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 … 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)
more
Great story filled with intrigue, danger, history and love. While taking care of a wounded man, main character Ellis finds herself in a unique situation. Should she trust the stranger? She has been taught to care for all people, even enemies. She has many decisions to make while learning more about this man. Their relationship is filled with questions. Will the answers lead to the truth and love? I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
In Kathleen Y’Barbo’s latest novel, “The Alamo Bride,” she created an intriguing story taking place during the Texas Revolution. This novel is the 7th book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. However, the series does not need to be read in order, and each book is more like a stand alone novel. Each book focuses on different descendants of a family from the Mayflower throughout the generations. There is a family tree included in the book which is helpful in seeing how the various descendants were related.
This was an enjoyable story. Some parts of the book were a little slow paced, but once the action started, it quickly captured my attention. I also learned a lot of facts about the Alamo and the fight for Texas’ independence that I didn’t previously know. I wish readers could have learned more in-depth details about Clay’s background in the story and seen more of the development of Ellis and Clay’s relationship. Fans of the Daughters of the Mayflower series will enjoy this newest edition to the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
The Alamo Bride is set in 1835 Texas, a time of great turmoil and tension. Clay Gentry is a New Orleans Grey on a perilous mission for the president when he becomes wounded and ends up under the care of Ellis Valmont, a young woman training to be a healer under her mother’s supervision. Ellis is the great-granddaughter of Maribel Cordoba from The Patriot Bride.
The historical details are precise and brought this time in history alive with intricate descriptions of settings, clothing, mannerisms and people. I discovered them to be brave and valiant in the face of great adversity. I also found it to be a dialogue driven story, allowing me to get to know the characters more intimately through their conversations, especially the ones between Ellis and her grandfather. The respect, love, and genuine affection for one another shines like a newly minted penny. I smiled often as I read their banter.
It is easy to romanticize history but The Alamo Bride, while it definitely has romance, also shows the dangers that beset those who lived and fought for independence from Mexico. The author includes notes in the back of the book that are fascinating as she explains historical details in more depth.
This is a welcome addition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy the book. This is Christian fiction but faith in God is not preachy. It is elemental in the lives of each character, worn like a beloved cloak.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. No review was required. No compensation received.
This new book in The Daughters of the Mayflower series features a redheaded, green eyed heroine who is stubborn, adventurous and fiercely loyal, a hero who has lost his memory, and the threat of war as the Texas Republic strives to gain independence from Mexico. This effort would end shortly after the Battle of the Alamo and this is Kathleen Y’Barbo’s fictional account of events leading up to this seige. Much of The Alamo Bride relates Ellis Valmont’s efforts to help a wounded stranger recover from serious injuries and try to determine if he is friend or foe. Clay Gentry has lost his memory and often, in his unconscious mumblings, he speaks of war, an important meeting and a day in November. Ellis initially mistrusts him so even as she works to save his life, she also writes down everything that she hears. What follows is a story filled with uncertainty, adventure, and learning to trust. There is also a developing romance between Ellis and Clay as they work together to find her missing father and brother.
I enjoyed reading Ellis’s ability to treat other people’s ailments with herbs and plants and she is often referred to as “the healer”. She is also very devoted to her family and very proud that she is a ‘spitting image’ of her great-grandmother, Maribel Cordova, the young girl who eventually wed Jean Luc Valmont and became The Pirate Bride in the second book of The Daughters of the Mayflower series. I find it fitting that both of these books were written by the same author. I also appreciate that the Valmonts are very strong believers who trust that God will guide them and protect them. In several instances, after they have escaped serious injury or misfortune, they are heard remarking that there was no luck involved, just God himself working. “The Lord takes care of us in His own way. If we manage to have something go our way, we figure it is His way”.
‘Remember the Alamo” is the saying made popular in 1836 and in this book Kathleen Y’Barbo reminds readers why this is such an important part of our United States history. I recommend The Alamo Bride to anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
This was a refreshing look at a period of American history that is often overlooked in romantic fiction. I liked the characters; from the moment I met each one, I was mindful of the sacrifice they made in leaving a life of privilege behind to build a new society. Ellis and Clay were strong in integrity and hard workers, thinking of the good of others; whether family members or strangers, they treated people with respect and kindness. Their growing attraction and hopes for a future together were expressed in period and culturally appropriate ways. I appreciated that the battles took place off stage. The romance level is sweet and the characters don’t curse. This is appropriate for romance readers of all ages.
