Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund, 2015

Beacons of Hope Series, Book Two

The Great Lakes lighthouses of Michigan are the settings for Jody Hedlund's Beacons of Hope Series. In book 2, Hearts Made Whole, it is 1865 and Caroline Taylor is acting lighthouse keeper after the drowning of her father ~ that is, until the lighthouse inspector, who needs a "y" added to his last name, determines it is now time to get rid of her and her younger siblings. Mr. Finick has come to tell her to vacate as he has replaced her with a man who served two years earlier at Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Upon the new hiree's arrival, Caroline is in for quite a shock and wallops him ~ until they both realize the misunderstanding. He has arrived early before her tenure is up. Ryan Chambers moves into the boathouse as a refuge and an isolation.

He released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding and finished ascending. He didn't know much about lighthouses, but he knew enough to understand that the light at the center of the room was a small sixth-order lens, the smallest light designed for lighthouses. He'd expected a larger lens for a station located in such a strategic position, one that handled the heavy commerce of boats traveling around the horseshoe of Michigan from Chicago to Detroit and on to Buffalo.

--Hearts Made Whole, 76

Fortunately, Ryan allows them to stay as he is in need of training. I liked the descriptions of the lighthouse keeper's work. Caroline's younger twin brothers, Harry and Hugh, need rescuing more than once. Their sister, Sarah, is bedridden. She is entertained by sister Tessa, who is quite a rascal, herself. You can't help but become endeared to this family and the help they are to Ryan as he overcomes obstacles from war remaining to hold him down. Caroline's friend, Esther Deluth, pops in to be a rescuer to Caroline's cause. The nearest neighbor is recluse Monsieur Poupard. Mysterious happenings cause Caroline to become watchful for her family.

I liked this story and the uncertainty of what was going to happen, as it drew the family together. Be ready for a few surprises you may not see coming.

***Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for sending me a review copy of Jody Hedlund's second book in the Beacons of Hope Series, Hearts Made Whole. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***

There is one author, whose newest release I will always make time to read, even if it means losing sleep in order to do it. Her name is Jody Hedlund, and her latest novel, Hearts Made Whole had me gladly ignoring the cooking, cleaning and laundry in order to joyfully soak in the story she had to tell.

Hearts Made Whole is the second book in the Beacons of Hope series. The series focuses on the role women have played throughout history as assistant and head light keepers. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but the series begins with a free novella (Out of the Storm) which I recommend reading to fully appreciate the story of the wooden cross. The wooden cross is passed from one main character to the next and ties the series together. The hero of this story, Ryan Chambers received the cross from his sister in book one. In Hearts Made Whole we follow Ryan's journey towards love and redemption from his past.

The story is set in Southern Michigan, on Lake St.Clair right after the end of the Civil War. Jody's novels are never all fluff and romance. The characters are realistic and flawed, and come with trials and tribulations they must overcome. In Hearts Made Whole, Jody's characters battle panic disorders, post-traumatic stress, as well as drug and alcohol addiction. Even when battling tough issues, Jody interjects a little bit of humor and levity. I smiled when Caroline started to loosen up and did something she had never dared to do before and discovered that she rather liked it. No Jody Hedlund novel would be complete without a deliciously despicable villain to mercilessly torment the beloved hero and heroine. Hearts Made Whole will keep you wondering, who exactly is behind the mysterious threats at Windmill Point. Not everyone is as they seem.

Perhaps my favorite thing about Jody Hedlund is her ability to boldly declare our need for God. He is our lighthouse. Our refuge and strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble. Her characters learn to give everything over to the Lord, as "God is good--All the time". I was also reminded of 1 Samuel 16:7 "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Caroline took this to heart and was able to see past Ryan's outward appearance and his obvious demons to the person he was on the inside...the person God meant him to be.

I wholly recommend reading Hearts Made Whole as well as all of Jody Hedlund's books. They are all winners...I haven't read a bad one yet!

Hearts Made Whole, by Jody Hedlund is available for purchase from your local or online book retailer.

Thank you Jody Hedlund and Bethany House for the free copy of Hearts Made Whole to read in exchange for my honest review.

Two hearts. Both broken and battered. One life shattered by grief and the burden of growing up too soon; the other haunted by guilt and permanently scarred by the cruelty of war.

Meet Caroline Taylor and Ryan Chambers, the main characters in Jody Hedlunds latest book, Hearts Made Whole.

