A Passion Denied (Daughters of Boston Series #3)

A Passion Filled Finale. Julie ALMOST made me cry [and says a lot]

The saying goes "All good things must come to an end", and therefore Julie Lessman brings us the conclusion of her Christian romance series "Daughters of Boston" with "A Passion Denied". Which I have to say is AWESOME! It focuses on the third daughter in the O'Connor clan, Elizabeth (Known as Lizzie in the first two books; Beth in this book). You get swept up not only in Beth's romance with Brady, but continue with Faith and Charity and their husbands. You learn that submission isn't just bending over and doing what someone tells you to do, but having respect for your spouse - who will in turn respect and cherish you. It's simple in explaining it but at the same time most things in life ARE simple for great married life.

And there is romance. Lots and lots of realistic romance between husbands and wives, and realistic and respectable sexual tension between those who aren't which makes this a great novel in my estimation because Christians are sexual beings and face the same temptations.

So. pick this up. buy it. read it. love it :)
Write on Julie, Write on :)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Must Read!

I love Lizzie and Brady!!! Very good book!

A Read not to be Denied

This work is set in the 1920’s. There do not seem to be many inspirational fiction novels set in this time frame. It has a fresh feel to it. Other novels in the two series are set before and after this time.
Elizabeth AKA Lizzie O'Connor cannot shake John Brady’s determination to keep her as “Beth”, treating her like a sister. With a strong desire for God, John fights his growing feelings for Lizzie. Because of a shameful personal and family secret he feels he cannot trust himself. Both Lizzie and John love literature and both have soft hearts for those in need. While the most popular college man in town recognizes that Lizzie has grown up, John continues to keep her at arm’s length.
Julie Lessman’s tagline is “Passion with a Purpose” and that is evident in this novel. Like other Julie Lessman novels, this one has: a large cast of characters with multiple points of view, a continuation of story lines from previous books, an extended Irish Catholic family in Boston, and a positive very hopeful feel to the writing yet with an underlayment of serious spiritual truths and growth. An amazing author!
Spoiler alert: There is another Brady who isn’t afraid to risk loving Lizzie. But is he all that he seems to be? When his brother exposes his secret shame, Lizzie rejects John, and he takes another path in his life pursuing God with more vigor than ever.
But God has plans for this couple that include his healing from the hurts of his past as the truth is revealed by a very unlikely person. And when this person listens to God’s nudge, a dreadful decision is avoided.
This is one of the most romantic books I have read with all the yearning and yet desire for the best good for the other person, which is the essence of true love.

Wonderfully written!

My FAVORITE author, Julie Lessman! If you are a hopeless romantic and love seeing God work in peoples lives to bring them to a personal relationship with Himself and to each other, you MUST check out her books! She knows how to hook, and reel you into the books, so you develop a sense of belonging with the characters.

Did Not Disappoint!

I must say that from the opening pages of this novel, I felt a connection to Lizzy O¿Connor. Being a rather hopeless romantic myself and often lost in the pages of a book, I understand her, and the twists and turns of her romance did not disappoint! You know you¿ve got an amazing book when you are actually yelling out loud at the characters when you know they¿re making a mistake. I found doing that during this read, and will admit that I¿m now fully invested in the happenings of this family. This is a wonderful end to an unbelievable series, but I¿m so glad this isn¿t the last we¿re hearing from the O¿Connor clan.

Suspenseful

Set back in Boston, we get glimpses of characters we met in the first two books: Faith and Collin, Faith and Charity, and the girls' parents, Marcy and Patrick. By now, all of these characters are old friends, and we know a lot about their histories. I love that we see the ups and downs of married life in this novel, through the subplots of these three other couples. It's a great reminder that life is not always happily ever after once the wedding is over- love takes a little work! But it's still worth it, and there is still passion.
Ironically, the protagonist, Lizzie, is accused of imagining that real love should look like the love she has read about in romance novels. But usually, it's far more complicated than what we read about, and requires ample doses of forgiveness, patience, and understanding. An interesting truth for a romance novel to proclaim! :)
If you're feeling breathless after A Passion Redeemed, you'll find this story a little tamer, but still enjoyable, intriguing, and suspenseful.
I was amused to see Lizzie getting love life advice from Charity and Faith, two sisters whose approach to love couldn't be more opposite.
There are enough secrets and twists to keep you guessing until the end. You might think you know how the last page will read, but there's no way you could imagine the winding road that gets you there.
We meet new characters here, including a scrawny orphan who ends up being one of the main characters in a later book Lessman writes, A Hope Undaunted. I loved getting to know this guy as a child in this book!
As with the other two books in the series, faith is an integral part to how these characters make their decisions. They struggle with their pasts, their own choices and consequences, and each one finds himself/herself at a crossroads where they can choose life or death.

Another amazing novel from Julie Lessman!!

