The third lost princess. The final key to the treasure. And a battle for the throne.Growing up deep in the forest as a poor charcoal burner’s daughter, Emmeline has always known her identity as a princess of Mercia, and she lives in fear of being caught and killed. When her adopted father returns from town with news regarding the imminence of war, Emmeline has no wish to join the rebellion … the rebellion against King Ethelwulf.
Prince Ethelrex, the strongest warrior in the land, has done everything he can to prove his loyalty to his father, including searching for the last lost princess. When Ethelrex finally captures Emmeline, the king commands his son to marry the princess in order to win the support of the people and undermine the rebellion.
Forced into marriage, Emmeline has one goal—to escape. But Ethelrex takes his marriage vows seriously, including his promise to love and cherish his wife, and has no intention of letting Emmeline get away. As the battle for the throne rages, will the prince be able to win the battle for Emmeline’s heart?
YA books by Jody Hedlund:
The Lost Princesses
Prequel Novella: Always
Book 1: Evermore
Book 2: Foremost
Book 3: Hereafter
The Noble Knights
Prequel Novella: The Vow
Book 1: An Uncertain Choice
Book 2: A Daring Sacrifice
Book 3: For Love and Honor
Book 4: A Loyal Heart
Book 5: A Worthy Rebel
Other books by Jody Hedlund:
The Bride Ships Series
Book 1: A Reluctant Bride
Book 2: The Runaway Bride (March 2020)
The Orphan Train Series
Prequel Novella: An Awakened Heart
Book 1: With You Always
Book 2: Together Forever
Book 3: Searching for You
The Beacons of Hope Series
Prequel Novella: Out of the Storm
Book 1: Love Unexpected
Book 2: Hearts Made Whole
Book 3: Undaunted Hope
Book 4: Forever Safe
Book 5: Never Forget
The Michigan Brides Collection
Unending Devotion
A Noble Groom
Captured by Love
The Hearts of Faith Collection
The Preacher’s Bride
The Doctor’s Lady
Rebellious Heart
Historical
Luther and Katharina
Newton and Polly
more
I love, love, love this series. I wish that it could go on and never end!
This book measures the content of character. Prince Ethelrex forced Princess Emmaline to marry him. He did this because his father instructed him to. He spent his life doing exactly what he was told. It takes a Princess for him to determine his path and who to trust.
Princess Emmaline is strong and loyal. I loved the reunion between the sisters. This story was all that I could wish for it to be.
What an amazing finish to a wonderful series! I must admit, I am so glad these stories were released close together, because I couldn’t wait to read each installment! Such a unique story, powerful characters, and intriguing situations. Makes for a good combination, don’t you think!?
Honestly, I think Rex and Emmeline were my favorite couple of the series. It was kind of this marriage on convenience / marriage of force storyline, if such a thing exists. Rex came as a complete surprise to me. Because of how he was mentioned in the previous books, I thought I had his character pegged – that of a bad guy. And boy oh boy was I wrong, and oh so happy to be wrong. He was so complex – one moment I thought he’d side with his father, the next I was sure he was on Emmeline’s side. He always kept me guessing, and I think that is why I found him so intriguing. But at the end of the day, he understood loyalty, and had a passion about him that was fascinating.
This series is fast paced, full of surprises, and carried a faith thread that is inspiring and uplifting. Hedlund has truly outdone herself with this series. Although I wish it wasn’t over, at least I have my copies to read again whenever I want to revisit Mercia.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Just when I thought this series couldn’t possibly get any better, Mrs. Hedlund released Hereafter! This was the best ending to this series of books! With lots of unpredictability and unexpected twists and turns, I was unable to put this book down until the very last page. This book does have a happily ever after; however, it definitely was not what I thought it would be.
The recurring theme throughout the book is, “I don’t want to be Princess Emmeline.” And yet, our main character comes to realized how much trouble she causes by trying to avoid her destiny. Not wanting to give away any of the good stuff, I won’t say anymore. The setting and descriptions give the reader the feel of being in the story. The characters pull you in and have you feeling as if you are a part of the story.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of history, kings and queens, clean historical fiction, happily ever after.
I stayed up way too late reading this book, and it was worth every blink of my tired eyes today! I just couldn’t put this story down! This entire series is a page-turning delight, every book is better than the last! Not one story slowed, they just built on top of the last, culminating in this final, masterpiece of a grand finale that I didn’t want to end!
Each of these three sisters holds her own, with her own special gifts, and challenges. But if I had to pick a favorite, I’d have to go with Emmeline. Her courage to stand tall and face the unknown is a reminder that true courage isn’t about feeling brave, it’s facing your fears, knowing that God is always with you.
