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. A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.
Love and Adventure Are Discovered on the Wilderness Road In 1794, when Kate Gruener’s father is ready … Road
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 to 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 naïve 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?
Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear.
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)
more
I’ve long been a fan of Author Shannon McNear’s novellas, but she knocked it out of the park with her first novel-length story. The Cumberland Bride is a beautifully written novel with a compelling plot of brave travelers on the Wilderness Road. Heroine Kate Greuner loves to ferret out the hidden stories of those she meets, and her latest interest is in the mysterious guide, Thomas, who leads her family and traveling companions through the Cumberland Gap. The last thing hero Thomas Bledsoe wants is to have young Kate needling him with incessant questions as he scouts trails while keeping an ear out for danger from the Shawnee. In wonderful lyric prose, Ms. McNear deftly handles the building romantic tension between Kate and Thomas while weaving a fascinating tale chronicling the historical hardships between the Native American people and the waves of European settlers flowing into their land in the late 1700s. This can’t-miss tale will capture your mind and thrill your heart!
Another well written book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, you’ll be swept up into Kate’s Wilderness Road adventure. Historical facts, well developed characters, and great descriptions of the country make this an enjoyable read. Full of danger, clean romance, and faith I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
A book like this one is why I fall in love with Historical Romance all over again with every additional book I read in this genre. I’m thankful for the many generations that came before us whose courage and bravery greatly exceeded the limitations they faced each and every day. I’m so very thankful for our fictional heroine, Katarina Gruener, who chose to keep a journal of her experiences and that our hero, Thomas Bledsoe, was most content discovering new places on the back of his horse surrounded by the nature that he so loved. I love Kate’s character because she’s inquisitive which makes her a natural born storyteller and she’s fearless under the most harrowing circumstances. And Thomas is the quintessential hero because he’s brave, intelligent and highly skilled and our country was founded by men who are just like him. I really enjoyed these fascinating characters and the wonderful storytelling of this fine author. I read an early copy of this book provided by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
Wow! This was an amazing adventure! I loved it!
It’s odd to think of western Kentucky as the frontier but in 1794 it was.
I loved the details and descriptions the author gives us in her telling of this family and group packing up to move west. The details of the journey had me on the trail with them.
Katarina (Kate) Gruener gets into all kinds of trouble. Thomas Bledsoe is there to rescue her.
Somewhere along the way, he finds himself breaking a promise he made to himself long ago. He also finds his faith again.
I can’t say the rest of what I want to without giving spoilers.
Maybe a teaser…there is a sweet connection to the beautiful cover on this book. You’ll have to read the story to find it.
*I wish to thank the publisher and author for the privilege of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
A review was not asked for or required. The opinion expressed is entirely my own.
The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear is excellent both in spiritual and historical lessons. Thomas reminded me in some ways of the Prodigal Son. I loved that the author showed how God works in our lives for our own good, drawing us to him and how scripture applies to every part of life. I enjoyed reading the history of the Kentucky pioneers since my ancestors were of German English decent and settled in Kentucky by the 1770’s. This book may have been close to their own story. The characters were well developed, descriptions of the scenery and the hardships of the journey through the wilderness were exceptional. I hope to read more historical books in this excellent series by this author and others. My thanks to the author, Barbour Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this Christian Historical Romance. In the Daughters of the Mayflower Series.
The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear, and the fifth installment of the Daughters of the Mayflower series is outstanding. Perhaps I’m biased as I love history, romance and intrigue; this novel has it all and then some.
Kate Gruener is travelling with her family further west in order to claim land and finally build the farm he dreams of. It is 1794 and the family, which includes Kate’s parents and her younger siblings, must traverse the Kentucky Wilderness Road to reach their destination. Due to the roughness of the roads and it’s mountainnes terrain, there are no wagons, just pack horses that carry only that which they need to survive the trip. Furniture, tools and the like we’re sold before leaving on the trip; they will build new.
Without wagons, the travelers all walk with the exception of the youngest children.
