Book Review: The Chisholm Trail Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo

About the Book:

Stubborn Hearts Clash on a Cattle Drive.

Eliza Gentry’s pursuit of marriage to the son of her family’s sworn enemy has cost her greatly. Ben Barnhart will never by Wyatt Creed, her best friend from childhood, but Ben has stubbornly wooed her heart.

Furious at his daughter’s choices, Eliza's father has her watched, both in New Orleans and Galveston, by the steadfast eye of John Brady, a detective he has hired to see to her safety. With danger at every turn--not the least of which to his heart--can John keep his focus on the present job when a night on the Chisholm Trail nine years ago still haunts his every move?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Chisholm Trail Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo.

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My Thoughts:

The Chisholm Trail Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo sits as the twelfth installment in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I almost didn’t read this novel as I wasn’t familiar with the author. But to my surprise, I loved The Chisholm Trail Bride! The story held my attention from the beginning. It swirled mystery, suspense, and romance into a lovely combination. This mixture had me wondering how things would work out and kept me turning the pages. Although the ending came on really quick and felt almost too tidy, I loved that the author redeemed the events of the first trail ride with a beautiful ending.

I recommend The Chisholm Trail Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo to readers of inspirational historical romance. I found this to be an entertaining and light read, perfect for a little escapism.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Book Review: The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear

About the Book:

Can Love Form Amidst Tensions of War?

During the clash between Union and Confederacy, quiet Tennessean Pearl MacFarlane is compelled to nurse both Rebel and Yankee wounded who seek refuge at her family’s farm. She is determined to remain unmoved by the Yankee cause—until she faces the silent struggle of Union soldier Joshua Wheeler, a recent amputee. 

The MacFarlane family fits no stereotype Joshua believed in; still he is desperate to regain his footing—as a soldier, as a man, as a Christian—in the aftermath of his debilitating injury. He will use his time behind enemy lines to gather useful intelligence for the Union—if the courageous Rebel woman will stay out of the line of danger.

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear.


My Thoughts:

The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear held my attention from the beginning as it draws the reader into the conflict of the Civil War right away. I liked Pearl from the beginning, but my admiration grew as she developed over the course of the story. Tasked with caring for wounded Yankee soldiers, she struggles with her animosity towards these men who are fighting against her own family. In a way, her character embodies both the values of the North and South. She doesn’t own slaves, but she’s loyal to her state, and hence, the Confederacy. Her internal conflict threads throughout the story and gives a nice level of tension to both herself and Josh, the Union soldier she is so drawn to.

I also appreciated how the author wove themes about trusting God and extending kindness to those in need throughout the entire story. Josh and Pearl are the main characters who struggle with these concepts and their character development lasts the length of the novel.

One thing I have to mention: At the very beginning, the author has a note explaining her use of the terms “Negro” and “darky.” The terms appeared infrequently, but I felt uncomfortable reading these words in the story. I felt like they could have been left out or substituted with the person’s name without any detriment to the story.

The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear is tenth installment in the Daughters of the Mayflower series from Barbour Publishing, but reads fine as a stand-alone. This novel will likely appeal to readers looking for a contemplative historical romance.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Liberty Bride by Marylu Tyndall

About the book:

Emeline Baratt has been caring for others ever since she could walk. First her younger brothers and then, after she learned doctoring from her physician uncle in Maryland, everyone else in need, including her great aunt in England. But America and England are at war, and with her aunt's death, Emeline finds herself trapped behind enemy lines with no means of support – a terrifying prospect. Traveling home from England on one of her father's privateers seems no less frightening.

When the HMS Marauder overtakes the American ship, First Lieutenant Owen Masters is shocked to find a beautiful woman aboard and even more shocked when she announces her loyalty to England and begins tending the wounded – both British and American – with equal care. If she is a traitor to her country, Owen wants nothing to do with her.

Hiding her true allegiances on a ship where her nursing skills are desperately needed is fairly easy – until Emeline starts to have feelings for the first lieutenant who becomes her protector. However, when the captain sends her and Owen on land to spy for the British, they both are forced to choose between love for each other or love for country.

My thoughts:

The Liberty Bride is the sixth installment in The Daughters of the Mayflower series, but it is completely fine to read as a stand-alone. I was immediately interested as I started reading, but after a few chapters, I was seriously hooked. (The kind of hooked where I would sneak away into my bedroom and read a chapter when my children were occupied with something else.) The plot never dragged thanks to the constant danger, emotional conflicts, and romantic tension between Emeline and Owen.

Beyond the adventure, suspense, and romantic moments, a beautiful theme of spiritual liberty arched throughout the story. Emeline deeply struggles with being a proper lady in order to please her father and earn God's favor. She vacillates between different perspectives, sometimes very quickly, as she tries to conform to the constraints of society and religion. Ultimately, Emeline and Owen learn that a personal relationship with Jesus is more important than rules doled out by fallible humans. 

The Liberty Bride is the first full-length novel I've read by Marylu Tyndall and it made me want to read more of her work. It's also my favorite of the four books that I've read from The Daughters of the Mayflower series. I recommend to readers looking for a tale of adventure, faith, and romance.

Learn more about the Daughters of the Mayflower series which includes The Mayflower Bride, The Pirate Bride, The Captured Bride, The Patriot Bride and The Cumberland Bride in addition to The Liberty Bride.

My review for The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep can be found here.

