Together Forever
by Jody Hedlund
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 01 May 2018
I am reviewing a copy of Together Forever through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:
In this book we are transported back to June 1958 New York City where we meet Marianne Neumann. Marianne's main goal in life is to find her younger sister Sophie who was taken away on an Orphan train by the Children's Aid Society But she also wants to help give other children a better life.

The two team up placing Orphans amid small railroad towns in Illinois, drawing closer together until a shocking tragedy threatens all there work and could change one person's life forever!

I give this book five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I loved this book. It is book two of a series. I read book one so I was waiting anxiously for this installment of the Orphan Train Series.

There are very few writers that I have on my must read list. Jody Hedlund is on that list. I can guarantee that this story will tug on your heartstrings. I felt the children's fear. I felt Marianne's emotions when she had to say goodbye to these children. Marianne and Drew were special people and were just right for the job. What they soon discovered was that they were right for each other.


Ms. Hedlund's writing brings her characters to life. I sat on the edge of my recliner many times as Marianne got herself into one predicament into another.

I eagerly await the next book. I'm assuming it might be about the third sister, Sophie. I can't thank you enough, Ms. Hedlund, for the many hours of enjoyment you give me.

I received this for free to review.

My list of book to read keeps growing. I haven't read the first book in this series, and now I NEED to because I enjoyed this one!

This book is set in New York City, a train, and rural town in the country. I liked "seeing" the transition between city life and country life in the 1850's. The book also covers some dilemma's of the time... was it in the best interest of the child to send them to a new home without knowing the conditions the child would be living in? I must admit that I was anxious along with the characters about whether the home would be a good one and the child would be taken care of.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, plot, and setting. The bright spot was some of the children. I think that was one of the reasons that it was sad for me to have them placed in a home and not on the train and towns with the main characters.

This book is a romance, but it is more than romance. It is a story about love, unconditional love. It was heart wrenching to have a precious little boy not be chosen right away by a family. Marianne showed love to others above herself on numerous occasions. When the tragedy strikes, she is there with love and compassion. The story is also about forgiveness, not only of others, but of oneself.

I highly recommend this book. I look forward to reading the first book, an the third when it comes out.

This book contains kissing and non-graphic violence.

Source: I requested a copy from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The wagon orphan trains of the past drew me to this book and truthfully the series since I worked in an orphanage two summers back in '08 and '09. The plight of these children in this book was especially sad and I found my heart breaking a number of times.

I cannot imagine the logistical nightmare of being these agents in charge of placing all these children and then also doing the follow-up. I was especially impressed with the historical research for the book, but felt like the relationships in the book were rushed. As much as I love romance in my books, I almost wished it had played a lesser role.

Overall this was a good book, I just didn't fall in love with the characters as much as I have with some of Hedlund's other books in the past. My favorites are still the lighthouse books, even though on a personal note I am very drawn to stories of orphans.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

I am thoroughly enjoying the Orphan Train series by Jody Hedlund. Each book can be read as a stand alone book but I found that reading the books as a series makes each one that much more enjoyable to read.

Together Forever is a touching, well written story where two agents of the Children's Aide Society travel from town to town placing children in homes and stopping back to check on them. Of course there is a lot more to it than just that - add in scared and lonely children, wild and woolly older children, a bit of romance along with a very unsuspected (for me) turn of events and this boook is a winner!

I loved every page of this story and I am not ashamed to say my heart ached and I shed tears at the plight of these children as well as rooted for the budding romance in this novel. I can't wait till the third book comes out out on December 4, 2018!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms. Hedlund, Bethany House Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An excellent story of the orphan train from a different perspective than I am used to. I enjoyed this book and will have to go back and read the other in the series!

I am a Jody Hedlund fan and she never lets her readers down.

From the first chapter we are thrown into Marianne’s life and meet Drew and know the two will have a very interesting relationship.

This book is the 2nd in a series, however you can read it as a stand-alone. I forgot a lot about the first book because it had been about year since I read it but that didn’t keep me from enjoying this one.

The story of these young children is heartbreaking and to know this actually happened makes it even more so.

Historical romance lovers will not be disappointed in this newest installment from Jody.

A copy of this book was given to me through the Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.

Together Forever tells the story of middle Neumann sister Marianne. Feeling intensely guilty over the disappearance of her sister Sophie and their two young charges, Marianne takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in hopes of discovering if her sister was on one of the orphan trains.

While traveling with the children, Marianne grows close to her co-placing agent Drew. But the sudden reappearance of her teenage crush Reinhold leaves her wondering where exactly her place is—with exciting, playful Drew or with solid, steady farmer Reinhold.

