Revell Blog Tour: {Love at Any Cost} by Julie Lessman

About the Book:
Jilted by a fortune hunter, cowgirl Cassidy McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who would just as soon hogtie a man as look at him. Hoping a summer visit with her wealthy cousins in San Francisco will help her forget her heartache, Cassidy travels west. But no sooner is she settled in beautiful California than Jamie MacKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well, captures her heart. When Jamie discovers the woman he loves is poorer than he is, Cassidy finds herself bucked by love a second time. Will Jamie discover that money can't buy love after all? And can Cassidy ever learn to fully trust her heart to a man?

With delectable descriptions and a romantic sensibility, bestselling author Julie Lessman brings the Gilded Age to life in this sumptuous new series. Readers will faithfully follow Lessman to the West Coast for more romance, passion, and surprising revelations found in Love at Any Cost.

My Star Rating: 5

My Review:
We have another winner!  I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- Julie Lessman never fails to impress!  Love at Any Cost is Book 1 in The Heart of San Francisco series, and it truly does take the reader into the heart of San Francisco at the beginning of the 20th century.  All of the elements that I've come to love from a Julie Lessman novel are here, with a new cast of characters!  The McClare family comes to life atop the affluent Nob Hill, while we also get a taste of the seedy, dark side of the Barbary Coast.

As with all of Julie's novels, there's always the historical element that I love so much.  As a native Californian, who's been to San Francisco many times, I appreciate that I was able to see the city come to life in 1902, through these beautifully penned pages.  In the beginning of the book, I found myself stopping to do a bit of research, and I discovered some rich San Francisco history that I was unfamiliar with.  I'm always in awe of how well Julie weaves the historical elements into her stories, and makes you feel like you've stepped back in time.  It's always a fun history lesson!

This novel has everything I've come to love from Julie's novels -- passion, romance, witty dialogue, laugh-out-loud interactions between the characters, eye-popping twists, and the ever present thread of faith.  It's always the perfect mix, and I love how Julie effortlessly weaves key spiritual elements into the lives of her characters.  So not only are we entertained by the spunky Cassidy McClare, and the handsome Jamie MacKenna, but we see the power of what God can do in a human life.  How He can change a heart, mend relationships, and give us the desires of our heart.

With top notch writing that will keep you turning pages, you don't want to miss Love at Any Cost!  It's one for the keeper shelf, and I highly recommend picking up a copy today!

"Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."