Book Summary (Amazon): Despite years on the run, Sophie Neumann is determined to care for two young children. She won't abandon them the way she thinks her older sisters abandoned her. But times are growing desperate, and when she falls in with the wrong crowd and witnesses a crime, she realizes fleeing 1850s New York is her only option.
Disappearing with her two young charges into a group of orphans heading west by train, Sophie hopes to find safety and a happy life. When the train stops in Illinois for the first placement of orphans, Sophie faces the most difficult choice of her life.
Reinhold Weiss has finally purchased his own small farm. With mounting debts, a harvest to bring in, and past scars that haunt him, he's in no position to give his heart away . . . but can he say no when his long-lost friend shows up on a nearby train pleading for his help?
My thoughts...This book is the third in the Orphan Train series, fourth if you include a prequel novella. You could read these novels as stand-alone, but I would suggest reading all of them in order. Each book tells the story of the three individual Neumann sisters. Searching for You is about Sophie, who is the youngest of the three. This last book in the series is honestly my favorite.
The vivid descriptions of what life was like in the mid-1800s for orphaned children who were forced to do whatever they could to survive tugged at my heart. Hedlund takes you on a journey right in the middle of the harsh reality of living on streets: crime, prostitution, abuse, separation from your family, older children taking on the role of parents, and more. All of this is written in a way that you get a picture of what it was like without it being too graphic. As all three Neumann sisters were orphaned, this is part of all of the novels. I found this book especially compelling as Sophie was so young herself as she cared for two infants. Sophie's love and devotion to the two children was also beautiful, yet the conflict she went through to have wisdom to parent and fight for their survival was heart wrenching. Often she had to make some very difficult choices.
The vivid descriptions of what life was like in the mid-1800s for orphaned children who were forced to do whatever they could to survive tugged at my heart. Hedlund takes you on a journey right in the middle of the harsh reality of living on streets: crime, prostitution, abuse, separation from your family, older children taking on the role of parents, and more. All of this is written in a way that you get a picture of what it was like without it being too graphic. As all three Neumann sisters were orphaned, this is part of all of the novels. I found this book especially compelling as Sophie was so young herself as she cared for two infants. Sophie's love and devotion to the two children was also beautiful, yet the conflict she went through to have wisdom to parent and fight for their survival was heart wrenching. Often she had to make some very difficult choices.
The softer side of this story is the relationship between Reinhold and Sophie. Reinhold is introduced in the previous novels as a friend and protector of the Neumann family. I thoroughly enjoyed the romantic moments....Jody Hedlund is SO good at writing scenes like this!! It's not only the physical interaction between the characters that I enjoyed, but also the struggle they go through to feel loved, accepted, and experience the peace that only God can give.
This novel is an excellent conclusion to this series. I couldn't put it down when I started. I would definitely recommend not only this book, but the others in the series.
Personal takeaway...Even when your circumstances seem hopeless, cling to God and His promises. His provision may come in ways that we least expect.
Personal takeaway...Even when your circumstances seem hopeless, cling to God and His promises. His provision may come in ways that we least expect.
**I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in order to give an honest review, which I did.**
No comments:
Post a Comment