The Captured Bride, by Michelle Griep, is my favorite Daughters of the Mayflower now.
Loved the characters! Mercy was a piece of work. What strength and courage this woman carried for a young lady of that time. Elias...wow...wasn't sure what to expect out this one, but thoroughly enjoyed each page!
Definitely, a must read!
I was provided an ARC of this book by the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own!

This book is in the genre I really enjoy....historical fiction with some fact based truths included in the story. I love the characters of Mercy and Elias. They were like fire and water at times. Each coming from a broken back ground and trying to find forgiveness and a way to let the past go. They are brought together to complete a mission of transporting a gold shipment and not be captured by the French at the same time avoiding enemy Indians. Each has strengths and skills to give to this assignment. There is mystery, suspense, romantic emotions and danger. Completing the mission is a challenge with many setbacks. Mercy questions the faith her mother raised her with...."Maybe-just maybe-faith did not have to mean weakness." "Would she never be free of wishing things had been different? Be released from the anger her mother's faith still bubbled inside her?" "Trust Daughter. Trust in a God who is big enough to make the universe, yet kind enough to dry each of your tears." I found myself yearning for Mercy to trust God and the man He put her together with to finish the mission....Elias. I enjoyed the story very much. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC copy of this book via Netgalley.

The Daughters of the Mayflower series is wonderful! This was a great addition, set during the French and Indian War, with excellent characters, Elias and Mercy were well developed, as well as the other characters. The plotline was refreshing and original - and there were no boring parts in this book. Wonderful story with a great writer!

The Captured Bride is book 3 in The Daughters of the Mayflower series. I’m not sure how many books the series will hold, but I love that they are written by various authors, giving each book it’s own voice and unique feel.

When stories merge fiction and history, I’m interested. Just as in biblical fiction, when imagined accounts incorporate true biblical events, I feel as if I’ve not only been entertained, but have learned something as well. I know very little about the 1700s French and Indian War, but got a taste of it in Mercy and Elias’ stories.

With flavors of loyalty, adventure, and a developing romance, this story fills my literary hungers. A fast and filling read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. (And what a gorgeous cover!)

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

I was not allowed to give a review on Amazon. I don't understand it. However, I thought the book was excellent with good characters that were well-written and were very believable! Mercy and Elias were great with their own viewpoints that were again so real! I enjoyed this book even more than the first one in the series!

The Daughters of the Mayflower Series is such a wonderful premise. Historical romance novels written in chronological order by different authors. And the covers are lovely.

In The Captured Bride, readers are taken to the French and Indian War set in 1760. Mercy Lytton has lived an unusual life. Her white mother was taken captive and married a Mohawk Indian. Mercy was raised among the Mohawk tribe and taught about Jesus by her mother. She is definitely not an easily broken female and is more comfortable in pants in the outdoors than in a dress in a ballroom.

The entire novel is about a mission she is charged with and as part of the cover story she is to pose as a traveling family. Traitor Elias Dubois poses as her husband. They meet a number of challenges along their journey.

It was a lovely tale and I enjoyed my time with Mercy and Elias.

Even though this wasn't my favorite book in the series (it's the third and completely stands on its own) I found it a well-written and interesting story. It had its ups and downs but overall I enjoyed it.

The story started off a bit on the slow side and it took awhile to gain momentum. When the story finally got going the pace was good and there was always something happening to keep me interested and turning pages. I was able to read over half of the book in just one sitting but then with around one hundred pages to go, I thought the story lost a bit of the momentum it had and slowed down.

The characters are likable enough and both Mercy and Elias have their secrets though none of their secrets were earth-shattering when revealed. Some of my favorite parts were those that included the Shaw families as they camped out with Mercy and Elias. I enjoyed these families as they helped the reader get a good glimpse into the personalities of Mercy and Elias.

Overall this was a good book that I enjoyed reading. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction as I think they will enjoy the story as much I did.

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

This was an adventure-filled and exciting Christian historical romance! Although this is the third book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, it can easily be read as a standalone. In fact, the series is designed so that the books can be read independently, which is a feature I appreciate, although I intend to read them all.

In addition to being filled with action, another thing I especially enjoyed was the unique setting of the frontier during the French and Indian War. I liked that the character Mercy Lytton was not only a scout but part English and part Mohawk. Also intriguing was that the handsome and appealing Elias Dubois was a condemned traitor.

I think this would be an excellent book choice for anyone who is looking for an exciting Christian fiction read, as well as for anyone who is thinking about trying a historical romance that is also Christian fiction. This is also a great introduction for anyone who wants to try the Daughters of the Mayflower series.

The Story of Elias and Mercy pulls you in from the very first chapter to the very last word!! It captures the essence of what it would be like to live in that era so well and the personal stories are well written. Love the main characters in the story. You will absolutely not be disappointed in picking this book as your next read, it will be your summer favorite!!
~I received a free copy to review~

Five stars for this outstanding story by Michelle Griep. This was a book that I was eager to finish reading to find out how everything comes together, but sad because I finished it. I wasn’t quite ready to let these characters go.