Not only is it a dangerous trip in the terms mentioned, the Shawnee are very restless and news of the slaughter of other travelers reaches Kate and her family. Thomas Bledsoe, a scout, has been hired by Mr. Gruener to see the family safely through the Kentucky Wilderness Road. Ever diligent, Bledsoe becomes distracted by Katie’s determination to learn his story, something he does not want to share. The other distraction is Katie herself and her penchant for ending up in the most precarious situations. When Katie injures her foot, he orders that she must ride and gives up his own spirited horse to see that she rides.
Despite Bledsoe’s every effort to protect those he’s been paid to lead, something happens that forces him to reconsider his own life plans. Katie finds herself growing beyond the immature thinking of a young women, to one who has been tried,becoming stronger and wiser in the process.
Highly recommended. I could not put it down.
I received an complimentary e-book copy of this book via Netgalley and am not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions, therein, are solely my own.
This is the first book I have read by this author. And boy am I glad that I read this! It was amazing! The book is so well written that it seems to come to life! The scenery is described in such vivid detail. The characters were great. I loved the chemistry between Kate and Thomas. I did not want the story to end. I was hooked! This whole series just keeps getting better! I will definitely read more by this author! I highly recommend this book to readers of Laura Frantz and Lori Benton.
Are you a sucker for lore of the Kentucke wilderness around the time of Daniel Boone? Do you love the style of Laura Frantz or Michelle Griep? Shannon McNear has been added to my list of names who can paint that period so well, you can feel the splash of the river as the horses ford it, sense the cold and wet of the mountain dressed with thick fog. Be overtaken by the fear for safety as you vicariously travel the Cumberland Gap.
What an intriguing supposition McNear starts out her narrative with. A Hessian siding with the Americans. The real question I saw, over and over throughout the book, is where does one end viewing another as an enemy? How does the forgiveness offered by one affect others around him? Or will an attempt at reconciliation between obvious enemies bring shame, betrayal, and untold danger?
How I loved these characters. Some followed their upbringing, some followed their hearts, and all followed dangerous trails. Who will have the strength of character to survive a time and place given to unrest and danger?
Worthy quotes:
“It always seemed the more willing a body was to share their story, the more likely that story wasn’t worth hearing.”
“God could protect them…And if they could not put their hope in Him, then—what else was there?”
My heart is full after reading The Cumberland Bride. May we all learn to view conflicts from angles other than our own. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinions. I am not required to leave a positive review. I DID, however, pre-order my own copy for my keeper shelf.
In Shannon McNear’s latest novel, “The Cumberland Bride,” she created a historical story filled with adventure, danger, and romance. This novel is the 5th 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 the Lytton family throughout the generations, but characters from previous books are not mentioned.
This story focuses on westward expansion, specifically the journey of one group of settlers from Tennessee to western Kentucky in 1794. “The Cumberland Bride” tells the story of Kate Gruener (a Lytton descendant) and Thomas Bledsoe, who had been a former Indian captive. Kate’s father hired Thomas Bledsoe to serve as their scout to help the settlers safely cross the frontier. The threat of Indian attacks was on the forefront of all the settlers’ minds. This was a very well researched book. Through the experiences of Kate, Thomas, and the other settlers, McNear shares what life was like for many white settlers during their journey through the frontier, including being held in captivity and the brutality faced upon them by the Indians. She also discussed the love and kindness that Indians demonstrated toward those white people that they adopted into their tribe as one of their own. During our history, both sides (Indians and the white settlers) did what they thought was in the best interests of their own people, and many lives were lost in the process.
This was a very enjoyable story. The first half of the book was a little slow paced, but once the action started, it quickly captured my attention. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next! I also learned a lot of facts about life back then that I didn’t previously know. The romance developing throughout the story between Kate and Thomas further captured my interest. Fans of the Daughters of the Mayflower series will thoroughly enjoy this newest edition to the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine.
Another great novel in the Mayflower Brides collection! Well written and it fit in with all the others very well. This is my first Shannon McNear book, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I was quite pleased.
