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Unending Devotion

by Jody Hedlund (Goodreads Author)

4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 · rating details · 500 ratings · 142 reviews

Michigan, 1883
In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?

Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer's assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan--and the sights of Connell McCormick.

Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father a...more

Paperback, 374 pages

Published September 1st 2012 by Bethany House Publishers

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Sep 10, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historicalfiction, forreview, forpleasure, blog-tour-book

This was a creative way to bring the issue of sex slavery in the sex industry to the forefront of our minds once again. While those situations and that industry did exist, this story showed that apathy about something that seems too big to impact (like changing an entire town) can be done if one person is brave enough to take a chance and fight for what is right. Lily saw them as victims, and more than that, people. She didn't reduce them to "whores" in her mind like many of the townspeople, whi...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars

I wanted to give this book five stars, purely because of the importance of its subject matter (fighting sex trafficking and forced prostitution). I saw the book recommended on a blog that I enjoy so I figured I'd read it although these days, I do generally try to avoid romantic fiction, Christian or not. It's set in the late 1800s in Michigan and I did find the historical background of the story quite interesting.

I've been trying to figure out what was wrong with the writing and I think it comes...more I wanted to give this book five stars, purely because of the importance of its subject matter (fighting sex trafficking and forced prostitution). I saw the book recommended on a blog that I enjoy so I figured I'd read it although these days, I do generally try to avoid romantic fiction, Christian or not. It's set in the late 1800s in Michigan and I did find the historical background of the story quite interesting.

I've been trying to figure out what was wrong with the writing and I think it comes down to this: There's no subtlety. The characters are predictable - the very, very, very bad villian, the heroine (who happens to be gorgeous with long flowing hair) who is determined to solve the problem and protect her purity and chastity at the same time, the hero who isn't such a hero at the beginning but begins to see the light and takes his place in changing the world, etc, etc. There was too much of the, "I really find her sexually attractive but my mama taught me better so I'm going to wrench my eyes away from her bosom even though I want to look longer" kind of talk for my taste. (I'm really not exaggerating here either - that kind of blatant talk is all through the book.) It's telling when even though I agreed with everything the characters were saying in terms of chastity and integrity, I still was annoyed at them and just wanted them to be a little more real and nuanced.

I recently read an Alexander McCall Smith book (who is NOT a Christian writer). In it, one of the characters (who is happily married) sees an old girlfriend of his and fights to push back down images of their lovemaking. Then McCall Smith writes, "It was a vision sent by Eros, who does not ask our permission for his whisperings." This entire passage is far more effective at advancing the cause of chastity than the full-on assault of Unending Devotion. (I doubt that was McCall Smith's agenda when writing the book but it's the lesson I learned from it none-the-less.)

Good fiction doesn't have to sermonize to teach. This book tries too hard to teach and consequently fails, both in teaching and even in being more than a moderately enjoyable story to read. (less)

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Nov 24, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2D7O2U8...
Review on my blog (to be posted 9/17): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...

Unending Devotion is the first of Jody Hedlund's books I've read, but I don't think it'll be my last. After reading it, I now really want to read her previous novels!

I loved how some of the things in Unending Devotion actually took place in real life and that a few of the characters in this book were real people. It added a lot more meaning to the story and I j...more

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May 05, 2013 Rachel Brand rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, christian, historical, romance, new-authors-2013, 50-states-2013, 2013

I've just finished listening to this novel on audiobook, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the story, there's something that stops me from rating it above 4-stars. It's hard to put my finger on what I didn't love about this book, but ultimately, I think it has something to do with Lily's judgementalness and the holier-than-thou attitude the protagonists had about purity. I know that this accentuated their flawed, realistic characters and that they were challenged about their attitudes towards purit...more I've just finished listening to this novel on audiobook, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the story, there's something that stops me from rating it above 4-stars. It's hard to put my finger on what I didn't love about this book, but ultimately, I think it has something to do with Lily's judgementalness and the holier-than-thou attitude the protagonists had about purity. I know that this accentuated their flawed, realistic characters and that they were challenged about their attitudes towards purity, but I still felt that this novel sent very mixed messages about passion.