After witnessing her beloved fathers death, twenty-year-old Caroline takes on the responsibility of lighthouse keeper at Windmill Point Lighthouse while raising her younger siblings. Caroline, like most of Jodys protagonists, is a strong female with a fiery spirit. Though shes quite adept at her duties, the lighthouse inspector deems her unfit because of her gender and appoints Civil War veteran, Ryan Chambers, as her replacement. Ryan is incapable of tending to the lighthouse in his current condition. Hes wounded both inside and out and will do almost anything to escape the pain and guilt. Painkillers and hard liquor dull his ache, and Ryan fails in his keeper duties almost immediately.

Though frustrated by his weaknesses, Caroline sees something redeeming inside Ryanthe tender way he cares for her dying sister, the strength in his voice when he disciplines her younger brothers. Hes familiar with the loss that Caroline faces and shes patient with him in his affliction. And theres no denying the fact that these two have some major chemistry. However, when Ryan offers to let Caroline stay on as his assistant, strange things begin to happen. A mystery that turns menacing places everyone in Caroline's life in immediate danger.

True to Jodys style, Hearts Made Whole is an action-packed love story with a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. Not to mention, Im quite certain that youll swoon over the breathtaking exchanges between Ryan and Caroline. I love how Jody is able to write real characters with real struggles. Like all of us, they are imperfect and in need of grace and redemption. I highly recommend this book to anyone who roots for the underdog or loves a good redemption story.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

What I really love about Jody Hedlund's books is the fact that she bases her main story line on real history. That is true of Hearts Made Whole, her second book in the Beacons of Hope series. She includes the real history behind the story in her authors notes in the back of the book. In the 1800s women were not allowed to take jobs that were considered for men, even if they could prove they were capable. Caroline has learned how to run the Windmill Point Lighthouse through necessity when her father is killed in an unfortunate accident. The inspector refuses to allow her to keep the position even though she has performed the job to everyone's satisfaction. He sends a veteran soldier from the Civil War, Ryan Chambers, to take over the position. Ryan is in no way able to do the job because of inexperience and war injuries. In order to stay for a while longer and support her two sisters and two brothers, she agrees to teach Ryan all she knows about keeping the light. She has no options to take care of herself or her siblings if evicted from her job and home, except to marry a man in town that has been trying to court her for a while. She does not love him but sees no other options.

This story was one that was so interesting to me that I finished it in just a couple of days. It has history, intrigue, danger, and most of all romance. This book can be read alone without having read the first one, although if you read this one you'll surely want to read the first one also. I was not into historical fictional romance until I started reading Jody's books. I highly recommend this book!

I was given this book by the author and publisher for my honest opinion which I have given.

One of my favorite childhood books was about a lighthouse keeper's daughter tending the light for her father. Jody Hedlund's "Hearts Made Whole" reminded me of that book and quickly pulled me into its pages. I love that the Beacons of Hope series is comprised of unique stand-alone novels, with the common connection of a handmade cross that is passed from one character in need of hope to another. Another common thread is Hedlund's seamless incorporation of historically-inspired people and places into a work of fiction.

"Hearts Made Whole" offers an ideal balance of pain, romance, and suspense. The characters face daunting prejudices and challenges that create an interesting and engaging plot. Hedlund's character development is full of strength and depth. All of the characters, both main and secondary, good and bad, fill their roles to perfection. One of the most pivotal characters is Ryan Chambers, a Civil War veteran who suffers from physical and emotional ravages of battle. His story is one to break and warm hearts, and he is the perfect protagonist for a novel titled "Hearts Made Whole." Caroline is a strong, yet vulnerable, female lead. It is refreshing to read about a female taking on what was considered a man's job. So often we see the male lead rescuing the female, but in "Hearts Made Whole," Ryan often depends on Caroline's strength. Through both Caroline and Ryan, Hedlund shows the healing power of faith and love.

The "Beacons of Hope" series conveys messages of hope to readers. "Love Unexpected," and "Hearts Made Whole" are the first two full-length novels in the series, preceded by a novella, "Out of the Storm." Although they are all set in Michigan lighthouses, their plots are unique. "Hearts Made Whole" is my favorite in the series so far. My level of emotional connection with the characters and their stories was strong and my attention never waned as I read about Ryan and Caroline's defeats and triumphs.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.