The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo is the 7th installment in The Daughter’s of the Mayflower series. From its first adventure traveling on the mayflower to the revolutionary war to the Wild West; the Alamo bride takes you to 1836 Texas in the days leading up to the battle of the Alamo.

Claiborne Gentry has an important mission to complete, commissioned by none other than the president himself. The problem is he can’t remember his own name let alone which side of the war he’s on.

Ellis Valmont is the great granddaughter of Marabelle Cordova whom we met in the Pirate Bride. With the same fiery red hair, feisty personality and courageous spirit Ellis is a force to be reckoned with. When Ellis finds a man dressed in New Orleans gray nearly dead near her home, she makes it her mission to nurse him back to health. But after days of outlandish ramblings from the fevered man Ellis is left questioning whether or not he is friend or foe.

A wild adventure ensues as they both end up in the midst of one of the most pivotal events in the Texas history.

Kathleen Y’Barbo holds the readers attention with her well researched look into Texas’s history, her characters were well developed and the storyline was exciting and enjoyable. The only thing I found lacking was the ending seemed a bit rushed in my opinion.

Lovers of American history are sure to enjoy this fast paced read full of faith, adventure and romance.

I received a pre-publication copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Alamo Bride is the 7th book in The Daughters of the Mayflower series. The author, Kathleen Y’Barbo, admits to “bending history” just a bit in order to have the citizens of Quintana and Velasco greet the soldiers who came from New Orleans. You see, it was there that Ellis first saw Clay.
Clay (Claiborne William Andre Gentry) was sent by President Andrew Jackson to deliver funds to General Sam Houston. The plan was discovered, Clay was attacked, and lost his memory. Ellis Valmont found him shot and beaten, lying in a damaged boat floating in the reeds of the river near her home. She and her mother nursed him back to health, and all the while, Clay was becoming more and more attracted to Ellis. Will Clay's memory return? Should Ellis trust him? Is she safe with him? He could be a spy for the other side, you know.
All the books of this series are historically accurate, romantic, and often funny as the characters come to life. They are also wonderful examples of Christian fiction. History buffs and lovers of romance novels will love The Alamo Bride, and this entire series.
What Makes This Reviewer Grumpy?
• Misplacement of the word “only” in sentences – a common mistake we all make when speaking, but more noticeable when written;
• missing commas;
• “try and stay”, rather than the correct “try to stay”;
• repeatedly using “bring” when it should be “take” – a modern day mistake not found in the 19thcentury;
• using “further” when “farther” is needed;
• some verb tense disagreement.
Look for me online as The Grumpy Book Reviewer.

Even though I have skipped around in this multi-author series, they can all be read as stand alone novels. They're all based on a member of the family, in different places and/or time periods.
This story has a lot of fun historical information in it (I am a sucker for Texan history) and it was fun to read. It was a clean romance, but pretty evenly to fast paced.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing/NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.
I will post this on my Goodreads, Amazon, and Bookbub accounts.

This is book seven in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Even though I probably missed some history in the Dumont family I had no problem jumping into this book and fully understanding it.
If you enjoy reading historical romance with adventure and some mystery you will enjoy this book.

Ellis Dumont is an independent, loving woman who during a time of war is not sure who is friend or foe. When she must help the handsome Clay Gentry, she discovers in his feverish state he mutters some wild stories. Ellis must decide if he is friend or foe. And just what all his ramblings may mean. There are many surprises and adventure in this novel. I do wish we would have learned a bit more about the truth behind Clay's ramblings but overall this was a good read.

Author: Kathleen Y'Barbo
Publisher: Barbour Books, Feb. 1, 2019
Format: ebook, Kindle
Series: Daughters of the Mayflower, #7

Personal Rating: 4.46
Star Rating: 4/5
This is wonderful seventh addition to The Daughters of the Mayflower series. This is a unique series because it is written by various authors and each book takes us on a different historical adventure. If you read them all you will sail on the Mayflower in 1620 and almost get killed on a pirate ship in 1725. In 1760 you'll be involved with the French and Indian War. You'll travel through Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia during the Revolutionary War in 1774, and in 1794, you'll head westward through Cumberland Gap. You'll also get to know a spy during the War of 1812. Although these books are fiction, you'll enjoy learning tidbits from history.

