Living in London’s poorest slum, Mercy Wilkins has little hope of a better life. When she’s offered an opportunity to join a bride ship sailing to British Columbia, she agrees. After witnessing so much painful heartache and loss in the slums, the bride ship is her only prospect to escape a bleak future, not only for herself but, she hopes, someday for her sister.Wealthy and titled Joseph Colville … Joseph Colville leaves home and takes to the sea in order to escape the pain of losing his family. As ship’s surgeon, he’s in charge of the passengers’ welfare aboard the Tynemouth, including sixty brides-to-be. He has no immediate intention of settling down, but when Mercy becomes his assistant, the two must fight against a forbidden love.
With hundreds of single men congregating on the shore eager to claim a bride from the Tynemouth, will Mercy and Joseph lose their chance at true love, or will they be able to overcome the obstacles that threaten to keep them apart?
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Author Jody Hedlund has quite the knack for penning historical novels that grab the reader right in the feels! A Reluctant Bride is well-research with characters you’ll want to cheer and some you won’t like well at all, but then, that’s part of a good story!
A Reluctant Bride begins the series The Bride Ships, and even if you’ve read other novels surrounding bride ships, you haven’t read this one yet…I highly recommend you do!
A master at her craft, Jody Hedlund is one of the best in the historic romance genre.
While I generally write a brief synopsis, I’ve chosen not to do so with this novel because I truly want you to read it and meet Mercy Wilkins and Joseph Colville on your own. I dare not to risk any spoilers!
Yet, who determines the classes of people? Who determines the lower class must never mix with the upper, and vice versa? Are people really defined by their class or is there something more?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own, and freely given.
I knew right from the start I was going to love Mercy. Who wouldn’t love such a compassionate person? When she meets Joseph the second time on the Bride Ship I just knew he would see her as the woman she was. I loved these characters that had personalities deeper than what’s on the surface. When I really get into a great book like this that the author has characters that are wonderful I really have a feeling for them and get invested in them right from the start. The concept of a Bride Ship was so fascinating and it’s actually based on a historical event which I love! Joseph and Mercy was not from the same station in life and love was forbidden to them. The difference in the way people are treated when one has wealth and the other doesn’t, is a terrible thing but it actually still goes on in this day and time. Will Mercy heed the advise of Mrs Moresby and will Joseph heed the advice of his Captain? Don’t miss this first Bride Ship book by one of the best. A great inspirational historical romance!
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are my own.
The Bride Ships series is one to watch for my friends! Mercy and Joseph are so sweet, yet professional. Their attraction is so obvious, to pretty much everyone on the ship (hence the reason others tried to separate them), except to maybe themselves. Mercy is this sweet, empathetic heroine who puts others before herself each and every time. She wasn’t worried about her own health or happiness, just those around her. Mercy is an inspiration to us all. But in a time period where different social classes simply didn’t intermingle romantically, it seemed as if the odds were against them. Never fear….Hedlund is here!
The premise of this whole story was interesting to me. The Society herded unwed, young women onto this ship like cattle. It just sounds so demeaning, and a horrible way to live. I was waiting for the gentlemen in British Columbia to act like animals, and frankly they did. Many of these men were looking for someone to take care of them, among other things. I couldn’t imagine being subject to that! But Mercy. She was so naive, and yet so stuck in her ways. She didn’t need a man, she just needed a job. And while of course that changes after she spends more time with Joseph, we can certainly understand why. Joseph is respectful, swoony, and just downright charming. I was rooting for him from the get go 🙂
With a fun romance, an interesting plot line, and several inspirational quotes, this first book in the Bride Ships series is a sure win. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything about the bride ships that came to Canada from England. It doesn’t necessarily surprise me that something like that happened but what does surprise me is the “how” of it all, I guess. The author took many of the events of this book from actual accounts so the story was very true to what really happened. I really love that because it gives me such a good feel for where the brides came from and how they may have felt and acted. It was so interesting! I love learning about lesser known events in history which would explain my love for historical fiction.
