Journal Jots – Blog

SO … WHAT HAVE I BEEN UP TO?

VALENTINE’S MONTH SALES AND GIFT-CARD GIVEAWAY!

VALENTINE’S DAY FREE DOWNLOAD!

WRITER’S CRAFT 5.0 NOW 99% OFF & 3-CHAPTER EDIT!

DENISE HUNTER ARC PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY!

BOOKS ON MY NIGHTSTAND!

Read the following components from prior blog including excerpt from Henry’s story HERE!

 

♥️ So … What Have I been Up To?

WHOO-HOO … Happy 2024, Everyone AND Happy Valentine’s Month — I hope your holidays were as wonderful as mine!

We visited Omaha and Birmingham for Christmas with both sets of grands, then St. Louis with Keith’s fam before we headed south to Florida for more quality time with my fam, so we are blessed.

Haven’t done a lot of writing other than a bit here and there on my devotional, which I hope to finish this spring before tackling my next novel.

Uh, and what will that “next novel” be? Well, I’m sorry to say your guess is as good as mine because for the first time in my writing career of 15 years, I have NO CLUE what I am going to write next! Up until now, God has always given me a clear path to the next book, but this time I’ve hit a wall even though I’ve prayed about it nonstop. In my spirit, I feel like He’s basically told me that until I finish the devotional that He has mandated I write (on which I’ve been dragging my feet since I don’t like to read or write nonfiction), He will not give me the next book to begin.

Sigh.

Yes, I do have some sketchy ideas here and there and would love your opinion of the following options if you are so inclined.

1.) I can continue on with Mitch and Charity’s family, finishing up with Winnie and Julia OR …

2.) I can go the O’Connor chronological-cousin route by writing a trilogy about Faith and Collin’s girls.

3.) I can finally finish up the Silver Lining Ranch Series with Book 3, Love’s Silver Spoon (in keeping with Book 1, Love’s Silver Lining, and Book 2, Love’s Silver Bullet), which will be both Shaylee and Dash’s love stories with both Gray and Grace) OR …

4.) Embark on a new historical series set in post-Civil War Charleston which I’ve been tossing around in my mind for a year or so. It will be called A Candle in the Dark and it is about a genteel and classic widow in her late 30s who is the head of an exclusive girl’s school and pursued by a no-nonsense Police Chief. Their love story will be similar in tone to Cait and Logan from The Heart of San Francisco Series, a secondary mature love story that overarches an entire trilogy (like Cait and Logan’s), which then focuses on three younger teachers at the girl’s school and the love interests they encounter.

So … what would YOU like to see me write??

AS FAR AS WHAT I’VE BEEN UP TO PERSONALLY?  Well, as you can see from the montage below, LOTS of fun with my six grand kids and their parents — from being jailed in Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri … to a hair-raising venture at the St. Louis Magic House … and finally Estero, Florida! Also, I am now a “pickle-ball widow” since my husband has gone over the edge on that very addictive sport, which actually is okay by me since he gets more exercise and I get more time to write! 😉

 

And finally, I couldn’t resist a few pics of the only “baby” I have left among my grands (she just turned two!), Miss Millie Jules, who I must admit, made me both deleriously happy and guilty when she was disappointed that her mom picked her up from daycare rather than Juju per the second picture below.

 

♥️Valentines Month Sales & Contest!

Because it’s Valentine’s month, I decided to run some sales on my latest series, The Cousins O’Connor. PLUS there will be a drawing for a $20 Amazon gift card (see details below), so if you haven’t read them yet, now’s your chance as these will be the lowest prices of the season on this 4.7⭐️ WW2 Series, even for my latest release, A Dare and a Prayer, which has been reduced by $2.00, so get it before it goes back up.

♥️ ATTENTION THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY READ THE SERIES. If you liked this series but haven’t yet posted a review on Amazon, I would sooooooooo appreciate a brief (1- or 2-line review is great!) saying you liked it and you can even post the same generic review for all three books. And if you DO post a review for all three books, let me know so I can send you your choice of a free indie e-book, okay? PLUS … your name goes in the hat for a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

♥️ ATTENTION GOODREADS READERS WHO HAVE POSTED REVIEWS FOR THIS SERIES ON GOODREADS, BUT NOT ON AMAZON. Those of you who have read it and have left a review on Goodreads but not Amazon, I would love for you to just copy and paste your Goodreads review on Amazon because that’s where the rubber meets the road for authors as far as book sales go. And if you DO post a review for all three books, let me know so I can send you your choice of a free indie e-book, okay? PLUS … your name goes in the hat for a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

$ .99 SALE ON BOOK 1, A WING AND A PRAYER

$2.99 SALE ON BOOK 2, A HOPE AND A PRAYER

$4.99 SALE ON  BOOK 3, A DARE AND A PRAYER:

 

♥️ Free Valentine’s Day Download 5 Days Only!

