Evermore by Jody Hedlund

Evermore, by Jody Hedlund
Series: The Lost Princesses, Book 1
Published: Northern Lights Press (August 27, 2019)

REVIEWED BY KELLY GOSHORN

The story opens with Adelaide masquerading as her male cousin in a joust. Soon after, she learns that her true identity is the Crown Princess of Mercia. From that moment forward, she is on a quest to restore peace and prosperity to her kindgom, which is now being ruled by the evil King Ethelwulf.

From the very beginning I was intrigued with Hedlund’s well drawn characters, especially the heroine, Adelaide. Adelaide is a spirited heroine whose strength comes from her noble character, her compassion for her subjects, and her faith in God. Though she struggles to imagine herself as the future Queen of Mercia, her character grows during the story and she is finally able to embrace the destiny God has planned for her.

Though her “cousins” Mitchell and Christopher are at odds with one another, they both vow to protect Adelaide and see her safely restored to the throne of Mercia. Both young men prove themselves to be heroes worthy of Adelaide’s affections, and their characters grow throughout the story as they face danger around every turn and willingly sacrifice they’re own safety to protect Adelaide. Though they are vastly outnumbered at first, it doesn’t take long for word to spread that Princess Constance has been found and as the people learn of her genuine kindness and concern, they come to her aid.

The plot moved quickly with twists and turns that kept me swiping the electronic pages of my Kindle long after I should have gone to bed. There is plenty of action and adventure as the trio, and their growing entourage, must battle the king’s elite knights repeatedly. The romance was was wonderfully written as well. You could feel the angst between Adelaide and Christopher as they struggle to deal with the growing attraction between them. Hedlund gives you plenty of swoon-worthy moments while keeping the romance sweet enough for YA readers.

“If only love came more easily. But then, love wouldn’t mean as much if one could gain it without any cost whatsoever.”

Evermore, Jody Hedlund

As a writer of historical romance, I found this medieval tale packed full of historical details. From the description of the body armor to the dialogue brimming with antiquated words (so glad I could click on my Kindle dictionary), Hedlund steeps the reader in the Middle Ages and takes you on a journey back in time.

While the story is packed with spiritual themes like love, faith and forgiveness, what stands out most to me is the quest Adelaide and Christopher are on to fulfill their God-given destiny. There were so many obstacles that stood in their way, so many opportunities to let fear overtake them. At any point they could have chosen to play-it-safe. Instead, they chose to put their faith in God and allow him to work His perfect will in their lives. It was a strong reminder that God often chooses to work through ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary plan. Not our will but thine be done.

Readers who enjoy YA fiction or historical romance will enjoy this book. I’ve been wanting to read a Jody Hedlund book for quite a long time and I have to say that her other books I’ve been accumulating on my Kindle won’t have to wait long to see the light of day.

I happily give Evermore, five well-deserved fish!

I read the Kindle version of Evermore.