Filled with action, adventure, and wonderfully dynamic characters that at once had me holding my breath and turning pages to see what would happen next! I really enjoyed watching this unexpected love grow between, Rex and Emma. A love that started out as a conscious choice, and a promise. A love that grew as the story progressed. A beautiful reminder that true love is sacrificial, and wants what is best for the other person.
Be sure to grab this superb Lost Princesses series! You will want to add these stories to your personal library to not only share with your friends but to read and enjoy it again!
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)
The thrilling conclusion to The Lost Princesses Series!
Emmeline had a happy child in the Inglewood Forest, raised by former Elite Guard, Lance, and former Lady-in-Waiting, Felicia, knowing that she would someday claim her rightful place as a princess of Mercia. After being captured and forced to marry Ethelrex, she is bent on escape, but could God have brought her here for such a time as this?
Ethelrex has trained for years to become the best of the best in preparation to succeed his father, King Ethelwulf as ruler of Warwick. He is determined to honor his father and prove himself worthy after many years away honing his skills as a warrior. He was a surprising character, in that I didn’t know how I would feel about him, but in the end he was definitely one of my favorites! He is a born leader, with the ability to think critically, and a high moral code.
Emmeline is content with her upbringing, and has no wish to be princess. Out of all the princesses I think she is my favorite, and the one that I related best to. Emmeline loves her parents dearly, and is loyal, humble, and modest, acting bravely in the face of grave danger to protect the ones she loves.
I’ve enjoyed each of the books in this series, but this final one most of all, where everything comes full circle. I think I was most anticipating Emmeline’s story because of how much I enjoyed Lance and Felicia’s story at the very beginning of the series. Emmeline was the most relatable to me, because of her fears and insecurities, as well as her loyalty and bravery. Rex was well written, complex, yet honorable. Fast paced, and highly entertaining, I loved every minute of this book, because everything from previous books was being turned in it’s head and kept me guessing as to how this could all work out in the end. A highly satisfying conclusion to a fantastic series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Jody Hedlund saved the best for last in her Lost Princesses series! I was so thrilled to read the conclusion to this story, but I wish it didn’t have to end. With a strong romance thread and a healthy dose of action, Hereafter was, hands down, my favorite book in this amazing series.
Emmeline, the final lost princess, was raised always knowing her identity and living in fear of the day King’s Ethelwulf’s men would come for her. Ethelrex, now the crown prince of Mercia, has been sent by his father to capture and marry Emmeline in the hope of crushing the rebellion. Emmeline and Rex’s growing attraction despite being on opposite sides of the conflict felt authentic and I was truly rooting for their romance to succeed.
I loved seeing the fight for Mercia from Rex’s point of view. Despite his fierce exterior and his father’s ruthlessness, he was truly an honorable man and his commitment to his vows was swoon worthy. His struggle to balance honoring his father’s wishes and his own moral compass was heart wrenching.
I cannot recommend this series enough! The romance is sigh inducing, the action is gripping, and the fantasy elements are exciting. I can only hope there will be more medieval romance to come from Hedlund in the future! I would recommend The Lost Princesses for fans of Tamara Leigh, Melanie Dickerson and, of course, any of Hedlund’s other works.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
A perfect end to a great series! I loved the characters in this book and really enjoyed reading about how their love, which was initially forced, develops and changes as it faces trials over and over again. The romance is clean and certainly appropriate for young adults. The characters were also individually challenged to grow into strong and courageous people. The ending has a wonderful conclusion to the fight for the crown and the lost princesses we have met in the other books. I think it is best to read this series in order as it gives you the most background for this final story. There are great lessons of faith and life, applicable for any reader, intertwined among beautiful descriptions of dense forests, majestic castles, and dashing knights and princesses. This series is directed toward young adult readers, but I think you will enjoy the books no matter your age! I was a little sad as I read the last page, simply because I never wanted this series to end, but the conclusion to this series was absolutely perfect! I highly recommend this novel and this series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Wonderful ending to an exciting series! I really enjoyed how each book continued the story of the sisters. You don’t need to read the previous book to understand the story (although I would recommend it) but I love how they all tie in together.
This third and final book takes a completely different twist right from the beginning. What you feared would happen to the other sisters (her hiding place being discovered after all these years)- happens! Princess Emmaline is forced away from her peaceful life and must face her fears in order to save her family and ultimately her kingdom. I love how the story progressed and thought it was a very well done conclusion to the series.
Jody Hedlund is a gifted story teller. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction.
