Christian Historical Romance

An Awakened Heart

by Jody Hedlund

Book 1 of the Orphan Train series

157 pages · First published 2017

Wealthy Christine Pendleton longs for a purpose beyond the comforts and expectations of New York society. When she begins volunteering at Centre Street Chapel in 1857, the desperate circumstances of immigrant women and children living in the city's poorest neighborhoods open her eyes to suffering she can no longer ignore. Reverend Guy Bedell has devoted himself to serving the community, but Christine's determination to find more effective ways of helping challenges his established methods. As the spirited socialite and compassionate minister work together, their disagreements give way to mutual respect and the possibility of unexpected love. Yet confronting poverty and prejudice requires more than good intentions, and Christine must decide how much of her privileged life she is willing to change. Perfect for readers who enjoy opposites-attract romance, courageous reformers, and stories of renewed purpose, this hopeful historical novella offers a moving escape into nineteenth-century New York.