As the Daughters of the Mayflower series unfolds, paralleling America’s history and English colonization, the stories become more compelling and thought-provoking. Several readers have commented on not caring for the first book in the series, but I would encourage them to try the books that follow because they were, in my opinion, more interesting. Also, any of these books can easily be stand-alones. “The Cumberland Bride” takes place in 1794 along the Wilderness Road that ran from northeastern Tennessee to the western Kentucky frontier. That fact in and of itself was enough to garner my interest, since literature focusing on this specific time period and region seems few and far between, at least in Christian fiction.

The story itself is captivating and full of complexities that embellish the plot. McNear does not shy away from supplying details that immerse the reader in the experience, which I appreciate; it is refreshing to read a Christian story that acknowledges the rough side of life and does not hide behind rose-colored glasses, yet remains clean content-wise. The threat of Indian attack and the horrors of such are discussed, but not graphically. Likewise, the deprivation and difficulty of traveling and living in the wilderness forms a large part of the narrative, a stark reminder as to what our ancestors survived. The conditions seem unbelievable now, and I find myself wondering if people 200 years from now will look back and think the same of our lifestyle.

Another aspect of this novel that really shines is the presentation of the characters. Katarina Gruener, the heroine, has obvious flaws and fragility, which makes her truly come to life on the page. I felt added kinship with her in her affinity for writing and recording stories. Her naivete enhances her relatability, and the awkwardness of the burgeoning romance throughout the novel is endearing and true to life. Indian-settler relations are explored from both sides, with Thomas Bledsoe playing a leading role due to his shadowy past, and I valued how the Native American perspective is respectfully offered. The character dynamics are excellent. For anyone who enjoys a historical jaunt full to the brim with adventure and faith, “The Cumberland Bride” is not to be missed.

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

I really enjoyed this tale of a group of settlers crossing the Cumberland Gap in hopes of starting a new life in an unsettled land. I thought the characters were well drawn. I quickly grew attached to Thomas and felt he was the best drawn of all. He was provided a bit more back story than most of the others so he felt more fleshed out. I would have liked to see a little more to help round out Kate and her persona. The interest and infatuation started slow and didn't really go anywhere for a long while.
"The Kiss" was a bit of a leap but felt like it was about time. I loved all the history and description of the wildlife and fauna of the area. It made me want to look the location up on a map or find pictures or drawings from that time period. There were also lovely Religious elements without it taking over the story or feeling too forced. Thomas's doubt in God and yet his growing need to trust in Him was what really tied the story together.

I really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more by this author and in this series.

Although I’ve lived in Tennessee for over twenty years, I have not yet visited the Cumberland Gap and pretty much all I know about it is that when the weather turns cold, the forecasters warn that those in that area should expect snow.

In The Cumberland Bride, author Shannon McNear brings to life the majesty and the danger of what could arguably be called the first gateway to the west (before Lewis and Clark forged their trail). The author draws readers in with the dangers surrounding Kate Gruener, her family, and the others in their traveling party. Even something as inconsequential as crossing a river can become deadly in the blink of an eye.

As if the land and weather isn’t enough, the group must also contend with rising tensions between the Indians and the white man. McNear doesn’t skirt the issue of what travelers faced when attacked.

As Kate digs for their guide’s story, he is determined to put distance between them while at the same time desiring to protect and care for the young woman with golden hair like the sunshine.

Another winner in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, and a solid novel from McNear (who is now an author I’ll be watching for more from).

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.

My Thoughts: The Cumberland Bride is a strong historical novel with a strong plot twist. The depth of research and attention to detail struck me almost immediately. McNear weaves in such an authentic feel to the everyday lifestyle as well as the scenery. I did feel like it took me longer to get into, but once I was hooked, I was WAY in. I don’t want to ruin anything but wow! The plot twist was remarkable and it completely changed the course of the story. I was enthralled by the new tidbits of Shawnee culture that I had never heard of before. And McNear brings all of this together with a strong Christian message of saving faith and living out your faith in Christ. I appreciated all the Scripture she weaved in for the reader.

