Mary Elizabeth Chapman doesn't want to go to the New World, but when her father takes the opportunity to reserve passage on the Mayflower, it is decided. Mary Elizabeth must care for her young brother, as their mother has passed.



Mary Elizabeth, is fearful of what awaits them in the New World, but her dear friend Dorothy, encourages her to see it as an adventure.



William is a "stranger" and a carpenter by trade. He grew up on the streets until he was taken in by a kindly mentor. He is befriended by John Alden who lives his faith as a Separatist and shows William what a life of fait looks like.



I like how both Mary Elizabeth and her brother, David, grow up a lot on the voyage, taking care of the sick passengers. This story is full of history and does a grew job of bringing to life the plight and dream of the Separatists, and the struggles that they faced before and after landing on Plymouth. This book also highlights many great historical figures and their faith.



William is curious about the Separatists, and is respectful yet inquisitive. I like how he and Mary Elizabeth are brought together by their trials, serving others alongside each other.



Great attention to detail, rich in history , and inspiring historical characters that bring the plight of the Separatists to life, bringing to life the courage of those who through their faith were led to voyage to a new land.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

This is the first book in the new "The Daughters of the Mayflower" series.

It's difficult to lose a mother. It's also difficult to leave one's home, but that's what is required of Mary Elizabeth Chapman . "The Mayflower Bride" by Kimberley  Woodhouse gets underway as Mary Elizabeth  and her best friend, Dorothy,  listen in on a conversation that changes their lives. They, along with their families, and others, prepare to sail to the New World.

History:  Too many times we're so anxious to start the actual story that we overlook information from the author.  After the Dedication to this book, Woodhouse, writes a "Dear Reader" letter in which she explains the true language versus the language of the book. She also gives us a "Glossary of Terms" regarding the ship, a list of fictional characters and a  "Historical Speedwell/Mayflower Passengers" list.


This was my first Kimberley Woodhouse novel and there is no denying that this book was enhanced with historical facts surrounding the sequence of true accounts.  Historical fiction like this one is rewarding to read.

Characters: The differences between the "Separatists" and the "Strangers" were well written into the scenes. The Separatists lived by strict guidelines that were often ridiculed and some "Strangers" even tormented them. The Separatists, those we now call Pilgrims, were not a weak people. They were a people of strong faith and throughout the book we learn about their convictions and way of living.

Mary Elizabeth, Separatist and protagonist, loved God and she strove to follow His ways.  She had a flaw that I wanted to pull right off the page and make walk the plank, but this irritating characteristic made her believable and  strengthened her faith as she depended upon the Lord. Mary's best friend, Dorothy,  almost stole the show, but only briefly.  Mary Elizabeth's and Dorothy's friendship was a beautiful and an integeral part of the story.

William Lytton, a Stranger and a carpenter by trade joins the journey.  He observes many things and finds himself having to make serious choices.   He and all the other characters drew me into sharing their struggles and victories while sailing the sea with them.

Plot:  As a title, "The Mayflower Bride" is deceptive in that it's much more than a romance.  It is a very real account of hardship and sacrifice, but also a story of hope and perseverance. The Separatists first board the Speedwell, but it was the Mayflower that carried them to the New World.  Many things happen in this story that might cause you to ask questions like,  "How would I have handled what Mary Elizabeth faced?" and "Would I have survived the voyage?"

Setting:  The Speedwell and the Mayflower.  Ships.  The "Glossary of Terms" was extremely helpful especially if you know nothing about ships.  Woodhouse did an amazing job at describing life aboard in 1620.

My Thoughts:  If "The Mayflower Bride",  is the standard for the other books in this series, then I know I'll enjoy every one of them.  It's a book that I'll keep and recommend because the content is extremely clean, free of graphic descriptions and inspiring.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Personal Rating: 4.73     Star Rating: 

Title: The Mayflower Bride
Author: Kimberley Woodhouse
Publisher: Barbour Books
Published: Feb. 1. 2018
Series: "Daughters of the Mayflower", Book 1
Reading Format: ebook, Kindle

"Daughters of the Mayflower" Series

 

 


About "The Mayflower Bride"

A New Series Begins for Lovers of History, Adventure, Romance, and Ancestry 
A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.

Mary Chapman boards the Speedwell in 1620 as a Separatist seeking a better life in the New World. William Lytton embarks on the Mayflower as a carpenter looking for opportunities to succeed—and he may have found one when a man from the Virginia Company offers William a hefty sum to keep a stealth eye on company interests in the new colony. The season is far too late for good sailing and storms rage, but reaching land is no better as food is scarce and the people are weak. Will Mary survive to face the spring planting and unknown natives? Will William be branded a traitor and expelled?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series begins with The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.

