspective, but if you’re going to write in multiple voices, the voices must be distinct. And that’s hard to do when you have, oh, say ten to fifteen different POVs at various times throughout the novel. I also found that this constant shifting made it very difficult to get invested in the main characters, because it was hard to know which person/couple/issue we were supposed to be connecting to and investing emotionally in.

- Cliché, melodramatic plot twists: (SPOILER ALERT) Will they be together? Won’t they? No, they can’t, because this person’s sense of duty requires him to marry this person, but OH MY GOSH NOW SHE’S DEAD so it’ll work, but no, the heroine is now with someone else, but OH MY GOSH HE WANTS TO BE A PRIEST so it’ll work, but no, the pain of death is too fresh, but OH MY GOSH THEY CAN BE FRIENDS INSTEAD until a proposal comes OUT OF THE BLUE and they all live happily ever after.

Umm… what?

Like I said: Soap opera.

For me, this was pure tedium. I didn’t care about anyone, and the plot “twists” made me groan at every turn. However, it’s just like a soap opera in the sense that there are too many people, the twists are random (and convenient), and the schlocky romance is over the top. If you love soap operas, I honestly think this is the kind of book you’ll enjoy. As for me, I hope I never go near another book like this again.

P.S.: The writing is also very good, apart from the whole voice-doesn’t-change-with-character-POV-shifts thing. The author has received a large number of RWA awards, so I have to credit her for being able to tell a good story, even if her stories aren’t for me. ( )

The boy she loved to hate becomes the man she hates to love..." Whew! If that one line doesn't get you, I don't know what will! In her fourth book, Julie continues the story of the O'Connor family with the story of feisty Katie. The youngest of the O'Connor clan, readers of the Daughter's of Boston series will remember her as a spunky, sassy little girl too big for her britches. And no one can forget cocky Cluny McGee, the bane of her 10 year-old existence! You can only imagine the sparks that fly when these two get within 3 feet of each other. Once again, Julie weaves love, devotion, and of course passion into a story you won’t want to end! Another swoon-worthy read from Julie Lessman! ( )

I adore stories that include sacrificial love themes as well as tough love. This story has both. Real love, the kind that comes from God, seeks another person's good over their own will. Nothing gets the waterworks going for me quicker than sacrificial love in a story. That's why the story of Christ's redemption is so powerful and emotional. It is a rare and beautiful thing when people find this kind of love that "seeks not its own way" with each other. This story was also very romantic and I never knew what would happen next. I love that. ( )

Okay. Let me start this review with SHAME ON ME! Why? Because, sweet saints, I haven't ever read a Julie Lessman novel until this one and I most definitely should have been reading her books already! She is absolutely FANTABULOUS! The power that Julie has over her readers when they open the first page is mind-blowingly INCREDIBLE!

In A Hope Undaunted, Julie combines tenderness and passion with wit and God's love, to create a romance story set in the 1920's that will carry you away and leave you utterly breathless. Katie O'Connor was such an amazing young woman....thinking she had her life all planned out for herself. That is until she encounters a very handsome "soda jerk" by the name of Luke. Luke "Cluny" McGee, the boy she hated as a child, has been chiseled into a stunningly remarkable character. (Julie, can you send him my way, please?!) So, that leaves Katie with a choice....to follow HER hopes and choices, or God's hopes and choices for her life. A beautifully created plot line!

For years, I've collected The Queen of Christian Fiction, Karen Kingsbury's book, including true crime novels she wrote prior to her Christian work, and the ones that are under her pen name, but after reading this breathtaking, passionate story of a hope undaunted and a love that's pure, Julie Lessman has earned a spot on my favorite authors list at the very top, pushing Karen Kingsbury down one. It takes an absolutely fantastic author to do that because I've held Karen Kingsbury at the top of my list for years! I'm still in awe and savoring this unforgettable story and it's characters!

So, what you waiting for?! Don't be a ninny like myself , who waited TOO long to read her work. GO GET A COPY OF A HOPE UNDAUNTED RIGHT NOW! You will instantly fall in love with the people in this book as they crawl in and take over your heart. Worthy of 1,005 stars, this 5 star book is a MUST read for everyone! Thank you, Julie, for creating a story full of passion, history and a breathtaking plot....it's what I was needing and looking for! Now, I anxiously await the release of book 2, A Heart Revealed, in the Winds of Change series!

