"Together Forever" by Jody Hedlund

Together Forever (May 1, 2018) by Jody Hedlund.*

As a placing agent with the Children’s Aid Society in 1858 New York, Marianne Neumann’s focus is on her young charges, those whom she has cared for and groomed in hopes of uniting them with new families. And she is focused on them, but her main objective in taking the agent job is the potential opportunity it gives her to seek her sister Sophie. But as she is an empathetic female agent on her first placing-out trip to small towns in Illinois, she can’t help but let her heart get attached to some of the children, dear as they are, and most with pasts too painful for even adults to bear.

            The male agent on the placing-out trip is Andrew “Drew” Brady. Marianne tries hard not to let her interest in him show, but fails. The former schoolteacher knows he’s handsome and charming, but he surprises Marianne with his easy way with the children, whether he’s being firm or tender and friendly, voicing instructions to behave or regaling the group with a story. He’s struck by Marianne, her competitive, yet sweet, spirit and her compassion for the children. But there is a part of him missing, the part he likes to keep hidden, as horrible guilt from a secret in his past threatens to drown him. Unfortunately, tragedy isn’t done with him yet.

            Hedlund’s inspirational fiction novel, which is the second in her Orphan Train series, tugs at one’s heartstrings as it stays historically grounded. The pacing felt a little slow to me at times, but I love the perspectives of the main characters. Hedlund gives us a fresh take when it comes to placing-out trips or “orphan trains.” Instead of honing in on the perspective of a child, the author takes us on a train ride from the viewpoint of placing agents. It’s stressful and tiring, and record-keeping then isn’t what it would be now. To say that Marianne and Drew make the best of tough situations is an understatement. While Drew walks by faith, he struggles with guilt and lacks inner strength for himself, though he puts on a positive façade. Marianne’s faith grows, but it isn’t without effort at first. There is healing and forgiveness to be done at present in hopes for togetherness and love for the foreseeable future.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”