Newton & Polly: A Novel of Amazing Grace by Jody Hedlund

Amazing Grace has become one of those well known and loved songs of all time. It's one of those tunes that if you started singing most people around you would be able to sing-a-long.  Author Jody Hedlund has taken John Newton's story and put it into to a fictional re-telling called, Newton & Polly.

From the Back Cover:
"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found..."
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 Catlett's enchanting voice, caroling. He's immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.
An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John's reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?
Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book! Jody did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. She did a great job staying true to the historical facts while weaving in the emotional side that ties you to the story. I had only heard that John Newton was a slave trader and gave his life to Christ while on a ship, but to read all of the other facts presented in this book made me come to know the great hymn writer even better. I didn't realize the British and French were facing war and how unstable the political scene was at this time in Newton's life. This is definitely a book you'll want to pick up and add to your personal library!

***I received this book from Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions are my own.

About the Author:

About Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund is a CBA best-selling and award-winning author of more than a dozen 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.