Monday, January 5, 2015

Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund {Review & Giveaway}

About the book: All she's ever wanted was a home. But stranded at Presque Isle port after their steamboat sank, Emma Chambers and her brother, Ryan, couldn't be farther away from security. While Ryan at least can find work, Emma can't even find a place to stay. An unlikely solution arises when the lighthouse keeper, who recently lost his wife and is struggling to raise his young son, arrives in town. A traveling preacher believes they might be the answer to each others' problems, and after a hasty marriage, Emma is headed back to the lighthouse with this handsome but quiet stranger.

But nothing in her wandering life has prepared her for suddenly being asked to raise a child and keep a house. Struggling at every turn, Emma also suspects Patrick may be keeping something hidden from her. In town she hears whispers about strange circumstances surrounding his previous wife's death, and it seems as though Emma's answered prayer for a home and family may actually be something much more dangerous.

My thoughts: As expected, Jody Hedlund has written another book to delight readers. The world and life for Irish immigrants in the Great Lakes region was one of poverty, risk, isolation, and danger. Marriage was often thrust upon folks for convenience and not for love. Women needed a husband to provide home and hearth and personal shelter. Children often lost mothers and marriages were arranged solely for the reason that the children needed a mother.

Emma lands in both of these categories. She needs a home. She needs a protector. And she needs to mother a motherless child - an adorable, lovable little boy.

The story has mystery surrounding the individuals and their past lives. There is the mystery of roaming and attacking pirates. There is the danger of suspicious neighbors. And there is the story of love. Love of a woman for a motherless child. Love of a man that blooms unsuspectingly for this woman providing a mother for his child. And there is faith. Faith of individuals in each other. Faith of a minister of God. Faith of a man once lost and now redeemed.

A good read. A safe read. A read you won't want to miss.

GIVEAWAY: The author has tucked away a copy for one of Chat With Vera's readers to win in this giveaway.  Begins January 5 & ENDS January 27 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to USA addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by the author in exchange for a review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. I received no compensation for this review.

46 comments:

  1. I think pending the circumstances I could

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  2. I have learned that I don't really know for sure what I would do until I actually have to make that decision. I think I could do that.

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  3. I enjoy reading about the old west and just about any time in our nations history

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  4. I think it is hard to answer because we live in different times but I believe I would do what I had to in order to survive.

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  5. I am interested in the early 1800's and even more recently the WW2 era, but I am looking forward to reading Jody's newest book. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  6. Depends on the man. If I could live with him, then yes.

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  7. That is a difficult question as I am interested in the 1850s, 1890s, 1910, and 1930s!

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  8. If he were a kind man and we could be friends, I believe I could marry for convenience.

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  9. I love history. The colonial period in the United States is especially appealing to me!

    P.S. The Twitter account for Bethany House should be @Bethany_House

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  10. I honestly don't know...the toddler raising wouldn't be a problem, but I don't about the rest...it would all come down to how The Spirit moved me in that moment.
    A VERY interesting question! :)

    ~Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a)

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    1. Amanda,yes it is interesting to us in today's World. Marriages of convenience are simply not a routine part of our world. But it has not been so many years since it was somewhat common place.

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  11. I'm note sure I can choose. There are MANY time periods that I enjoy from Regency to Civil War times, and in between and beyond. I think I like historical more than present set stories! :)

    ~Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a)

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  12. I'm disappointed that I can't enter this giveaway because I don't tweet! Usually there is something simple like leaving a blog comment to open the other entries.
    I enjoy Jody Hedlund's books; this looks like another great book.

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    1. I am SO SORRY - that "mandatory" Tweet entry is a mistake. I have removed the "mandatory" so all the entry options are now available.

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  13. If I was a penniless, homeless woman who had a chance to marry for convenience, could I do it? I'm really not sure. I would definitely pray about it. If it seemed to be what God wanted for me, I would do it, with His help. I think we have a lot more resources available to us now than in the 1800s, so that would be a factor as well.
    Thanks for fixing the Rafflecopter so I (and other non-tweeters) could enter, Vera.

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  14. I enjoy reading about all time periods of US history, however I seem to be reading a lot of World War II era books lately. Some of my uncles served during the war and my parents were growing up then, so that makes it even more interesting to me.

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  15. Only if the man was a Christian.. If I wasn't a Christian I would have to know what type man he was first.. then I could marry for convenience.

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  16. I enjoy the 1800's. wars, fancy dress balls, horse & buggy, carriages, cowboys, such interesting things to ponder !

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  17. The mid 1800's and on were interesting in America, especially if you were adventuring out west.

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  18. I think I could marry a man for convenience if he was a nice person. It would probably beat the alternatives.

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  19. Since I minored in history and love all periods, I don't really have a favorite. There's so much appealing about each different era. I've always loved the Colonial period and more recently become interested in the early 1900's, since that was when my grandmother was born and grew up.

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  20. It's hard to imagine marrying for convenience because we are so enculturated against it. I love historical fiction so it's hard to pick a favorite time period, but I've enjoyed learning more about the war of 1812 this year. Thanks for being a part of Booknificent Thursday this week!
    Tina

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  21. Hello Vera. I lam most interested in the 18th and early 19th Eras I love stories where this country got started. Of course I like older Eras too. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

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  22. Yes, I am very interested in history. I am a genealogist, so yeah, I love it. My favorite is probably the mid 1800's, pioneering time in America. sonja dot nishimoto at gmail dot com

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  23. I like the 1800's. I think after much prayer if I believed that was where God was leading me I could marry for convenience if the man was a Christian and his life reflected his faith in God.
    mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. I would not marry for convenience. Given those circumstances, a penniless woman in that era really wouldn't have much of a choice, would she?

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  25. I like the 1940's era because American citizens faced great challenges bravely.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  26. I would probably be able to if there were no other options and the man was a faithful and godly man. I am sure women did this during that period of history.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Merry S.

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  27. The period of history that interests me the most is the later 1800's and the west. People had many hardships that they had to deal with and used the resources that were available to them to advance their quality of life. They were the pioneers of forging and developing the territory.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Merry S.

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  28. I'd probably do what I had to in order to survive. It wouldn't be my preference, though!

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  29. I love reading about the Tudor period the most.
    Dede

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  30. I enjoy the Civil War era and also World War II
    Connie

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  31. I would hesitate to say absolutely not because I believe that we never truly know what we will do until we are faced with that situation!
    Connie

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  32. Given the circumstances I could marry for convenience and a toddler would make it better. (Cnnamongirl(at)aol(dot)com Deanne in PA

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  33. My favorite time period to read about is the 1860's. I love reading about the civil war times and slavery.

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  34. I could marry for convenience if it was a good man.

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  35. If I were penniliss and no home I probably would unless the guy seemed horrible when I met him and I love children. Can't imagine being in this situation.
    Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

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  36. Yes I could definitely especially if the baby's mother died and they needed a mother

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  37. I am interested in History probably The 40's thru the 60's

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  38. I would not marry for convenience.

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  39. I would like to know more about the 20's.

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  40. I would like to learn more about the 1800's.

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