I can still remember the very first research paper I ever did in school. It was in 4th grade and I had to choose a historical event to write about. I hated writing, but I loved learning and researching, so I eagerly looked through the list of topics I could choose. I don't think I had ever heard of the Pony Express before, but I absolutely loved horses so in my mind, there was no better topic to choose. I had so much fun reading books and researching this fascinating subject even if I didn't enjoy writing the report. :)  Now, many years later, as I was reading The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse, I was reminded again of the fascination I developed for the Pony Express through my 4th grade research paper.

This book is part of the Daughters of the Mayflower series, but it can definitely be read without reading the prior books in the series. It had romance, mystery, and adventure and lots of historical details about the Pony Express. It was really interesting to read about how the system worked through the story of fictional characters. It kept me interested from the first page until the very end. And it  also left me wanting to see if my mom kept my research paper so I can read what I learned from all the research I did back then. :)

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, and the Pony Express.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Express Bride is another excellent edition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series. This time, we’re covering the brief time period involving the Pony Express and the Utah Territory. The romance is sweet and a veeeeery slow burn, almost taking a backseat to the mystery of forged treasury notes. The characters rely heavily on scripture (specifically the book of Daniel), and it acted as a deterrent for me in this story, where it didn’t in the previous books in the series - it took me out of the story briefly.

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

This book brought me such joy reading it. The characters were so wonderful and I feel in love with all of them. I have to say my favorite character was Ann who was deceased in the book but her legacy was so big and touched so many people in this story. This story was phenomenal, showing us God’s love and forgiveness. I cried happy tears as I was reading, this story touched my heart so deeply. The author does such a beautiful job showing how we all sin and how our sins can hurt others so deeply. Kimberly Woodhouse goes on to show the reader that only God can help us to forgive and love as he has. The romance was sweetly done, I loved every facet of this book! Kimberley Woodhouse has made me a fan for life.
Was given a complimentary copy from Net Galley. All opinions are of my own.

This was a great story! I’ve read several books in this series now and this was one if the best. It’s filled with great characters, a great story and a great historic backdrop that only adds to the story. Jacqueline, whose father called her Jack, is an extraordinary young woman running a stop for stagecoaches and the Pony Express. The novel begins shortly after the death of her father so she is still trying to get used to her life without him and running things on her own. She is a fierce but heartfelt heroine. She embodies what I would imagine is the pioneer spirit of the women who lived out west in that time. Elijah is a young man who is on a quest for his good friend and mentor. He is trying to track down a young woman and so his path will cross with Jacqueline. Unfortunately there are also villains to be found out west so all is not perfect. As these plots play out you will find yourself hooked!

As always in this series God is at the forefront. The characters will rely quite strongly on their faith. It is a great example of life in simpler times, even if those times were certainly harder. There is also a great redemption tale found in the power of God and the power of forgiveness. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite eras in history, full of adventure, coupled with a little mystery and a sweet romance, made this an all around satisfying read! The Pony Express and Stagecoach stop at Carson Sink in 1860, Utah Territory, was right near the heart of the silver mining area and the U.S. mint of Carson City. Perfect place to involve a forgery ring and cover up.
The search for a long lost heiress was the main mystery and kept the story moving at a steady pace. Using letters and journal entries was a clever way to fill in the backstory of the heroine, revealing answers as needed. I liked Jackie from the start with her hardworking and upbeat attitude, along with a sweet spirit. Elijah was a bit flat until later it seemed when he was challenged on many levels, but he grew in character.
I enjoyed this edition more than the others in the series by this author. Allowing the story to unfold through character interactions and events really improved the writing and pacing, I felt.

There were many insertions of meaningful faith discussions that added depth to the story and plot. Lives were transformed as the main characters were faced with truths, and they learned the power of forgiveness and prayer, trusting God for their needs and help in trouble. A nice summary of the book of Daniel and a brief gospel presentation were nicely inserted into the story without feeling forced.
"God is the only One who can fill the hole in your heart. We are sinners. All of us."
Recommend to readers who enjoy historical Christian fiction based on real events, with faith and a tender romance. 4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC of this book! Release date - July 1, 2019

So once upon a time like a year ago I had just discovered the amazingness that is NetGalley and was gung-ho about requesting every single book that looked remotely interesting, regardless of whether I had heard of it or knew anything about it or had it on my want to read list. I noticed a book called The Pirate Bride, and thought, cool, I like pirates. It had a pretty cover too, so I requested it. And lo and behold, I was approved. I actually did like that book. It was a simple romance, nothing extraordinary, but it was entertaining and well-written and I enjoyed it.

But then...NetGalley just starts sending me ALL THE BOOKS in this series without me requesting them. And like, I think this is legitimately the never ending series. I have enjoyed some of the books, but unfortunately I have not really liked the ones written by Kimberley Woodhouse.

