I have been a fan of Michelle Griep’s books since I read Brentwood’s Ward and have attempted to read every other book by her that I can find. I was excited to read her latest, The Captured Bride and I was not disappointed in the least.

Heroine Mercy is the daughter of a Mohawk father and a white mother. Now on her own she functions as a scout for the English because of her natural skill and unusual gifts. The story covers a dangerous assignment in which Mercy accompanies her usual scouting partner and Elias, a condemned traitor escorting a shipment of French gold to a different fort. Along the way, the group face various dangerous situations and begin to wonder if they will be able to complete their mission. Mercy also finds herself undeniably attracted to the one man she is afraid to trust.

I thoroughly enjoyed this action packed novel filled with danger, secrets, betrayal, and a romance that developed naturally without overwhelming the rest of the tale. A few plot twists and surprises along the way served to keep things interesting. It was also gratifying to watch the relationship grow between Elias and Mercy as well as their dependence on the Lord.

I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, particularly that of the early days of America.

This was a hair raising book filled with adventure and grit. The main characters, uniquely bond to your heart with their raw, unfiltered edges of wild adventure.

From the moment Mercy spied Elias, the reader knows they will eventually fall in love, but reading through their twists and turns is an enjoyable process.

A true cowboys and Indians story, with the reader guessing at the true bad guy the whole time. I would recommend this book for teenagers and the general reader.

Why This Book:
After enjoying Michelle Griep’s The Innkeeper’s Daughter, I have decided to read as much of her writing as I can squeeze into my schedule.

Opening Line (from Chapter 1):
Fort Wilderness,
upper New York, 1759
Five years into the French and Indian War

“It ain’t right. You ain’t right.”

First Impressions:
From the very first scene the dialogue pulled me into the lives of Griep’s characters. Mercy is a very different sort of heroine for the era, to say the least. Her relationships with the people around her are therefore necessarily unique as well. I was immediately intrigued by her life and her story.

Main Characters:
Mercy Lytton – One might expect a woman with her background to be bitter or downtrodden in some way, but instead, Mercy is a bold and determined young woman. Sure, she has issues she needs to work out, but she doesn’t let them consume her the way a weaker person might have. Still, she learns things along the way that significantly change how she views her life, the people around her, and even God.

Captain Matthew Prinn – An uncle-like figure in Mercy’s life, Matthew Prinn is a trail-toughened spy and partner to Mercy.

Elias Dubois – A man caught between warring countries and accused of treason, there are too many people that want him dead to list. I can’t say too much about his character without giving something away because the biggest questions pushing this story along have to do with who he truly is and where his loyalties lie.

Emotional Engagement & Pacing of the Story:
This story had my attention from page one and never lost it. There were just enough “pauses” or slower moments in the scenes to let the reader catch their breath in time to lose it with the next twist. At no point did I want to put the book down or felt that the story dragged at all.

Elements I especially liked/disliked:
I particularly liked that Mercy, while notably different from the typical female of the time, still felt completely plausible.

I also appreciated the complexity with which each culture’s perspective was portrayed, from the French to the English to the Native American tribes. The various tribes were rightly portrayed as such – not all washed together as one culture the way some books have done, but represented as separate peoples. No one group was completely in the right and no one was completely in the wrong. To me, this seemed more true-to-life because life is messy and people are sinful regardless of what culture they belong to.

As with The Innkeeper’s Daughter, the descriptions in this novel were so rich I felt I could see, feel, hear and taste everything that happened in the story.

Themes:
You can’t truly understand another person’s choices unless you’ve walked in their shoes.

Be careful judging others because not everyone is as they seem.

Ending:
The ending was thorough and satisfying. It made me smile.

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

This review was originally posted on my blog on June 18, 2018.

The Capture Bride is a well written historical romance. I enjoyed the plot, characters and the author's writing. Fans of the genre historical romance will enjoy this book. I highly recommend.

This was a different type of read for me. I haven't really read many historical books in general so I wasn't sure what to expect. In the end I really enjoyed it.

The characters were both interesting and deep and I was actually interested in everything happening around them as well. The book felt real to the time and real to the characters as well. I also really loved the cover, it's simple and I don't usually like covers with photography on them but I think this one fits perfectly.

I'll definitely be reading the other books in this series.

