Review: "Beguiled" by Jody Hedlund

 Snow White reimagined by Jody Hedlund? Yes, please!

Review: "Beholden" by Jody Hedlund

Even though I left my teen years behind long ago, I adore YA romance ... but much of what's popular is more adult than what I'd want the teens I know to read. That's why I love Jody Hedlund's medieval YA novels - they feature chaste yet swoony romance, and they always have positive themes. Her latest series, which begins with Beholden, offers more of the same. 

Review: "Hereafter" by Jody Hedlund

You a know a book is good when you pick it up to "read the first chapter" ... and you put it down at 12:30 a.m. after you've read the final page!

Review: "Evermore" by Jody Hedlund

I'm so excited that Jody Hedlund has written another medieval series! After releasing the prequel novella for The Lost Princesses series earlier this month, she's back with book one, Evermore, and it's so good!

Review: "Always" by Jody Hedlund

A few years ago, Jody Hedlund, one of my favorite historical romance writers, penned a medieval YA series that I absolutely loved. (See my reviews of the books in that series here.) Though Hedlund has wrapped up that series, she isn't finished writing medieval YA; Always is the opening novella in her upcoming The Lost Princesses series!

Review: "The Orphan's Wish" by Melanie Dickerson

Ah, Hagenheim. I absolutely love every chance I get to visit Melanie Dickerson's medieval kingdom! When I learned that her latest Fairy Tale Romance would be about Aladdin, well, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. You see, Aladdin is my favorite Disney movie, so I already knew I loved the basic story—I just didn't know how Dickerson would adapt it!

Review: "A Worthy Rebel" by Jody Hedlund

I realize I'm like a broken record when it comes to Jody Hedlund's medieval YA romances, but it's true: THIS is the type of book our teens should be reading!

"A Loyal Heart" by Jody Hedlund

Last year, I finished (or so I thought) Jody Hedlund's delightful medieval YA romance trilogy ... so I was pleasantly surprised to learn she'd written a fourth book! I'd thought that no couple could top Bennet and Sabine from For Love & Honor, but Aldric and Olivia certainly give them a run for their money!

"Deeds of Darkness" by Mel Starr

Most of the Christian fiction I'm aware of is geared toward women. (Maybe this is just because I seek out what I like, and what I like is romance and women's fiction, but I'm positive that more Christian fiction books are written with women as the intended audience.) That's where Mel Starr's Hugh de Singleton books are different—they're inspirational medieval fiction, but they're not romance, and they're written from a male perspective. While this isn't something I'd normally gravitate toward, I find these books to be a breath of fresh air.

"The Noble Servant" by Melanie Dickerson

I love Melanie Dickerson's medieval novels! They all take one (or maybe two) fairy tales and give them a twist. Dickerson's Hagenheim/Fairy Tale Romance series, which I'm still working my way through when I have a spare reading moment, is absolutely fantastic. The Noble Servant is the third book in Dickerson's other medieval series (admittedly, it gets a little confusing keeping all the books straight!), the Thornbeck/Medieval Fairy Tale series. I loved the second book, The Beautiful Pretender, so I was quite eager to get my hands on this book.

"The Healer's Apprentice" by Melanie Dickerson

The Healer's Apprentice begins Melanie Dickerson's excellent Fairy Tale Romance series. These books can be read in any order; I didn't start until The Princess Spy, book five in the series, so now I've decided to go back and read the ones I missed!

"For Love and Honor" by Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund delivers the third (and presumably final) book in her medieval YA romance series with For Love and Honor, and it's her best yet.

"The Silent Songbird" by Melanie Dickerson

Author Melanie Dickerson continues her tradition of adapting classic fairy tales with The Silent Songbird, based on The Little Mermaid.

"Lucifer's Harvest" by Mel Starr

I always look forward to the next installment in Mel Starr's Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon. These books are unlike any others I've read, and I love them!

"courageous" by dina l. sleiman

Journey from medieval England to the Holy Land with a group of men, women, and children in Courageous.

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Will They Trust God's Call Even When It Leads to the Most Unexpected Places?

Inspired by the vision of the young Lady Sapphira, Rosalind of Ipsworth joins a group of men, women, and children as a defender of the cross, seeking to free captives from prisons near Tripoli. She'll gladly give herself to the cause, as she's haunted by a tragic mistake and feels she no longer deserves such joys as marriage and family might bring.

Sir Randel Penigree was reared to serve in the church but has always dreamt of protecting the innocent as a Templar knight. Joining a crusade to escape humiliation at home, he finds himself drawn to Rosalind as they partner to train and protect a group of adolescents. When faced with political intrigue and an unknown enemy bent on their destruction, they are forced to reconsider their priorities and the very nature of the God they serve.

