I’m starting to like “collections”. It’s good to have a story end then go right into another – in this case eight more times, entirely different. This is excellent Christian Historical romance with so much creativity, beautifully told by very talented authors. And they’re not the sappy predictable only-about-the-romance bridal story. Each has great depth and a Christian lesson as well as a fabulous romance. The main theme with all of these is that the women are captives – in other words slaves. I think it’s good to be reminded that there have been slaves who came from and went to many countries. The stories here include the Irish and Scottish. Men and women were sold, drugged, beaten and kidnapped into slavery. Some called it indentured service, but then tacked on additional years for repayment of food, clothing, shelter and medical services; in some cases they were never free. It’s not like they didn’t want to work hard or in the case with a contract to pay back their fair debt; many were worked to death and treated poorly. Many times women were forced into brothels. Each of these stories is uplifting despite the circumstances of the women starting out and are great stories of endurance and hope – and a reminder that there is good in the world as well as bad.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Barbour Publishing - Netgalley book review bloggers program. 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.”

I very much enjoyed this collection of stories about women caught in bad circumstances looking for a way out. Well written and most interesting stories. Highly recommend.

Usually I like reading the anthologies Barbour Publishing puts out. However I was not held captive by the Captive Brides Collection. The stories just weren't up my alley. It could be mood or reading taste, but I couldn't find myself reading these stories about women who had been enslaved or indentured and then finding love. There is nothing wrong with the writing or anything else about the book. It was that I couldn't relate to the subject. I'll give this three stars.

My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

What a lovely collection of historical novellas. In an effort to leave squalor and poverty, many unfortunate people 'indentured' themselves in hopes of a better life. Some were sold because of the sins of others. After repeated beatings, both physical and mental, there were those who felt they were not worth anything more than this abuse. But heroes arose among them. The Underground Railroad took many to freedom. Others were freed by the generosity of some who were able to satisfy the greed of the owners. Over all, these people had to learn to trust that God works in mysterious ways!
I received an advance copy of this collection from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine being thrown on a boat and headed to somewhere you don't know, accused of a crime you didn't commit, and told you were to be sold as a slave to whoever paid the highest price? Or maybe you come to America to be bought by a former slave who happens to be the man you want to marry only to find out he is outbid by a horrible business man intent on making you his slave? These are the stories you will find in this book. Each one a testament to love in the face of unsurmountable odds and the lengths people will go for the ones they love. A perfect book for those who love short stories, the authors inside spin a beautiful web that catches you like a fly and only releases you once you are completely engulfed by its wonders.

Firstly thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

This book has 9 novellas in it. Each story has a heroine who is a captive in some way. From indentured servant, convict, slave, wrongly convicted, plus a few other scenarios. We also have different locations from the West Indies, Australia to America. Each story is different and most have some danger and tension in the stories.

While I am not going to review all the stories cos it would make the review to long I will feature a couple.

Through Stormy Waters by Patty Smith Hall - Atlantic Ocean, 1755
I found this story really good, it was different and I loved how even when Charlotte was deported for crimes her father committed she still was able to help in a crisis and held her head up high. The hero Andrew is the captain and has a reputation for being hard on the convicts but has had a change of heart due to circumstances you will read about early in the story. I loved the story and how it plays out.

His Golden Treasure by Darlene Franklin - Barbary Coast, San Francisco, CA, 1873
The story is also interesting and at times the premise of the story is quite sad. Goldie has grown up in a brothel and is being groomed by the madam after her mother passed away. She accidentally bumps into Joshua who is a pastor who has a heart for soiled doves and helping them get out of the business. We see how Goldie really wants a life of her own free of the life her mother had.

Love’s Escape by Carrie Fancett Pagels - Virginia, 1850
Now this is a story that I love because you don't read as many books involving slaves escaping through the underground railway. Lettie really wants to get away as things have suddenly changed and she is in even more danger. Although if Lettie runs away and is caught she could be in even more danger. Nathan is part of the underground railway and has a plan to get her to safety. I loved how this was planned and how it all worked out.

The Suspect Bride by Susan Page Davis - Oregon, 1890s
This story was one of my favourites. I was actually in hospital and every time the nurse came to do my ops I was saying I just want this story finished because I want to know what happens. We see Verity arrested for murder and Jack is a lawyer who will represent her. The story takes us through the arrest and why her. I love how Susan keeps the suspense of what will happen next.

This whole book is a really good read and I would highly recommend it.

Captive Brides is a great collection of stories. I enjoyed each selection and found them all to be well written. A few of the authors were new to me and I anticipate reading more of their books in the future. I recommend this book to those readers who enjoy good clean romance.

A great collection of novellas involving overcoming challenges and never giving up on life. Each author brings a unique story that captivates and entertains the reader. I will read these stories again. I received a copy of this book from the authors and NetGalley and this is my personal honest opinion.

