This is the 10th book in the Daughter of the Mayflower series and I've read every single one of them. Honestly they just keep getting better and better.
With the Civil War raging near Chattanooga, Tennessee in the Fall of 1863 quiet and demure Tennessean Pearl MacFarlane is forced to take Yankee and Rebel injured soldiers into her home and nurse them. Her mother is no longer living and her father's health is rapidly failing though he does his best to help and religiously still reads his bible.
Though his son's were killed in battle her father welcomes the enemy into his home like the
bible says we should.
Love doesn't take sides, men are men no matter which side they are fighting for as Pearl finds her heart has fallen for a man on the opposite side that she has nursed back to health.
Fast flowing great story line with believable characters . I have loved reading this series with all the historical details I've learned.

Published December 1st 2019 by Barbour Books
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

As a resident of Tennessee, I can attest there is no shortage of Civil War battle sites, including those highlighted in The Rebel Bride.

I appreciate that Shannon McNear’s novel focuses on a middle class, southern family that doesn’t own slaves who represent the “common” people whose lives and personal rights were shoved aside in the name of the war. I also admired that the characters in this book as hard questions about what they are truly fighting for and recognize the answers aren’t black and white (or Blue and Gray).

Throughout The Rebel Bride, McNear puts readers in the center of the conflict—from those forced to give up their homes and use their own resources for wounded soldiers on both sides to the actual battles—while challenging us to view the Civil War from the perspective of those lives forever changed and the devastation of the sheer number of lives lost.

Kudos to McNear for taking on an era she admits to never wanting to write and doing so with impartiality, understanding, and grace.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I have enjoyed every book in the Daughter of the Mayflower series, but this book really stands out in my mind. It is obvious that McNear did an incredible amount of research to present this one tiny area and the big battle near and around it. She also obviously looked at both sides of the war and the perspective of the Union and Confederate armies as well as the individual soldiers involved. It was and still is a complicated war that divides opinions even to this day.

Each and every character was unique and special particularly Pearl and Josh. Their conflicted feelings as their attraction grew and their differing opinions as a "Secesh" and a "Unionist" were beautifully portrayed. The role that Pa played both with his increasing senility as well as his love for God's word and sharing it with everyone no matter what side on which they fought was a warm touch. Her strong spiritual thread wove it's way throughout the story. The inclusion of both her thoughts as she researched, reasons why she did or didn't include something within the story, and her Bibliography just added to the depth of this novel.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

I have really enjoyed the Daughter of the Mayflower series, but this story, based around the Civil War, had me interested and dialed in from the start. This is probably one of my favorite stories for this year. Great story.

I have been a fan of this series from the very beginning and with each book I contiue to become fully immersed in the storyline because they are all so well written. This continuity series written by several different authors is fascinating and rich in history.

In this book, Ms. McNear takes her readers back to the Civil War, a sad but interesting part of history. The characters are fantastic and develop over time which I really appreciate in a book, it makes them seem realistic particularly given the time period and what was asked of them. I personally can't imagine having to provide food, shelter and care of soldiers with such horrible injuries but thankfully, the MacFarlane family and so many others did just that. They are in a tough predicament with having lost family members in the war, having very little provisions to care for themselves let alone anyone else.

I loved all of the characters and how they developed over time but the one thin I really liked is slow build up to Pearl and Josh's relationship. It was pretty perfect and not being a fan of insta-love, much appreciated. I enjoy a good conflict occasionally which I certainly got in the pages of this book. I have only read one other book by this author but I will definitely be looking for more of her work.

I recommend this book and series to fans of historical and Christian fiction.
Thanks you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-copy of the Rebel Bride.

As The Daughters of the Mayflower series continues to take us down the path of American History, we now reach the Civil War. This story largely takes place at the home of Pearl MacFarlane, her brother and father. The MacFarlanes are imposed upon by Pearl's cousin, Sergeant Travis Bledsoe of the Confederacy, to care for wounded Union soldiers, among them Sergeant Joshua Wheeler. While initially resentful of this intrusion, Pearl's devotion to God, her father's timely use of Scripture, and her growing affection for Sgt. Wheeler, Pearl began to embrace her new and difficult responsibilities.

