Book Review: Out of a horrifically tragic situation comes not only hope but renewal and redemption.


Searching For You
Book # 3 in The Orphan Train series
By Jody Hedlund



In the final installment of the Orphan Train trilogy, Jody Hedlund creates the perfect ending to tie up the stories of the Neumann sisters. Searching For You handles the topic of this truly tragic part of American history with emotional finesse. Hedlund adapts historical facts, weaving them into story form to bring the stories of these children, the placement society adults and the families adopting the children out of our collective past into present day.

The Neumann sister’s trilogy and prequel novella, share the struggles of 1850’s America as immigrants crossed the oceans to make a better life on these shores. Hedlund has kept the grittiness of New York City life among the poorer immigrant classes as real as if you were stepping into the streets of that day. While Searching For You is a historical romance, Hedlund does not romanticize the past by glossing over the hardships of the people that lived in that time period. The Orphan Trains had many positive outcomes of children being placed in wonderful, loving homes; yet there were negative outcomes as well. Respectfully Hedlund exposes both the dark side and the light of these stories from the past.

In Searching For You, we have the story of the third Neumann sister, 17 year old Sophie. In the previous novels her sisters left her so they could find work to send money back for her and the two children left in Sophie’s charge; however as the New York slums worsen she finds herself out on the street penniless & homeless. She won’t leave the children behind causing her to make desperate decisions to keep the children barely fed and a roof over their heads. A dangerous decision to agree to marry a gang leader leads her to witnessing something that puts her life and the children’s lives in detriment. In order to avoid being abducted by a rival gang, she smuggles herself and the children out of New York by joining The Orphan Trains heading west.

Her sisters have been searching for her for the past few years desperate to reconnect with her and hopeful she has found safety somewhere. Sophie is almost found when her brother-in-law nearly recognizes her before the first train leaves. However, Sophie doesn’t know he is her brother-in-law and she doesn’t know her sister’s connection to the placement society.

Reinhold Weiss is living in the Illinois town where the train stops for its first placement. Sophie realizes Olivia and Nicholas would be better off with a real family that could take better care of them. She begs a family to adopt them both and keep them together. She agrees to be adopted herself to a farm near them to stay close whenever they need her. Euphenia Duff gives Sophie a new home and takes her under her wing teaching her the farm duties. When Reinhold Weiss shows up for dinner at the Duff’s home, Sophie is surprised to find her old friend.

Reinhold is able to fill Sophie in on the whereabouts of her sisters and their new marriages and most importantly their search for her. At this point both of them have to come to grips with actions of their past in order to help each other through crisis situations that arise. It is through each other that they find faith in God again and the hope that everything will be alright.

Searching For You takes on multiple meanings as the Neumann sisters are searching for Sophie, as Reinhold and Sophie are searching for a way back to God, and as they are searching for love in each other. Searching For You is a sweet historical romance emphasizing the important relationships of love, of family and community and of God.

Please visit Jody Hedlund’s author website (http://jodyhedlund.com) to see the novella, An Awakened Heart, the first book in the series With You Always, and the second book Together Forever.






FTC Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this title by Bethany House publishing and NetGalley for review purposes only; no compensation was awarded me for my review.

Jody Hedlund's Orphan Train series comes to a close with the story of the youngest Neumann sister, Sophie. We first learned about eldest sister Elise and how she traveled on the orphan train to find employment as a cook along the railroad, then followed Marianne as she worked as a placing agent for the Children's Aid Society. The last we knew anything of Sophie, she had run away to try to save two young orphans whom she had been caring for. Though her sisters had long been looking for her, Sophie was nowhere to be found.

In "Searching For You," we learn that Sophie managed to rescue Olivia and Nicholas and has been raising them with whatever means she could find. The streets of New York City in 1859 are not kind to orphans, and Sophie is barely old enough to pass herself off as an adult. When she gets mixed up with some of the Bowery Boys, she feels they may have found a home within the gang. Gangs come with violence, though, and soon Sophie realizes that she must run again if she wants to keep everyone safe.