Rating and Recommendation: I’d recommend this one to Christian Historical fans, especially those interested in Native American stories. I’m giving it 4.5 stars.

~ I received a copy from the publisher. I was not compensated for my review and all thoughts are my own.

What a beautiful story that is rich in history which captures the essence of a time period that I love reading about. I loved how the author described the terrain that Kate and her family were traveling on. There was threat of Indians around them. Traveling by horses to Kentucky would take courage, stamina and hope.

I enjoyed Thomas and his commitment to Kate's family. It was interesting to read about his connection to the Indians. His ties to them will become very important as danger surrounds the travelers. Kate finds herself in a treacherous situation and her life is threatened when the Shawnee find her in the wilderness.

I loved how the story depicted a true account of how families were willing to travel long distances to find a better life. Thomas takes his job serious and is willing to keep Kate and her family safe. There is an interesting account about Thomas's past that really brought out the historical aspect in the story. Don't miss this captivating story of survival and hope.

I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing . The review is my own opinion.

The Cumberland Bride is the fifth book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I’ve liked that I’ve been introduced to new to me authors in this series as is the case with this one by Shannon McNear. I enjoyed the authors writing and her characters quite a lot, making her book a pleasure to read.

I love the spirit of Katie Gruener, her family and Thomas, who had the job of leading them and other families across the Wilderness Road to their destination. Not as cut and dried as it sounds because he had to keep his ears open for news of a Shawnee unrest.

The dangers travelers faced in 1794 were definitely not for the faint of heart. No, not at all and I’ll just admit that I am not a person who does outdoor type things, so my family would have left me behind. Luckily Katie and her family were much more brave and set out with pack mules and very little of their personal possessions.

The Cumberland bride is a great addition to this historical fiction series and as with the other books, I learned things during this time in history. Full of adventure, danger and a little bit of romance this was one of my favorite books in the Daughters of the Mayflower series.
I received a complimentary book from Barbour Publishing through Netgalleyand was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

Set in Tennessee in the spring of 1794, The Cumberland Bride, by Shannon McNear, follows Kate Gruener, and her family as they and other families follow the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap, and into the frontier land of Kentucky. This is the fifth, and latest book in The Mayflower Brides series, a historically accurate series that follows fictitious descendants of the Mayflower through American history. I have read three of them, and thoroughly enjoyed each one.

McNear weaves an engrossing tale of what it must have been like to live during those dangerous years when the new government signed treaties with the Native American tribes only to “forget” about them. It didn’t help that the British roused the tribes to fight against new settlers.

The story opens with Kate taking her mother’s letter to the post rider, where she is immediately smitten with him. Her father hires Thomas Bledsoe as a scout/guide to take their family along the Wilderness Road. Imagine Kate’s surprise and delight when it turns out to be Thomas, the post rider. Alas, he is a confirmed bachelor. Well, he thinks he is.

As the two sneak sly glances at each other, everyone else notices the attraction. Finally, at a time of extreme danger, they can no longer deny their love for each other.

The descriptions of the wild beauty of the Appalachians, the Shenandoah Valley, and the Blue Ridge lead the reader to feel as if he or she is right there on the trail with Thomas and the Gruener family.

Prayers are said, and scripture is quoted periodically through the story, particularly in life and death, or otherwise dangerous situations. The scripture passages chosen by the author fits the scenes perfectly.

The author’s notes at the end of the book are especially interesting – almost as interesting to this history buff as the book itself. She shares some of her research, and how her views changed as she increased her knowledge base.

What Makes This Book Reviewer Grumpy?
• Incorrect use of the phrase, “begs the question”. This is a phrase from philosophy and philosophers. It has to do with arguing a point, but in no way relates to the phrase, “raises the question”. The misuse of “begs the question” began in the very late 20th century, and was not in common use in the 18th century setting of this book. Additionally, an uneducated man such as Mr. Hughes would not likely have known the phrase.

