(NOTE! THIS BOOK IS A SWEET INSPIRATIONAL WITH A HIGHER LEVEL OF ROMANTIC PASSION)She’s dead-set on giving everything to the war overseas … 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 Reece 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, Reece 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, Reece 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.
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“And then, you make up your mind to step aside and give God a shot. Because you see, darlin’, in order to trust, one must first learn to let go.”
Another heart-tugging, satisfying historical romance from Julie Lessman. And from the looks of the series title, I’m thinking and hoping that there will be more O’Connor stories to come. I’m relatively new to the O’Connor family saga but am thoroughly enjoying getting to know the generations of O’Connors held together by unconditional love for each other and solidly grounded faith. With her trademark flare, Julie Lessman brings us a well-crafted love story during WWII, fueled by romance, passion for flying, loyalty, and prayer.
I loved Alex, the doctor-turned-pilot hero of the story. He’s steadfast, mature, loyal, and simply swoony. I didn’t like Gabe (Gabriella) much in the story; she had issues with control and authority. She manipulated and lied to get what she wanted and everyone, except her father and Alex, seemed to cave in to her demands. I felt sympathy for her awful childhood before being adopted into the O’Connor family but I could not feel empathy for her, especially when she blamed her early childhood for doing things that she knew were wrong. Yes, Gabe does have a spiritual epiphany and all her troubled emotions and doubts fall into place eventually. The fact that I didn’t like the heroine but loved the book should tell you that Julie Lessman is indeed a fantastic author who engages the reader, heart and mind.
If you enjoy well-written historical romance, you will love this book. I received a copy of the book from the author via Singing Librarian Books Tour and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
First O’Connor Cousins Book Covers a Lot of Territory
I have enjoyed reading all the O’Connor books by Julie Lessman and was excited to start on the first O’Connor Cousins book. A Wing and a Prayer focuses on Gabriella (Gabe) Dawn O’Connor, adopted daughter of Patrick and Marcy O’Connor. Gabe is all grown up but still struggling with rebellion and control. She’s a cadet in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), a civilian female pilots’ organization whose members test aircraft, ferry aircraft and train other pilots during World War 2. It is there that she becomes acquainted with the oldest brother of several of her nemeses in grade school, Alexander Kincaid.
This book follows Gabe and Alex as they navigate their relationship as well as WW2. Lessman includes many interesting details about the war as well as battle facts. All the other O’Connor brothers and sisters also make an appearance, and it was satisfying to see the older siblings several years after their stories (found in the Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change series). Overall, I would recommend this book for those who love the O’Connor family. The relationship between Patrick and Gabe is incredibly sweet, especially given the rough start Gabe had in life with her birth father. Although Gabe rebels against God and her parents, Patrick and Marcy give grace as well as boundaries, serving as great examples of how God loves us.
A Wing and a Prayer is longer than most fiction books, and I have to admit that Gabe’s behavior and attitude started to wear on me. I would have enjoyed this book a little better if it had been 100 pages shorter and there had been gradual changes in Gabe throughout the book instead of drastic changes in the last few chapters. Having said that, I will continue to read Lessman’s books and look forward to the next installment of the O’Connor Cousins series.
I have to be honest. I avoid anything about WW2. I find it kinda biased. My own family history is deeply rooted in this horrible period and I don’t like to read about it or watch a movie about it. But this book. Okay, Gabe is a pain in the neck! But I really liked her spunk and forgave her for being such a brat. She really did deserve what she got. Alex is such a steadfast guy and at times I actually feel bad for Gabe. She tries to manipulate her way through life and the only one she can’t manipulate, other than her father, is Alex. The book is funny, has some really great history that didn’t make me feel uncomfortable, and I highly recommend it.
A Wing and a Prayer had me hooked from the beginning. Airplanes, war history, and spunky exciting characters- a winning combination. Gabe was quirky and unlike other women of her time in history. She was a dare-devil, didn’t like rules, but still amazed everyone at her ability to fly.
Having her in the middle of two different men’s affection kept the story exciting. I never knew what would happen next. I laughed at times and was on the edge of my seat at others. I loved the Christian aspect of the story and how Gabe finally realized she really needed faith and trust in God to end up on the right path. The ending was amazing and not what I expected. Highly recommended.
Don’t let her petite stature fool you. Gabe O’Connor is one tough cookie. She’s smart and gutsy with a heart for the underdog. There isn’t a rule or male heart she can’t break, given the reason. But, at the dawning of the US entry into WWII, she knows she must use her flying and journalism skills to get into the battle and do her bit. That’s when she meets her match.