Sophie decides they will take their chances with the orphan train, though she's determined that nothing will tear her apart from the children. If need be they can live on the streets again, as long as they are far away from New York City.

Reinhold Weiss grew up with the Neumanns, and now is working his own homestead in Illinois. He knows he inherited his father's explosive temper, and combined with the amount of work involved in running his farm, he is sure he could never subject a woman or family to this reality. He's shocked when his path crosses with Sophie, and faces a dilemma when she begs him not to tell her sisters her location. She promises that if he'll give her time she'll be able to get their lives straightened out so that she's worthy of a reunion.

Certain that she can handle anything life throws at her, Sophie schemes and plots. She'd rather hide than admit where she has failed. But a loving God and steadfast people won't leave her to her own inventions. Will Sophie ever learn to accept the loving help and guidance in her life, and will she ever agree to see her sisters again? You'll have to pick up this book yourself to find out!

Note: Please be aware that this story hints at child abuse and sexual assault, and there is a large portion of the book where the consummation of a marriage is discussed. I would urge caution for young or sensitive readers who may be bothered by this content.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.

"We're human. We break things. It's what we do with the brokenness that counts."

What an incredible and satisfying conclusion to the Orphan Train series! Though this third book can be read as a stand-alone, reading the first two books would enrich understanding of this story with Sophie and Reinhold's family history and background. The book has all the hallmarks of Jody Hedlund's engaging storytelling - fluid and easy-to-read writing style, well-researched and absorbing plot, unforgettable characters, and over-arching theme of redemption and forgiveness.

In this book, the readers finally (finally) meet Sophie, the youngest of the Neumann sisters, who ran away and kept herself well-hidden. Sophie starts out as a loving but selfish and immature young woman who has good intentions without any follow-through. Life on the streets of NYC hardens her tender heart and the descriptions of such life are heart-breaking. Sophie does end up going out west with the two little children in her charge on the Children's Aid Society placement train and finds Reinhold, her childhood neighbor and friend. Through her journey west and finding a new life, Sophie matures into a warm, forgiving, content woman. Reinhold also has had a tough life and can't seem to crawl out from the rage that grips him and the fear that he will become just like his abusive father. Reinhold is a different type of hero from the other two in this series in that he's not privileged or wealthy but must eke his living off the land that he cultivates. Their fears and insecurities stir up quite a bit of trouble for their relationship until they recognize the One who holds their future and forgives their past.

I am sad to say good-bye to the Neumann sisters and their worthy heroes. But I can't wait to start the new series with which Jody Hedlund will surely wow us!