Hereafter is the third and final installment from Jody Hedlund young adult series, The Lost Princesses. I loved this book, even though, I am sad to say goodbye to the series. Emmeline and Ethelrex had wonderful chemistry from the start. I had no problem having this whole tale read in one sitting.
I give Hereafter a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend this book, as well as, the rest of the series for readers who love a sweet, clean, adventurous story.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Like the novella, Always, and the other novels, Evermore and Foremost, Emmeline and Rex’s story is full of adventure, danger, and romance. The theme throughout the book is courage. Will Emmeline have the courage to do what it takes to create peace? Will Rex have the courage to follow the honor in his heart? There were so many wonderful lines about courage, and I loved how Emmeline’s faith played such a large part in her finding her own.
It’s hard to say I have a favorite princess, but I would probably pick Emmeline. She is strong and wise, like her sister Adelaide but also compassionate and caring like Maribel. But it is her determination to follow her own way–to seek peace when war is all around her–that sets her apart.
Rex is an unlikely hero. Brawny and handsome, sure, but an enemy to the princesses. But his honor defines him and shapes him over time into a man worthy of the title of hero. Even though I have a distinct dislike for King Ethelwulf, I found myself cheering for Rex.
In this final part of the story, the lines between family and foe are blurred, but it’s this complicated web of loyalty and deception that kept me hanging on page by page. I loved the danger Emmeline and Rex faced together, the tender love that dared to grow between them and the inner strength they found together.
Hereafter is a beautiful conclusion to The Lost Princesses series. I’ve loved each princess’s story, but I must confess I love this one the most.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Excellent ending to the series! Courage, wisdom and healing are three amazing gifts we each possess that can be used for good throughout our lives. These princesses have discovered the true meaning and ability of ruling a country with these gifts. A must read series!
In this third book, Emmeline quickly discovers her gift of courage and overcomes her fears amidst severe trials and an initially forced marriage.
A fantastic story line created with characters of depth. Excellent story!!
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists,
and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive
reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this
in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This is the final installment of the Lost Princesses Series from Jody Hedlund.
Oh my! My heart was totally engaged in this fast paced, adventurous and intriguing, sweet and passionate at the same time, wonderful and inspiring, medieval romance! I can truly say without hesitating that I had a hard time putting it down and that I stayed late into the night to finish this incredible trilogy! Wow! I love Jody Hedlund’s books and I really thought, since this was a YA trilogy, that in no way it culd surpass her adult novels, but I was wrong! This is one of her best yet written stories! And even if it’s directed to young adults I found it more than perfect for adults too and couldn’t stop myself from reading each book and then eagerly awaiting the next! I was really glad that the release of each book was close to the previous one, because I would have hated to wait so long to find out how this story would develop with each lost princess until the very end, and how they would reach a satisfactory end and Happily ever After. And wow, I loved how she ended the series with this last book, it was truly awesome!
This is Emmeline’s story, the third sister of the lost princesses, and I couldn’t imagine what her role would be in ending Ethelwulf’s terror reign and bringing peace to the Kingdom. We already had Queen Adelaide (eldest) and Princess Maribel in Norland recruiting the loyal people and the help of the Norlanders to plan an attack on King Ethelwulf’s kingdom. In the previous stories we get to see how King Etherwulf of Warwick attacks Mercia, and imposes his ruling after the King and Queen of Mercia die, one due to war wounds, and the other after giving birth to the twins. The princesses are saved by Elite Guard Lance and Lady Felicia, and later separated in order to hide them better and keep them out of reach from the evil King’s clutches. Now, only Emmeline remains hidden, but, contrary to her sisters, she has always known of her identity as one of the princesses. But living a happy and secluded life with her adopted parents, Lance (who became a local charcoal burner) and Felicia, she want’s nothing to do with the rebellion that’s forming against the King. But just as her father is trying to convince her to leave together to Norland and join her sisters in the rebellion, they are assaulted by Prince Ethelrex, the strongest knight in the Kingdom, who has been searching for the lost princess with his father’s orders to marry her in order to seal an alliance with the heirs of Mercia and undermine the rebellion.
Ethelrex is a strong, yet compassionate man. He wants to make his father proud above everything and this quest might be the only opportunity to prove himself worthy to be his her and future King. So when he captures Emmeline, he forces her to marry him. But since he’s a man of one piece and a faithful man, he really vows lo love her and cherish her until death, and he intends to do that, every passing moment falling more in love with this amazing, beautiful and corageous woman that melts his heart. But does he have a chance to win her heart after coercing her to marry him? And what should he do when the King forces them to search for King Solomon’s ancient treasure in the laberynth of death that Emmeline knows almost by heart, but also knows that it might easily take them to their death too?
