I have enjoyed Jody Hedlund’s Beacons of Hope series so much and I really hate to see it end. Each book has easily been a standalone yet they are all connected by the common thread of the lighthouse keepers who are primary characters. Another common element also connects them all but I will leave that for each reader to discover on her own.
“Never Forget” is the story of Abbie Wilson, granddaughter of the light keeper. She works hard trying to keep the light going and to provide whatever is needed to take care of herself and her grandfather who is declining further into dementia as the days pass by. Her husband has disappeared and she fears he is dead but his presence was all that kept them from being replaced. It is little wonder that she chose to pass off as her husband the young man who had washed ashore suffering from amnesia.
The characters in “Never Forget” were strong ones. I liked how Nathaniel was able to relate to Abbie’s Gramps despite his loss of memory – or perhaps because of it. It was also gratifying to see how Nathaniel’s character changed over the course of the book. Abbie was such a dedicated granddaughter whose love for her Gramps shone through everything she did, even in the poor decisions she made. A strong spiritual message and changed lives were vital components of the narrative. The story also emphasized the importance of truth, regardless of the circumstances.
I enjoyed this story so much that I really didn’t want it to end while at the same time I was eager to find out how things would work out. I am looking forward to finding out what this author has in store for her readers next.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by Celebrate Lit Publicity Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Rose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island
June 1880
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Will she betray his trust to stay on the island she loves?
Abbie Wilson is content to spend her days clamming, crabbing, and tending Rose Island Lighthouse. Her grandpa is the head light keeper, but his senility may lead to their eviction. Since leaving the island would kill her beloved Gramps, Abbie will do anything to keep him in the one place he knows and loves.
Wealthy Nathaniel Winthrop III’s wild living has gained him a reputation as the ‘bad boy’ among the elite social circles of Newport. After a blow to the head in a yachting accident washes him up on Rose Island, Nathaniel has no memories of his past.
Abbie tends the wounded stranger in her home only to realize he assumes they’re married. Although she knows she needs to correct Nathaniel’s mistake, his presence calms Gramps and provides a way to prevent eviction from the lighthouse.
The longer the charade continues, the harder it gets for Abbie to tell Nathaniel the truth, more so as she begins to fall in love. Everyone she’s ever loved has abandoned her. Will Nathaniel leave her too, once he discovers he’s not really her husband?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Winner of the 2016 Christian Book Award and Christy Award, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.
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.
GUEST POST FROM JODY HEDLUND:
Which Do You Prefer: Series or Standalones?
By Jody Hedlund
Readers usually have strong opinions about whether they like series or standalones.
Some readers refuse to read books that are inter-related. Others can’t get enough books about their favorite characters.
I see the pros and cons of both.
For series, I don’t like feeling lost as I try to wade through previous characters along with their backstory. I recently started a series by a well-known author and was disappointed to realize the first book was connected to a previous series she’d already published. From the get-go, I felt left out as though I didn’t quite know who all the characters were or their significance.
On the other hand, for standalones, I sometimes feel as though I would like the story to continue. I’ve invested in the setting and characters and so enjoy when I can return to that place and continue to glimpse the characters I’ve fallen in love with—even if from a distance.
My favorites are books that fall in the middle between standalone and series. I like to think of them as standalones within a series. Becky Wade’s Porter brother series is like that. Each of the books centers around one of the brothers (and a tomboy sister). While characters from other books make an appearance in the stories, each plot is separate and complete without any reliance upon another book.
My Beacons of Hope lighthouse series falls in the middle too. The books are related in that they all take place at lighthouses and share a symbolic “cross of hope” that is passed on from one book to the next. A minor character in a previous book becomes the hero or heroine in the next book. But each book can be read by itself without having read any of the others.
In other words, readers can pick up my newest release, Never Forget, which is the fifth and final book in the series, and they wouldn’t be confused about who the characters are or what their history is. The plot starts with a bang and ends with a satisfying sigh. It is complete story unto itself.
And yet, for those who’ve read other books in the series, they’ll get to see the happily-ever-after of a character from a previous book. And they’ll also get to find out where the cross of hope finally ends.
If you’re not a fan of series, I encourage you to give the Beacons of Hope series a try. It might satisfy the need for standalones and series all in one neat little package.
To that end, I’m giving away all FIVE books in the series as part of the Celebrate Lit blog tour to one lucky winner!
Tell us: What is your preference: Standalones, Series, or Standalones within a Series?
To celebrate her tour, Jody is giving away the entire Beacons of Hope series. Click below to enter.
Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ad6d
It was just a simple cooking class – or was it? Heidi’s idea to offer a cooking class as a way to help fill the empty hours that did not include children to care for was just that or so she thought. Her ad brought together a small group of unlikely men and women who would find their lives forever changed by their interaction with Heidi and her husband Lyle. And could it be that Heidi and Lyle could also find a blessing or two as a result?
“The Seekers” was a warm and satisfying novel filled with charm and wisdom. Characters were well developed and realistic, each one of them with hidden pain and problems. I enjoyed watching their relationships grow naturally through the course of Heidi’s classes. I also enjoyed the peeks into each character’s life through their own points of view.