I was given a copy of the book by the author and Baker Publishing Group and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Finally, we get to hear Sophie Neumann’s story! I really enjoyed her story and loved how the author wrapped up the series. I would most definitely recommend this book, but do highly recommend that you start from book 1 in order not to miss any of the details. Ms. Hedlund has rich historical detail which she expertly weaves into the story. You will feel deeply for these young people as they attempt to eke out an existence until life begins to change for the better. After reading about the other two sisters, it is good to see that Sophie is heading in the direction of a much better life. It may not be an easy life, but compared to living on the cold and cruel streets as a child, it’s a tremendous improvement from her former life.
SPOILER ALERT FOR BOOKS 1 & 2!!!!!
Sophie’s sisters, Elise and Marianne from the first two books, have settled and found their happily ever after. But things are not quite complete for them because Elise had to leave them behind to find work when they lost their shelter. They lost track of their youngest sister Sophie and two other orphans that they had also taken under their wing, Nicholas and Olivia. Finding Sophie as well as the two youngsters has been the missing puzzle piece in their lives.
This story is as much about Sophie forgiving herself for the things she had to do as a child just to survive in the city as It is a tale about renewing one’s self in order to become what you desire to be. She also needs to realize that she can only overcome her terrible past through the good Lord’s grace and forgiveness. There is no doubt that she has had a very hard scrabble life, but she is having a difficult time focusing on the fact that things are finally beginning to fall into place. Through no fault of her own, her life was one of sheer survival. There were some extremely trying times with Nicholas and Olivia that don’t help the way Sophie feels about herself and life in general. She had fallen in with a gang in the city, and felt at the time that the gang was her best hope for basic survival. The decision to take the orphan train is one of the hardest one she’s ever made, but has the most positive impact on her life. She is taken in by a friendly farming couple, and begins to learn the basics of farm life, and she is only beginning to have an inkling of what it feels to be loved and valued once again. Unfortunately for Sophie, it takes quite a bit of patience and some caring individuals to show her the way to becoming her own self. She is like a moth emerging from a cocoon, being transformed into a person she can be truly proud of. She keeps putting off meeting with her sisters because she is ashamed of the life that she has led. She just needs the fortitude to press on and see that her life is moving forward in a positive direction for the first time in her life.
When an old friend comes into the picture, things begin to change for the better. An unorthodox solution to getting Nicholas and Olivia back brings a lot of tension between the friends, even though they truly care deeply for one another. Seeking a place to call home demands that she gives in to her deep feelings of insecurity and open her heart to the one that she may love.
NOTE: This is book 3 and the end of a series. If you skip books one and two, you WILL miss some important aspects of the Neumann sisters background and may feel lost in this story.

Searching for You is the third book in Jody Hedlund's Orphan Train series. It is the story of the youngest Neumann sister, Sophie, for whom the older sisters had been searching since she ran away taking with her two young orphaned siblings for whom she had been caring. Sophie, Olivia, and Nicholas had been living on the streets, in juvenile asylums, and in tenements. She had done things she was not proud of in order to keep her charges fed and clothed, but now it seemed like she was out of options. They, and their friend Anna, joined the Orphan Train, fully expecting to slip away once they reached Chicago, but life, and maybe God, had other plans.

Searching for You is a very well-written story of broken lives made new. Sophia and her longtime family friend, Reinhold, learn that it is only in surrendering to God that the pieces can be put back together in a way that forms something new and beautiful. It is a story of both mercy and grace, God's giving us what we don't deserve and not treating us as we do deserve.

I highly recommend the Orphan Train series, and suggest reading the books in sequential order for the best reading experience. I am grateful to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a copy of Searching for You in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Searching for You is the best book of the series! Perhaps this is because it is the one I just read, but I don’t think so. This story gripped my heart and wouldn’t let go. Though I do get emotionally connected to stories, I don’t often actually get teary eyed. I did with this one!

Sophie has lived such a hard life as an orphan on the streets of New York. She carries such a burden of guilt and pain for the way she has had to survive. Yet her heart is so big and she loves so well. I was so touched by her dedication and determination and strength. The author showed her struggle to not live as she had in the past in such an amazing and realistic way.

Reinhold had a burden of guilt as well. His was because of the anger he struggles to hold at bay. Fear of becoming like his father causes him to withdraw and not allow his feeling to grow, yet he never expected Sophie.

As much as I loved those two characters, Euphemia was my very favorite. Her name in the Greek means “well-spoken of” and this name is actually derived from the word that Paul uses in his letter to the Philippians when he tells us to think on things that are “of good report” or “commendable” in Philippians 4:8. She is the woman who takes Sophie into her house and her heart. And she exemplifies that name despite her difficult past.

I am so impressed with the way the author managed to clearly depict the seediness and depravity of the streets of New York and the hopelessness that Sophie was living in, making it very real and yet not dragging things down to a level that makes it depressing. And the way that she showed Sophie’s unsavory past while still showing a very lovable side that made me care about her from the beginning.

As a side note, you may want to look up the Bowery Boys in Wikipedia before you start reading to learn about them and get a picture of how they dressed. I was fascinated and appalled to learn about this gang and the Roach Guards, one of their rivals as they gave new meaning to the term “fire fighters” (as my husband cleverly pointed out when I told him what I had learned).

