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Julie Lessman

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A Wing and a Prayer (The Cousins O'Connor Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Julie Lessman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.6 482 ratings

Book 1 of 3: The Cousins O'Connor

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NOTE! THIS BOOK IS A SWEET INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE WITH A HIGHER LEVEL OF ROMANTIC PASSION)

She’s dead-set on giving everything to the war overseas …

Even if it means losing everything in a war of the heart.

A street orphan abused and abandoned by an alcoholic father at age five, Gabriella (Gabe) O’Connor has never let a man stand in her way yet. So when a handsome flight officer thwarts her plans to become a WASP— Women Air Force Service Pilot — she’s determined to join the war effort anyway she can. Her chance comes when she “borrows” foreign correspondent credentials from the Boston Herald—where her father is the editor—to stow away on a medical ship to the front.

Lieutenant Alex Kincaid pegs Gabe O’Connor as trouble the moment she steps foot on Avenger Field as a WASP cadet. As the eldest brother of a boy whose jaw Gabe broke in grade school, Alex is familiar with her reputation as both a charismatic ringleader and a headstrong hooligan who’s challenged every male and nun from grade school to college. As her WASP flight instructor, Alex eventually expels Gabe when she pulls a dangerous stunt. But when he is an evacuation pilot in France eight months later, their lives intertwine once again, exposing them to a danger as perilous as the German tanks roaming the Reichswald Forest: a love that neither expects.

Book 1 of 3

The Cousins O'Connor
Print length

569 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

April 1, 2020
File size

4667 KB
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0848L5XLZ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Julie Lessman LLC (April 1, 2020)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4667 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 569 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B0874LGYTR

Best Sellers Rank: #239,547 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #968 in Christian Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #1,115 in Religious Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #1,489 in Christian Historical Fiction (Books)

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4.6 482 ratings

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About the author

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Julie Lessman

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Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch 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, 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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4.6 out of 5

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Long time reader

Excellent read

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024

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A wonderful book about a young woman, Gabe who is trying to find her purpose and way in life. The story is set during WWII and accurately portrays Wasp’s training and events that happen while Gabe works to become a photo journalist.

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MeezCarrie

fun but meaningful romance from the Queen of Kisses!

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2020

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4.5 stars

“…real love chooses the best course of action, not the easiest.”

If you loved Lessman’s Winds of Change series as much as I do, then you’ve probably always wondered if Gabe would get her story. Turns out, we just had to wait for her to grow up – a journey we get to be part of through the pages of the author’s latest romance, A Wing and a Prayer. Because, while Gabe might be physically grown up when this book begins, she definitely has a lot of needed maturity to embrace when it comes to her heart and her soul.

As with most of Lessman’s heroines, Gabe is a spitfire and a half, at times a literal tangle of feet and arms and hands, kicking and clawing her way to what she feels is right. Or, rather, what feels right to her. There’s a big difference between the two, and Gabe’s got some hard lessons on that subject ahead of her. Many of them doled out by our swoony, rule-following hero, ace medivac pilot & doctor-to-be Alex Kincaid. And while I wanted to shake both of them more than once throughout their story (as I usually do with Lessman’s passionate and feisty characters haha!), it’s such a richly-drawn and heart-tugging journey that mainly I just wanted to hug them both really tight. (Ok, and maybe klunk their heads together a bit once I’m done hugging.)

The kisses and the romantic tension between Gabe and Alex are SWOONY with a capital S (and all the other letters too), but I almost loved their friendship even more. (Notice, I said ‘almost’. Those are some really good kissing scenes LOL) Like with every true friendship, they complement each other, yes, but also sharpen each other like iron on iron when it counts. Gabe is good for Alex, and Alex is good for Gabe. Both force the other to confront the areas in themselves they aren’t proud of – and to find forgiveness in the abundant grace and mercy of God. And … you know… the intense kisses between them when the tension has reached a breaking point … that didn’t hurt any to read either ...

Bottom Line: A Wing and a Prayer is a well-researched, captivating glimpse into life during World War 2. From the medical flights to bring supplies to the front lines and the dangerous heart-in-your-throat moments encountered along the way, you’ll be turning the pages as quickly as you can to see how it all plays out. Gabe has a lot of maturing to do, and unfortunately getting there the hard way is never fun. But in taking us along for the ride, Lessman reminds us that no matter who has failed us on earth, God can be trusted because He loves us better than anyone else ever could. 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!

