1865Windmill Point, MichiganCan She Forgive the Hurting Man Who Costs Her the Role She Loves?After her father’s death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren’t supposed to have such roles, so it’s only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper–even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other … nowhere else to go and no other job available to her.
Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He’s secured the position of lighthouse keeper mostly for the isolation–the chance to hide from his past is appealing. He’s not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who’s angry with him for taking her job and for his inability to properly run the light. When his failings endanger others, he and Caroline realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but he’s unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. Caroline feels drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their loss to a future filled with hope…and possibly love?
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At this point it is a given that I will devour anything Jody Hedlund publishes and her new Beacons of hope series is no exception. For some reason I always seem to be start reading a series with the middle book but that was not a problem. Each of these beautiful stories can stand alone with only a little reference to the previous works.
Ryan Chambers is a beautifully flawed character who is looking to start his life over and make amends for past mistakes. When he discovers light keeper jobs are being offered to injured war veterans he sees the perfect opportunity. Caroline Taylor, after the death of her father, has been masterfully running the Windmill Point Lighthouse but soon finds herself being forced from the job she loves because of her gender. This is a touching story of healing and second chances told through captivating writing and in a setting I had never really given much thought to.
Tessa was such a fun character and I truly felt sad for her as she learned from her mistakes just a little too late but bravely faced the consequences of her actions. I am truly happy she has her own installment of this series as well.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This is a lighthouse book, with a story around an 1800’s lighthouse near Detroit.
I’ve liked other Hedlund books, but this one was too melodramatic the last 100 pages. I just skimmed. Not at all believable.
This was similar to the first. It was a light and enjoyable read although very predictable.
Jody Hedlund’s books never fail to bring together beautiful romance, poignant interactions between characters and fascinating insights into the historical period. Hearts Made Whole is no exception! I was so eager to read Ryan’s story after meeting him in Love Unexpected, and once again, Hedlund has created a story that is entirely too hard to put down.
I think what struck me the most about this novel was the realistic, tough issues that the characters face. Hedlund’s characters are always a draw for me, more than the plot, setting or any other aspect of the story. That was the case here, but even more so because they faced some really tough issues, namely healing from addiction and bias against women working in certain positions. Ryan, a Civil War veteran, did things as a soldier that he wasn’t proud of, as well as carries a physical reminder of the war with a wound that still causes him great pain. Because of this pain, he is addicted to medication that numbs the physical pain, and alcohol, which numbs him not only physically, but mentally as well. Determined to hold down this new position as a lighthouse keeper, he doesn’t expect to meet Caroline Taylor, an expert keeper, supporting her siblings. Even though the fact that she is a woman has angered the lighthouse superintendent, who is determined that she won’t be the keeper, Ryan sees quickly that she does the job as well as any man.
Ryan wants to be shed of his addiction and dependence on his opium pills and alcohol, and Jody doesn’t sugar-coat his struggle, but rather portrays his plight in a respectful, realistic way. I think often plots with a heavy romantic element use the romantic interest to “heal” one character of the other, but that’s not the case here. Caroline’s acceptance of him surely helps him along the way, but it’s not where he finds his ultimate healing.
Likewise, Caroline is in a predicament of her own. She is victim of the misconception of the time that only men could be lighthouse keepers. Women could assist their husbands, but they could not shoulder the responsibility on their own. Caroline has no other notable skills as she has been around the light her entire life and also has a family to support. Jody could have let the plot play out in a predictable way of Ryan being the light keeper and Caroline staying on to assist him, but she refrains from doing this and instead brings about an ending that was both poignant and historically relevant.
In general, with the romance, I was expecting another marriage of convenience, and while Ryan and Caroline are thrown together by circumstance, that didn’t mean marriage. It was nice to see their relationship progress without the confines of marriage. I think the story would have been a lot different and perhaps not as meaningful had it been that type of story (although as evident by the first book in the series, Hedlund truly does that storyline justice). Ryan is a flawed, yet endearing character, and Caroline has a good measure of spunk without being unrealistic for the time period. The interactions between Ryan and Caroline were a highlight of the story; the sweet, humorous moments between them are equally endearing as the tender, romantic moments.
The plot is a great mix of action, introspection and romance. I was surprised at the amount of suspense in the story, and although I didn’t find the mystery nor the antagonist to be very cryptic, that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story overall. The setting makes the story even more pleasurable to read; like the first book, I truly got the feeling of life within and around a lighthouse. Windmill Point is beautifully described, and I’ve really enjoyed the continuity of the history surrounding Michigan’s lighthouses that Jody has based the series upon. Helping to ground the characters in a similar continuity is the wooden cross that readers first see in the prologue, Out of the Storm. In this story, it is passed along to Tessa, Caroline’s sister, and though I didn’t care for her character, I saw the seeds of change within her. Though the consequences of her actions have laid a path for her, I know that her upcoming personal story is in good hands with Jody.
Hearts Made Whole is a great addition to the Beacons of Hope series and sure to be a hit with fans of inspirational, historical romance.
We meet Caroline Taylor and her family. What a story this. We see Ryan Chamber who has gotten the cross from his sister, Emma in the first book called “Love Unexpected”.
We learn about how Caroline Taylor deals with her loss of her father. We see how she deals with raising her siblings. Caroline finds out from the lighthouse inspector that he hired a man for the job of the lighthouse keeper.
Then we meet up with Ryan Chambers at the Roadside Inn. He asks for directions to the Windmill Point Lighthouse. The story get better has you turn the page. Things start getting worse for them. What is going on in this community and at the Windmill Point Light?
There seems to be action at every turn. Mr. Simmons and Mr. Finich seems to want Caroline out of the lighthouse but why. We meet Arnie Simmons and seem eager to want Caroline Taylor. Will Arnie stop at nothing to get Caroline Taylor? Surprises await them all. Can Ryan and Caroline learn to trust in faith, hope and forgiveness?
The author writes another fastening story. I can not wait to continue on with the next book. Want to learn about Emma and her brother Ryan prior to Ryan getting the cross or how he had the cross? You can read my review to “Love Unexpected” to find the answer.