• A large number of split infinitives;
• Beginning sentences with conjunctions;
• Mistaking “further” for “farther” (the two words are not interchangeable);
• Misplacement of the word “only” within sentences.
Follow me online as The Grumpy Book Reviewer

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books Publishing, Inc. through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Shannon McNear”s “The Cumberland Bride” has it all! It is packed full of adventure, danger and romance. “ The Cumberland Bride” is the fifth installment in “The Daughter’s of the Mayflower” series. It is 1794, when settlers are eager to claim their piece of new untouched land in the west. A land that has been hunting grounds for indian tribes for centuries. The Gruener Family is excited to make this adventure to this new land. They have hired Thomas Bledloe to take them saftly across the wilderness and into Kentucky, keeping watch for known dangers and indian attacks. What they are unaware of is their scouts past connection to the Shawnee tribe, which have grown increasingly restless with the white men settling their sacred lands.

Kate Gruener, the eldest daughter is brave and ready for adventure. In her quest to discover more about their handsome and mysterious scout, she finds herself falling for him, however he seems to want nothing to do with her. It’s not until they both find themselves in dangerous territory that they need to rely on each other and their faith to get them though.

Review posted on Goodreads and Amazon.

Even before I finished this I knew it would be my favorite book of the Daughter's of the Mayflower series! Wow, and I'm gonna say it again, WOW! Absolutely loved this book!
This book was so rich in historical detail and I just gobbled it up. You want to tell me about the Wilderness Road in great detail, the terrain,weather conditions,native vegetation along the way? You want to tell me about the natives,their habitat,foods,customs, oh yes please I am all ears. I could visualize the story taking place as I read. I need a bit more time to digest this as I am still visualizing it. I am the person who reads a nonfiction historical book for enjoyment like a novel. As far as historical recommendations the author mentions Laura Frantz and Lori Benton, now I have another recommendation if I may, Jocelyn Green. Like the two previous author's her books are well steeped in historical detail. I loved the author sharing about more history of the area and historical filled facts in the back of her book. It's a shame only about one percent of author's research is able to be used in books but I can see how that's possible. Eagerly await what the author puts out next.
Pub Date 01 Oct 2018
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc. through NetGalley, thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Cumberland Bride may be my favorite book so far in this series. Kate and her family travel through the Cumberland Gap to settle in Kentucky. Her father hires scout, Thomas Bledsoe, for added protection from Indian attacks. Kate is a brave and strong heroine but manages to fall (quite literally a times) into several predicaments. Thomas is there, reluctantly at first, to help her up. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow from just tolerating each other to something more. There is plenty of adventure in this book to keep one's interest.. In fact, I was quite sad when the book ended.

The setting of the latest Daughters of the Mayflower starts out at Bean's Station, Tennessee in the year 1794. Thomas Bledsoe hires on with the Gruener family to move them across the Wilderness Road to Kentucky where they have purchased land. What follows is a tale of adventure, mishaps, Indian threats, secrets kept & revealed, family ties, and two hearts falling in love!

I really enjoyed this story! McNear wrote in it such a way as to engage the reader with all five senses. I felt like I followed along with the traveling party who set out to make a new life in a new land. Seeing for the first time through their eyes how the terrain changed, the emotions they felt, the camaraderie between scout leaders & family units. You could feel the excitement crackle in the air as they make their way in anticipation and also trepidation as the threat of Indian attack ever increases. As for the characters, the author creates each one with flaws like ourselves and inner struggles. Thomas carries a secret past while Kate grapples with negative feelings that can overwhelm her at times. They also fight growing feelings between them for reasons the reader will learn as details unfold. I really loved the rest of the Gruener family and you can see their devotion, strong ties and love between each member. I also enjoyed seeing history come to life. I think that's my favorite thing about the books in this series! Watching how our great nation was formed and getting to know the people who made it happen. Each author has done a fantastic job in the retelling and I am impressed with McNear's contribution. Well-written, engaging, wonderfully detailed, fleshed out characters, rich historic details and love found in hardship make for an adventure the reader doesn't want to miss!

