Unending Devotion
Unending Devotion book cover

Unending Devotion

by
Price
$35.18
Format
Paperback
Pages
384
Publisher
Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date
Dimensions
1.25 x 5.75 x 8.75 inches
Weight
12 ounces

Description

Michigan, 1883In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer's assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan--and the sights of Connell McCormick. Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father and figures as long as he's living an upright life, that's what matters. But when Lily arrives in town she upends his world, forcing him to confront the truth that dangerous men have gained too much power while good men turn a blind eye. Vexing but persuasive, Lily soon secures Connell's help, drawing them ever closer to each other. Will standing for what's right cost them both everything?"Hedlund intricately balances romance and drama, asking where the line between good and evil lies and exploring the dangers that erupt when that line becomes blurred. Hedlund's tale is exciting and unpredictable to the very end." --Publishers Weekly"Full of period detail and engaging dialogue, Hedlund's ( A Noble Groom ) historical should appeal to Susan Higginbotham fans." -- Library Journal " Unending Devotion is a lovely and real representation of sisterly love and how even that can't compare to the love God has for us." --CBA Retailers and Resources Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of The Doctor's Lady and The Preacher's Bride . She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan, with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog at JodyHedlund.com.

Features & Highlights

  • High-Stakes Drama Meets High-Tension RomanceIn 1883 Michigan, Lily Young is on a mission to save her lost sister, or die trying. Heedless of the danger, her searches of logging camps lead her to Harrison and into the sights of Connell McCormick, a man doing his best to add to the hard-earned fortunes of his lumber baron father.Posing during the day as a photographer's assistant, Lily can't understand why any God-fearing citizen would allow evil to persist and why men like Connell McCormick turn a blind eye to the crime rampant in the town. But Connell is boss-man of three of his father's lumber camps in the area, and like most of the other men, he's interested in clearing the pine and earning a profit. He figures as long as he's living an upright life, that's what matters.Lily challenges everything he thought he knew, and together they work not only to save her sister but to put an end to the corruption that's dominated Harrison for so long.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(571)
★★★★
25%
(238)
★★★
15%
(143)
★★
7%
(67)
★
-7%
(-68)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Logging in michigan

Excellent book did some research found out my both of my maternal grandfathers were loggers in Michigan same area as book.
✓ Verified Purchase

Fabulous historical novel!

With intricate historical detail, sweeping drama, and the perfect dash of romance, UNENDING DEVOTION is a captivating read from beginning to end. Jody Hedlund does not shy away from difficult subjects, tackling the seedy side of logging camps, forced prostitution, and the apathy that exists when corruption becomes too big to fight against.

In Lily, Jody Hedlund has written a heroine with an unconditional love for her sister, and that love, that unending devotion toward Daisy is woven into a beautiful story that becomes a fantastic representation of God's love for us. Lily's strength and determination to do what is right, even in the face of powerful opposition, is an important reminder to all of us to stand up for what we believe in-to fight for good even when it seems easier to let evil prevail.

I really enjoyed how Connell grows and changes throughout the course of the book, starting out as someone who is determined not to get involved, and through falling for Lily, understanding the importance of standing up for what is right, no matter the danger or the consequences. Their love story is enchanting and wonderfully written and adds such a great layer to the story.

I highly recommend UNENDING DEVOTION and will be on the lookout for more books from Jody Hedlund!
✓ Verified Purchase

Great novel!

First off, let me say that I am often intrigued by the novels that take place around the logging industry, especially those in Michigan. Second of all, being from Michigan myself (and having some ancestry that dates back to the logging industry in Michigan), I tend to be critical of them. This novel did not disappoint... in fact as I was reading it I thought, wow, this author really did he research. I wasn't surprised to read in the author's bio that Jody Hedlund resides in Michigan. So her setting for this novel is totally spot-on.

The characters of Lily and Connell are extremely well developed. While in many ways, Lily seems a bit less flawed and seems almost too good, her spunk keeps you loving her. Connell on the other hand, feels like he is a man that you would really know. His struggles are relatable, and he isn't so good that you can't believe him. The minor characters in the story really add to the novel as well, primarily as a sense of humor.

This was the first novel I have read by this author, and I am really looking forward to reading another one of her novels.
✓ Verified Purchase

Enjoyable book full of history

The following is a review of the book Unending Devotion, by Jody Hedlund. Lily Young is an adult orphan trying to find her sister; who she thought was safe with an adoptive family, but runs away. Lily has a job as a photographer’s assistant and travels in central Michigan to logging camps as part of her work. She goes from brother to brothel seeking to save her sister, often saving others instead. She uses her faith and strength from God to save young girls who are caught up in the ugly shanty town lifestyles, and end up becoming prostitutes. She helps rally townspeople to make things better and overthrow a powerful tavern/brothel owner, who makes his own laws.

I enjoyed this book. I’ve been a Michigan resident my whole life, and this book brought some unsavory history to me about lumber towns. It resembles classic stories about newly developing towns and how they were full of men, taverns and lawlessness. It told of the struggle of building a town, trying to get churches and schools established, so respectable citizens and families would want to settle. It showed perseverance, and using God’s strength and grace to fight for what is right, even when the battle is hard.

This book was given to me as a review copy from Bethany House Publishing Group. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.
✓ Verified Purchase

Interesting Historical Fiction

Lily Young's sister is missing. Desperate to find her and keep her family safe and together, Lily travels from town to town, working as a photographers assistant, heedless of the dangers in Michigans logging communities. Eventually, her travels lead her to Harrison, Michigan and Connell McCormick.

Connell is working hard to build up his father's logging business. He keeps his business to himself and while he is an upright man himself, he ignores the wicked lifestyles of the men around him. But it gets harder to ignore the exploitation and filth when Lily comes to town and is determined to fight it at all costs. But will those costs be too high for both of them?

This was a very interesting historical fiction to me as my husband grew up in this part of the country. I enjoyed learning about the harsh conditions of the time through this story. It was also a good challenge not ignore injustices around us, but to take a stand for right, even when the cost may be high.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for a free copy of this book to review.

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