Shannon McNear provides lengthy front and back material to explain the difficulties she experienced in writing this story as well as pertinent historical information. I enjoyed this story, but at times felt as trapped within the walls of the MacFarlane home as did Pearl, longing to move to new scenery and an interesting side story. I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans, and I continue to love this series. I am grateful to Barbour Publishing for providing me a copy of The Rebel Bride via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

I know that I say it all the time but I just adore this series. For anyone who appreciates family lineage and stretching their knowledge about lesser-known history of our country, this series is amazing. Each of the stories are standalones but the characters are connected through a bond of lineage.

One thing that I love the most about this series is that it slowly takes readers through American history in a way that stretches their knowledge while awakening a deeper appreciation for our nation's lineage. I cherish the fact that even the authors who have written in the more popular time periods, have searched for events and storylines that are unique in ways that they are still able to stand out from the norm. In her note to the readers, Shannon McNear expresses this very intent. The Civil War is easily one of the most common time periods for historical fiction but her hope was to find a story with a unique yet respective narrative.

When we think of war we tend to think in terms of "good guys" and "bad guys." For the Civil War we consider "North" and "South" or "Unionists" and "Secessionists," but do we really consider what it was actually like when it was brother against brother, father against son, etc? I wish I had highlighted the quote, but there was a part in the novel where it was said that both sides used the same Bible and had the same God. It was sad that it had to come to war in the first place. But what's unique is seeing multiple people from opposite sides of the battle still able to connect and develop friendships with one another through their circumstances despite the war raging on around them.

I really appreciated how the relationship between Pearl and Josh developed. At first the animosity that existed was tangible, but as she was convicted to "love her enemies," her feelings slowly changed. The more she was able to see Josh as another person instead of simply the enemy, the more she was able to see that there was more to him than his political opinions. It's amazing what happens when we actively choose to love others despite our differences.

Again, I don't think I can recommend this series enough. I have adored each and every one of them and can't wait to continue with the next one. If you haven't read any of them yet you need to change that!

*I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

I loved this novel! Each book in this exciting multi-author series is better than the one before! The setting of The Rebel Bride is mid-Civil War. The historical content includes things I’ve not heard before. The characters are well-defined and engaging, especially those struggling to deal with circumstances through their eyes of faith rather than their very human feelings.

Pearl is her parents’ only daughter. Her mother passed away. Her three older brothers served the Confederacy and were killed in battle. Her family strongly disapproves of owning other human beings but agreed with other issues at hand. Her younger brother, Clem, is still at home and helps out when he chooses. Pa had a spell that took some mobility on one side, and his mind is fading. Pa does remember scripture well. His mind is the clearest when they discuss how to handle what they are facing. He reads often from the Psalms, finding comfort and direction in them.

Their food stores are dwindling, many vegetables and all their animals were taken by the troops. When Pearl’s cousin Travis brings two injured Union soldiers who are prisoners of the Confederacy, she is tried in ways she never imagined. Travis said everyone in the area is taking in wounded, whether it be from their side or the Union; Yankees will be relocated to prisons when they are doing better and travel can be arranged. Travis sends Portius, a black freedman who is loyal to Travis, to help her learn how to nurse the men according to their needs.

Josh, a sergeant from an Ohio unit, is one of two men delivered to her. His left hand and forearm were lost in battle, and his pain is nearly unbearable. Much of the time he is unconscious. The man brought with him, Bernt, was born in Norway and happy to serve his new country. He is also severely injured. Both men are at risk of life-threatening infection.

Pearl thought that nursing enemy soldiers was beyond what she could do, especially when Travis brings more. Her father considers the men to be guests. He repeatedly quotes scripture to her, including how when an enemy is hungry, feed him. He also reminds her that each man in somebody’s son, perhaps a brother or husband. Pearl learns to make one meal at a time and trust the Lord for provisions as she would if her brothers were still there. Learning to pray for them and nurse them is difficult, until beginning to see that there are men of faith among the Union men, also.

