Together Forever



"Together Forever" by Jody Hedlund is the second book in her Orphan Train series and it was the first book in the series I had read. The book revolves around a young woman named Marianne Neumann who is working as a placing agent for the Children's Aid Society in 1858. She ends up traveling west on her first placing trip with a fellow agent who is a young, dashing man, named Andrew Brady. As the trip progresses and Marianne gets attached to the children she will, inevitably, have to let go, we see that Andrew and Marianne are both filled with a guilt that can't be shaken, and their individual problems start to come between their budding, passionate romance. An even greater tragedy ends up happening on their trip and it will be Marianne and Andrew's biggest test of faith, trust, and love yet.

I loved the setting of this book. I have never read a historical fiction book that revolved so heavily around the orphan trains, and now I know I will have to read more, starting with the first book in this series, which follows Marianne's older sister, Elise. The book was not weighed heavily down by historical facts, but I did love Hedlund's "Author's Note" at the back of the book that gave a bit of historical insight into the time period, the orphan trains, and the real life woman who was the inspiration for Marianne.

At times the book was heartbreaking. Especially learning some of these childrens stories and watching the tragedy unfold on the trip. Their is tragedy and sadness in this book, but the author made sure to make sure we felt joy and laughter as well.

The romance between Andrew and Marianne was wonderful. I loved seeing some passionate, and sometimes comical, "Why are you eating, Ms. Neumann?" moments. It was very passionate, but classy, so thank you Jody Hedlund for writing their romance that way.

I honestly do not have anything bad to say about, "Together Forever". I will definitely keep up with this series, because I don't think I have quite gotten enough of Marianne and her sisters, and I am eagerly awaiting to see Reinhold get his happy ending, along with the youngest Ms. Neumann, Sophie. Hopefully we will be able to read a few more happy endings in the next book!

*I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishing, but my opinion is all my own.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Truly A Five Star Read

Image
It's not too often I honestly don't want to walk away from a book to do my everyday things, but with "A Borrowed Dream" that is exactly what happened. Their were just too many things I wanted to see resolved, so I ended up taking a lot of breaks throughout my day to get the answers to my questions. Between laundry, dinners, and the many requests for a sippy cup to be refilled I found the time to finish the book in record time. Amanda Cabot works wonders with any book she writes. I read the first book in this series, and it was great and this second installment did not dissapoint. It follows a young woman named Catherine, a widowed father named Aaron, and his daughter, Hannah. (I bet you don't know who's going to end up together.) ;) Aaron comes to town with a trunk full of secrets, and Catherine can sort of see through that and yet, she is slowly falling in love. I loved the aspects of mystery, romance, danger, and adventure that were written into the ...
Read more

A Reckless Love

Image
~Synopsis~ "In the fine tradition established by her Southern grandmama, Aurora Daughtry has recently orchestrated the marriage of her eldest sister and facilitated her middle sister's engagement. She also rejoices in her part in transforming the family's dilapidated plantation manor into a luxurious and lucrative resort hotel. Just when it seems there is nothing left to absorb her considerable talent for managing people, in walks federal deputy marshal Zane Sager. But Zane is not at Daughtry House for a vacation. He's tracking a killer and collecting two key witnesses to a federal judge's murder. Aurora takes it upon herself to disabuse the cynical lawman of his conviction that the world--and God in particular--is out to get him. But just as she's on the verge of cracking Zane's defenses, the man he is after reminds him that no one he loves is safe. Ever." ~Review~ This is the final book in The Daughtry House series, and the author wrapped e...
Read more

Phoebe's Light

Image
Suzanne Woods Fisher has always impressed me with her writing, and "Phoebe's Light" did not disappoint. The book follows a young Quaker woman named Phoebe, back in the mid 1700's on Nantucket Island. The Quakers are a part of history that I do not know too much about, and this book gave me a bit of insight that I always love from historical fiction. If a book can surprise me and not end up with what I assume is going to happen, I am always overjoyed and this book did that for me. The ending was what I had expected, but the middle did throw me for a few loops that I truly enjoyed. My only complaint would be that I wish their may have been a bit more romance between the two main characters, but all in all it was a very good book. The second book in the series will be released this summer, and I am already anticipating it. We got to read the first chapter at the end of this book, and I'm pretty sure it will be just as good, if not better, than "Phoebe'...
Read more