Of the Daughters of the Mayflower series, this one is my favorite so far. Mercy Lytton is a woman portraying surety while, in reality, she is living on quicksand. She straddles two cultures, both of which have strict expectations of what a woman "should" and "can" do. None of those options ever appealed to Mercy, and so she forged her own way as a guide and a scout. Her incredible eyesight allows her a measure of success in attaining her freedom and independence. But is she so focused on the distance that she will miss what's right in front of her?



Mercy is a strong, determined, and keen young woman of great integrity. She is a worthy role model to all young people.



Elias Dubois is easily one of my favorite characters. At first glance, he appears to be shrouded in mystery. He has been branded a traitor, but he does not carry himself as a traitor might be expected to. He is not shifty, nor manipulative. He is quiet, though. He uses no more words than what is necessary in any given moment. He does not deny that he knows more than he is saying. In fact, he says nothing at all. Elias is my absolute definition of straight forward, and I really loved reading his story.



This is a heartwarming, gripping journey for these two characters. It was an easy one-night read and is one that I know I will return to more than once.

This is an action packed book from the first page. Never a dull moment.

Mercy is such a strong and brave young woman. I never doubted her abilities to survive the situations she was put in. Yet, we caught glimpses of her vulnerability and her need for help at times.

In the form of Elias.

Another, strong character and I wondered at who he really was. His story is kept hidden and slowly revealed throughout the book.

I loved this early look at America and the things going on in our country so long ago. If you like historical romance you will enjoy this one.

A copy of this book was given to me through the Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.

This book is the story of Mercy, half-white, half-Mohawk, who works as a scout during the French and Indian War, and Elias, a French traitor threatened with execution. Both join a plot where they have to act as spouses to each other.

The story is full of historical information about the French-Indian War. It was quite interesting to read since this bit of US history was reasonably new to me.

This one ranks right up there with my other favorite by Michelle Griep, The Captive Heart. I love it! This intriguing tale kept the pages turning. And I always enjoy getting a glimpse in to Native American history when it is done right, which this story does.
I received this advance copy from the publisher, but as always, my opinions are my own.

The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep is the 3rd book in a wonderful series that I’m really enjoying. This one is about a set up of a relationship between a guy and a girl. These two main characters have to agree to an arrangement that will help the ultimate goal come about. They need to take the direction of one another at times and there is battle of the wills being played out. There is an older mentor-type man character that I really enjoyed and watching them journey through this adventure was quite the ride. I liked how the author incorporated the American Indians in her writing of this Historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


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I really liked the relationship between Mercy and Elias. Elias has secrets that he will do anything to keep and Mercy is 1/2 White and 1/2 Indian and she has never been one of the girls. When her dad tells her she will pretend to be married to Elias for the mission she becomes stubborn as ever but she gets to know Elias and Elias starts to fall for Mercy. This book was well written and it kept your attention well. I enjoyed this book better than one of the other Mayflower books (can't remember which one it was but it started with a little girl).

Received this book as an ARC for my honest review.

Whhhhyyyyy must the only thing the hero and heroine care about be getting to know each other ... Biblically? xP

Okay, I'll be serious and stop shocking y'all. ;) And I suppose it could be argued that they developed a relationship beyond being so moonstruck by each other's appearance that obviously they had to trust each other. Because hot people aren't evil. :P

It wasn't a terrible book, but there was a lot more physical attraction rather than actually developing their relationship.

Keeps you wanting to turn the pages and not stop! Keeps you from not putting it down and staying up late to read.

The Captured Bride is the third book in the Daughters of the Mayflower and my favorite so far in the series.

The book started off strong, but it was the second half of the story that was nearly unputdownable. I didn't expect the story to get so intense, but I loved it when that happened. I didn't know what was going to happen and wanted to just keep reading. :)

I liked how the romance built over time. It was sweet and I enjoyed reading it. The ending was great and I cannot wait to read the next book. I recommend The Captured Bride if you like this genre.

*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/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and 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.*

I truly enjoyed reading book 3 of this series. A historical romance series that you can read as a stand alone book since each book in written by different authors. They all touch upon faith. The themes are about forgiveness, trust, love, faith, family and understanding.

This book introduces Elias Dubois a so-call traitor and Mercy Lytoon a scout that was raised among the Mohawks. The story takes place during the French and Indian War of 1760. These two are brought together to get the gold Elias had to the British. Elias is a spy and needs to find a way to escape and finish his mission. Things will happen along this journey that could jeopardize people’s lives and the safety of the nation. They are both different in many ways but they have similar beliefs that will bring them to work together but will they path way or start a new journey together.