Seriously, this book and The Golden Bride could have practically been the same exact book. A generic boy and a girl randomly meet and are instantly in love with each other, an almost unrelated side plot where a villain is doing vague despicable things, historical context....happily ever after. I admit, I did dislike this book slightly less than that one, but there still wasn't much to the plot or the romance. In both, the two main characters are "drawn" to each other from the time they first lay eyes on each other, and within a week or so they're in love. There's no suspense, no build up.

The plot here did have the potential to be interesting, with a woman escaping from an abusive husband with her infant daughter. 20+ years later the man has reformed and regrets his actions and wants to reunite with the daughter, so he sends his employee Elijah to find her. But of course, all of this is revealed in the first few chapters and there is 0 suspense. We know Jacqueline is his daughter, even though Elijah doesn't. It's obvious Elijah and Jacqueline will fall in love because they basically do on page 20. The plot had good potential but they revealed all the cards so quickly it was like pointless to have an entire book about this. And everything that happened was just SO coincidental it was hard to believe.

I don't know. I liked The Pirate Bride and actually really liked The Liberty Bride. But ever since those first two I have struggled to like a single book. I just know NetGalley will keep sending them to me and I really hate to push the button that says I'm not giving feedback for this book, but I will definitely consider doing that on the next book, especially if it's Kimberley Woodhouse.

I'm continuing to love the Daughters of the Mayflower Series! The journey through history and stunning covers have won me over.

In the Express Bride, readers are exposed to the Pony Express and what life was like for those that ran stations and rode circuits. This was all fascinating and the author's note at the end added even more detail about this unique (and brief) time in U.S. History.

There were a couple of events in the story line that seemed a bit convenient or forced for the plot. Overall, I enjoyed the story line and the characters.

(4 stars) - an Express pleasure to read!

The Pony Express has always fascinated me, so admittedly, I was predisposed to like this story. It was interesting to learn more about how it operated.

While the story is set in the West, there is a fairytale quality to the writing. The characters are certainly well developed & easy to like. The mystery of the counterfeiter drew me in & the suspense kept me there.

There were a few issues that kept me from giving a full 5 star review. It was difficult to believe that a woman with a baby or toddler would have been able to make it on her own for any serious length of time, & especially that she wouldn't be very memorable for that uniqueness, regardless of hair changes. However, what was frustrating was that each of the 2 main characters has a point in the story where I couldn't help wondering at their naivete.

There was also a bit of redundancy in the explication that sometimes made it feel a bit drawn out, but once the action picks up, the momentum increases till the happily-ever-after, & it's well worth the ride.

Clean romance level: sweet kisses
Religion: explicitly Christian themed with Scripture quotes & Bible study scenes

Like Woodhouse’s other contributions to The Daughters of The Mayflower series, The Express Bride boasts a sweet romance with a gentle sense of intrigue and adventure. I found Jackie a charming heroine. I always love reading about women in history who defied the norm and held unconventional roles and she fits that perfectly. Yet even while she was surrounded by men and held a tough job, she was a sweetheart. While not my favorite hero, I thought Elijah was an overall nice guy and was a good match for Jackie.

Where the book fell a little flat for me was that certain aspects were revealed too soon. Things I felt should have been kept a secret until the end were revealed at the beginning and it sort of spoiled the reading experience for me. I wish there had been a little more mystery about it to keep readers guessing until the end.

If you like sweet romance with interesting historical elements, I think you would most likely enjoy The Express Bride.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse Historical Fiction of the American West in the mid 19th century. In this new story in the Daughters of the Mayflower series there is excitement from the beginning pages. Crimes to be solved, a runaway, romance, secrets and mysteries from long ago. The old old story of sick souls and the redemption offered by God. I loved the real historical details of the Pony Express, never ending action and especially the gospel story throughout this book and series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

In a surprising twist, this has been my favorite book of the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I say 'surprising' because I'm considerably more interested in other time period than the early to mid-1800s, and wasn't terribly interested in the Pony Express either. However, I learned a lot about the era and the inner-workings of the mail system. The author definitely did a lot of research to create something that feels authentic. The characters are so believable, and the story contains a lot of mystery and intrigue. While I knew how some of it would end by the second chapter, there were still a lot of holes to be plugged along the way. Looking forward to the next installment!

I really liked how the book came together. It was an array of mystery, romance, and thriller. I felt that the book was almost slow in the beginning, but that happens when you are learning the characters and almost too quick at the ending. Without spoilers I cannot give specifics, but it felt rushed.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

This story pulled me in from the beginning! Jackie has been through both of her parents dying, but is very satisfied with her life. She is the manager of a pony express station and runs a boarding house as well. Little does she know how her life will be turned upside down!
Elijah is a wealthy young man who is on a special quest for his employer/partner. He is to find his long lost daughter. Elijah rents a room at Jackie's boarding house, originally only planning to stay a couple of nights. When both he and Jackie are enlisted in finding the source of forged bonds, he decides to stay longer. As they spend more time together, the two of them feel friendship start to blossom into something more. A stage "accident", witnessing murders, and terrible weather are just a few of the obstacles that they face in the barren land. There was SO much to this book, but I don't want to give any spoilers, so just READ it!! You'll be glad you did!
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. That in no way influenced my review.

