A good read! As always I like learning about a certain time period and the history along with it. I’ve heard about the Pony Express, but I didn’t know a lot about it. The plot and message of the story was interesting. Charles Vine an man full of regrets, send his partner and friend, Elijah to search for his long lost daughter and wife, the latter having ran away with their baby due to his abuse of alcohol and violent tendencies. I cannot abide abuse ever, but this book certainly made me think about how God can save and rescue even the vilest creature, and how we really all are sinners. In the present day, we see his daughter, Jacqueline “Jack” has grown up on a Pony Express station. Elijah and her meet, as he tries to help fulfill his friend’s request. I will say the one criticism I have in these books are the villains. While I do think it’s interesting that the villains are often inspired by real life people and situations, I just feel like it’s not added to the plot very well. The bad guy seemed to come out of nowhere and the plot with him is very sparse until the end where everything escalates and is quickly solved. Still it’s was an easy and entertaining read.

Once again, Barbour Books shows how right the decision to feature a series of books called Daughters of the Mayflower. The Express Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse is the ninth in the series, and is stunningly well-written.

It is 1860 in Utah Territory, the Pony Express is up and running, pun intended.
The Pony Express was rather short-lived but that seems to be the result of more and improved train routes. Following her father’s untimely death, Jacqueline Rivers runs a station in Utah Territory, despite the fact that women were not permitted to serve in that capacity, Jack does quite well and is well liked by the riders.

Signing her name Jack, her father’s nickname for her, allows her to continue in this capacity. When she learns counterfeiters are in the area, she agrees to assist with capturing the culprits, putting herself in harms way.

Elijah Johnson is on the hunt for his employer’s long lost daughter, stops at Jack’s outpost. After learning Jack is running the outpost and that counterfeiters are at hand, he delays moving on, finding himself attracted to the beautiful young woman.

Adventure and secrets abound in The Express Bride, a historical romance I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own, and freely given.

I loved this other book from Kimberley Woodhouse! I just read Golden Bride and loved it.
And I couldn't wait but immediately go to The Express Bride for more history, love and adventures!
The Pony Express, set in 1860, even though I know it existed, I had never read a story about it so this was especially interesting in the historical side. Ms. Woodhouse is excellent at historical detail and at making you feel right at home in the era and place the story takes place.
Jacqueline "Jack or Jackie" is running a Pony Express station after her father's death. She loves her work and "her boys" but she knows a marriage proposal will never arrive this way, but what can she do? She has her own burden and now the government official is asking her to sniff out the counterfeiters.
Then she meets Elijah, who's in the Pony Express searching for his Boss's Heir. Elijah is totally hooked by the pretty station manager and wants to know her more. And after discovering criminal activity, how can he leave her without protection? But Jackie seems to resist his charms, will she trust him? Especially when secrets from the past come out to the open?
This was a wonderful story as all of Ms. Woodhouse's novels! They engage me from page one, and this one was just like that until the end. Action, Mystery, Intrigue, Sweet Romance, Deep and Compelling characters. What else do you need?
I loved Jackie and Elijah, both strong minded but kind and compassionate. The romance waas very sweet and clean.
there are references to faith, nothing too preachy, which help the characters know they have to trust God and ask for guidance in their daily decisions. It was definitely inspiring too!
I definitely recommend it! There isn't a Daughters of the Mayflower book that I haven't liked, even more loed (I'm a big historical fan) but Kimberly's have been special. And this one was fantastic. A must read!
can't wait for the rest of the books in the series! They are all awesome and from so different eras from American History.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and this is my voluntary and unbiased review.

The Express Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse is a fascinating historical novel and part of the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Kimberly Woodhouse is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. What I enjoy so much about this author is her dedication to research and this really comes through in her novels. Each novel is well-researched with interesting facts. This novel was particularly interesting to me with the information about the Pony Express and the use of treasury notes in this time period. I highly recommend this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I am one that doesn't tell the story just a bite of it cause if I tell what happens why read? This is at the time in history about the famous Pony Express and how it was started and what they went through on the difference adventures they had during this time and where does a woman fit in? Characters you will call in love with and the time in history was well researched! Thank you Net Gallery!

