The Alamo Bride

Kathleen Y'Barbo

Feb 2019 · Barbour Publishing

About this ebook

A Series for Lovers of History, Adventure, Romance, and Ancestry

Will Ellis Lose All at the Alamo?
Ellis Dumont finds a man in New Orleans Grey unconscious on Dumont property in 1836. As his fevers rage, the man mutters strange things about treasures and war. Either Claiborne Gentry has lost his mind or he’s a spy for the American president—or worse, for the Mexican enemy that threatens their very lives. With the men of her family away, Ellis must stand courageous and decide who she can trust. Will she put her selfish wants ahead of the future of the republic or travel with Clay to Mission San Jose to help end the war?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo.

More in the Daughters of the Mayflower series:
The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1620 Atlantic Ocean (February 2018)
The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1725 New Orleans (April 2018)
The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep – set 1760 during the French and Indian War (June 2018)
The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1774 Philadelphia (August 2018)​
The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear – set 1794 on the Wilderness Road (October 2018)
The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall – set 1814 Baltimore (December 2018)
The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1836 Texas (February 2019)

 

Ratings and reviews

The breathtaking sixth in the Daughters of the Mayflower multi-author series, The Alamo Bride is exciting and stirring. The historical research into Texas and the era is shared in a way that is fascinating, almost as if one is there. This is a beautifully-written Christian action and romance novel that fits well into the series and can easily be read as a standalone. Ellis Valmont loves living in Texas, even though she could have enjoyed family wealth in New Orleans. She is happy with her life as a healer, a woman who uses herbs and training to help others who are ill, injured, or ready to give birth. Her ancestry is of Spanish noblemen and French privateers; she is a strong and loving young woman. Her father, Boyd, and older brother Thomas have gone off to fight the war for the freedom of Texas. Ellis, her mother, and her younger brothers are trying to keep the chores done and the land cared for until Papa’s return. Her grandfather lives nearby in Velasco, across the Brazos river from her home in Quintano. One day Ellis and her younger brothers are out; her brothers find a canoe in the reeds at the river’s edge. The man inside looks severely injured, so she sends her brothers to find their mama to help. He is taken, in the pirogue, to their barn where a bullet is removed and they treat his fever, other gunshot wounds, and head wounds. They don’t know whether he will survive; all they know is that he is wearing the uniform of a New Orleans Grey, troops from Louisiana who will fight against the Mexican army. As the soldier suffers, unconscious, with fever and pain, he murmurs various bits and pieces of the special mission he is on. Fascinated, Ellis writes down some of the unusual things he says while being unsure of whether he is friend of Texas or an enemy. He claims at one point to be working for President Jackson, but whose side is he really on? Finally, Clay regains consciousness. He remembers almost nothing, not even who he is, only that there is something important he is supposed to do. The primary connection they have when he is awake and recovering is Psalm 91, which Ellis was trying to memorize while she was watching over him, and Clay’s mother used to read to him. The character definitions are impressive; I like Ellis for choosing to live where she can participate in life rather than relax in luxury. Even when she may be inconvenienced, she will not turn aside someone in need of medical care or ready to deliver a baby. She and Clay made a journey together when looking for her father and brother, and their faith in the Lord and respect for each other improved their friendship. I enjoy seeing the people of faith and prayer, also, including Elli’s grandfather. This is an impressive novel on many levels – showing people of faith in less than favorable, even tragic wartime circumstances, the extensive history, and the plot and surprising twists. There is so much I have forgotten since those long-ago history classes that I appreciate a quality author weaving her research effortlessly in an appealing novel and as part of a series. I highly recommend The Alamo Bride to those who appreciate Christian historical fiction, learning more about 1800’s Texas, and romance. From a grateful heart: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

This is book seven in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Even though I probably missed some history in the Dumont family I had no problem jumping into this book and fully understanding it. If you enjoy reading historical romance with adventure and some mystery you will enjoy this book. Ellis Dumont is an independent, loving woman who during a time of war is not sure who is friend or foe. When she must help the handsome Clay Gentry, she discovers in his feverish state he mutters some wild stories. Ellis must decide if he is friend or foe. And just what all his ramblings may mean. There are many surprises and adventure in this novel. I do wish we would have learned a bit more about the truth behind Clay's ramblings but overall this was a good read.

The latest in the series “The Daughters of the Mayflower”, takes place in 1836 when Texas is fighting for their independence from Mexico. The Alamo is an 18th century Franciscan Mission in San Antonio, Texas where many battles were won and lost. The New Orleans Grey, were a group of soldiers out of New Orleans that came to help Texas fight for their independence. In one of the beginning scenes Ellis Dumont finds Clay Gentry, a Grey bloodied, unconscious and raging with fever. Ellis' mother is a healer and has been teaching her the art. This, like all of the other Mayflower bride series is full of history, action, suspense with a little romance included. The Alamo Bride can be read as a stand alone book, but this series is so well done you will not want to miss any of them. For me it adds so much when the authors revisit some of the main characters from previous books. Not so much that they are retelling the whole story. But they tie in all lose ends, just in case you may have forgotten who has descended from whom. Fans of Christian historical romance will not be disappointed with Kathleen Y'Barbo's new book. This book had me at the heartstrings right from the start. I found it to be a very well written, exciting story. I enjoyed the history so much, I had to further research the Alamo and Texas gaining their independence. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

About the author

Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee and bestselling author of more than one hundred books with over two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she is a member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, Texas A&M Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Women Former Students (Aggie Women), Texas Historical Society, Novelists Inc., and American Christian Fiction Writers. She would also be a member of the Daughters of the American Republic, Daughters of the Republic of Texas and a few others if she would just remember to fill out the paperwork that Great Aunt Mary Beth has sent her more than once. When she’s not spinning modern day tales about her wacky Southern relatives, Kathleen inserts an ancestor or two into her historical and mystery novels as well. Recent book releases include bestselling The Pirate Bride set in 1700s New Orleans and Galveston, its sequel The Alamo Bride set in 1836 Texas, which feature a few well-placed folks from history and a family tale of adventure on the high seas and on the coast of Texas. She also writes (mostly) relative-free cozy mystery novels for Guideposts Books. Kathleen and her hero in combat boots husband have their own surprise love story that unfolded on social media a few years back. They make their home just north of Houston, Texas and are the parents and in-laws of a blended family of Texans, Okies, and one very adorable Londoner. To find out more about Kathleen or connect with her through social media, check out her website at www.kathleenybarbo.com.