This is the first book in the series. There’s a prequel novella, An Awakened Heart, telling the story of the couple who run the mission where Elise and her family live. It’s not necessary to read that one to understand what’s going on in this story.

First off, if you’re expecting a story about orphans being taken west from the slums on trains, you’re going to be disappointed. The series title “Orphan Train” isn’t reflective of the story itself. There’s a complicated reason it’s called Orphan Train. It has to do with the Children’s Aid Society using the trains not only transport orphans out west, but women were placed in jobs along the route as well. I found it the discrepancy somewhat annoying.

Elise is trying to keep her family together, but things are getting rough in New York. The mission that she’s staying at with her two sisters and two other little ones is on the verge of shutting down. It seems her only hope is to get a job out west and send money back to her family. She meets Thornton Quincy during a riot and is surprised to see him on the same train.

What Thornton doesn’t tell Elise is that he owns the town she’ll be working in (after he arranges for it to happen), and he’s trying to win a competition against his twin brother. To win, he not only has to build a town, he has to marry a woman he loves. There’s a society lady waiting for him in New York, but he can’t deny how attracted he is to Elise. As she opens his eyes to the trials of the people working for him, he becomes the man he was meant to be. But he really wants to win and earn his father’s favor.

This was a pretty good book, and you’re not only reading about Thornton and Elise, but Marianne (her sister) as well. She’s been left behind to try and take care of the rest of the family until Elise can send help. As things continue to deteriorate, Marianne struggles. There’s a lot of internal struggles with all the characters, which can make things tedious at times, but overall, Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Stunning cover to match the absolutely stunning story within. I had never heard of the Orphan Train Movement, or aware of the extreme deprivation in New York City and other eastern cities during the mid 1800's. As I'm English, I never learned more than the Revolutionary war in school in regards to American history. I find all of this fascinating. The fact that 20-30% of children became orphans during this time period is heartbreaking. Even more so, the depths of the circumstances people found themselves in to also part with their children, out of poverty and hand them over to the Children's Aid Society. Organised with a noble purpose in mind, it obviously created opportunities for some, but abused and miserable lives for others. With its extension to provide help for young women in need of work, came about the basis for Jody Hedlund's newest novel 'With You Always'.

It follows a German immigrant family, who have lost both of their parents. Elise is the oldest and at 19 has taken on the responsibility of caring for her 2 sisters and 2 other orphan children, toddlers really - in her efforts to protect those in need. Having escaped from the harshness of life with her Uncle, they have been surviving the streets of New York. Doing everything in her power to protect them from the common draw of a life of prostitution, in which many girls ended up - they have found themselves fortunate under the care of a Miss Pendleton. She is a wealthy benefactor who has created a Mission, in which she contracts seamstress work with clothing companies, employing single women in need of work, in return for either pay or a safe place to live.

The opening chapters introduce us to Thornton Quincy. Wealthy son of a successful Railroad Baron & Land Developer. His father is dying and has set a challenge between him and his twin brother Bradford. A challenge that will decide the future ownership of his business. Thornton, who has always felt overshadowed by Bradford, is determined to take this one last opportunity to impress his father and gain the respect he has always craved. A chance meeting has Elise and Thornton thrown together inside the mission with a brief 24 hour opportunity to be introduced. Their worlds divide as naturally as their circumstances, only to be reunited as the collapse of the financial strength of the city puts them both on a train heading west.

Thornton is developing his new town, Quincy - Bradford, Wellington. Both in Illinois. Both are real towns in Illinois and I had wondered as to the reasons that Jody chose them for names in her book. There was no reference to them in her Author's note however. Maybe its just a mere co-incidence, but for me, being familiar with some other noble history from the inhabitants of Quincy - during a time period prior to the date of this story. I am guessing with the huge geographical distance between these two towns, that there was no real connection made to the actual locations. Being on opposite sides of the state, and Quincy being on the Mississippi, and no mention is made of the river in the book. Either way, the people of Thornton's town are good and honorable and that matches perfectly to what I know historically about the real inhabitants of Quincy.

I was reminded often of the similarities in the plight of the destitute and the poverty striken of this era in the books written by author Melissa Jagears. Not only has she written quite compelling books about the mail-order brides, but her latest series 'Teaville Moral Society' tackles the very real and difficult to read subject of prostitution. Women who are either forced into it, or are left to no other means to survive. I find those that incorporate this subject into their historical fiction educate and highlight no only the suffering it brings, but also the compassion we should feel for the cause. There were many comparisons to be made between the two authors and what they are bringing to the modern day readership.

I found this story riveting. I could not put it down. So many twists and turns and surprises along the way. New issues are brought to light, and left unsolved, and I am anticipating that we will have more to come from the Neumann sisters as the series continues.

I am aware that the prequel novella 'An Awakened Heart' tackles the story of Miss Pendleton. I haven't read it yet, but the ebook is available for free on Amazon (as of 4/13/17) , and I intend to add it to my kindle and read it also.

https://www.amazon.com/Awakened-Heart-Orphan-Train-Novella-ebook/dp/B01M697WKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492094524&sr=8-1&keywords=an+awakened+heart

Thank you to Netgalley & Bethany House for the eARC. This is my honest review.

Good start to a new series with strong, distinct, and very likable characters and a great romance!