Sometimes there are stories that tug at your heart in a way that makes you fall to your knees in tears. This story was one of them. From the beginning as I became acquainted with Marianne, I felt a bond to her. She is looking for her sister, but also takes a position with the Children's Aid Society. I didn't realize that in the late 1850s there were so many children in need of a safe place to live. I cringed when I read about the abuse some had endured. My heart went out to them as I know first hand what it is like to be abused as a child. Why would a society think that children who begged to stay alive belonged in asylum? Did it have to do with money for the places the children were at?

When Marianne meets Drew I was hopeful they could find safe passage for the children. Their journey will be met with danger, tragedy and secrets. What was it like to travel with a group of children on a train for days? The adults seemed to be able to entertain them for the most part. I loved the race that Marianne and Drew had. I wonder who won? The story made me wonder why Drew was so driven to help the children? Was it something from his past that fed his desire to help them?

The author does a great job of expressing how the children felt as they realized they were going to new homes. I don't really like change and it's hard for me to adjust to it. Some of the children were having a difficult time and wanted to go home. I think the unknown is what can cause us to be fearful. When they reached their destination I found it hard to see how the children seemed to be on display for people. Can you imagine being looked at as someone decides if they want you or not? I fear that some of the people there were looking for children who could do chores for them and no intention of showing them compassion. What a difficult situation it was for Marianne to watch as children were picked to go with a new family. Will the children be treated well at their new home? The horrible statement the sheriff makes about the children being garbage and stinking up the town was devastating . I think I would have to let the sheriff know that his judgment of the children were uncalled for.

When tragedy strikes one of the children chaos ensues. I thought it was strange that instantly fingers pointed to Drew. Why are so many people turning against Drew? The story takes on a plan that I wasn't quite in agreement with. Marriage is a very important commitment and I have to question if the two people involved are doing it for the right reason. Is Drew willing to sacrifice his freedom and happiness because of guilt? I did enjoy the intrigue the author included in the story. It made it a bit more interesting and focused on trusting and forgiveness. Drew has much to forgive himself for, but his pride and guilt won't let him. The author does a great job of allowing Drew to believe he is guilty of a crime because the townspeople said he was. What must Marianne think when she finds out about his past? I liked the ending even though it seemed a bit rushed and tied up neatly in a bow. I did enjoy learning about children who became orphans and wanted someone to love them. I would have liked to see more of the background of the Children's Aid Society and how much they do to help children find a forever home. It would be great to see a follow up story and revisit some of the children in their new homes.

I received a copy of this book for free from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

I very much enjoyed this Christian historical novel by Jody Hedlund. The author did a nice job with the historical details and taking us along on the train travel with the orphans. I felt the emotions of the orphans as they were anxiously waiting to be paired with their new families. Marianne and Drew were interesting characters. They struggled with their own individual past mistakes, but their love and care for the orphans finally draws them together. There were surprising twists in the story that keep me turning pages. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Jody Hedlund writes quality fiction with incredible spiritual lessons and Together Forever is a prime example of what she can accomplish with her pen. This is the second book in her orphan train series.

Marianne Neumann is looking for her younger sister and two babies who had been left in hers and her sisters care. She takes a job as a placement agent on an orphan train taking children from New York to Illinois.

Andrew "Drew" Brady is the other agent on this train and has taken the risk to bring three street children along to try to place them and give them a chance for a better life.

Drew is instantly attracted to Marianne and uses his charms to try to woo her.

Some of the things I liked about the book were the vivid characterizations of the people populating the book, the great settings, and the interactions. What I didn't like was the on again off again relationship between Marianne and Drew. It is a compelling read with intrigue and suspense to keep the reader engaged.

It's a solid four star book and my thanks goes to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.

While I loved With You Always, Together Forever is my favorite in the Orphan Train series so far. I love a good redemption story, and Marianne Neumann's was so sweet and satisfying! While all of Jody Hedlund's books are standalone, I feel that Marianne's growth is best appreciated by reading the books in order, and I recommend doing that if possible.

Most of this story takes place during one of the orphan train's trips out west to place children into new homes. I admire those men and women like Marianne and Andrew (Drew) who were placing agents for the Children's Aid Society. Like foster parents who grow to love children and then have to let them go, it must have been such a beautiful but sometimes painful job. In the book we are shown the joys and the tragedies that can come with placing children with strangers, and Jody Hedlund does a wonderful job of portraying this accurately.