Marianne and Drew's banter brings some much needed lightness to an otherwise heavy story. Though I read Joan Lowery Nixon's Orphan Train Quartet (which apparently grew to include more than the four books I read) as a child, I never grasped the gravity of the children's situation. Hedlund doesn't pull any punches here when it comes to the bigotry and cruelty many of these children faced. It's a tragic truth that not every child ended up in a loving home—many became little more than servants, while others faced abuse. That's not to say that the orphan trains were a bad thing, but they did have their share of problems, which Hedlund brings to heartbreaking light.

While I greatly enjoyed this novel, a couple things kept me from wholly loving it. For whatever reason, I struggled to get into the novel in the beginning, so it was a bit of a slow read for me. By the halfway point, I was totally engaged, and I flew through the rest of the pages. The other thing I didn't love was that Marianne was in love with one man and engaged to another, and she kissed the first man while still engaged to the second. The older I get, the less I can stomach (or rationalize) cheating, no matter the circumstances. So while I enjoyed the novel, that particular plot thread was difficult for me to swallow.

Overall, though, Together Forever is an enjoyable novel, and I do look forward to continuing the series with Searching for You. 4 stars.

This is an absolutely incredible historical romance!

I love the characters in this book. They are extremely well developed. I was able to relate to them and truly empathize with the heartaches that they were dealing with.

Until I started reading this series of books I really didn’t know anything about the orphan train. I had no idea of the plight that so many children were facing right in New York City during this period of history.

This marvelous book truly showed me the hard work that some of the adults were willing to put into trying to help the children to have a better life. My heart broke for many of the children as they were dealing with feelings of abandonment and unworthiness. Their fear of the unknown was palpable.

I look forward to seeing what other aspects of the Orphan Train this author has researched and brings to life in future books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through Celebrate Lit. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinions.

This story of how the orphan trains worked in the 1850's was very informative and interesting to me. The story was real and touched me as to how there were such special people who cared enough to help these 30,000 homeless orphans find homes. Wonderful story, I love how this author tells a story.
I was gifted a copy through NetGalley and Celebrate Lit to participate in a Celebrate Lit book tour, my review & participation is voluntary.

I was happy to hear that Marianne was getting her own story! Her character really intrigued me in With You Always, and I was eager to find out more about her. She was such a remarkable person, who had been through so much and yet worked hard to get what she wanted – the whereabouts of her family. That being said, I think that being on the orphan train was good for her – it opened her eyes to so many things. It made her vulnerable at times, and a more well rounded character. Especially the scenes with Dorothea. Oh my goodness those scenes really choked me up! Marianne needed her own story so could shine, but Jody Hedlund gives you so much more than that. She gives you a character that evolves, matures, and learns to fight for what she believes is right.

Once again, Jody Hedlund’s portrayal of the orphan trains just blow my mind. Her ability to bring the fear, the excitement, and the heartache the train brought is amazing. She even goes further than that by providing glimpses into the lives of the children after they are taken. I imagine that many of these instances are probably true to what happened back in the day. Not only does it tug at your heartstrings, it kind of puts you in awe of what all these kids had to endure. Marianne and Drew had such a difficult job in mentoring these kids and then saying goodbye to them once they left the train. I tend to get attached so quickly, kind of like Marianne, and I know without a doubt I would have a hard time saying goodbye.

I do have to say that this book was so much more than just an orphan train story. There were some surprises, some gasps, and even some toe curling kisses! As much as Marianne’s character evolved in this story, so did Drew. He had a huge burden on his shoulders and found it hard to let go. Don’t we often go through the same thing? I found that I could totally relate to what Drew was feeling and his ability to let his past get the best of him. It was a good reminder in how we should lean on the Lord, and let Him guide us. We need to ask for forgiveness, but also realize that we have been forgiven and move on. It’s not easy for sure, but seeing Drew’s progress through this book ought to provide us a little bit of hope.

The bottom line is that this book is worth reading. It is worth sharing. It is a book that will make you smile, cry, laugh, and sigh. It won’t be long before you are totally enamored with Marianne and Drew. Make sure you block out a good length of time to read, because you are going to need it! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hedlund is known for the wonderful romantic threads within her stories, and while that thread is certainly present here, the historical details about the orphan train are where Together Forever truly shines. Readers of the first book will remember that details about the orphans were a bit sparse, because it was based on a different aspect of the same organization, helping women find employment. However, in this novel, the focus is entirely on the experience of the orphans and the placing agents sent with them as they are adopted at the different stops along the journey.

