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MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n ABOUT THE BOOK:<\/strong><\/p>\n Rose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island Click here to purchase<\/p><\/div>\n Will she betray his trust to stay on the island she loves?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Wealthy Nathaniel Winthrop III\u2019s wild living has gained him a reputation as the \u2018bad boy\u2019 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.<\/p>\n Abbie tends the wounded stranger in her home only to realize he assumes they\u2019re married. Although she knows she needs to correct Nathaniel\u2019s mistake, his presence calms Gramps and provides a way to prevent eviction from the lighthouse.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s ever loved has abandoned her. Will Nathaniel leave her too, once he discovers he\u2019s not really her husband?<\/p>\n Click HERE to purchase your copy.<\/strong><\/p>\n ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).<\/p>\n When she\u2019s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.<\/p>\n GUEST POST FROM JODY HEDLUND: Which Do You Prefer: Series or Standalones?<\/p>\n By Jody Hedlund<\/p>\n Readers usually have strong opinions about whether they like series<\/strong> or standalones<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Some readers refuse to read books that are inter-related. Others can\u2019t get enough books about their favorite characters.<\/p>\n I see the pros and cons of both.<\/p>\n For series<\/strong>, I don\u2019t 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\u2019d already published. From the get-go, I felt left out as though I didn\u2019t quite know who all the characters were or their significance.<\/p>\n On the other hand, for standalones<\/strong>, I sometimes feel as though I would like the story to continue. I\u2019ve invested in the setting and characters and so enjoy when I can return to that place and continue to glimpse the characters I\u2019ve fallen in love with\u2014even if from a distance.<\/p>\n My favorites are books that fall in the middle between standalone and series<\/strong>. I like to think of them as standalones within a series<\/strong>. Becky Wade\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u201ccross of hope\u201d 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.<\/p>\n In other words, readers can pick up my newest release, Never Forget<\/em>, which is the fifth and final book in the series, and they wouldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n And yet, for those who\u2019ve read other books in the series, they\u2019ll get to see the happily-ever-after of a character from a previous book. And they\u2019ll also get to find out where the cross of hope finally ends.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n To that end, I\u2019m giving away all FIVE books in the series as part of the Celebrate Lit blog tour to one lucky winner!<\/p>\n Tell us: What is your preference: Standalones, Series, or Standalones within a Series?<\/strong><\/p>\n BLOG STOPS:<\/strong><\/p>\n January 10: Reading Is My SuperPower<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 10: Karen Sue Hadley<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 10: Bookworm Mama<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 11: Faithfully Bookish<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 11: Inklings and Notions <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 11: Blossoms and Blessings<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 12: Smiling Book Reviews<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 12: Genesis 5020<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 12: Christian Chick\u2019s Thoughts <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 13: God\u2019s Little Bookworm<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 13: The Scribbler <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 13: Bibliophile Reviews <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 14: Daysong Reflection<\/a>s<\/span><\/p>\n January 14: Blogging With Carol<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 14: Chas Ray\u2019s Book Nerd Corner <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 15: Moments Dipped in Ink<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 15: Books. Books. And More Books.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 16: A Greater Yes<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 16: Bigreadersite<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 17: Connie\u2019s History Classroom <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 17: D\u2019S QUILTS & BOOKS<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 18: Book by Book<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 18: Jeanette\u2019s Thoughts <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 19: Carpe Diem<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 19: A Bakers Perspective<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 19: Splashes of Joy<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 20: Christian Bookaholic<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 20: Stuff and Nonsense<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 20: Debbie\u2019s Dusty Deliberations<\/a><\/p>\n January 21: Radiant Light<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 21: cherylbbookblog<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 21: His Grace is Sufficient<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 22: Neverending Stories<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 22: A Path of Joy<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 23: History, Hope, Laughter & Happily-ever-after<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 23: Henry Happens<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n January 23: Onceuponatime<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/divider2.png\" "\\"divider2\\"")
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\nJune 1880<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>Winner of the 2016 Christian Book Award and Christy Award, \u00a0best-selling author Jody Hedlund<\/strong> writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.<\/p>\n
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