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In Courageous, author Dina L. Sleiman returns readers to the medieval England setting of her previous novels ... briefly. However, most of the story takes place on a journey to the Holy Land—a journey precipitated by a teen girl's vision. This setting is one I've never read about before; in fact, I've never spent much time thinking about the Crusades (aside from minimal facts memorized for high school history tests), so I enjoyed seeing a crusade through the eyes of participants.

Rosalind, Randel, and Lady Sapphira make great protagonists that the reader will cheer for, and I found each of their journeys to be entertaining and insightful.

In Chivalrous, the previous novel in the series, Rosalind made a terrible mistake that she hopes to atone for by joining the crusade. Randel also highly regrets an action from his past, and for a large portion of the novel, those mistakes continue to haunt them. In fact, the memory of and penance for those mistakes serve to keep them apart, even though they clearly love one another. It's only once they each come to embrace the truth of God's forgiveness that they can move forward together.

Lady Sapphira believes God has called those who joined the journey to "free the captives." Her assumption is that God means for them to free those, including her brother-in-law, who were captured during previous crusades. She comes to realize that God may have had a different reason for sending them to the Holy Land and that "free the captives" means something other than what she assumed, and I especially enjoyed watching her faith grow as she encountered trials and opposition.

While I very much appreciated the themes of redemption and forgiveness that were woven throughout the novel, something about the plot just didn't grab me in the way the two previous novels did, and I struggled to finish the book. I'm glad I did push through, though, as the epilogue nicely ties together the storylines from all three of the Valiant Hearts novels and left me with a feeling of completion. 3-1/2 stars.

Note: While Rosalind does begin her journey in Chivalrous, those who have not read the novel should be able to follow along with Courageous from the beginning. I would definitely recommend reading the first two Valiant Hearts books first, though, simply because they're so good!

Buy the book.
Read an excerpt.
Download discussion questions.
Read my reviews of Dauntless (4-1/2 stars) and Chivalrous (4 stars).

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Dina L. Sleiman holds an MA in professional writing from Regent University and a BA in communications with a minor in English from Oral Roberts University. Over the past eighteen years, she has had opportunities to teach college writing and literature, as well as high school and elementary classes in English, humanities, and fine arts. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three children. She can be found online at www.dinasleiman.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. 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 an 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."

"the beautiful pretender" by melanie dickerson

Fans of Beauty and the Beast and The Bachelor will love Melanie Dickerson's latest fairy tale romance, The Beautiful Pretender!

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What happens when a margrave realizes he's fallen in love with a servant?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina is only responsible for two things: making sure her deception goes undetected and avoiding being selected as the margrave's bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina's best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can't deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse---far deadlier---consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost? 

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Melanie Dickerson's The Beautiful Pretender has just about everything you could want in a romance: flawed yet likable main characters, forbidden love, a touch of danger, and a happily ever after.

Avelina, lady's maid to the Earl of Plimmwald's daughter Dorothea, must take Dorothea's place when the Margrave of Thornbeck, Reinhart Stolten, invites noble ladies to spend two weeks at his castle. He plans to choose a bride at the end of the period, and Avelina knows that choice cannot be her, but she needs to impress the Margrave enough for him to look favorably upon Plimmwald. This becomes more difficult than she imagined when she finds herself drawn to the Margrave ... and he seems drawn to her, too.

Avelina and Reinhart's romance is so sweet! I pulled for their happily ever after from the very beginning, but I also appreciated that the story continued after they fell in love. In fact, some of my favorite portions of the novel came after Reinhart had chosen his bride. Another wonderful aspect of this novel is the friendship between Avelina and Magdalen, one of the potential brides. I don't know if Dickerson plans to continue this series, but I would love to revisit Magdalen in a future novel.

The Beautiful Pretender is not just a simple love story—it also drives home several important points: every life is precious, each person has innate worth and deserves respect, and prejudice is a cancer that tears people apart. And it does all this wrapped up in a beautiful, captivating plot.

I've read and enjoyed a few of Melanie Dickerson's other books, but The Beautiful Pretender is by far my favorite. I highly recommend it! 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Dickerson's The Golden Braid (5 stars) and The Princess Spy (5 stars).

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Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.


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Inheriting the new title of margrave means Reinhart has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise? Find out in the new medieval fairy tale, The Beautiful Pretender, by Melanie Dickerson. Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?

Join Melanie in celebrating the release of The Beautiful Pretender by entering to win her Once Upon a Kindle giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Beautiful Pretender
• A Kindle Fire tablet
• A $25 Amazon gift card
• The choice between a Funko POP Disney Beauty or Beast doll

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 7th. The winner will be announced June 8th on Melanie's blog.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. 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."

