Cover Image: The Mayflower Bride

The Mayflower Bride

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Member Reviews

Faith, hunger, hardship, sickness, loss, and grief are strong threads through this story, though they failed to engage me as a reader. The mixing of the fictional leads, however, with the historical figures was well done. I found I quite liked the portrayals of Miles Standish, John Alden, and especially Priscilla Mullins. The fictional characters did not fare so well and I found I had little sympathy or liking for them.

As a draft, this would be fine, though in need of some work to give the story a good flow, enrich the descriptions, provide stronger motivations and make the dialogue more natural while making it have more of a feel for the actual speech, values, and behavior of the times. The author herself notes that she chose not to use language like 'thee' and 'thou' to make it more readable, and that does sometimes benefit the modern reader, but there seems to have also been a loss of authenticity in the dialogue as well as the story.

2.5 stars. Rather than transporting me to the 1600's, this story brought fourth grade social studies units to mind. If you are interested in this series, as I am, then this is worth a quick read as it is the foundational novel in a linked series.

My thanks to Barbour Books for allowing me to read an e-galley through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

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To be completely honest, I’m not usually a huge fan of colonial-period romance. There’s always a lot of death involved, or if there’s not, the story isn’t very accurate. As such, I was really dragging my feet to start on this one. Well, boy I regretted that!

Instead of struggling to get through it, I struggled to put it down. Kimberley Woodhouse weaves an engaging tale of early colonists learning about love, strength, courage, and God’s power in the darkness. The story is well researched, detailed without being weighty, and historically accurate enough that this layman found little to no problems. Unlike many colonial period novels, I found The Mayflower Bride to be extremely readable and significantly less depressing. While over 50 people die through the course (which is demanded by the historical account of 53 deaths), Woodhouse directs the readers’ attention toward the proverbial horizon as her characters learn to rely on God more fully.

All together, I was extremely pleased with this novel, and am looking forward to the next in the series, The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo .

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This story is too predictable. Boy meets girl, many troubles happen, boy and girl fall in love, and get married. The historical aspect of the novel caught my attention, but I was disappointed in the modern influences entering in to a 400 year old account.

If you interest is in Christianized romances, this book is for you. If you want a solid historical novel, look elsewhere.

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Sadly, this is a book that did not live up to the great hype that preceded it. I am usually a fan of prologues and glossaries and such in the front of a book, but I thought this book was never going to start. There was just too much extraneous information, and I was tired before it began.

Mary Elizabeth Chapman,17, travels across the ocean with her father and her younger brother, David. She is fortunate enough to have her good friend, Dorothy along on the adventure as well.

Mary Elizabeth finds herself attracted to William Lytton, well-known for his carpentry skills. Unfortunately, Lytton is a Stranger. Thus we have a romance with obstacles.

Many trials await the Mayflower travelers. These were portrayed accurately if not compellingly. Woodhouse goes to great lengths to be sure her account is factual. She has done extensive research and it shows.

Surprisingly, there was more added material at the end. By this time, I felt like I had read a thinly disguised textbook.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. I also bought a copy. All opinions are solely my own and no positive review was required.

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So…let me just start this off with saying that I think I fell in love with William Lytton. Why don’t they make men like that anymore? William is a man who knows how to treat a lady: chivalrous, prays with Mary Elizabeth (sighs), spends time with her little brother, attempts to speak with her father, and most importantly, would do anything for the girl he loves. Not only all of those glorious things, but he is also handy and honest…the complete opposite of most men these days.

We are persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but we perish not.

Now, onto the story, the Separatists, originally from England and now living in Holland, are looking to adventure into the New World after facing religious persecution. Initially planning on settling in Virginia, and after several failed attempts on the Speedwell, the Separatists, the crew, and the craftsmen aboard the Mayflower and embark on the daunting journey of creating a settlement in Plymouth. Along the way, many characters struggle with faith, honesty within themselves, and of course, health.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I love that Psalm 18:2 is mentioned in this novel, since it is my favorite! I think a lot of times, many of us struggle with being strong, and especially in these times, we feel lonely. But we are never alone and we never have to fear because God is always with us. In the beginning of the novel, Mary Elizabeth is a quiet, soft-spoken woman uncertain about the New World. As the story continues, we see Mary Elizabeth growing into a confident, outspoken women certain of her abilities. She begins this process by helping the sick of those on the ships, faltering slightly with the death of those close to her, but then becoming the strong women others look to in times of trouble and heartache. Mary Elizabeth has the characteristics she admired of those around her: strength, bravery, and full-heartedness in God.

