Never Forget by Jody Hedlund

Fans of lighthouses and historical romance will not want to miss the fifth book in the Beacons of Hope series, Never Forget by Jody Hedlund!

about the book

Never Forget by Jody Hedlund (Beacons of Hope book 5)

Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: January 4, 2017

Rose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island
June 1880

Will she betray his trust to stay on the island she loves?

Abbie Wilson is content to spend her days clamming, crabbing, and tending Rose Island Lighthouse. Her grandpa is the head light keeper, but his senility may lead to their eviction. Since leaving the island would kill her beloved Gramps, Abbie will do anything to keep him in the one place he knows and loves.

Wealthy Nathaniel Winthrop III’s wild living has gained him a reputation as the ‘bad boy’ among the elite social circles of Newport. After a blow to the head in a yachting accident washes him up on Rose Island, Nathaniel has no memories of his past.

Abbie tends the wounded stranger in her home only to realize he assumes they’re married. Although she knows she needs to correct Nathaniel’s mistake, his presence calms Gramps and provides a way to prevent eviction from the lighthouse.

The longer the charade continues, the harder it gets for Abbie to tell Nathaniel the truth, more so as she begins to fall in love. Everyone she’s ever loved has abandoned her. Will Nathaniel leave her too, once he discovers he’s not really her husband?

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my thoughts

Jody Hedlund is among my top favorite authors of all time. That’s the only reason I needed to read this book but it’s not the only reason I found to adore it!

Abbie Wilson has to be one of the most self-sacrificial characters I’ve ever encountered in fiction. I think there are times when she even surprises herself with how fiercely devoted she is to her grandfather’s care, willing to do just about anything to keep him emotionally, mentally, and physically safe. Abbie is also has a hardy work ethic, she does the work of two men daily and on little sleep to boot.

Nathaniel Winthrop III is caught in a cycle of bad choices and reckless living. I wanted to hold up a mirror for him or bop him in the head to knock some sense into him. Considering her desperate circumstances, I don’t blame Abbie for failing to correct his assumptions, especially once he determines to win her heart! How nice for her to finally have someone to take care of her and help shoulder her burdens!

Readers will love the charming the hodge-podge of critters Abbie has taken in on their little island as well as the powerful elements of sacrifice, loyalty, forgiveness, and love. I highly recommend Never Forget by Jody Hedlund!

I requested the opportunity to read and review this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed are my own.

 

about the author

Winner of the 2016 Christian Book Award and finalist for the Christy Awards, 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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Beacons of Hope series

Which Do You Prefer: Series or Standalones?

by Jody Hedlund

Readers usually have strong opinions about whether they like series or standalones.

Some readers refuse to read books that are inter-related. Others can’t get enough books about their favorite characters.

I see the pros and cons of both.

For series, I don’t like feeling lost as I try to wade through previous characters along with their backstory. I recently started a series by a well-known author and was disappointed to realize the first book was connected to a previous series she’d already published. From the get-go, I felt left out as though I didn’t quite know who all the characters were or their significance.

On the other hand, for standalones, I sometimes feel as though I would like the story to continue. I’ve invested in the setting and characters and so enjoy when I can return to that place and continue to glimpse the characters I’ve fallen in love with—even if from a distance.

My favorites are books that fall in the middle between standalone and series. I like to think of them as standalones within a series. Becky Wade’s Porter brother series is like that. Each of the books centers around one of the brothers (and a tomboy sister). While characters from other books make an appearance in the stories, each plot is separate and complete without any reliance upon another book.

My Beacons of Hope lighthouse series falls in the middle too. The books are related in that they all take place at lighthouses and share a symbolic “cross of hope” that is passed on from one book to the next. A minor character in a previous book becomes the hero or heroine in the next book. But each book can be read by itself without having read any of the others.

In other words, readers can pick up my newest release, Never Forget, which is the fifth and final book in the series, and they wouldn’t be confused about who the characters are or what their history is. The plot starts with a bang and ends with a satisfying sigh. It is a complete story unto itself.

And yet, for those who’ve read other books in the series, they’ll get to see the happily-ever-after of a character from a previous book. And they’ll also get to find out where the cross of hope finally ends.

If you’re not a fan of series, I encourage you to give the Beacons of Hope series a try. It might satisfy the need for standalones and series all in one neat little package.

To that end, I’m giving away all FIVE books in the series as part of the Celebrate Lit blog tour to one lucky winner!

Tell us: What is your preference: Standalones, Series, or Standalones within a Series?

 

also available

 

tour giveaway

 

To celebrate her tour, Jody is giving away the entire Beacons of Hope series!!!

 Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

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If the form doesn’t load properly, click here to enter.

Tell us: What is your preference: Standalones, Series, or Standalones within a Series?
Be sure to add Never Forget by Jody Hedlund to your tbr!