Book Review | A Dare and a Prayer by Julie Lessman

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Wow, this book. With Julie Lessman, you think they can’t get any heavier…and then they do. 😭 A Dare and a Prayer wrestles with painful topics like human trafficking, with uncomfortable topics like sexual purity. And yet despite it being her heaviest, it’s also one of her most faith-filled and powerful. Because in the face of the darkness and corruption and ickiness, the depth of God’s light shines all the stronger.

The characters are as colorful and vivid and lovable as I’ve come to expect from any Julie Lessman book. Amy is fervently devoted to God, which creates a lot of conflict in her interactions with Henry. However, she still manages to be so relatable with the struggles she wrestles with from her past. Hurt by betrayal, her damaged self-image and wound of not feeling beautiful finds healing in such a touching, satisfying way. Though softhearted, she has a strong, resilient character, a necessity when it comes to Henry. She gave the verse “Resist the devil, and he will flee” a whole new meaning. 😅 Her example of staying true to God’s precepts was so inspiring.

Speaking of Henry, the man who can’t turn down a dare…as shameless of a womanizer as he was, you can’t help but love the tender heart beneath his cockiness and bluster. It’s so sweet how close he is to his twin Hope, his “better half,” and how he genuinely loves kids, as evidenced in his protective draw to little Li right from the start. And the fire in his response to the horrors of human trafficking proved that he had a noble heart despite all his wayward bents. Honestly (and I don’t know if this is bad or not, lol), I have a thing for fictional heroes beating up bad guys. I just do. (Think Mitch and Rigan Gallagher. Or Sean and Rory Malloy.) Sooo, I couldn’t help but vicariously revel in the satisfaction of his beating-up of one of the pedophiles, who richly deserved that and more.

But where was I? Ah yes. I love that it’s not Amy or Hope that saves Henry in the end, when he realizes that his craving for control has done nothing but ruin his life. Although both Amy’s and Hope’s love and forgiveness affect him in more ways than he realizes, it’s God who brings him to his knees in the end. His redemption arc is soo powerful!

As for Amy and Henry’s romance, they have such sparkling chemistry that just comes alive in their quick-witted dialogue and the bent and twist of their personalities. They clash in the most entertaining of ways, their dynamic (or should I say, comebacks) almost reminiscent of those black-and-white romantic comedies. (Here’s an example of what I mean: “Your weapon is gouging my side.” “Yeah? Well, your temper is gouging my mood, lady.”) When doing things God’s way, those two are absolutely PERFECT together.

Spoiler below.

In that scene when Henry goes on his “tirade” and Amy makes him swear on the Bible to only one kiss at the door per date…ACK. It was so darling and hilarious and I was grinning the whole way through! That scene captured the essence of their characters so perfectly.

The rest of the O’Connor family, and Henry’s army buddies, and Amy’s friends, and sweet Li, Sora, Kei, and Kasumi – all of them were wonderfully written! There were so many heartbreaking, tear-jerker moments with the kids. 😭 (Whereas the villains in this story…are the worst of the worst. *shudders* And sadly, it’s true to life.)

The subplot following Alex + Gabe and Bren + Hope’s wedding was so sweet! Be warned that after their wedding, both couples have bedroom scenes, and though devoid of any explicit details and poetically worded, the author vaguely describes it instead of fading to black (“they finally became one,” or “revered and relished her till their love was complete“) then glides on to conversations that take place after the fact. If you know you would hate that, don’t read it. There’s a lot of physical passion in this story, some of which is a litttttle too detailed for me, but only the God-ordained type is glorified.

Speaking of that, I appreciate that Lessman’s O’Connor family saga always emphasizes the God-ordained sanctity, importance, and beauty of marriage. It’s the climax of a romantic relationship, not the ending. As such, I LOVE that the epilogue was Henry and Amy’s wedding. Wedding scenes get me every time – especially if the O’Connor family is involved, with their heartwarming, large-family dynamic. The banter is just, aghhhhhh! Delicious!

Written in Lessman’s trademark, deliciously vibrant prose, the story takes plenty of twists and turns to keep readers on their toes – or rather, the edge of their seats. And the story is rich with historical details that bring it to life…oh, did I mention that it was a WWII novel? Because it is. I could love it just for that.

Also, something that made me irrationally euphoric was the fact that KATIE AND LUKE ACTUALLY HAVE EIGHT CHILDREN. OH MY GOODNESS.

