Cover Image: The Golden Bride

The Golden Bride

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Member Reviews

Once again Woodhouse brings us an amazing story filled with history, romance, faith, and family. This is a welcome addition to this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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When Olivia’s parents suddenly pass away, she marries Hezekiah Brighton and she’s only know him for a day. He promises to take her to San Francisco, where her brother Daniel lives and all he’s done is drive around in circles for six weeks. Olivia tries to keep positive, believe in her husband and she draws strength from her faith in the lord.

Hezekiah is killed, Olivia has run out of food and she needs to get to San Francisco as soon as possible. She’s been warned that the town’s really wild, full of rough men and no place for a lady. After ten years she’s reunited with her brother Daniel Livingston, he owns and runs a successful restaurant. Olivia starts working as a waitress, she attracts a lot of unwanted attention and receives over twenty marriage proposals a day.

Her brothers best friend Joseph Sawyer, is a member of the town council, he’s worried about the fire risk in San Francisco, and the trafficking of Chinese people and being forced into slave labor. Joseph was saved by his friend Daniel, he introduced him to the lord, he wants to help others and so does Olivia.

Daniel gives her a precious gift, a box of journals from her mother, that have been passed down through generations of the women in her family and Olivia feels blessed to receive them. Olivia has given up on love, but she finds Joseph attractive, he has the qualities that she admires in a man and they study the bible together. A devastating fire and dangerous threats, bring Olivia and Joseph closer together and they share the same strong faith.

I received a copy of The Golden Bride from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, even though I haven't read other books in the series, I enjoyed the story and four stars from me.

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I have really enjoyed this series’s. You are looking clean books that have adventure, love and a bit of mystery. You will love this series!! Happy Reading 🤩

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I want to preface this review by stating that this is the eighth review I have written during the holiday season. Having read more than three times that number of “holiday” themed books during this time, I must say that this is a book that should not be missed. That having been said, let me proceed with my review.

SETTING: Dec 1814 .
Miss Cynthia Louise Finch, age of thirty, (having failed to capture the attention of a single gentleman during 6 seasons), acts as a chaperone for her cousin Gertie, accompanying her to the Duke of Nottingvale’s Christmas house party. Gertie, who is as shy as Cynthia Louise is adventurous and outgoing, is on notice from her father that she is to make a match before returning home, or she will be exchanged for land and given to a lecherous old man. Cynthia Louise, therefore, is determined to champion Gertie in capturing the Duke’s attention, as well as his hand in marriage, at this party.

Meet Duke Nottingvale. Brought up to be the ever ‘proper Paragon that every Duke should be’, never breaks any of society’s rules. At the advanced age of 30, his mother is pressing him to marry, encouraging him to choose from among his house guests for the next duchess.

Mix: one irrepressible hoyden (Cynthia Louise) and a Paragon of Society, and one has a reaction not to be missed!

CRITIQUE:
Storyline- utterly superb! Well-paced and packed with unexpected twists holding the reader’s attention.
Character development: characters whose personalities blossom during the story, drawing us ever closer to them.
Romance- grows from a spark at the beginning of the story to a blaze at the end. Kisses but otherwise perfect
for younger readers.
Is there a HEA for our H and h? Absolutely! And the world is a better place for it.

I received an advance copy from Net Galley. My review is voluntary and reflects my own opinions.

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This book definitely has large elements of faith but is also about family and friendship. Siblings have come together to help out a town that ruled by greed with a friend who once was one of those ruled by greed but has found the lord and is now ready for a change. The major thing is the growing attraction between best friend and little sister but also how little sister discovers that she has come from a long family of strong females who has discovered how to impart their knowledge on to others but keep true to themselves and their faith.

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This is Book 8 of the Daughters of the Mayflower series that brings a lot of history, interesting characters, and a lot of faith, with a bit of romance intertwined. Olivia Brighton finds herself in need of a husband and also needs all the courage she can to face all of the challenges that San Francisco can bring in the year of 1849. It is “gold rush” and Daniel, her brother provides her a safe haven to live and work at his restaurant.

Livvy has a lot to overcome as she deals with the lost of her parents and short marriage. The gold mines, fires, brothels and other day-to-day chaos makes this book worth the read. This is a heartwarming story of a woman who reaches out to help others regardless of her circumstances. One note in this story that was very interesting was the journal readings of her ancestors that added to her faith in God and letting her know she was not alone in her journey. Her brother and Joseph his friend, were nicely written as men of integrity and who held the faith and beliefs that she did.

As I have not had the privilege of reading all in this series and only a few, this story did not fail in keeping this reader interested. The author did a very nice job of letting you see into the city and all the goings on around. Very historical and well written even though there are some darker sides in the city during that era. I loved the plot and thought this was a nice historical Christian story full of faith with a bit of romance. It is an easy and comfortable read.

