About the Author
Her first published book, The Preacher’s Bride (2010 Bethany House Publishers), became a best seller and has won multiple awards.
Her second book, The Doctor’s Lady, released in September of 2011, and her third book, Unending Devotion, is out now. She’s currently busy researching and writing another book!
Jody has been married for twenty years to her college sweetheart. Jody has five children ranging in ages from 15 to 6, with a set of twin daughters in the mix to make things more lively.
About the Book
In 1883 Michigan, Lily Young is on a mission to save her lost sister, or die trying. Heedless of the danger, her searches of logging camps lead her to Harrison and into the sights of Connell McCormick, a man doing his best to add to the hard-earned fortunes of his lumber baron father.
Posing during the day as a photographer's assistant, Lily can't understand why any God-fearing citizen would allow evil to persist and why men like Connell McCormick turn a blind eye to the crime rampant in the town. But Connell is boss-man of three of his father's lumber camps in the area, and like most of the other men, he's interested in clearing the pine and earning a profit. He figures as long as he's living an upright life, that's what matters.
Lily challenges everything he thought he knew, and together they work not only to save her sister but to put an end to the corruption that's dominated Harrison for so long.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Unending Devotion, go HERE.
My Rating
Spring/Summer
My Review
Jody Hedlund writes engaging stories, no doubt about it! This third release has a lot to love: a strong heroine, a battle of good vs. evil, plenty of romance, and a setting that is intriguing and full of all kinds of danger - from the freezing cold to wolves of both the animal and human variety.
Lily is passionate about life - finding humor and excitement in living it, and finding joy in helping others to embrace it. When she blows into Connell's cold, career-centered life like a warm summer breeze, hearts melt and fires blaze. But Lily's impetuousness pitted against Connell's reserve doesn't make for a safe situation...
Storms abound throughout the pages as winter weather and evil actions must be faced. Unending Devotion is a well-plotted novel in that sense - plenty of twists and turns, plenty of challenges to the characters, and a well-placed climax. I confess that I didn't completely connect with the heroine, despite her admirable qualities - her choices are great for the plot, but there's just something about her strong will and her character's journey that didn't completely resonate with me. The lessons about trusting in God's timing and plan, as well as refusing to be apathetic and inactive when it comes to standing up for what is right, are important ones. Those lessons just didn't overly mesh for me in a powerful way.
Unending Devotion is a great read. The romance is sweet, albeit a little overbearing at times. I think certain personalities might find the heroine (and perhaps the hero) more appealing than other personalities... But even though The Doctor's Lady is my favorite Hedlund book so far, Christian historical romance fans should be quite pleased with Unending Devotion.
*With thanks to the publisher through CFBA for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*
Book Trailer
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