A Loyal Heart (An Uncertain Choice #4)

     In An Uncertain Choice, Jody Hedlund took us back to medieval times and introduced us to three knights in shining armor and a strong woman that catches their eye.

     A Loyal Heart continues Hedlund's YA series with characters introduced in the previous books. This newest release is filled with the same magnificence of the previous releases: Chivalrous knights in battle, a virtuous and strong Lady, romance—all in captivating medieval settings.

      Lady Olivia will do anything for family loyalty, rationalizing her actions to fit her faith. And she will risk her life to protect her younger sister. Lady Olivia is skilled with her sword, though still unable to keep herself and her sister from capture.

     Sir Aldric has walked away from his birthright, punishing himself for his past mistakes. He is now the captain of Lord Pitt’s army, and has been sent to capture an enemy’s daughters to use as leverage. Will holding them hostage persuade their father to succumb to the King’s leadership and stop his rebellion?

     This story holds a strong lesson about family loyalty versus morality. A promise versus virtue.  I especially love this series for young readers, as it gives a beautiful example of what true romance is when it comes to a wholesome relationship. In other words, how you would want a young man to treat your own daughter. The YA genre seems to be lacking in this area today. I’m so glad Hedlund has decided to fill the void.

     
     Hedlund uses two POVs—one from Sir Aldric's perspective, and the other in first person from Lady Olivia's.

     As I stated in my review of her previous YA release, I particularly love the way this author paints women as capable rather than powerless. Even though this leading lady is on more than one occasion a damsel in distress, needing rescue from a knight in shining armor, Hedlund still portrays her as a woman of strong character—courageous in the face of danger. And in this installment, Lady Olivia becomes the rescuer!

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     As with all her other books in this series, Hedlund paints vivid descriptions. She’s also done her homework on the technical aspects of the medieval period. Well edited, this story has a great pace. You won’t want to put it down.

   

     Even though this series is listed as Young Adult, it is enjoyable for all ages. I’ve read them all, and I highly recommend you do, too. Knights in shining armor—what’s not to love! 

     If you'd like to read the entire series, the Noble Knights Collection is available for Kindle as well as most other e-readers. It contains the first four books of the series.

     The prequel to this series is only available in e-book format, while the others are available in paperback, hardback and audio formats.

     The Vow: A Novella      An Uncertain Choice        A Daring Sacrifice       For Love and Honor

         Prequel to An Uncertain Choice

Books available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christianbooks.com

Review of A Daring Sacrifice by Jody Hedlund

I love expanding my horizons by reading a genre not typically my preferred choice.

I've read a few YA novels in the past year that were quite enjoyable, 

so when one of my favorite authors decided to branch out, of course I followed.

Jody Hedlund’s first foray into the YA world began in January of last year with The Vow: Prequel to An Uncertain Choice, a novella ebook. It was followed in March by An Uncertain Choice, which introduced us to three charming knights. 

My Goodreads reviews: 

The Vow

An Uncertain Choice

I was thrilled to learn Hedlund’s latest YA release, A Daring Sacrifice, follows up with the knights from An Uncertain Choice, although the story-line is entirely different. I enjoyed the previous books a lot, but this one is my favorite. I would recommend reading them in order to appreciate the relationships, but this is a stand-alone story.

I immediately fell in love with the heroine! Born of nobility that was wrongfully taken from her, Juliana has taken on the task of providing for the peasants that were driven from their homes by the same horrid uncle that left her an orphan. The pureness of her heart makes her compassionate to the point of turning to thievery to help support the needy peasants she lives with in the forest. She despises the wealthy—even Lord Collin, heir to the neighboring land who only wants to help.

Juliana has spunk and a stubborn streak! She is one of my favorite characters from Hedlund's books.

As expected, Hedlund’s descriptive writing has the reader feeling the dryness of mud-caked skin and the silkiness of satin gowns. Even the most minor characters—from the handmaiden to the trusted servant—have distinct personalities. The plot is well developed and moves along at a perfect pace. This YA novel is truly a page-turner. It’s clear to see why Hedlund’s books receive high ratings.

If you love a fairy-tale, a knight in shining armor, a fair maiden in distress, a story of courage in the midst of trouble, you will love this book.