This is such an amazing story of trust, of grace, and forgiveness that I wholeheartedly recommend! For the best experience, though, make sure to read the other two books in the series first.

Wow! What a fantastic ending to this trilogy by Jody Hedlund. I loved hearing the "end of the story" as Sophie's story was finally told in this book. The romance in this book was especially sweet, as were the examples of fierce protectiveness that comes when you love someone. What a fantastic book!!!

I have been looking forward to this book for so long, and it sure didn’t disappoint. Now it can be read alone, but I would definitely start with the first one and savor each one, they are so good!
This is Sophie Neumann’s story her survival and hopes for a secure home, and you will follow her and the two little ones as she makes another attempt at finding a home.
We are also back with some of the other characters that we have come to know and love, and there are some great up-dates, I know this is the last book in this series, but I would love to continue on in their lives.
Come and get lost in another great read and a conclusion to a great series.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Searching For You is the latest tale from Jody Hedlund. Sophie Neumann is still living, by her wits, on the mean streets of New York City. After Sophie gets too close to a local gang, she decides she must flee the city when she actually witnesses a murder. Before she knows it, Sophie, along with Olivia and Nicholas, the two young children, she has raised since birth, are on a train full of orphans headed out west to find a new place to call home!

Sophie and these young children wind up in a farming community in rural Illinois. After the young children are placed with a local family, Sophie ends up heading out with the wife of a dairy farmer. Sophie, not only finds a home filled with love and friendship, she also runs into Reinhold Weiss, an old friend from the streets of New York City. Reinhold has recently purchased a small farm in the vicinity of Sophie's new home. Sophie is now surrounded by friends old and new; however, she is still running from her two older sisters, Elsie and Maryanne. Sophie is too embarrassed for them to see what has became of her life!

When Sophie learns that the children are being abused, she convinces Reinhold to marry her, so that they could attempt to adopt the children themselves. You will see on the final pages of this tale where Sophie will finally land. Will it be with this new family or will Sophie finally be reunited with her sisters?

This is a great ending to Jody Hedlund's Orphan Train series.

Searching for You is the final book in Jody Hedlund's Orphan Train trilogy. Sophie Neumann feels abandoned by her sisters in New York City, but finds comfort by taking in two young sibling orphans. As her situation becomes worse, she is forced to flee New York City on the Orphan Train and seeks a home that will keep the siblings together. Sadly, not every orphan receives a happy perfect home, and Hedlund does an excellent job showing the dark of the orphan train. Forced to try to save her young charges, she seeks help from a former friend, Reinhold Weiss, who cares more deeply for her than a friend. However, he refuses to reveal his heart. Will Sophie rescue the orphans? Can Reinhold and Sophie acknowledge their mutual love?

Searching For You is the exciting conclusion to Jody Hedlund's Orphan Train trilogy. Sophie Neuman believes that her older sisters have abandoned her for their new lives. She has been living on the streets with Olivia and Nicolas her two young charges. She decides to take a chance with the orphan train. I loved the characters and the setting. I learned quite a bit about the orphan train. I have to admit I am sad to have reached the end of this trilogy as I have become very fond of the Neuman sisters. So grab a mug of hot tea and settle in for a great read.

I was given this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Searching for You by Jody Hedlund is the third of the Orphan Train series and the intensely dramatic, humorous, entertaining, and adventurous conclusion to her frank and personal journey into the lives of children of the famed orphan trains.  Ms. Hedlund masterfully weaves a story of hardship, fear, abandonment, faith, family, and duty in this wholesomely entertaining novel Searching for You.  I hope you have the chance to read this excellent work, but I would suggest you read the first two books in the series to have a better appreciation for the characters and history.  

