About the Book
Title: A Loyal Heart
Author: Jody Hedlund
Genre: Adult medieval romance
Release Date: March 6, 2018
He’s taken her as his prisoner. But she’s holding his heart captive. In gaining their freedom, will they lose what matters most?
When Lady Olivia’s castle is besieged, she and her sister are taken captive and held for ransom by her father’s enemy, Lord Pitt. Loyalty to family means everything to Olivia. She’ll save her sister at any cost and do whatever her father asks—even if that means obeying his order to steal a sacred relic from her captor.
As Lord Pitt’s commander, Sir Aldric is in charge of the beautiful but feisty new prisoner. He has his hands full attempting to keep Lady Olivia out of trouble. When Lord Pitt throws her in the dungeon and threatens to hang her for stealing, Aldric conceives a plot to save Olivia’s life—betrothal to him.
Can Olivia give up the prestigious match her father has arranged with a wealthy marquess in order to marry a lowly knight like Aldric? And can Aldric move beyond his past mistakes to embrace love again? When loyalties are tested, they’re thrust into danger that could cost them their love and their lives.
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My Review
“A Loyal Heart” by Jody Hedlund is a book I could
not put down! This is the fourth book in
the “An Uncertain Choice” series. I have
read and loved all of the books in this series, but one can definitely read
this book as a standalone. This book may
just be my favorite one out of the series!
What makes this book so great? Well first of all, it includes knights and a
kick-butt heroine during the medieval time period! Ms. Hedlund has awesome characters that young
and old alike can relate to. Lady
Olivia, our heroine, is a warrior; isn’t afraid to
fight; and is feisty, stubborn and proud.
Olivia grew up practicing sword drills and fighting maneuvers instead of
sitting around doing needlework. She is
no damsel in distress. While our hero is imprisoned, Olivia must risk her life
to save those she loves. I love that Olivia struggles with true fear when faced
with possibly being executed. In her fear, she turns to Christ and prays
more than she ever has. She also struggles
with trying to earn her father’s approval and learning about seeking God’s
approval first and foremost.
Our hero, Sir Aldric, is noble,
chivalrous and kind. I think many
readers will find him swoon-worthy. I
love how he tries to be above reproach physically and even has a chaperone with
himself and Olivia in certain situations where they might be tempted. Sir Aldric and Lady Olivia have some great
bantering scenes. I especially like the
scene where the two banter while dancing, reminding me a lot of the famous “Pride
and Prejudice” dancing scene.
This is a book I’d feel comfortable giving to a
pre-teen or teen. It has action,
adventure, romance and great values. Ms.
Hedlund deals with the issue of loyalty, and how we
need to be loyal to God and His ways first, instead of just trying to please
men. Our characters also learn about becoming
stronger through their failures and that one’s past doesn’t define them. I highly recommend this book!
Content: This is a clean read with a PG rating for
some minor content. Some examples of the
content are: a man has a past of drinking and gambling: someone has tried to
commit suicide in their past, they also drank and gambled; there’s a situation
where a man is taking a bath and a woman unknowingly enters the room, when she
realizes he’s there she doesn’t see anything and nothing improper happens;
characters drink ale with a meal; some violence; a character is asked if
they’ve been defiled by the enemy; some torture.
Rating: I
give this book 5 stars!
Genre:
Christian fiction; Historical fiction; Romance; Young Adult; Medieval
I want to thank Jody Hedlund,
Celebrate Lit and Northern Lights for the complimentary copy of this book for
review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express
in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade
Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
About the Author
Jody Hedlund is the author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.
Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).
When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.
Guest Post from Jody Hedlund
The Growing Need for Sweet Young Adult Romances
By Jody Hedlund
This past year my youngest daughter turned twelve and entered seventh grade. And she decided that she wanted to read my books.
Of course I was thrilled that she was taking an interest in my writing. But since my adult historical romances are more intense and contain some mature themes, I handed her the young adult series I’ve written.
As she started the first book, I peeked in her room a time or two to ask her how she liked it.
“It’s the best book you’ve ever read, right?” I teased.
“It’s okay,” she replied, teasing me right back.
The true test for how much she liked the series came when she couldn’t put the book down. She hid away in her room and read all day. Then she read the second book the next day and the third book the day after that.
She never did gush over the series. But she didn’t need to. Her serious reading marathon told me all I needed to know! Then when I was writing the fourth book in the series, she asked me if she could read it
early before it was published which was another testament to how much she enjoyed the series.
“As long as you promise to say that I’m your favorite author,” I said, teasing her again.
I’m happy to say that she finished
A Loyal Heart just as quickly as the others. Although I’m not sure that I’m her favorite author, I’m satisfied that she loved the series.
Even more, I’m thrilled that I could hand her sweet romances full of chivalrous qualities—like courage, sacrifice, honor, and loyalty. As she’s being entertained, she’s learning lessons about character traits that are important in relationships.
My daughter, like other young teens I’ve talked to, really enjoys medieval settings and stories. In some ways, those kinds of stories connect them to the princess fairy tales they used to love when they were little. Let’s face it, even adult readers still love stories about knights and castles and daring damsels!
In a book market for teens that has grown increasingly dark, jaded, and sexual, I only wish I had more to offer my daughter and other young women. It’s my passion to continue providing wholesome, clean romances for teens, books I know will encourage and uplift as well as entertain.
How about YOU? Is there a teen reader you know who needs an alternative to what’s available in the market? I encourage you to gift them with
A Loyal Heart. And make sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win the entire series that you can read, pass along, or even gift to your library.
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award. She lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!). When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.
Blog Stops
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jody is giving away a grand prize of An Uncertain Choice, A Daring Sacrifice, For Love & Honor, and A Loyal Heart!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