(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I bought for my own collection.)

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Stephanie McCall

Julie Lessman Returns, and Her Wings are in Ace Shape!

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2020

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Finally, Julie Lessman is back after more than a year of waiting for her next novel. She won automatic points with me on this one too, because it's an O'Connor novel and about Gabriella Dawn--excuse me, Gabe--from the Winds of Change series. I also applaud her for tackling World War II. It's an intensely popular time period for historical fiction, so I think there's a lot of pressure surrounding writing it. But as you'll see from Julie's author's note and the book itself, her research was impeccable and not at all dry. So again, automatic brownie points.

Beyond the automatic, there's a ton to like here. As noted, I loved reuniting with Gabe, who is all grown up now--sort of. She looks amazing in dress greens, and she has become an amazing woman. I knew she was back when I saw her chewing Dubble Bubble at Avenger Field and privately calling her PT "Lard-Butt." :) And I enjoyed every one of her adventures, from flying a plane like she was born in a cockpit--and bailing out at 10,000 feet--to traipsing all over Europe as a "war correspondent." She's sassy, she's brassy, she's a daredevil, she's brilliant, and I adore her. I wish I had won one of Julie's get-a-character-named-for-you contests, because I'd love to be Gabe's friend. I think I'd be one of the ones keeping her out of the brig, while she would probably have to stick up for me.

Naturally, a gal like Gabe needs a particular kind of hero to match her and sweep her off her feet. Alex Kincaid certainly fits the bill. I love the fact that they had history together before the story, but they work even better together as adults. They've got the I-love-you-I-hate-you spark I often enjoy (although it could emotionally wear me out occasionally). I also love the pairing of the good boy with the bad girl, especially since most writers go the other way around. Here, for a change, it's the girl who's the heartbreaker and the player. Gabe reminds me of Charity that way, but I love how their approaches are different. Charity was the classic, beautiful femme fatale--sexy and she knew it. Gabe was more the tomboyish, "catch me if you can" type. Julie proved here she could write both types well.

As always, Julie is a pro at capitalizing on emotional stakes outside romance, too. My favorite here was how Gabe's history played into the present. We don't get much of the history itself, except in a heart-wrenching prologue. But the more you read, the more you understand Gabe and why she is so self-sabotaging. A lot is made out of the issue of trust, and that's appropriate. But to me, what was even better was the unspoken exploration of why Gabe sabotaged every chance at trust she had. That is, when no one wanted you from the beginning, when everyone decides ahead of time, in some way, that you're a brat--well, you act like it, darn it! That's why Gabe got such strong reactions from me. I just about cried when she got expelled, and when she threw herself into Patrick's arms, and more than once.

The spiritual thread here is one of Julie's strongest lately, and I must give her a standing ovation for the character of Patrick O'Connor this time around. I'll admit, in some of Julie's other books, Patrick Drove. Me. Nuts. He seemed way too hard on his wife and kids, especially Gabe--although that might be because personality-wise, I'm a lot like Marcy. But here, I think Patrick, more than anybody else, shows the true, agape love of Christ. He sees his prodigal daughter and has nothing for her but grace. Not always mercy--there are consequences and I think both Gabe and Patrick have learned better how to handle those. But their every interaction drips with grace and it warmed my heart.

Several smaller scenes within the book stick out as particularly memorable. I loved Gabe and Hope's coffee date at the Oxford cafe and wanted to visit. Gabe's later scenes with Sister Mary Veronica (Vomit) and Jo were touching and funny; it's about time Gabe met her mini-me! Julie pulled off a somewhat small but effective twist with Alex, in that I didn't expect him to show up in Gabe's life again--and again--like he did. She also pulled off a twist with how Gabe got her credentials, because I was expecting her to leap into her next scrape right away and was a little taken aback when she didn't. And, I had another emotional moment when Gabe connected her blessings with the atrocities discovered at the concentration camps. Personally, I'd like to see Julie tackle a Holocaust/liberation book, because I'd bet you a bookcase of books, she'd rip your heart out doing it, in a good way. (In my dreams, she'd ask me to collaborate with her).