Sophie Neumann, the third and youngest of the Neumann sisters has a very independent and stubborn streak, which led her to make some very rash and drastic decisions, affecting her entire life and the lives of the two children under her care.  Not only did Sophie run away from her sisters in busy New York City, but she also took responsibility for two young orphaned children while a young teen.  Sophie's hands are full, to say the least; however, Sophie is drawn away into the wrong crowd and becomes a key witness to a violent crime among the tough street gangs in New York City. Scared for her life and the lives of her friends and family, Sophie brainstorms for a way out of the pickle she's got herself into.  Why not hop onto the orphan train and leave the group before any family can claim them and find a place of their own out in the west?  Sophie plans don't go exactly according to plan, but she, her friend, and her two young charges end up in a rural Illinois town in several different homes. 
In that small rural community, Sophie runs into someone she knows, Reinhold Weiss, a very good family friend.  Reinhold Weiss is shocked to see the Neumann sister that had disappeared several years ago, Sophie, in his neighbor's house as their newly adopted daughter!  Reinhold had known Sophie when they were children, and he is amazed at the beautiful and bold young woman she has become, even raising and supporting two young children of whom she took charge.  I appreciated the fierce love, responsibility, and self-sacrifice shown by Sophie and Reinhold as each of them cared for those under their wing.    
I appreciated Ms. Hedlund's honest portrayal of the placing of orphaned children, resulting in both very pleasant and horrible families.  Without giving spoilers, Sophie and Reinhold run into several tricky situations and problems, which leaves them with only one solution: a marriage of convenience!  Will Sophie and Reinhold be able to help their siblings and friends or will they all be torn apart from one another?  Will Sophie and Reinhold survive each other? Will they end up regretting their decision? Will Sophie ever be re-united with her sisters?  
I absolutely loved the way that Ms. Hedlund tied all of the characters together in this book, especially the stories of Sophie and Reinhold Weiss.  Although each one has past hurts, fears, and past failures, they both have so much in common which tie them closer together.  Another aspect of Ms. Hedlund's writing that I admired was the development of her characters, especially Reinhold and Sophie, as they both struggled with their lukewarm faith and past to become responsible adult/parent figures for the young children.  
I enjoyed this book immensely, as well as the entire series by Ms. Hedlund, with the excellent descriptions, easily relatable characters, intense situations, difficult issues dealt with, historical context, and cleverly entertaining antics.  Sophie's story was a welcome and satisfying conclusion to the series, leaving the reader with a sense of completion. Well done!   

Disclaimer: Bethany House Publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased honest review.

SEARCHING FOR YOU is the third book in the ORPHAN TRAIN series by JODY HEDLUND. I have been looking forward to receiving a copy as I enjoyed the previous two novels in the series, and have definitely not been disappointed! It is a sensitively told story which takes place in 1859, once again dealing with the placement of orphans from New York with people in the country. Although for some their life improved greatly, for others it did not turn out so well.
Afraid of losing Olivia and Nicholas, Sophie Neumann is living in squalor with them in New York, after having run away from her sisters. She is ashamed of the way she has been living, living on the streets and stealing food to keep the children alive, and feels she is too sinful even for the Lord and definitely doesn't want her sisters to see how far she has fallen. She doesn't realize that her sisters have been searching for her for two years, each of them feeling guilty that they hadn't taken her attachment to the children seriously. She is about to marry Danny, a Bowery boy, when she witnesses him letting a fire get out of hand and the murder of someone from another gang. She and her friend Anna get on the Orphan Train with the two children, intending to leave the train in Chigago, but it seems God has other plans for them!
I am not going to tell you any more and spoil your read except to say that the book is full of real people with very real needs. Sophie's need for love and acceptance will never be filled by the children, Reinhold, her sisters or anyone else. Once she accepts that God loves her unconditionally, things begin to change. I love Euphemia with her large family of sons and her cheerful encouragement and godly wisdom.
It is a story of redemption and second chances, forgiveness and acceptance.
I am definitely going to read this book more than once and can really recommend it for the lovely story and strong Christian content.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The conclusion to the Orphan Train series highlights Sophie's plight as she tries to keep Nicholas and Olivia safe and with her. She had such a great love for the children and a soft heart toward her friend, Anna. The author's account of the orphan train during this era rang true. There were both good and bad placements of the orphans. For a complete background and enjoyment of the series, I recommend reading the first two books before this one. Sophie's two sister's stories are equally enjoyable. This is a wonderful historical fiction series. Recommended!