"a daring sacrifice" by jody hedlund

When I read Jody Hedlund's An Uncertain Choice last year, Lord Collin Goodrich was my least favorite of the knights vying for Lady Rosemarie's hand. He just seemed too carefree and immature. I guess what he needed was a woman who would challenge him and would bring out the best in him—and that's exactly what Juliana Wessex does!

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In a reverse twist on the Robin Hood story, a young medieval maiden stands up for the rights of the mistreated, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. All the while, she fights against her cruel uncle who has taken over the land that is rightfully hers. 

Forced to live in the woods and hide with the poor people she's grown to love, she works to save and protect them, but she never anticipates falling in love with the wealthy knight who represents all she's come to despise.

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Though she spend her idyllic early years as the daughter of a wealthy lord, Juliana lost her land—and her father—to her uncle's treachery. She turned to stealing to provide for the peasants who became her family. When she robs Lord Collin Goodrich, she comes face to face with the boy who long ago mocked her hair ... and to whom she finds herself strangely attracted. As the two get to know one another, Collin begins to have sympathy for those not as privileged as himself, and Juliana comes to realize that all lords are not evil.

I absolutely devoured this novel! It's full of adventure, danger, and romance—oh, the romance! The chemistry between Juliana and Collin is palpable, and I loved watching their relationship develop. The novel is written in first person, and it's pretty equally divided between Juliana's and Collin's perspectives, so I felt like I got to know both characters very well, and I came to like them both very much.

A Daring Sacrifice is a great young adult romance that both teens and adults will love—and in a genre that seems to focus more and more on sexual and/or edgy content, it is one of those rare novels that promotes faith and morality. Fans of Melanie Dickerson's Fairy Tale Romances and Dina Sleiman's Valiant Hearts series will want to check out this series. 4-1/2 stars.

Note: A Daring Sacrifice is the second book in Jody Hedlund's YA series, but you can easily read it without first having read An Uncertain Choice. If you have read the first book, you should know that A Daring Sacrifice doesn't begin directly after the cliffhanger at the end of the first book—instead, it begins prior to those events. (I spent the first couple chapters expecting an explanation and didn't find one; later, I figured out that Hedlund was leading up to the events of An Uncertain Choice's epilogue.)

Buy the book.
Read my review of Hedlund's An Uncertain Choice (5 stars) and The Vow (4 stars), a prequel novella. Read my reviews of Hedlund's adult titles Hearts Made Whole (5 stars), Undaunted Hope (4 stars), A Noble Groom (5 stars), Unending Devotion (5 stars).

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Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling historical fiction author. She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan, with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog.

Find Jody online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review as a member of Jody Hedlund's A Daring Sacrifice influencer team. 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 an 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."

"the golden braid" by melanie dickerson

We're all familiar with the story of Rapunzel—especially after the success of Disney's Tangled a few years ago. In her latest book in the Hagenheim/Fairy Tale Romance series, Melanie Dickerson gives us another welcome take on the age old fairy tale.

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The one who needs rescuing isn't always the one in the tower...

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel's hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel, in turn, rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to him than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery are about to be revealed after seventeen years. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

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My introduction to Melanie Dickerson came last year when I read The Princess Spy. It was a delightful retelling of The Frog Prince, and I immediately added Dickerson to my list of authors to watch. When I heard of The Golden Braid (and, let's be honest, first saw that gorgeous cover), I knew I wanted to read it.

Dickerson's Rapunzel is a young woman who knows her own mind and longs to chase her dreams—specifically, her dream of reading and writing—yet she has a deep respect for and devotion to her mother, who insists on sheltering her from the world. It's not until she meets Sir Gerek that she realizes her mother's rules and demands may come from a place of fear, rather than love.

Rapunzel and Gerek together are a great couple, and Dickerson clearly shows how they make each other better people—Rapunzel becomes brave enough to step out of her mother's shadow, and Gerek realizes the shallowness and selfishness of his own dreams.

The novel is full of action, adventure, and intrigue ... and, of course, love. It's listed as fiction (not YA fiction), but it's perfectly acceptable for a teen audience. It's a fast, easy read that is incredibly enjoyable! 5 stars.

Note: While The Golden Braid can be enjoyed without having read any of Dickerson's other novels, my favorite part came from reading about certain events from The Princess Spy from a new perspective, as The Golden Braid is set at the same time with several overlapping characters.

See what others are saying.
Buy the novel.
Read my review of Dickerson's The Princess Spy (5 stars).

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Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

Connect with Melanie: website, Twitter,Facebook, YouTube

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. 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."