I enjoyed the writing and recommend this book. If you enjoy historical romance novels that have some aspects of faith you should add this to your TBR pile or if you want to venture in a different genre this might be once to consider.

I must admit that The Captured Bride was a tough read for me. The premise was intriguing but there was nothing that really grabbed my attention until I was halfway through the book, which made a large part of the book hard for me to get through. I do have to say that this is my only complaint. The characters were well developed and your emotions are with the characters emotions every step of the way. There is a faith aspect to the story but it did not feel overpowering or pushy in any way and it was a joy to see the adventure unfold.

Once the action started I could not put the book down. The story picks up speed, grabs you and pulls you in, putting you right in the middle of the story, in that wilderness, with these characters that you have grown to love. The wilderness setting is wonderful and I could see the primitive land, and historical aspects, with the help of some incredible writing by Michelle Griep.

Though the beginning was slow the last half of the book absolutely made up for it and I can honestly say it is worth the time and effort and an overall enjoyable read.

"My terms are these: You will be part of a four-person squad, traveling under the guise of a family moving back to civilization. Reach Fort Edward with the gold intact, and your execution will be pardoned, though the required jail time is non-negotiable."

"The Captured Bride" (2018, Barbour) by Michelle Griep is third in "The Daughters of the Mayflower" series. Books one and two are:

Book One: The Mayflower Bride
Book Two: The Pirate Bride

The Captured Bride" is a Christian historical romance set in fictional "Fort Wilderness, upper New York, 1759, five years into the French and Indian War."

Historical Background from Wikipedia: For those who need a refresher (like me): "The French and Indian War comprised the North American theater of the worldwide Seven Years' War of 1756–63. It pitted the colonies of British America against those of New France."

This is definitely a standalone story, linked to the previous book only in that the heroine is a descendant of characters in book one and/or two. (I recognized the heroine's last name, but didn't find information to piece together the exact connection. My ARC copy has the heading "The Lytton Family Tree" in the preface, but no family tree underneath. I assume this information is in the final copy.)

I requested The Captured Bride from Netgalley because Michelle Griep is one of my favorite authors!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

The heroine: Mercy Lytton is a scout for a British army brigadier general, and she is "tired of straddling the line between male and female, native and white." She still has a chip on her shoulder against her deceased mother, which colors how she sees life. Mercy is now at a crossroads in her life, as this is her captain's last mission before retirement.

The hero: Elias Dubois, a Frenchman and a "condemned traitor," has been assigned to be a fake husband to Mercy for the duration of her mission. He's an unusual choice for a hero. Throughout his life, Elias has been a source of disappointment for his father and grandfather, which is a recurring throughout the book.

Christian elements:

*Mercy's captain is a Christian and helps to teach her wisdom in the Lord. "The man was forever prattling on about God's great love for her." This book does not have Bible verses - or if it does, there aren't many, for I don't remember any. God is definitely present, but I might still call this book Christian Lite.

Is it clean/chaste? Yes! See additional comments below.

*Swearing: "Blast" is used several times, including by at least one main character. At one point, Mercy "bit back one of the many curses embedded in her head from a life amongst warriors." At another, Elias "bit back a curse and spit out the nasty taste in his mouth….." and then asked forgiveness for the men harming him.

*Drinking: The brigadier general drinks and "his red nose betrayed his daily indulgence." A Christian main character trades rum for food.

What I liked:

*A lie by a main character is immediately acknowledged - to the reader and himself - for what it is.

*The following made me laugh:

Dubois, lifting his face to the ceiling: "You never stop surprising me."
General Bragg "We've only recently met.
Dubois: "I was not talking to you.

What I didn’t like:

*The unknown fate of a minor character (I prefer all plot points to be wrapped up at the end.)

*The kisses between the main characters. I feel that Griep tries to make the kisses follow a clean standard, while simultaneously describing the jittery butterfly-in-your-stomach feeling. I don't read romances for simulated fire in the belly feelings. I read them for the sweet stories - to make me happy! There were several kisses - which is fine - but I think each one was accompanied by a chaste description of a fiery belly. Which I could just do without.

***********

The bottom line: This was a very enjoyable read, and I recommend this book to any fan of historical fiction. I look forward to reading more by this author, and plan to read "A Tale of Two Hearts" this summer.