My review for The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear can be found here.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear

With the hope of settling and building a home of their own, Katarina (Kate) Gruener's family undertakes a journey into the Kentucky frontier with like-minded families and a scout, Thomas Bledsoe. Kate's penchant for hearing and recording the stories of others creates conflict on more than one occasion, but she is thoroughly intrigued by the handsome and reticent scout. Thomas values his privacy and determines to keep Kate at a distance. But when Thomas' past overtakes them, it is only by leaning into the past that they can survive. Read more in The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear.

The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear is the fifth novel in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Like the rest of the novels in this series, The Cumberland Bride focuses on a descendant of the Lytton family (Kate), but can be read as a stand-alone novel. There were some references to one of the author's previous novellas.

Overall, I liked The Cumberland Bride. I spent the first part of the novel savoring the descriptions of the terrain and journey as Kate and Thomas' attraction/relationship grew slowly (maybe too slowly). However, the plot action and relationship development picked up substantially in the second half and then I happily devoured the rest of the novel. The author's writing style is solid in spite of the slow start. Thomas' spiritual wrestling with legitimate questions about God added depth and character development to the story. I liked Kate's desire to explore and document the stories of others as I can identify with that on a personal level.

I think The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear will appeal most to readers looking for an inspirational novel that combines history, danger, faith, and love.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse

Faith Lytton Jackson cannot abide a bully, whether it's an older boy or the King of England. As a wealthy widow and former ward of George Washington, she dedicates time and effort to the Patriot cause. When leaders of the Patriots propose that a woman deliver messages to the spy placed in the Loyalist ranks, Faith volunteers for the dangerous mission. The spunk and bravery she has possessed since childhood aid her as she embarks on nighttime meetings to deliver coded messages. Upon meeting Matthew Weber, the Patriot spy within the Loyalist ranks, she is drawn to him and eagerly awaits each meeting. Attraction buds between Faith and Matthew, but as war looms, it is an inopportune time for love. Read more in The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.

The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse is the fourth installment in the Daughters of the Mayflowers series. It is a stand-alone novel that can be read completely independent of the other novels.

I struggled to finish The Patriot Bride. It wasn't for lack of action and suspense. The plot clipped along nicely and danger lurked constantly. I liked Faith. She was feisty, brave, and intensely loyal. However, there wasn't much character development – nothing about her as a person really changed from beginning to end. The plot was more about the events that occurred around and to her – carrying messages for the Patriot cause, dealing with an unwanted suitor, daydreaming about Matthew, etc. Speaking of Faith and Matthew, I think the story would have benefited from more development of their romantic relationship as it seemed overshadowed by the pre-war hostilities, Matthew's relationship with Benjamin Franklin, and Faith's relationship with George Washington.

Quite possibly my favorite part of this book was on page 81. Faith discusses Psalm 136 with a group of ladies and says, “The end of each phrase is the same – like an answer to a difficult question, the answer will always be the same. His mercy endureth forever.” What a wonderful perspective on that Psalm! For every question or difficulty, His mercy endureth forever, is the answer! I would have enjoyed seeing this theme fleshed out in the story.

The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse threads history and fiction together to create a story set on the eve of the Revolutionary War. Although, I won't read it again, this book may appeal to history lovers as it does contain lots of history and fictionalized versions of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

Read an excerpt from The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse on the publisher's website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook courtesy of netgalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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What My Next Few Months of Reading Looks Like...

Normally, when I go to the library, I visit their used book store and post a photo of my purchases.

Today, I'm mixing it up and posting a photo of the library books I borrowed:

In retrospect, I know I was a bit ambitious. My current reading rate is one book per week, at the most.  (In my defense, it was substantially higher before having children)  This is at least six weeks of reading... Most likely I'll be renewing a few of these.

The Mayflower Bride and The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse - These have been on my want to read list since I read Michelle Griep's The Captured Bride. All three of those are part of the Daughters of the Mayflower series.  Most likely, I'll be reading one of these this weekend.

All the Emily Dickinson Books - Back in my college days, I thoroughly enjoyed Dickinson's poetry. I'm wanting to get back to reading some non-fiction, so this seemed like a good place to start! I read Harold Bloom's BioCritique of Emily Dickinson years ago and remember it being informative.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - A bestseller that I haven't read, but am eager to dig into.  Realistically, this will probably not happen for a few weeks.

So, what's on your TBR stack?

The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep

Mercy Lytton's keen eyesight and stealth preserve her life as she scouts on dangerous missions. Her newest mission includes Elias Dubois, who is a French traitor, and a huge stash of gold. As they navigate the perils of the New York wilderness, delays and danger are constant. Working, living, and surviving together draws them close despite their divided loyalties and uncertain futures. Will they complete their mission and part ways? Or is their a greater purpose for this mission that could lead to an abundant life? Read more in The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep.

The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep is the third book in The Daughters of the Mayflower series. I have not read the others and this one was fine as a stand-alone. From beginning to end, this novel's romance, danger, and beautiful prose held my attention. I adored the occasional use of French and Mohawk words. The attraction between Mercy and Elias mixed with tension and suspense as they carefully sought the truth of each other's motives and hearts. Their relationship blossomed into a most satisfying love story that I expect to reread in the future.

Overall, I enjoyed The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep and I think most fans of Christian romance will as well. This novel earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf and I look forward to enjoying more of Michelle Griep's books.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.