I would love to live in this time period and be able to experience the hardships and fulfillment of creating a new settlement completely from scratch, which is why I found it so enjoyable. If you are looking for a book that is Christian, historical, and slightly romantic, then this is the book for you.

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A great book with loads of twists and turns, must read

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I love the cover of this book. I fell in love with it before I read it.
I enjoyed the story setting quite well.
The characters had a lot going for them, but the angst fell a little flat for me. I wished that there would have been a bit more closer at the end, but it was a good light read, a nice one for spring break.

The details that were pretty incredible, with the historical details of the Mayflower, the Speedwell, and the burials at sea. I did feel as though I was rocking and swaying to the swells of the waves as I read.

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This is my first book by this author. I was impressed by the historical accuracy and attention to the true events surrounding the mayflower voyage. I just recently read a non-fiction account of this harrowing tale and it was interesting how the author wove so many facts into a fictional tale.
That being said, the only reason that I have it this rating is because the type of writing appears to be more geared to a YA audience. I usually avoid this type of style, because it is personally not my taste. But I would recomend it to anyone who enjoys YA historicals.

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Delightful historical fiction. Although the main characters were fictional, the story was based on historically accurate research. It really helped me understand what passengers of the Mayflower endured (I have an ancestor of the Mayflower passenger list.) It should make all Americans grateful for what those who went before have done.

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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?

If you love history and are fascinated with true to life stories, here's a book for you. Well written and populated with more than a few real life characters, Woodhouse has done fine job giving her readers a glimpse into and onto the Mayflower as she makes her way to the New World. A must read for history buffs.

*My thanks to the publisher for a preview copy of this book. My opinion is my own.

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The lovely cover is what drew me first to this novel. Then when I saw it was a series starting with the crossing of the Mayflower, be still my historical loving heart!

The author does a fabulous job of setting up the story in the introductory comments to the reader. Likewise, the afterward provides additional details about what was Fiction and which parts were fact in the afterward. I especially loved reading about some famous descendants from those that sailed and survived the crossing of the Mayflower.

I think it was the introductory comments to the reader that set my expectations high for the level of historical detail about to unfold in the pages. While the novel included historical details about the time, this could have been enhanced. I did feel the despair the passengers must have felt so the mood was established by the author.

Overall, it was a good story. One of my favorite parts of reading historical fiction is learning something new. I absolutely learned a few new things from The Mayflower Bride and for that I come away from my time spent reading this novel gratified.

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The Mayflower Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse is the first in a new series, Daughters of the Mayflower, that will transport readers through pivotal periods in U.S. history. I am interested to see if the next book will feature descendants of the characters in the first book. Mary Elizabeth Chapman belongs to the religious group, the Separatists, who are journeying to the New World in the hopes of religious freedom. William Lytton seeks to build a new life as a carpenter in the New World and put his past behind him. The two meet, and it is a case of instant attraction. However, their beliefs and backgrounds put them at odds. Will love truimph all? Can they find a way to love one another and build a life in the New World? Fans of historical fiction will enjoy the intersection between Woodhouse's fictional characters with historical characters as she paints a composite picture of what life was like for those journeying aboard the Mayflower.

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Absolutely loved the book! So excited for all the books to read!!

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Author Kimberley Woodhouse is the first author to offer a story in the new series Daughters of the Mayflower , and she does not disappoint as she takes us on a journey across the ocean, on board the Mayflower.

While many characters in the book were actual passengers aboard the Mayflower, our main characters of Mary Elizabeth Chapman and William Lytton, were not. But the author has done an excellent job of making their story and the lives of those on board the Mayflower, come alive.