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Sadly I DNF the series because I couldn't get in to it at all, its why i haven't been posting reviews for it

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I enjoyed the history and premise behind this book, as well as this whole inter-connected series. And the idea of setting this book during such a unique time in history was a great one. But while that was intriguing for me, I just couldn't get into this book. The author's writing style just didn't connect with me. It felt kind of abrupt, and didn't allow me to get really immersed into the reading. Because of that, I wasn't able to finish the book. I know many are big fans of Kimberly Woodhouse and her writing, so take my review with a grain of salt. This was simply a personal preference issue for me.

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This is a hard book for me to review because, in some ways, I absolutely loved it, but in other ways, it flopped for me. What I loved the most were the way the journals of characters from previous books were used in the spiritual growth of the main character. I thought this part was very well done, and I even felt personally encouraged by some of the spiritual truths the journals contained. I loved Joseph's heart for people, but sometimes, he came across as almost too good to be true. I did identify a little with Olivia's self-professed cynical and sarcastic nature, but I wished that it had showed more in the story, especially in funny ways. But it didn't. I also really liked Daniel, Olivia's brother and Joseph's best friend. He actually seemed the most nuanced of all the characters and I wanted more of his story and viewpoint than we got in this book especially when the epilogue has him married to another of the most interesting characters in this book. I found myself wishing a little that I could have read their story instead of this one.

The pacing was a little strange in this story. A lot of it seemed to drag and then the action and resolution felt very rushed. The worst part of this story for me was the bad guy. We kept hearing his thoughts, but had no clue who he was and there was no one in the story he even could have been so we weren't even really wondering who he might be. I found myself not really caring and just wanted the slavery ring stopped because it was awful.

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I love the Daughters of the Mayflower series. This was no exception to the rule. Olivia, young, attractive, hardworking, finds herself running her brother's restaurant in San Francisco during the gold rush. She is widowed and therefore available according to their customers so she is no stranger to marriage proposals. Most come from miners however, in whom she has little interest but a friend of her brother's. Joseph does catch her eye. The politics of the era almost steal him from her as do many other incidents and current circumstance. Will their love hold true though? All will be revealed in this mid 19th century love story. I enjoyed this purely for the easy escapism it afforded. It was uncomplicated and light hearted for the most part. Both Olivia and Joseph were very likeable characters and the story flowed well. I enjoyed it, like I have done with all of the Mayflower series I've read to date.

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San Francisco in 1849 was no place for a young woman to travel to by herself, but that’s exactly what Olivia Brighton does when she loses her husband soon after the death of her parents. My interest was immediately piqued by both the heroine’s situation and the specific setting, but I ultimately found it difficult to remain engaged in the story for a few reasons.

First of all, the characters were one dimensional. The three main characters (Olivia, her brother Daniel, and his friend Joseph) were the sole beacons of civility and all that is Christian in the decidedly unsavoury city of San Francisco. The main source of tension driving the plot was their suspicion that “something” was going on and they needed to find out what. And here was where the other one-dimensional characters came in: the bad guys. One is known to the reader throughout the story, the other is carefully veiled. Both show every outward sign of goodness and charity while rubbing their hands over their nefarious plans in private. And I agree, their plans were definitely nefarious, but it was all clichéd, predictable, and rather anti-climactic.

The narrative style was very much weighted toward telling rather than showing, and this was particularly noticeable in relation to the romance, which spent a lot of time dwelling on the characters thoughts and feelings about each other—the kind of sentimental writing I tend to avoid. The tension here was flimsy at best, based on Olivia’s vow that she would never, ever marry a gold miner—no prizes for guessing what Joseph is!—and a situation at the end of the novel that creates some last-minute doubt for Olivia.

Overall, the premise had a lot of promise, but I’m obviously not a match for this author’s style.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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I really liked this book in this series. Olivia loses her family and then on the way to her brother she loses her husband of only a short time. Olivia decides that she is going to continue on her way to her brother by herself. Joseph is a gold miner who ran astray for a while but became almost like a brother to Oliva's brother. Joseph has the city in his heart and wants nothing but the best for it. There are some evil people that end up people trafficking and Joseph gets caught in the middle. This was a very sweet romance with some real-life scenarios that made this book riveting. Received this book for free and I am giving my review.