The Express Bride is about a woman, Jacqueline Rivers, who has taken over running a Pony Express and stage coach station in Utah territory after her father’s death around 1860. She loves her life, her work, and the “family” (the Pony Express riders she cares for) surrounding her. She soon encounters Elijah Johnson, a man who has been sent on a mission by his wealthy boss to find his long lost daughter. As Elijah searches for the truth, his discoveries threaten to change everything Jacqueline thought she knew about her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Express Bride. The characters are likable and relatable, and the story is captivating. I appreciated the characters’ outward expressions of faith and their acknowledgement of their dependence on God’s grace. And besides being a lovely story of restoration, redemption, and forgiveness, it was full of action, mystery, and suspense, as the characters are also trying to uncover the truth behind a forgery scandal and murders related to it. Overall, it was an exciting book that I couldn’t put down. I would certainly recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and clean romance.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Jack, Jackie, Jaqueline.  One female, known by several names, unconventionally runs a Pony Express station.  Elijah Johnson.  A man on a mission for his boss to find something of great importance.  Both do their jobs well, but soon find themselves involved with the investigation of counterfeiters and forgers.  Has Jackie's post been used in this illegal activity?  Will Elijah find what his boss wants before it's too late?

I've enjoyed every book in this series and especially liked this one.  The Express Bride is the ninth book in The Daughters of Mayflower series. For this one in particular, reading the author's "Dear Reader" before reading the book gave a deeper appreciation for the story. For example, I  didn't realize the Pony Express ran for less than 2 years nor did I know that they successfully delivered 34,753 letters.  This bit of information made me appreciate the descriptions of timing and skills needed to run a successful Post.

My heart was engaged on the first page and I wanted to jump into the book to make all things right.  I adored the characters and found myself immersed in the emotions of their struggles. There are just some books that push an empathy button and this is one of those books. Kimberley Woodhouse produces well written scenes that make characters come alive and show development.

The faith content was amazing and complete. It wasn't preachy. Rather, it was shown through family bonds and relationships.  A faith-based story cannot be effective without serious issues being addressed and The Express Bride offers a great balance of real life and real faith. It's a book I'd highly recommend to anyone. It's content is clean and encouraging. There's also much room for discussion if reading it for a book club.

If I could change anything about this book it would only be to have been able to read it in print form other than ebook form. I love annotating and highlighting my books. This one would have been written in many times if I had the physical copy. 

I'm extremely grateful to Barbour Books, via NetGally for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am 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. The Pony Express was a very well-oiled machine! It was fun to get a little glimpse into how a station could have run. I liked this book and the characters within the story.

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.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

What I've come to love and enjoy about Kimberley Woodhouse's books is that they are filled with adventure and characters that has a personal journey with God. The express bride was another great read by this author and this series.

So, if you still have to start this series, you love historical and adventure books, what are you waiting for.

I loved reading about the pony express and how they functioned and what a well-oiled machine it was for the short period it ran. The plot about the forgery was very interesting and Elijah's search for his employer's missing daughter was just as interesting. I loved "Jack/Jaqueline" and Elijah's interaction. I loved how Bible study was an important part of this station's life and how Jack's mother and the father who raised her played an important role after their deaths in helping her through a difficult revelation and to forgive. And I really enjoyed the action/adventure.

The only reason why I'm not giving it 5 stars is because, for me, there was some "missing pieces". I felt like I didn't know what happened to Vines to direct him to alcohol (it was implied in her mother's journey that something happened, but I felt that wasn't clarified). There was a letter from Jack to the owners of the pony express I felt was left open and throughout the book the action/adventure/suspense felt like it was building up to an action-filled ending, so the ending was different to what I was expecting.

This story still kept me up passed by bedtime to see how it ended. I'm looking forward to the next book in this great series.

Book 9 of the Daughters of the Mayflower series, this one is my favorite. (Each book is a stand alone so feel free to jump in!)