Mercy is such an awesome character. Despite her horrible upbringing she embodies everything kind, gentle and compassionate. I loved her almost instantly. The author does such an incredible job of bringing the characters in this book to life. They felt like real people with struggles and growth. The growing intensity between Mercy and Joseph was fantastic. I was completely caught up in it and invested every step of the way.
This is one of my favorite books this year, I think. I have a handful of them now. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series!
Content: peril, mild violence, kissing
– I received a complimentary copy of this book. All 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.
“When we’re born we’re put out to sea and can’t always control our fate or destination. We have only to ride out the journey as best we can.”
–Mercy Wilkins
A Reluctant Bride is the beautifully written story of Mercy Wilkins, a compassionate young woman, from the poorest slums of London who agrees to immigrate to Vancouver Island on a bride ship in the year 1862, unknowingly to become a bride to one of the many miners inhabiting the area. Before leaving London, her path crosses with Dr. Joseph Colville, Baron of Wiltshire at a medical clinic and once again, their lives intersect on board the ship.
This young woman with courage, compassion, and heart utilizes everything within her power to break free of the hopeless situation in which she was born. She partners with Dr. Colville, utilizing her minimal nursing skills, to provide care for everyone on the ship regardless of class. Dr. Colville, well known for defying traditional conventions, finds that compassion and a God given courage may be exactly what he has been searching for to help him face the past.
I love the historical detail interspersed through this story based on historical fact woven with fiction. The life lessons in this novel are profound, dealing with concepts such as looking past outward appearances, sacrifices made for love, and the influences of one’s past on our lives. I loved this book and I think you will too!
This ARC copy was received from Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
#AReluctantBride #NetGalley
This is a superbly crafted read! Jody has woven an immersive tale that does not let go until you finish the book and even then, it lingers. This story has a lot of heartbreak and tragedy given the time period and the harshness of poverty in London during that period but even then there is hope and love that shines through this book. This is definitely a “meatier” read, it’s not a light fluffy story but it is a wonderful book. I really enjoyed traveling with Mercy and Joseph aboard The Tynemouth and their arrival in British Columbia and Vancouver Island. That was quite a voyage! I liked most of the characters in the novel, with the exception of Mr. Scott(he played his part well!). Jody wrote him to be the perfect villain/foil to Joseph and Mercy. Mr. Scott was horrid in his treatment of the women. I really wanted to smack sense in to him on more than one occasion!! All in all, this book was a wonderfully entertaining read and I an eagerly looking forward to the next in the series!
I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
If you are looking for a historically intriguing read about an event you may not know about or a romantically told tale that goes soul deep, look no farther than A Reluctant Bride. First off this story is about bride ships, one that took women from England to British Columbia in the hopes of becoming brides for the many single men there.
Author Hedlund shows the desperate situations that could lead to the fateful choices some of these women made to get on that bride ship. Focusing specifically on Mercy Wilkins story, we see the abject poverty she and her family lived in. The jobs her family must endure to pay rent and put a little bit of food on the table. The sacrifices that must be made with children and the lengths that their mother would go to just to survive. For Mercy, marriage was not a rescue, nor was working in the unhealthy conditions of the workhouse, or working the streets; none of these options were a way to a happy future or a long life. Battling circumstances beyond her control, Mercy becomes a passenger on this ship headed for a world unknown to her in hopes of a better life for her and eventually her beloved sister.
Joseph Colville the ship’s doctor is also running from his life in a different way. He is a man who is not only skilled as a doctor, but also has wealth and is a lord. However he is quite surprised at what cargo the ship is carrying and through the storms of the travel and the strict watchful eyes of the chaperones, he and Mercy form a friendship that soon begins an attraction to each other.
This story does not shy away from the details of the poor in London and shows their great desperation and the unbelievable difference and prejudice within the class distinctions. What Mercy and Joseph feel for each other is forbidden in their culture. And while they both know this, their romance blooms despite it all.