Marianne Neumann made some bad choices in book one, however, in this story, she has grown up and is determined to prove her worth as an employee of Children’s Aid Society. Despite her youth, she has come through some tough times and wants to make up for her past mistakes. Andrew Brady, the Society’s other placing agent, is also dealing with a past mistake that has come to define him. His charm has allowed him to hide his secrets, but, of course, Marianne has a way of getting past it all. Their interactions are sweet and endearing. I was especially struck by the depth of emotion that Marianne’s character portrays, as she struggles with letting go of the orphans that she comes to care for. Her tender heart struggled with letting go, and I really connected to that aspect of the story. In addition to the romance and fascinating historical details, there is a bit of a suspenseful thread. While I was not surprised about the culprit of it all, I enjoyed experiencing the events as they unfold.

The story can be enjoyed as a standalone, but I do recommend reading With You Always first because I think it makes Marianne’s character development more poignant. The whereabouts of the youngest Neumann sister, Sophie, are still unknown at the end of the story, and I’m definitely looking forward to her story in Searching for You.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher; I chose to review it, and the opinions expressed here are my own.

A beautiful story, very well researched, but above all written from a Christian perspective. Love of family and a romance set in an interesting historical time period all make for an enjoyable book.

Anytime I pick up a book by Jody Hedlund I know three things for certain:

I will learn something new about history.
My heart will be deeply touched.
I will swoon.

Together Forever met all of the above expectations – and exceeded them. I love that the author does a lot of her research from actual first person historical accounts (letters, diaries, reports, etc.) – it adds an even more personal touch to the characters and allows them to vividly come to life on the pages. Marianne Neumann is just such a character to benefit from the author’s research. I’ve been drawn to her since With You Always and continued to see why as I read her story in Hedlund’s latest book. She is relatably flawed yet her heart is soft and she strives to rise above her past mistakes. At first, her tenderness seems like it might be a detriment as she actively works to place orphans in homes along the train route. These children have captured her heart – how can she possibly let them go to an unknown future? Yet, Hedlund ultimately uses Marianne’s loving spirit as an asset, and it’s this journey that makes the story so poignant.

Hand-in-hand with that journey are the orphans – some precocious, some timid, some brash and arrogant – all afraid in varying degrees of rejection, harm, and abandonment. Prepare for your own heart to be tugged to several children in particular, and know that you will not walk away unchanged after meeting them.

And of course, there’s romance! The chemistry between Marianne and Drew is electric and their kisses are sizzling enough to melt the coldest ice. Read this from the safety of your fainting couch (or properly cushioned floor) and keep a half dozen fans and a sturdy freezer close by as well. The intensity of their attraction adds to the tension that crackles through the last half of the book, and some degree of uncertainty to their fate will keep you frantically turning the pages.

Bottom Line: Together Forever is another incredibly moving and swoonilicious story from Jody Hedlund. With endearing characters that take up residence in your heart and a range of emotions to be experienced as you read, this is a book you won’t want to put down once you’ve begun. A sweet message of courage, love, and God’s steady presence adds to the touching story, giving it meaning as well as entertaining. A must read for historical fiction fans!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Through this book it is easy to imagine being a member of this time and history. I could feel the emotions of each character and wanted so much for them all to have their happy endings. We get happy endings in this book, but in reality many of the true orphans didn’t or they were given false hope. I love that the author didn’t shy away from the dark and the light in this period of time.

I recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical fiction or are curious about this period in time. It is woven with facts and the authors ideas in a manner that makes it a masterpiece to read. I know that as we continue on this journey in this series we will find our happy endings as well.

Book two in the Orphan Train series focuses on Marianne's story as she searches for her lost younger sister Sophie. Marianne takes a job as overseer for an Orphan Train and works with another agent, traveling from New York City west, finding homes for the orphans along the way. Meanwhile, Marianne reunites with older sister Elise and romance sparks between Marianne and her co-worker, Andrew. GREAT book!

Together Forever by Jody Hedlund is the second novel in Orphan Train series. Our journey begins in 1858 in New York City where Marianne Neumann has taken a job with the Children’s Aid Society. While Marianne could life a life of luxury since her sister married Thornton Quincy, she is determined to find her sister, Sophie. Marianne will be embarking on her first tour the next day, and the other agent who will be accompanying her is Andrew “Drew” Brady. Drew is a former schoolteacher who is good with children. He has a way of making things fun and entertaining for them. Drew, though, has secrets from his own past that continue to haunt him. The pair journey across Illinois finding homes for their children in their charge. They get to know each other and grow closer on the tour. Then an unfortunate tragedy occurs that will change the future they had planned. Will they be able to overcome this tremendous obstacle? Hop on for trip into the past in Together Forever.