I appreciated that the author showed Lily realising how easy it was to be swept up into the passion of a moment, and how this helped her to understand how her sister--in her broken, helpless state--could be attracted to the attentions of a married man--but I felt like Lily took her actions to the complete opposite extreme, not allowing herself to be alone with Connell and making herself think that kissing him would be a bad idea. Sure, don't flirt with every guy who winks at you, but when you know you both have feelings for each other, why not kiss each other? Kissing does not need immediately to sex, folks ;)

I loved the light that this book shed on prostitution and white slavery, which are topics which are often romanticised or ignored in history. Even today, we like to believe that the women who sell their bodies for sex are evil temptresses trying to seduce our good men, and we ignore the fact that white slavery still takes place under our noses, in our Westernised countries. I don't know a lot about lumbering history in Michigan in this period, but the descriptions seemed pretty accurate, and they didn't skimp on the unattractive details. I would not have liked to be a woman in this period! I'm more and more impressed with the more realistic presentations of history that are cropping up in Christian Fiction lately--All in Good Time also dealt with prostitution, and Band of Sisters is a brutally truthful depiction of the struggles facing lone, female immigrants and white slavery in the US.

I was worried about the route that Daisy's story was going to take, but I was pleased that Jody showed how hard it is for women to leave prostitution, and that it's not as simple as taking a woman out of a brothel and sticking her in a nice, comfortable home. Not only is it hard to give up that life when the women are given fine clothes and trinkets, and are hooked on alcohol, but often it's the attentions of men that keep the women going and give them a sense of purpose. My heart wrenched when Lily witnessed her sister eagerly accepting the attentions of a married man mere days after she'd rescued her from her brothel. She just couldn't wrap her head around why Daisy would be going back to her "old ways", but I could see how Daisy was struggling to imagine a future for herself, tainted as she was, and that this man helped her to feel beautiful and useful again. I think this is something that a lot of Christians need to understand as we try to help modern-day Daisys.

As much as I loved the way Daisy's story was told, I felt that there were mixed messages about the future of women like her. Although there is hope offered at the end of the story, with the home for women escaping prostitution, there's also a throwaway comment about how Lily and Connell's purity has helped their relationship be so brilliant, etc. What hope does that offer for those who have not stayed pure--often not through their own choices? Or perhaps because no one ever told them about why they should stay pure? I've got to be honest here--I don't ever sit around thinking "Oh, my marriage would be so much more awesome if my husband had been a virgin when I met him." Purity is so much more than not having sex. I feel like we need to emphasise this more on Christian literature. It doesn't matter what has happened in your past, you can still live our a pure life. Losing your "virtue" doesn't doom you for life. I believe in a God of second chances, and I kind of wish this book had emphasised this more, for the Daisys of this world.

Honestly, I loved the historical aspect of this book, and the message it had about prostitution and white slavery. The romance was pretty good, too, once Connell and Lily got past their holier-than-thou fearful attitude towards purity and passion. There was a wonderful scene in the final chapter that really brought the whole romance together. This book also had some great secondary characters, as well as Daisy, of course. I just wish the messages about purity and relationships had been a bit more succinct. They seemed all over the place at times, and I worry that they might be projecting the wrong ideas to some readers. Do read this book--there is a lot wonderful stuff in here. But be discerning when it comes to the talk about ruined virtues, etc. 4*(less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-favorites

Again, Jody Hedlund has crafted one of the best books I've read all year–probably since I finished reading her second book, The Doctor’s Lady (last November).

There are books that I can tell are books... and then there are books that simply draw me in so far that I’m right there inside the characters. And I don’t want to leave. There are books that take me long days and even weeks to finish because I know I am reading a book... and that I keep having to read the book to see what happens in the e...more Again, Jody Hedlund has crafted one of the best books I've read all year–probably since I finished reading her second book, The Doctor’s Lady (last November).

There are books that I can tell are books... and then there are books that simply draw me in so far that I’m right there inside the characters. And I don’t want to leave. There are books that take me long days and even weeks to finish because I know I am reading a book... and that I keep having to read the book to see what happens in the end. And then there are books that I devour in a matter of two days that so envelop me into another world that I can hardly think of anything but opening the pages and finding out more.

Unending Devotion was THIS kind of book. And those two days of devouring Jody Hedlund’s words were not enough. I dreaded getting to the end, though it was all I could focus upon.

I know from attending a small writer’s conference last November, in which Jody Hedlund was the keynote speaker, that this book wasn’t exactly based on the life of one particular strong and courageous young woman’s true story as her two previous novels had been. However in the Author’s Notes at the back of the book she does explain that many of the situations and a number of the characters were part of the real history of the lumber era in Michigan.