The Express Bride (1July2019)
Kimberly Woodhouse
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Set in the Utah Territory in 1860, this novel was well-written with just enough of a love story and suspense to keep the pages turning. Jackie is an interesting heroine—the manager of a Pony Express station. She’s doing a man’s job in a man’s world—extremely well. Elijah, a successful business manager for a wealthy man, embarks on a quest to find the man’s wife and daughter. Although it is the 9th book in the Mayflower Brides series if can stand alone—so don’t think you need to catch up.

The Express Bride is the 9th book in the Daughters of Mayflower series. Although I have not read all of the stories, the ones that I have read were truly wonderful. In this story, we have a woman on the run from her abusive husband and in order to protect her child, she has no recourse but to flee. The story picks up later of Jacqueline Rivers, know as “Jack” who runs her own station house on the Pony Express. The story also involves Elijah's search for his employer Charles Vines' long-lost daughter.

The story grips you from the start and keeps you intrigued. I found it difficult to put it down as I wanted to find out the outcome in the end. Although there were some slower parts of the story, there were other parts that made up for them. Bother Jack and Elijah were very nice characters to the story and were a delightful couple where you could see how sweet and true their romance evolved. As with the others in the series, there were quite a bit of religious overtones that I did not mind as I do love Christian stories.

I thought the story was very well-written with a bit of mystery, murder, romance and religion…especially one having a heart to forgive. The author did an outstanding job with this one and do recommend reading this book in the series.

I thank the author and Barbour Publishing for allowing me to receive this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love this series and have learned so much regarding the history.of the pony express. The book is very well written and is so descriptive with many elements. There is mystery, suspense,romance, and forgiveness.
Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have really enjoyed all of the books in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. They are all different but they are all well written and tied together by ancestry.

In The Express Bride, you are immediately drawn into a woman fleeing an abusive home with her baby. Years later that baby is now Jacqueline Rivers and she runs a station house on the Pony Express. Her mother died when she was a young child and she was raised by her father who just died. He left her the station house which is unusual because she is a woman. When two men arrive at her station house, her world gets turned upside down.

Elijah Johnson is a successful business man who was asked by his employer to find his long lost wife and daughter. When Elijah meets Jacqueline, he is drawn to her. Despite the hurt he has experienced with women in the past, he longs to take a chance with her.

Elijah and Jacqueline are recruited to help the treasury try to find out who has been forging bonds. There is danger involved in this endeavor and soon Elijah and Jacqueline find themselves witnesses to two murders. Elijah also finds the long lost daughter of his employer. The problem is, he has lost his heart to her.

The Express Bride is a great Christian fiction book about seeking and giving God's forgiveness. I really enjoyed it. I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest feedback.

Another wonderful story in this brides' series. I love the pony express and enjoyed reading about this post and the history and grit it would have taken to live this life.

The 9th installment of the Daughters of the Mayflower series, the "The Express Bride" is well-written and has given me a greater understanding of how the Pony Express actually operated. What a difficult undertaking that must have been. While the underlying plot concerns Elijah's search for his employer Charles Vines' long-lost daughter, a compelling subplot concerning counterfeiting is woven throughout.

The characters are all delightful, including the deceased ones we know from their written words. Jackie and Elijah make a wonderful couple, and their romance is sweet and believable. There is a strong emphasis on forgiveness and God's love. The references to religion is heavy-handed at times. Even so, I still loved this book. 4.5 stars. I've read this series out of order and have two I have yet to read, but this is my favorite so far.

This book was easily 4.5 stars, which I will round up to 5 just because I liked it that much. It was so reminiscent of the 1990's show Young Riders with Cody, Hickock, Lou, Ike, Kid, Buck, and of course the always patriarchal Teaspoon, which was about the Pony Express. Loved that show, hated when the cancelled it (which they seem to do quite often with shows I like). But if you watched the show, this book puts you right back in it.

This is the story of Jacqueline "Jack" Rivers who has just lost her father, who was the owner/operator of an Express and carriage stop in Carson Sink. She keeps the boys in line and keeps the stop running just like he would. When the carriage comes with two visitors, Mr. Elijah Johnson catches her eye. Elijah is on a mission from his boss, Charles Vines, to find his daughter who went West with her mother. Mr. Crowell, the other visitor, is trying to find forged bonds and enlists Jackie and Elijah in his mission to find who is doing the forging. But spy work comes with all types of roadblocks, including murder, shootings, and lying. When Elijah and Jackie start looking into log books kept by her father, Jackie finds a letter with a secret to her past.

This was a great book about the desperation of a mother to rid her daughter of a life where darkness has taken over her father, but in the end learning that forgiveness can heal all wounds. I am loving this series, and the books seem like they are getting better and better as it goes.

I received a free copy from Netgalley and Barbour Books in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.