The Cumberland Bride follows a family that’s traveling west and must cross the Cumberland Gap. Kate is the eldest daughter of the Gruener family and she loves recording peoples stories, which gets her into trouble more than once. The family has hired a scout, Thomas Bledsoe, to help keep them safe on their journey and Kate believes he has quite a story to tell.
Thomas likes to keep to himself, preferring quiet to the noise of the group. He’s lived a difficult life and it’s led him to be angry with God. But the difficulties of the journey find him taking care of Miss Gruener more than once and she tends to turn his head continually!
Their story is a beautiful one, with the love of family (both blood and adopted), the love of God, and their growing romance. I enjoyed The Cumberland Bride from beginning to end and find myself anxiously awaiting the next book in this fantastic series!
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 received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
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.*
This is the first book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series that I’ve read. Having read a couple of novellas by this author, I was happy to dive into this novel. It didn’t disappoint! I was transported back in time to the backcountry of Kentucky, surrounded by the magnificent landscape, and immersed in the lives of those brave pioneers who risked it all to settle the land.
Author McNear didn’t sugar-coat the experience. She drags the reader into a river, over a mountain, and keeps them looking over their shoulder for hostile natives. She also does a very good job of balancing the differences between those natives and the settlers. And one of the things I really like is the author’s notes and historical notes at the end. I love learning how much of the story was true.
Wow! This was an emotional and adventurous epic journey!
I’ve been reading the Mayflower Bride series and every single one is fantastic!
This incredible journey begins in 1794 Tennessee and ends in Kentucky as the group travels along the newly expanded Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap. Kate Gruener’s father is taking his family to settle in new and unclaimed territory where he plans to build up his farm. To protect him and other local families, he hires Thomas Sledsoe as a scout. Thomas has a mysterious nature and Kate inmediately feels compelled to get to know him and his family history, which is the last thing Thomas wants. He tries to keep his distance from Kate, but her inquisitiveness and adventurous nature leads her into so much trouble and danger, and he can’t help himself in his desire to protect her.
The whole journey is full of adventure and danger, with the Shawnees renegades stirring up trouble very near.
The plot will keep you totally engaged. And I liked how the characters, especially Kate, grow throughout the story.
There’s also a message of faith in God that felt natural. I liked how Thomas grew in his faith and trust in God along the story. The story was inspiring and uplifting.
The romance is sweet and clean, and there is even humor.
I loved how the author portrayed the time period, with her descriptions of the scenery and the customs of the people in that era. It seemed accurate and well researched. i was really impressed with all that people had to endure to make a decent living in those times!
A very recommendable read! truly enjoyed it!
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. This is my voluntary and unbiased opinion.
I’ve been following and enjoying the Daughters of the Mayflower series, so I was excited to read The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear, which is book 5 in the series. This book is very well-researched and rich in historical detail. I learned much about the places, the time period, and the daily life of the people who helped settle along the Kentucky Wilderness Road. The characters were vividly drawn and engaging, and I was immediately drawn to them. Kate was an intrepid and courageous heroine, and Thomas was a tender and protective hero. For me, the first half of the story dragged a bit and had my mind wandering, but the second half was much more intense, and I was able to become much more invested in the tale. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and learning more about the settling of America.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Why can’t I give this book 10 Stars?! It’s SO good!!!
The Cumberland Bride (2018) by Shannon McNear is the fifth novel in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. This book comes in all forms including eBook, and is 256 pages in length. With a full-time job and a very busy six-year old at home, this novel took me three days to read. I received a copy of this book in eBook form from the publisher, Barbour Books. In no way has this influenced my opinion of the story. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give The Cumberland Bride 5+++ STARS. This novel is Historical Christian Romance at its BEST!!!
I have greatly enjoyed the Daughters of the Mayflower series. The Cumberland Bride is one of the BEST stories in this series to date! The Cumberland Bride is beyond good. I was so thoroughly engaged in this fabulous story that in those moments I was interrupted in any way (darn you empty tea cup!!!), I was frustrated to have to put the book down. The Cumberland Bride is without a doubt a must-read for 2018!