Pure enjoyment. Superbly written characters and chapters. There is nothing more I can say to exemplify how pleased I was all the way through and all the way to the very last word of this book. I was already hooked on Jody Hedlund’s writing and story-forming skills after reading her first two books–but now? In the matter of just a few books she’s come to a place in my heart really only one other author has made it to, and that is Julie Lessman. And anyone who really knows me knows that I am completely and utterly in love with Julie Lessman’s books, characters and writing skills. Now I guess I’ll be applauding Jody Hedlund just as much.

But wow. Jody deserves it.

I was given a paperback copy of this book by Bethany House in order to read and give my honest review for this LitFuse Publicity Blog Tour. I give Unending Devotion 5 stars.
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Nov 07, 2012 Jordan Mierek rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received a copy of UNENDING DEVOTION by Jody Hedlund from Bethany House. The cover is addictive – a young woman wearing a cape stands amongst skeleton trees while looking pensively out at the audience. Who can resist that?

I am never disappointed with Bethany House’s books. They have the perfect mix of religion, romance, and adventure, with a sprinkling of danger that keep you riveted to the edge of your seat. This novel was no exception. Lily Young has had a hard life. She’s had to raise her s...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Molly E rated it 5 of 5 stars

This story takes place in 1883. We are introduced to Lily Young, a very determined and perseverant girl whom is very concerned for her sister who who has ran away. Lily suspects that Daisy might have been exposed into prostitution. Jody Hedlund does and outstanding job in illustrating the reality of sex slavery, and how women are forced into this disturbing business; if you wanna call it that.

I was fascinated with the character Lily, because of her persistent and determined attitude. Not only th...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lily Young is determined to save her sister Daisy, who ran away and is now stuck as a prostitute in a Michigan logging camp. There she meets Connell McCormick, a man who runs a lumber company his father started, who wants to help but the small community is terrified of Carr, the man who runs the saloon where Daisy works. Because the logging camp doesn't have a sheriff, it's up to Lily to save her sister even if it means giving up Connell or even her own life.

Lily is a fun character. In 1883, wom...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Jennifer Defoy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

I loved the story of Lily. She’s doing something that I think most people wouldn’t have the courage to do. She’s saving young women who are in need of rescue. But the one young woman she wants to rescue eludes her. Lily was so focused on her sister that I don’t think she realized when love came knocking on her door. It took her a little while to realize she was falling. But I liked that about the story. She wasn’t hard-headed, well yeah she was to a point, she was just so focused on what was imp...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

It is 1883, and Lily Young is desperate to find her younger sister Daisy. Daisy ran away, and Lily believes that she is still somewhere in Michigan. Thankfully, Lily’s work as a traveling photographer’s assistant provides opportunities to keep her eyes and ears open.

Connell McCormick runs the Harrison, Michigan branch of his family’s lumber business. As far as he is concerned, Harrison’s social ills are just that – an unpleasant entity that isn’t worth fighting. His responsibilities keep him oc...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Gabrielle Meyer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Unending Devotion is an excellent read, worth your time.

When I picked up this book by Jody Hedlund I knew it was about a young woman, Lily, seeking the whereabouts of her sister, who had run off to the lumber camps to find employment as a prostitute. When Lily arrives in Harrison, Michigan, in the heart of the lumber camps, to look for her sister, she meets Connell, the boss of a large lumber operation. Connell is concerned with his profits and pleasing his father, so he has turned a blind eye...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Brandi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

From the opening pages of this book I was riveted to the story. It opens with Lily rescuing a prostitute out from under the nose of her nefarious keeper. Lily is on a mission to find her sister Daisy who has been forced into prostitution. She is traveling around central Michigan posing as a photographer’s assistant. In her spare time she has rescued girls out of brothels with the help of her boss Oren.

The next stop in their journey is Harrison, Michigan also affectionately known as “Hell’s Waiti...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Wendy Hines rated it 4 of 5 stars

Unending Devotion is a page-turning story that will find a place in your heart. Lily Young is looking for her missing sister and she will do whatever it takes to find her. She works as a photographer's assistant and it takes her to different towns and camps. Not only can she do her job, but visiting these different areas let her broaden her search more than she could on her own.

