Love UnExpected

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Love Unexpected: a compilation of short stories

I was asked the other day which Jody Hedlund book is the most appealing. My answer was cover-wise A Noble Groom, because after all the cover model is dreamy. Why do I find this book the most appealing of Jody's books? And why did I make a comment on Goodreads that this may be my favorite one of Jody's so far?

That's what I'll try to answer in my review. True to form, this novel is rich in historical detail and based on the life of a real Michigan lighthouse keeper. That is one element I've come to expect and look forward to in Jody's books. I know that I've enjoyed the novels she bases on the life of someone way more than the ones she doesn't. I've read, and own, all of Jody's books.

I think that there were maybe two that I didn't care for as much as the others. But why does this book stand out to me? I think it's because Patrick is not a perfect man. He has a past. And there is so much depth to him too. And Emma also shows that she's deep. She makes mistakes and regrets them. She's willing to forgive. But she is real as well.

The author has written both Emma's and Patrick's struggles really well and made my heart ache for them. I think another reason this one may be my favorite of Jody's is that it is the first in a series. I know that the next book in the series will be about Ryan, Emma's brother. I was very surprised by how quickly I was engrossed in the book. I got it in one day, started reading it, and soon was halfway finished with the book.

Of course I had to put it down to finish up a couple of other books I was reviewing, but when I picked it up again a few days later, I was lost. Not lost in the sense that I didn't know where I'd left off, but lost in the sense that I was pulled into Emma's world.

Time would fly by and before I knew it, it would be very late. At that point, I knew I couldn't bring the book to work to read on lunch breaks as I was so engrossed that I'd probably forget to end my lunch break. This is definitely one I'd savor. I received this book for free from the author to help with the promotion of the book. It actually released yesterday, December 2, My thoughts and opinions are my own. In fact as part of my agreement to help promote the book, I will be purchasing a copy to give as a Christmas present to one of my family members.

One that I know has never read one of Jody's books Sorry Mom. You can borrow my copy! Rating - 5 stars Nov 12, Carrie Pagels rated it really liked it Shelves: This is a good book but fairly predictable. Set in my home state of Michigan, where pirates weren't a particularly big issue, it is interesting to read a novel where Great Lakes pirates are included. Set primarily on Presque Isle at a lighthouse, the limited setting with mainly the hero and heroine restricts some of the scope of the story.

I found myself getting irritated with the heroine for revealing information to a busybody that she should have kept to myself and at the hero for failing to r This is a good book but fairly predictable. I found myself getting irritated with the heroine for revealing information to a busybody that she should have kept to myself and at the hero for failing to reveal facts that he should have to Emma, the heroine. But I read to the end to find out if I was right about my suppositions and I was.

Having a hero who you're unsure of, as to whether he is hero material or not was somewhat disconcerting in this historical romance. The author's love for lighthouses and interest shines through and there is a nice author's note at the end. I received a copy from NetGalley for my honest review. View all 10 comments. Oct 05, Carole Jarvis rated it it was amazing Shelves: Reviewed at The Power of Words: I've read enough of Jody's stories to know that she excels at historical detail, characterization, captivating storylines, and romance - and Love Unexpected is no exception.

Freshwater pirates on the Great Lakes The humanness of Emma and Patrick is portrayed beautifully and they are so easy to connect with. I felt for Emma, as an Irish immigrant longing for home and family, and loved her sweetness and the courage with which she embraced her new life. It was delightfully refreshing to see a heroine who struggled with cooking, housekeeping, and a child's tantrums in scenes that often had me smiling.

Jody has a gift for writing strong, appealing male leads, and Patrick captured my heart from the very beginning. Encumbered by guilt and self-condemnation, he has a tenderness, vulnerability, and longing for spiritual freedom that drew me to him. Plots that revolve around misunderstanding and a lack of openness often frustrate me, but it worked well in Love Unexpected. I loved how the remote setting of the Presque Isle Lighthouse allowed Jody to focus on the interaction between Patrick, Emma and Josiah, which I thought was one of the story's strengths.

The "marriage of convenience" is one of my favorite storylines, and it was so much fun watching their initial attraction grow into something much deeper. Patrick and Emma enter marriage with a lot of personal baggage, which many of us can relate to, and it is inspiring to see them strive to make their marriage everything that God intended marriage to be. A lot of romances end with a wedding, but Love Unexpected begins with the uniting of Emma and Patrick in a marriage that solves their respective needs for home and someone to care for Josiah while Patrick tends the lighthouse and fishes in order to provide for his family.

