Captured by Love

Captured by Love
Jody Hedlund
Bethany House Publishers
Fiction, Romance, Historical
2014

It is 1814 and the British have taken hold of Mackinac Island and its fort, forcing American residents to swear an oath of loyalty to the British crown in order to retain their land. Pierre Durant is a voyageur--a fur trader who left his family home to find freedom and adventure. He's been gone five years and when he returns, his family's farm is at the mercy of the British invaders. 

Torn between the life he's grown used to and guilt over leaving his brother and mother, he's drawn back into the loyalist fight against the British--and into a relationship with Angelique Mackenzie, a beautiful local girl who's been befriended by the daughter of the British commander. As tensions mount and the threat of violence increases, both Angelique and Pierre must decide where their loyalties rest, how far they will go to find freedom, and how much they will risk to find love.

Jody Hedlund continues to be one of my very favorite authors. With Captured by Love she cements her spot on my list even more. This book starts slow but stick with it. It quickly kicks it up a notch and it's riveting. I loved the historical aspects of Mackinac Island and the British hold. Angelique is as sweet as they come and she'll capture your heart. Pierre's love of her is intense. Between battles, war-time drama, and stolen kisses this book will keep you reading well into the night. 

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review. 

Rebellious Heart

Rebellious Heart
Jody Hedlund
Bethany House Publishers
Fiction, Romance, Historical
September 15, 2013 

In 1763 Massachusetts, Susanna Smith has grown up with everything she's ever wanted, except one thing: an education. Because she's a female, higher learning has been closed to her, but her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. She's determined to put her status to good use, reaching out to the poor and deprived. And she knows when she marries well, she will be able to continue her work with the less fortunate. 

Ben Ross grew up a farmer's son and has nothing to his name but his Harvard education. A poor country lawyer, he doesn't see how he'll be able to fulfill his promise to make his father proud of him. When family friends introduce him to the Smith family, he's drawn to quick-witted Susanna but knows her family expects her to marry well. When Susanna's decision to help an innocent woman no matter the cost crosses with Ben's growing disillusionment with their British rulers, the two find themselves bound together in what quickly becomes a very dangerous fight for justice.

Love! So good! Hedlund delivers again, seriously this woman is definitely in my top favorite author's list. She writes such a good story. This book is no exception. The story is inspired by John and Abigail Adam's love story. It's unbelievably sweet. Filled with suspense, danger, love, and mystery I was gripped from the very beginning. I loved the historical aspects of it that involved slavery and the early underground railroad. Susanna is all woman while being brave, smart, and admirable. She was no wilting flower and I loved that. Ben was completely annoying at the beginning which left a lot of room for him to improve an grow, which he did. He finds his sense of self-worth in who he is instead of who culture says he is. It's a great transformation. 

This one will have you reading late into the night and biting your finger nails as you follow the twists and turns. Get ready to enjoy. Buy anything and everything by Jody Hedlund and prepare yourself for some excellent reading. 

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review. 

A Noble Groom

A Noble Groom 
Jody Hedlund
Bethany House Publishers
Fiction, Historical, Romance

It's 1881 and Carl von Reichart is fleeing Germany with his life. With the help of his manservant Matthias Carl is leaving everything familiar and fleeing to Matthias' brother Peter's homestead in Michigan. Having been convicted and sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit Carl is left with no choice but to go to America. Shrugging of his noble birth Carl is desperate to fit in in the small German community of Forestville. 

Recently widowed Annalisa is doing her best to provide for her young daughter on their farm in Michigan. She's awaiting the arrival of a groom from Germany who will marry her and take over the farm. Although Carl is not her intended his arrival is a welcomed sight. Annalisa has only 6 months to pay back the land grant her husband purchased. A widowed woman and a young girl can not toil the land themselves. Carl takes a job working for Annalisa but struggles with adapting to hard manual labor. 

Mystery abounds in this book. Annalisa has a feeling her husband was murdered but she has no evidence to prove it. She also senses that something about Carl isn't quite right but she has no choice but to trust him and allow him to help her on the farm. Against her better judgement  finds herself drawn to him. He's handsome and kind and unlike any other man she has ever met. He treats her like a rare jewel and seems to cherish her. 

Carl has only planned to stay in Michigan and hide out until his name is cleared. An aspiring chemist he's anxious to get back to his experiments and research. What he didn't count on was Annalisa. Despite the obvious class difference he can't help but be drawn to her and her little girl. Before he knows it he's fallen in love with both of them. 