I appreciate the education in U.S. history that this book gave me. For example, I never realized that the placing agents went back to check on children after they'd been taken to their new homes. Although this didn't guarantee happy outcomes for everyone, I'm glad to know that the members of the Children's Aid Society were at least trying to do the right thing. In the story, Marianne comes to realize that doing the right thing can be complicated and not always what we want. As she and Drew learn to work together to take care of the children and guide them to their new homes, they overcome their fair share of trials and learn to forgive themselves and to love unconditionally just as God does for us. I highly recommend this book to those who are struggling to recognize their own divine worth and who may have a difficult time forgiving themselves for their own mistakes. Even if that doesn't describe you, I still recommend it! It's the perfect blend of romance, history, a little bit of action, and plenty of faith-affirming wisdom.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Marianne Neumann is still haunted by losing her young sister Sophie and the tow orphans that they had taken in, she is determined to find them. She takes a job with the Children's Aid Society as a placing agent to find homes for children going on the orphan trains out west. She sees the joys and hardships that the children face, and risks losing her heart to her handsome, yet troubled, placing agent partner Andrew Brady.



Andrew Brady has a heart for children, he spurned his wealthy family to make his own way as a teacher, but never seems to be able to fully escape trouble or his fathers condescending disapproval. He blames himself for his past, and doesn't think that he could be good enough for the beautiful placing agent with a tenderheart, and a fiancé who may be waiting for her.



Marianne faces a choice of the heart, as she fights for the children that she has come to love to find a home of their very own.



Marianne has grown up and learned from her mistakes, she wants to make everything right by helping Elise find their lost sister. She takes the job as a placing agent to get access to their records, but comes to care very deeply for the children. I loved her big heart, compassionate, and fierce. I loved how she opened her heart to the children, and helped make their transitions easier.



Andrew is carries guilt around wherever her goes, desperately trying to make up for what happened and prove that he doesn't need his father to rescue him. He is fun-loving, and ever teasing, but under his façade of light-heartedness he bears a burden too big to bear on his own. He is a good man, who wants the best for the children, and because of his own experiences believes in second chances for the children. I liked his teasing interaction with Marianne, they are so alike, yet the perfect compliment to each other with their strengths and weaknesses.



I liked how this book also followed Reinhold, and his struggles to establish and home for himself and his family, especially after news comes of his sisters' unstable living situation. Reinhold is a good man, sturdy, strong, and steadfast. He isn't a flashy man, but he is hardworking and is willing to stand up for himself. I'm hoping that someday that he will be able to catch a break, because he is one of my favorite characters in the series, and there is such an honesty about him, though he has his flaws too.



The children were adorable, and challenging. I loved Dorthea, Jethro, Peter and George, who were all just precious and showed the beauty of adoption.



Overall, a well written book that shows the challenges, downsides, and joys of the Children's Aid Society's Orphan Train, wrapped up in a romance, with strong themes of forgiveness, family, and hope. The second in a series, it is better read in order, but is a good read either way. I liked how it showed the challenges that the placing agents faced in finding the children good homes and taking care of so many children. I can't wait to read Sophie's story and find out where she's been, as well as what is the next step in Reinhold's journey!





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

I love reading stories about the orphan trains in the 1800s and this one didn’t disappoint me. Author Jody Hedlund writes this so well that I could see the children. Feel their confusion, fear, and hope. The adult characters, both main and secondary, were well developed and pulled you into the story.The entire book is easy to visualize.

If you enjoy some romance with your historical novels, this is a book for you. However Andrew and Marianne both had to grow before they were ready for a relationship. Hedlund gives us a look into their development as individuals and a couple as they struggle with real life issues.

Together Forever didn’t end the way I expected. I really was surprised, and that’s something only a good writer can give a reader. I highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

Too often, the grit, sweat, and suffering of our collective history is glossed over, sugar-coated, and romanticized. Hedlund employs her remarkable skills (and giftings) to produce a story that not only highlights the benevolent heart, successes, struggles, and failures of the early orphan train movement but also engages readers on an intimate level with authentic characters and a captivating plot.

Although our modern sensibilities make it difficult for us to truly comprehend the level of poverty and despair these people endured, this meticulous representation succeeds in giving readers a much-needed dose of fiction steeped in facts. My heart continues to break for these fictional children and more so for the real lives they represent yet it’s a good hurt, a necessary side-effect of the human condition and a glimmer of understanding that honors the lives of those who have gone before us.

The combination of Marianne’s compassionate heart and her grueling life experiences make her an ideal candidate for working with orphans. Andrew’s charisma, benevolence, and generosity are attractive qualities but his capacity for sacrificial love is what makes him a true hero. These lead characters are perfectly flawed and just as prone to do, say, and believe the wrong thing as the rest of us.

