4.5 stars- I had heard great things about this book and was looking forward to reading it. It definitely did not disappoint. I loved Elias and Mercy and Matthew. The story was exciting from the start and didn’t let up until the end. Mercy and Elias were both deeply hurting people that were looking for redemption in different ways. I loved being transported back in time to the French and Indian War. It’s a war I don’t know a lot about, save what I learned in “The Last of the Mohicans” (one of my all time favorite movies!).
Mercy and Elias’ relationship seemed to be on warp speed from the beginning but I guess when the next day is not guaranteed, you’ve got to go for the gusto. I loved their connection and how the author just drew you in right away with her words and descriptions. I have another Michele Griep novel on my TBR pile. I think I will move it to the top.
I received this book for free from NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.

The Captured Bride
by Michelle Griep



I’m a huge fan of Historical Fiction. I love a good story of any kind really, but something about history intrigues me. When I read a novel that’s set in the past, I can simply imagine being in the time and place, the life they’ve lived and the love they experience. It’s a beautiful thing.



The Captured Bride is set in the time period around the French and Indian War. The book tells the story of Mercy Lytton, a young woman who was raised by the Mohawk Nation. Mercy’s stands as a link between the English and American Indian worlds, both which have a strong dislike of the French. Mercy must learn to overcome her dislike of the French in order to complete the task she’s set to do and to find the love she’s always wanted with Elias Dubois.

Elias is a French traitor who is facing hanging in the gallows. He’s accepting of his fate, only because he has God on his side. His strong faith guides him each day of his journey. Sent by the enemy to deliver Gold of his own into the English hands, he’s not sure he can complete his task with the likes of Mercy by his side.

This was an delightful story full of exciting travel and intrigue as Mercy, Elias and the others in their party travel across the land.



Michelle Griep loves writing. She began creating stories as a small child and has not stopped yet. Though her stories are mainly set in the Historical genre, she’s also written some contemporary fiction as well.

Purchase a copy of The Captured Bride through Kindle or in Paperback.

What an interesting time in our history! Native scout Mercy Lytton was so courageous scouting in dangerous territory. Author Michelle Griep wrote The Capture Bride as part of the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Each book is written by a different author. I am happy to say that each book can be read as a standalone.



Mercy's skills as a tracker rival any man. She is an independent woman, comfortable with her skills and not willing to suffer alongside any ineptness. She is not excited, then, to be traveling with a traitor such as Elias and is keen to be rid of him at the end of the journey. The journey, however, does not go at all as planned. As I read this book I was surprised at the twists in the plot.


I have read several works written by Michelle Griep and appreciate her attention to detail. Historical fiction is an important genre for our culture. This one, set during the French & Indian War is enjoyable and adventurous, with a touch of romance.

Thank you for stopping by. I received my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

You know, when you absolutely love a book, it’s so easy to write a review. When you’re “meh” about a book or even if you hate it—it’s also easy. It might not be easy to write a kind one, but easy enough to write.

But when you like a book… really like it, but don’t absolutely love it, things become difficult. Is it because you had unrealistic expectations? Was it just the wrong day to read it? Could you be too picky about things?

With each chapter of The Captured Bride, my confusion grew. Like I said. I liked the book. I wanted to love it as I had Ms. Griep’s other books.

But I didn’t.
I mean, I really liked it. It’s a good book. Riveting action, excellent plot, engaging and convincing characters, rich description and attention to historical detail…

I highly recommend it because it is an excellent book. The quibbles I have with it are minor… occasional lapses into speech that sound modern (regardless of whether it was authentic then, a couple of phrases sounded very now). A few repetitive turns of phrasing. Romantic moments that were just a bit much for me but most people really love.

If I could give 4.5 stars, I would. Because I almost loved it… it almost captured my heart… but I didn’t quite love it. I just really liked it.

