A Passion Redeemed...Review

About the book:
Graced with physical beauty, though shallow of heart, Charity O'Connor is a woman who knows what she wants. She sets her sights on the cantankerous Mitch Dennehy, editor at the Irish Times, who has unwittingly stolen her heart. And although the sparks are there, Mitch refuses to fan the coals of a potential relationship with his ex-fiancĂ©e's sister. But Charity has a plan to turn up the heat and she always gets what she wants--one way or another. Is revenge so sweet after all? Or will Charity get burned? Full of intense passion, betrayal, and forgiveness, A Passion Redeemed will delight Lessman's fans and draw new ones. 

I'm glad to say that Charity redeemed herself. I really didn't like her in the first book, A Passion Most Pure. This one, though, is her story. Charity has always been the difficult O'Connor daughter: headstrong and tarty, with a deep disdain for her older sister Faith. As Charity's story unfolds, we learn about the past and the misguided reasons for Charity's hatred towards Faith.

At the end of World War 1, when her family returns to Boston, Charity stays behind in Ireland. Her reason is to help care for her ailing great-grandmother, but her ulterior motive is to catch Mitch Dennehy, her sister's former fiance. Although her efforts to hurt Faith drove Mitch and Faith apart, Charity realizes that she loves Mitch, and she sets her cap to catch him. Charity's attempts at seduction only serve to endanger her life, and after being attacked by a dangerous suitor, Charity is sent home to America. Against his better judgment, Mitch accompanies her. When her lies again come between them, Mitch returns to Ireland, determined to find another girl worthy of his love and passion.

As Charity finally comes to terms with her life and accepts God, her faith is tested when she fears Mitch will never love her again.

I love how Julie Lessman has created such real characters. I think that there is a fine line in romance novels of how detailed are an author's descriptions of those relationships, etc. In mainstream romance novels, I think there is often far too much detail and description of passion and passionate encounters. In Christian romance novels, the passion and romance is often only lightly hinted at or glossed over completely. People in love, regardless of their faith, feel passion and attraction to their spouse or suitor. For those who strive to live a chaste life and not indulge those passions prematurely, there is tension and struggle. Julie Lessman has brought that tension to her books. Her characters are real, her story compelling.

I'm looking forward to book three.

I read my own personal copy, but you can purchase your own here.

Read 5/09

* * *
3/5 Stars

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