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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Review & Giveaway: A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund


Bethany House / 2013
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

Michigan, 1880

Annalisa Werner's hope for a fairy tale love is over. Her husband failed her in every way and now his death has left her with few options to save the family farm. She needs a plentiful harvest. That, and a husband to help bring it in. Someone strong, dependable. That’ll be enough. A marriage for love...that's something she's given up on.

So her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom.

Then a man appears: Carl Richards, from their home country of Germany and a former schoolteacher--or so he says. He's looking for work and will serve on the farm until her husband arrives.

With time running out, she accepts his help, but there's more to this man than he's admitting. He's also gentle, kind, charming--unlike any man she's ever known. But even as Carl is shining light into the darkness of her heart, she knows her true groom may arrive any day.

My rating:
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My thoughts:

A Noble Groom is the third book I’ve read by Jody Hedlund and, after loving the previous two and hearing great things about this one, my expectations were high going in. While I didn’t love A Noble Groom as much as I had thought I would, I did still really, really enjoy it.

The characters were great! I absolutely loved Carl, and Annalisa’s daughter, Gretchen, was so cute. There was a little bit of danger to the story, which I liked very much – it made me want to keep turning the pages.

I found the whole aspect of the farm and having to work hard to try and save it very interesting. I also liked the little bit of history in the story. This is at least the second book I’ve read that takes place in Michigan and a significant event that occurred in 1881, so it was interesting to get another take on it and I actually learned more about it.

The few negatives:  I enjoyed the whole book, but it did take me a while to get captured by the story and get to where I wanted to keep reading; I also wish there would have been a glossary or something to show what the German words meant in English; and finally, while the ending was very nice, it did leave me with some questions and I wish we would have been told how things fared for certain characters.

So, I thought the first half or so was good, but loved the last 100+ pages! There was also a great twist in A Noble Groom that, while I did surprisingly guess it early on and wasn’t shocked at all by the reveal, I’m sure some readers will not see it coming. ;)

Overall, A Noble Groom was a really nice read that I definitely recommend to fans of historical romances. I can hardly wait to read future books by Jody Hedlund.

*I received this book for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*


Book Giveaway!!


I’m giving away the extra copy I have of A Noble Groom. Giveaway is only open to US residents. To enter, be sure to sign into the Rafflecopter form and click “enter” on each entry you complete. Commenting alone will not get you entered – you must click enter on the form. Thanks for stopping by!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

55 comments:

  1. Nice!!! Thanks for the review :) I'm looking forward to reading it!!!!

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  2. Oooh! I love Jody's books and would love to win a copy of her newest, A Noble Groom. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Bethany
    P.S. I'm planning on having a similar book giveaway on our blog, The Literary Maidens posted within a few days, feel free to check it out! www.theliterarymaidens.blogspot.com

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  3. I love to win a copy. Great review. Thanks!

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  4. I would love to win a copy of A Noble Groom! Thank for the giveaway : )

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  5. This one is one I would like to read! :-) Thank you very much for hosting this giveaway!

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  6. Nice review -- I have been wanting to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win!

    ~ Melissa @ Melissa's Bookshelf

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  7. Would love to win Jodie's new book!!

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  8. Thanks for the giveaway. Love, love, love the cover of The Noble Groom.
    Nice review.

    cindialtman(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. A Noble Groom looks very good!

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  10. I'm not entering.

    Just wanted to let you know I switched blog addresses. My new address is here:
    http://itssimplygrace.blogspot.com/

    Also, I did not know if you accepted awards, but I went ahead and awarded you one(it said to award five, and I don't have many people following my blog. Hope you don't mind.)

    Grace

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  11. Thanks! I love her books and this one looks great! Love your reviews.
    Nancycooks4u@gmail.com

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  12. Loved this book! In my opinion it is Jody's best yet! Would love to win it:) Thanks for the giveaway.

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  13. thanks for the giveaway this looks like a great book

    kmichellec87(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  14. I love the books that I've read by Jody, and I can't wait to read this one! Thanks for hosting a giveaway!

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  15. Can't wait to read this book! Appreciate the chance you're offering to put it in someone's hands!

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  16. Great review! I'd love to try this novel out :) Thanks for the giveaway!

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  17. Good review, I was glad to read it. I just finished her previous book Unending Devotion and it was the same way for me. I had a hard time getting into it, but the last 100 pages or so were great!

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  18. I've never read any books by this author. This books sounds good and I love finding new authors to try. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  19. Would love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  20. Love Jody's books and am anxious to read this one! Thanks for the chance!
    jackie.smith[at]dishmail]dot]net

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  21. I enjoy marriage of convenience stories so The Noble Groom sounds good to me! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  22. Sounds great! Looking forward to reading it.

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  23. I'm actually about 1/4 way through this book right now! Thank you for the review and the giveaway. :)

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  24. Thanks for the review and giveaway. I'm just starting Jody's book Unending Devotion.

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  25. This sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the giveaway. :-)

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  26. Would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful giveaway!

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  27. This sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks for having the giveaway.

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  28. Hi! I enjoyed the review of this book. I haven't read this author yet but I hope to read a book of hers soon. :)

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  29. Would love to win! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  30. Got to read about this author on facebook chat the other night. Can't wait to read the book.

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  31. I enjoyed your review. I would like to read this book, so winning a copy would be great! Thanks for the opportunity.
    may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  32. Wow! I can't WAIT to read this! I love that cover, too ; )
    I wonder what kind of events or people inspired the author while writing this book!?
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    mestith at gmail dot com

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  33. Thanks for the opportunity. I would love to win

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  34. Perceptive review, as always! I like Jody's books. With a cover like this one, I am eager to open it up! Kandrajane@bellsouth.net

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  35. Would love to read this book - thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

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  36. I'd love to win this book. Thanks for the great interview. I think I can guess at the surprise twist but will hopefully read the book soon to see if I'm right :-)

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  37. Pick me please. :) I have wanted to read the book since I first saw the cover.
    godblessamerica.jan(at)gmail(dot)com

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  38. Enter me this book looks great!!
    Sharon Richmond
    Blanch,NC.
    sharonruth126@gmail.com

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  39. Thanks for the give away .. Have not read any of your books but this one sounds so good . Alway love to try new authors. Thanks
    lizd225@gmail.com

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  40. I want to read this book. Sounds like an excellent book and I know Jody is a great author. Thank you for entering me in your giveaway! barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  41. I want to read this book. Sounds like an excellent book and I know Jody is an excellent author. Thank you for entering me in the giveaway!
    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  42. I would love to read this - what a fun idea about using a mail order groom!

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  43. I've seen this book everywhere- it must be good! Glad you liked it. I always love books with twist endings. =)

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  44. liked the intro and review thanks! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

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  45. This has been one of the books I have been looking forward to the most this year!

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  46. This looks like a very good book I am anxious to read it. Hope I win. Thank you for the giveaway.
    suzieqaa@yahoo.om

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  47. This is on my to read book for this summer, I can't wait to read it.

    sonflower277 at gmail dot com

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  48. This is definitely one of the books I would like to read this summer! Thanks for the contest.

    strgth4yu@hotmail.com

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  49. Jody Hedlund does good work. Thanks for this opportunity.

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  50. Thanks for the review . This books sounds so good . Would love to win it . Thanks for the giveaway .
    Blessings
    lizd225@gmail.com

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