Connell McCormick works for his wealthy father and is determined to increase the family coffers by expanding their busi...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-literature, christian-action-adventure, christian-fiction, christian-historical-fiction, christian-western-romance, historical-fiction, romance-fiction

For Lily Young, her search will never tire. She will continue to search every single town and saloon with no danger too great for her to bare along with Oren, an elderly photographer she travels with as his assistant take pictures of shanty workers for money. Even though she's been searching for her runaway younger sister Daisy whom she believes now works in a saloon for money, she vows she will continue to search for her, no matter how long it takes. Even if she can't save her sister, Lily find...more For Lily Young, her search will never tire. She will continue to search every single town and saloon with no danger too great for her to bare along with Oren, an elderly photographer she travels with as his assistant take pictures of shanty workers for money. Even though she's been searching for her runaway younger sister Daisy whom she believes now works in a saloon for money, she vows she will continue to search for her, no matter how long it takes. Even if she can't save her sister, Lily finds God's calling in her life to help any of the young girls that are looking to escape the life of prostitution and working for saloon owners who will do anything it takes to ensure that their girls stay put. Most of the time it involves taking their shoes and outer clothing now that winter has set in, but Lily is on a mission and no matter how long it takes she will never give up her unending devotion to find her sister.

As Oren and Lily arrive in the town of Harrison, Michigan just as winter is setting in, she finds herself the center of attention when she enters the Northern Hotel being one of just four hotels in Harrison with temperance leanings. Only when she enters, she finds the dining room filled to capacity with more shanty men staring at her as if they had never seen a woman before. But Lily knew she was a rarity in any lumber town, only in that she wasn't up on the table dancing in her skimpies. When she asks Mrs. Heller if there are any rooms available, more than one of the men are too willing to offer her a free place to stay with them.

It isn't until a struggle ensures between Jimmy, a drunken shanty man and another one wanting to lay claim to Lily that Connell McCormick rises to put an end to this public tug of war using Lily as a rope between the two. But Lily can stand on her own two feet and since the men apparently have taken their shoes off to allow their boots to dry, she takes the liberty in measuring out her own form of discipline on their stocking feet with her own boots. She is immediately thrown into the arms of Connell and they land in a heap on the floor tangled in a line of drying socks by the fire. It seems that this is just the beginning of the many such entanglements between Lily and Connell while she remains in town. Will Lily find more than just a search for her sister in the town whose nickname is Hell's Waiting Room? Or will Lily find herself trapped in more ways than one in the town of Harrison?

I received Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Since this is one of my preferred genre's, I couldn't wait to read this book and was immediately captivated by the characters that Jody created. I could completely understand the impatience of Lily Young who senses the more time that has gone by the greater the urgency becomes to find and save her sister before it's too late. She always wants to do the right thing, even if it means going it alone despite all the dangers. Eventually however, all those impulse responses gets Lily in more trouble than she bargained for and almost cost her, her life! I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars because it kept me interested without the lulls you find in some novels. Jody did an exceptional job at keeping the reader engaged with non stop action as the search for her sister continues through the novel and the romantic tension develops between her and Connell. For those that love a bit of spicy western romance, then this is the one for you!(less)

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Sep 13, 2012 Rambling Readers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review: In Unending Devotion, Jody Hedlund once again builds a compelling, fictional plot around true people and events. Her newest novel transports readers to the lumber towns of central Michigan in the 1880s, where we witness the devastation brought to the landscape and human lives. Hedlund tackles the painful issue of prostitution - both forced and voluntary. There are many historical fiction novels that mention prostitution and brothels, but Unending Devotion stands out and offers a differen...more Review: In Unending Devotion, Jody Hedlund once again builds a compelling, fictional plot around true people and events. Her newest novel transports readers to the lumber towns of central Michigan in the 1880s, where we witness the devastation brought to the landscape and human lives. Hedlund tackles the painful issue of prostitution - both forced and voluntary. There are many historical fiction novels that mention prostitution and brothels, but Unending Devotion stands out and offers a different perspective. As Hedlund mentions in her Author's Note, James Carr, the evil antagonist in the novel, comes directly from the pages of Michigan history. It is sad and distrubing to picture the real victims of Carr's violence, and to realize that such atrocities still occur today. Unending Devotion is a call to action for readers to take a stand against injustices.