The latest adventure, The Alamo Bride, is set in 1836 and is written by Kathleen Y'Barbo. Clay, a bilingual man with secrets, gets shot and drops unconscious. Ellis, who is knowledgeable of healing herbs, finds him and nurses him. She, being strong-willed and full of determination, fights to save his life while trying to learn all she can about him. Is he friend or foe? She's wisely advised to consider him dangerous until he proves himself.

I enjoyed the interaction among the characters and appreciated the protection theme of Psalm 91 throughout the whole book. Kathleen Y'Barbo also authored a previous book in this series and I enjoyed the references to pirate bride, Maribel, Ellis' great grandmother. For me, this connection gave life to the story.

Although there was less prominent action scenes in this book compared to the others, there was still lots of underlying subtle mental action as Ellis nursed Clay back to health. Clean romantic tension kept the book alive as their relationship developed.

Thank you Barbour Books, via NetGalley, for an advanced ebook for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kathleen Y'Barbo's The Alamo Bride is the seventh entry in the Daughters of the Mayflower multi-author series from Barbour. Each short novel may be read as a stand-alone, though a quick review of the genealogy chart included is always a good idea.

Ellis Dumont doesn't know if the wounded man she is caring for in her family's barn is on the side of the Mexican Army, and neither does he once fully awakened for the healing herbs she has used to keep him asleep. What Claiborne "Clay" Gentry does know is that he'll do what is necessary to protect the pretty healer and complete his mission, if only he can figure out what it was.

Set during the Texas Revolution, this is yet another entry in this series that involves a historical military conflict. While the actual Battle at the Alamo is peripheral to the story, there is plenty of adventure and peril, leading to a bit of sweet romance between Clay and Ellis.

Running through this story are themes, blatantly and repeatedly stated, of impossible decisions and God's covering. And while there were some minor continuity issues that may niggle, this is an entertaining and enjoyable piece of historical romantic fiction that is sure to please.

This review refers to a library e-book, since I wasn't able to read the digital galley I received approval for on NetGalley prior to publication. All opinions expressed are my own.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

In the beginning, we find ourselves listening in on Ellis Dumont and her grandfather's conversation which sets the stage for The Alamo Bride. The setting is Texas right before the seige of the Alamo. Ellis and her grandfather are transplants from New Orleans.

Then we meet the hero Clay Gentry as he is arriving to join the New Orleans Grays who are pledging their allegiance to the newly formed Republic of Texas. Through his thought processes we realize he has a secret mission as well.

Clay sneaks out of camp and is assaulted by unknowns, shot several times, he ends up floating in a small pirogue and discovered the next morning by Ellis and her little brothers.

Ellis ends up nursing Clay and begins to write down his delirious ramblings in the back of her book of Psalms because she suspects that it might be important; however she does not know if he is friend or foe.

As Clay begins to recover physically, he finds his memory prior to his assault is lost, as he continues to recover and bits and pieces of memory begin to surface, he and Ellis find themselves on the road to the Alamo; both are wary partners and yet find they can't resist the emotional tug of their hearts.

This is a very good historical romance, especially intriguing because it happens among the tragic events of the Alamo; however I was disappointed in the ending because several mysteries involving Clay were never fully explained; but I still give it 4 stars. Thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read this ebook through Netgalley and this review is my honest opinion.

This is a fun read! It starts out slow, and I have to admit it took me several tries to get into the story. But once you’ve passed the first couple chapters, the characters deepen enough that they are interesting. The dialogue is entertaining and the storyline is engaging yet light. Perfect for reading on a plane or in a doctor’s office.

Rated PG for some light peril
—no sexual content
—no language
—some violence, but not gruesome in nature

I was given a free copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 7th book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, and I seem to enjoy each book more than the last. I knew absolutely nothing about the fight for Texas’ independence, and I found it fascinating. I appreciated that the romance was slow to develop as our leads learned to trust each other. There were some interesting teases to Clay’s backstory, about the apparent scandal that had him leaving New Orleans, and I wish those gaps could have been filled in - I think there was some angst-filled moments wasted.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

As expected from the title this story is centered on the disastrous battle at the Alamo, although (thankfully for them) at a distance. It's more a story of people who lived in the surrounding areas. These people are the descendants of pirates, a continuation in a series that would benefit the reader to read first, but isn't necessary to enjoy this story. Clay goes to Texas undercover as a soldier to aide the Texians financially. Because of all the influx of factions for control, the area is filled with people hiding what side they are on. He is waylaid, shot, and ends up at Ellis' family farm. She is a healer, using local herbs and knowledge that has been handed down to her. Clay survives due to her healing and tenacity, traits they both share. He and Ellis' family join together to fight for what is right. An interesting tale of this area and people surrounding this embattled area, plus the people from without who nevertheless want a piece of the action - for various reasons. No such struggle for control operates in a vacuum. An excellent story to be entertained and learn from history.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have 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.”

