What a wonderful book! It is written in such a way that you can see all the scenery and action that is taking place. This is a christian historical romance that is full of action, mystery and suspense. This is the first fiction book I've read about the Pony Express and really enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own and I've pre-ordered the paperback version. Yes, it's that good!!

A wonderful story of a young lady that is in charge of a Pony Express station in Utah territory at the beginning of the Civil War! Her world is turned upside down, as she learns that everything she thought she knew is challenged! Excellent story but ended much too soon for me! Loved it!

I have been reading the Daughters of the Mayflower series since book one and have enjoyed all of them. The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse did not disappoint!

It is filled with murder, mystery, romance and even a Bible study on Daniel! This book had me from the get-go. And even though this is the ninth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone, so don't despair if you think you have to "catch up" first - you don't. Although I highly recommend all the books in this series.

I loved how the characters grew in their faith, but all their flaws were shown beforehand. The reader has no doubt that no matter how bad you think you are, God is merciful and forgiving to all who seek Him with a repentant heart. Forgiveness is an important theme in this book and makes it all the more touching at the end.

A thrilling story that captivates the imagination and the heart. I highly recommend it!

The book was provided by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley.

Jackie "Jack" Rivers now runs the Pony Express station in place of her late father. She cleans the lodging rooms, cooks all the meals, and manages all of the riders and post. Always fearful that she will be demoted and seen as "less than" because she is a female, she works hard to abolish that idea, proving she belongs just as much as one of the male riders. One afternoon an Elijah Johnson hops off the train at this Utah station on a secret mission himself- to look for the long lost daughter of his employer. All of his clues lead him to this town, yet he can't seem to connect the pieces, and Jack obviously cannot be the heir as she had a father. While all of this is occurring, they are in the midst of a counterfeit scam going on in the territory that needs all of the character's help to solve.



This book had me in its grips right from the very first page! I am always partial to books that are easy to understand and picture right from the first chapter, it makes understanding what is going on so much easier and enjoyable. This story was so fascinating! I haven't read much historical fiction about the Pony Express but it's incredibly stimulating and different than the WWII dramas out now. I also genuinely loved the slow burn of the love story between the main characters. It just makes you want to read faster and faster until you see if they make it or not.


One thing I thoroughly appreciated in this book is how the religious aspect didn't dominate the book. I am religious so I did not have a problem with it, however, some books tend to want to cram it down your throat and doesn’t leave much of a story in its wake. Where all the time they are strictly following God’s order and blah blah. However, in this novel it is subtle and effective, it's there, and it's thoughtful but it's not forced. I sincerely awed in the balance the author had for religion.


I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good historical fiction romance!