Book Review: Love Unexpected

 

It's no surprise to my readers that I've chosen yet another historical fiction book to review. This time, I've read Book One of Jody Hedlund's new Beacons of Hope series, entitled Love Unexpected, which takes place in 1859 rural Michigan.

Emma Chambers and her brother Ryan came to America with their father during the Irish potato famine several years prior, after their mother starved to death. Once their father passed away, they decided to leave Michigan's Mackinac Island for better opportunities. As they passed Presque Isle, a small outpost in rural Michigan, their ship was attacked by pirates, and they were forced to abandon ship. Ryan and Emma were rescued by the local lighthouse keeper, Patrick Garraty, a single father whose late wife had passed away just hours before. 

Ryan finds a job in Burnham's Landing, the small town attached to Presque Isle, but Emma is unsure of her future. That is, until a traveling preacher comes into town and suggests that Patrick and Emma marry out of convenience. Patrick needs a mother for his 2 year old son Josiah, (he cannot manage the lighthouse duties and be a single father) and Emma needs to be financially supported.

After a short consideration, Emma decides to marry Patrick, since the arrangement makes sense, and they return to their home at the lighthouse where Emma slowly learns how to be a mother and a homemaker. She soon learns some shocking news about Patrick, however. He has a criminal record, and the circumstances surrounding his late wife's death are suspicious. Emma must decide if she wants to learn to love and trust Patrick, or if she's going to let the rumors stand in the way of achieving a relationship with her husband. 

There were some things I liked about this book. Patrick's 2 year old son, Josiah, reminded me of Junior. Stubborn yet sweet, with a mind of his own. I pictured Junior's little face in all the paragraphs about Josiah. I also liked the historical aspect to life at a lighthouse, and all that the antiquated job entailed. I've visited 19th century lighthouses, but I never really considered how much work went into maintaining them, and how challenging a life it would have been--especially in rural Michigan.

Some things I didn't like about the book--the hesitancy, indecisiveness, and assumptions made by Patrick and Emma about themselves and their relationship. There are only so many times Emma can play the "he loves me, he loves me not" dilemma without getting annoying. Patrick is the same way. But, neither character discusses their feelings about each other, so they're left assuming the worst and make some fairly poor decisions as a result. This made the main characters not that likeable. 

The majority of the book is about Patrick and Emma learning to love each other (mostly by making the assumption that the other doesn't love him/her), Josiah's relationship with his new "mamma", Patrick's learning to forgive himself for his past, and Emma believing that God cares about her.

All in all, it was an entertaining book, and I did learn a few things about lighthouses, but I wish the characters just weren't so wishy-washy.

*I was provided a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.