Jody Hedlund

Today I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite authors, Jody Hedlund!

I found Jody’s blog a little less than a year ago, when I was looking for good writers’ resources online. I have been reading her blog faithfully ever since. She posts on her blog every Tuesday and always has great writing tips and advice to share. I began reading her blog before I ever read any of her books.

I was blessed, about two months ago, when a friend handed me one of Jody’s books and said I could read it. She said that she had read on my blog that I hadn’t read any of Jody’s books yet. I devoured that book, which is pictured down a little way in this post, Love Unexpected. I became hooked and recently picked up a copy of The Doctor’s Lady which I look forward to reading soon. I hope to read all of Jody’s books eventually.

I have found that, though, Jody is a very busy lady: homeschooling her children, writing, traveling to research her writing, and I’m sure the list has more on it, she cares about her readers and other writers and really wants to be available to them. She has contact information on her website and on her blog, and she will email you, if you email her. I have emailed her twice to ask questions and she has been kind enough to respond with information that was very helpful to me.

It is also my pleasure to introduce you to Jody’s newest book — her first YA book! (Pictured above). It is a story set in medieval times. She is currently hosting a give away on her blog, where she will be giving a signed copy away!

The following is the description of the book on Amazon:

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 convent 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.

I am not a YA reader, but I think I would still like to read this book! I’m also certain that this would be a wonderful story for you to suggest or give to a young adult lady in your life.

Jody also has one historical book published. It is:

It is a story about Katharina escaping from a cloister and finding refuge with Martin Luther. She seeks his help, but a war is about to break out and Martin Luther doesn’t think he has much time. It is one of the greatest love stories in history.

Jody has written three historical romance series so far.

Love Unexpected is the first book in the Beacons of Hope series, but this book was preceded by an enovella that introduced the series, which I also read. It is Out of the Storm, which is currently available for free here.

Her other series include: The Michigan Brides collection and The Hearts of Faith series (The Doctor’s Lady is the second book in this series).

Her stories have well developed characters. The women in her stories are strong, though they may not know it. Her stories are romantic and inspirational and you may even learn some history you are not aware of as you read her books. I have found her books hard to put down, and in Love Unexpected, I grew to love Emma and Patrick so much that it was sad to reach the end of the story and have to say goodbye to them. I wrote a book review on this book here.

If you’re not familiar with Jody and her books, I encourage you to click one of the links in this post and find our more about her or download her free novella and introduce yourself to her writing. If you are a writer who is still working toward becoming published or just want to learn more about writing, I encourage you to join me in reading her blog.

I recently read Jody Hedlund’s ebook Out of the Storm. It is a novella and I enjoyed it very much. Included at the end of that ebook novella were the first five chapters of Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund. I read those first five chapters and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the book so that I could read the rest of the story.

My friend Lisa, Living Echoes, read the book and did a review on it, and last Saturday, she asked me if I would like to read it because I had commented on her review that I had never read a book by Jody Hedlund (I had read the ebook novella since making that comment). I was so happy, when she handed me the book. I couldn’t wait to dig into it. I began reading it that evening and finished it this afternoon.

Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund is about a young woman who is traveling on a boat with her brother. Pirates attack the boat and Emma, the young woman, and her brother, Ryan, are rescued by the Presque Isle lighthouse keeper. Presque is a remote place in Michigan. There are only two other woman on Presque Isle when Emma and Ryan arrive, an older woman and her daughter-in-law.

Ryan is taken in by a family because he can work for the man, but Emma is not really welcome to stay with them. An unlikely solution presents itself when the lighthouse keeper arrives in town. His wife has just passed away and he is having difficulty caring for his two-year-old child and the lighthouse. A traveling preacher suggests that Emma marry the lighthouse keeper as a solution to both of their problems. She hastily agrees and finds herself unprepared for parenting an exuberant toddler and managing a household.

The story is suspenseful and romantic. I fell in love with Emma and Patrick, the lighthouse keeper, quickly and longed for them both to find happiness with each other. Jody Hedlund created such rich characters in Emma and Patrick that I couldn’t help but love them and route for them throughout a well-written plot; a plot that constantly created problems and emotional upset in their lives.

The story was spiritually inspiring, as Patrick lived a life of faith and had already learned some difficult lessons in his life. I was challenged by something that Patrick shares with Emma on page 94. (You’ll have to read the book to find out what those words are.)

This is the first book in a new series by Jody Hedlund; a series called “Beacons of Hope” and I look forward to reading each one as it becomes available. I highly recommend this book to adult women who enjoy well-written historical fiction stories that include good, clean romance.

I wrote this book review on my own. I did not write it for a publisher and I did not receive a free copy of the book. I simply borrowed the book from a friend, but I enjoyed it so much and loved the characters so much that I wanted to write a review and encourage others to read it.

Those of you interested in writing may also want to check out Jody Hedlund’s blog: Jody Hedlund. She does a great job encouraging writers. I’ve been reading her blog for months.