Lily and Connell are both morally upstanding characters, but very contrasting in their responses to the cruelties they witness. Lily is fighting to save her sister and other girls losing their innocence in brothels. She is headstrong and determined, sometimes to the extreme. There were a few times that I felt annoyed by Lily's stubbornness and unwillingness to think before speaking and acting. Connell is bothered by the moral degradation of his town, but too fearful to confront powerful men. He is an unlikely hero, a bit of a nerd with a mind for numbers and a desire to stay away from trouble. As Lily and Connell are drawn together, they are both forced to examine the weaknesses in their personalities. The result is personal growth for both characters, but also dangerous encounters with Carr and his men that keep the plot moving.

Despite their personality differences, Connell and Lily are determined to keep their thoughts and actions pure. Through their relationship, they both realize that they are not above temptation. Hedlund reminds readers that even those individuals with the highest moral standards are capable of falling prey to temptation.

The healing and reform of girls rescued from brothels is a topic that is touched on throughout the plot. Lily spends the novel with one main goal: to rescue her sister. Along the way, she learns that girls are forever changed by their experiences and loss of innocence, and the path to a normal life is fraught with huge challenges. Like Hedlund's other novels, there is a bittersweet element to the conclusion of Unending Devotion, that will compel readers to reflect on what they have read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lily Young and her sister were orphans when her sister was placed with a family. She wasn't happy and ran away for a "job where she could make lots of money fast." Lily knew this was not good and was determined to rescue her sister from a live of prostitution. She worked with a kind bear of a man named Oren who was a traveling photographer. As they travel through various logging camps Lily searches for her sister and saves other young girls from a gruesome fate.

In one small town Lily meets Conne...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Cara Putman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recently I received a copy of Jody Hedlund's latest release Unending Devotion. Jody burst on to the writing scene a couple years ago with The Preacher's Bride, a fantastic book that retold the story of John Bunyon in fictional form. Her next book looked at the Whitmans. Unending Devotion turns to the lumber era in Michigan mixing real people and events with fictional characters. The strength of this book remains its great characters and setting, but adds a strong layer of mission. The theme that...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Katie Ganshert rated it 5 of 5 stars

My FAVORITE of Hedlund's So Far!

After reading and thoroughly enjoying Hedlund's first two novels, I knew I was a fan. With The Preacher's Bride and The Doctor's Lady, I picked the books up and unable to put them down, read each in a day or two.

I may not have read this one as fast as the others, but it sure is sticking with me more. I finished this novel with much of the same feeling I have after finishing a good Francine Rivers' book. Incredibly satisfied, but also challenged and inspired. This...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Jaime Wright rated it 5 of 5 stars

Characters: between the sister on the hunt for her runaway sibling who has been lured into the world of slavery with the promise of fortune, to the logging camp owner who's outward strength belies a heart lacking the courage to take a stand ... the heroine and hero are so rich, so deep, and so REAL you feel as if Jody were writing biographies. Love the depth of her characters. You just get a layer peeled away and oops -- there it is! another layer!

Romance: ok. I've always loved Jody's romances....more

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Sep 09, 2012 Lindsey (Babies, Books, and Beyond) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, historical-fiction, own-it, read-in-2012, romance

Like most historical fiction books, I find the first chapter or two hard to get into. This isn't really a reflection of the book. You just have to put your mind into another time and way of life to better understand the book, and that can take a bit. Once I had adjusted, I fell absolutely in love with Lily Young. She was completely selfless and caring. She had the gumption to stand up to horrifying men when even the manly lumberjacks around her did not. She put herself into danger time and time...more Like most historical fiction books, I find the first chapter or two hard to get into. This isn't really a reflection of the book. You just have to put your mind into another time and way of life to better understand the book, and that can take a bit. Once I had adjusted, I fell absolutely in love with Lily Young. She was completely selfless and caring. She had the gumption to stand up to horrifying men when even the manly lumberjacks around her did not. She put herself into danger time and time again, with only the intention of helping out those less fortunate than herself.

I loved that the relationship with Connell took time to develop. She didn't just swoon and fall into his arms the first time she met him. Like in real life, you meet someone, you find them attractive, you get to know them, and sometimes that can lead to love. Both Lily and Connell are human, flawed characters so that made them very relateable. There was a slight message of purity and how it is better to wait for the right person that swept under the entire book, but it wasn't at all heavy-handed. Knowing the type of person Lily was, it made sense that her virginity would be something that she would hold precious. As an orphan who had absolutely nothing, she knew that her own body and mind were the only thing that she could truly call her own.