The first book in Brunstetter’s latest series, “The Seekers” is sure to please readers, especially those particularly fond of Amish fiction.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by
Amazon Vine. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Join a class of unlikely Ohioans who take cooking lessons at Lyle and Heidi Troyer’s Amish farm. A woman engaged to marry, an expectant mother estranged from her family, a widowed mom seeking to simplify, a Vietnam vet who camps on the Troyer’s farm, and an Amish widower make up the mismatched lot of students. But Heidi’s cooking lessons soon turn to life lessons as they each share the challenges they are facing. Is this what God had in mind when Heidi got the idea for cooking classes?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of nearly 70 books with more than 9 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine, USA Today, Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, and Country Woman. Wanda’s books have been translated into four foreign languages.
“Out of the Frying Pan” was a fun little change of pace for me. This cozy mystery featured several extremely quirky characters, especially Fern and Zula who attempt to help solve the murder of their retirement village chef. With all the off-the-wall characters, Detective Jared Flynn and the Hopkins sisters’ niece KC provide a level-headed counterpoint.
I enjoyed this somewhat nutty story and all the sisters’ crazy antics. I also enjoyed how the romance between Jared and KC played out as the story progressed. Yes, some of the sisters’ choices and actions were pretty over-the-top at times and not always wise but it added to the humor and I felt like they learned their lesson by the end of the story.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by The Book Club Network. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When the chef of Sunset Paradise Retirement Village ends up dead, life for sisters Fern and Zula Hopkins is whipped into a froth. Their zany attempts to track down the killer land them in hot water with Detective Jared Flynn. Should he be concerned about their safety or the criminal’s? But there are deadly ingredients none of them expect. Drugs. Extortion. International cartels. And worst of all…broken hearts–especially when the Hopkins sisters’ niece KC arrives on the scene.
Before the snooping pair gain any headway with the case, it becomes crystal clear that the sisters share a mysterious secret that takes life from the frying pan and into the line of fire.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Kelly Klepfer had ambitions to graduate from the school of life quite awhile ago, but alas . . . she still attends and is tested regularly. Her co-authored cozy/quirky mystery, Out of the Frying Pan, is the culmination of several of the failed/passed tests. Kelly, though she lives with her husband, two Beagles and two hedgehogs in Iowa, can be found at Novel Rocket, Novel Reviews, Scrambled Dregs, Modern Day Mishaps, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter with flashes of brilliance (usually quotes), randomocities, and learned life lessons. Zula and Fern Hopkins and their shenanigans can be found at Zu-fer where you always get more than you bargained for.
Michelle Griep
I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I’ve been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write–except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.
The third novel in The Worthington Destiny series, “A Primary Decision” features daughter Sarah, an attorney who manages to become the U.S. attorney general yet wants to remain somewhat involved in solving a case she had been working on with her partners. She soon discovers that the people who initiated her new position want to use that position to control her. Sarah’s moral compass demands that she follow her instincts no matter what it costs her personally.
With the most recent U.S. presidential election just completed, “A Primary Decision” brings the reader another look at what goes on behind the scenes in Washington politics and the powers that control almost everything. The entire series was so current and realistic that it could almost have been part of our daily news. The plot moved along at a good pace with plenty of action and intrigue to keep it interesting and a touch of romance for added measure. I enjoyed keeping up with the rest of the Worthington family and was mostly satisfied with the resolution. I only wish there were more people like this fictional family involved in our government.
I thoroughly enjoyed “A Primary Decision” and would recommend it as well as the entire series for those who enjoy a good political novel.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The road to power and position is fraught with perils, even for a Worthington.
But Sarah does not intend to lose.
Sarah Worthington never expected to become the US attorney general–at least not this early in her career. Plunged into the vicious vetting process, with all sides digging for secrets in her family closet, she steels herself for the path forward. Nothing will deter her from making her mark on the world in the biggest way possible–even if that means prosecuting the current president of the United States.
Yet powerful forces conspire behind the scenes to take the Worthington family down, and the president orders her to close the investigation. Will she comply? Or turn the tables to pursue her ultimate dream–the US presidency?
Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, and speaker who has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and commonsense psychology. He has made house calls for hundreds of radio and television programs, such as Fox & Friends, The View, Fox’s The Morning Show, Today, Dr. Bill Bennett’s America in the Morning, 700 Club, CBS This Morning, James Robison’s Life Today, Janet Parshall, CNN’s American Morning, and Focus on the Family, and has served as a contributing family psychologist to Good Morning America.
A bestselling and award-winning author, Dr. Leman has written more than 50 books about marriage and family issues, including The Birth Order Book, Sheet Music, Making Children Mind without Losing Yours, and Have a New Kid by Friday. He is coauthor, with his son Kevin Leman II, of a series of illustrated children’s books for each child in the family. He is also featured on 6 video series on marriage, parenting, blended families, and single parenting.
Dr. Leman and his wife, Sande, live in Tucson, Arizona. They have five children and four grandchildren.
Jeff Nesbit isa former communications director to the vice president at the White House, served as the director of public affairs for two prominent federal science agencies, and has been a national journalist with Knight Ridder Newspapers. He is the author of 20 novels. Cocreator of the Emmy award-winning Science of the Olympic Winter Games and the Science of NFL Football video series with NBC Sports, Jeff is executive director for Climate Nexus and writes “At the Edge,” a weekly science column for U.S. News & World Report.
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Many links on this site are supplied by the Reviewer groups that provide the books I review. Occasionally other links may be my personal associate links.
Winner of the 2016 Christian Book Award and Christy Award, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.
To celebrate her tour, Jody is giving away the entire Beacons of Hope series. Click below to enter.
Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of nearly 70 books with more than 9 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine, USA Today, Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, and Country Woman. Wanda’s books have been translated into four foreign languages.