Together Forever is well-written and an engaging novel. The book has a gentle pacing, good flow and smooth transitions between sections. While it is the second book in the series, Together Forever can be read alone. With You Always is summarized in this installment in the Orphan Train series. However, I recommend reading the series in order. You get to see the characters mature. Marianne has changed and regrets her actions in With You Always. It was interesting to find out more about the orphan trains and how they operated. What these children suffered is just heartbreaking (living on the streets, being abandoned, having no food, abusive homes). As Marianne soon discovers, you can only pray that God will deliver them into good Christian homes and that the children will not be harmed or used for free labor. I appreciated that we get to see a variety of people in the story. Farmers, shopkeepers, housewives, business people, and children. Many of them are wholesome Christians, but there are a couple of bad seeds. They are realistic characters with flaws, issues, and concerns. It was pleasurable to catch up with Elise and Reinhold. There are good and valuable life lessons in the story (keeping Faith, importance of prayers, violence is wrong, forgiving yourself as well as others). Together Forever is a heartwarming, Christian novel. It is an emotional book that will tug at your heartstrings. I am curious to read Sophie’s story and look forward to the release of Searching for You.

This was an interesting book to read. I didn't know a lot about the Orphan train before reading this book. This story made me want to do more research on the orphans being placed out west. Jody Hedlund created such believable characters that you couldn't help but like them. I liked how the story is full of hope, redemption and second chances. This is book #2 so although it can be read by itself, I recommend reading book #1 first.

I recommend this book to my family and friends.

I received this book from the publisher to read and give my honest review.

Sometimes there are stories that tug at your heart in a way that makes you fall to your knees in tears. This story was one of them. From the beginning as I became acquainted with Marianne, I felt a bond to her. She is looking for her sister, but also takes a position with the Children's Aid Society. I didn't realize that in the late 1850s there were so many children in need of a safe place to live. I cringed when I read about the abuse some had endured. My heart went out to them as I know first hand what it is like to be abused as a child. Why would a society think that children who begged to stay alive belonged in asylum? Did it have to do with money for the places the children were at?

When Marianne meets Drew I was hopeful they could find safe passage for the children. Their journey will be met with danger, tragedy and secrets. What was it like to travel with a group of children on a train for days? The adults seemed to be able to entertain them for the most part. I loved the race that Marianne and Drew had. I wonder who won? The story made me wonder why Drew was so driven to help the children? Was it something from his past that fed his desire to help them?

The author does a great job of expressing how the children felt as they realized they were going to new homes. I don't really like change and it's hard for me to adjust to it. Some of the children were having a difficult time and wanted to go home. I think the unknown is what can cause us to be fearful. When they reached their destination I found it hard to see how the children seemed to be on display for people. Can you imagine being looked at as someone decides if they want you or not? I fear that some of the people there were looking for children who could do chores for them and no intention of showing them compassion. What a difficult situation it was for Marianne to watch as children were picked to go with a new family. Will the children be treated well at their new home? The horrible statement the sheriff makes about the children being garbage and stinking up the town was devastating . I think I would have to let the sheriff know that his judgment of the children were uncalled for.

When tragedy strikes one of the children chaos ensues. I thought it was strange that instantly fingers pointed to Drew. Why are so many people turning against Drew? The story takes on a plan that I wasn't quite in agreement with. Marriage is a very important commitment and I have to question if the two people involved are doing it for the right reason. Is Drew willing to sacrifice his freedom and happiness because of guilt? I did enjoy the intrigue the author included in the story. It made it a bit more interesting and focused on trusting and forgiveness. Drew has much to forgive himself for, but his pride and guilt won't let him. The author does a great job of allowing Drew to believe he is guilty of a crime because the townspeople said he was. What must Marianne think when she finds out about his past? I liked the ending even though it seemed a bit rushed and tied up neatly in a bow. I did enjoy learning about children who became orphans and wanted someone to love them. I would have liked to see more of the background of the Children's Aid Society and how much they do to help children find a forever home. It would be great to see a follow up story and revisit some of the children in their new homes.

I received a copy of this book for free from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

I very much enjoyed this Christian historical novel by Jody Hedlund. The author did a nice job with the historical details and taking us along on the train travel with the orphans. I felt the emotions of the orphans as they were anxiously waiting to be paired with their new families. Marianne and Drew were interesting characters. They struggled with their own individual past mistakes, but their love and care for the orphans finally draws them together. There were surprising twists in the story that keep me turning pages. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.