There’s a lot of interesting history packed into this book. I enjoyed learning more about the history surrounding the Alamo and the battles for Texas. The author obviously has researched this time period well, and the characters are interesting and well-drawn. The action and suspense built up well in the first part of the story, but I felt the last part lost some of its focus. I still enjoyed it, but I wasn’t riveted. Still, the history and background make it a worthwhile read. The Daughter of the Mayflower series has been interesting. I’ve read most of them, and look forward to reading the rest.

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

It’s not often I feel ambivalent about a novel, but that seems to be the best word to describe how I felt when I finished this one. Which is a shame, because I didn’t start out that way.

The story begins with Clay setting out on a mission to find treasure buried by his grandfather so that he can deliver it to General Houston to assist in the Texas Revolution. Unfortunately, his mission is interrupted when he is injured and then found by the Dumont family. The tension built nicely throughout Clay’s nursing and recovery because Ellis wasn’t sure who Clay was and his ramblings seemed to hint at some kind of important mission. The question was, for which side?

The fact that Clay doesn’t remember any of these details once he regains consciousness only added to the tension, especially as the attachment between Ellis and Clay grew. On Ellis’s side, there were also fears about the growing unrest in the area and the unknown status of her father and brother, who joined the fighting but haven’t been heard from for some time.

I wouldn’t have said I was riveted by the story, but up until this point, I was engaged and anticipating what was to come. Where I think this novel lost traction for me—or perhaps gained too much traction—was in the last quarter, when Clay’s original mission, which seemed to be the point the story was heading towards for the majority of the novel, shifted to the background and became a “by the by”. Suddenly, the story had a new focus and, unlike the first three quarters of the novel where the story took its time advancing the plot, the action in the final quarter felt like watching scenery pass by a train window; there was plenty to see, but it all passed so quickly that I didn’t really have the chance to experience it or take it in, meaning some fairly dramatic events didn’t have the impact they could have had.

Overall, I would have said this was a four-star read, if only it didn’t feel like the story lost its grip on the reins there at the end.

A story that will tear at the heart-strings. Will young love bloom between a New Orleans Gray, Clay Gentry, and Ellis Valmont, a courageous, stubborn, yet gentle lady, when she wants to be? Or will they be yanked from each others grasp? Can she save him? Or will she have to watch him die from his severe wounds?
Amazing character build, a plot that thickens with each chapter as we learn that this soldier has some secrets even he didn't know he had, along with some awesome details that will take the reader back in time to a war where young soldiers are so badly wounded they usually didn't survive. In this part of the Mayflower series, THE ALAMO BRIDE by Kathleen Y'Barbo, there is one lone soldier we see lying near the river's edge with severe wounds and barely alive. Ellis Valmont sees him and struggles to get him out of the water and with the help of her mother, get him to safety before the snakes can strike. I actually pictured the murky river lapping at his still body while Ellis struggled with his heavy weight, and trying to keep the snakes away, too.
A few days later, will that safety be short lived as Ellis has to drag him yet to safety again from a burning barn? And, in the process, gets her dress caught while trying to escape the raging flames and billowing smoke?
Suspenseful indeed! Great read.

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

I have read every book so far published in the Daughters of The Mayflower series, this is number 7. While they are a series they can also be read as standalones. All of the books feature a woman main character who is a strong,encouraging role model/heroine. I enjoyed this story it takes us back to 1835 in New Orleans,Louisiana then we find ourselves in Quintana,Texas . The book is filled with tension,is intriguing and will love appear? I love Ellis's strong character. Upon finding a stranger on her land she cares for him as she has been taught to do by her mother, also a healer but due to his injury he has memory loss . Is he dangerous, can he be trusted?
This was well researched and I feel like I have learned a lot about Texas and Mexico.
Published February 1st 2019
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Book through NetGalley. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was another good book from Daughters of the Mayflower. Each book has been unique to the author. I don't feel there was a lot history wise in this particular book. I was caught up in the storyline. Either a few parts of the storyline weren't followed through on or I missed them. 
It was still a good story and I'd probably search out another book by Kathleen Y'Barbo.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher Bethany House and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