Together Forever is going straight to my favorites shelf, I highly recommend it and look forward to revisiting it (and encouraging my friends and loved ones to read it) for years to come. Jody Hedlund is a must read author for rich historical facts and captivating stories that challenge, entertain, and encourage!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely loved this book by Jody Hedlund! Together Forever is the second book in the Orphan Train series and it is Marianne Neumann and Andrew Brady's story.
Marianne started working for the Children's Aid Society in order to find her lost younger sister, but in doing so she found a lot of lost children and was able to love them for a brief period of time before she and Andrew placed them with their forever families.
What she didn't expect to find was man to love, but that is just what happened after spending so much time with Andrew. He had such love for the children, a free spirit and a love for God that Marianne thought she no longer deserved, but a tragic accident threatens to destroy all that they've worked so hard for including their long life together.

The author Jody Hedlund has done another fantastic job in enlightening us on the struggles during a tough time in history. Children were in need of homes and a solution was made to send them west on trains to towns and people would adopt them. This novel gives us an account of one of the journeys. From the perspective of the agents in charge of the children. We see the struggles they deal with, the children’s fears, the town people’s reluctance and even successes along the way. The way she was able to weave a tale of fiction filled with facts was done well. There is a tale of love and loss along with forgiveness and healing for the main characters. As I was reading at times I wanted to reach in and give those sweet children a hug. She drew me in to their stories and I felt for them and their plight to find a home that was safe and off the streets. A home to give them food and perhaps love. Also the reality was there that some were only looking for free labor from the children. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, All views expressed here are my own.

I have enjoyed reading to the next installment of the Orphan Train series. I can imagine the guild that Marianne feels as she takes on her job caring for the children on the orphan train. She has to make sure they stay safe and go to a good home while also trying to figure out what happened to her younger sister and two other children from her earlier life.
This book really gave insight as to what it was like for the children on the train and made you happy when you felt they were getting a good life and suspicious of some of the families as well. I look forward to seeing what is in store next for the series.
I received a copy of the book from the author, the review is my own.

I loved this book as much as I did the first one in this series, a part of American history, and we get to see it first-hand.
This is the second Neumann sister’s story, Marianne, and we get to walk in her shoes as she travels with the orphans to find them new homes in Illinois. You watch her do what she isn’t supposed to do, become attached to these precious children, and become attracted to her fellow agent Andrew, another no no.
I really found myself page turning, and not wanting to put the book down, I had to know how things turned out. With some chuckles, some heart break, and life struggles, this story has it all.
Now I can’t wait for the next book for the lost sister Sophie, and maybe the lost orphans, and I still don’t like Rheinhold’s aunt and what she did!

I received this book through Celebrate Lit Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

This is definitely a book that you will not put down! The author has done her extensive research and has brought fiction and history together in an incredible novel. Jody Hedlund has a knack for developing the characters so that you can truly interact with them and feel the emotions and the empathy, that these agents must have felt. As the reader, I felt that I really bonded with the characters, I felt love for little Jethro and wanted to ease the fear of the other children. The author makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the story. This storyline also has a theme of love, forgiveness , restoration and letting the past go and being free to move on to the future. A truly enjoyable book!


This story was full of laughter, fun, romance, anticipation and mystery. It's a novel that everyone will enjoy.


I rate this one 5 stars.

Make sure you have Kleenex ready for the end of this book because you will need them. This was a wonderful book with a fantastic ending. I loved Marianne and Andrew. They both learn many lessons. It was fascinating to learn about the orphan train and what they thought they were trying to accomplish. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I have read other orphan train stories, but they are usually told from the perspective of the children who traveled to find new homes and families. This novel is told from the point of view of the agents assigned to care for and place the orphaned children in homes. Imagine the loss and grief the unfortunate young ones had suffered, and now they journey to unfamiliar places and go to live with strangers. Will they be treated well or forced to work without appreciation or love? I quickly connected with Marianne Neumann, who knows what it is to struggle and to suffer grief. Her heart goes out to those in her charge. I also enjoyed the interwoven tales of individuals whose lives connect around the orphans. The book contains some drama and trauma, but also perseverance and growing love. The actual founder of the orphan train movement is portrayed in the book set in the mid-nineteenth century. It feels authentic. The characters were well-written and the mystery included adds intrigue and tension. I haven't read the first in the series, but this gives plenty of backstory so you don't feel lost and easily stands alone. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

Jody Hedlund’s books are hands-down awesome. But this is actually the first non-young adult book by Jody Hedlund I’ve read..... and I absolutely loved it. The book is incredibly well-written with vivid descriptions of NYC and small towns of Illinois at the end of 1850s. The journey of the NYC orphans to their placement out West was detailed from beginning to end and I became invested in not only the main characters’ lives but also in the various orphans’ lives. Anyone who enjoys a historical romance that is realistic, well-researched, and heart-warming will love this book.

