Always by Jody Hedlund

Posted by abakersp in YA / 1 Comment

Happy Saturday my lovely reading friends! Today I am excited to tell you about a new YA series by the lovely Jody Hedlund. Always is technically the first in the series, although it is more like a prequel novella. BUT it is VERY important you read this first before starting the series!! Besides that, it is so good that you don’t want to miss it!

Always: A Lost Princesses Prequel Novella by [Hedlund, Jody]

A fierce elite guard. A loyal lady in waiting. They must work together to save three princesses from certain death.

On the verge of dying after giving birth to twins, the queen of Mercia pleads with Lady Felicia to save her infant daughters. With the castle overrun by King Ethelwulf’s invading army, Lady Felicia vows to do whatever she can to take the newborn princesses and their three-year old sister to safety, even though it means sacrificing everything she holds dear, possibly her own life.

Gravely wounded in battle and knowing all is lost to his enemy, the king of Mercia tasks Lance, one of his fiercest elite guards, to protect his family along with keys to an ancient treasure. As Lance makes plans to sneak the princesses out of the capital city, he doesn’t need or want Lady Felicia’s help.

With the dark enemy in pursuit, Lance and Felicia must put aside their differences to outrun King Ethelwulf and prevent him from killing the princesses. In a desperate attempt to hide the young girls, Lance and Felicia agree to a marriage of convenience, a decision that will change their lives—and hearts—forever.

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What an amazing start to a new series by Jody Hedlund! If you plan on reading The Lost Princesses series, you need to begin with this novella. There is so much backstory here that I know is going to be important when reading future installments. Not only that, but it’s good! Hedlund provides a story that will keep you on your toes, surprise you, and toy with your emotions. I literally read this in one sitting because I could not put it down. You won’t be able to either! 

A series for any age, not just young adults, readers will find themselves swept away with Hedlund’s beautiful writing, adventurous storyline, and wonderful characters. If this is any inkling as to what’s ahead in this series, I can tell you it’s going to be something great. Probably my favorite from Hedlund to date! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“He’d modeled determination, courage, and honor to face the enemy rather than sending his men out to do so in his stead.”

“Though I knew friendship was forbidden, I felt the beginning of it anyway with this unlikely candidate.”

“Sometimes, when we think we’ve come to a dead end, we’ve arrived instead at God’s stepping-stone on the way to bigger plans.”

“After all, he was the one who’d told me that often sacrifices must be made without the satisfaction of praise from others.”

Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund is the author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

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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