Review and Giveaway of Julie Lessman's Highly Anticipated Love at Any Cost!

Julie Lessman has begun a new series, The Heart of San Francisco. Book One, Love at Any Cost, released in April, and it's my pleasure to have the hunky hero, Jamie MacKenna, on my couch at last.

But first, a bit about the book from Julie's website:

Fooled by a pretty boy once, shame on him.

Fooled by a pretty boy twice, shame on me.

Jilted by a fortune hunter, cowgirl Cassady McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who just as soon hogtie a man as look at him … until Jamie MacKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well lassoes her heart. But when Jamie discovers the woman he loves is poorer than him, Cassie finds herself bucked by love a second time, sending her back to Texas to lick her wounds and heal her heart. In her absence, Jamie discovers money can’t buy love, but love built on faith can set a heart free, a truth he discovers a little too late … or is it?

Jamie, Jamie, Jamie.

Hard-headed. Haunted. Hottie.

Wait...therapists aren't supposed to pant over clients. *cough* My apologies, Jamie.

Jamie is from the wrong side of the streets. Kinda got a chip on his shoulder as a result, but it's actually well-deserved, given the hard life he's known. How it must dent his pride, having to wear hand-me-downs from his wealthy best friend. But circulating with the elite crowd on Nob Hill is his ticket--not just to his own way out of poverty, but his mother's and sister's as well.

He suffers from a roving eye, of sorts...one that only roves amongst women of circumstance. And crashing into spunky Cassady McClare was definitely the fates looking on him with favor. He's basically in like Flynn with the San Fransisco McClares, after having gone to school (on scholarship, of course...no way he could afford it otherwise) with them, becoming friends, and later, coworkers.

Getting Cassady should be a piece of cake, given his track record.

But this delightfully good "bad boy" had another think coming. Not one to put much stock in religion of a God who orchestrates lives from heaven, and always believing that he had more to do with his success to date than anything or anyone else...he didn't expect Cassady's ultimatum: Bible study and church and...no kissing! Say what?

And all that before he realizes Cassady's daddy isn't as rich as Jamie thought he was. That's a tough nut to swallow, especially for a guy who desperately needs money to assuage the guilt he feels over his sister and mother still living too close to the seedier part of the city.

Betrayal. Devastation. Sacrifice. He's felt it all, and it threatens to overwhelm him. Dare he believe that his life isn't up to fate? That there is One who cares for him, and provides for him, even when Jamie didn't realize the provision was there?

You'll have to read it to find out.....[evil therapist laugh inserted here].

Julie writes with her trademark passion with purpose, and Jamie's character arc is one you don't want to miss...especially since today's books are saturated with very unrealistic portrayals of playboys. Jamie is one playboy who breaks the mold, and it was refreshing to read, quite honestly. Don't be put off by the blurb. I wondered how I would ever like a guy who was such a money-hungry piranha (sorry, Jamie), but Julie does such a great job with his motivation that I never once questioned it...in fact, I championed him. That's good storytelling, folk.

While I am giving away my review copy from Revell of this book, for those who can't stand waiting to see if you won, here are the links where you can buy it right now:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Berean Book Stores, Books A Million, Christian Book Distributors, Indiebound, Lifeway

UPDATE 5/30/13: Giveaway is now over. Thanks for participating!

Let's Analyze

To be honest, I wasn't completely sold on falling in love with the new McClare clan. I mean, I invested years into the O'Connors. Sigh. But I'm totally invested in them after reading this book! I can't wait to see where book 2 in this series goes.

Have you read a Lessman book? Which was your favorite? (And of course, by that question, I mean...which hero was your favorite?)