Surprised by Love Quotes

“Oh, and about your dream?' [...] 'Trust me—it’s safer in His hands than yours.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“For once I've met a girl whose beauty on the inside is so powerful and deep, the surface beauty is almost secondary”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“You are the love of my life, Caitlyn McClare, and all I can say is thank You, sweet God in heaven . . .”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Her breathing accelerated as she stared, tremors skittering through her limbs at the striking figure he cut, framed in the door. His charcoal suit and cranberry tie, broad shoulders and chiseled chin—every bit as handsome as the night he proposed some twenty-eight years ago. No, more so, she realized, because now the man’s heart was as beautiful as his appearance.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“I love you, Bram,” she’d said, just like she’d said a million times before. Only this time, the declaration came from the lips of a woman, unnerving him all the more. “I love you too, Meg,” he whispered, the words rising in the air like the steam drifting skyward, as out of reach as his dreams to always be there for one lost little girl. He exhaled a silent sigh. “More than you’ll ever know.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Ah . . . now there’s the Devin Caldwell I know and love—a competitor to the core.” “Love?” The brown eyes gleamed with mischief. “Don’t toy with my emotions like that, Miss McClare.” “Ha! She toys with mine all the time, so what makes you think you’re any different?”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“And I would love a cup of coffee, if you don’t mind, delivered to Mr. Turner’s office?” He had the audacity to give her a wink on the way out. “Black if you will.” Oh, I will. She stared as he disappeared down the hall, stunned as always by the bold confidence of Devin Caldwell, the runt in the sixth grade whose life changed forever when he started to grow. “Black as night,” she muttered, rattled by his good looks and towering height, which were exceeded only by his cockiness. “Right around the eye . . .” Megan”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“I mean that I discovered there's a difference between acceptance and reignation - one is positive, the other is negative. Acceptance opens the door of hope wide, while resignation slams it shut. One says God is good and loves us, and the other says He is harsh and doesn't care. Abraham chose to 'accept' God's will, knowing full well that God loved him and not only wanted the best for him, but knew exactly what that 'best' would be. Neither is easy when it means relinquishing the desires of our heart, but 'acceptance' promises that God will bless our obedience with a greater good. 'Resignation,' however, can sever our relationship with God, which leaves us on our own, resulting in darkness and despair.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“I'm still me inside," she said quietly, "only a little braver, a little happier, and a little more excited about life than ever before.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Yes, I mean pray. As believers, it's the single most important tool we have outside of God's grace.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Life is a gift from the Creator, meant to be savored and enjoyed, not spent pining over things that could never be.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“true confidence blooms in the soil of a relationship with God, following His path rather than one's own, pursuing His truth rather than the world's.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“For the briefest of moments, he paused with his hand on the brass knob of his door, eyes slipping closed to relive for one glorious moment the sweet taste of Cait’s lips. An almost holy reverence settled while his breath stilled in his chest, making him realize all over again that in a mere two days, his very best friend would become his very own wife and lover. The grin returned, so wide he was certain his jaw would ache by the end of the day. Thanksgiving Day, indeed! By”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“No, Logan, this belongs to you—” His chest expanded with a shaky draw of air before he released it again. “Yes, it does, Cait,” he said, taking the ring from her palm. Piercing her with a solemn gaze, he slipped it on her right index finger before she could retract her hand. “But unfortunately for me, my heart belongs to you, so if I can’t grace your left hand with my love, then I’d like to grace your right with a friendship just as deep.” She”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Holy thunder, woman, do you have any idea just how hard it is not to kiss the daylights out of you?” She”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Gratitude