Annalisa's intended groom is on his way and mysteries can not remain unsolved. As the groom gets closer to Michigan the book escalates. Lies are revealed, feelings are hurt, and the damage seems to be irreparable. Will Annalisa be with her intended groom or her noble groom? What will the future hold? And just who did murder her husband and why? 

Rest assured dear readers, the story does not end there. Everything is tied up into a neat little bow that will leave you with a very contented sigh of relief. We read fiction for the resolution that our own lives rarely have. Rarely will you find an author who so beautifully writes resolution. I found myself stressed out trying to figure out how Hedlund was going to fix this story. No need to fear, she did so perfectly and you'll love it. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Hedlund has quickly become one of my favorite authors and she does not disappoint with this book. The characters are SO very well developed. I loved Annalisa and her little girl, I adored Carl, and I despised Annalisa's family. I believe it was all intended for me to feel that way. Carl will warm your heart and have you randomly wishing for your own German chemist. Which brings me to my next point, I loved the uniqueness of the characters. I don't believe I've ever read about a chemist turned farmer before. It was very intriguing and so fun to read. Annalisa is a sweetheart that you so desperately want to find true love and someone to cherish her. As for her family! Good grief, what an interesting cultural experience. Slovenly chauvinistic men that will have you applauding the leaps and bounds we've made in women's rights in the last 150 years. Thank you Susan B. Anthony! 

My props to Hedlund for writing a truly delightful read. I couldn't put this book down and I enjoyed every bit of it. You won't be expecting the twists and turns it takes and you'll be up long into the night. So brew some coffee now and get ready for an adventure in Michigan in the mid 1800's. Enjoy! 

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest and real review. 

Unending Devotion

Unending Devotion
Jody Hedlund
Bethany House Publishers
Fiction, Historical, Romance

It's 1883 in cold and dreary Michigan. Lily Young is working as a photographer's assistant and traveling from lumber camp to lumber camp. While her job is as an assistant her mission goes far beyond just photography. Lily is desperate to find her younger sister Daisy who ran away and, Lily believes, found a job in the prostitution trade. No saloon is too small, no hen house too dangerous for Lily to search for her dear sister. She's vowed to do whatever it takes to find Daisy. Along the way she's been helping girls escape prostitution. Fiery and brave Lily fights for girls at any cost.

Arriving in the town of Harrison as winter is settling coldly upon Michigan Oren, the photographer, and Lily have to stay put for awhile. Lily refuses to stay anywhere that doesn't practice temperance. Her stubbornness and the lack of temperance in the town cause quite a spectacle whereupon our hero of the story, Connell McCormick, enters the scene. Connell finds this headstrong beautiful woman quite intriguing. Wanting to protect her from herself he finds himself stepping in to rescue her.

Connell was raised with Christian values and is the son of a lumber baron. He's become quite apathetic and defeated by his father's constant bullying. His father says the lumber camps must make more money and Connell is in town to figure out how to make that happen. Little by little he is excusing things that his moral upbringing would never have allowed. When Lily sweeps into town on a mission to do away with all the brothels Connell has to put a stop to her. No women mean no me and no men mean no lumber money.

One particularly evil brothel owner is seducing women to work in his "hotel". He wields power and wears brass knuckles as a part of his wardrobe. The whole town is scared of him except for Lily. She's desperate to find Daisy and she's sure this man knows something. Lily reminds Connell of his morals and his ethics and bids him to join the fight.

What follows is a storyline that will keep you reading well into the night. Fraught with evil, good, love, suspense, and mystery this is a page turner. Hedlund has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her ability to weave a good tale while teaching history is truly an art craft. I found myself quickly swept up in the story and gasping at each unexpected turn.

However, when all was said and done I took a step back and realized that while I had been wrapped up in the sensationalism of the book it seemed to be missing something...or maybe it had too much of something. It was sensational....it a penny dreadful sense. Over the top plot lines, unrealistic feats, and predictable heroes and heroines. Overall I very much disliked Lily. As a character she was young, legalistic, and obnoxious. I wanted to like her but I couldn't. She never grew on me. Connell was protective and everything a hero should be which I found to be.....annoying.

 We do get insight into the sex trade taking place in the late 1800s. Both heartbreaking and real. For some readers I fear you will feel a line was crossed as things are described in detail. Hedlund does not handle this particular subject with as much class as one would desire. Perhaps I'm jaded by past reads of Hedlunds that have had both depth and a good plot line. Either way, while not a terrible read in the least, this book had me wishing for more and wishing for less all at the same time.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review.