Monday, December 8, 2014

Love Unexpected

GIVEAWAY

HEDLUND, JODY
LOVE UNEXPECTED

1859
Presque Isle, Michigan


What Is the Secret That Could Shipwreck Both of Their Lives?

All Emma Chambers ever wanted was a home, but when her steamboat sinks just outside Presque Isle, she’s left destitute and with no place to stay.

An unlikely solution arises when the lighthouse keeper arrives in town. He’s just lost his wife and is having a difficult time caring for his child. So a traveling preacher gets the idea that the keeper and Emma might be the answer to each other’s dilemma. After a hasty marriage, she finds herself heading to the lighthouse with this handsome but quiet stranger. Nothing in her aimless life, though, has prepared her for parenting a rambunctious toddler, as well as managing a household.

Emma soon suspects Patrick may be hiding something from her, and then she hears a disturbing rumor about the circumstances surrounding his late wife’s death. It seems as if her wish for a home and family of her own could end up leading her once more into turbulent waters.

My Review:

Pirates on the Great Lakes? Who knew? Jody Hedlund, that's who! What a fantastic twist to an already riveting plot! And I've loved lighthouses and the notion of lighthouse keeping since reading Meg and the Lighthouse Mystery when I was a kid so this book captivated me on so many levels.

Lighthouses aside, this marriage of convenience story is rich and complex and utterly compelling. I was quickly caught up in the drama right from Emma and Patrick's first meet and then their hasty marriage. And if that isn't a complicated enough way to start a life together, the author adds in desperate secrets and roaming pirates for good measure.

And that left me compulsively reading late into the night even though I knew the gnarly bits were coming up in spades. I was about jumping out of my skin because I wanted to get past them and to the good, happily-ever-after part but I couldn't bring myself to skim because every word was precious. Sigh. That meant I would be in a gnarly mess of emotions by the end but there was nothing for it but to soldier on and savor every one of those words because the combined effect was all so sublime.

A soul-stirring romance with a moving inspirational thread about forgiveness and acceptance. Definitely not one to be missed.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Love Unexpected please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 14  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

39 comments:

  1. A soul-stirring romance with a moving inspirational thread about forgiveness and acceptance.
    * Is one I'd love to read :)
    dkstevensne AT outlook dotCom

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  2. I knew! I knew about pirates on the Great Lakes! (But then, one hears about these things when one can see the Lake out one's window). I've been super excited to read Jody Hedlund's latest, especially given the subject matter!

    rachaeldalquist(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. Oooh -- so you live in an area rich with pirate history? How cool is that! Good luck, Rachael.

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  3. Beautiful cover of the book.
    Would love to read it.
    oh dot hello dot hiya at gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. It is gorgeous, isn't it. Good luck, Danie.

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  4. Pirates? PIRATES? I AM IN!

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. LOL -- not the lovely Captain Hook of Once Upon a Time fame pirates...just so you know. :-) Good luck, Janka.

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    2. Yay the more! I don´t believe on sugar-coated piratry! :)

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  5. Jody Hedlund's books are wonderful! Love Unexpected sounds like a terrific start to her new lighthouse series. Thanks for the chance to win it.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    Replies
    1. It definitely is a great start. Good luck, Pam.

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  6. I've already won a copy but would love to win one for my daughter or for our church library so please count me in, Kav! :)

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  7. One of my favorite authors! And growing up in MI I look forward to reading this book.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. It's definitely rich in your history. Good luck, Patty.

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  8. I am intrigued by this one, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. And well you should be, Melanie! Good luck!

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  9. Don't enter me.....have read it and LOVED it! I think it is Jody's best yet!

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    Replies
    1. She's astonishingly good, isn't she, Jackie? Thanks for stopping by.

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  10. I love lighthouse stories! Please enter me, Kav!
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's something so alluring about lighthouses, isn't there? Good luck, Nicole.

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  11. once more into turbulent waters. Wonder how she will get out of it??
    d_stevens310 AT live DotCoM

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    Replies
    1. Lots of storytelling from the author -- that's how. LOL. Good luck, Deanna.

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  12. Great review. Love the cover. And, it sounds good. I have several of Jody's books and would love to win this new one. Maxie
    > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

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  13. OH my this sounds like a good one, your reviews make it sound so interesting. Thanks again Kav !!!! rrwalter34ATgmailDOTcom

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  14. I love Jody's books. This one sounds really good as well. Please enter me. : )

    sunshine6892 at hotmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with any of her books, Cathy. Good luck.

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  15. The Great Lakes has some very interesting history... pirates! I've been waiting for Jody's newest book and this sounds really terrific.
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. I had no idea about the pirates. I think of the high seas when I think of pirates. And they were pretty bloodthirsty too. Good luck, Merry.

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  16. Sounds good!

    greatcaz238 at gmail dot com

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  17. This looks so good! I'd go crazy if I won this. haha

    artsycat21 AT gmail DOT com

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  18. Would love to be entered in this giveaway! Heard a lot of good things about Jody Hedlund's newest book.

    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    Replies
    1. And they are all true. Good luck, Charity.

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  19. Michigan is such a beautiful state with the breathtaking lighthouses and lakes. This sounds like a book I would really enjoy.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    Replies
    1. I became captivated with Michigan when I read my first Colleen Coble book set in the Upper Peninsula. Good luck, rubynreba.

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