Searching for You is the final book in the Orphan Train series and a wonderful conclusion. I was so happy to finally get to know Sophie's story and learn what happened to her.

The romance was okay. I liked it enough, but I guess it kind of bugged me slightly just because of the history with her sisters and Reinhold. Still liked it, but not my favorite of the series.

All in all, Searching for You was a quick, easy read that I really enjoyed reading.

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I loved this happy finish to the Orphan Train series. Sophie is strong and likable, and the rest of the characters are just as wonderful. One thing I liked is that the author does not sugar coat life for orphans during the time of the orphan train. The book balanced the grim reality with the wonderful love of farming families.
I would recommend reading the series in order, but you could pick up with this story and not be lost. Hedlund sprinkles backstory throughout the book to catch the reader up.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.


(Review also shared on Amazon, but it take a bit to post.)

Searching for you is a historical fiction written by Jody Hedlund. This book is a story written based on the period during the orphan trains. This is a well written story that shows you the horror, but also the kindness of what happened during this period of time. There are many sad and touching moments in this book, which show you the evil of mankind, but also the kindness which touches everyone.
This book follows the journey of a girl named Sophie Neumann. She is the youngest sister of Elsie Neumann and Marianne Neumann, whom you meet in the previous books. Sophie has been living off the streets and in and out of orphanages since she ran away to find two children. Sophie is now living with a friend and with the two children she was looking for, Olivia and Nicholas.
Sophie has long ago cut off God from her life, believing that she has done too many horrible things and that God will no longer love her. But God has not given up on her. God brings people into Sophie’s life that show her that God is still there.
Sophie is on the run again, but this time she is running out of places to go. She thought she had finally found a place to call to stay, it wasn’t a home, but it would have worked. She had plans, she was finally getting her life together, but God has a way of shaking our lives up, so that we will see Him. Sophie is stubborn and instead of running towards God, she tries to run away; looking for answers that she herself can give. But God shows her that no matter how far she runs, He will always find her.
Certain circumstances, lead to Sophie having to find a new home in the courtyard, the last place she ever wanted to be. Sophie and her siblings end up once again on a orphan train, except this time they choose to be on this train. They find themselves in a small town where Olivia and Nicholas are taken into a home and Sophie is also taken into a home. God is still in control even though Sophie and her siblings are put into separate homes, because she finds herself in the home of a kind woman named Euphemia.
Euphemia is the one who reminds Sophie that even though we have been through so much and we have down awful things God still loves us. One of the quotes I love from this book is spoken by Euphemia. Euphemia says, “I thank the good Lord that He never treats us as our sins deserve.” God is so much kinder to us then we deserve.
In this book you will see the devastation of sin, but also the mercy and grace of God. Sophie finds herself at the end of the road and all she can do is look to God. What will happen when she finally submits herself to an all powerful and merciful God?
I really enjoyed this book, even though it touched on hard subjects it reminders us that God is still in control. Even when things start to fall apart, God is there waiting for us to run to Him. All we have to do is respond. My favorite line from this book is another line spoken by Euphemia. Euphemia says, “We're human. We break things. It's what we do with the brokenness that counts.”

Searching for You by Jody Hedlund is the third book in her Orphan Train series. This is Sophie’s story. She has been given the task of raising two younger orphans. After witnessing a murder, she flees New York City with Olivia and Nicholas. Joining an orphan train headed to Illinois seems to be her only hope of keeping everybody together as a family. There she runs into her old friend Reinhold Weiss. Vowing never to give his heart to another because of his past, Reinhold must fight to keep his feelings hidden. But when Sophie needs his help, his heart is in serious danger of over-ruling his brain. I really liked the story-line. The author has great talent. The only draw-back was she tried to make a Christian story more appealing to a wider audience; and came pretty close to crossing over that invisible line of a clean-read as opposed to a secular romance. There were scenes that I felt were inappropriate for a Christian novel. If she had only left the steamier scenes out it would have been a good book.



I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

This was just not quite the story for me. There was nothing wrong with it. I just didn’t enjoy the topic. It was to much for me. That is why gave it 3 stars. The authors can write well. This topic just wants for me!

Synopsis:
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?

I started reading " Search for You" by Jody Haskins but a friend warned me of content that I will disagree with and so I will not finish reading this book.

The first half of the book, detailing Sophie's run from New York and her experience on the orphan train, was really well written. I was really enjoying her bond with Olivia and Nicholas...and then all of a sudden she and the kids were parted and she was at Euphemia's house. I think Euphemia was the best character of the book, honestly!