(I just read A Hope Undaunted, their love story, and distinctly remember Luke saying he wanted at least eight kids. 😭)

Anyway, if you’re an older reader who can stomach some heavy topics, this might just be the book for you. There’s betrayal and raw, stomach-turning pain, but also rich healing and hope. There are characters who make idiotic mistakes and break God’s law, but also redemption and powerful spiritual messages that somehow read like the most natural thing on earth. And then there’s all the intensity of a Julie Lessman romance. It’s not for everyone, not by a long shot. But messy as it is, I believe there’s a place for this story. I recommend it to those who are willing to give it a chance.

FAVORITE QUOTES

Pausing, Patrick reached for his pipe again, puffing to bring it back to life. “That is the lesson that each and every person in our family has had to learn, son, and indeed, every person in the world—to live God’s way instead of our own and the world’s. To give God the control of our lives instead of clinging to it ourselves.” He shrugged as he moved his pawn. “Some do and some don’t, which is a real shame. Because the ultimate irony is, God’s will is exactly what we would choose for ourselves if we could.”

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“Because that’s where darkness leads, Henry, until all the light is snuffed out. You see, you and Hayden thought you were in control of your lives, but you weren’t—darkness was. Because there are only two choices to make in this world, son—God’s way or the world. It’s a simple case of black or white, life or death, blessing or curse.”

–

She worked hard to school her features so as not to give in to the giggle tickling her lips over Henry’s adorable tirade. He rarely lost his temper like this, and frankly, it was a beautiful sight to see. It meant that the calm, casual, controlling hotshot was no longer in control of his own life. Joy burst like fireworks in her chest.

God was.

And deep down she knew it.

–

“Forgive me,” Henry whispered for the umpteenth time since he’d given God rein of his life like Pop had suggested, eyes closed as he thought of Amy. How he wished she had been his first love like he was for her. But at least God had forced his hand, using Henry’s desire for her to lead him beside the still waters and restore his soul. So at least in his faith, he could be brand-new for the woman that he loved.

DISCLAIMER: I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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About the Book

He’s a hotshot who takes up a dare.

She’s an aspiring missionary who wants to beware.

But will love become a gamble with a dare and a prayer?

Lieutenant Amy Leigh MacArthur was on her way to the mission field when she detoured to fight for her country instead, an Army nurse whose interest lies only in healing the wounded and teaching orphans to read. Certainly not in men, and definitely not in Henry Dennehy, the boy who ridiculed her years ago as a shy and homely teen. But when Henry pursues her and won’t take no for an answer, Amy finds a way that gives him no choice.

Until, that is, love does the same for them both …

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About the Author

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-20, 2021 and 2023, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers’ Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.

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enter the giveaway!

Julie is hosting a giveaway to celebrate A Dare and a Prayer‘s release!

GRAND PRIZE (2 chances to win!):

~ $50 Amazon gift card or $25 Amazon gift card

~ Choice of three of Julie’s e-books or one of her signed paperbacks

~ A character named after you or a loved one in her next book and a signed paperback copy

~ Your choice of one paperback from Julie’s list of top-selling CBA authors, including Tamera Alexander, Colleen Coble, Rachel Hauck, Denise Hunter, Robin Lee Hatcher, Nancy Naigle, Cara Putman, Deborah Raney, Katherine Reay, Becky Wade, and Beth Vogt.

RUNNERS-UP PRIZES (8 chances to win!):

~ Choice of three of my e-books

~ OR choice of one of my signed paperbacks (based on her private stash)

~ OR choice of one paperback from a list of the above-mentioned top CBA authors (based on her private stash)

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The Tour

October 1 — Radiant Light Blog

October 1 — LiteraryScape Book Club

October 2 — Grace Johnson Spotlight (you are here!)

October 3 — Britt Reads Fiction

October 4 — Where Faith and Books Meet

October 5 — A Baker’s Perspective

October 6 — My Favorite Pastime

October 7 — Reading is My SuperPower

October 8 — Writing Between the Lines

October 9 — Locks, Hooks, and Books

October 10 — Splashes of Joy

October 10 — Saraina Whitney Blog

October 11 — Radiant Light Blog

October 12 — Miss Pippi Reads Blog

October 13 — Christian Bookaholic

October 14 — Grace Johnson Review

October 15 — Scraps of Life Blog

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Do you love wedding scenes at the end of a romance? Are you secretly hoping for more stories in the O’Connor family saga? (I’m with ya, girl.) What’s the largest fictional family you’ve read about? What’s your favorite WWII novel?