The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund

When I think of the Puritans, I think Cape Cod and the Massachusetts Bay Colony or Plymouth Rock... But  The Preacher's Bride, a novel about  Puritan people, takes us back to 1659 Bedford England, where it all began, amidst all kinds of persecution.

Author Jody Hedlund recreates a slice of History full of the details that pull you into this time period of religious and social upheaval.  I enjoyed getting to know Elizabeth, the young woman who dares to stand up to the "piously wrong" in the congregation. I was fascinated to learn about some of the superstitious beliefs of the time, such as- an infant could be tainted by the devil if nursed by a woman of an unsavory background.  Obviously, there was no Platex Nurser at the time... and mothers often died in childbirth.

The "preacher" is John Costin, a newly widowed man in great need of help.  He is a tinker by trade and a preacher by calling, and with four children to tend to, what he really needs is a wife.  Elizabeth Whitbread is a devout young woman who has a self image that is much lower than it should be.  She lacks confidence in her own inner and outer beauty.

There are some very bad men in this book, one Mr. Foster in particular who does some really wretched things.

This book is more than a history lesson, and much more than a love story, though there's nothing wrong with either one.  I was reminded of the people who have gone before who managed to live and carry on in spite of conditions that were horrible.  I am thankful for the courage of these characters, who were based on actual historical figures.  I have benefited from their lives.

Thanks Jody, for telling their story.

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing   The Preacher's Bride  Bethany House; Original edition (October 1, 2010)  by  Jody Hedlund  



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

Jody has written novels for the last 16 years (with a hiatus when her children were young. In May of 2009 she double-finaled in the Genesis contest, a national fiction-writing contest for unpublished writers, sponsored by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW.Shortly after the final, Jody acquired an agent, Rachelle Gardner of Word Serve Literary. Her agent spent the summer of 2009 working on selling her books. In September of that year, Jody signed a three-book deal with Bethany House Publishers. Jody’s debut novel, The Preacher’s Bride, releases in Oct. 2010. Her next book will release in 2011 and a third in 2012.




ABOUT THE BOOK  

In 1650s England, a young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher--whether her assistance is wanted or not. Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John's protests of her aid. She's even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family. Yet Elizabeth's new role as nanny takes a dangerous turn when John's boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher's enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she's more determined than ever to save the child--and man--she's come to love.


If you would like to read the first chapter of The Preacher's Bride, go HERE.