YEP … GABE’S GOING FREE FOR FIVE DAYS ONLY— FEBRUARY 14-18 — so those of you who haven’t read her story yet have no excuse because it is the perfect kick-off for this exciting 4.7⭐️ series that leads up to the piece de resistance of this series and one of my top-fave books I’ve ever written—A Dare and a Prayer!

Here’s the truly dramatic TRAILER/VIDEO my very talented hubby did if you haven’t seen it yet!

SO … mark your calendar for FEBRUARY 14-18 for a FREE DOWNLOAD of A Wing and a Prayer HERE, then, check out these reviews:

♥️ “A fun and wild ride … enjoy the ride!” — Sarah Sundin, award-winning WW2 author

♥️ “A Wing and a Prayer isn’t just a great novel, it’s an epic story that follows star-crossed lovers through the dangerous times of World War II”— MaryLu Tyndall, award-winning author of Legacy of the King’s Pirates.

♥️ “A Wing and a Prayer is set against a thrilling stretch of time. Two characters at odds with each other … with an attraction so powerful it can’t be resisted, though they certainly try.” —Mary Connealy, award-winning author of Brides of Hope Mountain Series

♥️ “Julie Lessman is a masterful author. A Wing And A Prayer … is a powerful Christian historical novel that explores love and trust in God in times of war.” –The Christian Bookaholic

♥️ “A Wing and a Prayer is a well-researched, captivating glimpse into life during World War 2 … a fun but meaningful romance from the Kissing Queen herself, A Wing and a Prayer is a must-read for fans of Sundin, Breslin, and Gohlke! –Reading is my SuperPower Blog

ATTN WRITERS! Writer’s Craft 5.0 Farewell Sale Feb. 6-13: Win a 3-Chapter Edit from Yours Truly!

I’ve got some prettttty amazing books on my nightstand that I have read or am getting ready to read, so have you read any of these? If not, I highly recommend each of these authors because they are some of my faves!

 

IF I DREAM by Anne Perrault:
A VERY unique and fascinating love story that takes place in Arabia!

Her destiny is determined by her family.
Her dreams are overshadowed by her duty.
Until, one night, it all changes…

 

THE BEST SUMMER OF OUR LIVES by Rachel Hauck:

 

 

 

THE SEAMSTRESS OF ACADIE by Laura Frantz:

In a land torn apart by conflict, can love mend the tattered pieces?

 

 

 

WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS by Elizabeth Camden:

Amid the hushed city, two hearts must navigate danger and deception, bound by a love that outshines the stars.

 

 

 

THE RESOLUTE by MaryLu Tyndall:

Swashbuckling adventure. Swoony romance. Danger and intrigue and a fast paced plot. It’s all here, folks. But the best of all is the message of hope and faith that shines like sunlight on the high seas. A satisfying conclusion to this piratey series! —Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Man of Shadow and Mist

 

ROCKY ROAD by Becky Wade:

Escape to Maine for this swoon-worthy “fake romance”! Banter, humor, perfume, and a mystery from the past intertwine in this sweet Sons of Scandal love story.

 

 

 

 

 

NEWSFLASH!

Price for 5-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Dare and a Prayer
Goes Up November 1st! 

Due to a BookBub commitment, I had to keep my new release, A Dare and a Prayer at the pre-order discount price during October, but come November 1st, the price goes up, so take advantage to get this 5-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ novel that’s drawing amazing reviews like the following:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “LESSMAN HAS CRAFTED AN EXQUISITE MASTERPIECE! This novel is a must read for those who are praying and believing for prodigals to come home. Henry and Amy’s story is edgy and raw. However, hope softly whispers though the pages. Lessman has gracefully handled the child trafficking issue. This is not an easy story but a necessary one. It is Ms. Lessman’s best work to date!”— Caryl Kane, Amazon reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Five plus stars is what I will be giving A Dare and a Prayer. I believe fans of historical romance with strong emphasis of strong women during the World War II era, will definitely want to give this one a read.” — Locks, Hooks, & Books blog

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “The spiritual lessons pack a punch, they convict, they remind, they are full of the rich truths of God’s Word. When I finished the last page I literally wanted to go back and read it again because I missed the characters so much.” — My Favorite Pastime blog

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I cannot give enough praise for Julie Lessman’s newest book, A Dare and A Prayer. This is by far her best novel yet. She delivers big on the romance, character arc, and justice.” —LiteraryScape

BUY E-BOOK HERE
BUY PAPERBACK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE HAVE WINNERS: Mysti’s Book Nook, Blog-Tour Contest, & Denise Hunter Giveaway!