I always want to try Griep's books. They are always very interesting. I really loved her book The Captive Heart if you liked this one you will really like that one. This book had some really strong stuff and for me some holes that made the ending a bit rushed and anticlimactic. You get this big build of all these secrets and the end does not do them all justice. The really good stuff in this book is the Characters and the story line. Mercy is amazing and complex and you need a really strong leading man to offset and build a believable romance with a woman like that and Griep does an amazing job with Elias. Mercy is a strong willed, angry, half white half Native American woman who will bend to no one. Elias is a gentleman in the truest sense of the word who's kindness and strength and trust in God wins her over. I wanted more of these two but all that happens in the story takes over a bit especially at the end and I felt like I missed something. I think I would have liked an Epilogue so we could have a look into there future. I liked learning about the history it is weaved into the story not told in long paragraphs but shown. The book was well done and had a good feel to it. The Christian element was so well done. This is the kind of Christian fiction I love to read. The characters live there religion and other people are drawn to it by there lives and example not by there preaching. The author does not try to shove her religion down your throat with long paragraphs of preaching but with actions of her characters.
What I didn't like was the things I found rushed and the holes I saw. Maybe I missed something but at one point in the story
(SPOILERS AHEAD) some characters found themselves followed and they ran into a protected area. The Bad guys had made a treaty with other tribes to not go there but the bad guys had already gone there and killed an entire village of people. Why would they stop now. It's just a giant inconstancy. There is also a part where a Indian captures a General and his son and takes them to a fort to turn them in. There is no way they would have ever listened to an Indian over an English General. Also a character breaks her toe, She is running and walking around soon after. Yes she is a crazy tough chick but people I have broken my toe and it hurts like you would not believe. I couldn't walk on it for a week and I had to wear a boot so my foot did not bend. I had a hard time with that one.(SPOILERS ENDED)
Overall I liked this book and because I liked it I think I wanted more. More romance and a little more drama at the end. This is a Christian read that has references to war, death and killing by Indian's in brutal ways. There is a couple violent deaths that are not too detailed. There is a couple of kisses but it is all very chaste.

The captured bride

Very exciting, very adventurous book. Loved Mercy and how she was a survivor of the wilderness, how she knew the country road they were traveling. Her and Elias pretended to be married while they were traveling. They really had quite the adventure traveling, met some very interesting people along the way. The book definitely kept me interested wandering what was going to happen next. Such great descriptions of the happenings in the book. Felt like I was watching a movie. Some surprises of the characters, surprises toward to end that I didn’t expect. I really enjoyed the book. I received an complementary copy of the book from NetGalley through the publisher and Celebrate Lit. I was not required to post and positive review and opinions are my own.

This book is part of the Daughter of the Mayflower series. The cover is absolutly beautiful. I have read the previous books in the series so I was excited to see this one come available. I have read this author before (you can check my review out Here). In this story, you are transported to a forgotten area of history. The French and Indian war (1790). The plot is very intriguing and took me on an adventure and I could not read fast enough. I always love getting a history lesson as I am reading. This book is well researched, beautifully crafted and a great story to read.

I received a book through the Net Galley and Celebrate Lit Blogging Program -- all thoughts are my own

This book got off to a slow start. I really enjoyed other books by Michelle Griep, but this one started off a little too heavy on the history for me, as it had so many historical tidbits inserted that it became distracting. I love the premise of the story, it just didn't hold my interest like her books usually do.

Whether the setting of her books is America or England, Michelle Griep never fails to bring history to life. In book three of The Daughters of the Mayflower series, Griep once again delivers a story rich with historical facts, adventure, romance, and memorable characters.

Mercy Lytton in a woman of strength and courage—she has to be to exist in the man’s world she’s chosen to reside in—but also of stubborn determination. Tasked with transporting gold to a British fort during the French and Indian war, Mercy and her partner have a traitor and a n’er-do-well companion to contend with along the way.

Elias Dubois doesn’t take his responsibility lightly. He also cannot share his mission with the two people he’s coming to respect. And in Mercy’s case, his emotions encompass much more.
Griep does not gloss over or diminish the harsh realities of traveling through country that is fraught with danger of all kinds—nature, Indians, duplicitous men, and more. And her characters learn that, while life is full of uncertainties, heartache, and loss, relying on God’s provision and grace strengthens them during the difficult seasons.

Another must-read from this author and addition to the series. If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, you will not miss them. While each book follows the lineage of the heroine in the first book, the new books each stand on their own.

If you haven’t had the privilege of reading any of Griep’s work yet, The Captured Bride is an excellent excuse to add another book to your TBR pile.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I love reading books by this author because she is able to paint a picture with her beautiful writing style. An example is this sentence in the book; " Rain tapped a tattoo against the canvas'" Readers are able to visualize the rain falling while making a design . That's the kind of writing that keeps me coming back to the author. The story is well written and is vivid in detail and history.

Mercy is a woman to be reckoned with. She is very strong willed and doesn't like being told what to do by anyone. Her job as a scout is perfect for her. She has a special ability that will help her on the journey. Along the way the group encounters danger which heightens the story. At first I wasn't sure who to trust in the story. Elias is a traitor and sure is quick to make a deal to save his life. Is he interested only in honoring his deal, or does he have his eyes on something more valuable to him?