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response.
The Alamo Bride is book seven in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I’ve read all of them so far and they just keep getting better and better. I’m also learning American history in a fun way that was so dull in school. I appreciate each author’s research into the history of our country and how they incorporate it into what Kathleen Y’Barbo calls “bent history”. She uses real facts and sometimes has to bend them just a tad to fit them into her fictionalized storyline. But it does not take away from the actual truth of what happened.
Ellis Valmont lives in the territory that will eventually be Texas but is currently occupied by Mexico. The year is 1835. She and her family live in a war zone minus her father and older brother who are involved in the fight for freedom. She comes across a soldier that has washed up on her shore in a boat. He has several gun shot wounds that are life threatening. With the help of her mother and two younger brothers they place him in their barn and start caring for him. He is pretty out of it but mumbles things in his distress that do not make sense but are written down by Ellis. She is not sure if he is on their side or a spy. Come along as Clay begins to heal and eventually he and Ellis wind up at the Alamo in search of her brother that has been captured by the enemy. They meet several on their journey along the way and are constantly wondering if they are friend or foe while cannon fire is part of the background noise.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
You will spend time with the Texians as they battle for freedom from Mexico! Ellis Valmont is a brave young woman who has learned about healing from her mother and is determined to stay and defend her home. Ellis finds Clay Gentry who has been shot and nurses him back to health but Clay does not remember his past due to a head injury. Both Ellis and Clay are great leading characters. You will enjoy this seventh book in The Daughters of the Mayflower series. Each can be read as a stand alone. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and from NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review.
3.5 stars
“She had to believe him an enemy until he could prove himself a friend.”
Hiding behind the shadows of obscurity, Clay Gentry is on a dangerous mission for his country, going undercover to deliver much needed funds to the Texans in their fight for independence from Mexico. His efforts have already been seriously thwarted, so he decides to capitalize on a family secret in order to prove himself trustworthy to his superiors; he just didn’t plan on being shot and delivered to Ellis Valmont’s shoreline in a stolen pirogue.
Ellis Valmont doesn’t know what to think about the handsome soldier in her family’s barn who is on the verge of death after surviving two gunshot wounds and a serious blow to his head. Fortunately, Ellis and her mother are healers and have the capability to treat the anonymous man while they try to determine if he is friend or foe. During his fevers, he says all kinds of things in different languages that make little to no sense. . . . . unless they do.
There’s much to love about Ellis and Clay, for their journey will require great faith in the words spoken so long ago by another mighty warrior; “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust”.
Kathleen Y’Barbo first caught my attention in The Pirate Bride, an earlier book in the Brides of the Mayflower Series. I loved it. The Alamo Bride comes in as my second favorite book of hers. It is the story of Ellis, a feisty Texas girl who has learned the art of healing at her mother’s side. It takes place during the time of War for the freedom of Texas. When she finds an injured man in a boat near her home, she uses her skills to help him recover. As he makes it through his serious injuries, she begins to learn more about this mysterious man and must learn whether she can trust him. As they become embroiled in the war, Clay, who has lost his memory, slowly begins to remember pieces of his history and why he ended up in Texas in the first place.
The Alamo Bride incorporates faith, mystery, heroism and romance for a story that will delight history buffs. There’s a section at the end of the book detailing more of the how the author stuck to the facts, and how she “bent” some to fit the story (while staying true to the spirit of the facts).
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The words and opinions are mine alone.
This is a beautiful historical book that is set in Texas with vivid descriptions. The author does an excellent job of taking readers back to 1865. I was excited to see a character from another book in the series make an appearance if only by name in this story. It is nice to see how authors can weave characters throughout a series with no gaps.
Ellis is a fierce and determined woman. When she rescues an unconscious man floating near the river the action really starts in the book. The scene where she goes in the water with snakes had me on the edge of my seat. Her bravery was evident as she never gives up trying to save the man. I don’t think a few of her family members were thrilled to see the man and have Ellis take care of him.
Clay was on a secret mission t when he becomes injured. Can you imagine his thoughts when he woke up to see Ellis looking at him? Clay has said some things while having high fever that has Ellis a let nervous. Is Clay trustworthy or is he there to cause harm to her and her family? The story had a bit of intrigue with Clay hiding secrets and Ellis becoming suspicious of him. Who shot Cay that day when Ellis found him? As danger come to Ellis and her family because Clay is there?
