Together Forever - A Review

Published - May 2018, Bethany House
Series - Orphan Train Book 2
Author - Jody Hedlund
Title - Together Forever
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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About the book:
Marianne Neumann has one goal in life: to find her lost younger sister, Sophie. When Marianne takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York, she not only hopes to give children a better life but seeks to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train. Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with the children--firm but tender and funny. Underneath his handsome charm, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away--and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden. As the two team up placing orphans amid small railroad towns in Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. I loved a more in depth look at the Orphan Trains. I remember loving the Joan Lowery Nixon books called the Orphan Train Quartet. This book reminded me of that series. 

I admit that I didn't care much for Marianne in the first book. She grew on me here. I loved Drew. He was so fun. I'm looking forward to reading Sophie's story when it comes out.

Other tidbits I found fascinating included the House of Refuge and the Newsboys Lodging House. I had always thought that those existed only in Newsies, one of my all time favorite musicals. It was interesting to see that those two places truly did exist in NYC beyond just in Newsies. 

I received a copy of the book from the publisher on behalf of the author in order to help promote. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Jody Hedlund, historical fiction, Karen Witemeyer

Rating - 4 stars