swelled like a riptide, and cocooning her close, he took her mouth with a passion long, long overdue, deepening the kiss until his moan melded with hers. “I”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“I like Andrew well enough, I suppose, but not for Aunt Cait, so it’s best we leave lest I’m tempted to sink a spur into his ankle.” “Ooooo, I like the way you think.” Alli gave her a hug before tweaking Jamie’s neck. “Is that how you keep this one in line?” Jamie’s dark brows peaked high. “Hey, I run the MacKenna household, not the little missus, right, Cowgirl?” In a flash of his arm, he dipped Cassie back for a kiss. She broke free with a giggle and pinched his cheek. “Depends—with or without my lasso?” she quipped, sauntering over to give both Meg and Alli a hug. She shot Jamie a lazy smile over her shoulder on the way to the door. “I can still hog-tie steers—or Jamie MacKenna—in under fifteen seconds flat, so don’t you forget that either, Pretty Boy.” “How”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Cait, I adore you,” he whispered against her mouth, his kisses gentling with a tender passion that twisted her heart. “Don’t do this to me, please—don’t push me away.” Her”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“You and I were always meant to be together, and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise.” He jabbed a fist to his chest, eyes burning with fury. “Blast it, Cait, you’re in love with me, not Turner, and you’re attracted to me, not him.” She”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Day after day I have to work beside you,” he whispered, “drinking in your smile, breathing in your scent, flirting my fool head off to no avail because you’re not even remotely aware. For once I’ve met a girl whose beauty on the inside is so powerful and deep, the surface beauty is almost secondary, which is something I’ve never experienced before.” He shook his head, gaze roaming her face as if she were some priceless work of art. “You’re irresistible, you know that? And I have never been more jealous of a man than I am of Hughes right now.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Bram?” She peered up, totally confused. “What on earth has this got to do with him?” His scowl compressed. “He claims to be your friend, but I’ve never seen a man fawn over a woman more, or vice versa for that matter, and him with another girl, for pity’s sake.” Her jaw literally dropped, a rare flash of anger gilding her tone. “Pardon me? Fawn? Not that it’s any of your business, Devin Caldwell, but Bram Hughes is my very dearest friend.” She huffed out a raspy breath and bowed her head, eyes closed while she counted to ten. Expending a quiet sigh, she lifted her gaze, voice gentle. “Why are you acting like this?” She jumped when he slammed a hand to the table. “Because I’m jealous, blast it!” He”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Have I told you yet just how handsome you look tonight?” He grinned, her stilted attempt at flirtation so out of character that he knew she was flustered. “Are you flirting with me, Mrs. McClare?” he asked with a jut of his brow, laughing out loud when her cheeks fused bright pink. He neatly executed a wide spin, as fluid as if they were one. “And have I ever told you just how adorable you are when you’re nervous?” “I am not nervous,” she said with a thrust of her chin, a flicker of a smile at the edge of her lips. A familiar spark in those mesmerizing green eyes told him he’d struck a nerve. “Ah, now there’s the Caitlyn I know and love.” Palm grazing her shoulder blade, he swept her in a wide arc, her body as graceful and light as the chiffon folds of her dress as they fluttered in the breeze. His smile faded to tender. “This is me, Cait, remember?” he said quietly. “No need to be nervous.” She”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“It’s silly, I know, but being with Devin makes me nervous, unsettled somehow.” “Because . . . ?” He tilted his head, calm tone coaxing her to confess. Her gaze dropped to her lap where she picked at her nails. “Because . . . I think he may be, well, flirting with me, and I’m not sure I trust him.” “Perfectly understandable, given your history, but he seems like a nice enough fellow from the conservations we’ve had.” He lifted her chin with his finger, voice brimming with affection. “And of course he’s flirting with you, Bug—you’ve grown into a beautiful woman, and he’s a man. That’s a natural progression, I think.” She glanced away. Except with you . . . “Well, you see, he’s been hinting that he’d like to . . .” Her throat parched dry at the very thought of becoming close with any man but Bram. He skimmed a wisp of a curl away from her face. “To what?” Her bodice quivered with a shaky breath. “Well . . . you know . . . to date.” A shadow of a frown flickered before he quickly covered it with his usual serene composure. “Hinting? Or asking outright?” She peeked up. “No, not asking outright or even blatant hinting, I suppose, but subtleties that make me nervous all the same.” Exhaling”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“I’m guessing you’re a cream-and-sugar type of girl?” “Uh . . . yes, please—heavy on the cream, light on the sugar, thank you.” He followed Linda Marie to the door, shooting a grin over his shoulder. “Thought so—sugar to feed that sweet disposition and cream to enhance the peaches-and-cream glow.