Mercy is a woman without many choices, not only just being poor but also being a poor woman. Joseph has an opportunity to make a difference; Mercy has a chance for a different life. What will each of them choose? Be sure to read the author’s notes on her research with this story.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Absolutely Amazing!
Oh my…What an awesome story of courageous women so poor and desperate they are willing to board a bride ship to travel to a place they’ve never been and marry men they’ve never met. Jody’s characters seemed so real I felt like I could reach over and touch one of them.
I truly loved reading about Mercy and Joseph. They faced their own storms while working together but they learn to be stronger with God’s help.
Jody Hedlund has done research about these bride ships and this story is based on a true story. I couldn’t wait to find out what was fiction and what was fact. That’s why I love reading Jody’s books.
I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed are my own.
Bride ships. Hmmm…a term that I had never heard before. In the 1800’s, women who were living horrendous lives would board these ships in hopes of securing a better life elsewhere. That is precisely what the main character, Mercy Wilkins, does in this beautiful book. Jody Hedlund has once again done her research well and invites readers to delve into circumstances that they never knew existed.
Does Mercy escape a wretched future?
Does working alongside Doctor Colville offer far more than gainful employment?
This is a book about hope and the gift of second chances. I highly recommend it! [email protected] @bethanyhousefiction @bakerpublishinggroup #booklove #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bookmail #areluctantbride #brideshipseries #brideships
A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund is a wonderful story about bringing brides from England to British Columbia in 1862. The women who boarded the Tynemouth did so not knowing what their fate would be upon their arrival. They left all behind and there would be no turning back once the ship sailed.
Our heroine, Mercy Wilkins, knew she was just one more burden to her family if she stayed at home and wasn’t going to settle for life in the workhouse or on the streets. But marriage was definitely not in he plans. She was a gifted nurse, with no formal training except love for others and the desire to care for the sick. It was her talent for nursing that led the wealthy Dr. Joseph Colville to seek her assistance among the sick aboard ship. Working side by side worked out well for some time since they both had no intention of marrying. The best intentions, however, don’t work out at times.
I like this book because at the heart of this story is a young woman who had very little that she left behind. She saw what her parent’s lives were like with little or nothing coming in to support a large family. Poverty caused her mother to do things that Mercy never wanted to emulate in her own life. It took courage for her to swallow her pride and board ship. She, like the real life women who left England to help settle the western part of our world blazed the trail for life as we know it today. This book is Mercy’s story but there were others on board that ship and not all were poor, at least not financially. For whatever reason that led the women to seek that new life, they were all starting over from scratch, with no class or society to dictate.
Once again, Jody Hedlund has written an amazing historical novel that I recommend with 5 stars. Her research, as usual, is impeccable and the story is one that is very compelling. A Reluctant Bride is Book one in The Bride Ships series and already, I am eagerly waiting for the release of book two, The Runaway Bride in March 2020!
Jody Hedlund’s books are always fascinating to me! I love the way she takes a bit of history that is often overlooked or not even known about and creates a beautiful love story around it! This book, and the ensuing series, give us a peek into the lives of women who found themselves on one of the “bride ships” headed to the other side of the world.
Mercy and Joseph were both great characters! Though they came from completely different stations in life they both had a heart to help others in need. I loved how even though Joseph was an aristocrat he never hesitated to help those who society deemed beneath him, regardless of what his peers thought. And Mercy had a servant’s heart willing to literally give the clothes off her back if it meant someone else was taken care of. They had some obstacles to work through in their relationship but their romance was sweet.
This book didn’t have a lot of surprising twists and turns or any huge dramatic moments but I honestly really enjoyed that fact. It was at it’s core just a beautiful romance set during a unique part of history. Definitely another win from an amazing author!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Victorian England, to the settlement of Victoria Island, Canada…What.an.adventure. And so much real history! Even the main characters were inspired by real people!!! I have always admired how Jody Hedlund can seamlessly weave romance into her stories in a real, passionate, and Godly way. The faith is genuine and the struggles Mercy and Joseph face in their relationships with God are relatable and familiar to us.
