While there are many marriage of convenience stories out there, this one was very different. I really enjoyed it! I loved Zoe and Abe! I also really loved Will! I absolutely loved the ending to this story too! I can’t wait for the next book!

Best in the series! I adored Zoe and her spunky, loveable personality. Abe, while quiet in nature, is instantly likeable and desirable. Zoe has a big heart and makes room for all, especially kids in need, regardless of the circumstances and the trials it creates for her while searching for her brother. Abe, while more rationale, desires to care for all in his flock and finds Zoe in need of care and protection. It is a marriage of convenience that beautifully grows in friendship, tension, and eventually, love. Hedlund is a master at creating palpable chemistry and heated, but clean, romance. Can be enjoyed as a standalone, although mention of previous characters is delightful!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

A Bride of Convenience is the third book in Jody Hedlund's Bride Ships series. The first book A Reluctant Bride was just okay for me, but The Runaway Bride was much more enjoyable for me. The characters were easier to connect to. I particularly loved Pete. And I appreciated that even though they kept things clean, Arabella and Pete were passionate about each other. So I wasn't sure which direction A Bride of Convenience would go. In the end, I devoured it.

Pastor Abe was present in the previous book, but he was so much more complex than I would have expected from the glimpse of him we initially had. He is from a good family in England and volunteered to be a missionary working for free with the mining communities. However, he and the Bishop in Victoria do not see eye to eye. Abe left England with an understanding of future engagement and marriage with a lifelong family friend. Yet he's shocked to learn that Lizzy is to marry someone else.

Zoe escaped England's Cotton Mills and her abusive father and addict sister. She's hunting for her twin brother who fled England before her. Zoe is grieving still when she arrives in Victoria the death of her 6-week-old niece when her closest friend on the bride ship dies as well. Zoe has a heart for orphans and when she witnesses a widower giving up his 4-month-old daughter she knows she has to step in and take care of the baby. But a single woman can't take on a baby alone in this world. Especially not while searching for her brother.

Pastor Abe, in a shock, agrees to marry Zoe so she can keep Violet and look for her brother. But he wakes up the next day wondering what he was thinking and initially wants to have it annulled. But he decides to honor his vow before God. Pete advises him to woo his wife. Pastor Abe doesn't quite know how to do that. The two get to know each other better over time and outside conflict. I enjoyed the journey.

Favorite quotes:
-“Sometimes we want to know the whole plan and how it will all work out before we agree to start,” Mrs. Moresby continued. “But all we can do is take one step at a time, one day at a time, as He leads us along.”

-“Remember,” Mrs. Moresby said as she wrapped the scarf around her neck, “you don’t have to be perfect or have your situation all figured out to be used by the good Lord. If you have a willing heart, that’s all He needs.”

-He’d decided the fight for his way wasn’t worth the additional tension and had resigned himself to the fact that God could use him anywhere and in any church building.

A Bride of Convenience was more than I was expecting. I loved Zoe's heart for orphans. I found her experience to be so typical of a woman in wanting her husband to desire her yet being both thankful and disappointed that if he did he was choosing not to act on it. I can't wait to see what happens in the next and potentially last book in the Bride Ships series. A Bride of Convenience gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Bride of Convenience? What did you think? Let me know!

This series has been a favorite so far, and it just keeps getting better!

I've heard of bride ships before, I even read a book with a character's grandmother had gone on a bride ship, this series has show some reasons that women would join a bride ship, and it has been fascinating to learn of these courageous women.

Zoe's and Abe's romance is not the normal historical marriage of convenience. With a darling little orphaned baby, secrets, a missing brother, and a ministry that is held by little but a string, "A Bride of Convenience" is a delightful novel that I highly recommend.

Though there is quite a bit of touchy feely content that makes this book appropriate for 16/18 up.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Happy release day to A Bride of Convenience by Jody Hedlund! I am really loving this Bride Ship series. It's crazy and so interesting to me that these bride ships were a real thing. This author does a great job of making her characters human with clear strengths and flaws that I can relate to.

Zoe is such a gentle person, full of kindness and compassion. I loved how quickly and easily she shared her love with those who needed it most. It was so easy to love her character and her intentions. Abe struggled with his situation and his follow through a bit more than Zoe but his intentions were usually noble. He definitely became a better man and found sure footing in the wake of Zoe's love and compassion for others.

I enjoyed the setting and I also enjoyed seeing characters from previous books pop up in this story. It gives the series a sense of community and I like that. If you haven't started this series yet, now is the time! It's so good. I've loved every book so far.

