Review by Booklist Review
A new job at New York City's Children's Aid Society is the fresh start Marianne Neumann needed. But her first journey west with the orphan train isn't just to place homeless children with God-fearing families; she is also desperate to find her lost sister along the way. When she and her flirtatious coworker, Drew Brady, find themselves in a compromising bet and at the center of a tragic investigation, they face the question of how far they are willing to go in the name of love for others, for justice, and for their own hearts. In her Orphan Train series (With You Always, 2017), Hedlund, a gifted storyteller, continues to look at the aftermath of the 1857 recession, which left hoards of children homeless, and the controversial Emigration Plan meant to solve the problem. The backdrop of childhood trauma through displacement is somber, while Marianne and Drew's friendship and romance bring a delectable sizzle and emotional intimacy to this historically informative, beautifully layered, and spiritually inspirational tale about loving someone enough to let them go.--Campos, Kate Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Hedlund's overly dramatic second Orphan Train historical novel (after With You Always) focuses on Marianne Neumann, who, in 1858 New York, resolves to find both her younger sister, Sophie, and her friend Reinhold, to whom she'd like to be engaged. Both have allegedly headed west on trains filled with orphans who are looking for homes and work across the American heartland. Marianne finally comes across Reinhold as she travels through the small towns spanning southern Illinois, but also meets Andrew Brady, a devout fellow placing agent and former schoolteacher who is wonderful with the children but hides a heavy burden from his past. After her time searching for Reinhold, Marianne can't help but admit that her feelings are changing. Marianne and Andrew become closer as they struggle through days on the train, and lean on each other during the difficult process of seeing the children leave for new homes. They become close, but also face tragedy and Andrew's potential arrest. In the end, Marianne relies on her biblical principles to battle against misplaced loyalties and her desire to please others in order to find happiness. As Marianne gets closer to Sophie while connecting with Andrew and the orphans under her supervision, the many overlapping, highly emotional plot lines eventually overwhelm the story. Agency: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