Alex Kincaid already knows Gabe’s reputation. Though they first meet in Texas at the WASP training center at Avenger Field where he is her Primary Trainer, he’s heard the stories of how this tiny brat beat the tar out of his little brothers, both bullies and bigger than her to boot. Instead of a family feud developing, he’s shocked at how he is drawn to her and does everything in his power to keep anything from happening.
And that’s just the beginning.
This story takes us from Texas to Boston to England and France. The research alone is deep, authentically painting the scenes to transport the reader to the 1940s. Plus the spiritual side and questions posed are real. Whether soaring over battle fields, lost behind enemy lines, or experiencing actual historic events, Julie Lessman never lets the conflict drop, nor the excitement end until the last word.
I must add that’s it’s a treat to get to spend more time with the O’Connor family. The members, characters in Julie Lessman’s fertile imagination, spring to life with such roundedness I felt I was visiting old friends. Each one is distinct, and it was fun catching up.
There is one caveat and it has nothing to do with the quality of the book. I merely want to recommend that if the reader is unfamiliar with the O’Connor sagas, start at the beginning of the first trilogy and read the books in order. Yes, A Wing and a Prayer will stand on its own and you will enjoy it. However, you will enjoy it even more if you already love Gabe’s family.
A Wing and a Prayer by Julie Lessman is the first book in her The Cousins O’Connor series. Gabe O’Connor wants to be come a WASP during WW2. She’s the best woman pilot they’ve ever seen but she has trouble following the rules. Alex Kincaid is assigned as her instructor. When he has to expel her for a dangerous stunt, she “borrows” some war correspondent credentials and stows away on a medical ship so that she can join the war effort. I loved Gabe’s spunk and her defense of the underdog. What I didn’t like was how she always thought she could get away with ignoring the rules. Alex was a good balance for her but his character was overbearing at times. He had no give in his vision. What bugged me the most was the author kept referring to Gabe’s best friend, Hope, as her cousin, when in fact she would have been her niece. (Hope was her sister’s daughter). It was an altogether very well put-together story with great little-known facts about World War 2. I really enjoyed the story. At times it was a little “edgy” for a Christian novel. The guys checking out the girls’ dress, the kissing going a little too far, and the feelings expressed. Other than that, it was a great story.
I received this e-book from the author for my honest review.
The O’Connor family is back! This time with Gabe’s story. You remember Gabe: spitfire, street fighter, and cause of Patrick O’Connor going grey. Gabe has grown into a smart woman who won’t let rules stop her from what she wants to do. When the consequences catch up to her, she blames others. It’s a fight that’s been going on all her life and it’s played out in World War II, at the WASP training school in Sweetwater, TX, on the European battlefields, and home in Boston. And remember all those boys she beat up? Their older brother Alex is Gabe’s flight instructor. Sparks – as well as airplanes – fly!
An epic for those who enjoyed The Winds Of War, Sarah Sundin’s novels set during WWII, and of course Julie Lessman’s O’Connor Family stories.
I am so glad Julie Lessman has continued to write about the O’Connor’s! I fell in love with the O’Connor’s back in 2008 with A Passion Most Pure and when the Winds of Change series ended I had O’Connor withdrawls!
Her first installment of The Cousins O’Connor is full of heart wrenching emotion and does not disappoint!
Ms. Lessman is true to her tagline of Passion With a Purpose in her story about Gabriella (Gabe) Dawn, the street urchin the Patrick and Marcy O’Connor adopted.
Gabe has grown up but she is still a spitfire and is determined to do things her own way and definitely without God. “I don’t trust many men… And that includes God.”
Julie Lessman is master story-teller and uses her story-telling to reveal God’s love and truth regardless of how stubborn the character may be. Historically this book takes the reader from 1943 to the end of the war.
I cannot recommend this book enough!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in association with Singing Library Book Tours. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Wing And A Prayer by Julie Lessman is a powerful Christian historical novel that explores love and trust in God in times of war. It is the first book in the Cousins O’Connor series and what an epic that promises to be.
The novel takes the reader from 1943 to the end of the war with locations in America, Britain and mainland Europe. We follow a plucky young woman who wants to do her bit for the war whilst realising her dream to fly.
Our upbringing affects the way we conduct our lives. Gabe, the plucky young heroine was abandoned on the streets as a child before being adopted. This reminds the reader that no matter what our start in life, God longs to adopt us into His family.
Gabe’s past means she knows what it feels like to be passed over. She fights for the underdog no matter what the consequences for her. The reader is reminded that some battles are not ours to fight but the Lord’s. We need to just stand still.
