The Golden Bride takes you on a journey to historic California. A land of gold, danger, & full of men starved for the opportunity to make money. Some who were willing to make it by any means available. Yet for all those men, there were few women. So why does a Godfearing woman head to this lawless town? Will she be able to stand, or once her faith is tested by the firery trials headed her way, will her faith be left in ashes? Find out for yourself in this well researched novel by Kimberley Woodhouse. I've enjoyed reading this book, and once again glimpsing some of the trials that people went through to help form this great country. The history buff in me was able to enjoy the descriptive background, while the romantic side of me appreciated the journey to finding love.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher under no obligation. All opinions expressed are entirely my own:-)

Of the series, this has been my favorite! One thing I really liked about it was how it incorporated the story lines of the previous books in the series into the plot. She learns from the stories of strength her ancestors share in their journals, and that helps to give backstory for those readers who may not have followed the series from the Mayflower on. There is a lot of great history about San Fran and this era, including the dangers and debauchery that is so often glossed over, and the characters are very realistic. Looking forward to what historical event Emma brings us next!

THE GOLDEN BRIDE by KIMBERLEY WOODHOUSE is an historical romance novel with the Christian message beautifully woven through it, and making up a large part of the main characters' lives.
The story takes place in San Fransisco during the gold rush and we are made aware of the horrors that took place during that period, when gold and the accumulation of wealth led to human trafficking, prostitution and general degradation. The author has obviously done a great deal of research into this period of history.
When Daniel Livingston's sister, Olivia, comes to stay with him in San Fransisco and work at his restaurant, she turns quite a few heads, including that of his best friend Joseph. The three of them start a bible study at the restaurant in the afternoons and really try to live out their faith in improving conditions in the rather lawless community in which they live.
Danger and intrigue follow our three main characters and this makes for an exciting read.
I wa given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing Inc. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The newest addition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series brings interesting history, strong characters, and a lot of faith, plus a tender romance. Newly widowed Olivia Brighton needs all the courage and wit she can muster to face the daily challenges of life in chaotic 1849 San Francisco. Her kind and industrious brother Daniel provides a safe place to live and work at his busy restaurant. Along with his good friend, Joseph, they hope to bring light and order to the dark and dangerous city.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Olivia has a lot to overcome from the loss of her parents and short-lived marriage. It was heartening to see her growth from being fearful and guilt ridden, to becoming a woman of faith and courage, reaching out to help others, instead of focusing so much on her own perceived shortcomings. I liked the journal entries from her ancestors, which were a real encouragement, boosting her faith and reminding her that she wasn't alone. Daniel and Joseph were great men of faith and integrity, noble and willing to sacrifice to help others. They were real lights in a dark place. The author does a good job of painting the picture of how crazy the city was at the time, and doesn't shy away from the dark side of the boom town era. The ending was exciting with some mystery and action adding interest to the plot.

Readers who enjoy historical Christian fiction with some romance and faith, may like this one. It easily reads as a stand alone, with a few recaps from previous books. The author notes at the end highlight facts included in the story, sharing resources for further reading.
3.5 stars

I am very much enjoying the entire Daughters of the Mayflower series. Each book builds my knowledge of history and appreciation for our country. While each book stands alone, I eagerly look forward to each new installment.

This book, like the ones before it, has characters that bring history to life. Some of that is not so pretty. I was unaware of the atrocities that happened during the gold rush of 1849. The human trafficking, crime, and pitiful living conditions that most of the newcomers to San Francisco endured were things that I was unaware of prior to this book. With that being said, the author did a very good job of keeping the book from being a downer.

I enjoyed this book and the characters within. I plan to follow up on the historical notes at the end of the book and learn even more about this fascinating period of history.

I follow the GoodReads rating system. Please note that this means even the 3-star books are ones I liked.
1 star – didn’t like it
2 stars – it was OK
3 stars – liked it
4 stars – really liked it
5 stars – it was amazing; I’ll read it over and over and/or it will impact my daily life.

This is a great book! If you are looking for a book that is full of suspense, drama and romance, this book is for you! It is very well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat, This book is set in San Francisco during the Gold Rush of the 1880's, and is very eye-opening about how nasty and lawless it was back then. I highly recommend this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest review.