I can’t really say which of this stories I loved more. I fell in love with each of the characters of the previous stories, their braveness, their loyalty and compassion. But in this one, I loved that the relationship was more complex than the others. Emmeline was joining the enemy and she was at odds at the same time she was falling in love with his worst enemy’s son. Rex was a wonderful charachter too, and I loved how he slowly changes his vision of things thanks to Emmeline. He was a good man, but his obedience and loyalty to his father blinded him too. Will it be too late when he realizes that he can’t be loyal to his father and be a good person at the same time, or worse a fair future King. I loved the last part. I won’t spoil it, but I will say I shed a few tears. I loved the way the story is told in first person and that we get to know exactly what the character thinks. I truly wanted to shake Rex a few times. But it all ends well. Not only well, but the ending was amazing!!
This is really an inspirational book, there is so much message behind, about integrity, loyalty, and above all, about being what God made you to be, making the most of the gifts God gives you. Emmeline realices this at some point. And each princess has a special God given gift. You’ll have to find out which was Emmeline’s when you read the book. I truly loved it! And it shows how riches are not what makes you rich, it’s what you have inside what truly matters and makes you rich, to God and to others.
I truly recommend this book, and the whole trulogy of course, to young adults and older people alike. I think you’ll enjoy it: deep and compelling characters, non-stop adventure and life or death peril, and a sweet and endearing love that will have you swooning every second!
Thanks Jody for a womderful series! I’m sure I’ll be re-reading it again soon!
I received a complimentary copy from the author but wasn’t required to write a positive review. This is totally my honest and unbiased opinion.
What a fantastic finale to the Lost Princess series! I could not put it down, I was so intrigued at seeing how story would play out and how the evil king would finally be defeated. Hereafter is a satisfying conclusion with lots of romance, action and twists and turns. I was completely surprised at a couple of the twists and Jody wove a brilliant tale. I was also surprised at Jody’s match for Emmaline and how that worked in to the story. Well done!
I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
As I prepared to read this final novel in Jody Hedlund’s The Lost Princesses series, I could not wait to find out how the journey would end. I just knew it would be exciting and romantic, and I was not disappointed. Jody has concluded her series in the best way possible- a completely rewarding conclusion with lots of unexpected twists.
Emmeline is a delightful heroine. We meet her in the comfort of the forest where she has lived her whole life, shadowed by her pet fox. She has always known she was one of Mercia’s lost princesses, raised by Lance and Felicia from Always, and though she knows they are not her parents, there is no one in the world dearer to her. She was trained by Lance to be a warrior and Felicia to be lady- essential qualities in a princess destined to retake her kingdom… but Emmeline would much rather her life stay exactly as it is.
But ruthless King Ethelwulf has other plans. He sends his best soldier, his son crown prince Ethelrex, to find Emmeline and to immediately marry her in order to neutralize the growing threat from her older sisters Adelaide and Maribel, who are seeking to retake Mercia from Ethelwulf’s clutches. But in Rex we find a surprise… a tough man with a carefully concealed heart.
When Rex meets Emmeline, it’s not the best start to a relationship. In order to coerce her to cooperate, he has to convince her he’s willing to torture her parents. In order to save them, Emmeline goes with Rex- with every intention of escaping before anything irreversible could happen.
Needless to say, Emmy finds herself abruptly married to Rex… and finding glimpses of tenderness and mercy in all of his actions, she begins to wonder if there’s a way she can bring about a peaceful end to the war through her marriage after all.
I loved Emmeline and Rex’s story of slowly uncovering truth and love. And I LOVED the way Jody crafted all the loose ends to bring the story to its conclusion, especially when the princesses discover the gifts God gave each of them are truly the greatest treasure: wisdom, healing, and courage.
Emmeline’s journey from fear to courage is my favorite lesson from the whole series. Her growth to courage and confidence in her decisions and in herself, with God’s help, is something any girl (young or old) reading this novel needs to hear. I was also immensely proud of Rex as the book progressed- his self-awareness and decisions to be true to himself and his vows, despite all the pressure he’s under, makes him into a true hero.
This series is highly recommended from me for any age, and I do very strongly encourage you to read them in order, most especially in quick succession! One day very soon I plan to start over and do just that!
A huge thank you to Jody Hedlund for the privilege of promoting this series!
As always, Hedlund sets the stage with descriptive historical details and relatable characters in this clean romance, suitable for adults and older teens. The faith element is evident but not heavy-handed; it is evident in the character’s lives and their decisions. Despite their marriage under duress, Ethelrex and Emmeline want to honor their marriage vows as a lifetime commitment. The story is filled with twists to keep the reader engaged from start to finish, with a conclusion that will satisfy the reader. The reader will be satisfied in the fulfillment of the prophecy, the discovery or the treasure, and the final conclusion.
