A Passion Denied

Lizzie O’Connor is infatuated with John Brady. She knows it is love, but alas he thinks of her as a sister….or does he?

Sigh. I am going to have to tell y’all right off Julie knows how to tell a story. As I closed the book with tears streaming down my face I just smiled. To be honest I have been long waiting for the book. I have loved Elizabeth from book one, A Passion Most Pure. She reminds me so much of me! A believer in true love, fairy tales, and a lover of books. She is a dreamer. And with the introduction of John Brady in book two…well I wanted to meet that fellow in real life :) He is handsome, and hardworking, and just a good guy.

Not only do you get Elizabeth’s story and John’s story in A Passion Denied but you once show more again get to catch up with the O’Connor clan. You get to see into the marriages of Faith and Collin, and Charity and Mitch. And you get to see the family dynamics between the sisters. And of course we get to learn more about Marcy and Patrick. One of my favorite things about the Daughter’s of Boston series has been the characters. All of them! I am a series kind of girl. I love getting to know all of the family characters and enjoy getting the glimpses into their lives. Julie does a fabulous job of weaving together not only the main character’s stories but the back story of the family. You get a real idea of family dynamics in the Daughter’s of Boston series, you get to see how sibling rivalry can affect relationships, or what happens when there is tension between the parents or you get to see how sometimes marriage problems can lead to intimacy problems. Nothing is glossed over but it is dealt with, even if it may be painful. I loved the introduction of a new character, Cluny. His scenes in the book made me laugh and made me cry. He represents so many of us, looking and longing for love. If you cannot tell by now, A Passion Denied is my favorite book this year. :)

In A Passion Denied we get to see how we can let our past destroy us, if we let it. John Brady has a past that most people would regret. In fact I cringed at times and my heart hurt thinking of how wounded he was. Julie does an amazing job of creating tension. Real life tension. As I was reading I realized how much I am so like the characters in the book. I know things in my head but often I don’t transfer them to my heart. I know God forgives but sometimes I forget to forgive myself.

The reason I connect with Julie’s books so much is this simple fact, she creates a wonderful world of romance and passion with the powerful message of the goodness and grace of our God. My Friends this is why I recommend her to so many people. Well that and she is one of my most favorite people :) show less

A spectacular ending to a thrilling series!
I don’t know how Julie Lessman does it, but every time I pick up one of her 470 page books, I am swept away and not released until I have set the book down. Not much gets done when I have a Lessman book in my hands!
The twists and turns this novel takes kept me riveted to the spot. The drama doesn’t end with just Lizzie and Brady, but spreads to all three married couples and expounds with each page turned. I cheered and moaned for each character, but primarily for Lizzie as she struggled to show Brady just how much she loved him.
I felt I have become a part of the O’Connor family and if it weren’t for the fact that Katy’s story is coming up, I would probably sit right down and cry.
The show more love expressed in the book made my heart race and my blood warm, but it was the spiritual message that I adore so much about Julie Lessman’s fiction. Her words speak to my heart and lift me up, they are the message I need to hear right then. Only through God could that be possible.
All I can say in closing it what I said at the beginning… A spectacular ending to a thrilling series. Really that is all that needs to be said! show less

If you are looking for the greatest series in Christian fiction right now, then look no further than the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman. I put off reading these books for months (why, I have no idea), but they were so well worth the wait. Never have I read such an edgy series that just sucked me in so much that I couldn’t seem to read fast enough.

I have to admit that this third book, A Passion Denied, was probably my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series. While the first two are wonderful (and you definitely should read them in order), book three brought a little bit more “real life” to the whole picture. Faith and Charity are now married, and thus, have to deal with the joys and challenges that married life show more brings. Also, Marcy and Patrick’s relationship has a wrench thrown into it that just adds more depth to the story. I felt that Julie did a great job of giving insight to both the good and the bad with each couple, all while giving advice through her characters on how certain situations should be handled. Scattered throughout the book are numerous snippets of Scripture that help prove the points Julie’s trying to get across, and not once does it come across as preachy.

So, with all that said, don’t even think about starting this series if you’re not willing to stay up ‘til at least midnight or later! Every single book in this series has been nothing short of fantastic, and I cannot wait for more! show less

This is my first Julie Lessman novel, and I'm certain it will not be my last. Delicately written, the novel contains sex scenes without graphic details. Therefore, this Christian romance is not pablum; real life situations are portrayed, but in an inoffensive style.

Set in the 1920s, it's fun to read about the tug-of-war women faced then and still continue to face. Should I work or stay at home? When is the correct time to begin a family? The characters in this Irish Catholic family clearly love God as well as each other. By writing in third person narrative, the reader easily understands how everyone thinks and feels. Interesting twists and turns are aplenty, in addition to a good-sized surprise toward the end.

For historical romance show more fans, here's a good one. Although this is a series, it is a stand-alone novel and can be enjoyed without having read the two preceding books. No doubt the next volume in this series will be about Katie, the spunky baby of the O'Connor family. show less

A book of one woman's passion for a man that can't be quenched. Elizabeth (Lizzie) is determined to show John that she's a woman who is in love with him. Unfortunately, John has a painful past that he's struggling with.
There is a lot of "romance " in this book- a look into some very intimate relationships in Lizzie'ss family. There's also a lot of references to God and faith. I liked the ending very much!

I absolutely LOVED this book. Be prepared to stay up till 5:00 am reading:~) Elizabeth(lizzie) O'Connor is a woman on a mission. To get John Brady to see her as just that, a woman, whose in love with him . But John Brady isn't ready to let little Beth to grow up. While trying to ignore advances from Lizzie, Brady's past is dredged up and an ugly secret is revealed. Passion, longing and desire, all wrapped up with the Word of God. My faith was challenged with the truths that Mrs. Lessman brought to the foreground. You can tell from page 1, that God is first in A Passion Denied and all of Julie's books. I love that Mrs. Lessman also brought Beth’s sisters, Faith and Charity into the story as well. A Passion Denied finishes The Daughter show more of Boston series out on the right note. You will not regret reading it. ;~) show less

It's the Roaring 20's and Elizabeth, or Lizzie as she goes by now, is all grown up. She has changed her look to accentuate the fact that she is a woman now, not a little girl - bobbed her hair, figure flattering dresses, make-up, etc. She is longing for Brady to notice her as the woman she is and to stop treating her like she is the little sister he never had.

Brady has a past that has haunted him for years, one that he has yet to deal with and makes him feel unworthy of being with Lizzie. When a man from his past visits him, it all threatens to come to light.

I loved seeing a more in depth view of Lizzie,
because she was only a minor character in the first two books and an adolescent at that. I feel as though I know her so much better show more now.

A Passion Denied was a wonderfully enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it! I would strongly suggest that you read A Passion Most Pure and A Passion Redeemed before you read this book - as this story is a continuation of a family saga. show less