This is a very well written book that holds your attention from beginning to end. It has action, drama and romance. It is a clean christian book that is written in such a way that you're not just reading, you're seeing it You won't regret getting this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

3.5 Stars.
This one is my favorite book in this series so far. Im not reading them in order, they are different authors with different fictional stories of strong women. I am a Michelle Griep fan.
This Daughter of the Mayflower is named Mercy. She is half white and half native. She struggles in her life with balance and understanding. Balance between her two worlds. Balance with vulnerability vs strength. Love and loss. Faith.
This is a mostly clean romance. She is a scout who has to pose as a wife to a man who is a condemned traitor to deliver gold by wagon to another fort. Of course, there is a lot that happens and almost everything goes wrong. A lot of it is predictable, but still a nice and easy read.
**There is kissing, talking of her curves, natives making crude comments that you don't understand, talk of sex (without the actual word or deed), and some impure thoughts. You are told when someone uses foul language, but never the words.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher through Net Gallery as a free gift. My opinions are my own. Some of my book may be different from the final printed copy.

This was the first book by Michelle Griep that I have read, and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author. I found this book to be well written and to have an original and interesting plot. The French and Indian War is not a topic that is often covered in fiction books, and I always enjoy reading and learning about new things and time periods.
The only thing that I did not like was the lack of explanation as to how Mercy fits into the Lytton family. There is just a passing mention of her ancestors. Other than that, I greatly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to the rest of the series.

This is the 3rd book I read by author Michelle Griep. But The Captured Bride is by far my favorite. I have really enjoyed the entire Mayflower Bride series written by several different authors. All books in the series are filled with history, intrigue, romance and have kept my attention throughout. Captured Bride was no exception. It was sometimes confusing as details were purposely withheld to maintain some of the mystery. But eventually all the pieces come together. I like books that aren’t completely predictable.
The Captured Bride is a great frontier is a great frontier story. The main characters Elias and Mercy were very interesting. Their characters played out way different than what I had anticipated. I love the themes of forgiveness, trust, and letting go of the past that were woven into the story. The Captured Bride had a great balance of romance and adventure. It was a wonderful historical book which a hated to see end. I received a copy of The Captured Bride in exchange for my honest review.
I posted my review on Amazon, CBD, goodreads

I really liked both main characters in this story, I couldn't help but want them to succeed in their quest. The story was also very interesting and kept me reading. However, there was a heavy religious aspect to the story which I didn't enjoy as much but that is more personal than anything else.

Those who follow my reviews know that I absolutely love the books by Laura Frantz and Jocelyn Green. Now it's time to move Michelle Griep into that top tier of favorite historical/historical romance authors. She hit this one completely out of the park. Excellent writing. Excellent history. Excellent characters. Excellent story. Quite possibly the best book I've read in 2018. There's no point in rehashing the story here, just trust me, read this one. It's part of the "Daughters of the Mayflower" series, but you do not need to read the other books to enjoy this one. The books each stand on their own. READ THIS ONE.

Having been exposed to the French and Indians war twice in a month, I have realised my knowledge of American history has been lacking! The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep, whilst framed as a romance, is a wild and dangerous adventure through a perilous period of time. No one is quite who them seems and, banded together facing daily challenges, each reveals themselves a little more. Romance is there but there is a story much richer than than too!

Elias’s faith is deep-rooted and written into each part of his story. Mercy has experienced great pain and refuses to deal with her sorrow until life leaves her no option. There are several deaths, kidnappings and, generally, a lot more fighting and tension than I bargained for – it was great! Fast-paced, I tore through it, in one sitting, waiting and guessing how it would all work out! Along the way, it improved my understanding of the war! All in all, highly recommended and five out of five!

This tale will take you back to the harsh days of the French-Indian war in the early days of this country!

Mercy, the daughter of a Mohawk sachem father and a captive white woman mother, isn’t sure of her place or her loyalties in New York/Massachusetts during the French and Indian Wars of the 1700s. She allies with the British and serves as a scout, due to her excellent vision and learned tracking skills. Her mission is to deliver a load of French gold to the fort.
Elias Dubois, a prisoner, is also asked to join the mission and pose as Mercy’s husband, in name only as a ruse for the trip. He has his own mixed allegiances and had been imprisoned as a traitor. His name may be French, but his loyalties are not.
Join Mercy and Elias as they travel together and being to sort out their paths.

What was life like in pre-Independence times for those who ventured beyond the established colonies? In 1759, frontier life was hugely impacted by the French and Indian War. This military action was named for the two enemies the British faced, although the Indian tribes were divided in their support of the warring nations. Support depended on allegiances, which often changed. Nowhere is this more clearly demonstrated in The Captured Bride than by Mercy’s backstory.