More to come in the Daughters of the Mayflower series:
The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo - set 1725 New Orleans (coming April 2018)
The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep - set 1760 during the French and Indian War (coming June 2018)

The Mayflower Bride, written by Kimberley Woodhouse, is book 1 of the Daughters of the Mayflower.
I was excited to read it because Woodhouse was going to incorporate true historical happenings with fiction. And who doesn't like the history behind the Mayflower.
My favorite character, William Lytton. He's a boy that came from literally nothing and yet wanted to go to the new world to start a new life.
My biggest complaint sounds kind of petty, but I think there was a great mix of historical facts mixed in which I wanted, but they almost felt like a lot of information dumps or a ton of narrative when I prefer a lot of dialogue. May be a personal preference, but it's what held me back from giving it a higher rating.
I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

This is an incredible historical novel!

The author starts by explaining which characters are fictional. I really appreciate that information. I found these characters very well developed and easy to connect with as the story progressed. At times I found myself verbally counseling William, the male lead, in how I felt he needed to deal with situations and people.

I had learned the story of the Mayflower in school. The story of these brave people came alive in this wonderful book. It is no longer just dry history facts. The people became more real to me. Their fears and heartaches were easy to take on personally while reading.

I received a free eBook copy of this novel through NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

A lovely book that gave new insight to what life was like on the Mayflower and in early America. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

This is the first book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series which follows the female descendants of a Mayflower family. There was a lot of historical information in this book, I learned some things that I had never known. The author depicted how difficult the journey/settlement was for the Separatists (and others) who were determined to start a new life. However, I felt the pacing of the story was a bit slow and uneven and I couldn't quite connect to the characters. Although they went through such hardships, their interactions felt forced. In addition, the plot line with the villain was underused and didn't feel necessary. However, the author does include strong spiritual content and shows how much the people had to trust God to actually make something of this settlement. I appreciated the author's historical notes and delineating what was fiction and fact. I think the idea for this whole series is interesting and I look forward to how other authors add to it--3.5 stars.
* I received this book free of charge from NetGalley.

The Mayflower Bride is the first book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. It is also the first book I've ever read written by Kimberley Woodhouse. You do not need to read the series in order, I actually read The Pirate Bride first, and I'm glad that I did because I likely would not have continued on in the series if I had started with The Mayflower Bride.

The Mayflower Bride follows a group of Separatists from Holland, across the Atlantic to The New World. It is a beautiful story of salvation, forgiveness and trusting God in all circumstances. I appreciated the forthright way these truths were presented throughout The Mayflower Bride. However, for me the plot-line moved along about as quickly as the Mayflower crossed the Atlantic. I found the characters to be under-developed, thus I remained quite unattached to them. With all the hardship that befell Mary Elisabeth, I should have been drowning in tears along with her. Instead, I found myself not really feeling invested in their journey or the circumstances that befell the Mayflower passengers. For this reason, I was disappointed.

Even though this novel was not one of my favorites, I am looking forward to reading others in the series.

The Mayflower Bride is currently available for purchase from your local or online book retailer. Thank you, Barbour Publishing and Net Galley for the free copy of The Mayflower Bride to read in exchange for my honest review.

I've been anticipating this series for some time, and I've been delighted with the amount of history presented so far. Yes, this is a romance. However, The Daughters of the Mayflower series promises to deliver more than the typical cotton candy fare. 

Mary Chapman reluctantly boards the Speedwell while her soon-to-be hero, William Lytton, boards the Mayflower as a carpenter. Spoiler alerts are unnecessary at this point. Most of us (hopefully), know the Speedwell is doomed. Mary stumbles into William aboard the new ship, the Mayflower. The sweet, handsome man catches her attention. He notices her as well. Yet, disaster strikes again and again, tearing everyone apart. Loved ones die. Storms decimate. And William might have made a deal with a devil, agreeing to spy on his unsuspecting traveling companions. In the treacherous New World, trust is everything. 

For a short novel, plenty of suffering fills the pages. Woodhouse ends on a note of triumphant hope ... and love. I'm assigning four out of five stars. Readers fascinated with early American history and gentle love stories will enjoy this series.

