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Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

historical romance

Saved the best for last: Review of Searching For You by Jody Hedlund

December 5, 2018

I’m usually sad to see a book series end, and in the case of Jody Hedlund’s Orphan Train series, I’m especially sad because she saved the best for last.

You can read my reviews of the first two books in the series here and here, and if you haven’t read them, I’ll try not to spoil too much for you with my take on this third and final story. Each book tells the story of one of three sisters who have had to make hard choices about their life and future in order to survive, and for all of them, the choices ultimately led them to board an orphan train heading west from New York to rural towns in Illinois.

Maybe you can already tell why I’ve liked this series. (It’s Illinois, in case you’re wondering.)

Searching For You tells the story of Sophie Neumann, the youngest of the three sisters and the one who has been on the run and missing from her sisters’ care. She has been caring for two young children, themselves orphans, and doing whatever it takes to keep them all alive and fed. When her current living situation becomes too dangerous, she is forced to board an orphan train with the two children and head west. Sophie plans to disappear with the kids in Chicago but that plan doesn’t work out and the three of them land in a rural Illinois town where the two younger children are taken in by a family and Sophie goes to live and work on a farm with a Scottish family who embrace her as one of their own.

And it’s here that Sophie is reunited with her one-time neighbor Reinhold Weiss. While she learns more about farm life and hears about her sisters’ lives since they separated, Sophie enlists Reinhold’s help to get the two children she’d been mothering back into her care.

That’s all I’m going to say about the plot, specifically, but here are some of the things I loved.

  • The way Sophie settles in to rural life and finds belonging. She blossoms with stability and learns to stop running from her problems.
  • The family of Scots, who are a delightful addition to this community. The mother, Euphemia, is full of grace and wisdom, including this gem: “When we’re finally willing to let go of the messes we’ve made, the good Lord can step in and salvage the scraps.”
  • And I’m especially fond of stories where a romance blooms out of a friendship because it mirrors my own love story. (This is not a spoiler, exactly, because Jody Hedlund writes historical fiction chock full of inspirational romance.)

I’m a big fan of Jody Hedlund books, so I won’t spend another blog post gushing about how I drop everything to read one of her books and let everything else in my life go until I finish it. (This is the highest compliment I can give to any author.)

If you are into historical romance, I would recommend anything by this author. If you don’t want to start with this series, I can point you in a good direction for where to start.

Disclosure: I read an advance copy of the book from the publisher. Review reflects my honest opinion.

Filed Under: books, Fiction, The Weekly Read Tagged With: book series, fiction, historical romance, inspirational fiction, jody hedlund, orphan train

The one thing I can't do with a Jody Hedlund book: Review of Hearts Made Whole

June 10, 2015

If you pay attention to and read the book reviews on this blog, you already know about my deep affection for Jody Hedlund as a writer. Her books are some of the ones I turn to when I’m in need of a guaranteed good story. Like comfort food, they always offer satisfaction.

hearts made wholeShe has a new book out this month–Hearts Made Whole–and no matter when I start reading or what else is going on in my life, there is one thing I just can’t do with one of her books–stop reading! (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my review through Litfuse Publicity Group.)

I can’t do it! My house could be a mess, the kids in need of dinner, chaos reigning all around me and still my nose is stuck in a Jody Hedlund book as I turn page after page to see what will happen to my new friends, er, the characters in the book.

Though I have trouble picking a favorite book she’s written, Hearts Made Whole is in the running for that title because of Ryan Chambers, a broken Civil War veteran who comes to take the job of lightkeeper in Grosse Point, Michigan, and Caroline Taylor, the woman who has been running the light since the death of her father.

Ryan’s struggles with addiction to pain medication and alcohol to numb the pain of his war injury and the demons in his head about past mistakes are heartbreakingly real. And Caroline’s struggle to assert herself as competent in a man’s world is surprisingly modern for a story set just about the Civil War. His desire to change and make amends, her desire to use her gifts to care for her family–well, let’s just say that that theme hits a little close to home.

hearts made whole quote

Hedlund’s stories always teach me something about history, and if you’re a fan of lighthouses, Hearts Made Whole is the second in a series of books she’s writing about Michigan’s lighthouses. It took me a while to catch on that there is a connection from this book to the first in the series, Love Unexpected, and it made me look forward to book three and the tie-in I’m hoping will be there. If you have not read the first book, though, don’t let it stop you from reading this one. (You can also read the novella that precedes the series for free on Kindle.)

And now for some details about how the author is celebrating the release!

Don’t miss Jody Hedlund’s new book, Hearts Made Whole, a story of loss, forgiveness, hope, and true love set in 1865 Michigan. When Ryan’s failings endanger others, he and Caroline realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but he’s unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. Can Caroline forgive the hurting man who costs her the role she loves?

Celebrate the release of Hearts Made Whole by entering to win an Afternoon at the Beach prize pack and RSVPing to Jody’s June 23rd author chat party!

hearts made whole - 400

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of Hearts Made Whole
  • A picnic basket set
  • A beach bag
  • Flip flops
  • A beach towel

One second-place winner will receive:

  • A copy of Hearts Made Whole
  • A lighthouse journal

One third-place winner will receive:

  • A copy of Hearts Made Whole
  • A lighthouse necklace
hearts made whole - prize colalge

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 23rd.Winner will be announced June 23rd at Jody’s Facebook party. RSVP here!

hearts made whole - enter banner

 

Filed Under: books, Fiction, The Weekly Read Tagged With: beacons of hope series, bethany house publishers, historical romance, inspirational fiction, jody hedlund, michigan lighthouses

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Hi. I’m Lisa, and I’m glad you’re here. If we were meeting in real life, I’d offer you something to eat or drink while we sat on the porch letting the conversation wander as it does. That’s a little bit what this space is like. We talk about books and family and travel and food and running, whatever I might encounter in world. I’m looking for the beauty in the midst of it all, even the tough stuff. (You’ll find a lot of that here, too.) Thanks for stopping by. Stay as long as you like.

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