The setting in this story is unlike any other book I have read. I didn’t even know that there were bride ships that came to the west coast of Canada! (I’m a Washington State native myself.) But it makes so much sense and I am really looking forward to learning more history about the mining settlements. Although, I have no idea where Jody will be taking us next in this series.
Mercy was such a great woman to get to know. I felt connected to her. Even though I can’t relate to a lot of the things she went through. She was an easy person to listen to, to learn about, to become friends with. Joseph was a bit of a mystery to me at first. It was great to watch him come into his own and to realize things about himself that he didn’t understand before.
All said and done, I really think this is one of my favorite stories Jody has written. Between the romance, the friendships, and the unique setting, this story definitely holds a special place in my heart. Oh! And just a word of advice, don’t start this book at 11 o’clock at night unless you intend to stay awake reading for several more hours!
I received a complimentary copy of A Reluctant Bride from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Once again Jody Hedlund has spun a magnificent historical romance that draws you into the pages with a unique plot and characters that are impeccably written. What an amazing start to a new series! This book went above and beyond my expectations and I expected it to be good! This story held my attention and tugged at my heart!
Jody Hedlund always baffles me with her keen eye for history and ability to really bring the context alive.
My heart hurt for Mercy and the other immigrants whose lives have not always been kind to them.
Jody also has a deft hand to write a believable character who walks the thin line of finding contentment despite having so little (as in, she’s never had a cloke in her life). Mercy Wilkins is worthy of her name, but I mostly loved how Jody chose this to be because of the influence of her sister, Patience, and not a naive characteristic.
Her compassionate heart will definitely bewilder aristocrat and doctor Joseph Coville. He has completely turned his back on society and traveled the world to fulfill what he believes to be his calling. In reality, Joseph never expected to inherit the title as it belonged to his elder brother. But cholera in one fistful event took those he held dear, and now Joseph avoids, though his dear friend Dr. Bates would way runs from, anything that reminds him of his grief.
These two characters have nothing in common it seems having grown up in such divergent circumstances. But a heart that beats solidly for the same cause might just have its way in joining two unlikely people.
I love how Jody Hedlund chooses to highlight lesser-known historical events in her novels. A Reluctant Bride is about the bride ship Tynemouth that took women to British Columbia to find work and, hopefully, become brides. I’d never heard of the bride ships before, but apparently several went from England to British Columbia in the 1860s.
Eager to escape a desperate situation in London and at the urging of her sister, Mercy signs up to take the Tynemouth to a new life in British Columbia. What she doesn’t realize until she’s on board is that the women aren’t just going to find jobs—they’re going to find husbands. After witnessing her mother’s many relationships, Mercy has no desire to ever marry … but Joseph, the ship’s doctor whose station is far above Mercy’s own, may just change her mind.
I loved every single thing about this novel! The history (fascinating), the romance (swoony), the life lessons (applicable today)—everything was wonderful! I especially loved Mercy’s determination to do the right thing, even when it came at a high cost. And I thought Joseph made a great hero—not perfect by any means, but seeking to follow God. And the two of them together? Wonderful.
If you’re a fan of historical romance, you can’t do any better than a Jody Hedlund novel, and this one easily ranks up there with her best.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Jody Hedlund pens another winner! It did not take long for me to fall in love with the characters in this novel, for they are realistic with trials that pull at your emotions and make you connect with them as a reader. The plot is interesting and the author gives exquisite details about a fascinating part of history. There is conflict in the story to keep you as a reader guessing and wanting to learn more, and I found myself staying up way too late one evening to finish it! I always look forward to great historical books by this author and I am pleased that this new series is off to a fantastic start! I most highly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The opinions of the review are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
Mercy Wilkins is an Angel of Mercy on the streets of London, seeing only a bleak future ahead of her if she stays she heeds her sister’s urging and joins the bride ship headed for British Columbia.