Another strength is that we get to see the natural growth of romantic feelings and desire within their marriage, and this is something that Jody always handles extremely well, in a realistic and touching way. One of my favorite secondary characters is the travelling preacher, Holy Bill, who has a major impact on the life and marriage of Patrick and Emma.

Spiritual themes of trust, forgiveness, and accepting God's grace shine through Love Unexpected - and while Patrick and Emma found love in each other, they also found a "love unexpected" through God's grace. Holy Bill's words to Patrick touched me: He's also in the business of forgiving those sins and putting them as far as the east is from the west. From the time I first heard the old gospel song, The Lighthouse, I've been drawn to lighthouses and the symbolism that Jesus shines the light of rescue into the physical wreckage of our lives.

Jody's words that I came across in an interview sum it up well: Thank you to Jody Hedlund and Bethany House for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Dec 15, Just Commonly rated it liked it. Such a simple phrase. Can love be expected? I like this title. Jody Hedlund selected a widely accepted and searched two words for the title of her new book, "Love Unexpected Beacon of Hope Series Book 1 ". As you can see, it is the start of a series, and it's a promising start. Hedlund got me hooked on the first chapter. The start was riveting, as Emma, our main female character, along with her brother, Ryan was on a ship to a new land for job opportun Love Unexpected.

The start was riveting, as Emma, our main female character, along with her brother, Ryan was on a ship to a new land for job opportunities. Nothing special there, but then pirates attacked, and they were stranded into sea. And they are saved by our main character, Patrick. Pirates have always been a hot topic throughout the ages, and in recent years from the Pirates of the Carribean franchise, to Disney's Jake and the Pirates characters, the topic doesn't seem to slow down. To be honest, I thought Ryan will be missing during the shipwreck until the end of this book and his story truly begins in another book of the series.

However, with that said, it was not the case. Even though he's not the main character and he shows up randomly throughout the book, he's there. So there are elements of surprises. She's a shy and hard working girl, with a sense of taking responsibility for all things that goes wrong. Is it a good thing? I don't think so. I'm usually partial to at least one of the main characters in books I read, but unfortunately, neither Emma or Patrick stands out to me. Someone who's always out to berate your husband and yourself, how do you trust that person enough to share all your secrets or personal matters with?

It just doesn't make sense to me. Patrick, on the other hand, I do find more believable, from his guilt to his love for his family. However, this character flaws in where he assumes everything about Emma, without ever opening his mouth to ask her. I guess it goes for the same for Emma too, where she assumes a lot about Patrick, without asking, which I find it more disconcerting, when she starts off with let bygones be bygones.

As to characters, I find them all lacking in some aspect, and that is a good thing, because it's important for readers to see the growth of the characters.

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I do love both characters development with the Patrick's son. Even so, I just can't seem to fall hard for any of these characters. As to plot, I do find it moving along quite well. It started well, and throughout the story, I was interested in finding out what will happen or how will this move on. Therefore, as a story, I do believe Ms. Hedlund did a great job. I am an avid historical novel reader, so there are areas that as a person in the 21st century I may find ridiculous, but for that time period, it can and is believable.

All in all, I do recommend this book for the story and the pretty cover, but if you prefer a book with strong character developments, don't have your hopes up. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House for an honest review. Feb 13, Bethany rated it really liked it Shelves: Love Unexpected, the first book in the Beacons of Hope series, is a tender story of hope and redemption. Charmingly set in Michigan by the sea and lighthouses, this sweet story is a heart- warming one that is sure to delight and inspire.

One of my favorite parts of this story was the setting and characters. There is just something very calming about lighthouses; and the tenderness of the storyline combined with the backdrop made for a very pleasurable read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. While read Love Unexpected, the first book in the Beacons of Hope series, is a tender story of hope and redemption. While reading this book, I could almost feel the sea spraying on my face, and feel the wind blowing my hair. I easily got into the story and connected with the characters.

The story was so sweet and endearing, and I loved reading Patrick and Emma's story. Each of the characters were meaningful, and I'd have to say that my favorite was Patrick's son Josiah. I've always particularly enjoyed stories where the story has a young child, as it really helps bring the characters personalities out.