I received a copy from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

The author accomplished a monumentous feat in portraying the characters and journey of the historic Mayflower. Although she added some fictional characters, the novel holds true to the difficult voyage the early settlers experienced. I would not have wanted to experience the trials and dangers these intrepid pilgrims endured. I enjoyed the unfolding story about Mary Elizabeth Chapman, one of the Separatists, and William Lytton, a carpenter. Their growing faith and love add depth to the story. It seemed to drag a bit at times, but the characters make you care what happens and want to read on. I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading “The Mayflower Bride”, the first of the Daughters of the Mayflower. I thought Kimberly Woodhouse did an excellent job of telling this interesting but tragic story. I loved the way she was able to draw hope out of the darkness. In so doing, I found the reading to be an easier more light hearted read. I appreciate all of the research that went into writing this historical fiction novel. There were many sad facts about the crossing that were touched upon, but Kimberly did not dwell on. Again, I believe it was a wonderful written love story. I always appreciate when the author takes the time to tell us what was actual fact and where she may have taken liberties. It makes me want to do more research. Kimberly at the end gives us information and details to help us out, listing some of her references. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it, especially if you like a well written historical fictional love story. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley, Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I liked reading this book a lot. I found it to focus on Gods word and how we should have hope. The Mayflower is bring families to the new world to settle and they are putting all their faith in that. All they want is to put God first and raise their families. The trip from Holland to the new world is met with loss and pain. Having already lost her mother now her father has passed away leaving her alone to raise her brother . During this voyage she met a man who was not a believer. He fell for her immediately and made an effort to understand her beliefs so they could be together.

The Mayflower Bride tells the story of William Lytton and Mary Chapman and the hardships faced as they travel to America. Mary begins the journey on the ship, Speedwell, while William is on the Mayflower. Both William and Mary are strong, well-written characters. Mary and her family are Separatists while William is an orphan who does not have much religious background. I enjoyed The Mayflower Bride and recommend it to others who enjoy historical fiction. I received my copy of The Mayflower Bride from Barbour Books. This is my honest opinion.

Fleeing persecution for their religious beliefs, 16-year-old Mary Elizabeth Chapman along with her father and eight-year-old brother David, join their congregation aboard the Speedwell in hopes of prosperity and religious freedom. After having to return to port for repairs to the ship on more than one occasion, the passengers are eventually transferred to the Mayflower to complete their journey. William Lytton was orphaned as baby and raised until the age of nine by relatives who did not want him. Thrown to the streets, he survived on his own until a man named Paul took him under his wing at age 13 and treated him as a son, including teaching him of the LORD and of his trade as a carpenter. Knowing his time was near, Paul purchased a ticket for William’s passage to the new colony as well as an extra stake in some land for him to be able to prosper and start his own family. At first William isn’t receptive to hearing about the LORD and his love, and it isn’t until they are at sea that William truly discovers his need for the LORD in his life. The journey is a difficult one, with nearly all of the passengers falling ill, including many deaths. It is aboard the first ship that William and Mary Elizabeth are introduced. Mary Elizabeth’s best friend Dorothy teases her about her immediate interest in him, but over time their affections truly grow for each other. They work together (along with any of the few not ill at any given time), to care for the sick aboard the ship. I will not spoil any events, however I will share that the heartache is great and death touches nearly every family. In an attempt to stay true to historical accuracy, the author takes the reader deep into the heartache of sickness and death of loved ones. Once the ship makes it to land, they hope that all will be well, but they continue to face more heartache as they struggle to build homes for their families and feed their community. As William and Mary Elizabeth work hard to help build their new colony, is the love they’ve developed for each other enough to sustain them?

A lot of research and preparation went into the writing of this novel as the author shares in snippets both before and after the book. While the main characters are fictional, several of the characters were real people aboard the ship (and she even shares some interesting lineage about some of them at the end). While the book does fall under a romance category, it’s also full of history. Both Mary Elizabeth and William’s stories are shared including their own struggles and heartaches aside from that of romance. Life in 1620 aboard the Mayflower was certainly no walk-in-the-park, and the author did a wonderful job of sharing just how painful and difficult life could be for the early settlers. While sad in many parts, the settlers clung to their faith in the LORD to sustain them through the difficulties they faced. This was a very emotional yet powerful read, and one I would greatly encourage.

