An Awakened Heart (Orphan Train, #0.5) by Jody Hedlund

Trying to heal the ache she feels in her empty life, wealthy Christine Pendleton decides to volunteer at Centre Street Chapel. Ministering to one of the most deprived parts of New York City, the chapel aims at making a difference in the lives of the impoverished immigrants flooding the city. After seeing firsthand the hopelessness of the poor women and orphans, Christine is convinced more can be done to help them.

Guy Bedell has been serving at the chapel and pouring his heart out for the people he's grown to care about. When Christine begins to challenge his methods and offers a new vision for reaching out to the community, can he trust that perhaps God has bigger plans in store for him--plans that may include this feisty socialite?

About The Author

Winner of the 2016 Christian Book Award for fiction and Christy Award for historical romance, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.

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.

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My Review

A page turner for sure, and then a cliff hanger, but then this is a prequel, and it sure did get my interest, and yes I will be reading With You Always, to be published on June 6, 2017.
This story brings to light the conditions of our immigrants in the tenements in New York City, a small community in a jungle of so many. We see the deplorable conditions, and things look so bleak for these people, especially the children. There are so many with no food or housing, and the life on the streets is horrible.
The story focuses on Elise Neumann, a German immigrant who has the responsibility of her younger sisters, as they are orphans. We see the working conditions in what is really small sweatshops set up in people’s homes. Deplorable.
Here is the link it is a free read, you don’t want to miss!
https://www.amazon.com/Awakened-Heart...