"the vow" by jody hedlund

When I learned that Jody Hedlund, whose historical romances I've loved, was entering the world of YA fiction, I knew I needed to check out her new series!

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Young Rosemarie finds herself drawn to Thomas, the son of the nearby baron. But just as her feelings begin to grow, a man carrying the Plague interrupts their hunting party. While in forced isolation, Rosemarie begins to contemplate her future—could it include Thomas? Could he be the perfect man to one day rule beside her and oversee her parents’ lands?

Then Rosemarie is summoned back to her castle in haste. The disease has spread, and her family is threatened. And the secret she discovers when she returns could change her future forever.

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I picked up The Vow because it's a prequel to An Uncertain Choice, which I'll soon be reading and reviewing. I didn't give much thought to what the titular vow might be as I began reading this sweet "first love" story about 14-year-old Rosemarie, but as Rosemarie's world suddenly flipped upside down, I couldn't help but wonder if the vow—whatever it was—would keep her from Thomas. The answer finally came near the end of the novella, and it caught me off guard. Now I can't wait to continue Rosemarie's story in An Uncertain Choice!

While this novella is only 43 pages long and can be read in under an hour, the plot feels fully developed. It does not, however, come to a satisfying conclusion—it is, after all, a prequel, and readers will most certainly want to continue the story. 4 stars.

Buy the novella.
See my reviews of Hedlund's Unending Devotion, and A Noble Groom.

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Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances including books for adults and youth. She currently makes her home in central Michigan with her husband and their five busy children.

As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she's not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories.


She loves reading almost as much as she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this novella myself and reviewed it of my own free will. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."