I thought the author did a wonderful job mixing how difficult, tragic and loss filled the journey on the Mayflower was with the hope of his passengers. There is a romance but it is not the main focus of the book. I was a little thrown by the title, it made me think the romance would be a larger focus. It's still a good book, one worth reading. I definitely recommend reading the author notes, they are very informative.
I rounded the stars up to 4 because of the epilogue.

The Mayflower Bride is the first book in a new series called The Daughters of the Mayflower. I was intrigued by the idea of a series that has a common theme (all of the books so far have the word "bride" in the title) and they are written by different authors. I am looking forward to comparing the different writing styles of each author and the way each approaches the theme.

I have never read a book about the first pilgrims and their journey to the New World on the Mayflower. Kimberley Woodhouse has obviously done a lot of research, as she notes several factual events and characters in the author's notes. I appreciated the realistic description of what the travelers went through to endure a long and treacherous crossing and the hardship of settling in a wild, new land. That aspect of the story was very well written. The novel was a little slower pace than what I typically prefer, and the romantic tension did not build up as intensely as I'd hoped. I love reading Bible verses and Biblical truth when it's interwoven through a story and flowing right into a story line. This novel had a lot of Bible verses, but the placement of them felt a little forced to me at times.

Personal takeaway...Even when the circumstances seem impossible, we can have courage and trust in God to guide us through.

I'm glad I read this book and I am definitely looking forward to the next books in the series.

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley to share my honest thoughts and opinions, which I did.**

3 1/2 stars

This is my first read from Kimberley Woodhouse and my first look at the Mayflower, beyond school history books. I enjoyed learning more about this expedition and the sufferings and hardships experienced by those settlers. Her novel is obviously well researched and I appreciated the historical facts and truths kept in the story to give a true representation of history through fictional characters. The story was a quick, enjoyable read. Very clean story with a lot of reference to God and scripture, with the obvious hand of God in the storyline and in how the characters face their trials. A nice little romance as well.

I so wanted to adore this book. I love Christian, historical fiction, and clean romances. And honestly, I don't expect a ton from them because I read them knowing they'll be light, fluffy, and sweet.

The Mayflower Bride is the first in a generational series written by multiple authors. Though it is incredibly obvious that Woodhouse did her research and attempted to make things as accurate as possible, Mayflower lacked luster. We knew who would fall in love from the start, yet the romance didn't seem to burn or build because they spent so much time apart. And the feelings tended to be told instead of shown. We know she wanted to marry for love instead of arrangement, we know they said they loved each other. But there was so much else going on when it came to how many people freaking died that the fictional romance lost all its spotlight to the historical figures.

This one wasn't personally my cup of tea, but it was quick and sweet and still set the series up well to be a good generational tale. And I am eagerly devouring the next one in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kimberly Woodhouse, and Barbour Publishing for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an interesting beginning of a series written by different authors who give readers a heart-felt peek into the lives of two brave souls; Mary Elizabeth Chapman and William Lytton and their daring boat ride as they seek a better life in a new land – story set in 1620. Would they make it to the promised land? They didn’t know. I liked what Kimberley wrote in author’s notes where she tells readers what was real and what she added to make the story work. She elaborates a little more there about historical event. I liked that.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series. The titles and covers of the next books look very interesting! Looking forward to reading them.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from blogging for books. 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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It seems there’s much I didn’t know about the journey of the Mayflower, which brought religious dissenters to the new world. Kim Woodhouse’s coming-of-age story is both entertaining and informative. The opening pages are set in Leiden, the Netherlands, in 1620, when motherless Mary Elizabeth learns that her family will be embarking on the voyage of a lifetime. Committed to caring for her much younger brother, Mary Elizabeth doesn’t expect romance to enter her life any time soon. But that’s exactly what happens when the expedition is forced to put in for repairs in England and she meets William.

Kim Woodhouse has deftly woven known facts and supposition about Mayflower’s voyage with imagination and exquisite detail. History tells us that the journey was anything but smooth. Through Woodhouse’s writing, we get to experience the hardships of the turbulent seas, disease and malnutrition. We witness birth and death, joy and pain, and the separation between the ‘Saints’ and ‘Strangers’ onboard. The narrative continues when the Pilgrims reach land and go in search of a suitable site for their colony. The hardships did not stop and the winter of 1620-21 would take as harsh a toll on the people as the voyage, if not more so.

The Mayflower Bride is the first in a new series published by Barbour, called Daughters of the Mayflower. Six books are scheduled to be published in 2018, all written by different authors, and are set between 1620 and 1814. The next title, The Pirate Bride, is due within the month. Kim Woodhouse is also the author of The Patriot Bride, book four in the series.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing for my complimentary electronic copy of The Mayflower Bride.

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.

The Mayflower Bride is the first book that I’ve read by this author and I honestly enjoyed it. This book wasn’t without flaws, however. The story stalled at times with the ridiculous (though accurate) amount of sickness and deaths aboard The Mayflower. While this was realistic, I almost became desensitized to the deaths and by the time that key figures in the book became ill, I found that I couldn’t bring myself to be too upset about it.

Overall, I thought the characters were endearing and likable. I enjoyed Mary Elizabeth’s journey to the new world. I watched her struggle to overcome her fears and become a woman of great faith. William’s conversion felt rushed and forced to me. I think this was because he was studying with the brethren while I was occupied with yet another round of illness aboard the ship.

The ending felt slightly rushed, especially with the time jump. I felt there could have been more depth to the story but it wasn’t a bad read. At 256 pages, this book is more of a novella. The length is what (in my opinion) contributes to the lack of depth. Having said all of that, I actually enjoyed the book and I’m interested in reading more by this author.

The Mayflower Bride
by Kimberley Woodhouse

Most Americans are pretty familiar with the trials of those who came over on the Mayflower, but this story draws us in, and we live through the voyage with these brave men and women in a way that makes the story and struggles become more real. The majority of the story takes place through the eyes of two fictional characters, William and Mary Elizabeth. They each work through personal difficulties and doubts, as well as the hardships of the voyage. I felt the characters’ struggles were very realistic.

I really enjoyed this story and the extra information that the author provided before and after the story. What originally drew me to the story was the fact it was a series that would focus one family’s descendants from the Mayflower through various times in history. As a genealogy buff, this really appealed to me and reminded me of Gilbert Morris’ The House of Winslow series which I enjoyed many years ago. I look forward to reading more of the series and would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.

MY RATING: A solid 4 stars for entertaining me, holding my interest, and providing strong examples of relying on God in adversity.

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At my request, I received a free electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions on the book, and I received no compensation for this review.