"dauntless" by dina l. sleiman

A young woman whose life was turned upside down by her father's treason finds a new life as the leader of a band of orphaned children.

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Where Legend and History Collide, 
One Young Woman Will Fight for the Innocent

Born a baron's daughter, Lady Merry Ellison is now an enemy of the throne after her father's failed assassination attempt upon the king. Bold and uniquely skilled, she is willing to go to any lengths to protect the orphaned children of her former village--a group that becomes known as "The Ghosts of Farthingale Forest." Merry finds her charge more difficult as their growing notoriety brings increasing trouble their way.

Timothy Grey, ninth child of the Baron of Greyham, longs to perform some feat so legendary that he will rise from obscurity and earn a title of his own. When the Ghosts of Farthingale Forest are spotted in Wyndeshire, where he serves as assistant to the local earl, he might have found his chance. But when he comes face-to-face with the leader of the thieves, he's forced to reexamine everything he's known.

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Dauntless has a decidedly Robin Hood feel to it, yet Merry also evokes some recent dystopian heroines like Katniss and Tris. Merry does what she has to do to survive, yet she gains no pleasure from stealing. Her only goal is to keep the children safe—even if that means sacrificing her own happiness.

From the opening pages, when Merry and the Ghosts steal a chest of gold and become more notorious than they'd wished, the plot moves at a rapid rate. There's definitely no time for boredom! As Merry and the Ghosts seek freedom, there's grand adventure to be had, and I found myself latching onto the excitement.

There's also romance, because what would a YA title be without romance? I loved Merry and Timothy's back story, which comes out slowly through the book, and I loved how their current story turned out.

I really enjoyed Dauntless, and I look forward to seeing what comes next in the Valiant Hearts series! 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.
Read an excerpt.

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Dina L. Sleiman holds an MA in professional writing from Regent University and a BA in communications with a minor in English from Oral Roberts University. Over the past eighteen years, she has had opportunities to teach college writing and literature, as well as high school and elementary classes in English, humanities, and fine arts. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three children. She can be found online at www.dinasleiman.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. 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 an 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."

"an uncertain choice" by jody hedlund

The Bachelorette meets medieval romance in Jody Hedlund's An Uncertain Choice.

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Due to her parents' promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, a month before her birthday, a friend of her father's enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents' will left a second choice. If Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow. 

Before long, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in the land. But when the competition for her heart seemingly results in a knight playing foul, she begins to wonder if the cloister is the best place after all. If only one of the knights—the one who appears the most guilty—had not already captured her heart.

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When I heard that Jody Hedlund, author of swoon worthy historical romance titles like A Noble Groom and Unending Devotion, had written a YA romance, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. After all, I already knew Hedlund wrote amazing romance, and I love YA, so what could be better?

An Uncertain Choice is certainly worthy of the Hedlund name. While this book doesn't exhibit the same amount of passion as her adult titles, it's still swoon worthy in its own right. In fact, the build in romantic tension is so great that at one point I wanted to yell, "Just kiss her already!" at one of the knights. He didn't (at that time), but boy was I rooting for the couple! I should also note that while the romantic tension is there, the novel contains nothing inappropriate. It's a great alternative to much of what's on the YA market today.

The novel is told in first person mostly from Rosmarie's perspective, so the reader really gets an understanding of all the choices she has to grapple with. Should she continue with her plan to take her vows and live out her days in the Abbey under the Abbot's protection? Should she take the Noblest Knight up on his offer and choose one of his three knights for her husband? And what is love, really?

I must confess that I was a bit disappointed to find that the knight who would be Rosemarie's true love was apparent almost from his first appearance in the novel, so much so that the other two knights seemed a bit extraneous. But the love story between Rosemarie and her knight was so sweet that I got past any objections fairly quickly.

Also, the twists the plot took in the second half of the novel placing several characters in danger surprised me and made this more than just a simple love story—it also became an adventure!

I've already recommended An Uncertain Choice to several teens I know in real life, and now I'm recommending it to all of you, too! It's a novel that both teens and adults will enjoy, and I'm excited for Hedlund to continue this series. 5 stars.

Note: There is a prequel novella to An Uncertain Choice named The Vow. While it's not necessary to read The Vow prior to An Uncertain Choice, it does give insight into some of the characters, including Rosemarie, the Abbot, and the Noblest Knight.

Buy the book.
Download the An Uncertain Choice discussion guide. (It's free!)
Follow the Noble Knights blog tour. (My post will be on March 17!)
Read my reviews of the prequel novella The Vow (4 stars) and Hedlund's adult titles A Noble Groom (5 stars) and Unending Devotion (5 stars).

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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 received this book free for review as a member of Jody Hedlund's An Uncertain Choice influencer team. 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 an 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."