Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.
Now remembered as the author of the world’s most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father - until the night he hears Polly Carlett's enchanting voice, caroling...
And so begins the story of Newton & Polly. Based loosely on the biography on John Newton, author Jody Hedlund weaves a gripping tale of love, brokenness, and redemption through Jesus Christ. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and even more-so when I realized that it closely parallels Newton's actual story.
One would expect the author of Amazing Grace to have a deeply profound conversion, but even I was surprise by how far Newton had to fall, to realize the depth of his need for salvation. Through drunkenness imprisonment, and slavery - to- becoming a slave trader himself, Newton rejects and mocks the gospel for many years. Finally in a violent storm, John comes to the realization of his need for a savior. It truly is a beautiful story of restoration & redemption, and the love story between Newton and Polly is a miracle in itself.
Jody Hedlund shares in an Author's note at the end of book, even more facts about Newton & Polly's lives as they grew together in Christ and eventually joined the ministry.
I highly recommend Newton & Polly, and I can't wait to pick up another one of Hedlund's books!
**I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However all opinions are my own**
Jody Hedlund is a CBA best-selling and award-winning author of fourteen books. Among a variety of genres, she especially loves bringing long-forgotten women of history to life. She is the author of Luther and Katharina, which was awarded the ECPA Book of the Year Award in Fiction. Her other novels have won the Carol Award, the INSPY Award, and the Christy Award. She resides in Midland, Michigan, with her husband and five busy children.
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