Perfect end to the series <3
Reinhold's happy ending has been long coming and well deserved. Not to mention Sophie's and all the mystery surrounding her.
Both need healing, but, most of all, to come to a stand of surrender. To embrace the new life despite any past mistake, rooted in grace and love through which life flourishes.

Something that I have absolutely loved in this series is how Jody Hedlund creates space for growth. Though not uncommon during their time period, the characters have to make some decisions quite young. I loved how the author was able to show the maturity with which they take up these responsibilities while also allowing insecurity and naive mistakes to be shown and worked on.

I was sad to say goodbye to these characters, though very excited to see that Jody has next :)

I have been looking forward to reading Sophie’s story. It wasn’t easy to wait, but oh so very worth it! Jody Hedlund takes readers on a heartfelt journey through the pages of this book. I felt like I was right in the story with the characters. My heart broke for Sophie and cheered for her breakthroughs and successes!

Even at her young age, Sophie had a mother’s heart and a deep love for the two children, Nicholas and Olivia, that were left in her care. She made some very tough choices and sacrificed much to ensure that Nicholas and Olivia were safe and that they had someone to love them. Sophie carried with her a big hurt and misunderstanding. She often blamed God for the hardships she has faced, and her feelings of being abandoned by God. Sophie grows a lot during this story and it was a beautiful thing to be a part of!

At its core, this story takes a deep, soul-searching look at the inadequacies that we all feel in ourselves at one point or another. Through the eyes of the characters, we can learn that the inadequacies are lies. We need to know who we are in God and trust in His plan for our lives.

One of my favorite lines from this story reminds us that, “Sometimes God allows us to sink down in our own misery until we reach a low place where we’re finally ready to look up and reach out for Him.”

Searching for You is a story that you will want for your “keeper” shelf. A story that you will want to pull out and read again. There is so much to love about this story! Multifaceted characters, a deep, heart-warming plot, with page-turning delights. Start to finish, this story wove itself around my heart!

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I am not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Ah! Wonderful end to this series.

Jody Hedlund has given us a wonderful series about the women and children that were part of the orphan train emigration in 1859. Her research is impeccable, laying a solid foundation as she masterfully crafts the final story in this series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, as it follows three sisters in the 1850's, each sister having her own story. What I liked about this book is that it told the story from the perspective of the orphans that were placed in the homes in the Midwest at this time. Hedlund shows both positive and negative results from these placements.
Separated from her sisters by a series of unfortunate circumstances and misunderstandings, Sophie has been on the run for two years. In Sophie, Ms. Hedlund has given the reader a spunky heroine. We find that she has survived much hardship, willing to sacrifice for the two young orphan children she has grown to love. I think I liked Sophie's story the best. She was the youngest of the three sisters. Some of the decisions she made initially were decisions of a young girl, not an adult, who had to survive. As she matures, she is filled with the burden of guilt, thinking herself unworthy. Reinhold Weiss is a fabulous hero. In Reinhold and Sophie, Hedlund gives us flawed characters that are searching for hope. They realize that God can create something beautiful out of their brokenness. Hedlund is a master at weaving a spiritual thread effortlessly throughout her stories.

A couple of my favorite quotes:
"No matter how lost you feel at times, always keep His light burning inside you."

"He never treats us as our sin deserves."

"Sometimes God allows us to sink down in our own misery until we reach a low place where we're finally ready to look up and reach out for Him."

"We're human. We break things. It's what we do with the brokenness that counts."

