I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House, NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Searching for You by Jody Hedlund Series: Orphan Train #3
Published by Baker Publishing Group on December 4, 2018
Genres: Christian, Fiction, General, Historical, Romance
Pages: 352
Source: Bethany House, NetGalley
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Despite years on the run, Sophie Neumann is determined to care for two young children. She won't abandon them the way she thinks her older sisters abandoned her. But times are growing desperate, and when she falls in with the wrong crowd and witnesses a crime, she realizes fleeing 1850s New York is her only option.
Disappearing with her two young charges into a group of orphans heading west by train, Sophie hopes to find safety and a happy life. When the train stops in Illinois for the first placement of orphans, Sophie faces the most difficult choice of her life.
Reinhold Weiss has finally purchased his own small farm. With mounting debts, a harvest to bring in, and past scars that haunt him, he's in no position to give his heart away . . . but can he say no when his long-lost friend shows up on a nearby train pleading for his help?
You know, I’m getting really tired of authors trying to end series on me. I mean, can’t they just go on forever? Kinda like Law and Order seasons. The Neumann girls have had my heart since our first meeting. I’ve watched these girls grow up, make mistakes, find their path, and even find love. Love not required, as you know, but it is a nice addition. I don’t want to go too far before throwing in a couple of warnings here. This book does deal with the hardship of being poor and or homeless in New York City. It does deal with the violence of the gangs of New York. And it does deal with the place so many women (to this day) find themselves in that leads to prostitution. It is all in this book, gracefully handled and not overt but it is also honest. Sophie, as the youngest, had to most to discover. She lost her parents extremely young. She had the least life experience to carry her through. She had the most to lose with Olivia and Nicholas as an extension of her heart. She had the most to gain by disappearing. And she’s back, in New York City, still with her babies, and still trying to find her path. Until her path is chosen for her.
There is literally nothing about this book I did not like. I mean, I felt like Reinhold could just a shot of confidence and perhaps some willingness to step up and take charge. I feel like with each step he’s taken it’s caused him to weaken in ability to own his feelings (and thoughts). The flip side is that I still needed him to persevere. He’s been through too much with the Neumann girls to not find his future. Though I do adore his neighbors, especially Euphemia. That girl is is a corker! She’s walked her own struggles like Reinhold and Sophie. She’s found the other side and is an unexpected beacon of hope for more than just these two. Ya’ll, just so ya know I am really struggling here as I don’t want to give anything away. You absolutely have to read this book and I am slipping all over the place to tell you nothing that will ruin it!
Sophie is not open to finding her sisters. She’s not open to her sister’s finding where she is. She’s ashamed of the choices she’s made to protect herself and the little ones. She’s embarrassed. She feels as though she was a burden and they are better off separated from her. She’s wrong, just so ya know. Euphemia is the start of her learning to trust herself again. Euphemia is the start of her learning to trust God again. Her honest hardship of her faith through her own diversity is a start for all of us. We may not all have lived with their situations, their faults, or even their sins but we all have our own. And we all have to start somewhere. If this series can’t continue like a Law and Order spin off then this is the perfect way to end it. Not so neatly tied up that’s it’s trite. Not a ravel of loose threads to cling too. It’s balanced, and loved, and almost near perfect.
About Jody Hedlund
Winner of the 2016 Christian Book Award for fiction and Christy Award for historical romance, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.
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’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).
When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.
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