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    A Glimmer of Hope: A Novella Prequel to Isle of Hope
    A Glimmer of Hope: A Novella Prequel to Isle of Hope
    A Glimmer of Hope: A Novella Prequel to Isle of Hope
    Ebook129 pages2 hours

    A Glimmer of Hope: A Novella Prequel to Isle of Hope

    By Julie Lessman

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    She’s a wounded girl serving up trouble. 

    He’s a pastor’s kid bent on serving God. 

    But can they find a glimmer of hope for a future together? 

    From the moment Jack O’Bryen kissed the sixteen-year-old tomboy next door, he knew he would love her forever. Lacey Carmichael was everything he’d ever wanted—intelligent, warm, and brimming with life, the perfect complement to his serious and sensible self. A girlfriend who not only shared his faith, but he hoped his future as well, the perfect mate for a would-be pastor. 

    Eighteen-year-old Lacey Carmichael has dreamed of marrying Jack O’Bryen since she was twelve years old, the boy next door who always picked up the pieces after her father shattered her heart. But when her cousin leads her astray while Jack’s away at school and her father’s rejection soars to new heights, Lacey finds herself at odds with the boy that she loves, not only jeopardizing their relationship, but Jack’s faith and heart as well.  

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJulie Lessman
    Release dateAug 30, 2016
    ISBN9781524296827
    A Glimmer of Hope: A Novella Prequel to Isle of Hope

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      Book preview

      A Glimmer of Hope - Julie Lessman

      Acclaim for Isle of Hope

      "In Isle of Hope Lessman tells a poignant tale of first loves reunited and families reconciled. Both emotionally captivating and spiritually challenging, this sweet southern love story deals with issues of forgiveness and restoration. Fans of Lessman will be absolutely delighted with this riveting tale!" —Denise Hunter, bestselling author of Falling Like Snowflakes

      "In Isle of Hope, award-winning author Julie Lessman weaves a story of how past choices collide with future consequences. Lessman’s novel has it all: lush details, dynamic characters, and a storyline that keeps you turning the pages. The characters Lessman created in Isle of Hope confront their (in)ability to forgive – and as you fall in love with these characters, be prepared to question your beliefs about forgiveness." —Beth K. Vogt, author of Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and a 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2015 and 2014 Carol Award finalist

      "Fans of Julie Lessman’s historical romances will love this modern day love story! Isle of Hope is a heartwarming and inspirational novel about forgiveness sought and restoration found. I’m enamored with the large and wonderful O’Bryen family and I thoroughly enjoyed the romances Julie skillfully crafted for both Jack O'Bryen and his mom Tess. A delight!" —Becky Wade, award-winning author of My Stubborn Heart and The Porter Family series including A Love Like Ours

      Acclaim for Julie Lessman

      Truly masterful plot twists ... —Romantic Times Book Reviews

      Readers who like heartwarming novels, such as those written by Debbie Macomber, are sure to enjoy this book. —Booklist Online

      Julie is one of the best there is today at writing intensely passionate romance novels. Her ability to thread romance and longing, deception and forgiveness, and lots of humor are unparalleled by anyone else in the Christian market today. —Rachel McRae of LifeWay Stores

      Julie Lessman's prose and character development is masterful. —Church Libraries Magazine

      Author Acclaim for Julie Lessman

      (authors listed alphabetically)

      "With memorable characters and an effervescent plot that's as buoyant as it is entertaining, Dare to Love Again is Julie Lessman at her zestful best." —Tamera Alexander, bestselling author of A Lasting Impression and To Whisper Her Name

      In a powerful and skillfully written novel, Lessman exposes raw human emotions, proving once again that it's through our greatest pain that God can lead us to our true heart, revealed and restored. Thoroughly enthralling! —Maggie Brendan, author of the Heart of the West and The Blue Willow Brides series

      "Julie Lessman brings all her passion for romance rooted in her passion for God to A Heart Revealed. Emma Malloy is her finest heroine yet. These characters, with their own personal struggles and the ignited flame of an impossible love, fill the pages of this powerful, passionate, fast-paced romance." —Mary Connealy, bestselling author of the Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, Trouble in Texas, and Wild at Heart series

      What an interesting mix of characters. Rather than a single boy-meets-girl romance, Julie Lessman's latest novel takes readers on an emotional roller coaster with several couples—some married, some yearning to be married—as they seek to embrace love, honor the Lord, and uncover a dark truth that's been hidden for a decade. Readers who long for passion in their love stories will find it in abundance here! —Liz Curtis Higgs, bestselling author of Thorn in My Heart

      Readers will not be able to part with these characters come 'The End. —Laura Frantz, award-winning author of Love's Reckoning

      "With an artist's brushstroke, Julie Lessman creates another masterpiece filled with family and love and passion. Love at Any Cost will not only soothe your soul, but it will make you laugh, stir your heart, and release a sigh of satisfaction when you turn the last page." —MaryLu Tyndall, bestselling author of Veil of Pearls

      Prologue

      Isle of Hope, Georgia, Fall 2006

      Why doesn’t my daddy love me?