Content: mild violence, mild peril, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I read this book in one night! I was looking forward to the third one in this series and it did not disappoint. It's got some characters from the previous two, but it could stand alone. This one is Reverend Abe and Zoe's story of, like the title says, a marriage of convenience. They marry so she can save a native American child, but she's come on a bride ship anyhow and doesn't seem to carry who she marries as long as she has a better life in Canada. The reverend's views are a little different. It's set in a mining town in Canada.
I know the trope sounds eye rolling and over done, but Hedlund does such a great job telling the story that it's one of my favorites I've read this year. Hedlund always does a great job describing inner conflict and developing her characters and I think that's why she's become one of favorite authors.
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

I love reading books about the bride ships, so interesting to read about the era that these actually took place. It was a time in history such as the mail order brides…….In the 1860’s several ships left England bound for Victoria, Vancouver Island. The cargo or rather passengers were young women seeking husbands in this unknown land. Except this one passenger, Zoe Hart was looking to find her brother who had fled from the accusation of a crime committed and has followed the dream of gold to this wild land. But landing and coming ashore, things begin to happen. She has a young native baby thrust into her arms by the father after his wife dies. This certainly changes all her plans and leads her to a marriage of convenience with a young, rather orthodox minister, Pastor Abraham Merivale. He is on the island awaiting the time when he can send for his fiancé back in England to come and marry him. He meets Zoe when he preached the funeral of her closest friend who dies shortly after the ship landed. He is present when the bereaved father gave the baby to her. He said he would make sure that he found a place for the babe with native friends that he was trying to win over to Christianity. Zoe stubbornly refused to give the child up even as he tried to convince her it was best for both of them. As fate would have it, during Pastor Abe lowest time, he received a letter from his fiance saying she was marrying someone else. Somehow he finds himself agreeing to marry Zoe. I loved the the character of pastor Abe, it was a marriage of convenience and he was determined to stand by his word. This is such a good story seeing how they worked together for the Lord and finding themselves falling in love. All in all, this was a great inspirational historical romance that I’d highly recommend!……..My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

I am glad that I didn’t miss this beautiful marriage of convenience story set in 1863. As the two main characters began to seek their path and purpose in life, I was hooked. I appreciated that although both characters had good hearts they also both had flaws and struggles to overcome. The three adorable children in the story grabbed my heart and their scenes were wonderfully written. The entire story was well researched and I thought that the story line was very engaging. The theme of loving others was woven throughout the novel. With an introduction to the main character of the next book in the series, I simply can’t wait for the next bride ship to arrive! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This latest release from Hedlund, I’ve got to admit, is not a favorite of mine. In her “Brides Ships” series, Hedlund follows the story of another young woman sailing from England to the West coast of the States. Honestly, this story wasn’t very memorable for me. I just read it this week but couldn’t even tell you why the lady wanted to leave England or much of her story. The chemistry wasn’t there for me with the characters, and it developed oddly. It seemed like the story had been written on a rushed timetable and that there were several scenes that could have been “cut out”, but also more that could have been added to round out the plot. I also don’t remember it having a lot of tie-ins to other books in the series besides an interaction with a previous character, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this book could be skipped and the series not lose its flow. This just wasn’t Hedlund’s best work, but I will be coming back for more, because usually there’s a book every series that just doesn’t hit the mark for me while its counterparts are wonderful.

Thank you to Bethany House and Net Galley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

A Bride of Convenience is book three in The Bride Ships series by Jody Hedlund. It is not necessary to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this one.

Summary: Zoe Hart is more than just a little desperate. She is an unemployed mill worker, with few prospects.

So, she agrees to join a bride ship heading to British Columbia. Maybe, just maybe she can find a new family for herself, and find a way to contact her long-lost brother and mend their relationship.

What she’s not prepared for-a baby that desperately needs a family of its own.

Can she find a way to provide for a baby on her own, or should she just accept the first marriage proposal that comes her way-no matter who it is from?

My Thoughts: This was a great book. I loved the characters so much, there is a very good romance, and is extremely well-written.

I really just didn’t want it to end-very, very good and I definitely recommend it.

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

I was unable to download this book correctly. When it did finally stop downloading, there were able 10 copes of each page. Since I was not able to download, I am unwilling to review the book.