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

A wonderful romance!! When Kate's father decides to move the family west, she sees it as another grand adventure! As they travel the Kentucky Wilderness Road, Kate finds herself drawn to their guide, Thomas Bledsoe. He is supposed to be leading them all safely to their destination, but the curious Kate proves a dangerous distraction. There is an ever present threat of danger from the native Shawnee. Thomas tries to stay aware of the way things are going and feels a conflict is eminent. Just how close is Thomas to the Shawnee? Just how strong is Kate? You'll have to read it to find out...

The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear is a fabulous Christian historical novel and the fifth book in The Daughters Of The Mayflower series. It can be read as a stand-alone.
History comes alive for the reader as we journey with those early pioneers determined to conquer and settle in new territories. Along the way we encounter Native Americans, mishaps and we catch that pioneering spirit.
The novel shows the bravery and determination of those early settlers in 1794 as they pack up their lives and families, and travel on horseback into unchartered territory. Scouts were hired for their protection and knowledge of the land.
Family is important. They stick together and pull together.
In times of crisis characters turn to God in prayer. They receive internal peace despite external circumstances.
Life has dealt blows. "If God was so great and so merciful, why had He taken Mama?" God does not 'take' anybody out of spite. Illness and disaster happen. God does then receive souls. The school of hard knocks means people move away from God but He never moves away from us. When we cannot see or feel God, we need others to intercede for us. "Help him... know You are with him. Even if he thinks You are not."
The novel shows how God can take bad circumstances and turn them round for good. The reader is reminded that that is exactly what God did for Joseph in Genesis 49. God loves us and wants good things for us but sometimes free will interferes.
Within the story the reader witnesses the delicate relationship between the white and Native Americans. Both are wary of the other as the whites journey into the Native American lands.
The Cumberland Bride is a fabulous read. It is a tale of love, loyalty and a search to belong and be loved. It is a journey of discovery both literally and figuratively.
Absolutely marvellous.
I received this book for free from Barbour publishing on net Galley. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

If I had to choose a favorite series, it would be Daughters of the Mayflower. Cumberland Bride is book 5. This series follows a family generation by generation through American history. It is filled with adventure and history. As the title implies this book in the series is written about a family who traveled thru the Cumberland Gap, the gateway to the West.
Cumberland Bride is not for the faint hearted. The author does a great job revealing the difficulties of the journey. This is a very realistic story. Shannon McNear also shares some interesting facts about the Cherokee Indians. I found this fascinating. It was an interesting balance to learn about the massacres but also the kindness the Cherokee’s showed to those who they kidnapped and then adopted.
Cumberland Bride was well written. It captured my attention from the first page to the last. I am not a big romance fan. But I do love history and Cumberland Bride had a good balance of history and romance. I can’t speak for those who enjoy romance. But I can say those who like historical fiction will enjoy Cumberland Bride.
Each and every book in the Daughters of the Mayflower has been enjoyable. I can’t wait for the next in the series. Just a note that each book in the series can be read as standalone. The characters are not the same in any of the books. But I would suggest reading them all. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley

I posted this on Goodreads, Amazon, CBD, and Books a million and are waiting for the confirmed links.

I adore, I breath, I ravish, I live history. I'm a major history buff. I'm a history nerd/geek and proud of it!
With that being said, I truly enjoyed this 5th book in Mayflower Brides series. The author took her time researching the territory and the trail in late 1700's. With her words, I can actually visualize everything she penned down. This had to be hard for her to write this because of the time period with the slaves and the indians. I know for a fact in that time period, life was hard especially after the Revolutionary War where there were bitterness among the traitors and the Tories.
This is a light contemporary Christian romance novel. It can be a stand-alone alone novel which I had no problem reading. I normally don't care for romance but in this book, it was more realistic.
The traveling from Shenandoah Valley to Cumberland Gap to find a place to find a home was a breathtaking, mesmerizing, daring, and daunting task to travel by foot/horses in those days. There was hardly any wagon in those days yet. Covered wagons came later. This is the period of time I would have so loved to live in that fresh clean wilderness. I wouldn't mind the hardship because I would be embracing life.

I truly embraced living in the book for several hours.

