Love Unexpected (Beacons of Hope, Book 1) by Jody Hedlund ~ My Review
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| Love Unexpected (Beacons of Hope, Book 1) by Jody Hedlund Copyright 2014 Bethany House Publishers ISBN: 9780764212370 |
1859
Presque Isle, Michigan
What Is the Secret That Could Shipwreck Both of Their Lives?
All Emma Chambers ever wanted was a home, but when her steamboat sinks just outside Presque Isle, she's left destitute and with no place to stay.
An unlikely solution arises when the lighthouse keeper arrives in town. He's just lost his wife and is having a difficult time caring for his child. So a traveling preacher gets the idea that the keeper and Emma might be the answer to each other's dilemma. After a hasty marriage, she finds herself heading to the lighthouse with this handsome but quiet stranger. Nothing in her aimless life, though, has prepared her for parenting a rambunctious toddler, as well as managing a household.
Emma soon suspects Patrick may be hiding something from her, and then she hears a disturbing rumor about the circumstances surrounding his late wife's death. It seems as if her wish for a home and family of her own could end up leading her once more into turbulent waters.
Read more about Unexpected Love on the Bethany House website.
Don't forget to visit Jody's website and say hello!
My Thoughts:
This book was just what I needed to jumpstart my book reading binge. I have a number of books I need to read and review by the end of the year, and if they are half as interesting to read as Love Unexpected, I'll fly through them all. Marriage of convenience stories will never get old. While this was a little more preachy than what I'm used to of late, the romance was fabulous. No skirting around the issue-- the sparks were there between Emma and Patrick right from the get go. Did I mention our hero is Irish? I was a goner after his first utterance of the word lass. Yes. Please. All romance heroes from here on out should be Irishmen with lighthouses. Authors, please take note and pen your stories accordingly.
Love Unexpected was an unexpected joy to read. Yes. I went there, but seriously, I just read this straight through in practically one sitting. Considering I've become a bit jaded when it comes to Christian fiction lately, I'd say this is a pretty good sign. Hedlund's first novels were some of my favorites and I felt this brought back that style of romance that I fell in love with when I first came across her books. Sweet and passionate with a lovely setting on Lake Huron, I couldn't put it down. If you're just looking for a simple love story with no frivolity to get you through the stress of the holidays, then you might want to put a rush order on Love Unexpected.
As the first in the start of a new series, I just hope the next two books can live up to it. Hopefully, a handful of there characters who popped up in the book will get their own happy endings. I really connected with Emma's brother and Patrick's family too. 2015 is too long to wait for book number two!
~ My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ~
Happy Reading!
That does sound lovely! Very nice review, Renee.
ReplyDeleteYes!! I'm reading this one next so awesome to hear it's another winner!
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it!
DeleteThank you kindly, Ganise! :)
ReplyDeleteI love Jody's books and I have anxiously awaited the arrival of this one. I'm glad it's so good!
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it as much as I did! :-) Thanks for stopping by, Holly.
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