But Reinhold got the short stick of characterization and I honestly thought I learned more about him in the previous book than in this one where he's supposed to be the lead guy. He has a temper and thinks he's going to be just like his dad. I was disappointed to see that he only thinks of dealing with this issue through faith one time...rather, he keeps thinking he can't change/thinking he can make the choices for himself etc without trying to turn to God to fight his lower nature.

Sophie hasn't given God the time of day but for a page or two near the end that changes. Barely enough to add any sort of faith element to the story, to be honest. A generic deist sort of faith... no thrills of feeling entirely changed/feeling close to God/etc that I wanted to <I>feel</I> and not to just imagine for myself.

What bugged me most, though, is that once the "romance" is focused on, that it's all about the physical, all about helpless kisses and raging sexual appetite. That's only one element about marriage and their level of lust isn't enough to compensate for their tardy build of true friendship and their lack of sharing any sort of faith journey together. <spoiler>At least they came to have more of a shared goal in life, her adopted kids, but the physical remains the primary element of their union. The undressing scenes and the deliberately leaving guests waiting at the train station bugged me also. </spoiler>

I did enjoy the last chapter which showed an update on the whole family. Sadly, with half the book being eyeroll-worthy for me, I can't score it higher than "okay" overall.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

Wonderfully written book restoring your faith in others and in yourself. Pleasantly surprised by this book and the storyline. A must read.

I didn't end up enjoying this novel as much as I'd hoped I would. The cover is gorgeous, and I vaguely knew who the author was, so I'd hoped I would find myself enjoying this novel more than I did.

However, as the story progressed and I got deeper and deeper into it, I found myself getting bored out of my life! Not to mention the beginning, though it did suck me in, seemed rather unbelievable. I understand the circumstances, but even given those, in the '40s would a girl really be having such intimate relationships with a guy? Back then it would have been the end of any decency, even in the bowels of society.

And ... I guess I just am not the one for this current story. It seemed a bit overdone and dramatic, and I wasn't interested in Sophie's problems or those of the children she was caring for.

Romantic as always! Jody Hedlund never disappoints with her charming novels. I loved it! I'm sad to see this series but happy the sisters found each other. A happy ending to the orphan train series and down to earth.

Finally we get to discover what happened to Sophie after she disappeared! The girl we meet as the book begins is not the same one we last saw. Not only is she older but life has hardened her. Beneath it all though her kind heart still shines through, in the way she cares for Olivia and Nicholas and in other little ways. She had a lot of past hurt and loss to work through and I enjoyed seeing the way she matured as the book went on.
Reinhold has appeared frequently in the previous books of this series and I’ve always liked him. He works hard without complaint and strives to be a better man than his father. He had some personal demons to wrestle with but he had a good heart that just wanted the best for those he cared about.
I wasn’t sure about them as a couple due to his history with Sophie’s sisters but you could see how well matched they were as the story unfolded and in the end they were just what each other needed.
I really loved the Duff family with their big personalities and bigger hearts!

The end of this book made me quite happy and I loved seeing everything come together! A wonderful conclusion to another fantastic series from Jody Hedlund!

Jody Hedlund is a wonderful storyteller as seen in the final installment of her orphan train series. Searching For You is a moving story involving flawed characters, which makes relating to them very easy. I soon found myself cheering for these characters as they sought to define themselves and the lives they sought to establish. They were strengthened by lessons learned in the midst of community. Hedlund’s poignant story reminded me of the great power of love and for that I am very grateful. Although Searching For You can easily be read by itself, the first two stories are just as gripping and worth the read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is the third book in a series. It can be read alone, but it is a better story with the background from the first two.

I was very pleased with the outcome of this book. It is all that I could have wished for as a reader. To have the characters struggle and eventually find peace is rewarding. I was cheering them on and invested in the story.

This book is Christian Fiction.


Source; I requested a copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Jody Hedlund is one of those authors I can always count on to deliver a great story amidst a swoony romance! I especially appreciated that this one started with action right from the beginning. But my favorite thing about this final book in the series is seeing Reinhold fiiinally get his own happy ending! <3

I didn't realize when I started this that it was a marriage of convenience story! Those are my favorite and I really enjoyed watching the love story unfold.

I've also enjoyed the orphan train part of this story even though it involves heartache. I was glad this one had a happy ending.

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

Searching For You by Jody Hedlund is the third book in this series and it’s so nice to continue on in the story of the orphans traveling West. I really enjoy this author because of her way of painting a great scene and drawing the reader into the story with such emotion that it becomes a page-turner of love and loss and love and suspense and restoration and wondering of what to do next. Watching all the relationships work themselves out… There’s so much to it but it’s never overwhelming to keep it all worked out in my mind. Such a stirring read. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.



