The beautiful artwork on the cover of this book drew my attention, and the story itself was compelling and at times heart-wrenching. In the opening pages, French midwife Julianne Chevalier is attending a difficult birth, and when the mother dies, Julianne is accused of murder. The story then picks up after Julianne has been in a French prison for some time, and hears that convicts are being sent to the fledgling colony of Louisiana to settle. Since her only remaining family is a younger brother who had gone to Louisiana as a soldier some years earlier, Julianne manages to be selected to go as a colonist. To her shock, all of the potential colonists are forced to marry before they get on the ship, and she must choose a husband from among the male prisoners. 

The voyage is unpleasant, to say the least, and the conditions when they arrive in Louisiana are little better. Julianne and her new husband, Simon, do their best, but Julianne seems destined for suffering and loss. Just when she and Simon find some hope for happiness, he is murdered while away from their home - while searching for Julianne's brother. The kind Captain Marc-Paul Girard tries to protect the newly widowed and newly pregnant Julianne, but even so one of the other soldiers exposes her murderer's brand and she is whipped in public. Marc-Paul makes sure Julianne is cared for while she is recovered, and convinces her to marry him so he can protect and care for her. Love grows between them, but there are also secrets and guilt that mar their relationship, especially when Julianne discovers that her brother is still alive, after Marc-Paul had told her that he'd died before the colonists had arrived in New Orleans. Is there anyone Julianne can trust, or will her mark and the secrets of the past continue to come between her and Marc-Paul? 

This well-told story is a glimpse of the difficulties and injustices faced by those who first settled the area of New Orleans, and is also a story of grace and hope. 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own.*

This book was phenomenal. I had never heard of Ms. Jocelyn Green before now, so I thought she was a new author. I have never been so glad to be mistaken! I cannot wait to get my hands on her other works. But first, The Mark of the King:

This novel was a perfect blend of history, faith in action, spiritual growth, realistic relationships (friends, family, romance), with a little mystery and suspense thrown in. The characters had so much depth and were challenged to be more than their circumstances or emotions. It was inspiring. It was very interesting to see how people changed based on their choices. It made me think about how we take so much for granted- even our character. What don't know what we're capable of unless we've dealt with some of these issues- famine, war, loss, etc. It gave me a greater appreciation for shades of gray, understanding how people can start down dark paths, and grew my compassion.

Ms. Green did not gloss over the hard stuff, painting everything rosy and easy to put to rights like so many do. It was downright painful to read at times and there was more than one scene that had me so affected that I had to wait a while before being able to continue. While those are not the kind of things that usually draw me to a book, it really is a testimony to how realistic the characters are and how emotionally invested you become in their lives. It's good to be so touched sometimes. Necessary even.

The story changes perspective a lot and I was impressed with how convincing each point of view was; whether it was our protagonist (25 year old female), a native child, or a man, it was believably written and so smoothly done that it didn't halt the story at all.

I loved the rich historical details. It simultaneously gave me a glimpse into history in a way I've never experienced before, and also made me aware of how little I can imagine what colonizing our country was like.

The themes of forgiveness, loving your enemy, and prayer was wonderful. They were woven into the story naturally and simply, so that the messages were powerful and convicting, and didn't seem showy, preachy or out of place.

I loved that this was from a French perspective, which is rare among the historical fiction I read. I wish I could go into particulars, but so much happens in this story, that saying anything specific would probably be a spoiler. I can't recommend this book enough.

The Mark of the King is an excellent book. I loved it! It captured my attention from the start. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me reading!   Jocelyn Green does a great job painting a picture of what life was like in Colonel Louisiana.  It was tough!  I learned some interesting stuff about the settling of New Orleans & the French and Indian war. The Mark of the King is the  story of one women’s determination to make the best of any situation. I liked Julianne. She is a tough lady who had her struggles and doubts.  She is someone the reader can relate too.  I like how she weaves historical fact and Biblical truth throughout this story.  I think the reader can learn valuable truths along with the character’s.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I received this book from the publisher to review.

"She prays so easily, and life doesn't scare her. She knows God, which is different than just knowing about Him. That's what I want. And to know His grace and peace, though storms rage and nations fight and food is scarce and France has forgotten us. And though I wear judgment on my very skin" ( from The Mark of the King).

