A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman

A Love Surrendered is the last book in the Winds of Change Series by Julie Lessman.  It tells the story of the youngest son of Patrick and Marceline O'Connor.

Steven is the youngest son of Patrick O'Connor... the serious one... the straight-laced, upright son.  Until he goes to college.  After making some mistakes and "sowing his oats," Steven changes his life around and becomes a Prohibition Officer/federal agent.  He struggles with trusting himself with a relationship with any young woman, and his friends think he's become boring and they worry for his social life.

Annie is just off the farm.  After the death of her mother, and a few months later, her father, she and her little sister, Glory, move into the big city with their estranged Aunt Eleanor.  Aunt Eleanor is a strict and seemingly loveless woman who is miserable in her spinsterhood.  Annie previously went by Susannah Grace, but decided that with the change of living arrangements she needed to change her own life and her future... she wants to try new things and to be a new her.  When her new friend Peggy invites her to sneak out and go to the pier with her and her sister and her sister's older friends, she decides to take a chance.  On the way to the pier she is accosted by two men in a dark alley.  She is afraid of what they are going to do to her, until she is rescued by an officer who came from nowhere.

Can Steven ever trust himself again?  Why is he so drawn to Annie?  Can he save her from herself? from him?  What will happen when Steven finds out the secret she's been hiding?

A Love Surrendered was a wonderful conclusion to the O'Connor stories and the Winds of Change series in particular.  There are twists and turns that I never expected and the romance as well as the spiritual aspects are so passionate and well written!  I was just drawn into this story and felt like I was right there on the pier with Annie, Peg, Steven and the gang.  I LOVED this book, and would definitely recommend it to others!

About the Author(From her website):

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 14 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction.”

Chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Historical Fiction Author of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #4 Novel of the Year and #3 Series of the year. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series—A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Book 1 in her “Winds of Change” series A Hope Undaunted ranked #5 on Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010.

I was provided a copy of this book by NetGalley for my honest opinion and review.