Dr. Joseph Coville is titled and wealthy, a sought after match for many looking to secure a husband for their accomplished daughter. Joseph has encountered much loss in his life, and is caught between running away and his calling to make a difference in the lives of those without access to care. He signs on with the bride ship, and is struck early on by Mercy’s selfless care for others, her compassion and beauty.
Mercy is determined not to marry, but is it possible that God has other plans?
The very first in a brand new series by Jody Hedlund, this book explores the situations and hopes for a fresh start that made women choose to take a chance on a new life. I was surprised by how much of this was inspired by a true story. Ms. Hedlund highlights the differences in class that held poor women back in London, and the opportunities awaiting them in a new home.
Mercy is compassionate and selfless, automatically taking on a mother-like role for the younger girls on the ship, caring for them through every storm. While she is fearless when championing others, she struggles to see value in what she herself has to offer. Her natural nursing skills lead her to assisting Dr. Coville as he tends the sick during their long, rough journey. I admired her love for others, she is humble to a fault at times, with a courage that not even she knows.
Joseph feels pulled in many directions, he feels called to help the less fortunate, yet has a passion for seeing the world. He is inspired by Mercy’s selflessness and unassuming nature never expecting something in return, unlike his peers in society. As he gets to know Mercy, he begins get just a taste of her experiences, realizing that maybe he isn’t as blind to class as he thought that he was. I think all of us can see a bit of ourselves in Joseph, everyday I myself have my eyes opened to the realities of this world through relationships with and the experiences of others.
Strong tension throughout, whether from chemistry between the characters or through through situations. I was inspired by the bravery of these women headed to a place they had never been in hopes of a bright future where they could be anything. Ms. Hedlund does an excellent job of realistically showing the binds of class, and how it was so big a part of life for many in the 1800s dictating marriage, opportunity, etc. I loved Mrs. Moresby and how she represented the opportunities ahead for the women in British Columbia. Miss Lawrence is a kind and silent ally, an I am excited to read her story in the near future. A strong start to a new series, great character development and interaction. You won’t want to put it down!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A Reluctant Bride is an incredible journey from poverty stricken London, and the impossible living conditions in the slums. Mercy Wilkins finds her way to a bride’s ship bound for British Columbia. Conditions on the ship are grim, and Mercy’s only saving grace is that the ship’s surgeon recognizes her compassion for those who need her. He requests her assistance in nursing the sick aboard ship, and the two share a unique camaraderie which develops into a strong attraction forbidden by Mercy’s chaperones and the doctor’s position in life.
Filled with danger on the high seas and plagued by seasickness among other serious illnesses suffered aboard the Tynemouth, the sadness and losses that Mercy suffered at home appear to have followed her aboard. Hedlund’s cast is strong and well developed. True life situations are heart wrenching, but true strength of character is one of the highlights in those represented in this book.
A great deal of research was obviously undertaken in order for true life events to have been portrayed through Mercy’s story. This is a fast paced tale of the torments of the time, and yet a blossoming love story creates a charming quality that surpassed my expectations. Don’t miss this deeply touching story. I highly recommend it!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. All expressed opinions are honest and my own.
“A new life awaits her across the horizon.” I could not wait to read this book as the description was so intriguing. What were bride ships? Did women really willingly leave everything they knew behind to marry a complete stranger?
Miss Hedlund tells a story filed with history, action and romance.
Mercy Wilkins has a hard life living in the poor slums of London. Unwanted by her family, Mercy is convinced to start a whole new life in British Columbia. Leaving all that she knows, she sets sail on a bride ship not realizing that she is expected to marry a stranger upon arrival.
On the journey Mercy becomes an assistant to the ships surgeon, Joseph Colville, a wealthy gentleman who is fighting his own personal demons , and fights a growing attraction to him. Will they find happiness in the end or will they let their social boundaries keep them apart? This wonderful story is a page turner that will keep you up at night! I loved seeing Mercy go from a timid, afraid person to such a strong lady in the end!
Thank you Bethany House for an advanced copy! I was not required to leave a positive review.