The Mark of the King, by Jocelyn Green, is a gripping novel and one of the best I've read. It has so much to offer readers: drama after drama, romance, nail-biting suspense, history, faith. The characters and setting are realistic and fully engrossed all my emotions - I felt the characters pain and celebrated in their joys. At it's end- the characters remained in my heart, I yearned for the story to continue.

Based on true events, the forced mass marriages of prisoners from Paris, France and their immigration to the harsh conditions and events in early New Orleans - mostly between the years 1717 and 1721 - were eye-opening. Making me more fully appreciate the sacrifices of the many who settled the USA, and the freedoms we have. 

The theme of grace for everyone - even those marked by physical or emotional scars - streams through The Mark of the King and is timeless. It was true in the 1700's, is true now - and forever. 

I requested a copy of The Mark of the King from Net Galley and was not required to post a positive review of it. This review is my honest opinion of The Mark of the King.

Again Jocelyn Green offers a unique glimpse into a slice of history.  New Orleans, LA is the primary setting of this story.  It follows the story of imprisoned and marked (tattooed) midwife Julianne Chevalier from France to the Louisiana colony.  In the early 1700s the colony grew in numbers by France sending prisoners over to populate the territory.  Most of the “prisoners” that we meet in the story are victims of circumstance and not hardened criminals.  Julianne lost her brother to New Orleans for soldiering years before.  It is a spark of hope that she will find him in the colony when she gets there.  She is forced into a marriage with Simon and we just hope she can make the best of her rotten turned to bad circumstances.  Thankfully Julianne has midwife skills which give her a way to earn a living.  Learn about the difficult living conditions of early Louisiana and the constant battles with the Native peoples.  Root for Julianne as her value is constantly challenged.

This book grabbed me from the beginning. I normally don't read blurbs, but this time I did, and I knew I needed to read this. Very good story. Exciting and real.

How is it possible that I have never read anything by Jocelyn Green? I'm not sure how this author's books slipped past me, but one thing is for sure, after reading The Mark of the King I will be anxiously waiting for the next book this author puts out.

This is a beautifully written book, rich in history, with a cast of characters that bring to life a turbulent time when the French first settled New Orleans. Our main character, a young mid-wife by the name of Julianne Chevalier, has been wrongly accused of murder. But she has a choice, stay in prison for the rest of her days, or marry a complete stranger and then take a ship to New Orleans where she and her new husband will be expected to "grow" the fledgling colony. The author is such a good writer that her descriptions of the humiliations and abuse Julianne endured had me feeling like I was watching a movie. This book was very hard to put down.

When her husband dies, Julianne is saved further humiliation by a God-fearing man named Marc-Paul Girard. But even his protection and love for her will not save her from one evil man in the colony who masquerades as Marc-Paul's friend while intent on tormenting Julianne and he has a secret that good destroy the colony.

This book also has all the excitement that a full-length movie would have and a surprise or two that will leave the reader wanting more. I highly recommend it!

I had missed Jocelyn's writing. I so adored her Civil War series and was anxious to see what she would come up with next. I was not disappointed.

This book every bit as good as her previous but tackling a different time and place. It's obvious that Jocelyn has done her research when it comes to this time in history.

We are quickly endeared to Julianne. The opening scene still haunts me and the tragedy that insured.

I wasn't sure what was going to happen with Julianne marrying Simon, at first he didn't seem that bad, I thought they might fall in love. But then Marc-Paul is introduced and I wasn't sure where the story might go and had to keep reading to see.

There are many interesting characters introduced in this book that add to the depth of the story.

Jocelyn has hit another one out of the park with this newest release and I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

This was an amazing story of grace in the midst of failures, played out in the unusual setting of early 1700's Louisiana when New Orleans was hardly even established as a city. I have admired Jocelyn Green's Civil War series for it's accuracy and authenticity and this stand-alone book is no different. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I will just say that as a trans-racial adoptive mother there were certain elements of this story that really touched my heart!

This novel is full of history, a wonderful story line and grace.  From page one, I was hooked, and could not put it down until I finished it.

The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green is an incredible story set in Louisiana when France was trying to colonize this new land.  The landscape is well-described, the conditions are horrific at times, and the enemies are often unexpected.  Though this is a fantastic tale of survival (both of the elements and of personal tragedies), there are many other layers to this story.