Phenomenal. That's probably the only word for any Julie Lessman novel! A Passion Denied was my favorite of the Daughters of Boston series! Lizzie is among my favorite characters, probably because she's so much like me. ;) I'm a bookworm too, who can't get enough of the happily ever afters. I absolutely LOVED Lizzie and Brady's story! This is definitely a series that should be read in order from A Passion Most Pure through to A Passion Denied. There's only one other word besides phenomenal that does these books justice...blessing.They are most certainly a blessing to read because they teach you so much about faith, love and forgiveness. Great job Julie Lessman! And please, please, please keep writing!!! :)

Another amazing book from Julie Lessman!

Julie Lessman is an author with a passion for romance, and that passion shines brightly within each of her wonderful books. From the completed Daughters of Boston series, to The Winds of Change series with an upcoming installment, Lessman has a spectacular knack for capturing her readers. With heroines you¿ll adore, love interests you¿ll want to marry yourself, and a family that stays in your heart long after the end of the book, Lessman is an author who I hope to see writing for many years yet!

A Passion Denied

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 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.

DEPTH, DEPTH, DEPTH!!!!!

I adore how completely flawed Julie Lessman can write her characters. Each one of them has so many real issues they're trying to work out, and most of the time, as the reader, you actually get the point where you aren't able to see HOW they're going to get over them--and then on with their lives. It's simply amazing how well Julie can get inside such differing high emotions, deep desires and wounded hearts of each and every one of her characters, male and female. Like I said, she sets the bar--and sets it high. There is no other author I enjoy reading more than Julie Lessman.

Brilliant writing. Again!

Julie Lessman never fails to exceed my expectations as an author. Her amazing talent in writing is only one of the many gifts this beautiful lady possesses. Not a single book authored by Julie will leave you wanting anything except the next book immediately!

My favorite in the series

Besides the very first book this is my favorite book that Julie Lessman has written. It is a very intense and twisting book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Beware you won't be able to put it down once you start!

A Passion Denied Review

This is the 3rd book in Julie's Daughters of Boston series and it is incredible!! I have read all of Julie's books and they just keep getting better!
This is the story of Brady and Lizzie. Lizzie has feelings for Brady, but Brady deludes himself into thinking that he does not have feelings for her. He pushes Lizzie almost to the point of turning from him.
This book is great for group discussion or for the individual reader!

finale but not the ending :)

I relate to all of the girls in this series.
Faith is the woman that I want to be.
Charity is the woman that I was.
Lizzie is the woman that I am.

Just like her I love reading (hence me writing a book review) :)
but I also know what I want, and I wait, I have patience, from God of course, and I know that God gives whatever your heart or my heart desires because we choose to delight in Him with all our hearts.

This book was a blessing to me. I knew it was the finale to the series but since I read a "hope undaunted" before the "Daughters of Boston" series I knew that this wasn't the last time I will see Lizzie and the girls.

I loved everything about this book. From the way John Brady knows that Lizzie is too young for him and doesn't fall for any girl that bashes her eyelashes at him, like most of the men these days,all the way to the way Lizzie has faith in God that He will give her what her heart desires because she believes in him with all her heart. :)

I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee this book :)

way too go Julie :D

Wow!

This is my favorite of Lessman's books. The story flows very well and is a wonderful romance of a young girl whose childhood crush turns into love.

An Author who puts more than passion to the Pen

I have found that the tag Line "Passion with a Purpose" does not touch the surface of the Love, Dedication and sincere realism, that takes her books beyond the shelf, but into the lives of her readers. Not just for a day, but her work hit a special place in your heart and will stay long after you place the book on the shelf - only to be read again. I give Julie Lessman and her works in Christian Literature a 5 Star rating. Her books will make you beg for another.

Relatable and Incredible

This is definitely one of the most relatable stories I have ever read. Brady is a picture of what it means to be a follower of God and his influence on Beth in incredible. Once again, Lessman hits a homerun with this powerful story. Readers will learn the truth of God's forgiveness and that His grace is sufficient. The love that ties the Beth and Brady together is powerful. Readers won't be able to put the book down. Lessman is truly an inspiration and her passion for God is displayed her in stories. Readers will come away satisfied, with hearts that are now just a bit more mushy from joy.

An Amazing Finale to an amazing series!

This is the final story in the Daughters of Boston series, and what I love about Julie's novels are not only the way she weaves faith and a Passion for God through the story, but how relatable and realistic her storytelling is :) She tells multiple character stories in one book, but you never feel lost or confused, instead you can't put it down and crave for more, wishing the characters could jump right off the written page. I mourned when I thought this was the end of the O'Connor's tale and rejoiced when Julie announced more to come!

A Must Read!!

Julie Lessman is an increadable author that never dissapoints! A Passion Denied is full of Passionate Romance! Your emotions with be brought to the surface while reading this AMAZING book!

LOVED IT!

When did Brady's sweet, innocent Beth become Lizzie, the girl of his dreams? For Elizabeth O'Connor it couldn't come fast enough! Falling in love with Brady was as natural as breathing, now if the bull-headed man would just admit that she is not his "little sister", but the woman God made for him! Another too-good-to-put-down read from Julie Lessman.