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sophie Neumann will do whatever it takes to take care of Olivia and Nicholas; although she may not be related to them by blood, she's the only family they have ever known and she is determined that they will stay together. When she witnesses a murder, she realizes that for her own safety and that of the children, they need to flee, she takes the only option she can find--joining an orphan train heading west. Sophie plans to separate from the orphan group in Chicago, but when Olivia refuses to go, Sophie stays with the children--only to have Nicholas quickly placed with a family who only reluctantly allows Olivia to stay with them. Heartbroken to be separated from the children, Sophie goes to work for a good-hearted farmer's wife who lives nearby. Sophie soon finds that one of her new neighbors is an old friend, Reinhold Weiss.
Reinhold is doing all he can to succeed at farming. When Sophie shows up, all grown up, he finds himself drawn to her, but he needs to focus on his farm and doesn't trust himself not to turn out like his angry, abusive father. He can't steer clear of Sophie, though, especially when she begs him for help with Olivia and Nicholas.

I've been waiting a long time to read Sophie's book, and it didn't disappoint at all. There were times when I got a little frustrated with Sophie's stubbornness, but that also made her such a dynamic and real character; she had flaws and she didn't always make the best choices, but she had a good heart and really was a lovable character. As for Reinhold, well, I've been waiting since the first book in the series for him to get the girl, and while I was a little wary about how I'd feel about him and Sophie (I am highly prejudiced against books where a man once liked one woman but ends up with her sister), but it just felt right to me (which is really saying something about Jody Hedlund's writing, if she can make me enjoy a plot line I normally loathe). I loved the overall message of hope and how even when we make a mess of our lives, God can make something beautiful out of them. Another excellent book from a fantastic author.

I read an ARC via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Searching For You (2018) by Jody Hedlund is the final novel in her Orphan Train series. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 384 pages in length. With a full-time job and a precocious six-year old at home, Searching For You took me three days to read. I received an eBook copy of this novel from the publisher, Bethany House, via NetGalley to review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give this novel 5+++++ STARS. Searching For You is a Christian Historical Romance.

My good blogger friend, Becca from The Becca Files, wrote in her review for Searching For You that when she finished this book her “book fog” was heavy! I 1000% completely agree with Becca. I was so dazed upon finishing this book that I had to take the night to stew and think on all the many wonderful things I could discuss about Searching For You. Of course the writing is flawless, the story is highly engaging, the characters are perfectly drawn, and the historical detail is superb. I’m not sure Jody Hedlund could write a bad book if she tried! And, as with all her books, those things did speak to me, but what resonated with me the most are Ms. Hedlund’s themes. Searching For You deals with some heavy topics, but I finished this book feeling hopeful and more convinced in God’s love for me than I have ever felt from a fictional book before. This alone makes Searching For You a must-read novel!

I applaud Ms. Hedlund for delving into the issue of anger through her character, Reinhold. She doesn’t sugarcoat it. She doesn’t make excuses for it. Reinhold has a serious problem. Readers saw a bit of his issue in book 2, Together Forever, but in this book we see Reinhold’s internal struggle. Reinhold’s number one fear is turning into his father who was an abusive and angry man who kept his family in constant fear. He realizes that he actually has become his father after an incident in book 2. Because of this realization, Reinhold acts purposely to keep his anger in check by being alone most of the time. He will turn down dinner invitations and party invites because it is easier to be alone and single than in a group worried something might set him off. What I appreciate so much about Reinhold’s character is how realistic his anger is. For some people, it’s like we are the Hulk — you won’t like us when we’re angry. Reinhold is the Hulk. His anger turns on like someone flipping a switch. There is no such thing as building up to angry; no, Reinhold goes from cold to hot in less than a nanosecond. And, his is a powerful anger that leaves him feeling spent once he’s stopped beserking. That’s when the real pain hits — the immediate tidal wave of guilt, disgust, and self-loathing, which makes his desire to run and hide from people all the more intense.