Disclaimer: Book reviews are my honest opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write reviews, nor to even post positive reviews.
I was excited to find out how this series would end and Hereafter was much better than I had imagined. Emmeline is the last lost princess and I enjoyed watching her learn lessons as her adventure unfolded. As she learned how to develop courage, she found the strength she needed to face dire circumstances. During her struggles, she entered into a very confusing romance. Amidst the fight for the kingdom, this epic romance develops which is unique and full of challenges. While this medieval story is clean and appropriate for young adults, I think that this fiction is for all ages. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
“Hereafter” is the third book in the Lost Princesses series. It is important to have read the first two books, plus the prequel novella, before reading “Hereafter” to be able to fully understand what is going on. I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Hearafter” and am sad we don’t have any more princesses to have more stories. The story was well written and I was drawn into the lives of Emmeline and Rex. I’ll be honest and say I was a little dismayed to discover that Emmeline would marry Rex, because Rex is the enemy. I devoured the story to discover how everything would work out and who would be the ruler in Mercia. I liked Emmeline’s feistiness and courage. I look forward to reading more books by Jody Hedlund in the future.
I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.
Author Jody Hedlund is a master at telling a story. With words she creates a picture that evokes a myriad of emotions her characters are experiencing. From the beginning The Lost Princesses series is quite the adventure. I cried, applauded, and thought ‘you deserved that’ through one escapade after another. In Hereafter, Book Three, we are introduced to the last princess, Emmeline, who was raised differently than her sisters, Queen Adelaide Constance and Princess Maribel. She believes she lacks courage, but will she finally realize her sister Adelaide is right? “Courage is not the absence of fear but the determination to persevere when circumstances are at their worst.” Will Emmeline find the hope and courage God bestows? The author does a great job tying all the loose ends complete with a dramatic and surprising ending. I recommend you start with the novella, Always, although each is standalone. You will delight in this fairytale journey even if you’re beyond Young Adult. A lovely gift idea!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The opinions are my own.
I am standing in awe of Jody Hedlund! This was the perfect ending to this amazing series! I was so anxious to read it, but as I got closer to the end, I wanted to slow down so it wouldn’t end!! The characters of Emmeline and Rex were so well defined. The story so well written, I felt as if I was right there with them! This book could be read as a stand alone. But… it is sooooo much better if you read them in order. There are many wonderful lessons to learn throughout this series. To know that God is with us, to bouy us up, when things become hard. That we must dig deep in our souls to find courage to go on. Jody Hedlund is an author that can make you feel so many emotions through her writing. I would highly recommend this book (series). For young adult to old age like me! (Wink) It is a clean, Christian, romance, adventure fairy tale!! From me
Emmeline, raised as the daughter of a charcoal burner deep in the forest, has always known her true identity as a princess–and she has never wanted to embrace it. She’s perfectly happy living with her adoptive parents away from civilization, other than the fact that she’s constantly afraid they’ll be found. When her parents tell her it’s time to join her two sisters and claim her true identity as a princess, fighting against the evil King Ethelwulf, she doesn’t want to. Before she can figure out a different plan, however, King Ethelwulf’s soldiers arrive at her home, and in order to spare her parents from being tortured, Emmeline agrees to go with them. She hopes to be able to escape, particularly knowing that the plan is to force her to wed Ethelwulf’s heir, Ethelrex, but she’s not counting on her reaction to Rex, who is different than she expected anyone associated with Ethelwulf to be.
Rex has trained to be the most elite warrior in his father’s forces. He is deeply loyal to his father and will marry Emmeline as he’s expected to–but he’s not expecting to fall for her, especially not so quickly. With his father and his wife at odds, Rex, who is just as committed to his marriage vows as he is to his father, must reconsider his path in life.
I’ve enjoyed the previous books and prequel novella in this series, but this book is easily my favorite. I just loved it. Rex was such an intriguing character; the heir to an evil, brutal ruler, he has been taught violence and domination, but he also has a deep moral compass and wants to do what’s right. I loved seeing how he interacted with Emmeline–both the times he was totally sweet and the times he failed her as he struggled to figure out how to please her and his father. As for Emmeline, I really liked seeing her try to figure out what she should do to try to establish peace in the kingdom as well as trying to sort out her feelings for Rex. This was a great conclusion to a terrific series…and I already want to go re-read it!
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the author. All opinions are my own.