WINNERS FROM MYSTI’S BOOK NOOK! We had a great time discussing A A Hope and a Prayer, covering subjects such as FRIENDS TO LOVERS TROPE, LITTLE IDOLS IN DISGUISE, CHRISTIAN ROMANCE—SUPER SWEET OR SUPER SWOON?  A SPIRITUAL TOOL KIT FOR TEMPTATION and more.

If you weren’t able to join in, you can always check out some of the stimulating discussions at Mysti’s by heading on over to Mysti’s Book Nook and starting out with Discussion #1 by putting #1 in the search box.

AND NOW … MEGA HUGS to everyone who did chime in on our discussions and here are our winners:

 

🏆 GRAND-PRIZE WINNER of … a $25 Amazon gift card, a character named for them or a loved one in my next book and signed paperback copy, PLUS choice of 3 of my indie e-books OR 1 of my paperbacks (based on my private stash) OR choice of 1 paperback from list of top CBA authors … IS:

Morgan Coble

🏆 INDIVIDUAL POST WINNERS of … choice of 3 of my indie e-books OR 1 of my paperbacks (based on my private stash) OR choice of one paperback from a list of top CBA authors:

POST WINNER #1 ON OCTOBER 1: Jeanna Massman

POST WINNER #2 ON OCTOBER 3: Paty Hinojosa Gómez

POST WINNER #3 ON OCTOBER 5: Grace Tarp

POST WINNER #4 ON OCTOBER 7: Janelle Wise

POST WINNER #5 ON OCTOBER 9: Eve Cedarland

POST WINNER #6 ON OCTOBER 11: Roy’n Brenda Foster Murphree

POST WINNER #7 ON OCTOBER 13: Danielle Nicole Hull

🏆 THEN FINALLY … what can I say? I just got a wild hair to draw one random name to receive an e-copy of A Dare and a Prayer or their choice of another of my indie e-books. And that random names is: Amy Etner.

SUPER CONGRATS to all the winners and I’ll need you to contact me through the CONTACT tab of my website to let me know your choice of prizes and your mailing address if you opt for a paperback.

__________________________________________

 

WINNERS FROM BLOG TOUR FOR A HOPE AND A PRAYER! First of all, I want to thank each of the amazing bloggers who were on my blog tour — I SO appreciate each and every one of you!

Secondly, MEGA HUGS to all of you that took the time to visit each blog and leave a comment — you guys ROCK!

Randomizer picked one of the names from ALL of the comments on the blogs to win the 🏆 GRAND-PRIZE of a $50 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of A Dare and a Prayer or a signed paperback copy of any of my indie books or a book by a top CBA author, and that winner is: 

Kathryn Pfeifer 

🏆 3 RUNNER-UP BLOG WINNERS … Choice of three of my e-books 
—OR choice of one of my signed paperbacks (based on my private stash) 
—OR choice of one paperback from a list of the above-mentioned top CBA authors (based on my private stash) are:

Lynne Feuerstein
Christy Janes
Michael A. Law

SUPER CONGRATS to all the winners and I’ll need you to contact me through the CONTACT tab of my website to let me know your choice of prizes and your mailing address if you opt for a paperback.

__________________________________________

 

WINNER FROM DENISE HUNTER GIVEAWAY!

And last, but not least, the winner of the Denise Hunter giveaway of a paperback copy of her latest release, Wildflower Falls is:

Sarah Taylor

 

 

 

 

Have You Posted a Review for A Dare and a Prayer?
If you have,  then I want to thank you with a free e-book, so just contact me on my website via the CONTACT JULIE tab to let me know, and you have your choice of any one of my indie e-books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

🥳 SALES ON BOOKS 1 & 2 & SPECIAL PRICE ON BOOK 3!

E-BOOK FOR BOOK 3, A DARE AND A PRAYER:

PAPERBACK FOR A DARE AND A PRAYER

$2.99 SALE ON BOOK 1, A WING AND A PRAYER

$1.99 SALE ON BOOK 2, A HOPE AND A PRAYER

WATCH DRAMATIC TRAILER HERE

 

🍁 Love you guys and wishing you a Happy Autumn!

Hugs,

Julie