This is the first novel I have read by Jocelyn Green.  I typically do not read books set during earlier times, simply because they do not tend to interest me.  However, this book drew me in immediately and left me wanting more at the end of the novel.

Green's impeccable research and writing style make a winning match in this book.  Each chapter unravels more of the story and plants the reader firmly in the struggle with the characters.  My mind still travels back to them, and I imagine it will be a while before I let go of them completely.

I will be reading Green's Civil War series next.  She has changed my perspective on historical fiction (which I was very selective about reading), and I will continue to explore these former centuries through her eyes.  She is an adept guide with language so rich you almost believe you are there with them.

Don't miss this book!  The plot is well-paced, and the dialogue is compelling, and the characters are courageous.  The pleasure of reading it is its own reward!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow this story moved me beyond words. I was swept fromFrance to the Louisiana territory with a character that was so realistic. I felt each mark and tear.  Each one moment of hope. It was a great read. To be moved to re-read a book makes you truly appreciate the Author's  work and passion for their book.

I know I have read something by Jocelyn Green, but dang if I can remember which book it was. But I do remember the book I finished last night that she wrote. The Mark of the King is a remarkable book taking place during the late colonial period of US History. It begins in France where a midwife allows the wife of a very powerful man to die during childbirth. Because of that death, Julianne was branded a murder and sent to prison. Her sentence was commuted to exile to Louisiana because she was willing to help populate the new French colony. Before she is allowed to leave France, she is required to choose a man from a group who were also being exiled to Louisiana, then she was required to consummate the marriage before being allowed to get on the ship to take her. She chooses Simon LeGrande because he was the most promising candidate. 

Jocelyn has put together a book with a lot of action, some romance, some betrayal, a bit of kidnapping, secrets, and a few storms. Julianne survives many hardships, and even though she loses Simon, she does find love. The author has included incredible descriptions of the landscapes and the surroundings of all the activities. These descriptions help the reader engage more fully into the story and gain more understanding of how life worked. This is so hard to put down and easy to get lost in. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a hurricane to shake things up.

Midwife Julieanne Chevalier has been branded a murderer and imprisoned for the death of a patient. Her only chance at life is to emigrate to Louisiana as the wife of another convict. Jocelyn Green has done a wonderful job of creating a fictional account of a true story. Although the main characters are fictional, many characters are actual residents of the New Orleans colony. It is quite evident that Ms. Green is a student of history, and I love the fact that she weaves Faith throughout the story. She truly brings the New Orleans colony to life.

From Amazon:
Sweeping Historical Fiction Set at the Edge of the Continent

After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.

When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne's brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?

With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king's mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.

About the author;

Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including Wedded to War, a Christy Award finalist in 2013, and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Jocelyn lives with her husband and two children in Iowa.

I was given this book by Netgalley.com for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

An incredible novel looking at the lives of those who lived during the eighteenth century both in France and New Orleans. France wanted to colonize it’s towns in North America – so instead of sending over willing individuals, they populated their colonies with convicts whether by choice or not. A practice that was actually quite frightening (not because of their criminal history or choices in life) but more so for the fear that these individuals must have gone through. They were sent with little choice into the unknowns and some were forced to wed in order to further populate the colonies. I can’t even begin to imagine the fear, uncertainty and anger they must have felt.

Julianne is one of these individuals but her criminal history almost blows your mind. She was imprisoned and branded over the death of her client! At a time when child birth was quite dangerous, it is hard to believe a midwife could be held responsible for the death of the Mother and further branded a criminal and imprisoned. Julianne felt her only way to escape the life that was now imposed on her was escape to New Orleans. I don’t think she could even imagine what she would have to deal with once she arrived.

There is little order, little rules and crime rules in this new world. Through Julianne, we uncover a harsh world, mysterious discrepancies and dangerous world. Marc-Paul is a man that she meets when arriving in New Orleans – after her marriage to another convict. Marc-Paul is there to provide support, guidance, care but also harbours his own secret that is tied to Julianne’s family.

The Mark of the King is well written and fabulous novel. I could not put it down in fear of missing what was going to happen next. I loved the rich history, culture and strong character development. This was one amazing novel that you will cherish over and over again.

