“Never Forget” ~ Book Review

Jan 9, 2017 by Rachel

Welcome back to Rachel’s Back Talk! I’m so glad you could join me again. Today I am reviewing Jody Hedlund’s book, Never Forget, the 5th book in her Beacons of Hope series!

 

As is my custom, if I could ask Jody one question about Never Forget it would be — “What made you want to give Nathaniel his own ‘lighthouse’ story?” And if you want to know why I asked that question, I guess you’ll just have to read the book to find out!

 

And without further ado, onto Rachel’s Back Talk!

 

                                                                   

 

From the Back Cover:

Rose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island
June 1880

Will she betray his trust to stay on the island she loves?

Abbie Watson is content to spend her days clamming, crabbing, and tending Rose Island Lighthouse. Her grandpa is the head light keeper, but his senility may lead to their eviction. Since leaving the island would kill her beloved Gramps, Abbie will do anything to keep him in the one place he knows and loves.

Wealthy Nathaniel Winthrop III’s wild living has gained him a reputation as the ‘bad boy’ among the elite social circles of Newport. After a blow to the head in a yachting accident washes him up on Rose Island, Nathaniel has no memories of his past.

Abbie tends the wounded stranger in her home only to realize he assumes they’re married. Although she knows she needs to correct Nathaniel’s mistake, his presence calms Gramps and provides a way to prevent eviction from the lighthouse.

The longer the charade continues, the harder it gets for Abbie to tell Nathaniel the truth, more so as she begins to fall in love. Everyone she’s ever loved has abandoned her. Will Nathaniel leave her too, once he discovers he’s not really her husband?

 

Rachel’s Back Talk

5 – award winning covers

            

And this was yet another Jody Hedlund book that I stayed up late into the night to finish! I have loved each and every one of her Beacons of Hope books, and this one was no exception! Jody is able to weave a masterful lighthouse story that has it’s own special meaning, different from the previous books. The historical detail allows the story to come to life and the characters to become lifelong friends.

Nathaniel’s story was absolutely perfect! Nathaniel was a very prominent secondary character in the fourth book, Forever Safe, and he was rather unliked — or at the least, not the favorite guy figure. Now though he had a chance to shine and be the perfect hero! Nathaniel was caring and loving. He was patient and was willing to change. Nathaniel knew what he had done in the past was wrong and he was willing to change the way he lived to show Abbie that he loved her again.

Abbie was also motivated by love — but her love was for her grandfather. Abbie was determined to do everything in her power to make sure that her grandfather remained safe and that he was happy as he grew older. She was even willing to risk her own love and happiness.

I loved how Nathaniel and Abbie both grew in this book and came to realize the importance of forgiveness and sacrificial love.

 

I received a free copy from the author. No review, positive or otherwise, was required — all opinions are my own.

 

Other books by Jody I will read next: 
An Awakened Heart (Orphan Train): An Orphan Train Novella

With You Always (Orphan Train)

For Love and Honor