I enjoyed the banter between Ellis and Clay and it was fun to read how their relationship developed. There are some really funny moments in the story that will catch readers snickering as they see a different side to Ellis and Clay’s relationship. It makes me think maybe they are becoming comfortable with each other. I loved the references of places like the Brazos River since I’m a Texan. It is easy to tell the author has done her homework on historical facts that make the story realistic The ending is filled with action and ties the story up nicely. .Fans of historical books will enjoy this story filled with intrigue, secrets, romance and faith. I encourage readers to read the what the author included at the end of the book. There are interesting historical facts and other tidbits that really enhanced the story.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to to post a review.
The Alamo Bride is a wonderful source of historical details. Those details are combined with God’s love, the love of family, and a growing romance. One of the threads I truly enjoyed in this story was that though we may change, and our lives be feel as though they are in shambles, God never wavers and His Love is forever. When things do not feel right we must continue in our Faith and hold steadfastly to Him.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
I have read and enjoyed each of the previous books in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. The Alamo Bride is a wonderful addition! It takes place, obviously, in Texas and is filled with history, adventure, suspense and romance.
After seeing him be sworn into service to the Grays, Ellis Dumont finds Clay Gentry unconscious, bloody, with a terribly fever in a stolen boat. She knows he couldn’t have stolen it because of the timing of his arrival, but wants to help him recover from his bullet wounds and discover if he is friend or foe to the state of Texas.
This story will keep you turning pages and waiting to see what comes next! I am greatly looking forward to the next book in the series…and to see what’s next from Kathleen Y’Barbo!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book was an excellent read. I had a hard time getting into the book to start with, but I’m very glad that I kept reading. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. Ellis was a strong independent woman that had a compassionate, loyal heart. I loved how she stood up for what she believed in and kept her head in dire circumstances. Clay was a man of many secrets. His story and character unfolds throughout the book. I enjoyed watching all the characters grow in the book. The action in the story kept me reading just-one-more-chapter. I did feel like the ending was rushed and gave a sense of what’s-happening-next versus an awwww feeling, but it was still satisfying. Overall a very good book. I recommend to those that like historical romances with a strong woman character.
One of the things I am thoroughly enjoying about this series in the focus on events in American history I vaguely remember from high school history classes. These authors bring the time, place, turmoil, and people to life. The Alamo Bride is no exception.
A hero who can’t remember his mission and a strong, stubborn woman who can’t decide whether she can trust him. Clay instinctively knew he could trust this green-eyed woman, but it takes a while for him to discover all facets of Ellis Valmont’s personality.
Kathleen Y’Barbo previously gave us my favorite book in the series thus far, so there was a lot to live up to in her second offering, especially considering Ellis Valmont is Maribel’s great granddaughter. While The Pirate Bride remains in the top spot, there is plenty of Maribel’s personality in her descendent. And let me just say, the ending is so worth the journey of Ellis and Clay.
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.
The Alamo Bride is a well- researched historical fiction book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The series, The Daughters of the Mayflower is wonderful to see the connection throughout the generations. This is the seventh book of the series. All the books are very good. So many of the facts throughout this book are based on history.
I felt like I learned more about Texas and Mexico as it was during 1835-1836. In the past so much that I learned about the Alamo was during the battle when the Texians with others fought against Santa Anna and his army. This book shows some of the the struggles they could have experienced.
However the story began very differently with a young soldier (Clay) getting shot, nearly dying, and his experience with his “healer”, Ellis Valmont and their wild experiences they shared. I had to hang onto the edge of my seat until I realized I wasn’t really with them in the book!
The adventures felt real. The attraction between them felt real even though ignored by Clay and Ellis.
The relationships with the mother, grandfather, and brother especially were well written, since I felt they brought great depth to the story throughout the book.
I think many will enjoy reading this book to ride along with Clay and Ellis’s adventures.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The Alamo Bride is the seventh installment from the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I enjoyed this historical. It takes the reader back to the Texas Revolution in 1836. I loved Ellis from the start and admired her bravery and determination throughout.