How does someone fix this anger issue? First, the angry person has to admit he/she has a problem, and then that person has to go to God. God is the only One who can help alleviate anger. Sure, there are breathing techniques and calming exercises one can do, but unless you get to the root of the problem and give it over to God, those techniques are surface-level aids at best. I have my daddy’s anger. MANY times in my life I have felt exactly like Reinhold — I feel like there is a monster inside of me. It shames me. I am embarrassed by myself. I NEVER mean to let the monster out, but sometimes it happens, and immediately after I calm down I HATE myself intensely. It has taken me YEARS of prayer and Bible study and tears and confession, but I have finally come to understand what Solomon meant when he wrote, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29). I am by no means perfect today — I still fall into old patterns sometimes. But, I have learned. Now, I visualize my anger. I imagine putting my anger in a box. I mentally walk that box to the foot of Jesus’s cross and give it to Him asking for His forgiveness. Then I beg Jesus to help me learn how to be “slow to anger.” It’s not easy, but this technique does help me. Talking to Jesus is the only way I’ve found I can successfully control my anger, and Reinhold realizes this, too. At one point, the reader is told, “[Reinhold] picked up Sophie and carried her to the wagon thanking God again that he’d controlled his anger and praying he’d have the strength to do so next time.” To overcome our monster within we have to we have to talk to Jesus. I’m not going to lie, when Reinhold learns this truth I cried buckets of cathartic tears.

And, this leads to my most FAVORITE aspect of this book: Jesus loves me (and you!) no matter what. Poor, beautiful, broken Sophie is SO worried and shamed by her brokenness that she feels she will never be good enough to see her sisters again or for God to care about her. Reinhold believes he will never be good enough because of the anger monster inside of him. Two broken people who listen to the wrong voice in their heads. I love how Hedlund uses Sophie and Reinhold to illustrate that we all need to replace our voices in our heads with God’s Voice. Life would be so much easier if we focused on how God sees us rather than on how we see ourselves. Instead of thinking I am worthless because I battle anger, I should replay over and over Jeremiah 31:3 — “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued My Faithfulness to you.” Or, I should play this verse from Job 33:4 — “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Having God’s Voice in my head reminds me that I was made for a purpose, that God loves me forever, and that I am His. We are all good enough because God says so. Yeah, so we may have a few cracks and flaws, but God loves cracked pots. It says so in His Bible!

For sure, I will miss my time with Elise, Marianne, and Sophie. All three characters endeared themselves to my heart. If you are looking for an excellently written and well-crafted series with heart, action, and timely messages then Jody Hedlund’s Orphan Train series is the series for you. I highly recommend all three novels in this series. When Searching For You releases on December 4th, I recommend running to your nearest bookstore and picking up a copy of this excellent book. You will not be disappointed that you did.

We are introduced to Sophie and Reinhold in the two previous novels which form part of this captivating series by Jody Hedlund. Whilst knowing their background is helpful, you can read Searching For You as a stand-alone. Sophie is equal measures of endearing and frustrating. I love her passion for caring for two small children, Olivia and Nicholas, but she resists any help so stringently, it hampers them and her. Her pride stops her reaching out to her two sisters. They have no idea where she has run to and are desperately looking for her.

Her journey is full of missteps but by God’s grace she lands in a small town where a family friend, Reinhold, is running his farm with his brother. Along with a lovely Scottish family, they work to rebuild Sophie’s trust in a world which has been so cruel to her.

Jody Hedlund doesn’t shy away from the brutalities and cruelties of life in this era especially for orphans and the risks the children on the Orphan Trains took to find a happy and safe home. It didn’t always turn out the way those involved hoped but when it did, it gave the children a new lease on life! I found the history incorporated into this novel fascinating.

Each character, big or small, is carefully crafted and beautifully written. At times, the story is heartbreakingly sad. I wanted to pick up all the children and bring them home! The ending is wonderfully done! These are characters I’ll miss now that the series is wrapped up! I highly recommend this one and give it five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale.

My favourite line “We’re human. We break things. It’s what we do with the brokenness that counts”.