*I received a free copy of the book from the publisher for an honest review*

I just finished reading The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse (Daughters of the Mayflower (book 1) and I found it rich in history! This book was a great, quick read. I read it in a few days, picking it up here and there. I loved the characters and the story line. Sailing over to America took over half of the book. And I wish there was more story line after arriving here, but I guess that would be more of a Plymouth story than a Mayflower one. I would recommend this to other history buff readers that like a little love story in the middle. I would definitely like to check out the other book in this series. Special thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

#TheMayflowerBride #NetGalley

The Mayflower Bride
Daughters of the Mayflower (book 1)
by Kimberley Woodhouse
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Barbour Books
Christian , Historical Fiction
Pub Date 01 Feb 2018
I am reviewing a copy of The Mayflower Bridre through Barbour books and Netgalley:
Mary Elizabeth and her family learn they are to go to the New World. They are to leave from Holland.
Mary Elizabeth and her family board the speedwell in 1620 in search of a better life in the New World. William Lytonn embarks the Mayflower as a Carpenter looking for new opportunities in the New World and when a man from The Virgina Company offers him a job recording the records of the journey! When they leave the season is late and the Waters are rough many become sick, some doe on the journeys but reaching land is not better, with food scare and people to sick and weak to work from the voyage.

Will Mary Elizabeth survive to face spring planting and unknown natives, or will she succumb like like many others had?

I give The Mayflower Bride five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

The writing felt a little stilted so I had a hard time pushing through. The story really picks up as it goes on and the author does a great job of making you feel like you were really there.

" 'When you don't know what to pray, Mary Elizabeth, pray the words Jesus taught us… pray scripture.' Mother's words floated over her, and a single tear slipped down her cheek."

"The Mayflower Bride" (2018, Barbour), first in the "The Daughters of the Mayflower" series by Kimberley Woodhouse, is a historical Christian romance set between 1620-1621 mostly on the open seas. The novel is a standalone story. I chose to read this book because two of my absolute favorite authors, Michelle Griep and MaryLu Tyndall, are contributing books three and six, respectively. I decided I might as well start at the beginning of the series even though I was nervous that a story set on the Mayflower would be too depressing. Not because of what I remember from school, but because of what I remember from the "Peanuts" special "The Mayflower Voyagers"!

Rating: 4 stars

The heroine: Elizabeth Chapman, 17, is a Separatist. Years previously, the Separatists "fled England and King James' religious persecution… [and] made it to Holland." Holland has been her home for as long as she can remember, and now a group of Separatists has been chosen to be the first to travel to the New World. Elizabeth's family is in this group, and she's devastated.

The hero: William Lytton, 20, is a Stranger, defined as anyone who is not a Separatist. A group of Strangers are going to travel to the New World to settle there along with the Separatists. William, orphaned at birth, has become a respected carpenter, and is now excited to leave for a new life. "They would all have to start with nothing. They would have to build or create everything with their own hands. They would be far away from everyone and everything they'd ever known. That was fine. Making a new life took hard work and sacrifice. He was ready." Needless to say, William is elated.

Christian elements:

*In the Ms. Woodhouse's dedication, she writes of Tracie Peterson, a veteran Christian fiction author: "You are my dearest friend other than my precious husband…my prayer and Bible study partner, accountability partner, and listening ear."

*Of the Separatists: "The Saints, as they preferred to call themselves… believed only what the Bible told them, so they considered all the man-made rules and traditions of the Church of England to be wrong."

*Of the prevalence of God and the Bible: This is possibly the most scripture-laden book I've ever read. The scriptures and prayers included seem culturally appropriate as well as relevant. To me, it didn't feel preachy; it felt authentic. For example, in the face of very real fear, Elizabeth's friend asks, "Why don't we recite the Twenty-Third Psalm together?" And they do. I thought it was a wonderful application. It's atypical in the Christian fiction I read, but I did like it. "The fear was because of her doubt and worry - neither of which was honoring to God. She'd have to work on those areas of her life." Amen!

Is it clean/chaste? Oh, yes!

What I liked:

*As described in the foreword, Ms. Woodhouse "had to research each person on the ship and then bring aboard only a few fictional people." I really liked this approach, as opposed to the usual approach of sprinkling in historical figures and events. Thankfully, there is a list of characters before the story which indicates which characters are entirely fictional.

*There was also a glossary of seafaring terms at the beginning of the book. That was fabulous, because I have read Kindle books with a glossary at the end and in almost every case, I didn't even realize it was there until after I finished the story!

What I didn’t like:

*The villain. I didn't think he was necessary. I cannot know for sure, but it seems as though the villain was created in order to manufacture conflict at the "right" time in a story arc. I think this story had enough hardships without a villain in the mix. Fortunately, he did not come into play overmuch. I tried to not take much notice of him

*Instalove. Elizabeth and William are instantly attracted to each other, and it seems like that attraction equals love. Once I got over that, I was fine with their relationship.