Having lived in western Pennsylvania and western New York, I am familiar with some aspects of the French and Indian War. I knew almost nothing about action around the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. I had to look up a couple of locations – because that’s the sort of person I am – and so it was a touch confusing that Michelle Griep chose to use both real and imagined places in her narrative. The Captured Bride is, however, a good look at the realities of life in the wilderness. You had to keep your wits about you, as you never knew quite who you could trust, and you had to be prepared for anything you might encounter. Nothing could be done on impulse. Settlers didn’t have the stuff we do today, and personal property was to be treasured. These 18th century people did experience moments of joy and pain, though, just as we do today.

I stayed up late two nights in a row to read The Captured Bride. It was easy to immerse myself in this world, despite the very loud live music coming from the nearby golf club on the second night! While it is part of a series called The Daughters of the Mayflower, there is little to connect this novel to the two that came before it. Mercy makes a passing reference to characters in The Mayflower Bride when speaking of her ancestry, but there is nothing you need to know if this is your entrance to the series. Feel free to read the books in order or as standalones. The choice is yours.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This is the second book I read from Michelle Griep and it had me riveted!
It's a great historical novel set during the French and Indian wars. Even if I'm not an expert, the description of the scenery, customs and context feels accurate and well researched.
Mercy is a unique woman, half mohawk, half white, with a special gift, she has the keenest eye, which becomes very handy for a secret mission in this war. She is assigned with Elias Dubuois, considered a french spy and traitor and condemned to death, to take a french cargo of stolen gold in a wagon to a not so nearby fort. They must fake to be husband and wife in this adventure. Elias is promised deliverance after that. But Elias hides something to...
The story has a very engaging plot that captivated me until the end. There's adventure, intrigue and suspense, danger and peril, sweet romance, and even witt and humor.
The characters are so well defined, they felt real and relatable. I liked Mercy's strong and compassionate character. And Elias was a brave and caring man too. I liked that the relationship slowly grows along the story, and it was not love at first sight, but getting to know each other and discovering the depth and beauty of their personalities.
There's some violence and death, but not overly described.
The story also has a message of faith and trust in God that I liked. It left me inspired!
It's a beautiful story that I recommend to all historical lovers!
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via Netgalley. This is my voluntary and honest opinion.

The Captured Bride is the third book in the multi-author Daughters of the Mayflower series with heroines linked by a family tree, and is the reason I began reading this series. I have absolutely loved the novels I’ve read by Michelle Griep, and this, as I expected, was no exception.

Exploring issues of trust, faith, and loyalty while placing a resourceful heroine and an unarmed hero in difficult situations, this is a story that will thrill lovers of adventure, romance, and of stories set during the French and Indian War. Mercy Lytton, as the daughter of a Mohawk chief and a white captive, is an interesting character and I enjoyed watching her and Elias Dubois, a man with a few secrets of his own, grow and learn and, eventually, love.

While the writing of this series is slightly uneven, not so with The Captured Bride. The writing, the characters, the history, and the plot are all enjoyable. Easily, and predictably, my favorite of the first four books of the series.

This review refers to a NetGalley e-galley read courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a fantastic historical romance!

The characters are incredibly well developed and easy to connect with. This is true of many of them, not just the two main ones. Both Mercy and Elias has deep seated wounds from their pasts. They were shaped by things they were told by family members raising them, just as we all are. The journeys there are on are shaped by those wounds and will hopefully bring them healing.

The action and adventure is fabulous. They face many dangers that require them to work together to survive. At first they are so at odds with each other that their ability to do so is really in question. They discover strengths and weaknesses that they didn’t know they had. There are also strong believers in God that are working with them. They step up and and help point them to Him.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book 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. 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’ve always been fascinated by books written about this time period. Mostly because I am Native American.

Michelle has written a wonderful book. I love how the characters interact and how their faith is shared throughout the book. Looking forward to reading more of her books.

The Captive Bride

By: Michelle Griep

This is #3 in the Mayflower Brides series and my favorite so far. Although it is part of a series I think that you could easily read this as a stand-alone novel.

The story is set 5 years into the French and Indian war. Without giving too much away Mercy Lytton, and Elias Dubois are thrust together in attempts to complete a mission of transferring gold from one fort to another. It seems simple but in 1759 wartime such travel is dangerous as is the difficulty of knowing who to trust.

I really enjoyed how easy it was to read this book. Griep did an excellent job at storytelling, giving the right amount of detail to each area of this story and, allowing you to understand the plot and characters without lacking in description or being wordy. Information was delivered to the reader at just the right moments to keep this story stimulating. I did not want to put this book down.

I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest opinion, which I gave.