The side characters were also well-fleshed out. I particularly like Oren, Lily's adopted father. I don't even know how many times he threatened to kill someone for looking in Lily's general direction, but it was hilarious. I would love a prequel, starring Connell and his brother Tierney. I would love to see how exactly their relationship became what it was in this book.

This book isn't all romance and love and happy go lucky. There are some serious issues here. The lumber business was a huge boom in the late 1800's. The business did drive up the number of brothels and saloons. Women really were bought and sold into "white slavery" as prostitutes. While reading this book, you will get a bit of a history lesson. What I learned from this, is that even in the most destitute of times, there are good people who will always do the right thing.

So all in all, I really liked this book. On goodreads, I gave it four stars. I would recommend it for people who like romance, Christian fiction or historical fiction. I wouldn't say that the book is Christian fiction, but it is definitely safe for those of you who prefer that. (less)

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Sep 07, 2012 Lisa Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: Unending Devotion
Author: Jody Hedlund
Pages: 374
Year: 2012
Publisher: Bethany House
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo.... Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988
Unending Devotion is a historical romance set in 1883 in the area of central Michigan. The main characters are Lily Young and Connell McCormick. The background is...more Title: Unending Devotion
Author: Jody Hedlund
Pages: 374
Year: 2012
Publisher: Bethany House
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo.... Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988
Unending Devotion is a historical romance set in 1883 in the area of central Michigan. The main characters are Lily Young and Connell McCormick. The background is that of a lumbering milling operation and the nearby town of Harrison, Michigan. The time of year is January and bitterly cold.
Lily is an 18-year-old, spirited woman. She fights for what she believes in with passion, gumption, and devotion. She never gives up. No matter what happens she will survive and continue to fight for what God has called her to do. She and her sister Daisy were passed around between relatives as youngsters after their parents were killed. They were left at an orphanage in New York City as their relatives could no longer care for them. At that time, Lily had to grow up quickly to take care of herself and her younger sister. She became mom, provider, and protector almost overnight. When they were teenagers, the orphanage had no more room for them. They had to leave and survive on their own. Lily found a family to take in Daisy and a different, older couple where she could live. Their experiences with these people are vastly different. Daisy runs away, telling Lily she wants to live her own life now and that she is going to look for work at the lumber camps as she has heard women can make a lot of money there. Daisy says she will come back for Lily. Lily doesn’t wait as she just knows Daisy doesn’t know how to take care of herself. She is an assistant to her employer, a photographer, who travels to different lumber camps, taking pictures. Lily now has the perfect opportunity to search for her sister.
Connell is a 26-year-old, protective, young man. He has been placed in charge of three lumber camps near Harrison, Michigan. He has been taught Christian values and to respect women by his mother, but has since become apathetic. His father is a bully, and nothing Connell can do is ever good enough to please him. The family business must make more money according to his father even though they are very wealthy. Connell doesn’t want to rock the boat to upset his father when he meets Lily as she learns of all the brothels in business and wants them closed. Lily has to remind him to stand up for what is right. There is one particularly evil brothel owner who walks around wearing brass knuckles and uses them freely whenever he likes. He is advertising in newspapers for young women to come and work in his “hotel”. The whole town is afraid to stand up to Mr. Carr, except for Lily. She wants to help God be about His business a whole lot quicker so they’ll both be happy and succeeds, more than once, in getting into trouble and needing to be rescued. Who comes to the rescue? Does she find her sister? Will Connell wake up to God’s calling for him? Can Lily and Connell have a relationship when they are from two very different backgrounds and seem to have very different views on certain matter?
This is a book with good storytelling, character development, and Christian values. This is a relaxing read and one to enjoy; it is definitely worth reading.
My rating is 4 stars.

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Sep 07, 2012 Sylvia Ney rated it 5 of 5 stars

I must admit I wasn’t expecting much from Jody Hedlund’s newest novel. Even though I greatly admire the author and enjoyed her previous two books, a string of recent disappointments by other writers left me pessimistic.

Unending Devotion became a rejuvenating balm to the injured book worm within. I was so enveloped in the 1883 world of logging towns and the worries of these beautifully crafted characters that I found myself stealing minutes to read when I should have been watching the dinner I bu...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Jill Kemerer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, inspirational

Ooo-la-la, love the premise! And the execution made me swoon!