*This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group* ( )

A HOPE UNDAUNTED by Julie Lessman is a inspirational historical fiction set in 1929 Boston, Massachusetts.It is Book One in the Winds of Change series..It is well written with depth, details, fast paced and a page turner. It has romance, change, faith, wisdom, passion, joy, sorrows,and hope undaunted. This is a continence story of the O'Connor clan from the Daughters of Boston series, which was set from 1916 until 1929 and was about the three eldest daughters of the O'Connor clan.This story is about the youngest daughter, Katie Rose and I would dare to say the brothers will come along later in the series. The characters are strong, have a love of God, family, responsibility,friendship and following their dreams. This is a wonderful, powerful story of love, romance, sacrifice, putting others first instead of yourself. I would recommend this book for it truly is an inspiration. This book was received from Revell and details can be found at Baker Publishing and My Book Addiction and More. ( )

What keeps a reader immersed in a story? More than just great characters that dance to life, but a passion that drives the story forward. A passion for God and the family that is held together in His love. A HOPE UNDAUNTED is just that kind of story.
I admit I didn’t like the heroine Katie, much at the start, she had such a long way to go before becoming likeable. I dangled by a thread while reading, bouncing back and forth like a ping pong ball as three men battled for Katie’s affection. At one point in the novel I didn’t know which way it was all going to go and was breathless.
There were moments of angst and laughter as I traversed with the characters. The O’Connors have become my family. I know and love them better, the more time I spend with them. I rejoiced and nearly cried, my heart wrenching for Katie at the crux of her relationships. But in the end my heart sang with the affection I feel for these characters.
But when I closed the last page and put the book my shelf, I was saddened. To leave them behind, these characters I have grown to cherish and adore is heart wrenching. Which I must say is the best part of a truly wonderful novel. Don’t let this one pass you by! A treasure!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review. ( )

I have never read anything written by Julie Lessman before and I am totally blown away by her ability to draw us into a novel making us feel as if we know the characters personally. The authors writing style captures your attention from the beginning with a story that flows so easily that your totally engrossed and unable to stop reading till the conclusion.

The roaring twenties are coming to an end and Katie O'Connor knows exactly what she is going to do with her life. She is fresh out of high school, and has plans on going to law school in the fall, she wants to become self sufficient, answering to no one, well except her dad that is, because he is the key, she wont be able to attend law school unless he pays for it.

She also has a boyfriend that will be the perfect husband, Jack, he is handsome, well connected, has money everything she could want. Life should be great, right? Well except for the fact that her dad is tired of Katie not obeying curfew, so when he decides to ground her for the summer, and volunteers her to work for the Children's Aide Society. To make matters worse a childhood adversary, Cluny "Luke" McGee will be her boss.

Sparks literally fly between Katie and Luke, and even when it becomes clear that Katie may need to change her well laid plans she is to stubborn to realize it.

I must say that in the beginning I really didn't like Katie very well, she seemed like a spoiled girl to me, but once I got a bit of her background, I saw her in a much different light, and really could understand where she was coming from, and I enjoyed the fact that she was such a strong character, knowing what she wanted.
I really enjoyed how Katie's family was included in this story, the secondary characters were very grounded and their faith in God really shined thru.

I loved reading Katie's story and have fallen in love with the O'Connor family. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting series ! ( )

480 pages was not long enough for any of the books in the first series, so why would you think 505 pages would be? A Hope Undaunted is the first book in the Winds of Change series, but really the fourth book for the Daughter's of Boston continuing the saga and story of the O'Connor daughters with a passion. Through the adventures with these Irish girls we have learned about "a passion most pure", "redeemed" and even "denied" yet now we turn to learning about hope. More specifically about "a hope undaunted". Around page 185 all I could do was sigh. At 275 pages into the story I never wanted it to end, but to continue on and on bringing these characters to life off the page and surrounding me in their historical romantic lives. By the time I got to just beyond 400+ pages, I had so many thoughts surging around my head that I hardly knew how to put pen to paper with my thoughts. I hardly know what to share in a review and just to express how much I love it. (Even with a sinus infection and craving sleep, I needed to read more and find out what would happen next with all the energy in my soul.) This morning with just over a hundred pages to go I found myself relating back to the story and found it interweaving itself in my morning devotional. It even found it's way in a thought provoked blog post --> http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2010...

Julie Lessman is an artist with words on a page. Her characters are so real and I find so many relatable times that I have to reflect and go back and really seek forgiveness or God's will in certain cases of my own past. She tells a story that is entertaining and romantic. The passion is on the page but also in the tingling of your toes. The fervor with which characters like Faith, Brady and Emma pray comes off the page and gives a guidance and hopeful light to just how a friend of the faith should be. I know these characters come by it honestly, because that is the kind of woman Julie is. Full of a heart of faith and it shows on the page and beyond. This on-going story of the O'Connor family is a lesson of the importance of faith and the dire importance of prayer and it is a story for anyone and everyone. Most romances are for women, but Julie's books are different, they are for the men who want to know how to romance their women as well as for the women readers.

As this is the first book in a series, you could read it alone, but I highly recommend that you start with the Daughter's of Boston and A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed and A Passion Denied first to really be able to understand the characters and the changes that occur in their lives.

Katie O'Connor has her plan, but might just change her hopes to be in the Lord and follow a different path. Knowing in my life how things can change when you put your hope in the Lord, I can only imagine what is in store for Katie.

Undaunted by definition means "unshaken in purpose," and/or "showing courage and resolution". Hope is something that we all have when we map out and plan our next steps, but only when God is in charge of those steps is our hope undaunted.

*Thanks to Revell Books for providing a copy for review.* ( )