With You Always - A Book Review

With You Always by Jody Hedlund is the first book in the Orphan Train series.  I'm really excited about this series! I've always been interested in the Orphan Trains and historical fiction is one of my favorite genres.  Not to mention I love Jody Hedlund.  So really, I was destined to love this book.

It is the early 1850's and Elise Neumann is working hard to care for her younger sisters.  They have been living at the 7th Street Mission.  The mission helps prostitutes reform, but the Miss Pendleton wants to help out Elise.  This makes the other ladies very jealous.  

The city is a very dangerous place and one day while on an errand Elise finds herself in the midst of danger as the gangs of the city start rioting.  Thornton Quincy comes to her rescue and helps her back to the safety of the mission.  There is an instant connection between the two, but Thornton must stay focused.  He has the chance to inherit his family's wealth, but he must first prove himself more worthy than his brother.

Elise and Thornton are two people for completely different worlds but they cannot deny the spark between them.  If they let it continue to grow they will lose everything they've been working for.

I always enjoy the Author's note at the end of the book.  Not all Author's include this, but Jody Hedlund did not disappoint here either.  I enjoy getting a glimpse into the thought process behind a book and a little more facts to go along with the fiction.

I would definitely recommend this great book.  I can wait for the second book in the series to come out!

***Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Abiding Mercy - A Book Review

I can't believe we are already well into the month of July.  This year is flying by!  As the temperatures are heating up this week, I have found myself wanting to sit inside where it's cool with a good book. If you find yourself wanting a good summer read, then I have a recommendation for you!

Abiding Mercy by Ruth Reid is one of the best Amish fiction books that I have read in a long time.  It is a story that grips at your heart.  As the story begins you read about a little baby being snatched away.  Fast forward several years and we get to know 16 year old Faith.  She is a young Amish girl who loves her life and is looking forward to joining the church and marrying Gideon.

Faith's world comes crashing down around her when she finds out she is not who she thought she was.  Not Faith, but Adriana who was kidnapped 15 years earlier.  She has so many questions.  Can she really trust anyone?  Will she ever feel like she belongs anywhere again?

What I love about this book is that you get to see both sides of the story.  There is so much emotion involved and there was more suspense then what I thought there would be.  You think you pretty much have it figured out with the general story line, but let me tell you, this book goes a lot deeper then what I expected.

An excellent read and a great way to spend a hot summer day!  You won't want to put this book down until you are finished!

***Thanks to booklookbloggers.com for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.