One of the reasons I love historical fiction so much is because I know authors like Woodhouse will put in the effort to make it as historically accurate as possible. And so I learn things I never knew before. If only everyone could take a history class through a novel like this! The harrowing journey to the New World was filled with sickness, danger and ultimately death. It is by the grace of God that anyone survived the journey. While the budding romance between Elizabeth and William was fictional, it made the story of the voyage all the more real to me.

The only problem I had was with the character of Peter. He appeared so infrequently that I would forget about him and his purpose, so that when he was mentioned again I had to stop and think - who is this? Making his role seem almost insignificant. What did stand out of course was the faith of Elizabeth and how she struggled to keep it, but ultimately trusted in God for all things. At the beginning of the journey William had no faith, but by the end, he was a man of God ready to do what was right, no matter the price.

If you enjoy history and romance, you will most certainly find yourself glued to the pages of this book!

Book provided by NetGalley and Barbour Publishing.

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I love to read historical fiction based on real life events. When I saw this book, I knew it was for me. This is the story of the Separatist's journey to the new world. They traveled aboard The Mayflower seeking religious freedom in the new settlement called Plymouth. This story centers around Mary Elizabeth and William, two young people, making this perilous journey. The author does a good job of writing about all of the tragic events these settlers faced-the boat leaking, storms, sickness, etc. It includes lots of history, and I enjoyed the authors notes at the end about what was fact and what was fiction. I look forward to reading more books in this series!

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An expertly researched look into a time period rarely explored in CBA fiction and the worthy first bookend to Barbour's new (and ambitious) span through American history.

No one can doubt the author's research nor the attention to detail. I, did, however think there were some limitations in the pairing of historical authenticity with the dialogue and world created. I must, however, assume that this was to create a sense of accessibility for the modern reader while sparking their interest into a little-explored tenet of American history.

3.5

Definitely woven by a talented and competent voice.

Review copy provided by netgalley.

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I am always looking for exceptional historical fiction in time periods that I have read about previously so The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse caught my eye. I was not disappointed. This is the story of the Saints and the Separatist that came over on the Mayflower to start a colony in the New World. It centers on the fictional Chapman family and the trials and tribulations they suffered on the journey. It highlights how everyone lived on board the ship and the difficulties that had to be overcome. Although the Chapman family is fictional, the book is based on historical people and events.

What I enjoyed about this book was the tremendous amount of historical facts that are included for both the voyage and settling of Plymouth. You get a glimpse into life aboard the ship when the passengers are assailed with continuous storms and sickness. You feel the grief and helplessness as friends and family die. You are also witness to the joys as they finally reach land and the peace that they find in their religion and faith.

This book can be read and enjoyed by all ages who enjoy Christian historical fiction. The author does a marvelous job of weaving an engaging story thru the facts that will keep you turning pages. It has many wonderful examples of the characters’ faith and their beliefs in God, including many uplifting Bible verses.

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Ok, first off I do not normally read what I consider "religious" novels & to be honest I didn't think this would be one, but it was. Though the religious part of the book fit into the story line & was needed for the first pilgrims I found it to be a bit monotonous with the amount of religion in the book. I understand it was needed for the story line, but it got to the point I started skipping over those sections.

Otherwise the story line & historical accuracy was spot on to what I believe how it would have been for the first Pilgrims arriving at Plymouth. The Indians were even brought into the story line which I thought was a very nice touch.

Overall I consider this to be a religious roman novel. It was very good, but I doubt I will read anymore of this type. It just is not my thing.

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The Mayflower Bride is a love story between Mary Elizabeth and William who meet on the Mayflower. I'm not sure why, but before I started reading, I thought the book would be more about their marriage (after their arrival in America) than about their courtship. Most of the novel takes place aboard the Mayflower, and it stays close to the facts. As someone who knows about this time in history, there were few surprises.

Mary Elizabeth and William spend little time together. Although I'm sure this is more historically accurate, it's hard for me to emotionally connect to that type of relationship. I felt more connected to the individual characters and their struggles, which I thought the author did a good job of portraying.

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