The Captive Brides Collection is made up of several short stories by different authors. There are nine stories by well-known Christian writers. Each story has a heroine who is in some way captive. The stories are set in 1700 and 1800’s.
I found each story to be different and very intriguing. The heroine always has to decide who can be trusted; trust has been betrayed in a variety of ways in their past. I have read stories by most of the authors in the past and they all live up to their excellent writing skills. The characters can be loveable or easy to hate but the writers describe them so well that I experienced strong emotions in many cases. I give this book a 5 of 5 stars because it is well-written and keeps the reader’s attention as one wishes to know how the conflicts will be resolved. Also, the stories are short so you can read one in a single sitting; maybe more than one if you have a lot of time. I recommend this book to all who enjoy reading Christian fiction.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Captive Brides Collection: 9 Stories of Great Challenges Overcome Through Great Love (3.5 stars)

1..Love’s Labour’s Found by Jennifer AlLee
Montserrat, West Indies, 1655…What does one do when you find yourself falsely accused and sold as an indentured servant to a cruel owner? That is the situation Temperance Simms finds herself in in this novella. I am not sure I would have handled it as “well” as she did. I certainly would have prayed for someone like the handsome plantation owner Edward Aldridge to help me. He is a godly man of integrity, kind and gentle and treats his servants fairly. When Temperance comes to him for help, he cannot turn her away despite the danger. What does God have planned for this unlikely pair? A heartwarming story of hope, love and faith.

2..His Indentured Bride by Angela Breidenbach
Pennsylvania, 1770-1775…It had to be hard to travel from Scotland across that huge span of ocean to the unknown land of Pennsylvania all alone to her betrothed. That is exactly what Maire Gree did, arriving for a planned short indenture, prior to her wedding to Kirk Lachlan. However, things don’t go as planned, disaster strikes and evil is afoot. Will there be a wedding and will Maire and Kirk be the bride and groom? I could see right off what the evil plot was and hoped it would be found out in time. What plans does God have for these two young people in this new land they now call home? Hope, faith and love prevail.

3..The Suspect Bride by Susan Page Davis
Oregon, 1890s...Verity Ames is an amazing cook at the local restaurant and a shy lawyer, Jack Whitwell, has lunch there daily, but what he enjoys even more is Verity. Everyone is shocked when the sheriff walks into the restaurant and arrests Verity for murder. I liked how Jack-the-lawyer is not shy at all but one who takes charge and does everything he can within the law to prove that Verity is innocent. I was hoping Jack-the-man-in-love would not shy away from showing Verity how he feels about her. A cute story with some surprises.

4..His Golden Treasure by Darlene Franklin
Barbary Coast, San Francisco, CA, 1873...Goldie Hatfield grew up in the Barbary Coast but has plans to leave on her next birthday. I understand her thinking why she needed to wait for her birthday but I think I would have left long before that. However her guardian has other plans...devious plans to benefit herself. Pastor Joshua Kerr recently met Goldie and is praying for a way to help her. What will God have him do, or not do, to help save Goldie? I really like Joshua and his ministry. Will Goldie follow God’s leading in her life or allow her guardian to continue to force her to “work” for her? A story of second-chances, hope, faith and learning to trust others as well as God’s leading.

5..Through Stormy Waters by Patty Smith Hall
Atlantic Ocean, 1755...Charlotte Singleton is arrested, tried and deported to the British colonies...not for something she has done, but for her now deceased father's crimes…wow, I can’t imagine that! She, along with other indentured servants, are placed aboard Captain Andrew Randell’s ship. Andrew is now a changed man, a godly man...his story reminds me a bit of John Newton’s story. While aboard ship a deadly epidemic breaks out and Charlotte helps Andrew with the ailing passengers despite the potential risk to her own health. I think that in itself would indicate the kind of woman Charlotte really is. Both Charlotte and Andrew have strong characters and strong faith. What does the future hold for them? This is a story of redemption, second-chances, faith and love.

6..Moira’s Quest by Cynthia Hickey
Five Points, New York, 1869...Moira Callahan, a young and feisty Irish lass, finds herself being auctioned off to the highest bidder by her uncle...her uncle! Oh, how could he! Well, he certainly was not a loving uncle. Undercover New York Cop, Sean McGowan, could not let someone else buy Moira so he “buys” her and marries her to protect her. Both Moira and Sean are strong and stubborn Irish people but that will ultimately work to their advantage in the challenges they face in the days and weeks to come. I don’t think I would have put myself in the situations Moira did to help Sean as he went about his dangerous job in which her uncle was a very much part of. Danger, family secrets revealed, surprises, love and faith weave a suspenseful story.

7..Love’s Escape by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Charles City, Virginia, 1850...Letitia...Lettie, is a mulatto slave on her family’s plantation, but her life is in danger and she plans to escape. Her friend, Nathan Pleasant...Nathan and Lettie love each other...and his friend, David Bryant, along with Nathan’s father, offer to “conduct” her North via the Underground Railroad. Lettie is not the only one escaping slavery, another young woman, Beneida, is going with them, which makes their journey all the more dangerous. I can’t begin to imagine the life she and Beneida lived as a slaves or the fear of escaping. But she is a strong woman of faith and an overcomer as we see in her story. I loved the way Nathan left everything he had behind to rescue Lettie, take her to safety and protect her...even with his life if necessary...a true hero. I also found the information about the underground railroad interesting and those brave men and woman who helped so many find freedom. This is a story filled with heartache, strength, challenges, hope, love and faith.

