Hearts Made Whole - A Book Review

Jody Hedlund is one of my favorite christian fiction authors.  I may even dare say my number one favorite!  I have never read a book written by her that I have not LOVED.  She is so unique in her writing style.   She can turn words into pictures and feelings like no other author.  Her stories bring me right in and always pull at my heartstrings.  She writes in an elegant way and I love how she always includes a deep faith in her stories.  If you are big on romance, let me tell you, her stories have it...more than once, in this book alone, did I find myself holding my hand over my heart and sighing with a smile pulling at the corners of my lips.  The things she writes in the way of romance melts my heart and she does it in such a proper way.  Everything remains wholesome with no fear of compromising your christian morals.

In Hearts Made Whole the story starts with Caroline and her siblings watching on as her father's boat sinks and he drowns.  Her father had trained her in running the Windmilll Point Lighthouse and she is confident in her abilities and is determined to raise her twin brothers and two sisters, one of whom is very sick.  It is 1865 and people do not like the idea of a woman running the lighthouse.  When the inspector hires a new light keeper, a man, Caroline is told she must find a new place to live.  She has no place to go and no job and four other people depending on her to provide for them.

Ryan Chambers was injured in the Civil War.  The war left him with a mangled arm and a lot of guilt from the battles he fought.  Due to his injury and the pain he still suffers from, he has become addicted to opium pills and strong drink.  He is incapable of running the lighthouse and soon discovers that he needs Caroline's help.   She agrees to stay on, thankful to still have a place for her family to stay, and train Ryan.  It seems that someone wants Caroline away from the lighthouse and they will go to extreme measures to scare her away.

I loved the character of Caroline!  She is such a gentle soul with a forgiving heart.   She is always putting others before herself and sacrificing her own needs.  Ryan is so troubled and Caroline helps him heal, but it seems like trouble keeps finding them and shocking circumstances threaten to keep them apart forever.

I highly recommend this book!  It's a great read and is going on my shelf of favorites!

***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.