I think this was especially true for Patrick and Emma. Josiah had such a huge part in bringing out the other characters personalities, and I loved seeing him in the story and the warmth and humor that he brought into the novel. I also admired Patrick's character. He was such an honorable person, and I loved learning more about him as the story progressed!

The mystery aspect of his past kept me turning pages! The story was very easy to get into, and had a nice mix of tender romance with a hint of mystery. The story flowed very consistently, and there weren't any dry bits that hindered the reading experience. The story line itself was masterfully written, and I loved seeing how the themes of love and redemption came out.

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Hedlund's writing style is so easy and fun to read, and I loved how she combined a sweet story that is interesting, with historical bits that added even more to the story. I loved how the story was loosely based on a true story of a light-keeper. I always enjoy stories that are based on real events as they make learning history fun and memorable, and this story is no exception! In all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of sweet historical fiction! I eagerly await book number two in the Beacons of Hope series!

I received a complementary copy of Love Unexpected from the author and publisher, for the purpose of this review. I was not paid to promote this book, and all thoughts expressed are completely honest and unbiased. Feb 14, Jamie rated it really liked it Shelves: When one of your favorite authors comes out with a new release.

Just throwing it out there. Now to the book. Not only is this story so descriptive and picturesque I want to go visit Michigan again! I could also relate to different pieces of what the characters dealt with and through that, there were encouraging reminders of the ways God often works. Thank you to Bethany House for the copy in exchange for my honest review Originally posted at http: Nov 29, Renee rated it it was amazing.

This book was just what I needed to jumpstart my book reading binge. I have a number of books I need to read and review by the end of the year, and if they are half as interesting to read as Love Unexpected, I'll fly through them all. Marriage of convenience stories will never get old. While this was a little more preachy than what I'm used to of late, the romance was fabulous. No skirting around the issue-- the sparks were there between Emma and Patrick right from the get go. Did I mention our This book was just what I needed to jumpstart my book reading binge.

Did I mention our hero is Irish? I was a goner after his first utterance of the word lass. All romance heroes from here on out should be Irishmen with lighthouses. Authors, please take note and pen your stories accordingly. Love Unexpected was an unexpected joy to read. I went there, but seriously, I just read this straight through in practically one sitting. Considering I've become a bit jaded when it comes to Christian fiction lately, I'd say this is a pretty good sign. Hedlund's first novels were some of my favorites and I felt this brought back that style of romance that I fell in love with when I first came across her books.

Sweet and passionate with a lovely setting on Lake Huron, I couldn't put it down. If you're just looking for a simple love story with no frivolity to get you through the stress of the holidays, then you might want to put a rush order on Love Unexpected. As the first in the start of a new series, I just hope the next two books can live up to it.

Hopefully, a handful of there characters who popped up in the book will get their own happy endings. I really connected with Emma's brother and Patrick's family too. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Apr 21, Rachel Brand rated it it was amazing Shelves: When the steamboat taking them to Detroit—on yet another job hunt—is set upon by pirates, Emma and Ryan find themselves forced to temporarily settle at Presque Isle while Ryan attempts to earn back the money the pirates stole from them. While Ryan is able to earn his living by chopping wood, Emma quickly discovers that the inhabitants of Presque Isle have no use for a single woman.

None of them, that is, except Patrick Garraty, the lighthouse keeper. Can any woman be happy with a man like him, with the secrets that his past holds? His first wife was disgusted when she learned of his prior life—will Emma react similarly? Should Patrick keep the truth from her, for the sake of their family? Spending many a holiday along the coasts of Scotland, I have fond memories of the various lighthouses I visited as a child.

The realities of the pressures that lightkeepers faced were revealed to me in all their fullness in Love Unexpected. Lightkeeping is not a glamorous job, nor does it pay well. Patrick was definitely a refreshing change from the titled aristocrats in other romance novels I read this month. Many Irish children were left without a parent—or both—following the potato famine, or even the journey that took them away from their homeland. We get to witness the hard work that goes into running a lighthouse, caring for a toddler and the mundane tasks of keeping a family in food and clean clothing.

Given the recent and very sudden loss of his mother, it seemed entirely realistic that Josiah pitched a fit whenever his dad set off in his boat and left him with Emma. I also appreciated that Patrick was not a stranger when it came to cooking and cleaning. I was initially cautious about the conflict in this story, given that it largely stemmed from secrets that Patrick was keeping from Emma, and gossip that was spread about the true nature of these secrets.

