A Bride of Convenience by Jody Hedlund - A Book Review

   

Zoe Hart, a passenger on a bride ship, landed on Vancouver Island in January of 1863. Not only was she seeking a husband, but also her twin brother who had fled to the area after being falsely accused of a crime in their hometown of Manchester, England. Little did she know that before finding either, she would become mother to an orphaned native child. Through Zoe's story, Hedlund tells a tale that explores the themes of God's calling on our lives and the difference between having religion and having a relationship with our heavenly Father. The story is filled with love, compassion, humor, adventure, and even a good dose of sensuality. It will be pleasing to a wide range of readers.

I am grateful to have received a copy of A Bride of Convenience from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund - A Book Review

  

The theme of The Runaway Bride is having the courage to do the right thing, especially when there is a personal price. In 1862 Arabella Laurence found herself on a bride ship voyaging from England to Vancouver Island because there were those in her family that lacked such courage. Readers will see that this type of courage is born of Christ and the willingness to pick up one's own cross and make personal sacrifices. While the book's description so far might sound a bit preachy, nothing could be farther from the truth. Jody Hedlund writes quite passionate love scenes without stepping outside the boundaries of Christian fiction. She develops a wide variety of characters, using their eccentricities to help both Arabella and readers to embrace valuable lessons on the virtues that grow in those who truly seek to live for the Lord, and to recognize a life of emptiness that comes from living to please people.

I am grateful to have received a copy of The Runaway Bride from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Searching for You by Jody Hedlund - A Book Review

Searching for You is the third book in Jody Hedlund's Orphan Train series. It is the story of the youngest Neumann sister, Sophie, for whom the older sisters had been searching since she ran away taking with her two young orphaned siblings for whom she had been caring. Sophie, Olivia, and Nicholas had been living on the streets, in juvenile asylums, and in tenements. She had done things she was not proud of in order to keep her charges fed and clothed, but now it seemed like she was out of options. They, and their friend Anna, joined the Orphan Train, fully expecting to slip away once they reached Chicago, but life, and maybe God, had other plans.

Searching for You is a very well-written story of broken lives made new. Sophia and her longtime family friend, Reinhold, learn that it is only in surrendering to God that the pieces can be put back together in a way that forms something new and beautiful. It is a story of both mercy and grace, God's giving us what we don't deserve and not treating us as we do deserve.

I highly recommend the Orphan Train series, and suggest reading the books in sequential order for the best reading experience. I am grateful to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a copy of Searching for You in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Together Forever by Jody Hedlund – A Book Review

      

     While Together Forever tells the story of the hardships of the children on the orphan trains (a term that became widely used after the fact) that took the orphaned, abandoned or homeless children from crowded Eastern cities to homes largely in the Midwest, it also tells the story of those agents who accompanied them. While today’s adoption process includes many safe guards to assure children are placed in an appropriate environment, agents accompanying the trains had to rely on brief first impressions and the opinion of those serving on local committees as to the suitability of these placements. Jody Hedlund successfully develops her readers’ empathy for all those involved.

     Through this story Hedlund explores the themes of having the courage it takes to love when getting hurt is a likely outcome and trusting God to restore one’s joy. She also explores the prison that can be created by one’s insecurities and the path to freedom. I truly appreciate stories, such as Together Forever, that tackle deep themes within an interesting storyline.

     Marianne Neumann is very young to be a Children’s Aid Society agent but was able to secure the position by having her influential brother-in-law pull some strings. The position not only allows her some measure of financial independence, but it is critical in the search for her younger sister. Andrew Brady has come to be an agent after fleeing the memories of his life in the south. A former teacher, Andrew is well trained for supervising the children and youth on the trip west. Events along the way will tax both his skills and Marianne’s tender heart.

     I thank NetGalley and Bethany House for providing me with an advanced copy of Together Forever in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation. I will look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.