8..Waltzing Matilda by Lucy Thompson
Sydney, Australia, 1821…Matilda Brampton takes her month-old baby Charlotte and runs away from the Parramatta Female Factory in which she is an inmate. Now masquerading as a shepherd with a baby following along behind Sheepherder Henry Powell and his sheep. Once he realizes Matilda is not a young male shepherd but a woman he is not sure what to do about her and her situation. However she is caught and taken back to Parramatta and he realizes his feelings for her and decides he must do something about them and her situation. Will it cost him his own freedom? I wasn’t too sure how Matilda could just “waltz” (couldn’t resist that) out from the locked facility she was in the way she did. Guess you can do most anything when you are desperate enough. It was strange, interesting, but strange the way they “let” some of the woman free from their sentence early. I was glad to see the way things worked out for Matilda and Charlotte. A different story of second-chances and love.

9..A Score to Settle by Gina Welborn
On the Missouri River, 1870...Josephine..JoJo certainly has a rough life working for her cruel “uncle” Graber...or snake-oil salesman and longed to be free of him and that life. With one kiss...and lifting a wallet...she just may get her wish. I was wondering why she didn’t just walk away but then Graber would find her and teach her one of his “lessons”. Her best chance was to wait for someone like Cyrus to rescue her. Cyrus Lull was stunned when a beautiful woman he doesn’t even know kisses him in the middle of the street leaving him speechless...and minus his wallet! He vows to find her and learn why she kissed him and stole his wallet along with his heart. What he learns may be far more than what he expects.
Cyrus is a godly man of integrity and I like the way he stands up to Graber and fights for JoJo. What plans does God have for Cyrus and JoJo? A story of second-chances, hope, love and faith.

~I received an e-book copy from one of the authors via NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

Nice collection; My favorite contribution was from Lucy Thompson. The others were good, too. The thing I did not like about this collection is that some of these women suffered badly and that detracted away from my overall enjoyment of the collection.

THE CAPTIVE BRIDES COLLECTION is a wonderfully penned novel by many of my favourite authors. I loved each and every story. I have shared this collection w/ all of my reading friends. And it's on order for all of my local libaries. Thank you for the opportunity to read it. Five Stars!

A wonderful collection of stories that get better as you continue with the book, the last being one of my favorites! As the title implies, all the heroines are in some kind of captivity, bondservants, slaves, owed or owned by someone... each finds love and equally satisfying their freedom! Great variety of stories and settings, Charlotte and the Captain being another favorite of the couples chemistry. This collection also having the first short story set in Australia and Scotland that I have read, gave intresting I sight into new places as well as a variety of times. Another great collection in the series!

I have been anticipating this and it was everything I thought it would be. 9 of today's top Christian fiction author's have written a novella that is included in this collection entitled The Captive Brides. This collection by Barbour Books has the theme of women being held captive for a number of reasons, slavery in the old south,in prostitution,to pay off a relatives debt and other numerous reasons. When they least expect it they are shown kindness and rescued and become a bride. These women have been made to feel like they have no self value but thru God's grace and a gentle word they start to believe their worthiness. I enjoyed seeing the women come to faith and become stronger in their faith and as a person. I think this is the best Darlene Franklin story I have ever read. This has some authors I have read before and some new to me authors that I will be looking for more of their books.
Very enjoyable and I look forward to reading many more Barbour Book collections.
Pub Date 01 Oct 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Books for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Yet another wonderful collection of stories that have great messages from the bible. The authors of each section are incredibly talented, each take a different angle to being captive. My personal favourite was Temperance's story!

I couldn't get past the first story in this collection. The author uses the ol' trope about enslaved people loving a master that treats them well. This was highly offensive and basically racist. Just because the hero was nice to his slaves did not make him any better than anyone else in this story. I couldn't even read any more of the stories based on how terrible I felt this one was. I feel like the publisher was willfully blind to how offensive this story is. If this had been published 20 years ago I wouldn't have been surprised, but now?

I love novellas since they work with my busy schedule. I can read however many I have time for and not be interrupted in the middle of a good part. Quick reads, nice characters. Really enjoyed it.

The Captive Brides Collection: Nine Women Bound by Great Challenges Discover Faith, Hope and Love is a wonderful collection! This collection includes:
Love’s Labours Found by Jennifer AlLee
His Indentured Bride by Angela Breidenbach
The Suspect Bride by Susan Page Davis
His Golden Treasure by Darlene Franklin
Through Stormy Waters by Patty Smith Hall
Moira’s Quest by Cynthia Hickey
Love’s Escape by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Waltzing Matilda by Lucy Thompson
A Score to Settle by Gina Welborn
The Captive Brides Collection is among the best collection that Barbour Publishing has released. I have found some new authors and more great stories from some I have read before. Carrie Fancett Pagels' Love's Escape and Susan Page Davis' The Suspect Bride are my favorites from this book.
I highly recommend this book!
5 plus stars.