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.