I didn’t read the first book in the series (With You Always) but didn’t feel like I missed anything and this book can most certainly be read as a stand-alone.

The main characters Marianne and Drew are so lovable and real....and so broken by their past mistakes. Marianne is a German immigrant who has lost track of her younger sister and is desperate to find her again. This drive helps her become a placement agent with the Children’s Aid Society. She’s only eighteen years old and somewhat young but has a big heart and loves the children whom she cares for during the placement. She matures quite a bit through the book and learns to embrace courage during the journey. Her discovery of who God has made her to be is a bittersweet process yet quite gratifying. Drew is a Southern gentleman with strong faith and endearing spontaneity that makes him oh-so-charming. He’s running away from his misplaced sense of guilt and it catches up with him. Despite his faith, he still needs to learn to let go of the past and trust in Christ’s forgiveness and accept unconditional love.

This book took me on an emotional ride and I cried with their hurts and rejoiced with their victories. I truly liked the character of Reinhold....will there be a follow-up story about him, I wonder? The story also made me think deeply about the sanctity, joy, blessing and responsibility of parenthood.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit Tour. I was not obligated to post a review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and subjective.

I absolutely love anything Jody Hedlund writes. She is an amazing story teller. Together Forever is beautifully written, highly engrossing, and, at times, completely heart breaking. I loved every minute of this book and tore through every page! I am actually very sad that my time with Marianne and Drew is over, but I am eagerly anticipating the third novel in this series, Searching For You.

As I wrote in my review for With You Always, I had never heard of the Orphan Train before, and I found the further depth in the topic in Together Forever absolutely fascinating and heartbreaking all at the same time. In her first book, Hedlund discusses the Orphan Train through the lens of the women transported out of New York to help start up new cities along the train route that would one day be placement stops for the Orphan Train. In this book, the reader is shown what it was like to be the children and the placement agents on the Orphan Train. The kids! How do we get to a place where children, innocent and fragile and beautiful children, become nothing more than trash on the side of a building? How was it ever OK to walk past a hurting, hungry, homeless child and think it was nothing? This aspect of the novel really broke my heart. I found myself needing to hug on my daughter a lot as I was reading this book!

Marianne works for the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) as a placing agent. This means she prepares a classroom-size group of children, roughly 30+, to board a train that will hopefully see them to a new family. These children vary in age from near-infant to early teen. Marianne makes sure that the children have packed properly the two brand-new outfits given to them by CAS. She then prepares the food and other necessary items to make traveling with 30+ children of all ages a doable feat. When all is ready, and the train had arrived, Marianne boards the train with the children in order to care for them for the weeks it would take to place all of the children. Of course, Marianne, as well as the real-life placing agents, fell in love with these children and found it very difficult to say good-bye. Then, there is the constant worry…did the children get placed into good homes? Will they have food and clothes? Will they be loved? Will they be raised by people who love Jesus? Did she do the right thing? And, on and on the questions, doubts, and insecurities go.

As a teacher, I completely understand Marianne’s attachment issues. I call my students my children. This is in no way meant to disrespect my students’ parents or take their place, but I do take seriously the responsibility I have to care for my kiddos each and every school day. I want every one of my students to have the best English education possible, and I work really hard to make sure that they do. I absolutely care about their grades and their academic progress, but I care more about their well being. I worry every weekend. Will I see my kids on Monday? Will they get enough to eat? Are they safe? I love what I teach, but I love who I teach more! As Drew ruminates at one point in the book, a good placing agent, like a good teacher today, must love and care about his/her students, but must know when to let go. I can tell you from personal experience, the loving part is easy. The letting go part is a little harder, which Marianne experiences in this book.