I liked The Alamo Bride and am giving it four stars. I found it to be a good addition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Looking forward to next installment from it.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Kathleen Y’Barbo certainly knows how to create heroines who are intelligent, feisty, compassionate, and loyal. This is exactly what she’s done in creating the character of Ellis in this book. She’s also very good at matching her heroines with heroes who are worthy of them, and she does that with the character of Clay. Both are loyal to Texas and willing to risk everything for the cause. Their romantic storyline adds interest to the plot, but it does not overshadow the overall historical context of the this book. The author has done a good job of incorporating her research into the story and keeping it interesting for the reader. Both Ellis and Clay share their trust in God and His care for them, and this is an important theme in the storyline.
My only disappointment in this book was that I felt everything was leading up to the battle at the Alamo, but because of an incident that changed the storyline, there’s no actual “battle scenes” from the Alamo. I felt a little lost when reading because I felt as if I’d missed the “main event”. The plot worked the way it was written, but it lost some depth because of this. I would have liked a longer ending to this story. Even an epilogue would have helped. But even with this, I very much enjoyed this book and am glad I read it. Kathleen Y’Barbo still gave us a good story with a great historical setting.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This book is number seven in the Daughters of The Mayflower series. I have read and enjoyed all of them and this book is no exception. All the covers on these books are beautiful and a promise of what is to come on the inside…..This is a wonderful, inspirational romance set against the backdrop of the Texas Revolution, and of course the Alamo as the title suggest. I loved reading about the young Texas and even some about New Orleans. Amidst the war and battles there is romance, we even have the hero, Clay Gentry, with a case of amnesia after being attacked. Much of the story is about remembering who he is and why he is in Texas. A young feisty woman, Ellis Durmont, with the aid of her grandpa helps him to heal from the attack and also in remembering. My thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel. I am please to leave a review.
Friend or foe?
My rating is 3.5 stars
I was very excited to read this story as I have really enjoyed the others in the series. The history in them along with the adventures and sweet romance. . .
When Ellis discovered Clay, she feared he was dead. Upon discovering he still lived, she and her mother used their knowledge of healing herbs to bring him back to health. I liked the Ellis and Clay. She was very opinionated and determined (read that stubborn) and he was heroic even in his weakened condition.
Some of the scenarios the author created were very funny. Like the time Ellis’ grandfather offered some work to Clay that one of the “laborers” had done. Not too strenuous for a man recovering from multiple gunshot wounds and a concussion. But when I saw who the laborer was, I cracked up. And yes, you’ll have to read the story to find out for yourself who it was and why it was funny. I really appreciate creative stories like this which build those perfect moments – that one single line that is so laugh-out-loud-able but wouldn’t make a lick of sense unless you knew the story. Those lines I’m dying to make a meme out of but that no one would understand (sigh).
Psalm 91 played a prominent role in the story. As a passage Clay had memorized as a child, it was one of the few things he could remember in his amnesia. As he recovered, Ellis read aloud to him from the Psalms. Feathers were used as a symbol of God’s protection throughout.
The Alamo Bride was not quite what I had expected. I had fully anticipated there to be more action surrounding the battles at the Alamo. Very little of the story took place there and very few details about that battle were even mentioned at all.
Though there was some action, it did drag a bit and was more about Clay’s healing and Ellis not being certain if he was friend or foe which got a little repetitious. There were also hints about something in Clay’s past that had motivated his actions and a point when his memory was returning that hinted at more of that past and yet those were never addressed. While I did care for the characters, I was glad the story wasn’t longer.
Readers of historical fiction with a touch of a spiritual overtone might enjoy this. It was a good read, just not great.
Read with a Preview at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Ellis Dumont’s family had moved from New Orleans to Texas and now her home was preparing for war with the Mexicans. Ellis was a healer like her mom and when she found an unconscious man dressed in a New Orleans Grey uniform suffering from gunshot wounds, as well as a head wound, she knew she couldn’t just leave him to die regardless of where his allegiances lay. She discovered that his name was Claiborne (Clay) Gentry. She nursed him back to health and helped him to heal. During his unconscious and feverish state, sometimes he would mutter strange things that didn’t make any sense but she began to write them down. When he finally came to, he couldn’t remember who he was or what his mission was.
Ellis was confused as to who she could trust and while she wanted to trust Clay Gentry she wasn’t sure if he could be trusted. The more time she spent with him, though, the more she saw that he was a good man wanting to protect her and her family and the country that she loved. When Clay’s memory returned, would he be the man Ellis imagined him to be or would be be a traitor to Texas and her heart?