Review: Together Forever

Together Forever by Jody Hedlund
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

I really liked this second book in this series more than the first, but I think it is also because it involved more of the orphan train and orphans. There was a steady build in the story and connection to the characters and towards the end, just when you though there would be a happily ever after, major plot twist which made me not want to stop reading (or listening).

Marianne had a lot of character growth in this book. Though I did disagree a bit about how she and Drew handled a certain situation at the end, Marianne developed into a character who unselfishly loved and made sacrificial decisions, not always to her benefit, but definitely for the benefit of the other parties involved.

Drew was a great male lead - his way with the orphans made me love him. He had a lot to learn, especially that you can’t take blame on yourself which is not yours to take - even though he might have felt responsible. He had his faults, especially the way he tried to manipulate a happy ever after ending, but he had a lot of good qualities which made him a lovable lead.

The Orphans stole my heart and I loved the facts the author provided in this fictional story, especially to show that, though the idea of the orphan train was good, again the children were not always better off due to others taking advantage of their situation.

Reynold - oh I so hope that he will also find his happy ever after.

The audiobook was entertaining and well delivered.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction.

Looking forward to the third and final book in this series.


View all my reviews

Review of An Awakened Heart - this is free on Kindle

Review: With You Always

About the book:

Will the mistakes of their past cost them a chance at love?

Determined to find her lost younger sister, Marianne Neumann takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York. She not only hopes to offer children a better life, but prays she'll be able to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train so they can finally be reunited.

Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing-out trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with children, firm but tender and friendly. Underneath his charm and handsome looks, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away--and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden.

As the two team up, placing orphans in the small railroad towns of Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever. 

Amazon link to buy

About the author:

Jody Hedlund is the author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.