Thankfully, Emma was a woman after my own heart, and did make an effort to sort out matters with her new husband. Who else loves a good pirate romance? With Patrick running his lighthouse, fishing and brooding over his dark past, and Emma learning the cook, washing mountains of laundry and chasing Josiah around, it did seem like our hero and heroine would never have time to fall in love. And I suppose that their situation probably represented a true marriage of convenience, where a man seeks a wife because he literally has no time to tend to his home and children.

Do not fear—there is plenty of romance in this book! It takes a while to develop, but I loved the shy interactions between Emma and Patrick. Readers will soon learn just why Patrick is so hesitant with his new bride, and the truth will endear him to them all the more. There were some incredibly romantic scenes in the lighthouse that I absolutely adored.

And since this is a novel about a married couple, the romance in this novel pertains to more than just kissing—but without being overly explicit. I always appreciate it when Christian novels hint at true happily wedded bliss. Love Unexpected is a beautiful novel full of romance and redemption. Patrick and Emma are realistically flawed protagonists who are able to put aside past secrets and gossip to forge a future together.

Since none of us enters a relationship without any lingering baggage, their story is a great reminder of the effort that is often required to make a marriage work. Review title provided by Bethany House. Sep 19, steph rated it liked it Shelves: I liked it but rushed through the drama! It wasn't holding my interest but I liked the way everything tied together at the end. The little boy was written well too, I have a soft spot for kids that are written appropriate for their ages.

Hard to find sometimes in books. Dec 19, Paula Vince rated it liked it Shelves: I like books with lighthouse settings. What an important job to take on, yet with a feeling of isolation and freedom for those inclined to live a quiet life. I've sometimes thought it would be perfect for an introvert who still wants to make a difference. It seems Patrick Garraty thought so too.

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The setting creates a nice, melancholic feel for the plot, in which two people have their own desperate reasons to get married, having just met each other. Gentle-natured Emma, who hadn't been brought up t I like books with lighthouse settings. Gentle-natured Emma, who hadn't been brought up to be domestic, is thrown in the deep end! I felt her side of the arrangement involved a lot more stress than Patrick's.

Most women get a chance to ease themselves into housework and childcare, without suddenly shouldering the full load with no experience. At times, she seems a bit saintly to be true. I hope not to sound like a grouch here, but I've had to babysit kids like Josiah, and find it incredible that never once was Emma tempted to call him, 'Little Menace' instead of that never-ending, 'Little Love', even in her thoughts.

He was running rings around her, and she was letting him be boss. Although Bertie Burnham is not the most lovable character, I was pleased when she pointed this out. Although I found the novel a breeze to read, I did get frustrated with the two main characters. Their nervous and secretive attitudes cause many hassles. Emma quietly decides what she thinks will work best for those she cares for Patrick and Ryan without giving them any idea what she's thinking, so she has no way of getting feedback from them. Perhaps it's natural that Patrick returns the same treatment, withholding important family information which Emma would surely want to know.

No wonder when trouble comes, they are both left reeling, because they still don't know each other as well as they could at that stage. It's good when child characters strengthen the plot instead of being just tacked on. Josiah controls a lot of the action. I'm sure we've all come across toddlers like him or maybe you've had one or two. He has such a big, overbearing personality, they have to plan their own schedules around when he's in bed.

He's demanding, he pushes boundaries, sometimes he makes me exhausted reading about him. There's nobody like a two-year-old for clinging to someone's leg one moment and throwing a tantrum the next. Not every character can believably undergo mood transplants to suit the story, but Josiah can easily. I think my favourite character is Emma's brother, Ryan. He's always direct, a refreshing change from all the bottling up done by the two main characters. Ryan seems to have a more common-sense and decisive approach than his sister's, and I wouldn't mind reading a novel with him as the main character.

I like the nice little teaser for Jody Hedlund's novella, with the same setting. A fascinating bit a history between another young couple at the same lighthouse is hinted at within the pages of this story, and intrigued me enough to go and get hold of their story, 'Out of the Storm' which I'll review soon. Thanks to Bethany House and Net Galley for my review copy. The first two paragraphs jumpstarted the story with a pirate attack, which snapped me to attention and piqued my interest.

It slowed into a sweet romance that kept me engaged in every chapter. I felt I was falling in love with the characters just as much as they were falling for each other. Author Jody Hedlund artfully crafted a beautiful tale of a marriage of convenience, yet she managed to revive an overused plot by adding her own style to it.