Trust does not come easy. “I don’t trust many men… And that includes God.” We must not project our earthly responses onto God. God is God and can always be trusted. Trust in man needs to be built up over time.
There is a fine line between love and hate. When we hurt, we may lash out in our pain but we do not always mean what we say.
Prayer is powerful. “Prayer was second to breathing.” Prayer must be a part of our nature. Prayers draw us closer to God. “With each prayer, she could feel God’s presence.” Sometimes in life all we can do, is to pray. “You can’t always be there for her… But my prayers can.” Covering someone in prayer has the potential to work miracles.
Julie Lessman has clearly researched thoroughly. The reader is educated in the events of World War II whilst reading. As a historian with a passion for WWII, I found it all fascinating.
Julie Lessman is a masterful author. She weaves her tale and reveals the heart of God for us. I look forward to much more by her.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The pages just keep flying in this heart-stopping, powerful love story filled with passion, danger and faith!
The beginning of A Wing and a Prayer finds Gabriella (Gabe) O’Connor in training to be a WASP, a Women Airforce Service Pilot. She’s tough and fearless. The officer instructing her is Lieutenant Alex Kincaid, an honorable man preparing to head to the European World War II theater.
The characters in this book are fascinating. If you’ve read previous books, you will delight in catching up with the lives of other O’ Connor family members. You may, like I did, find yourself getting exasperated with the poor choices made by Gabe, a tiny spitfire, but the story slowly reveals the trauma and hurt behind her reactions. You come to understand her and the struggles she faces. Alex? Well, he is a total heartthrob! Courageous, compassionate, self-sacrificing, in addition to being a strong Christian man, he’s certainly my kind of hero.
The author’s meticulous research is evident in the details of life in the early 1940’s. You feel you are right there…piloting the aircraft, experiencing the devastating effects of war, playing games with the family at the dining room table, or indulging in a slice of cream cheese frosted carrot cake at The Queen’s Lane Coffee House.
With non-stop action, the pages fly as Gabe and Alex face challenges together along with their building attraction to each other. According to the “passion with a purpose” trademark of author Julie Lessman, the romance is indeed sweetly passionate, as is the strong faith element! With forgiveness, trust and redeeming love highlighted throughout, I highly recommend this deeply engaging historical romance book.
Favorite quotes:
“Because no matter how difficult it may be to say or hear, the truth is the only thing that can set us free to be all we were meant to be. It is the rock upon which our hopes and dreams reside—and the only altar upon which our prayers rise to heaven.”
If you really and truly care about someone, you put them first.
*I was given an ecopy of this book with no requirement to write a review. I’m pleased to offer my honest opinion.
This is one of the best books I’ve read and I’ve read and listened to a few! I could so relate to Gabe as the head strong, bull headed independent young woman who bucked the rules at every turn! The lessons that can be found in this story are too numerous to mention, but one thing that was prominent was that with trust comes love, not the other way around. You can love someone, but not trust them to do the right thing by thinking of others first. Alex, along with her adoptive family fought long and hard to help her learn this lesson. Did she?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but will definitely not be the last.
Be sure to read the Winds of Change series first so you get to know Gabe when shes introduced.
Gabe O’Conner is as sassy as they come and seems determined to get her own way. So much so that it’s tends to get her in trouble
Alex Kincaid is a follow the rules kind of guy, who tries to reign in Cadet O’Conner, but it seems nothing can do that but God himself.
I truly love A Wing and A Prayer. I loved the characters and the history is this book is so authentic. It has a great storyline, following Gabe on her many adventures keeping you coming back for more. It had me feeling happy, sad, sometimes a bit anxious and filled my heart with joy and love by the time it was over. These are characters that will definitely stay with me. I found myself wondering what’s next for them, or what are they doing, like they are alive. I love how Julie while teaching her characters a lesson is also reminding us of things like how important the power of prayer really is. This was a wonderful book that I would highly recommend!!
What a ride this story took me on! It was so hard to see Gabe make bad decisions over and over and over again. I couldn’t help but like her, even though she had so much growing to do throughout almost the entire book! But, grow she did…both emotionally and spiritually, leading to a beautiful change of heart for her.
Alex was a great character who struggled to keep his attraction to Gabe contained to simply friendship throughout the book. This showed quite a depth of character. I felt that it was realistic that even Alex had moments where he let his emotions rule, yet he always ended up trying to do the right thing where Gabe was concerned.
The author definitely had my emotions up and down all over the place with this novel! I felt immersed in the WWII time period and eagerly look forward to future books with the other O’Connor cousins.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.