The only problem I have with this book is at the beginning of the book where a genealogy tree was revealed. Bear with me, I love family trees. But I'must not comprehending how that tree and the family in the story match up. Am I missing g something here?
I'm going to give this book a low four stars because of the political correctness of the indians and the slavery. I know the author held back because she wanted to focus more on other aspects of the book, rightfully so and the family tree which threw me off. I applaud the author for doing her research on history, genealogy, and geography for this book.
I would not mind picking up earlier books and am looking forward to the next installments. Cannot wait!

I received this adventurous ARC from Barbour Books through Net Galley in an exchange for my unbiased and honest review. Thank you!

The Daughters of the Mayflower series follows the descendants from that famous journey.

Book 1: The Mayflower Bride: Kimberley Woodhouse: pub Feb 1, 2018
Book 2: The Pirate Bride: Kathleen Y’Barbo: pub April 1, 2018
Book 3: The Captured Bride: Michelle Griep: pub May 15, 2018
Book 4: The Patriot Bride: Kimberley Woodhouse: expected pub July 15, 2018
Book 5: The Cumberland Bride: Shannon McNear: expected pub Oct 1, 2018
Book 6: The Liberty Bride: MaryLu Tyndall: expected pub Dec 1, 2018

Book Blurb: “Thomas Bledsoe and Kate Gruener are traveling the Wilderness Road when conflicts between natives and settlers reach a peak that will require each of them to tap into a well of courage.”

“Thus we behold Kentucky, lately an howling wilderness, the habitation of savages and wild beasts, become a fruitful field; this region, so favorable distinguished by nature, now become the habitation of civilization, at a period unparalleled in history, in the midst of a raging war, and under all the disadvantages of emigration to a country so remote from the inhabited parts of the continent.” –Daniel Boone, The Adventures of Colonel Daniel Boon[e] (1784)

This is a clean, faith-based story and our characters reflect their understanding of God through prayer, the quoting and reading of scripture and the gathering together for worship and was not done in a preachy manner. Many times, it was the simple thoughts of someone reaching the end of themselves and seeking a higher power. During times of self-doubt, trials, and danger, our characters reached for that strength beyond their understanding. That part was well done. I was amazed at the stamina and courage in the face of danger that our characters needed for the journey.

The Cumberland Gap: “Carved by wind and water, Cumberland Gap forms a major break in the Appalachian Mountain chain. First used by large game animals in their migratory journeys, followed by Native Americans, the Cumberland Gap was the first and best route for the settlement of the interior of the nation.” [u-s-history (dot) com]

I mainly wanted to read this next book in the series because my great-grandfather’s people came through the Cumberland Gap [considered the first great gateway to the west] and settled in KY just as the characters did in this fictional account. Travelers maneuvering the Cumberland Mountains [part of the Appalachian Mountains], journeyed through parts of Virginia and Tennessee before they reached the growing settlements being established in Kentucky.

What I didn’t like: Just a niggling point. I think the story bogged a bit due to the sheer volume of research the author had to wade through and decide what to use. It read more like a checklist of a map. We stopped Here, spent time There, camped Everywhere, skirted ravines, waded streams, crossed River-X, climbed Mountain-Y and traversed Ridge-Z.

What I did like: The characters and the budding love story between Bledsoe and Kate. Thank goodness this wasn’t an instant fall in love story. These guys fought hard in resisting a relationship. It was a lovely attraction and then the admiration and then falling in love. The dangers on this journey were genuine and several times it was made abundantly clear just how dangerous it was for travelers.

The time was 1794, a budding nation made up of men and women, from both sides in America’s quest for independence, who were tired of war. These hardy souls were willing to embrace the Western Expansion for a new life for their growing families. I could just see my relations among those walking and riding the trails with their pack horses. The trail, at that time, could not accommodate wagons or carts and many were forced to walk the distance, while a lucky few could ride. If you have ever seen the movie ‘Last of the Mohicans’ with Daniel Day-Lewis you will have an idea of what the terrain and the trail looked like. The movie was filmed in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina which is a segment of the Appalachian Mountain chain.

