Readers Await This Dramatic Conclusion to the Beacons of Hope Series Tessa Taylor arrives in 1870s Upper Peninsula, Michigan, planning to serve as a new teacher to the town. Much to her dismay, however, she immediately learns that there was a mistake, that the town had requested a male teacher. Percival Updegraff, superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through winter since they … can stay through winter since they won’t be able to locate a new teacher before then, and Tessa can’t help but say she is in his debt. Little does she know that Percival will indeed keep track of all that she owes him.
Determined to become indispensable, Tessa throws herself into teaching, and soon the children of the widowed lighthouse keeper have decided she’s the right match for their grieving father. Their uncle and assistant light keeper, Alex Bjorklund, has his own feelings for Tessa. As the two brothers begin competing for her hand, Tessa increasingly feels that someone is tracking her every move, and she may not be able to escape the trap that has been laid for her.
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Loved this story! Full disclosure, I’ve been to this lighthouse and love the setting, so it would have had to be a real goose egg for me not to like it, but I more than liked it. The characters are diverse and interesting, the plot is unique, and the setting … did I mention that I love the setting? And overall themes of sacrifice and redemption are beautifully handled without knocking the reader over the head. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
I gave book #2 in this series a pretty bad review, but I read book #3 anyway and enjoyed it. The setting is upper peninsula Michigan and the lighthouses and the copper mines during the 1800’s. It’s a harsh climate and an isolated area, but the people learn to survive. Of course, there is a love interest, but it’s not quite as melodramatic as the last one! I recommend it.
I am always intrigued by a story that highlights a character that was not well-loved in a previous book. If you’ve read Hearts Made Whole, then you know Tessa wasn’t the most likeable secondary character. It made me so eager to read her story in Undaunted Hope, and the wait was certainly worth it. Tessa has matured and realized the error of her old ways. However, she still has a certain sass and isn’t afraid to step out in a profession that had traditionally been held by men. For me her character is what made this novel shine, along with the vibrant setting and rich historical detail.
Tessa is one of my favorite heroines that Jody has written thus far. She’s got spunk that comes across in a realistic way. Her limitations as a woman are true to the time period, when reputation was everything for a woman. This story also portrays an important truth about the consequences of past mistakes. Even after you make the decision to become a different kind of person, the effects of those old choices are hard to overcome. However, with time, effort and God’s help, it can be done. Tessa’s journey as she strives to overcome the mistakes of her past is one that had my complete empathy and admiration.
The secondary characters really stand out in this story. Brothers Alex and Michael, the children, and even prickly Nadine create such an endearing group of people. I really enjoyed the development of these relationships and the genuine feeling that is upheld throughout the entire story. The plot is especially well-paced. Everything flows naturally and realistically throughout the story. Though the romance for me isn’t the highlight of this story, it is still Jody’s trademark style, with a dramatic rescue and several tender moments.
It seems that I gush about this with every novel of Jody’s, but the historical detail here is so well-done. These people had such a hard life, full of back-breaking, dangerous work. I could imagine the bone-deep cold of the coastal breeze and the helplessness of the miners as they bowed to the whims of selfish boss. That he was based on a real-life historical figure brought even more depth to the story. The setting and time period quickly come to life and stay strong throughout the story’s entirety.
I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s so neat that Jody brought back characters from the novella that starts the Beacons of Hope series – it gives the feeling of completion within that storyline, and also provides a little bit of set-up for the next book in the series. I’m always a little sad when I finish one of Jody’s novels because it means another wait for her new release – thankfully the next book is set to come out in June of this year, so we don’t have to wait too long – but it’s also neat to get a glimpse of a character that readers will get to meet soon. If you haven’t read this series yet, definitely do. Though this book could be read as a stand-alone, the story felt even richer having experienced Tessa’s past in the previous book. I highly recommend Undaunted Hope for fans of romantic inspirational historical fiction.