A storyline that’s full of action and adventure, and yet the pace of the book is perfect. I felt like the complete story had been told and the ending was not rushed.

The characters are strong, feisty, and honorable. Their faith fuels the story and drives their choices. The personalties of Elias and Mercy are perfectly suited to each other. (I keep wanting to use the word “perfect” all through this review.

A note to parents: This is a clean book without any bad language or embarrassing scenes. Just be aware that this might not be the best book for a younger teen girl to read. Even though it’s written about in an entirely appropriate way, there’s some descriptions during their time on the trail and during Mercy’s captivity that makes this more appropriate for older teens. (I don’t want to give examples because that gives away details in the plot.) Read it yourself before passing it along to your daughter.

This is an excellent example of good Christian historical fiction. Well-written, entertaining, and historically accurate. Michelle Griep knows how to write a pm intriguing spy/adventure story, and she’s fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Captured Bride
Michelle Griep is an author I have not read before. I will look for others from this talented writer, she has a way of making words “sing.” This story is historical fiction at its best. The characters captured my attention right away. They were richly painted in technicolor right from the first paragraph. The leading role is Mercy, a female scout in the French and Indian war in 1759.
“Praise always prickled, for it usually meant she’d be asked for more than she was willing to give.” Mercy gives so much in this story. From the first chapter, she drags her mocassins into the dirt at some of what is required of her. Her character comes to life as she “ frowns at the feminine attire” that she is forced to wear and resists the role the English military ask her to play.
The author transported me into a time and place in history that I had little knowledge of the players and the events that took place. There is a bit of mystery right from the start as to what role some of the people are actually playing. I give this four stars instead of five because I struggled a bit with the mystery aspect of the story. It was so well written that did not stop me from enjoying it and reading much too late at night.
This book was provided by NetGalley, and a review is not required but freely given.

Michelle Griep is indeed a very talented author . I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book though the start didn't hold my interest but as i read on the pull of the story was so gripping that i kept on turning the pages!! This is the second book by Ms. Griep I've read and she has not disappointed & becoming one of my favorite authors. She works magic with her writing , her characters are life like , u can just visualize while reading .

The plot was intriguing, kept me guessing, and involved several twists and turns.I thoroughly enjoyed the story line. It’s full of adventure and a bit of romance. So much happens through the course of this story, yet it doesn’t feel rushed at all. loved the spy angle with the elements of surprise, danger, and deception into the plot line !!!

Mercy and Elias made a lovely pair .The settings in Pioneer is impressive, so full of historical details on culture,hardships the people at that time faced . The conflict, tension,action,drama,intrigue goes on until the very end. This is a very well written book & presentation excellent . Michelle did a wonderful job! I highly recommend this book

Mercy Lytton was a beautiful woman; strong, proud, intelligent and gifted with the eyes of an eagle. She compliments Elias Dubois as a partner, equal & love interest in the book , There was the treasure angle in the form of a wagon load of French gold to be delivered into the hands of the British, which fascinated me. Upon its safe arrival Elias faced prison time as a traitor. He was a man without a country, truly, for no one knew his secrets or when he would have to resume his real mission.
The Captured bride was a sweet but action packed read! I loved the characters and was intrigued by the history of the early East coast development! The romance was slow paced and developed gradually but it was beautiful. Only drawback i found with the book was it was too lengthy & too much descriptive as it could be avoided in some places, scenes of the book... overall a very promising book ...Pls do read.

Mercy is a scout in the backwoods of America, and has been given the mission of ensuring the safe arrival of a shipment of gold to a fort a couple of weeks' journey away. The snag is that one of her three companions for the trip is to pose as her husband for the trip - and the man chosen is a condemned traitor. Elias is due to be hung as a traitor, when he is offered the choice of making this trip and then time in jail in lieu of execution. Choosing to keep his life, he plans escape, but faces the unexpected difficulty of coming to care for Mercy. With Indians all round, the possibility of other traitors, and his own traitorous heart, will he be able to stay focussed on his true, and hidden mission - which is to save so many lives in Boston? And will Mercy ever come to accept that sometimes freedom is not worth the cost?

I'm not always thrilled with American historical fiction, but this was definitely worth a read. Combining action, romance and a bit of suspense, this book expertly draws the reader into the plights of Mercy and Elias. The last book I read by the author took a bit of getting into, but this drew me in from the first page and kept my attention throughout. Highly recommended, and I hope to read more by the author.

Characters: All well drawn, though Rufas always felt fairly 'in the background'. But the main characters were all people I came to care about, and felt realistic.
Storyline: Good - exciting and moving by turns. I very much enjoyed the ending, but really the whole thing was good.
Content and language: Some violence that might bother some people, but nothing that worried me. Otherwise no issues.
Message: Good message spread at intervals throughout about the need to trust in God, not overdone.