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Uh . . . thank you for the coffee, Meg—you brew a very decent pot.” His nervous compliment seemed to dissolve all the years of ridicule she’d suffered at his hand. Tubby. Four eyes. Wallflower, and more. Hurtful names she now realized were nothing more than the barbs of an insecure little boy. And a bully who would never bully her again. “Why, thank you,” she said with a flash of a perfect smile afforded by three years of braces at great expense to her mother. She felt almost giddy as she gave him a wink. “Not too shabby for somebody long on brains, short on beauty, eh?” And with a toss of her newly hennaed hair, she turned on her heel, the taste of vindication sweet solace, indeed.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Oh, Logan, you are absolutely one of the greatest joys of my life.” The warmth of his breath against her neck heated both her skin and her blood. “Then I’m on the right track, Mrs. McClare,” he whispered, his words caressing her ear and braising her cheeks. “Because joy is only the first of many things I hope to give you someday.” A”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Cassie took a chance on this joker here, and if that’s not a gamble, I don’t know what is.” Cassie chuckled while she arranged her cards. “He does have a point.” Jamie slapped Blake’s hand away with a scowl. “You’re just jealous because now I’m the good son in this family.” His gaze shifted to his wife with a dangerous smile. “And any more snide remarks from you, Mrs. MacKenna, and I’ll be showing you ‘trouble’ at home.” Alli bumped shoulders with Cassie. “Not if she hog-ties you with her stinky rope, eh?” Caitlyn”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“It’s almost seven—what are you still doing here anyway? Cassie finally wise up and throw you out?” The grin was back. “Nope, that cowgirl is hog wild about me, Padre, no question.” He winked. “Can’t keep her hands off me, which makes for a very happy home.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“There’s nothing wrong with focusing on your dreams instead—both Alli and I did that before we met Jamie and Nick. But the truth is, the main reason was because we’d been hurt and wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again.” She parked the teddy bear in Meg’s lap. “And fear is never the right motivation, Megs, so, yes, focus on your dreams. But you’re a beautiful girl on the threshold of womanhood, so don’t be surprised if God throws a monkey wrench in your plans.” “As long as the ‘wrench’ has nothing to do with a ‘monkey’ named Devin Caldwell,” Alli said with a scrunch of her nose. Meg grinned. “No, Al, monkeys are cute,” she said with a tilt of her head, employing a trace of French spunk along with the sass. She gave her sister a wink. “Our Mr. Caldwell is more of a baboon.”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love

“Like I said, Meg, I’m an idiot, and one not prone to rapid change. Although it’s taken almost a year for you to blossom into a woman, for me it was in a blink of an eye, and I’m a man who needs time to adjust.” He tucked a finger under her chin. “In my mind’s eye, you left in pigtails and braces.” He swallowed hard, mesmerized by the silky sweep of dark lashes, the lush curve of lips that triggered far too dangerous a response. “Now you’re a woman who obviously turns heads and races a man’s pulse, and that takes some getting used to.” She peeked up with surprise in her eyes while a soft haze of color dusted her cheeks. “Is that what happened then? Tonight when you saw me? I . . .” Her blush deepened. “Raced your . . . pulse?” The heat in her cheeks had nothing on him—blood gorged his face. He shifted away, removing his arm from her waist to drape it over the settee, then cleared his throat. “I guarantee you, Meg, you raced everybody’s pulse in that room tonight from sheer shock over one of the most remarkable transformations any of us have ever seen.” A perfectly adorable grin skimmed her lips. “So I did race your pulse.” His palms began to sweat as he slipped her a smile, wishing he could just lie. “Blue blazes, Bug, I didn’t even know it was you at first, so yes, of course you raced my pulse—you’re a beautiful wo—” He swallowed hard, his prior awkwardness returning in force. “Young lady.” Never”
― Julie Lessman, Surprised by Love