The twists Jody brought into that juicy mix created a great atmosphere for a cozy romance tinged with mystery. Learn more about Amazon Prime. Sedona Mackenzie had her perfect life perfectly planned; down to the coffee that she drank, the curfew that she lived by, and formulas that she solved to release stress. She had everything figured out, in a neat, little timeline. Then, fate chose to intervene in the form of a chance meeting with a guy who stirs unknown emotions inside her, leaving her reeling and wanting for more.

Zander Zobowski is not your typical college jock. For one, he's a good guy. Second, he's pretty smart. The farthest thing on his mind was smacking into a woman who may just be his undoing. This is not your typical bad boy meets good girl love story. This is a story between two people who are great on their own. But, with each other, they are absolutely perfect.

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I will most likely add a star to this review, as I have yet to even finish the book! I could not, however, continue reading until I asked the question If you are going to make your hero a college football star get your facts straight. College Football games in every division take place on Saturdays from September to early December! Occasionally, maybe once a season, a team will play on a Thursday or Friday night.

During the regular season games rarely, if ever, are played on Tuesdays or Wednesdays! I admit that it is actually difficult at times to decide what time during a college year the book is taking place? It's frustrating, really frustrating, to want to like a book; to enjoy certain characters; anticipate the development of a romance; and then find yourself pulled out of the story because of glaring mistakes and inconsistencies!

I will complete the book anyway, but I am honestly tempted to rewrite the entire story for my own benefit because the characters deserve better and frankly, as readers, so do you and I! OK, just finished the book! If possible, I would add a half star! While I enjoyed watching Zander and Sedona's romance develop, I just cannot get past the technical discrepancies in the novel.

Baylor would most likely destroy Leigh's make-believe team in the "Championship. What do I love? He is a terrific hero! Really, I hope my two young daughters find a boy exactly like him! He truly has to be the most patient young man around. I respect Sedona and like her on the whole. She is incredibly self-absorbed though, and I am not sure the loss in her past really supports her level of emotional disregard in the end. Yes, she comes around, and I appreciate the HEA, but she is damn lucky in her hero!

I also liked the epilogue from Keiran's POV. Although, I feel it was too short and the "cliffhanger" was not really a surprise, at all. I imagine, Leigh is setting up a sequel at least. I hope she is not suggesting a "love triangle" stress in a follow-up because that would certainly destroy the strength and beauty of Sedona and Keiran's friendship as well as undermining Keiran's as a strong hero in his own right.

Obviously, I really liked the premise and characters in this book or i would notnhave finished the book, nor written my first ever Amazon review. I was hoping to give a 4 star rating, but Sedona let me down near the end and her "revelation" was helped along both by Zander's love and understanding and the unforeseen circumstance. Also, and finally, know your facts when a profession, sport, talent, etc is a major aspect of your story!!

What a very unexpected sweet read! I have a arsenal of ready to read books in my pockets but the blurb of this book got my attention so I pushed it forward to be by next read. Sedona is a sweet girl who plans out every detail of her day as well as her future. She doesn't do well with changes to her detailed scheduled days. Her "squirts" are more like obsessions or OCD but tend to only compliment her personality just right.

She works hard on her studies and refuses to let anything or one distract her from her goals. Although shy, she surrounds herself with great friends.. Tanya, Nalee, and her childhood best friend Kieran. Which let me say, I could of just swooped in and taken Kieran off her hands. With famous parents and himself known as the wunderkid, he finds himself at the mercy of college websites and rumors. He's not necessary a playboy but tends to be a serial dater and doesn't get to involved with women. He knows what he wants out of life and although his parent wish he would of went down a different path they are still very supportive.

Sedona literally is knocked off her feet when she first meets Zander. Zander never having issues with going up to women finds himself shy and unsure with her. As they finally connect after a few misunderstandings that stood in their way they begin a relationship that is full of firsts for both of them I found their love story very cute. Yes, their were obstacles in their way but was glad that the author didn't drag each one of them out where you were pulling your hair out.

The conflicts were real but was refreshing to see that most of the time they rose above the BS. I love books with angst but its nice to just read a book that doesn't emphasis the whole book on these conflicts.

At times I wanted to shake Sedona and point her in the right direction. She would be so wrapped up in her plans it would drive me crazy.

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