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Another great book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Olivia has been dealt with many sorrows in her life. Her brother left for California and after falling ill, her mother and father died. She needed to save the farm so she married a man she did not know because he offered to pay her debt. Then came the Gold Rush and her husband used their money to buy panning material, tent, and supplies. On the trip to California, her husband unexpectedly dies and she finishes the trip on her own. Upon arrival, things were definitely different than what Olivia thought. She reunites with her brother and with his help, journals passed down through the generations and the grace of God, Olivia begins to heal. It does not help that she has met Joseph, her brother's best friend. As things come to light in the city, the health and safety of the city are being changed. It will be up to them all to figure out how to beat the beast and get the city back on its feet. I love the historical factors of the Gold Rush and the San Francisco fire included in the book by Ms. Woodhouse. Cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Thank you to Ms. Woodhouse, Barbour Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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Olivia and Joseph's story has been among my favorites in this series. Olivia's pluck and her never-quit attitude carried her after the disaster of her parents' death and brought her safely to her brother's restaurant. While there, as one of the few women in a town full of miners, she'll face rough, crude men and that same spirit is what pushes Olivia onward.
Kimberley Woodhouse's writing style is clean and her wit quick on the draw. Her characters enjoy conversations that are both meaningful and informative while not taking away from the story's pacing. The mining town where the story takes place is well thought out and I enjoyed walking the streets with Olivia.
Where things get interesting is Olivia's promise she will never marry a miner after she is widowed. Olivia intends to keep that promise by never marrying at all. With her heart hardened by her first husband, Olivia struggles to see the good in any man, even when their worth is well established through their deeds. She will have to learn to overcome her mistakes and forgive herself.
I loved Olivia's drive to help others in need. It doesn't matter if they are a child or a woman whom the rest of the town scorns. Joseph is much the same way and his helper's heart will get him in trouble more than once.
If you enjoy historical romance with a deeper message, I recommend this novel for you.
I requested a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

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This book is an amazing addition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series! Olivia has endured great loss and struggles getting to San Francisco to be with her brother Daniel during the gold rush. The facts from the time period are spot on even if it can be a little disconcerting it is what happened. Olivia and Joseph's friendship blossoms even amidst all the danger they are surrounded with. The three of them are able to lean on God and each other to get through everything. This is an amazing read.

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This book swept me away! I now want this entire series! San Fransisco, the gold rush, drama, and adventure, it's all in this story. It's fantastical historical Christian fiction. I don't think I've read this author before either. Olivia was easy to identify with. She is in debt, her family has passed, she is trying to not lose the farm, and then there is this insta-wedding. So she marries Hezekiah and they set off to get to her brother in California. That didn't go as planned, because her new husband dies on the trip! But God has plans because now she's meet another man. Is there hope for a life in CA yet? 

It has a fantastic epilogue that I liked and plenty of faith and trust principles worked into the story. 

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.

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This is a wonderful historical romance!

I loved all three of the main characters. As soon as I met Olivia Brighten my heart broke for her and all of the grief that she was carrying. I can’t imagine losing both of my parents at the same time. That fact that she carried on and dealt with the trip to San Francisco to join her brother Daniel was amazing. She definitely needed time to heal from all of the loss.

One of the things that I really liked about Joseph Sawyer was that he was willing to take things slowly and build a friendship with Olivia. I also enjoyed the strong emphasis on prayer and trusting God that was displayed by Joseph, Daniel, and Olivia throughout the story.

The historical content was great. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area but most of what I learned about the Gold Rush in school has been lost over the years. It was nice to get a look at the attitudes of the men in San Francisco at this time through the eyes of a god-fearing woman.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

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Another book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series full of history, faith and love. The story is set in 1849 in San Francisco. It paints a picture of chaos and challenges that occurred during that historical period. The main character is a young girl named Olivia. She is recently widowed and finds refuge with her brother and his friend. She must face life head on with faith and courage during a very dark time. You will also find a bit of mystery in the plot. It can be read on it's own, but does include a bit of history from previous books. Those who love historical fiction with faith and love, will enjoy this read.

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The Golden Bride
Kimberley Woodhouse



I enjoyed many aspects of the novel The Golden Bride.
It is a lesson in America's history as well as a great love story. Olivia, Daniel, and Joseph are characters that would be interesting in real life, and introduced me to San Francisco in gold rush times.
The story was well written and had my attention from the first page. The authors description of Hezekiah Brighton, as described by his new wife, made me laugh.
"Hezekiah wasn't worth much."

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This was such a sweetly written story!
I entirely enjoyed this read. From the very captivating beginning to the mining town of San Francisco, this story gives my imagination room to breath. I loved the characters, the descriptions of them, the interaction between them, and the hopeful lead into to another book at the end. The setting was very informative and gave me a great look at life back in the 1800's. I highly recommend this book.
I volunteered to read this book from Barbour Publishing Group in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed with in are my own.

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