I'm a huge fan of Jody Hedlund's historical romances. This one is set in 1880's Michigan around a lumber camp and all the vices that go with it. Lily, the heroine, burrowed into my heart from the first page. I found her to be so sympathetic, so heroic, but she had real feelings, real flaws, and very real problems. I also loved Connell and how he grows into the man he was meant to be--all because of the courage of Lily.

This book tackl...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Unending Devotion is just that. Lily Young will risk everything to find and rescue her sister. Just when she thought her sister was fine and in a good loving home, she learns that she has run away. Now she is looking everywhere in the Michigan logging towns.
When you read that some of the people in this book really existed and were as bad as they are portrayed here as they were in real life. You are looking at the face of pure evil, and the facts that are presented as fiction, some did actually...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Amy Bradsher rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lily is a stand-up main character. Feisty and faithful, courageous and true, her good heart makes her a leader in the logging community of Harrison. Her spice makes her story enjoyable, despite the heartache within it.

All told, I really enjoyed Unending Devotion. Like The Doctor's Lady, much of this story is drawn from history, and Hedlund truly excels at fictionalizing the history books. She captures the personal struggle of crusading for what's right when the cost is high, and that makes this...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Carli rated it 5 of 5 stars

Connell McCormick runs a several lumber camps for his lumber baron father. Lily Young is an orphan searching desperately for her sister. Lily wants to save the world. Connel wants to live in it and mind his own business. Lily doesn't understand how Connell continues to ignore the sin going around him. Will they ever see eye to eye?

This book was so incredibly good! I could not put it down. I found the book so breathtaking in many parts that my heart was beating fast. I understood how Lily felt li...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Linda Dietz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Unending Devotion whisked me away into a world of the 19th century lumber boom...a world I was unfamiliar with...but one which was very much reality in various parts of America.
We meet the main character, Lily, an act-first-think-later kind of girl, "smack dab" in the middle of a rescue. The rescue could not only jeopardize her life but the life of her rescuee as well!
Then there's Connell McCormick, manager of several lumber camps, not to mention the son of one of the most successful lumber magn...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Lily Robinson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

A few nights ago, a terrible thing happened...
I finished reading Unending Devotion.

Have you ever read a book, anxious to find out how it ends, but then wishing it didn't? Yeah, me too. And Jody Hedlund's latest novel is one of those. Christian Historical Romance doesn't get any better!

Not only does the MC share my name, but I can so relate to her impulsiveness--okay, bullheadedness. I, too, sometimes act without thinking it through. I, too, have had less than ideal outcomes from such actions.

L...more A few nights ago, a terrible thing happened...
I finished reading Unending Devotion.

Have you ever read a book, anxious to find out how it ends, but then wishing it didn't? Yeah, me too. And Jody Hedlund's latest novel is one of those. Christian Historical Romance doesn't get any better!

Not only does the MC share my name, but I can so relate to her impulsiveness--okay, bullheadedness. I, too, sometimes act without thinking it through. I, too, have had less than ideal outcomes from such actions.

Lily Young is an orphan. Her younger sister, Daisy, has run away--to be a prostitute! Oren, a father figure to Lily, has taken Lily along as his assistant to photograph young men in logging camps in 1883 Michigan.

The logging industry has birthed many evils, one of which is a large number of brothels. Lily's hope is, while touring the many logging camps, to search the brothels, find Daisy and rescue her from a life of prostitution. Easier said than done. (FYI: If you Google images for '1800 logging camp brothel' you will pull up the cover of Unending Devotion.)

This topic is near and dear to me. After being enlightened to the ill of modern-day sex trafficking, I have made it a priority to educated myself and others about this problem. Hedlund demonstrates that this sin has been around the U.S. for a very long time.

As she did in her first two novels, Hedlund took me into the logging camps and the culture of the day. She paints a vivid picture with her writing, as well as educates on a lifestyle of former times. (It's like that commercial--I DO feel smarter after reading one of her books!) If only high school History class had been this much fun...

Her characters come alive. Unfortunately, that includes the evil Mr. Carr and despicable Jimmy Neil. Neither has a conscious when it comes to young women. Carr doesn't think twice about tricking them into working for him, or holding them against their will. Fortunately, Lily has made it her life's purpose to rescue anyone who needs rescuing!

Connell McCormick is a good man, but turns his head to the evil surrounding him, accepting it as 'part of the territory.' Lily can't understand how he can allow the evil to continue for the sake of business. Is profit the deciding factor in moral obligation?