Author Kimberley Woodhouse did a fabulous job with this one, and kept my attention all the way through. I enjoyed learning more about the Pony Express, and how it worked. The characters were well developed and the descriptions of the area made the story come to life.

Unexpected twists and turns, intrigue and secrets abound. Who is Jack? What’s her secret? She doesn’t even know! I really enjoyed seeing the characters grow, and learn to trust God with their secrets and with their relationships. With strong references to faith, and a sweet romance, if you enjoy Christian historical fiction then you’ll love The Express Bride.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

Once upon a time a deeply toubled man turned to alcohol as his sole comfort in life, ignoring the gift of his wonderful wife and daughter. When things became too dangerous for her and her child, she took to the road; she ran and headed West. Donning disguises and fake names to cover her tracks, she escapes all the way to the Utah territory and establish a new life of safety and security for them. But now, a quarter of a century later and sober on the straight and narrow as he is facing the possibility of own demise, he hopes to track down his long lost daughter and reunite with her before it is too late.

The man Jacqueline "Jack" has called her father her entire life has recently passed and she is learning to find her own way and shelter the responsibilites left to her at the Pony Express station in his wake. When two strangers come to rent rooms at her establishment and she becomes privy to the fact that things are more than they seem around her, Jackie will find herself and the ones she loves placed in the line of danger as she tries to uncover secrets that have been buried. Hopefully things will come to light before it's too late and irrevocable damage has been done.

*****

I generally avoid Christian Romance, but the cover caught my eye on NetGalley and I was intruiged by the synopsis so I decided to give it a read. Faith was very prevelant in this book though, being mentioned or elluded to every few paragraphs, or every couple pages at least. It was too much for me. But that's more a fault of this not being the right book for me than it is of the book itself.

Honestly I found it a bit unsettling that Elijah kept comparing her to a young girl and contemplating how she made him think of a young girl. I found this really cringy and unnerving that he was thinking of all this while contemplating his attraction to her and thinking of a future with her. Plus he kept reflecting on her innocence and then thought about how if he were wiser and more experienced he would have realized the lack of innocence in the face of a woman from his past. Boy, get out of here.

My biggest reading pet-peeve is when women are repeatedly 'giggling.' If they are six years old, fine. But as a grown woman? Get out of my face, barf. Jackie was described as giggling far too many times for my comfort in this book. No thanks. But perhaps this wouldn't be nearly as cringy for another reader.

This book was an enjoyable read for me, but the historical voice was a bit lacking. I want my historical fiction to immerse me in the past and I just didn't really feel it with this one.

I liked Elijah and Jackie, and her misfit crew of Pony Express riders too. But I do very much wish that we had gotten the chance to learn more about our main characters while reading. So much of the book was spent on devloping the mystery of her parents (even if we quickly knew what was up) that there was very little time left for an exploration into our characters themselves. I wish we had gotten the chance to know a bit more about them.

The book had a very sweet and wholesome ending and I recommend it if Christian/faith based novels are your thing; I think that you will really enjoy this one. This is the 9th book of the multi-authored Daughters of the Mayflower series. This book can easily serve as a stand alone novel, but if you enjoy this one then I would recommend you give the rest of the series a read as well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for sharing an electronic company of this book with me for reviewing purposes. This is my honest review.

Romance, intrigue, mystery, suspense, and danger -- how can you go wrong with all of these elements combined? This story was interesting and engaging with likable characters and a fast-paced, unpredictable plot. Truly a joy to read!

#KimberleyWoodhouse #TheExpressBride #NetGalley

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Barbour Publishing, Inc. in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

The Express Bride is the latest installment in the Daughters of the Mayflower series written by Kimberley Woodhouse. In the wake of the recent death of her father, Jackie Rivers is running the Pony Express station in 1860s Utah and struggling to adjust to life on her own. When she is asked to keep her eye out for counterfeiters, the danger intensifies, and she is unsure of who to trust including the new guest, Elijah Johnson. This man is searching for a long-lost heir, but seems rather suspicious. Will Jackie be able to trust the right people in these uncertain times? Woodhouse has once again created a world that draws you in while revealing what life was like at a Pony Express station in the 1860s.

