Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

inspirational fiction

Learning from history with a sigh-worthy love story: Review of Together Forever by Jody Hedlund

Two things I know when I pick up a Jody Hedlund novel: I’m going to learn something about a real person or event from the past, and I’m going to read a sigh-worthy love story. Together Forever, the second in a series, taught me more about the orphan trains of the mid-1800s and the developing relationship between Marianne Neumann and Andrew Brady was what I’ve come to expect from Hedlund: charm, chemistry, conflict and curiosity (of the kind that keeps the pages turning so I find out how the whole thing will end!)

Part of my interest in this series is that the orphan trains head from New York City to Illinois, my home state, and I’m always interested in learning more about the real-life events that inspired these stories. That’s one of the strengths of Hedlund’s writing–a page-turning story based in history with evidence of extensive research wrapped in a romantic storyline. It’s a little bit of everything I love in a good book, consistently, which is why she is one of my go-to authors. (If you’ve regularly read my book reviews, you’ll know this is true. You can find my reviews for other books by Jody Hedlund here.)

I’d recommend reading book one first, although it isn’t strictly necessary for following along with this book, but it does provide some continuity.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher. Review reflects my honest opinion.

Feels like home: Review of Hometown Girl by Courtney Walsh

It’s an extra-good book year when one of your favorite authors releases more than one novel. A few months ago, I reviewed Courtney Walsh’s Just Look Up and I’m back today with another contemporary romance, Hometown Girl. (With such a cute cover!)

In it, Beth Whitaker is stuck at a job in her hometown when she was the one in high school who was desperate to leave. A failed relationship and a mistake for which she’s trying to atone keep her tethered to the small-town life. When her sister impulsively buys property consisting of a rundown orchard and farmhouse–a former tourist attraction–and asks for her help, Beth reluctantly agrees after she runs out of excuses.

Drew Barlow used to visit the farm with his family but hasn’t been back since tragedy struck when he was a boy. Word of the owner’s death and the curious urge to uncover the truth about the tragedy takes him from his Colorado ranch job to the Illinois tourist town he’s trying to forget.

It’s a romance, so of course, Drew and Beth’s paths will cross, and as they work to rebuild the farm, they’ll experience some healing work in their lives, too.

Courtney’s writing always takes me back to my hometown. I can picture the people and places she writes about, and the characters remind me of people I know.

Although this book isn’t set in the fall, it takes place at a rundown apple orchard, which I thought about when my family visited an apple orchard recently. I enjoyed the story of Beth and Drew and their respective issues holding them back from moving forward in life. (I received an electronic copy of the book from the author. Opinion reflected in review is my own.)

Reading Hometown Girl had me thinking about home, with all of its pleasant and painful memories. If you’re longing for home or wondering if past hurts can be healed, this is a book to pick up.