Travis proposes to Pearl again. He has wanted to marry her for years. She sees him more like a brother and doesn’t want to marry him. When Josh and she talk about their differences as a northerner and a southerner, something begins to happen between them. They find themselves listening, really listening, and are also attracted to each other. Both wrestle with their feelings, especially when less-friendly prisoners try to harm them, and Josh tries to keep a protective eye on her.

This novel is a very compelling read! We see Pearl’s faith grow through challenges, the faith of men on both sides of the battle line, scripture, deprivation, historical facts, and the traitorous hearts of a man and woman on opposite sides growing towards each other. I highly recommend this to those who appreciate excellent Christian historical fiction during the Civil War, making excellent use of scripture and faith.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I can’t get enough of this series! I love how each one highlights a different period of time in American history. With there being so many Civil War stories out there it can sometimes be challenging to find a story that is original. I think that Shannon McNear did an excellent job with her story! She gives us a fresh look at what life was like for families on the home front. I hadn’t read any stories about anyone being forced to open their homes and to care for those they consider the enemy. She did a great job describing hospital life and also military details. This book was so good! I highly recommend this book!



I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

These Daughters of the Mayflower Books just get better and better. I've always been fascinated with wartime stories and love how much I learn from them.

Pearl is easy to sympathize with and I connected with her heart. It is also easy to connect with Josh and I really liked him. I loved the Tennessee setting, the slow-growing romance, and the characters’ growth throughout the story. And most of all, I enjoyed the spiritual elements.

It is evident the author did a lot of research for this installment in the series. The issues felt believable and transported me to the past and I was not only entertained, but also gained historical knowledge. The Rebel Bride is one of my favorites of the series!

★★★★
Source: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour and was under no obligation to post a review.

A North/South Civil War Romance

After the Battle of Chickamauga, wounded Yankee soldiers are brought to the home of Pearl MacFarlane and her father. The MacFarlane’s have very little, and they’re mourning the deaths of three of Pearl’s brothers in battle. For these reasons, Pearl does not want Yankees in her home. However, she has no choice.

Relying on her faith in God, Pearl accepts the challenge of caring for the men and finds that although Yankees, they are regular people. Josh Bledsoe, a soldier from Ohio, draws her in spite of her aversion. He has lost a hand and is struggling with his antipathy toward the South in much the same way, Pearl is to the North. Still, the pair are drawn together.

In this story, there are no plantations and dashing cavaliers. The MacFarlands are farmers. They don’t own slaves and don’t believe in it, but they do believe in the rights of their state, Tennessee, and that’s what they fight for. I though the author did an excellent job of bringing these people to life. It highlights the fact that not all southerners were fighting to preserve slavery. For many, it was loyalty to their homes and their state.

Pearl and Josh are characters you can understand. Each has their own loyalties when they meet, but as they get to know each other, they begin to understand the other’s point of view and to respect it.

This is one of my favorites from the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I highly recommend it.

I received this book from Barbour Books for this review.

The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear

The Union and Confederacy, 1863 in Tennessee, the Civil war was taking place. Pearl MacFarlane is made to take the Yankees into her family’s farm and take care of the wounded.She worked very hard to feed, nurse and do their laundry. Her feelings changed and she started wondering who was the bad guy in this war. One of the wounded soldiers, Joshua Wheeler captured Pearl’s heart. They fell in love. This was not the time for a southern lady to fall in love with a soldier from the North. The 10th novel of The Daughter was as educational as the first 9 books. Pearl and her family were very religious and this is what helped them to help their enemies
In their time of need. Full of twist and turns and lots of action. I so enjoyed reading Pearl and Joshua’s story.
I was given an ARC through NetGalley by the publisher Barbour Books. All opinions are my own.

The Rebel Bride
By Shannon McNear
Book 10 of the Daughters of the Mayflower series
Rating: 4/5

I love learning new things and this wonderful story is full of perspectives I never considered or wasn’t taught when learning about the Civil War and its effect on everyone involved. The author shares even more about her research at the end of the book and I really appreciated the extra history lesson.

