The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund

 

I have loved Jody Hedlund’s books for the past five years, after reading her first YA (young adult) series, The Noble Knights. She has a third YA series releasing starting September of 2020.

This is book two in the series and it has characters from book one, which I LOVE! When I find a book that draws me in and I get to know the people in the stories, I want to know MORE of their story. I look forward to the other two books in the series.

HAUNTED BY MISTAKES IN HER PAST, WILL SHE EVER AGAIN TRUST HER HEART TO ANOTHER?

Wealthy Arabella Lawrence flees to British Columbia on a bride ship, still bearing the scars of past mistakes. One of the few single women in the boomtown, she immediately attracts suitors, but she is determined not to find herself trapped again by making a poor choice.

Vying for her hand are two very different men. Lieutenant Richard Drummond is a gentleman in the Navy, held in high esteem. Peter Kelly is the town’s baker who has worked hard to build a thriving business. He and Drummond not only compete for Arabella’s affections, but also clash over their views of how the natives should be treated in the midst of a smallpox outbreak.

As Arabella begins to overcome her fears, she discovers someone in dire need–a starving girl left behind by her tribe. Intent on helping the child, Arabella leans on Peter’s advice and guidance Will she have the wisdom to make the right decision, or will seeking what’s right cost both her and Peter everything?

The Runaway Bride picks up Arabella’s story from book one. In The Reluctant Bride, we learn that she has some dark secrets. Someone has physically hurt her but we don’t learn who until this book. We learn pieces of her back story throughout the book. At first it seems like she is sort of stuck up, or too good for certain things. But we find deep down she is really a good hearted person that has just been conditioned to believe those things.

Peter is a great hero, he’s funny and hard working plus he cares about people. He is striving to do the right things in the right way, honorably. While this time period does seem so much simpler than now, it was harder in many ways. Those without wealth had to work very hard for everything they got. But we see in this story just how much sweeter that made life and how much more joy could be had.

A word that kept coming up was courage. Courage to do the right thing. Courage to overcome the fear and pursue truth. Courage to do what felt right instead of what society had decided was proper. Doing the right things and living the right way doesn’t always make for an easy life. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do the right thing.

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I hope you will check out this series and enjoy it as much as I am. I’m excited for book THREE!

**Take note that THIS is BOOK TWO in The Bride Ships series. Be sure to check out BOOK THREE: The Bride of Convenience, JUNE 2020 available for pre-order.

If you are interested in other books she has written and what order to read them in, HERE is a printable list. Enjoy!!!

Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of over twenty historical novels for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband, five busy teens, and five spoiled cats. Visit her website here.