The Mayflower Bride: Daughters of the Mayflower - Book 1

Kimberley Woodhouse

Feb 2018 · Daughters of the Mayflower Book 1 · Barbour Publishing

About this ebook

Can a religious separatist and an opportunistic spy make it in the New World?
A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.

Mary Elizabeth Chapman boards the Speedwell in 1620 as a Separatist seeking a better life in the New World. William Lytton embarks on the Mayflower as a carpenter looking for opportunities to succeed—and he may have found one when a man from the Virginia Company offers William a hefty sum to keep a stealth eye on company interests in the new colony. The season is far too late for good sailing and storms rage, but reaching land is no better as food is scarce and the people are weak. Will Mary Elizabeth survive to face the spring planting and unknown natives? Will William be branded a traitor and expelled?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series begins with The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse. 

More to come 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)

Ratings and reviews

I am voluntarily submitting my honest review after receiving a copy of this ebook via NetGalley. In this first installment of the Daughters of the Mayflower series, Kimberley Woodhouse introduces us to Mary Elizabeth Chapman, a young woman emigrating to the American colonies with her family in search of a better life. On board, she falls in love with carpenter William Lytton, and together they face the many perils in their late-season arrival in the New World. This book did not hold my interest well. The pace was too slow, and the high volume of religious content made the book too preachy for my taste. At times, this book reads more like a sermon than a novel. In addition, the writing style suggests to me that young adult readers might be a more appropriate audience for this book. While I didn't particularly enjoy this book, I will read the next book in the series because having different authors write each installment is an intriguing idea.

I enjoyed reading “The Mayflower Bride”, the first of the Daughters of the Mayflower. I thought Kimberly Woodhouse did an excellent job of telling this interesting but tragic story. I loved the way she was able to draw hope out of the darkness. In so doing, I found the reading to be an easier more light hearted read. I appreciate all of the research that went into writing this historical fiction novel. There were many sad facts about the crossing that were touched upon, but Kimberly did not dwell on. Again, I believe it was a wonderful written love story. I always appreciate when the author takes the time to tell us what was actual fact and where she may have taken liberties. It makes me want to do more research. Kimberly at the end gives us information and details to help us out, listing some of her references. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it, especially if you like a well written historical fictional love story. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley, Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is an incredible historical novel! The author starts by explaining which characters are fictional. I really appreciate that information. I found these characters very well developed and easy to connect with as the story progressed. At times I found myself verbally counseling William, the male lead, in how I felt he needed to deal with situations and people. I had learned the story of the Mayflower in school. The story of these brave people came alive in this wonderful book. It is no longer just dry history facts. The people became more real to me. Their fears and heartaches were easy to take on personally while reading. I received a free eBook copy of this novel through NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion. Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book 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. 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.*

About the author

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifteen fiction and nonfiction books. A popular speaker and teacher, she’s shared her theme of “Joy Through Trials” with more than half a million people across the country at more than 2,000 events. Kim and her incredible husband of twenty-five-plus years have two adult children. She’s passionate about music and Bible study and loves the gift of story. You can connect with Kimberley at: www.kimberleywoodhouse.com and www.facebook.com/KimberleyWoodhouseAuthor