*The use of the word prayerfully. This word was used several times to mean either thankfully or hopefully. I don't know whether this is a correct use of the word, but it jarred me out of the story each time.

***********

The bottom line: This was a good rendering of the Mayflower's journey. I recommend this book to Christian fiction readers who won't mind that this book is NOT Christian Lite. I look forward to reading the rest of this series, including book 4, which will be by the same author.
(See "The Patriot Bride").

I received this book from NetGalley.

I’m always amazed when I consider the enormous courage of the people that came over on the Mayflower. To leave one’s home, family, friends, and country and to settle in a new place full of dangers, it would require a lot of bravery.

Mary Elizabeth has to learn how to acquire that courage. As she sets out on the voyage, and encounters the many dangers, delays, and troubles, her courage grows, and her character grows as she learns to rely solely on the Lord.

I thought there would be more in the story about William and his spying, but on the other hand, he hardly had time to, what with all the adventures they had on the Mayflower.

This is a sweet book and the writing fits the classic story. I enjoyed it, and am very excited for this new series, The Daughters of the Mayflower. A new book in the series will be released every two months and will continue to progress through history, all connected because of the Mayflower.

Travel to America with the first residents!

What a pleasure to be able to read the first in this new series. My husband and I have been tracing our ancestry back as far as we can. In each instance, we would love to have a journal or something that belonged to our people so that we can understand their journey and know more about how they lived. Stories like this are so helpful to us. The author did a LOT of research before writing this story. I still find it fascinating how an author takes facts, creates new characters to illustrate, and fills in an individual’s day to day thoughts and actions to tell the tales. Kimberly is another great author who brings history and the people to life.

The two main characters of the book had their trip on the Mayflower decided for them. They both grew in strength and learned how to live in faith. And found each other to share their troubles, individual thoughts and fears.
I bookmarked two of the passages, the first a quote from scripture, that go to the heart of this story:
“. . . Count it exceeding joy when ye fall into diverse temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith bringeth forth patience. And let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. “
And
“…but it wasn’t until I found salvation through Jesus Christ and my new faith that I was able to let go of the past.”

All of the passengers on the Mayflower (and that of other immigrants after) went through exceedingly hard times. It’s a wonder that any from this voyage made it at all, or that others still kept coming afterward. Timing is everything, and theirs was not good yet it's God who directs all of our lives, and uses many of us in one way or another to help and shape the lives of others.

Mary Elizabeth is carried along on the journey by her father and her best friend. They are very enthusiastic about the opportunity, but she would rather stay where they are in Holland. Yet the Separatist community they lived in felt that this was getting to be as bad as what they had left in England, so it was decided to emigrate.

William was orphaned as a baby and given to relatives to raise, who used him as a slave then kicked him out at 9 years of age. He lived on his own, working as he could to live, until a man found him, took him in and taught him the trade of being a carpenter. His mentor purchased a share on the Mayflower and a place in developing the new colony in America – so his path was set for him. A good and honest person, he had developed an excellent reputation – but because he was an orphan he would never have a social standing if he stayed in England. However, that early life had shaped him too, and fed his fears. He knew something was missing in his life, and found it when he sailed to America with the Separatists.

This is an excellent read that makes you wish you could learn even more about this time and the people who lived through it. I highly recommend it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - 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.”

Mary Elizabeth Chapman is seeking a better life and freedom from religious persecution in the new world when she steps on board the Speedwell in 1620. When William William Lytton boards the Mayflower as a carpenter, he's seeking opportunities to succeed, and he may have just found one when a man with the Virginia Company offers him a significant amount of money to keep a close watch on the company's interests in the new colony. They've left too late in the season for good sailing and the storms are raging but reaching land isn't any better with food being so scarce and the people being so weak. Will Mary Elizabeth and the rest of her group survive long enough to see the spring planting and the natives? Will William be branded as a traitor and expelled from the colony?

I really enjoyed this sweet story a great deal. I could tell that Kimberley Woodhouse did a great deal of research into the Mayflower's journey and the very different groups, of Saints and Strangers, who set sail aboard her. I loved that she included a glossary so that those of us who aren't well versed in sailing terms and/or the vocabulary of the day can keep up easier. She was able to write and describe each scene so well that you can almost see it, almost feel like you were experiencing it for yourself, or at least watching it unfold, like a play. The characters were also extremely well written, even the ones you didn't want to like, the ones who were just unlikeable people, were still dynamic. I have always loved this period in history and Woodhouse certainly lived up to my expectations. This may have been the first book I've read by this author but I certainly hope that it won't be the last!