Love at Any Cost by Julie Lessman

 The Heart of San Francisco (Book 1)

Jilted by a fortune hunter, cowgirl Cassidy McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who would just as soon hogtie a man as look at him. Hoping a summer visit with her wealthy cousins in San Francisco will help her forget her heartache, Cassidy travels west. But no sooner is she settled in beautiful California than Jamie McKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well, captures her heart.

When Jamie discovers the woman he loves is poorer than he is, Cassidy finds herself bucked by love a second time. Will Jamie discover that money can't buy love after all? And can Cassidy ever learn to fully trust her heart to a man?

With delectable descriptions and a romantic sensibility, bestselling author Julie Lessman brings the Gilded Age to life in this sumptuous new series. Readers will faithfully follow Lessman to the West Coast for more romance, passion, and surprising revelations found in Love at Any Cost.

My Review:
From the first page, I was hooked. What a beginning! I guarantee, it'll bowl you over.

There are two love stories intertwined in this Christian fiction. Both Cassidy and Aunt Cait demand that any man who could win their heart must also be a man of faith. This proves problematic as the would-be suitors don't much care for the things of God.

One caveat: I dislike the repetition. The author describes the physical attributes of the characters way too often, and explains situations over and over.

This book is one for lovers of romance novels. Flirting, kissing, and tears fill the pages. There are tension-filled love scenes that leave the characters--along with the reader--wanting more. Although the plot is somewhat predictable, there are some twists to surprise the reader at the end.

Available April 15, 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thank you to Donna Hausler at Baker Publishing Group and Revell for my copy.

The Dance by Gary Smalley & Dan Walsh

The Restoration Series

Love's recovery starts with a single step . . .

After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn Anderson is tired of playing the role of perfect wife. Her husband Jim is a successful businessman who gives her everything she needs--a beautiful home in an upscale neighborhood, the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home mom, an enviable collection of stuff. Everything, that is, except what really matters: love.

After years of trying to connect with Jim, Marilyn has had enough. She longs to experience some measure of happiness before she's too old to enjoy it. Needing some time to herself to sort things out, Marilyn leaves to start a new job and take dancing lessons--something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember.

Shocked to find his wife gone, Jim Anderson must sort through the past to save his marriage. With a little help from an unexpected ally, he begins a campaign to win Marilyn back. What he doesn't anticipate is how his actions will affect everyone around him--starting with himself.


My Review:
Usually, books written by two authors turn me off, but this one proved an unexpected treat! From the first page, I knew that this was going to be an memorable book. The storyline moves at just the right pace. The characters are so real that they seem like people I know.

Even though I knew where the plot was heading, I loved turning the pages to see just how we were going to get there. Read this one, folks! I'm looking forward to following this family in Book 2 in the series, The Promise.

Discussion Questions included.

Thank you to Donna Hausler at Baker Publishing Group and Revell for my copy.