Thursday, September 6, 2012

Book Review & Giveaway ~ "Unending Devotion" by Jody Hedlund


Jody Hedlund Unending Devotion
Title:  "Unending Devotion"
Author:  Jody Hedlund
Publisher:  Bethany House
Publication Date:  9/1/2012
Pages:  374
Buy From Amazon:  HERE

Book Description:

Michigan, 1883

In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?

Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer’s assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan–and the sights of Connell McCormick.

Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father and figures as long as he’s living an upright life, that’s what matters. But when Lily arrives in town she upends his world, forcing him to confront the truth that dangerous men have gained too much power while good men turn a blind eye.

Vexing but persuasive, Lily soon secures Connell’s help, drawing them ever closer to each other. Will standing for what’s right cost them both everything?


My Overall Feeling of the Book:

This book's main theme is Good vs. Evil and standing up for what you know to be right.  And...standing against what you know to be wrong.  Sometimes that is a bit harder to do.

It is also about enduring love.  Not the romantic kind but the familial.  It really made me think about some of my relationships with family members and see that I need a more understanding and loving heart.  Ouch, my toes!

This was my first read by Jody Hedlund but I look forward to more in the future!

My Favorite Character:

My favorite character was Lily.  Even though at times I thought she was naive, obtuse and reckless, she always had good motives and intentions.  The love she had for her sister was unwavering even if it did cause Connell to have to rescue her a few times.


My Favorite Scene:

Speaking of rescuing, my favorite scene is after Connell rescues Lily from dying in a snow storm.  They find a lean-to to weather out the storm and are stuck there for a few days.  Alone.  How scandalous!


My Favorite Sentence/Paragraph:

"Did you know the wolves would come?"  She shivered and wrapped the blankets tighter.

"I figured once the storm abated, they'd catch our scent.  But I was hoping they'd leave us alone."

The scratching at the door started again.

Page 132 (Lily and Connell)
It Would Have Been Better If:

I hate to be blood-thirsty but I would have liked for Connell to beat the tar out of his brother a lot sooner.  lol


I Would Recommend This Book To:

Photographers, timber-people, Michiganians (? hehe), family business-ers, accountants, those in the hospitality industry, sisters, weather dependant workers, foresters.


Rating

4/5

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Now, for the giveaway!

To enter for a chance to win my review copy of this book:

*Mandatory-  Please leave a comment telling me if you've ever struggled with loving family members unconditionally.

*Extra-  Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me you do :)

The giveaway will run until August 12, 2012 at 11:59pm.  The winner will be announced on August 13th.

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Also, don't forget:

Enter Today - 8/31-9/17!
Jody Hedlund Unending Devotion Nikon CoolPix Camera Giveaway


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Join the Flock! LitFuse Publicity Group blogger 
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review as part of a Litfuse Publicity Blog Tour.  To see more about the book, author, and other reviews please click HERE.



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On to the next book,

14 comments:

  1. Great review and I love the teaser paragraph. Adding this one to my list!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was so into telling you I liked your review, i missed the giveaway comment..lol
    yes, I have struggled with a family member whom i love, but chooses to throw their life away. it is easy not to enable them, but harder still when you know they are hurting.
    I already follow your blog, why? Easy--your posts are fun, interesting and informative.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, of course! I think it's in our human nature to struggle with loving unconditionally. It's only as we learn to love God more, that we can learn to love others as we love ourselves.

    Thanks for a chance to win your copy! Looks like a good read!

    ReplyDelete
  4. And yep, I follow your blog. =) Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for the chance to win..

    I to have struggled with a very close family member, I have tried to help her in every way I can, but sometimes you have to let them try and figure it out...

    ronnkelly3@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. GFC follower/ ronnkelly3


    ronnkelly3@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Family is hard.
    Sometimes my brother's decisions make me so mad.

    I'm a follower. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great review, I'd love to read Unending Devotion. I've had trouble loving a very difficult person in our family. After many years she got saved and really changed, now she is someone I am really close to. :)

    I'm a follower.
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes I struggle with loving a family member unconditionally.
    This member has quit every job they have had since a teen and on...
    I find it hard to love him when I see he doesn't want to do anything to improve his life or his situation.


    Michelle
    moma3homeschool(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think everyone struggles at some point in life with loving someone unconditionally. People fail and hurt us. We may not feel like loving them, but love isn't a feeling anyway :) We have to just keep on loving them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I follow your blog on GFC. I forgot to put my email in the first post! Here is is now :)

    ineedadietcoke@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've struggled a lot with two of my siblings.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have never struggled with any of the members of my family. We are a pretty close-knit type of family.

    ReplyDelete
  14. GFC: Kassandra Fuentes
    email: ssweett_rebelde@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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