I received this electronic ARC from Net Galley

I really liked this book. I learned a lot about the pony express and Woodhouse is a great author and researcher.
I would recommend this book highly.

This story was a lot of fun to read. Woodhouse took me on an adventure way out in the middle of nowhere and I enjoyed every moment. This story had so many unique twists and turns I had no idea were coming. I have never read a book about the pony express and found it fascinating. Jacqueline was so much fun to watch and I felt the pain she was feeling after losing the man who raised her. His shoes were some big ones to fill. I love how she loved the boys who rode for the express and how they became like a family. I can’t imagine riding so many hours at such fast speeds to deliver something we often take for granted now a days. It was interesting seeing how women were viewed and to imagine how it would be living in those times. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

There's something about Woodhouse's books that make me fall in love with storytelling all over again.
The way she researches everything to perfect detail just so it can be accurate for the readers.
The way she explores her characters and finds their deepest vulnerabilities so we can connect to them.

Mrs. Woodhouse inspires me to do the same.
She's a dedicated author, one whom I'm proud to be reviewing for.

I adored the book from the beginning. Starting with a heart racing escape, I knew this book was bound for adventure.

My assumption was correct.

Criminals and spies and treasure hunts filled this book, but did not cloud the romance and friendships and the faith stories! Rather, they were all ingredients to a special recipe.


Learning about the Pony Express was truly a treat. I have admired the endeavor for awhile and was so excited to learn the Express Bride focused on a woman running a way station.

It was incredible to be able to read about the riders and their experiences, (though I'm sure a few were exaggerated. ;) )


Woodhouse has a way of placing you in the scene--I love her descriptions. Both of people and scenes.

Though at times I felt some story lines could have been expounded upon more. I felt like they were rushed in a hurry to end the book and were resolved too quickly.

But overall the major storyline ran throughout the book and I didn't have any problems with it.

I thoroughly enjoyed Jackie and Elijah's story of redemption; their willingness to find out the past, but move on with the future; and their deep ability to love.

I close this book with a sigh and a thank you to the author for this beautiful story.

I will cherish it always.

-Rebekah

I highly recommend you grab The Express Bride now!

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are purely my own.**

Pony Express station in 1860 Utah territory becomes the home of a run a way wife of an abusive husband. We fast forward to her daughters life as she now is running the pony express she grew up in. She has some big surprises in store. Truths are coming out about her birth, dad and life at the station. I enjoyed the history woven into the story and the ending was a tense but wonderful surprise.
I was gifted a copy through NetGalley and Barbour publishing. No review was required. My review is voluntary.

"The Express Bride" addresses an interesting part of American history, which is the Pony Express riders and action. This book also underscores the important role of strong women in settling the western United States. I was impressed at the fortitude of the main characters. This is also a book about redemption and repentance, and how even the most dire situations can be turned into good.

I enjoyed the many surprises and plot twists and turns, which keep the reader guessing and wanted to find out what happened.

Personally, I do not care for the contemporary writing style, found in this book, that uses short, incomplete sentences to express the thoughts or feelings of the characters. I prefer to abide by the usual standard English rules for good writing.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I found The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse to be a very enjoyable read. I’ve been reading each story in this series and loving each one. This one has a greatness all of itself. The plot was well thought out and I just loved it. Not so typical and I found that to be refreshing. The mystery and suspense was really gripping. Love was in the air and just seeing what would come of the discovery of truth. I would recommend you get this one and all the others in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This is book nine in Daughters of the Mayflower series however it is a stand alone book.

If you enjoy reading historical, mysterious romance you will love this book. We travel back to the 1860's and a Pony Express Station.

Jacqueline Rivers, Jack, is a loving, determined girl who wants to continue doing all her father has taught her (even if it is normally done by men). When two travelers bring trouble, drama and so much more Jack must face some hard decisions and a true test of faith.

Elijah Johnson is just wanting to fulfill a desire of his old friend and business partner. While waiting at the station he can not predict what all is in store for him.

This novel is full of love, friendship, mystery, history and so much more.