In a later part of the novel Marianne ponders her reversal of situation. The reader is told, “All she could think about was being here the last time with Drew and the children and that now she was alone.” This moment struck me because it is so like life. I can’t tell you how many times in my life something BIG and BAD has happened and it seems like all of my people have disappeared. When I crave the advice of my mother in these moments she is busy. And, it seems like my best friend and husband are typically busy and unavailable in these moments, too. These are the exact moments I desperately want someone to be there for me, but I find myself totally alone as Marianne feels in this moment in Together Forever. In reality, we are never alone. God is with us always. I think these moments of “aloneness” are God’s way of reminding us that we need to go to Him in these BIG and BAD times because He is the only One who can get us through them successfully. I used to get so depressed in these moments. I would think, “Seriously?! I come from a large, loud, butts-into-your-business, Italian family, and I can’t find one person to talk to?” I used to really get discouraged, but now I almost immediately realize I need to go to God first. When we find ourselves in moments where we are overwhelmed by the world and no one seems to be available to help, that is a clear sign God is calling us to go to Him. It really does make me feel like I can handle the BIG and BAD a little better and more efficiently when I go to God first. Marianne comes to this conclusion too.

Like all Hedlund novels, there are about 700 more things I could talk about, but I won’t because I don’t want to spoil a single second of this book for anyone. Suffice it to say, I adored this story. The action is constant, the romance between Marianne and Drew is beautiful and genuine, and the historical detail is stunning in its depth. If you are looking for a phenomenal historical fiction novel, then I cannot recommend this book enough! Go to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of this awesome story. You will not be disappointed that you did.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author and Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

My Thoughts:

This book started out a little slow for me which is unusual for a Jody Hedlund novel. But by about the third chapter I was completely connected and invested in the story.

The relationship between Marianne and Drew began in a believable way. As their friendship grew they were playful, and snarky with each other which I loved!

I love historical fiction because I always learn something and Ms. Hedlund does not disappoint with the historical fact she wove into this story.

The compassion that Drew and Marianne had for the orphans as they traveled west really grabbed my heart.

My Bottom Line:

Together Forever (Orphan Train #2) is packed with heart, historical fact, and lots of swoon. There was a little mystery within the story. I love having children in the story they bring such a unique and individual quality all of their own, and each of these children did just that. Dorothea and Jethro were my absolute favorite of the bunch.
This book can be read alone but I highly recommend reading book one.

I have read other books by Jody Hedlund and I was again impressed by her work. Marianne drew you in with her determined spirit to not only see these orphans west but to search for her lost sister. Drew is charming and funny, but he also is hiding a lot of hurt. The orphans bring Marianne and Drew together, but can they stand through trials they face along the way? The playfulness between them makes you smile and you can't wait to see where there daring and challenges go. As events unfold I got sad that they kept getting torn away from each other, I just wanted them to finally be together.

Together forever

A wonderful story of a time in our history, the orphan train. Even though it is a fiction it is very interesting to read about this part in history. Marianne and Drew had a really hard job of taking the children to other towns to help find them new homes. I really enjoyed the little boy named Jethro and all the other children. A little romance and a little mystery to make it very enjoyable. This is book 2, I have not read the first one. This can be read as a stand alone since has enough explanations from Marianne past and her sister. Book one is about Elise, Marianne sister. I definitely need to read it. I am hoping there is a book 3 to be about to learn more about Marianne and Elise family. I enjoyed reading this book. A lot of interesting characters. I received an advanced copy of the book through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley.

Together Forever by Jody Hedlund

My rating is 4.5 Stars

Guilt can be good, and it can be bad. Properly applied, it can draw one to the Savior. There are many who, though forgiven, washed whiter than snow, cleansed from all unrighteousness, go through life still carrying the burden of their sin. Others, like Drew and Marianne in Together Forever, hold on to guilt that was never theirs to begin with.

There are so many things to like about Together Forever. The plight of the orphans. The richly developed characters. The swoony attraction and romance that grew between Drew and Marianne. The mystery. The conflict.

I loved the way Marianne thought herself to be weak and inadequate, and yet she had such inner strength and compassion that she continued to do what she knew was right. Her deep love for the children in her care led her to step out of her comfort zone, and she grew so much. She had so much to learn about the price of telling lies and the freedom that comes from the truth.

Drew was so close to God, and yet he had so much to learn about forgiveness. He allowed his past and his father to dictate his view of himself. I loved seeing his interactions with the children. His breezy, carefree way of distracting them from the unknown future and the way he directed them to God in prayer was so heartwarming.

Just as I thought things were going so well, tragedy threw everything into turmoil! I enjoyed the twists in the story. The answer to the secondary mystery surprised me.

This lovely story is part of a great series. I read the prequel, but not book one. Though I am now very curious about Elise’s story, I didn’t feel like I missed anything in this story for not having read it.


This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net

Be sure to read Jody's Guest Post and get a preview of Together Forever at AmongTheReads.net


I would like to thank Celebrate Lit, Netgalley for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.