Hedlund's minor characters, from the local paper's chief editor to the charming couple that own a boarding house, are also full of personality, becoming real to the reader.

Unending Devotion has a unique storyline, that moves well from beginning to end. It certainly fed the suspense-lover in me. And, if you're a romance fan, the relationship between Lily and Connell will please your match-making soul.

I've wondered whether or not, if I should someday become a published author under contract, I could crank out story after story while maintaining a quality tale. Jody Hedlund has proved it possible. For me, this was her best book so far. As with the first two novels, this third work crosses bookstore boundaries. Even though Hedlund's genre is Christian fiction, this novel will appeal to all historical fiction fans. On my Shelfari page, I will be marking this one a five-star favorite! I can't wait to share it with my bookworm granddaughter. Perhaps I can even nudge her into writing her own review.(less)

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Aug 21, 2012 Sally rated it 5 of 5 stars

Unending Devotion
By Jody Hedlund

Unending Devotion is a great book by Jody Hedlund. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. From the first meeting between Lilly and Connell, attraction is pulling them together. She is searching for her lost sister and she knows what she needs to do to rescue her and nothing will stop her, not even Connell. Can she learn to slow down and do what God wants her to do instead of always having to be in control? Can Connell be the man she needs to him to be to work...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Gerrie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-historical, romance-historical-american

This book had a lot to commend it. The story focuses on the timber boom in Michigan during the 1880's. Logging camps sprung up across the state. The owners' policy was to clear cut every tree in sight, and then move on to the next forest and do the same. Since these logging camps were almost all male, the towns around the camps consisted mainly of bars and brothels. The brothel owners would lure women to the brothels under false pretenses (ads in newspapers for hotel maids and waitresses) and th...more This book had a lot to commend it. The story focuses on the timber boom in Michigan during the 1880's. Logging camps sprung up across the state. The owners' policy was to clear cut every tree in sight, and then move on to the next forest and do the same. Since these logging camps were almost all male, the towns around the camps consisted mainly of bars and brothels. The brothel owners would lure women to the brothels under false pretenses (ads in newspapers for hotel maids and waitresses) and then imprison the women who answered the ads as sex slaves in the brothels. The owners of the timber companies turned a blind eye to the sex slavery, as they felt the brothels kept their workers happy and contented.

The heroine, Lily, is searching for her sister, who is working in a brothel in one of the logging camps. She also rescues prostitutes. She travels around Michigan with an elderly friend, helping him with his photography business. She also strongly opposes the way the lumber barons abuse the land. The hero, Connell, supervises logging camps for his father's timber company. Connell's a good and decent man, but until he meets Lily, he doesn't get involved with the plight of the prostitutes. Also, he doesn't make any waves about the ruinous logging practices.

All these elements, plus the romance, make for a fascinating story. Ms. Hedlund is a fine writer, and she knows how to tell a good story. However, despite the compelling issues and great story telling, I had some problems with the book, hence the three stars. My main one was with Lily. She keeps running headlong into dangerous situations without any thought or plan, the epitome of the TSTL heroine. Further, her exploits seriously endanger those people who have helped her and who are close to her. In addition, she's judgmental in the extreme. There are no shades of gray for Lily. She demands that the hero walk away from his father's timber business, in effect telling him to give up his family and livelihood for her. Very late in the book she finally realized that she'd been unreasonable, but by that time I couldn't figure out why the hero still cared for her. I can't enjoy a book when I don't like either the hero or heroine, and while I didn't dislike Lily, she really annoyed me throughout most of the book.

Finally, the author failed to resolve some issues, which left an important part of the book hanging for me. Connell has a difficult relationship with his father, who favors Tierney, Connell's brother. Tierney is a womanizer and wastrel. He tries to hurt Connell every chance he gets, and coasts along while Connell does all the hard work for the family company. Yet, there's no real resolution to Connell's family conflicts. There's a short sentence near the end that Connell and Tierney have resolved their differences, but nothing ever showed it. There's also an indication that Connell stands up to his father about some company practices, but that isn't really fleshed out either.(less)

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About Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances. She currently makes her home in central Michigan with her husband their five busy children.

As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes....more

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Quotes from Unending Devotion

“When things don't turn out the way we want, about the only thing we can do is know God is still there piecing together all the scraps of the events in our lives the way He has planned. He sees the big picture even when we don't.” — 6 people liked it

“You don't have to let his definition of success be yours” — 5 people liked it

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