“Everything begins and ends with grace.”

The Mark of the King is a beautifully written story of a young Parisian midwife sentenced unfairly for a crime she did not commit. As part of her punishment she is sent to the colony of New Orleans on a convict ship after being forced to marry a male prisoner. The story follows Julianne’s unusual story as she and her husband Simon are delivered to the colony of New Orleans to help populate the struggling settlement. 

The tale is filled with Julianne’s struggles in the new world; the loss of her husband, her marriage to a French Captain, and the search for her missing brother. Her struggles and her strength and courage to succeed in this rough country shine throughout this story. 

I really enjoyed the historical detail about this time period in America’s history. I had never heard of this very interesting aspect of the settling of Louisiana by the French. The inclusion of real historical characters always adds depth to historical fiction. The story also included an amazing number of lessons learned by our characters and cherished by this reader. These lessons include forgiveness, doing the right thing, and living a life filled with grace. Experience Julianne’s tragedies and triumphs! I loved this book and I hope you will too! Outstanding read for fans of historical fiction or inspirational historical fiction! 

This ARC copy was received from Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

Readers, prepare to be completely captivated by this story… WOW!!! The rich cultures and customs from France to the dismal conditions across the sea in Louisiana are fascinating. However, it was the challenging experiences of the characters within this book are what kept me turning page after page long into the night and early morning!

Julianne’s journey as a midwife, convicted criminal, and early settler of Louisiana kept me absolutely rivetted from beginning to end. Simon LeGrange is a passionate and defiant man who is more than a little rough around the edges yet full of compassion and chivalry. Marc-Paul Girard is an exemplary military officer forced to navigate the bleak and tenuous state of affairs in the early French settlements of Louisiana. 

The history behind this story is simply incredible yet Jocelyn Green’s artistic storytelling shines through as the truly captivating feature. I highly recommend this novel and now I am determined to read her previous books as well!

I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through NetGalley, the author, and the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.

In “The Mark of the King” by Jocelyn Green, midwife Julianne Chevalier is imprisoned and branded after a client accuses her of murder after the death of a new mother.   Julianne knows that she is not guilty, but nevertheless she is sentenced to life in a women’s prison in France.  Her parents died and she was left to raise her little brother, Benjamin.  He left home to join the French army and she thought him to be in Louisiana, a new French colony in the New World.  When she was offered a chance to trade her prison sentence for transportation to the new colony, she accepted and hoped that she would find her brother.  In order for the female prisoners to be able to sail to the New World, they first had to marry.  Male prisoners who also were to be transported were their choice.  The man Julianne chose for her “mate” tried to be a good husband.  However, tragedy struck and Julianne’s life was turned upside down again.  Conditions were harsh in this new community.  Humidity, insects, swamp animals, Indians and lack of food and shelter combined to provide a miserable existence.  However, Julianne was determined to survive.

I do not want to spoil the reader’s enjoyment of this novel, so I will just say that I read this book in record time because I could not put it down.  I found the historical references to be well researched and presented.  Although this is a work of fiction, the reader is treated to well-written descriptions that provide an almost visual understanding of this time in history.

I was sent a complimentary Kindle copy by NetGalley.com.

Riveting. Gripping. Spellbinding. Entrancing. Action-packed. Heartrending.

The Mark of the King is a story you will soon not forget! From Paris, France to the colony of New Orleans, Louisiana. Jocelyn Green's newest book is well-researched, well-written, and well-worth the reading! This book is a page-turner! And make sure you have your Kleenexes handy! 

Julianne Chevalier is a midwife that was falsely accused of murdering one of her patients. She was convicted, branded like an animal, and sent to prison. Her only way out...being deported to Louisiana. But it is not what she thinks it is. She is forced to marry a convict before leaving France's shores. Through many hardships, her and her husband have to learn many things.

New Orleans is not what they expected when they arrive. Promises are broken. Hardships are much greater than expected. Julianne has to go through many trials and many difficulties, but she definitely proves herself to be a strong woman. And with her branded she knows with her Heavenly Father she is not branded with Him. Like all visible and invisible scars, we too, can be and are healed by His stripes.

Disclosure statement 
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.