This can be read as a standalone but is part of the Daughters of the Mayflower series. This author wrote another book in this series I adored titled The Pirate Bride (Loved her female lead – Maribel Cordoba) It was such a fun story I instantly connected with. This one took a little bit to get into because I felt a little overwhelmed by all the historical information discussed as this author set up the story. After a few of chapters I was engaged. It was at that time Ellis appears on the scene. She’s strong willed, courageous and knows herbs and healing like the back of her hand. She is to use those skills in helping to heal Clays injuries. It was fun when this novel mentioned Ellis’s great-grandmother, Maribel Cordoba. I really enjoyed this character in The Pirate Bride novel. (I know I’m saying it again! Grin!) I thought this story might take place when the actual battle of Alamo took place, but It did not.

I liked what the author said in the beginning of the book, “As an aside, my mother’s family came to Texas in exactly the same way as my fictional Ellis Valmont’s family. Setting off from New Orleans with three hundred…settlers…Thus, this is a personal favorite story of mine as well as a tale of Texas and the Texians.”

The author gives The Rest of the Story of Bent History at the end of the book which I found interesting. It’s very helpful and wish I would have thought to look in the back of the book and read this first!

I’m looking forward to this author’s next novel!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher/Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have 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”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine https://www.bookfun.org/page/past-iss...

The Alamo Bride (2019) by Kathleen Y’Barbo is the seventh novel in the Daughters of Mayflower series published by Barbour Publishing. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 256 pages in length. With a full-time job and a very lively six-year old, this book took me three days to read. I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give The Alamo Bride 5 STARS. This novel is a Historical Christian Romance.

There is so much to love about The Alamo Bride. It’s a novel where history comes to life and leaps off the page. The story is so engaging the pages flew. And, the characters are fantastic. I loved every minute of this fun, witty, adventurous story!

Ellis is my favorite character in this book. I very much appreciate how strong-willed, intelligent, and capable she is. It doesn’t feel forced or part of a feminist agenda; rather, it feels natural. Ellis is who she is because God made her that way. It’s so very refreshing to read about an authentically strong woman. I also really love the way Ellis relates to others. She is genuine, honest, and loyal. She loves her family and sees the immense blessing God has given her through her various and unique family members. I especially love her relationship with her grandfather. The way she can run to him when she is troubled. The way he can calm her down and get her to see reason. The way they each value one another. But I also appreciate that her grandfather doesn’t cut Ellis any slack. He tells her how things are, and he keeps her honest about her faith in God. It’s so critical to have a family member or friend like Ellis’s grandfather — a wise adviser who helps guide you along the path God’s set for you.

There are a few timely themes in this novel, but my favorite is the message on trusting God. Trusting someone is really hard. When you trust someone, you have to give up a lot of your control. In this novel, it is Ellis’s grandfather who helps Ellis work though her trust issues. Ellis, like a lot of people (me especially), sometimes has quasi-trust in the Lord. We say we do all the time, and in the good times we definitely do. But when things get scary or hard, we might forget God in order to control things on our own. We are sure we have the right answer. My most favorite moment in the novel occurs when Ellis is freaking out about her dad and brother. To paraphrase the conversation, Grandfather asks Ellis, “Do you trust God?” Ellis says, “Yes, but…” Grandfather tells her that there is no “but” with God. We either trust God completely, or we don’t trust Him at all. This conversation 1000% convicted me! Relinquishing control is SO hard, but SO necessary if we actually believe in God. If we believe in God, we must get out of His way and let Him be God. I love this message, and really needed this reminder.

The Alamo Bride is a thoroughly engrossing, fast-paced story that I highly recommend. If you are looking for a well-researched, beautifully written historical romance with timely themes, then The Alamo Bride is definitely a must read for you.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were very well done, and since I am a Texian I found it to be a very well researched by the author. Texas history is complicated and I felt the author told the story like it was. The location was very well described and interesting. It is a love story between Ellis and Clay, the main characters. Hardships and struggles, and the kindness Ellis shows to Clay when he was terribly injured and had no clue to who he was, other than a grey coat. I save a lot of quotes from books and there is one I especially liked and will always remember.... The Lord takes care of us in His own way. If we manage to have something go our way, we figure it’s because it is His way.” Be sure and read the research at the end of the story. You then will understand all the hard work that went into this book by Kathleen Y'Barbo.

I've really enjoyed each book in this series so far. The Alamo Bride may just be my favorite. I very much admired her spunk and the hero is very dashing, of course. I look forward to the next "bride"