Together Forever by Jody Hedlund

From the publisher:
Marianne Neumann has one goal in life: to find her lost younger sister, Sophie. When Marianne takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York, she not only hopes to give children a better life but seeks to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train.

Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with the children--firm but tender and funny. Underneath his handsome charm, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away--and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden. As the two team up placing orphans amid small railroad towns in Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.

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This is the second book in the Orphan Train series.  I did not read the first book but this one definitely makes me want to.  That being said, I didn't feel that I was lost at all.  Jody Hedlund does a great job of filling in what you need to know in a natural way.  

Marianne Neumann at once captured my interest.  Her honest expressions and big heart  make her easy to love.  I loved reading her grow from someone who only saw herself as weak to being strong in a variety of circumstances.

Andrew Brady was a wonderful hero in the story.  His light-hearted actions yet intentional way with the children and Marianne endear him to the reader right away.  The chemistry between Andrew and Marianne was fun and thrilling to read.  

I was truly touched by the stories of the orphans and appreciated the research that Jody Hedlund did in writing this book.  As an adoptive parent I felt these situations were handled well and I think it is wonderful that she is writing about this topic.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.