When a young woman is beside herself with loss and overwhelmed with her responsibilities, can she pull herself together and treat wounded soldiers of the enemy? Pearl’s father constantly reminds her of what the Bible says regarding enemies and she can’t deny one particular soldier has caught her eye. Will Josh be able to thank Pearl for all has done to care him and fellow soldiers?

This story was fascinating and researched beautifully. The descriptions and the characters seemed very realistic and painted quite the picture. The writing was well done and the reader can’t help but want to keep reading to figure out what happens next. I loved how the author used the Psalms throughout the story as encouragement and hope for the weary souls of war.

Highly recommend for those interested in the Civil War.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions are my own. No positive review was expected.

The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear is Historical Fiction set in the Civil War South. What a blessing to read a book that begins with the Word of God and a prayer. An honest look at those who lived in that time and place. War is a vision of hell so real that it calls all to repentance. I loved the character’s Biblical application to every aspect of their daily life. This book reminds us what a joy it is to walk with the Lord moment by moment even in troubled times. I enjoyed the wonderful historical details and obvious research effort that went into writing this book. New perspectives on the causes of the war and the opinion of others was also enlightening. The author also wrote an afterword that was very interesting in itself.
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

Wow! This book grabbed my attention right from the beginning when you could almost smell the gun powder and hear the screams of those injured in the Battle of Chickamauga. With so many wounded, they were taken to homes in the area for care, once the surgeon had done what he could. Joshua Wheeler, who lost part of his arm in the battle, was taken to the MacFarlane home where Miss Pearl was expected to care for him and those who arrived with him. Just imagine the feelings of disgust on the part of this southern belle drafted to care for Yankees!

‘If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head’. Questioning everything this war stood for, the faith of these well-developed characters shines through. Do we blindly follow just because of geography? Can there be redemption and forgiveness?

The Daughter of the Mayflower series gets better with each offering. As one who does most of her reading on the Kindle app, I have collected physical copies of all of these books, planning to read them again and bless others with the chance to read them as well!

I received a copy of this wonderful book through NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. The comments, impressions and 5 star rating are my own and were in no way solicited.

I’ve greatly enjoyed the Daughters of the Mayflower series. What I’ve appreciated the most is finding new-to-me authors such as Kathleen Y’Barbo, MaryLu Tyndall, and Shannon McNear. Honestly, all of the authors who have written for this series are amazing, but I have to say that Ms. McNear is a stand-out to me. I was completely blown away by The Cumberland Bride, and now with The Rebel Bride, I can confidently say that McNear is a novelist I will definitely follow. The Rebel Bride is superb storytelling. The plot is outstanding, the conflict is so engaging I couldn’t help but stay up late into the night turning pages, Pearl and Josh’s romance had me swooning, and the history is so artfully brought to life I felt like I was in Tennessee in 1863. Truly, The Rebel Bride is an amazing ride!

To keep things simple, I’ve created a list detailing why I love this book.
1. The conflict between Pearl and Josh is perfect. A Confederate woman falls in love with a Unionist soldier. Talk about compelling the reader to turn page after page! On their own, Pearl and Josh are unique characters. Pearl is feisty and strong and courageous and so hardworking. And her faith! I long to have faith like Pearl. Josh is rugged, handsome, polite, and so strong. And his need to protect Pearl — be still my heart! Separate, as unique characters, Pearl and Josh are great, but together they are an amazing couple. And the chemistry between the two is perfect. I love how their relationship builds over the course of the story — very genuine and realistic.
2. I love that historically speaking Ms. McNear wrote the truth. She didn’t sugarcoat or romanticize anything. The Civil War was truly awful and it killed thousands upon thousands of men. Not all men for the Union fought to free slaves. In fact, many men in the Union were worried about losing jobs to the now-freed slaves. And, many Southerners found slavery repugnant. What they hated was a government forcing its will upon sovereign states. Isn’t that why America fought against the tyrannous British during the Revolutionary War? What I appreciate about The Rebel Bride is that McNear does an excellent job of illustrating a realistic portrayal of the men and women and children affected by the Civil War. There are no stereotypes in this story, and it really gets the reader thinking.
3. My most favorite aspect of this novel is the illustration of relying on God. Pearl is forced to open her home to the enemy. Not only is she forced to give her enemy food and shelter, but she is also required to care for them and nurse them back to health. On her own, Pearl is incapable of such a task. But with God, Pearl is able to rise above her circumstances and her very real feelings and do what needs doing. At first, it is awful. She goes to God often. She is in prayer every minute she can spare, and her earthly father quotes apt Bible verses to help keep her on track. Over time, Pearl does come to see that her notions about the enemy are mostly incorrect and that the men who have come to her for care are men just like her brothers, cousin, and father. But she never would have been able to get to this point if it weren’t for God.