The interactions with the Indians was fascinating as well as heartbreaking. The author was most excellent in explaining how and why the Cherokee took captives and adopted them. Our story gave us a glimpse of a Cherokee father, Flying Clouds, and his adopted son Thomas Bledsoe [Eyes-of-Sky]. Some parts of this story were a bit heart wrenching, mainly because I knew what would happen within less than 50 years. The Trail of Tears 1839-1839, Andrew Jackson’s Indian removal policy, where the Cherokee Nation would be forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi and migrate to an area that is present-day Oklahoma. I could not bear the thought of it. I just adored that old man.

At the end of the story, there was a section with the author’s notes that provided definitions for those archaic words used in the story. I was especially interested in the locations of points of interest along the trail. I enjoyed reading about the author’s research of the time.


After reading several of the previous books in this series, I requested and received a copy of this story from the publisher Barbour Books via NetGalley. The views expressed are my own. I am not commenting on the editing errors or the formatting as I received an uncorrected digital galley.

The historical setting for this book was very well done. The author brought to life the mountains and the time period. Although, I thought the story lacked the uniqueness needed to keep me interested. It seemed a bit 'regular' to me, for lack of a different word.

I love this series! Mostly because it can e difficult to find good books set during the colonial period. This is the first book I've read of Shannon McNear's and I thought her writing style, plotting and characters were wonderful. In particular, the relationship between Kate and Thomas was wonderfully written and she writes the historical details very well.

A perilous journey

My rating is 4.5 stars

The language of The Cumberland Bride conveyed me into the late eighteenth century. T’was the careful selection of every word, in the conversation and in the narrative. It struck me that not many historical novels have so consistently carried the speech of the day throughout the entirety of the book quite as well as this one did.

The descriptions were so vivid and colorful. They not only evoked a wonderful mental image of the beauty of the Cumberland Gap, they had me feeling the dampness of the mist, smelling the richness of the spring and hearing the sounds of the forest. My emotions were filled with the strength of Kate’s steadfast faith and Thomas’ concern about the uncomfortable relations between the “Indians” and the settlers.

Author Shannon McNear very obviously cared about presenting the Indians in an honest light. Though there were incidents of violence in the story (not described with detail that would offend the squeamish – like me), there was no sense that the Indians were bad and the settlers were good. She did, in fact, point out that the Shawnee often adopted those they captured and truly made them family. While kidnapping someone to adopt them isn’t exactly a practice encouraged by polite society, it certainly shows a different side than the one most often portrayed. I was very touched by a comment she made in the Historical Notes:

While digging into the history of the Shawnee people, I’ve ended many a research session in tears, begging God’s mercy on those of us who did not know, who cannot change history, but who must find a way to go forward and seek peace “as much as lieth in you,” with those around us.

There is a restless watchfulness in the beginning that follows Kate’s family as they embark on their multi-week journey to their new home in the West. Though there is not much action at the onset, the pace of the story is perfect to create the sense of the weariness of the journey and the frustration over the minor incidents that caused so much inconvenience.

As I mentioned earlier, Kate’s faith was very admirable. Even when things were looking very bleak, she clung to her hope in the Lord in a way that I hope I will always be able to emulate. Thomas had not exactly abandoned his faith, he just didn’t believe that God cared particularly about answering his prayers as a result of tragic experiences he had lived through. I loved reading about his spiritual journey back to the Lord.

This was a fascinating account of an era of history that is not as often portrayed in fiction: the westward migration in the days when Kentucky was far to the West.


This review was originally posted on Among the Reads


I was given a free copy of this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

Yay! Another Daughters of the Mayflower installment! (# 5) If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, no worries, each story stands on its own.

The Cumberland Bride takes place post Revolutionary War, with a group of settlers moving west from Tennessee to Kentucky. With no wagons, the journey is difficult, with the threat of potential Native American attacks along the way.

It is easy to connect with Kate, a woman of courage and an inquisitive storyteller. Thomas is a frontiersman with an interesting backstory. His knowledge and involvement with the Shawnee provides what he needs to guide the settlers to their destination. The last thing on Kate or Tom’s mind is romance, but you never know—lightning sometimes strikes in a storm.

The historical details give this story richness and depth, and the descriptions make the scenes come alive. This story encompasses courage, love, and adventure.

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