Hearts Made Whole is the second book in the Beacons of Hope series and another good read. I feel like the romance, as with the first book, was a little heated at times.

The storyline was good and it was a fast read. I felt like the danger/mystery aspect was predictable and I easily guessed the bad guy.

All in all, though, I still really enjoyed this read and am eager to finish the series.

*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/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and 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.*

1865 Michigan
"Cast your cares on Him, honey."
The Civil War has ended but the suffering for everyone in America hasn't stopped. Shortages of food and medicine, men coming home wounded in mind and body. Also a time of healing in many ways. Caroline's father tended a lighthouse and their family lived there. Caroline did the work of taking care of the lighthouse when her father couldn't do it, but people wouldn't approve. After her father drowned she tried to continue but they wouldn't let her, sending Ryan to take over. But he's not in good enough shape to do it either. Excellent story as these people come together for healing and support. Second book in the series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

Both Caroline Taylor and Ryan Chambers were broken people because of the horrible things that has happened in each of their past. So broken they didn’t want to be around people, never thought life would be any better for them, and just wanted to go on with life as it was, to keep from remembering the hurt. But Jody Hedlund has a way of telling about the horrific broken lives of characters, so horrific that readers can’t see how she can turn their lives around in the story, but it happens. I love how Ms. Hedlund so expertly shows love, redemption, grace and restoration, and shows that well, Hearts can be made whole through Jesus. It’s hard for me to get into the story, telling a lot about it because I don’t want to spoil any part of it for anyone. Its just that good. And this is one of those books that, the closer I came to the end, the more I wanted to slow down on turning the pages because I just didn’t want it to end. This is a beautiful, beautiful story, a story th

by Andrea Renee Cox

The negative largely overshadowed the positive in this book for me, so I was quite severely disappointed in it, especially after adoring <i>Love Unexpected</i>, book one in this series.

Positives:
* The opening scene was gut-wrenching.
* One of the leads was maimed/wounded (which is not seen often in books these days).
* The lead was quite loyal to her family.

Negatives:
* There were no boats (other than the lead's family's) on the lake, nor did the keeper watch the lake as she should have -- most of the focus was instead on lighting and snuffing out the light.
* Smuggling was mentioned but was really a non-factor as it always took place off-screen, so to speak.
* There was an extended scene that took place over a couple of chapters early on where the lead male wore only undergarments and/or trousers and an undershirt and the lead female wore only a nightgown and eventually wrapped herself in a quilt. They had several witnesses to this immodesty. This seems historically inaccurate as well as immorally inappropriate to me.
* There were alcohol and drug usage.
* There were at least two mentions of bodies being "shows" for someone of the opposite gender.
* There were too many immoral situations, "heat" attractions/longings toward opposite gender, and it was extremely sensual in patches throughout.
* There was talk of "fornication."
* The immorality in this book was overwhelming in quantity, and it frankly outshone the faith thread to me. Characters "got away" with way more than was proper, moral, or decent -- in 1865 or any other era.

If I didn't have a couple of other Jody Hedlund books from NetGalley that I had requested based on their back cover copy, I would be done with her books after reading this one because it left me feeling quite defiled and filthy. I don't read Christian fiction to feel that way.


I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, authors, and sites like Netgalley, Litfuse Publicity Group, and Blogging for Books. They do not require me to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.