A Bride of Convenience is book number 3 in Jody Hedlund’s 4 book series, The Bride Ships. Once again, Ms. Hedlund has researched well and incorporated an interesting time in history into a wonderfully told fictionalized story. The plot, character development, and setting draw the reader right into the story! The reader can feel the cold and wet...become a character in the book!

I highly recommend this story for lovers of historical fiction and Christian reads!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. However, I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

In the 1860's several ships left England bound for Victoria, Vancouver Island. The cargo or rather passengers were young women seeking husbands in this unknown land. Jody Hedlund has tackled telling three fictionalized accounts of these women who left England's shores with dreams for better lives. In the third book, A BRIDE OF CONVENIENCE, the story is based on the sailing of the ROBERT LOWE, a ship which carried women from the Manchester manufacturing districts. Unemployment there was high as mills shut down when America's Civil War interrupted the delivery of cotton. Fictional Zoe Hart and her friend Sarah have left those mills and are just hours from landing in Victoria when Sarah succumbs to the illness that has plagued her on the voyage; Zoe must face the new land alone. But Zoe has more on her mind than a husband as she plans to search for her brother who has followed the dream of gold to this wild land. Soon her promise to care for a native babe changes all her plans and leads her to a marriage of convenience with a young, idealistic vicar. I've always enjoyed Hedlund's historical novels; most I have read were placed in nearby Michigan so I could relate that history with Wisconsin's early days. This book, set in what would become British Columbia, Canada, was a new experience for me. But our trip to Yukon gold country last summer made this story extra interesting. And who wouldn't be interested in a story about marriages between two strangers. How can they possibly work out? A surprising part of this book is the story line of the preacher, which draws upon the legacy of a real Anglican minister who came to this wild land. Wanting to reach the hearts of both the miners and the natives, he often mingled among them, playing games, fishing, and teaching, much to the alarm of his superiors. Hedlund has masterfully translated the real minister's love for his people to the book's character Abe. I did not read the first two books in this series and had no trouble reading this novel as a stand alone, but with the quality of this story, I feel I can recommend the whole series. Get on board and head for Canada's far west. I received an ecopy of this novel from the author and Netgalley. All opinions are mine.

(Note, a review has been submitted to BN but has not posted yet. Review was also posted to my personal FB page and to two FB readers' groups.

Zoe Hart, a passenger on a bride ship, landed on Vancouver Island in January of 1863. Not only was she seeking a husband, but also her twin brother who had fled to the area after being falsely accused of a crime in their hometown of Manchester, England. Little did she know that before finding either, she would become mother to an orphaned native child. Through Zoe's story, Hedlund tells a tale that explores the themes of God's calling on our lives and the difference between having religion and having a relationship with our heavenly Father. The story is filled with love, compassion, humor, adventure, and even a good dose of sensuality. It will be pleasing to a wide range of readers.

I am grateful to have received a copy of A Bride of Convenience from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

“No, she was a bride of convenience. And she planned to remain that way.” Zoe Hart is just one of many young women on a bride-ship traveling to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. “Surely in this land filled with marriage-hungry men she’d latch onto at least one ready to take a bride of convenience.” Pastor Abe Merivale finds himself no longer engaged to someone back in England and left with the care of an abandoned infant. Is newly arrived Zoe Hart the answer? As they hastily enter an arranged marriage of convenience, will it turn out to be beyond expectations? Author Jody Hedlund is such a talented storyteller with a penchant for thorough and detailed research. If you are a fan of historical fiction with a little romance thrown in for good measure, you will enjoy The Bride Ships series. Each is stand-alone. I am so looking forward to Book #4!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher. A positive review is not required, and the opinions are my own.

I have really enjoyed Jody Hedlund’s Bride Ship Series. Each new installment is greatly anticipated and consistent-ly lives up to my expectations. But her newest book, Bride of Convenience, is by far my favorite in this set. While it is the third book, you need not read the previous two to really delve in. Some characters from the other books do appear, but this novel definitely holds its own.

Set in British Columbia during the gold mining days, Hedlund does a fantastic job of bringing to life not only the conditions and depravity of that era, but also of crafting characters that clench your heart and soul. Her hero and heroine completely captivated me, along with her supporting cast. Hedlund masterfully brought her characters to life through a story that deepened in richness and complexity with each page.

I never miss one of Hedlund’s books. Her storytelling is masterful and destined to keep you riveted.

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you #NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book.
I’ve read several of Jody Hedlund’s novels and found them to have well developed characters and a storyline which keeps God at its core. In A Bride of Convenience, the author has once again crafted a wonderful, uplifting story.

