The Rebel Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower #10) by Shannon McNear

Title: The Rebel Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower #10)

Author: Shannon McNear

Pages: 256

Year: 2019

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Barbour Books

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     Can love form amidst tensions of war?

     During the clash between Union and Confederacy, quiet Tennessean Pearl MacFarlane is compelled to use both Rebel and Yankee wounded who seek refuge at her family’s farm. She is determined to remain unmoved by the Yankee cause—until she faces the silent struggle of Union soldier Joshua Wheeler, a recent amputee. 

     The MacFarlane family fits no stereotype Joshua believed in; still he is desperate to regain his footing—as a soldier, as a man, as a Christian—in the aftermath of his debilitating injury. He will use his time behind enemy lines to gather useful intelligence for the Union—if the courageous Rebel woman will stay out of the line of danger.

My review:

     This is a wonderful historical romance!

     The main characters are incredibly well developed. I was enthralled by the depth of the interaction and relationships between people on differing sides of the conflict of The Civil War. There were a lot of details that I hadn’t thought of when I studied this period in school. The heartache and self-questioning was very realistic in this book and made me really think about things I had skimmed over before.

     One of the things that I really enjoyed was seeing how each person was trying to do what they felt God wanted them to. They knew scripture and it was a surprise to many of them to see that those on the other side did too.

     I’m giving this fantastic story a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

The Cumberland Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower #5) by Shannon McNear

Title: The Cumberland Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower #5)

Author: Shannon McNear

Pages: 256

Year: 2018

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Barbour Books

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

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

About the book:

     Thomas Bledsoe and Kate Gruener are traveling the Wilderness Road when conflicts between natives and settlers reach a peak that will require each of them to tap into a well of courage.

     In 1794, when Kate Gruener’s father is ready to move the family farther west into the wilderness to farm untouched land, Kate is eager to live out her own story of adventure like he did during the War for Independence and see untamed lands. And she sets her sights on learning more about their scout, Thomas Bledsoe. Thomas’s job is to get settlers safely across the Kentucky Wilderness Road to their destination while keeping an ear open for news of Shawnee unrest. But naive Kate’s inquisitive nature could put them both in the middle of a rising tide of conflict. Is there more to Thomas’s story than he is willing to tell? Is there an untapped courage in Kate that can thwart a coming disaster?

My review:

     I was captivated by this wonderful historical romance!

     The development of the characters was incredible. I felt an almost immediate connection with Kate as the book started off with her sneaking away to do something she had been told was a waste of time. She was writing down stories she had been told. I have always loved to “waste” time in reading.

     Thomas was torn between two lifestyles and two families. This really captured my interest and held it as he was trying to figure out where he fit in. It can be a very difficult journey to take for many different reasons.

     I loved all of the details given for how life was lived on the frontier in the 1790s. It was very interesting to read about the conflict between the Shawnee Indians and the settlers. 

     I am giving this fantastic book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

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.*