I could go on and on about how excellent this novel is, but I won’t because I don’t want to spoil a single thing. Suffice to say, The Rebel Bride is an excellent novel — one I cannot recommend enough. Purchase a copy for yourself today. You will not be disappointed!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Barbour Books, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Daughter of the Mayflower Series is a great way to take trip through history. In The Rebel Bride, readers learn about life during the Civil War.

Main character Pearl lives with what's left of her family just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Three of her four brothers died in battle and her father has what we now know as dementia. Pearl's cousin asks her to care for Yankee prisoners of war that were injured in battle. It seemed very realistic to see how her opinions changed as she got to know the prisoners individually. Pearl was in a difficult position and I was tired just reading about all she had to accomplish day after day.

My favorite part of this novel was the author's note to readers shared prior to the beginning of the novel. I also enjoyed the afterward which shared additional details about the Civil War.

Pearl MacFarlane is a staunch Confederate, living in Tennessee during the Civil War. She, along with a young brother and ailing father are forced to take in Union prisoners of war who have been injured in battle. A job she didn't ask for and didn't want. We are all children of our Father in Heaven, and this is a lesson slowly learned by several of the characters as they turn to God for answers.

Ever since taking an American History class in college, I've realized that there were two sides/two stories to this unfortunate war. It was not as cut and dried as I (and many of you) had been led to believe. It's a difficult war to novelize, but Ms McNear did it justice.

I have read most of the Daughter of the Mayflower books, thanks to NetGalley, and this is as enjoyable as the others.

The story is very captivating and realistic as the author captures the time period perfectly. I learned many new details about the Civil War and how difficult it was for so many civilians as well as soldiers. I couldn't imagine having to open my home to soldiers who were injured and having to care for them.

Pearl is a wonderful character with deep faith and a big heart. I love how she disagreed with owning slaves and had a heart to help those in need. The war causes physical and emotional damage that sometimes can't be repaired quickly. What a nice change of pace to see Pearl have feelings for someone who was suppose to be her enemy in the war.

Josh is a Yankee soldier who comes to Pearl with injuries that will take time to heal. I felt so bad for Josh who now faces a future with part of a limb missing. Can you imagine waking up realizing that you are missing a part of your body? Pearl seems to know just what he needs to help him heal physically. Will she be able to hide her felling for Josh as they start to spend time together?

The faith element in the story is wonderful and the author has a very wise character that guides Pearl through scriptures to show what God says about helping those in need. It is a great story as we watch faith grow among characters, challenges they face, and historical facts that boost the story with details that place us right there in the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Good story! Pearl is a great addition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I must say that I really appreciated the author's research. War is terrible. The Civil War, in my opinion, is the worst in America's history. This is a very well written story about two people on opposite sides of the battle, forced together by rather unique circumstances.
I liked how Pearl chooses to pray for those in her care and "heap coals upon their heads." I really liked how she so tenderly cared for Josh during his fever and how protective he felt of her once he was well. They developed a true friendship and eventual love.
While injuries and some battles are discussed, there is nothing gruesome or gritty described (another thing I greatly appreciated).
I highly recommend this book and this series. Each is a stand-alone story, connected through a family tree.