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Book 3 in the Orphan Train Series concludes with Sophie's story. Introduced in book 1 - With You Always along with her sisters Marianne and Elise, it's now time to hear from Sophie. While this book can work as a standalone I highly recommend reading this series in order - things will fit together nicely and make more sense.

The author definitely captured the era with this series and Searching for You also highlights the struggles, both physical, mental and spiritual in what farmers went through. It's a lot of work just to survive, more so when running from the past with no idea where to head. I liked Sophie, the youngest of the 3 sisters she was easily hurt and left out which took her to New York City. A fierce determination to take care of Olivia and Nicholas (on her own) and trouble in the City sent her running with some tough decisions to be made.

It wasn't just Sophie's story here but also Reinhold who appears in the 2 previous books, which rounded out this book nicely. The conclusion was fitting, wrapping up loose ends.

This was my first time reading Jody Hedlund, I will continue with more of her books, I like her writing style, attention to detail and ability to put me right in the setting. Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy (via Netgalley).

Searching for You by Jody Hedlund takes readers back to 1859. Sophie Neumann is seventeen years old and has been dating Danny Sullivan, a gang leader in the Bowery. After witnessing a shooting between two rival gangs with her friend Anna, they decide it would be in their best interest to leave town. Sophie has been caring for two orphans, Olivia and Nicholas and she will not abandon them. They head to Children’s Aid Society which has an orphan train heading for Illinois in two days. Sophie is hoping to find a family willing to take her and the children. When the train reaches Mayfield, Sophie is faced with a difficult decision. Reinhold Weiss has purchased a farm near Mayfield and is working hard to have a successful harvest. He is surprised when he goes to the Duff farm and finds Sophie. Reinhold knows that Sophie’s sisters have been diligently searching for her, but Sophie does not wish to be found. As time passes, Reinhold finds himself falling for Sophie. Reinhold, though, does not feel it is the right time to fall in love. But then Sophie needs his assistance and Reinhold cannot refuses her request. Find out how Sophie and Reinhold’s story plays out in Searching for You.

Searching for You is the third book in Orphan Train series. I find it beneficial to have read the books in order. Sophie’s story is a little darker than that of her sister’s, but it suits the character. Sophie is trying so hard to make a home for Nicholas and Olivia. Her actions are driven by her love for them as well as the shame she feels. It is this shame that prevents Sophie from reuniting with her older sisters. I thought Searching for You was well-written, and it captured my attention. I enjoyed the author’s writing. She has created solid characters that are real. Jody Hedlund provides descriptions, but she is not overly descriptive (we are not bogged down with unnecessary details). You can feel the emotions of the characters. I thought the time period was captured with the attitudes of the people, the clothing, conveyances, the homes, goods available and the descriptions of the towns. Orphan trains were not always welcome and, unfortunately, not every child ended up in a good home. Sophie is high-spirited and determined young woman with a big heart. Euphemia Duff is a delightful character. She is a warm, loving woman with a large family (would love a book with Euphemia’s story). I like that she took Sophie into her home and treated her like a daughter. Some of the Christian elements mentioned are forgiveness of others and oneself, praying to God, and the God loves us and guides us. The Orphan Train series has an ending that will delight readers.

Overall, I enjoyed this story, though I did have mixed feelings.

Some things really made sense to me. Sophie has compromised her character and done things she's embarrassed by; she wants her life put back together before seeing her sisters. But at the same time, I think she knows it's not nearly as bad as it could have been and I would think the love, desire for resolution and even curiosity would be stronger.

Also, I found it kind of weird that Reinhold has been passed around from story to story.

And while it didn't bother me, it seems that 90% of their relationship is formed on attraction. It's a constant and heavy companion, so if that bothers you, you might want to pass on this one.

Without giving things away, I really enjoyed the background, the supporting characters, the history and development of the orphan trains and seeing different paths unfold. Though I found it unlikely that Sophie could have managed to stay fairly untouched since she seems to be a blinding beacon of beauty, I liked her and Reinhold together and the way they took care of each other.

Sophie's personal struggles with Olivia and Nicholas was a great piece of the story. And I loved (Loved!) the Duffs. We all need a Euphemia in our lives.

This book was a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful series! I liked learning more about Sophie—and Reinhold, who we’ve met several times—in this book. There is a little bit of backstory to remind you what happened in the other two books, but you benefit best if you read the books in order. I liked that there were parallels between searching for family in this book and our desires to search for God and establish a relationship with Him. These spiritual aspects allowed me to connect with the characters in a better way and relate to them. The history of the orphan trains is also interesting. Overall, a great book and a great series that comes highly recommended!

I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.