Okay, so with all that said, why just four stars? Well, part of it is the author, meaning I expect a LOT from Julie Lessman. She's proven herself as a favorite, so I don't want to give five stars unless the book is PERFECT. (And I would want that treatment from her on my books, too). With that settled, there are some weak points. One is actually the romance, because while I rooted for Gabe and Alex to be together, I don't think they spent enough time really getting to know each other as they got there. They promised to be friends, they called truces, they made out a lot...and all that is fine. But I never got the sense they were "going deep" with each other. Now, they are not Lizzie and Brady, or even Faith and Collin, and I get that. But--well, personal preference.

My other issue was the spirituality. Again, there is some wonderful spiritual stuff here, and I like most of Julie's choices regarding Gabe's spiritual journey. That is, I expected her to need a kind of "Jonah moment" to surrender to God, and she didn't. Instead, what she got was just life piling on, consequence after consequence, and not learning from her mistakes. And isn't that the way it is with us sometimes? Well, all the time?

The problem was, I didn't feel like there was a clear moment where Gabe really got down and dirty with God. She'd held grudges against Him so long, I wanted them to have a serious talk, so to speak. I wanted her to get to a place where she had to be still, where the consequences sank in. I wanted her to confront Him--yell and scream and cry if she had to--and not just about Alex, but about her dreams and her life. I mean, if somebody burned me with cigarettes and threw me in the garbage, I'd be pretty darn upset, too! I wanted Gabe to throw herself in God's arms as she did Patrick's. Instead, what seems to happen is that one minute, she's anti-God, and the next she's...what? She's praying, she's open, she claims some kind of belief, but--again, it's not clear. I actually started playing the what-if game, like, "What if Alex had sneaked her back into the WASP program? What if she went to a concentration camp and had an epiphany, like running into an emaciated little kid or something?"

Anyway, those are weak points, but some are preference-based. Overall, A Wing and a Prayer was a wonderful book that reunited me with one of my favorite families. I am already salivating for the rest of the series and eager to see where it goes. Will we get to follow the O'Connors all the way to the twenty-first century? (A girl can dream)! In the meantime, please pick up this latest and SOAR!

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Amazon Customer

Terrible.

Reviewed in Australia on December 27, 2022

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The book is not worth reading. I only read 15 percent before I deleted it - I was looking for a story with substance but all it went on and on about was this infatuation between two people ie he loves me he loves me not all it talked about was how to gain favour from this very impressive guy - perhaps I should have read on but it was so immature I couldn't stand to read any more. I never write reviews but I am feeling so annoyed at wasting precious time reading this silly nonsense.

Brad

I wanted to love it more

Reviewed in Canada on June 13, 2021

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Ok, so I enjoyed reading this. A few grammar issues, but I can look past that. Gabe’s character was really well done and so was Alex’s and honestly Julie did a great job of getting us into their heads so we could see things from their views, their values, their drives. Like other readers, I would have loved to see Gabe have a personal moment with God. Her self destructive spiral just needed something … more to mark her turnaround. I could have done with less of the ‘she’s a little girl and he’s so much like her father’ bit.
Alex.. gah. He was amazing, personality wise. All confident, kind, faithful and yet simmering with an underlining dominance and passion. Yummy. But, oh my GOSH. By the end, his reluctance to pursue Gabe drove me BONKERS. I mean *SPOILER ALERT** his best friend being in love with Gabe means nothing if Gabe doesn’t love the best friend! She had broken up with Bren, for goodness sakes! And Alex is all ‘no you have to date him cuz he loves you’ grrr. And then suddenly, that’s just not a problem anymore? I would have preferred if, when Alex is shipped home, that his hang up was not the best friend she dumped, but needing to build trust. Because though she has changed he hadn’t seen any of that. Sigh.. *SPOILER DONE**
So. That said I did love so much about the book. The realistic drive behind Gabe’s actions. The truth about trust in relationships. I loved seeing a bit of her relationship with Hope and Henry (looking forward to seeing their stories!!) the history aspect was super interesting and the kisses were SIZZLY. I never knew what was going to happen next, which I love! And honestly, Julie just did such a great job of immersing us in the times, from the hairstyles to the language. Overall, an enjoyable read.

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