What a beautiful story! The Captured Bride had my attention from beginning to end and did not waiver once. This is a wonderful and unpredictable story with so many twists and turns. Griep created not only a memorable story, but also a character that makes an immeasurable impact on its reader. A definite must read!

Loved! My first book by Michelle and it won’t be my last! Thanks for the ARC and I suggest you plan a day where you can relax with this book...it’s wonderful!!

This was my first 'Daughters of the Mayflower Series' and I really liked this historical romance novel. The time period is the French and Indian War set in 1760. Mercy Lytton is the offspring of a captive white mother and a Mohawk Indian. She was raised among the Mohawk tribe but taught about Jesus by her mother. As her story continues, a traitor, Elias Dubois, poses as her husband and they embark on journey of filled with challenges. Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this story. 4 Stars

Though this book started slow for me, it grabbed my attention and was an enjoyable read. On top of the historical accuracy, the pages was filled with intrigue, action and twists - some which I did not like - and heartbreak. This author did a great job of describing the scenes in a way that took my right there and feel the emotions Mercy went through in the woods.

The pace slowed again at the end, with a sweet conclusion.

This is the third book I read by this author, and was my favourite. I'm enjoying this series and highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

Mercy Lytton is a scout for the British, who was raised among the Mohawk Indians with her Indian father and white mother. Her partner, Matthew, knows that she won't like their next assignment, transporting gold while posing as a family leaving the area. They are joined by the commander's son, and the condemned traitor who will pose as her husband.



Elias Dubois has his secrets, and one of them almost cost him his life. He is struck by Mercy's beauty and her intense dislike for him.



Elias has a strong faith, and proves himself capable and reliable, as well as hardworking on their journey. His integrity and good intentions shine through as the story progresses. He slowly wins Mercy over, respecting her space and her skills.



I loved how Mercy was proud of her upbringing, yet she wants more out of life. She likes talking to Elias about his faith, and he challenges her to think of a few things differently.



I really liked this book, it had a lot of action, with great characters, and a fascinating plot. I liked the setting of the French and Indian War, as Mercy and Elias become friends and more. Great dialog, and a fantastic ending. Definitely one of my favorite of this series.



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."

The Captured Bride is the third book in the Daughter's of the Mayflower series. My favorite part of the Captured Bride is the characters. There are at least three that are well-developed and complex. You feel like you know them, at times better than they know themselves. More than one is torn about where they belong, and to who they owe their loyalty. A dangerous and unexpected mission unites them, but at what price?

This story is set in America during the mid 1700s, during the French and Indian War. The main female lead is half Mohawk, and the male lead is half French. Both have to live their lives straddling two very different cultures in a dangerous time-period.

I did enjoy this story, but felt that it wrapped up rather quickly.  It was a slow, intense build up ... with a too-quick finish.

I'm rating this one 3.5 out of 5 trail-side campfires.

Several months ago, someone recommended Michelle Griep’s The Captive Heart and it was such a great story about colonial America, native relations and indentured servants. It resonated with me and reminded me of other great reads from the period. So when I got the opportunity to review The Captured Bride, I was looking forward to it. I’ve been hearing so much about the Daughters of the Mayflower series, and wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

Personally, this wasn’t my favorite book, and getting into is was very tough. Based on the way Elias was introduced, I expected something different to happen and I was hoping for more cute and bumbling moments where Elias and Mercy would have to “play the part” they’ve been assigned. Though, when they do, it was quite cute. Still, the story felt very formulaic and doesn’t pick up until about a quarter of the way through the book, and I felt rather confused about the characters for some time. Though this might be due to the fact that I haven’t read The Pirate Bride? But I was hoping that perhaps the books were semi stand-alone.

On the other hand, for being such an American History buff, I wasn’t very familiar with the French and Indian War before reading thing. So I have learned a thing or two, which is always nice when reading Historical Fiction. Bonus Points.

For readers who enjoy books involving journeys, characters with questionable histories, and prose filled with flowery description, similes, and Colonial American History, this might be a really great read for you. I’m looking forward to seeing how Kimberly Woodhouse picks up the next installment in the series with The Patriot Bride.

I always enjoy books by Michelle Griep. The Captured Bride held my interest from beginning to end. The story is based on true history, which I especially like. I liked how she gave the definitions for the Indian words at the beginning, and the notes at the end. It is beautifully written and I felt like I was there. The characters were amazing, especially the main characters Elias and Mercy, and the story has you turning pages fast.