Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund


This is the second full novel I've read from Jody Hedlund, but the first in this genre.
Check out all the info, my review, and the fabulous giveaway below...

Hearts Made Whole (Beacons of Hope, #2)Hearts Made Whole
(Beacons of Hope #2)
by Jody Hedlund
Historical Christian Romance
Paperback, 384 Pages
June 2nd 2015 by Bethany House Publishers

Summary

Can she forgive the hurting man who costs her the role she loves?

After her father’s death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren’t supposed to have such roles, so it’s only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper–even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other job available to her.

Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He’s secured the position of lighthouse keeper mostly for the isolation–the chance to hide from his past is appealing. He’s not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who’s angry with him for taking her job and for his inability to properly run the light. When his failings endanger others, he and Caroline realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but he’s unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. Caroline feels drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their loss to a future filled with hope…and possibly love?

  

My Review

Jody Hedlund did such a fabulous job in setting the historical backdrop of Hearts Made Whole. I also loved the characters and was immediately drawn into their lives. I wanted to cheer them on, believe in them, and see them to a happy end. It was a bit rough getting there, but I enjoyed the journey.

Caroline had such a heavy load with carry for her four siblings after her father's death. She had a heavy enough load before he passed away with a mother who had passed on, having to help her father with his duties, and help care for her little sister who was slowly dying. She was a rock, sensible, hard working, but also full of compassion and pretty as well. Then there was Ryan. He comes into the story as a lost soul, full of anguish and pain, addicted to his drugs and boos. Underneath all that is such great potential. He used to be a completely different man and unearthing that man again is rough after the war and his injury, but Caroline sees it. She believes in him and that goes a long way in him beginning to heal. It helps that he's handsome and charming as well. 

There were other characters as well, such as Caroline's siblings (one of which made me really mad), the lighthouse inspector, the local barman and his son, a reclusive neighbor, and Caroline's good friend who is also the mayor's wife. Each of the characters brought a little more to the story, some having stronger roles than others. They were all well formed.

I really loved this story, the banter, the romantic tension, the soul searching pretty much the whole way through. It held my interest and even though I figured out what was going on well before the characters did, I still enjoyed reading along. The end did get a little bit too dramatic for me and there were some things that didn't quite make sense, but that would be the only thing that was a little off for me.

I'd recommend Hearts Made Whole to those who enjoy historical inspirational romance. It was well worth the read. I plan on going back and reading the author's prior books as well as picking up her future ones.


Content: There was some violence that turned my stomach slightly, but I would consider this clean.
Source: I would like to thank Bethany House through Litfuse for my complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way.

About the Author

JHedlund

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling historical fiction author. She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan, with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog.


Tour-Wide Giveaway

Don't miss Jody Hedlund's new book, Hearts Made Whole, a story of loss, forgiveness, hope, and true love set in 1865 Michigan. When Ryan's failings endanger others, he and Caroline realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but he’s unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. Can Caroline forgive the hurting man who costs her the role she loves?

Celebrate the release of Hearts Made Whole by entering to win an Afternoon at the Beach prize pack and RSVPing to Jody's June 23rd author chat party!

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One grand prize winner will receive:

One second-place winner will receive:

One third-place winner will receive:
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Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 23rd.Winner will be announced June 23rd at Jody's Facebook partyRSVP here!

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