      Little Hannah Lambert’s tearful question still haunted seventeen-year-old Lacey Carmichael two hours later as she arrived home from her volunteer shift at Camp Hope. One of the newest charges at Miss Myra’s camp for orphans with illnesses, disabilities, and other challenges, the six-year-old had been abandoned first by her so-called father and then her mother who died of an overdose. The memory of Hannah’s broken heaves while Lacey had rocked her on the front porch of the plantation house pierced anew, stabbing deep into the tender, little-girl heart that beat within Lacey’s own breast. Oh, sweetheart, she’d whispered, the child’s sobs racking Lacey’s soul as well as her body, I’m sure deep down your daddy loves you, sweet pea. I promise.

      That promise now echoed hollow in her brain as she eased her mom’s Lexus into their driveway and parked, her afternoon of volunteer work still brutally fresh in her mind. Turning the ignition off, she slumped back against the seat and closed her eyes, reliving the scene of a heartbroken little girl weeping in her arms, reminding Lacey that none of the children had parents at Miss Myra’s camp.

      At least no parents that stayed.

      What’s an al-bu-truss, Miss Lacey? Hannah had asked in a nasal tone, body quivering as Lacey wiped her tears and mucus away with a Kleenex.

      The walls of Lacey’s throat had immediately closed in, her own painful memories paralyzing all response.

      You’re nothing but an albatross around my neck, battling me at every turn.

      Because that’s what my dad said I was, Hannah continued, her tiny fingers trembling as she rubbed more tears from her eyes. Is that a bad thing?

      Lacey’s eyelids lumbered closed, as heavy as her heart. No, sweetheart, she’d whispered, unable to thwart the moisture that welled, it just means your daddy was too sad and too sick to be the daddy he wanted to be for you, so he needed to go away.

      The day you go away to college will be the happiest day of my life.

      Hannah peered up with a glimmer of hope in a face ravaged by rejection. So you really think he still loves me, Miss Lacey?

      Against her will, Lacey’s chin quivered while she gently stroked the little girl’s hair, embarrassed that even at seventeen, her own father’s rejection could still unravel her so. Oh, absolutely, sweetheart, I just think he doesn’t know how to show it.

      Tap-tap-tap.

      Lacey startled at the sound of a knock on the Lexus’s driver’s side window, the smiling face of one of the neighborhood girls snapping her out of her malaise. She rolled down the window.

      "Lacey, Lacey—can you be on our team, please? Ten-year-old Savannah Moore hopped up and down like she was on a trampoline, a bat and wiffle ball clutched in her hands. Kyle says his team is going to grind us into the dust, but not if you play, so can you—please, please?"

      Lacey laughed, the sound helping to relax some of the tension at the back of her neck. She opened the car door and got out, offering Savannah her most sympathetic smile. Wish I could, sweetie, but I’m on my way to an overnight at my cousin’s house right now before we go to a party.

      But you just got home! Savannah whined with a grimace of pain that could have earned the little stinker an Oscar, "so can’t you just play a few innings to help us crush the boys, pleassssssse?"

      Shooting a glance across the street to the park-like lawn that meandered the shore of the Skidaway River, Lacey couldn’t help but grin at the hodge-podge collection of kids squaring off, the tomboy in her wishing she could join them for even a while. As a lover of sports and the top pitcher on her softball team, she always enjoyed impromptu competitions between the kids on the street. Especially when her boyfriend, Jack O’Bryen, shored up the boys’ team. Lacey’s gaze flicked next door to the O’Bryen’s driveway, now void of Jack’s car since he was away at college, and a familiar emptiness settled within as she expelled a wispy sigh. Sorry, kiddo, but I’m already late. I only came home because I forgot my overnight bag, sweetheart.

      Oh, poo! Employing a truly pathetic pout, Savannah huffed out a sigh, trudging back to the game with a half-hearted wave. "Well, at least Jack’s not here, I guess, because then we’d really be in trouble."

      No kidding ... especially me, Lacey whispered, knowing full well that if Jack were home, he wouldn’t be happy about her going out with her cousin Nicki tonight. At least not with what Nicki had in mind.

      Come on, Lace, Nicki had begged, her mastery at pleading on par with Savannah’s, "Mom won’t let me go to this party unless you go along, so please say yes. Getting invited to Royce Barrister’s party is the best thing that’s happened to me since I moved back, so can’t you please help me have a little fun?"

      A little fun? Maybe. But as a recent transplant from California, Nicki’s idea of a little fun usually spelled big trouble for Lacey. But then, how could Lacey say no? Forced to leave her friends back in California and her mom

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