Justread: A Whim and A Prayer by Julie Lessman

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Whim and a Prayer by Julie Lessman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Whim and a Prayer
Series: The Cousins O’Connor #4
Author: Julie Lessman
Publisher: Independent
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Historical Romance

She’s a former orphan desperate to protect her heart.
He’s a best friend who protects her from the start.
Till prayer protects them both from a true love torn apart.

Discarded like so much trash on the steps of an orphanage at age two, seventeen-year-old Winifred Dennehy thinks God has it out for her. Abandoned by abusive parents and born cross-eyed to boot, she spent the first four years of her life battling bullies and verbal abuse. Deliverance came in the form of one Beckett Campbell, the ten-year-old orphan who became her best friend and guardian angel for life, along with an orphanage volunteer by the name of Mrs. D. When Mrs. Charity Dennehy adopts Winnie into her family, has her crossed eyes fixed, and secretly arranges for Beckett to be fostered and then adopted by elderly neighbors down the street, Winnie figures her luck has changed. But instead of attributing it to God like Beckett does, she’s inclined to believe it’s her own grit, charm, and spontaneity that has paved the way. From the moment twenty-four-year-old Beckett Campbell saw the tiny, cross-eyed orphan who reminded him of the sister he lost, he wanted to love and protect her forever. Best friends from the start despite over five years apart, Winnie’s naïve spontaneity for wild hairs and whims keeps Beck’s mature responsibility busy and happily so. Until the little girl he wanted to protect suddenly becomes the young woman he wants to love. When Winnie insists on protecting their friendship from the fear and risk of anything more, Beck has a decision to make. Friendship forever … or a life apart from the best friend he loves. Praying that Winnie will change her mind, Beck doesn’t hold out much hope for that day. But when an unexpected turn of events alters both of their lives, it puts “a whim and a prayer” on a collision course that just might make a way.

PURCHASE LINKS:Goodreads | Amazon

My Thoughts:

From the opening scene I knew Winnie was going to be an interesting character, but I also realized that I was going to love Beck. The more I read, the more certain I was of of both assumptions. I haven’t read the other books in the series though, so I’m not sure if this one differs or not in the overall storyline. I enjoyed seeing their faith grow and develop, and loved that their friendship was so strong from the start. The sheer number of characters and names to keep up with early on in the book took some getting used to, but I assume maybe that wouldn’t be so daunting when reading the series in proper order. I really enjoyed seeing Winnie’s personal journey, she really did have a rough start and I’m so glad she got her chance at a happy life after all.

This is a long book, and for me it was pretty slow to start. There were things I enjoyed from the beginning, but the overall pace seemed to drag on for a while, something that I personally struggle with, especially in longer books. Still, the second half of the book more than makes up for it, and I appreciate the author’s effort to build it all up for that wonderful ending, and all the surprises along the way, that were all the more special as a result!

This book is steamier than I often read, but the author uses these moments to share about difficult topics and hard conversations that need to be bad and normalize, and wouldn’t really hold the same meaning or impact in other situations. As such, I completely understand and appreciate her effort to keep things God-honoring while not shying away from these important discussions that add to the overall message and depth in this one! She handles several heavy and difficult topics in this story with grace and tact. This isn’t an easy read, but it is one that will stay with you for a long while. And will hopefully be a blessing you, as well!

*I was given an ecopy from the author. This does not affect my review. This review is voluntary.*

More in This Series

About the Author

A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman writes close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together. Award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 24 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-2021, 2023, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. In addition, Julie has written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets, and What’s the Story, Morning Glory: A Memoir Devotional with a “Novel” Approach to Practical Christianity. Contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 21, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 28, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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