1865
Windmill Point, Michigan
Can She Forgive the Hurting Man Who Costs Her the Role She Loves?
After her father’s death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren’t supposed to have such roles, so it’s only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper–even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other job available to her.
Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He’s secured the position of lighthouse keeper mostly for the isolation–the chance to hide from his past is appealing. He’s not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who’s angry with him for taking her job and for his inability to properly run the light. When his failings endanger others, he and Caroline realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but he’s unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. Caroline feels drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their loss to a future filled with hope…and possibly love?
-
Sexual Content - 1/5
1/5
-
Violence - 1/5
1/5
-
Language - /5
/5
-
Drugs and Alcohol - 1/5
1/5
Summary
\"God is good . . . . . all the time\"; her father's mantra. Correction; her dead father's mantra. Caroline Taylor is acquainted with grief, now that both parents have drowned on Michigan's Lake St. Clair, practically in front of the Windmill Point Lighthouse where her father was the keeper. Named as an interim lighthouse keeper, Claire is not taken completely by surprise when her replacement arrives; an unkept, emotionally and physically broken Civil war veteran by the name of Ryan Chambers, who knows practically nothing about lighthouses. However, Caroline is panic-stricken over how she is going to take care of her very ill sister and three younger siblings without an income or housing. When the simple-minded son of the local tavern owner proposes marriage, she is strangely tempted to consider the offer, for no other reason than to provide for her family. Ryan Chambers has turned to alcohol and opium to alleviate the mental and physical distress of his horrific injury, having been unable to secure steady employment until he is offered the job at Windmill Point. Captivated by the lovely, compassionate, young light keeper, he arranges to bunk in her boat house while she tutors him, thus delaying the eventual upheaval of her family. When a series of suspicious events causes Caroline to consider the fact that someone may be trying to force her exit, she becomes frantic to protect those whom she holds dear. And as Ryan begins to return to full health, re-discovering his faith in the God whom he desperately needs, neither of them could have predicted the sacrifices that love will eventually demand. This story is beautifully written, with a \"love comes softly\" and forcefully kind of romantic cadence, but do not be prematurely lulled into the \"happily-ever-after\" frame of mind. Jody Hedlund's final chapters are not for the faint of heart, yet it is those very chapters that vault this book into the five star \"it was amazing\" category. Read and enjoy \"Hearts Made Whole\"!
Violence-There are several violent events, but very little graphic descriptions.
Drug & Alcohol-One of the main characters has a strong alcoholic tendency in the beginning of the story.