Unemployed mill worker Zoe Hart jumps at the opportunity to emigrate to British Columbia in 1863 to find a better life and be reunited with her brother, who fled from home after being accused of a crime.

Pastor to miners in the mountains, Abe Merivale discovers an abandoned baby during a routine visit to Victoria and joins efforts with Zoe, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women, to care for the infant. While there, he's devastated by the news from his fiancee in England that she's marrying another man.

These circumstances bring together Zoe and Abe a marriage of convenience. Zoe receives the shelter and stability she craves, along with the opportunity to care for the infant Violet. Abe in turn receives a wife who is a wonderful homemaker, making his life more comfortable than it has ever been since coming to British Columbia. However not everyone is pleased with their union, especially Abe’s bishop, who blatantly tells him that this marriage will ruin his chances of ever becoming a bishop himself. There is also Dexter Dawson who had originally planned to marry Zoe for a reason known only to himself. How can Zoe and Abe overcome these obstacles and recognize their growing attraction to each other can make it possible to turn a marriage of convenience into a marriage filled with love? God’s hand in their lives is displayed throughout the story.

Anyone who enjoys a good story filled with historical information and reminders of God’s love for us in spite of our shortcomings, will certainly enjoy this book. Now that I have finished A Bride of Convenience, I have plans to read the first to books in Jody Hedlund’s The Bride Ships series.

I keep going back and forth about how to review this book because I read it extremely quickly, and it was entertaining, but when I got done I realized that almost the entire book the two main character spent the whole time pining after each other in a physical manner. They are married, and there isn't anything explicit, but really the whole book was that yearning. There are a few other things here and there, but Abe avoids her quite a lot because he wants her, and she thinks shes ruining his life but still wants him. So, after the fact I'm trying to figure out what I thought of the book. I'm not sure I would be comfortable having my teenage daughter read it. I definitely wouldn't listen to the audio version around my family (which really isn't saying much because anytime I try to listen to anything my boys start making fun of whatever book it is).

This is book 3 of the Bride Ships Series. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. While a few characters and the background are the same in other series the author does a great job of not making you feel like you are missing something. That being said, I enjoyed the second book the most (actually, I don't know if I've read the first one or not, it sounds familiar, but I just can't remember it).

#A Bride of Convenience# by Jody Hedlund is an historical Christian fiction book. Jody is a bestselling author . She has received the Christy, Carol and Christian Book Awards. Her books describe the characters well and are well researched. This book is the third in the Bride Ships series. Zoe Hart was an unemployed mill worker, who traveled by ship on the Robert Lowe ship to Vancouver . She was part of the group who came on the ship to get married. The settings are Vancouver Island and Yale in 1863. There were many orphans at that time and unemployed. Zoe is a caring and self sacrificing person. The themes of the book are forgiveness, grace, self sacrificing. The story helps the reader understand what life was like during that time. Thank you to the author, netgalley, the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions are my own. I will post my review on facebook, netgalley, goodreads, my blog, bookbub and for the church staff.

This is my first time reading a book by Jody Hedlund (I can hear the gasps of some of you even now), but it is the truth. For some reason, I have just never picked up a book by her. A Bride of Convenience is the third book in her Bride Ships series, I was not lost at all, so the book can be read at a standalone. However, I liked this one so much I ordered the first two books already and I am eagerly anticipating their arrival 😊.

The characters

Talk about a well-rounded character. Both Abe and Zoe (along with some great side characters) show that great thought was put into their makeup. Throughout the story, we find out little bits of their pasts, their struggles, and triumphs. It was like actually getting to know someone in real life. I particularly liked Zoe’s constant faith when faced with interesting circumstances. I thought that Abe balanced her out very well and I enjoyed his innocent thought process. They had some fun chemistry.

“She’d always believed callings were for ministers or missionaries. But what if God had something special for everyone to do?” (Kindle, p.828)

The Storyline

I so enjoyed this marriage of convenience storyline. It was fun and twisted to suit the character's personalities, which only enhanced my enjoyment of the storyline. Marriage of convenience stories may or may not be my weakness when it comes to historical fiction; I have read too many of them to count. Jody Hedlund did a great job mixing this one up and bringing in some great faith-based aspects to the overall story.

I enjoyed this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars for the attention-grabbing first chapter, the well laid out characters, and the sense of humor interwoven through the story. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, and I highly recommend that you pick up this one to read in the meantime.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.