Note that I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

This is my favorite Daughters of the Mayflower story. Mercy is a strong character that survived growing up with the Mohawks after her mother was captured by another tribe. By having a chief for a father, she was caught in the middle of the two cultures. She was a brilliant scout with a sixth sense. I liked the way the author portrayed Elias. His character was never clear until the end. Highly recommended!

“My mother used to tell me there's more love in Christ for us than there can ever be brokenness. Only in turning to Him can you be healed on the inside.” ~page 108

This is an exemplary example of why I love Michelle Griep's books; it packs all the emotions one person can feel, gives the reader an adventure edged with danger they won't forget, fills it with characters you come to care about and threads it all with solid reminders of faith. I've read many of her stories and I think this tops even her best (and she's exceptional in the first place)!

Mercy reminds me so much of myself and struggles with being independent on one hand, but craving love on the other all while trying to figure out where the balance is. A fierce warrior woman raised as a daughter of an equally fierce Mohawk chief who's not afraid to look danger in the eye. Elias is a bit of a quandary; is he traitor, French gentleman, thief, or a man after God's own heart? He possesses a genuineness that continues to shine forth throughout the story and was a fun character to try to figure out. This kept my senses heightened with danger licking at my feet as the group ventured deeper in Wyandot territory. My heart was invested in watching the story play out and I was hard pressed to put it down with the need to know what happens next. I was happily observing the romance build from the sidelines, and how valiantly Elias protected Mercy in spite of her stubbornness. I think the only complaint I have is, it ended much too abruptly for my taste...all in a good way! Because just like every book I've read by Michelle, I could read a few more chapters and still not want to come to the last page.

This is the best installment of The Daughters of the Mayflower series yet in my opinion! All stand-alone novels, so no worries about missing anything.

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

Very interesting and adventurous tale of love, history including French/Indian war evolving around hero who is a spy disquised as a traitor and a heroine who is an Indian scout. There is so much more to the story and the author weaves all the plots, characters together in a fascinating and educational tale that is well worth reading. I usually read Regency historical romances, but i can't wait to read more from this author. I'm glad i decided to read this. I recommend it without hesitation.
I received this copy from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest review given voluntarily.

Michelle Griep is a great writer and this book is no exception, I loved it. Book 3 in the brides of the Mayflower series is a great historical novel, well written and very interesting. If you like stories of forts, wars, Indians and the wild untamed land, then you too will loved this one………A half breed woman, more Indian than white because she was raised by the Mohawk tribe and a condemned traitor paired together as scouts through hostile territory, on a dangerous mission. This book will keep you turning pages. Suspense, danger and romance, a potent combination, I was captivated right from the start, there wasn’t a dull moment, . ……My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.

This novel captivated my heart and soul! This is the second book in this series that I have read. It is not necessary to read the other before but I do highly suggest it as each book will bring so much joy into your life. This novel pulled me in from the first chapter, and from there on out I one clicked this book. The glimpses into the history setting to this book was quite unique and you can tell the research for this book has been done thoroughly. There were multiple twists in this novel and I want sure where some of the story would go, but I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. There was so much heart put into the writing and I loved every word of it!5 stars from me.

I received an e-copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley, all opinions here within are my own.

The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep is set during the French and Indian war. It is a story of adventure, espionage, courage and love.
Mercy Lytton is not your typical lady. She has been raised among the Mohawks and struggles with where she belongs in the world. She has a gift of incredible eyesight and is chosen to assist a group of men on a dangerous mission. Elias Dubois is a condemned traitor but has been given a reprieve of his death sentence in exchange for helping the British move a shipment of gold from one fort to another; gold that was originally stolen from him. Assisting in this mission are Rufus Bragg, the general’s lazy son and a well-known scout, Captain Matthew Prinn. Will love flourish before the mission is accomplished or will all perish in the attempt?
This a story you just can’t put down. It is full of excitement at every turn. The author’s descriptions make one feel they have fallen right into the story. I could easily imagine the sights and smells surrounding the characters. There are many twists, turns and surprises as you turn each page. Are any of the characters really who they say they are? I kept hoping that the General was wrong about Elias; I couldn’t bear for him to spend his life in prison after all he was going through to help accomplish the mission. The book has a very logical ending though there are some sad moments as there always are in wars. I give this book 5 of 5 stars; Michelle Griep never disappoints me and this story is no exception. Excellent writing and lots of excitement!
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Daughters of the Mayflower series keeps getting better. The Captured Bride is my favorite so far.

I particularly enjoyed the setting. I've read a lot of historical fiction, and I've read very few that take place during the French and Indian War. There were enough historical details to make the story interesting, but they were not presented in a way that felt like a history lesson.

The romance between Mercy and Elias was believable. I also liked the supporting characters, and thought that, for the most part, they were well done. The bad guys may have been a little too obvious.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I am looking forward to the next one in the series!