The story is filled with enemies, danger and intrigue that keeps readers attention. I loved reading about the rough terrain they traveled and the unknown that awaited them. There are several scenes in the book that describe an attack that were well written and showed how dangerous it was during this time period. The journey to their destination will turn into a fight for their lives as they encounter enemies that have blood in their eyes. Can Elias keep Mercy safe? I did like the story line where I wasn't quite sure who was a spy and who could be trusted. The story overall is good and I liked how trust and faith was weaved throughout the book. Make sure you grab a copy of this book and travel back to a time when the French and Indian War was dangerous and history making.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

I loved this unique look at history! I also appreciated that the story wasn't formulaic, throwing me for a loop a few times. I highly recommend it!

As the third book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, Michelle Griep’s The Captured Bride continues the fictional trek through America’s history. This story sweeps readers away to the time of the French and Indian War, where Mercy Lytton and Elias Dubois have quite an adventure, and I had a hard time putting it down. Grieps crafts her characters, conveys the history, and threads a faithful theme through it all so very well, and I just loved it. Fans of historical, romantic fiction, be sure to add The Captured Bride to your to-read lists—it’s worth it, and I highly recommend it.

Wonderful characters with realistic issues, a mission that turns out to be different than expected, and some characters are not who they seem to be.
I absolutely loved the storyline, I loved Mercy and Elias, the setting, the tension, the mystery. I love this author's books; the way she spins a tale, the development of characters, how the story comes to life. Ms Griep paints with words and I love her artwork!

This story pulls you right in and the action and characters fill your head with thoughts and images that keep you needing to know.. what next! Brings history to life and I really enjoyed how she put it together..

The third book in the Daughters of the Mayflower, The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep is a great read. Full of history, adventure and romance. I love how each book takes place in an important time of our countries history. Interesting characters and a wonderful story with great descriptions of the back-country. Mercy Lytton has a special gift and Elias Dubois has been labeled a traitor and together they have a mission to complete.

I received this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

The Captured Bride (2018) by Michelle Griep is the third book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. This book is SO good, I could not put it down. Every single page of this book is engaging and full of adventures, twists, and turns. There is virtually NO way to get bored reading this AMAZING story.

In the play Oedipus Rex, the title character suffers from an intense case of pride and arrogance. There is a stubbornness to Oedipus that prevents him from seeing truth until it is too late. Sight is a predominant symbol in the play — while Oedipus has sight, he is incapable of seeing truth, but blinded he can “see” everything. The Captured Bride does a phenomenal job of using sight as a metaphor just as Sophocles did in his play. Mercy, the heroine, has eagle-like eyesight. She is able to close off the distractions of the world, and hone in her sights to telescopic levels. It’s actually a really cool gift — one that serves her well as a scout. However, Mercy’s stubbornness and pride time and time again prevent her from seeing truth. Like Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice, Mercy passes judgement on others without really knowing their full stories. One of the most relatable moments in this book for me is Mercy’s struggle with her mother. Mercy treated her mother abominably as a young girl and teen because of how she perceived her mother to be.

My mother and I struggled from the time I was 9 until I was 22. I fought my mother ALL the time. I thought my mom was hard and cold and distant. I never felt like she understood me. I could never figure out what I needed to do so she would be proud of me. Straight A’s, making the Varsity Girls soccer team in high school, getting into college, having a job and paying my own way — none of it seemed good enough. Honestly, I always felt like I was a disappointment to my mom, so I just gave up. I figured it was just the way it was going to be between me and my mother. Some women have close relationships with their mothers, and some don’t. I hated it, but what could I do?

When I was 22, my mom told me a story that I will never forget. When I was a toddler, I was playing in my mom’s bedroom. My mom’s room had a sliding glass door, and I loved to play in the sunshine as it streamed through the door. One day, I was playing when I started screaming. The kind of baby scream that tells a mom her baby has been hurt. My mom ran into the room and found me holding my hand and crying. She heard a buzzing noise. She looked up and saw a bee buzzing by the door trying to get out. My mom grabbed her pillow and began whacking at the door yelling at the bee for hurting her kid. The whacking apparently went on for a good five minutes; what finally stopped my mom’s maniacal whacking was the silence in the room. My toddler-self was so dumbfounded by my mom’s actions that I just stopped crying and stared at her. Coming out of attack mode, my mom picked me up, kissed my hand, and told me she would do whatever it took to keep me safe from scary things that wanted to hurt me. In case you’re wondering, the bee totally died.

This story changed the course of my relationship with my mother. I realized that my mom did love me, she just loved me her way. This understanding shocked me to my core. And then, I felt like an absolute monster. I broke down into tears and begged my mom for forgiveness. She totally loves me, so she gave her forgiveness freely and immediately.

