My Review:

Genre: Romance, historical, fiction.

My Rating: 4 and 1/2 stars.

My Favorite Character/s: Mercy was so different (in a good way, I promise!), her character so strong and kind — never caring for herself, but for others. I don’t really understand where she was coming from and it was nice getting to see why she did what she did.

My Verse for Mercy is Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, (King James Version.)

Joseph was a wonderful character and he was so good for Mercy even if they didn’t know it at first, and I enjoyed reading when he put a curtain . . . Mr. Collins (Pride and Prejudice) like character in his place. ( )

When offered the opportunity to escape hunger and poverty in London, care giver Mercy Wilkins agrees to join the first bride ship to British Columbia. On board she learns to assist wealthy and titled ships surgeon, Joseph Colville, in treatment of patients. They have to fight against their own feelings and society’s prejudice.

A Reluctant Bride is the first book in The Bride Ships series by Jody Hedlund, and I listened to an audio edition published by arrangement with Baker Publishing Group.
The plot is set in the poorest part of London 1862. We follow Mercy Wilkins as she tries to take care of her small siblings. Life seems a constant fight for survival, so when Mercy gets the opportunity to join the bride ship voyage to Vancouver Island, she accepts. On board she meets Baron of Wiltshire and ships surgeon Joseph Colville. Mercy learns to assist him in treatment of patients. They both fight against the mutual attraction they feel and know they come from different worlds, which makes a relationship between them unacceptable in the eyes of society.

Main character is child caregiver and nursing assistant Mercy Wilkins who thinks she is going to British Columbia to find employment. That she has to marry upon arrival has escaped her notice. I find her a very kind and impressive character who manages to care for others when she has so little herself. She is my favorite character of this story.

Supporting character Reverent William Richard Scott acts as chaperone for the brides on the trip. He is patronizing and demeaning, taking his position way too seriously. He was my least favorite of the story. His character will probably haunt me for a long time. I found the character development of this story fabulous.

The vivid description of evergreen trees, sandy beaches and wildlife on Vancouver Island, I found were fantastic in all 3 books. I thoroughly loved the entertaining writing style, dialogue and vibe which make this series one of my absolute favorites. I can’t wait for the release of installment #4.
My favorite part was the romance between Mercy and Joseph. During the voyage they live through hardship and become friends. The closeness increases.

The plot has a distinct spiritual element and Mercy and Joseph pray for help with processing their grief. Mercy has not felt God’s nearness in her struggle to survive in London’s slums. She tries to pray, but feels she is not quite able to. Joseph is running from God and his grief. Nothing seems to have meaning and he prays to God to show him the next step.

Fans of Jody Hedlund are sure to love A Reluctant Bride. Readers of historical romance fiction will enjoy it too. Similar authors to explore might be Julie Klassen or Elizabeth Camden. All opinions in this review are my own.
Conclusion: This is the first book in the captivating series about young English women going to British Columbia to help populate the colony. I thoroughly loved the entertaining writing style, dialogue and vibe which make this series one of my absolute favorites. I can’t wait for release of installment #4.
Rating: 5 stars / 5
Main reasons: exiting plot, vivid writing, fabulous characters ( )

Title: A Reluctant Bride (The Bride Ships #1)
Author: Jody Hedlund
Pages: e-book
Year: 2019
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
Mercy Wilkins is a young woman living in the slums of London in 1862. Mercy’s older sister has left home for the workhouse because there isn’t enough money to feed her. Mercy is next in line and has no prospects for a job other than the workhouse as well. She has seen the toll it has taken on her sister and wants to avoid that, but what can she do? She has no money and no work experience. She just knows she wants to do something to help others. Her sister has heard of a missionary society that is sponsoring women to travel to British Columbia. Mercy sees this as her chance to have a job at the end of the journey. She doesn’t want to leave her sister behind but has no choice if she wants to survive. She doesn’t realize until the ship has sailed that she is expected to choose a husband upon arrival. Mercy has no intention of marrying as she has seen the resulting heartache and too many mouths to feed in her own parent’s example.
Joseph Colville is a doctor and a member of the aristocracy. He has spent the last several years running from his grief at the loss of his family. He travels on various ships to distant ports as a ship’s doctor. When he is home in London while awaiting a new ship assignment, he works at a clinic in the poorest area of the city. He meets Mercy there but has no idea they will be meeting again in the near future. He and she work together to help the sick aboard ship and a romance begins. Mercy doesn’t want to lose her freedom by marrying, and she knows she is not of the same social standing as Joseph. It wouldn’t be proper for him to marry her, even if she was willing. Her heart is troubled. What can she do?
The story was a bit slow in parts, but I understand this first book has to set the tone, place in history/time, background, etc. I would have liked more information about Joseph’s background. I thought the descriptions of Mercy and her family’s lives were poignant and heartbreaking. I can’t imagine the desperation to be willing to leave your home, family and country for an unknown land, people, culture and future. Mercy’s compassion for others in the midst of her own hardships was stunning. I really enjoyed the Author’s Note, too. Book two in the series is set to be released in March 2020, and I will be reading it for sure!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )

Wow! Just wow! This book is beautifully written and captured me from the beginning. It is a lovely love story about learning to trust and recognize love, overcoming social expectations, and the plight of the poor. This is a story that I don't think I will be able to emotionally let go of for a while.

As I read about the living conditions in London during the middle nineteenth century and the conditions on the boat for the poor, I started to think of my own ancestors who made the journey during that time period. I am sure that they traveled in steerage and lived in the less desirable areas. I am filled with greater gratitude for them and the sacrifices they made for themselves and ultimately for me. This book is filled with history and doesn't sugar coat life for the people during that time period.

Jody Hedlund chose fictitious characters and put them in situations that really happened. I couldn't help but love the characters, the setting, and the time period. This book entertained me while opening my eyes to history.

If you love romance and history, this is a book that I would highly recommend. It does contain kissing and Christian themes.

Source: I requested a copy from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. ( )

3.5 Stars

The first book in Jody Hedlund’s new Bride Ships series gives readers an excellent introduction to the journey of women traveling from England to British Columbia to become brides for the men there. The majority of A Reluctant Bride takes place during the sea voyage.

Mercy Wilkins joins the bride ship in hopes of a better life—for her and maybe for her sister next. This young woman is kind and compassionate with a true servant’s heart despite her difficult circumstances in the slums of London. Joseph Colville is a titled man searching for a life outside of the social status. Only on a ship across oceans would these two characters interact.

Hedlund sets the time and place for this series well in this book, giving readers an education in the bride ships, juxtaposing the two extremes of London society, life on the ship, and the untamed British Columbia. And while I didn’t completely connect with either Joseph or Mercy, sometimes I just wanted to shake my head at them and say, “Open your eyes,” I wanted them to find happiness with each other in the end. Mercy’s insistence that she didn’t want to marry started to annoy me near the end, maybe because she’d said it so many times or maybe because it was so obvious she had fallen in love.

And while the story was fairly predictable, we were introduced to some other characters I hope will get their own spotlight in future books in the series.

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. ( )