Litfuse Review-Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund

Hey everyone!! I am SO SO sorry, this is WAY later then I had planned to post this but after writing and re-writing thanks to technical issues three times, I hope you can forgive me.

_______________________________________________

*Summary*

1865
Windmill Point, Michigan

Can She Forgive the Hurting Man Who Costs Her the Role She Loves?

After her father's death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren't supposed to have such roles, so it's only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper--even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other job available to her.

Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He's secured the position of lighthouse keeper mostly for the isolation--the chance to hide from his past is appealing. He's not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who's angry with him for taking her job and for his inability to properly run the light. When his failings endanger others, he and Caroline realize he's in no shape to run the lighthouse, but he's unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. Caroline feels drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their loss to a future filled with hope...and possibly love?

_______________________________________________

*My Thoughts*

I don't like History. At all. I also don't sleep well. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately, I haven't decided), the sleep issue is fixed every time History 2 gets turned on in my house. 

The above admissions are the exact reasons I am SO confused as to why I love Civil war era fiction so much. Maybe it's the relation to "real people". To people like It's not a documentary with fact after boring fact stating what they used to kill each other off. It's not a "matter of fact" way of stating the horrific happenings of our country in that time. It's using a "real" person, someone who experienced those horrors for himself, who knows not just physical details but emotional ones as well.

Jody also painted Caroline in a perfect light. Do I mean Caroline herself was perfect, no, but I her character is someone I would strive to be like someday.She was kind but firm if necessary. She was strong when she could have broken down and questioned God's sovereignty. Even after all that had gone on in her life, after she could have given up, she found love for another human being. That's the very best kind of person. Jody wrote this book in such a way that I could honestly care less whether the person was "beautiful" because she was. Just not in a visible way and I loved that. 

The story line is one of my favorites ever! Do people hear about times when men came home from the civil war? Sure. Do they talk about light keepers? Yep. What they don't write about often is female light keepers. And when you mix the female light keeper in with the end of the civil war, you have one of the best stories I've ever read. Also, at the risk of a spoiler, the kisses are the best. So go read it!

____________________________________________________

*My overall thoughts*

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund is actually #1 at the moment for my top favorites of 2015. Guys, I've read like 80 books already this year. That's a big deal. Go read this inspirational, swoon worthy story! 

__________________________________________ 

*My Rating*

I give Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund...

                                       

5 stars!! 

_____________________

 *Where to get it*

Amazon

Christianbook

Deepershopping

Walmart

*I received this book from litfuse, the publisher, and the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given. All thoughts were my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Side note!! I just borrowed book one of this series from my Church library so that review will be coming soon!!!

Happy Reading,

Nicki