Why am I telling you this really embarrassing fact about my past? Because there is a moment when Mercy realizes the truth about her mother and is ashamed by her past actions, too. Mercy didn’t treat her mother well. In fact, Mercy was often downright cruel to her mother. In a FABULOUS scene, Mercy realizes the errors of her ways and cries out, “I did not see your strength because I did not look for it.” I’m not gonna lie — I balled my eyes out at this point. How Mercy feels when she makes this statement is exactly how I felt after my mom told me the Bee Story. I never stopped to really look at my mom and value her for her. I didn’t see her strengths. All I could see was how she had failed me in the ways I thought she was a failure. I was as blind and judgmental as Oedipus Rex, Elizabeth Bennett, and Mercy Lytton.

There is so much depth to this book, I didn’t even cover 1/8th of what happens. There are fantastic and timely messages about God and His faithfulness, forgiveness, and learning to leave the past in the past. There is a powerful romance that develops well over the course of the story. There are some seriously scary and evil villains. A few times, I found myself holding my breath because some scenes are just that intense. The Captured Bride really does have it all! If you are looking for a book that is highly engaging, thought-provoking, and well-written then The Captured Bride is the book for you!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author/publisher via Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This title is misleading there may be a captured bride in this story, but really the readers a captured into a world and story that holds their attention and mind till the very end. It was a delight to dive into this historical fiction novel, that had characters facing death in many ways. Though facing death these characters were strong and persevered through adversity.

One thing that truly stood out to me was the dialog between the characters. I felt as though I could hear the words in my mind being presented on the stage of the story. It was pretty cool to really play this novel out in my mind.

I think many types of readers will like this novel. It has adventure, love and faith. Back then faith got people through everyday struggles but also some of the harshest wars our young nation ever faced. It was cool to have a different perspective from the normal war setting and move into a more sneaky undercover setting.

This is the third book in the Daughters of the Mayflower Series. This series focuses on different time periods, but on strong female characters that are born in a common family line. This book focuses on Mercy Lytton. Mercy was raised with the Mohawks and has been taught how to scout due to her amazing eyesight. She meets Elias due to their having to pretend to be married to deliver items to a neighboring fort during the French and Indian War. This suspense filled novel is engaging and makes the reader believe they are living in that time. Not only do Mercy and Elias have to learn to trust each other, but they experience a spark between the two. This romantic historical novel is a must read! I highly recommend you read this book and the other books in the series! This is my first book to read of Ms. Griep, but will not be my last. You will not be disappointed in the book!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

Set during the French and Indian War, The Captured Bride is full of adventure, intrigue, and romance.

When Mercy and Elias are brought together on a mission of delivering gold to a nearby fort, there's never any doubt that the two will fall in love—but the way that they fall in love, through difficult circumstances that pop up at every turn, makes this story so enjoyable.

I loved all the twists and turns that the book took; though there's the overarching plot of taking the gold to the fort, all these sub-adventures exist, and they add interest throughout. In fact, it almost felt like a serialized novel, and I mean that it a good way. All of the side adventures helped keep me engaged in the story, and they also brought in some very intriguing characters.

The romance takes a backseat to the adventure until the last 15% of the novel or so, but Mercy's and Elias's feelings have been building throughout, so I didn't mind the general lack of romance in the first part of the book. (You know I love my romance!) I did think that things wrapped up rather quickly at the very end of the novel—it felt like there should have been just a little bit more to the story. But overall, The Captured Bride is a fun, engaging story, and I highly recommend it. 4 stars.

Note: This is the third book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Each book covers a different time period and is written by a different author, and each book stands alone. I haven't read the first two books in the series, but Mercy appears to be a descendant of William and Mary from The Mayflower Bride.

I have been following the Daughter’s of the Mayflower series before the books even began to hit the shelves; when I first heard about it, I was sure it would be a wonderful series of historical reads. Thus far, my initial thoughts have proven true.

Michelle Griep penned the third in the series, The Captured Bride, and has provided readers with a story full of excitement; suspense; uncertainty; grief; adventure, and romance.

Mercy Lytton, raised by the Mohawks, yet also a lady; a lady chosen to lead a team of men on a dangerous mission. As a scout with keen insight and skills, Mercy must get the men to their destination, with the very valuable cargo, without being accosted by the French and other Native American tribes.

Included in the mission is one Elias Dubois, a traitor sentenced to die. At the last minute, Dubois is given a reprieve if he agrees to accompany the mission as a guide. Dubois has a special interest in the cargo and he must succeed in getting his discovery into the proper hands; otherwise, many could die.

Mercy has no use for a traitor and Dubois doubts her unusual and keen insights as a scout. Each must learn to trust the other, despite their misgivings. Along the way, sparks begin to fly...first rather acrimoniously then developing into something else altogether. Mercy struggles with knowing Dubois is a traitor.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Captured Bride and highly recommend it. As with the previous two releases, each book in the series can be read as stand alone novels.