I genuinely loved everything about this story. The writing is flawless — pages just flew by. The plot is highly engaging and I felt like I was right there with Kate and her family as they were traveling into wild lands untouched by civilization. It was exhilarating, stunning, and scary. The setting of The Cumberland Bride is gorgeous. I had to stop often to do Google searches so I could visualize the landscape McNear describes. After all my Google searches, I have realized that “gorgeous” isn’t a strong enough word to describe the Wilderness Road. And, by far, the best part of The Cumberland Bride is the relationship between Kate and Thomas. It is one of the best romantic relationships I’ve read in a while. I won’t say more than this so I don’t spoil a thing, but Kate and Thomas’s road to love filled my reader’s heart to near bursting. I am left thoroughly satisfied by the genuineness, sweetness, and passion between the hero and heroine. The Cumberland Bride is a superb Christian Romance.
What I really like about both Kate and Thomas’s characters is their propensity to ask God the tough questions. It’s very realistic to me because in my lifetime there have been many moments where I’ve cried out to God and asked Him some really heavy-duty things. My favorite moment involves Kate asking God, “Why? What profit was it that [I] had been spared?” I appreciate this line of questioning because there was a moment in my life when I was near death, but God spared me. I have asked God why He felt the need to spare my life when I know for a fact that the illness I suffered from has taken the lives of many women. What made me so special that my family was spared the pain of losing me, but other families have not been?
Sometimes, these tough questions go unanswered, or are given a response later on in life. And, in Kate’s case, her questioning goes unanswered. I think this is because these are the wrong questions to ask. God wants us to focus on something else. And, Kate realizes this a short time later. Just one page over, Kate’s baby brother crawls into her lap, which reminds Kate that, “Circumstances could so easily be different, and every breath [is] precious.” God has our steps planned and knows the day of our return home to heaven. We have to trust God on this fact and let it be. What we should be focusing on is not “why am I spared,” but on how precious a gift every moment of our lives is. We should not squander a single second of our lives or the lives of those we hold so dear. We all need to remember that Time is a major blessing from God.
The Cumberland Bride is such an excellent read that I cannot recommend it enough. This story is such a blessing. I am sad that my time with Kate and Thomas is over. If you are looking for a book that has a great plot line, an amazing historical setting, and endearing and well-written characters then this is the book for you! I highly encourage you to purchase a copy to enjoy today.
I cannot say enough good things about the Mayflower Brides series! This is the first book I have read by Shannon McNear, and it did not disappoint! The research was thorough, and the book was full of action-packed adventures and tender moments. Absolutely outstanding! I received a copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The Cumberland Bride #5 The Daughters of the Mayflower by Shannon McNear
Bean’s Station, Tennessee 1794- Katarina (such a pretty name that fits her well) “Kate” Gruener and her family leave their home nestled in Tennessee to travel the long treacherous road to the wilds of Kentucky. Scout Thomas Bledsoe (I love the description of this man, especially his courage and integrity) has been hired to see them safely across the Kentucky Wilderness Road. There are many potential dangers they have prepared for but there are unforeseen dangers as well. However, they don’t rely on their own strengths alone but continuously pray for safety and protection, guidance and trust God during this arduous and dangerous journey. I appreciate the spiritual aspects of the story and the characters which enriches the story-line. Each one on this journey learns much about themselves, their stamina and courage in the face of great hardships and their faith.
Shannon McNear has written a gripping story (reminds me a bit of the movie The Last of the Mohicans) filled with action, dangers and challenges, unexpected surprises, twists and turns and some very intense moments that had me holding my breath (especially the river scene and also with Flying Cloud and the other natives–not saying more). In the midst of all the struggles and dangers there is a sweet romance blooming but a dangerous, potentially life-threatening situation may keep these two apart.
The Cumberland Bride comes to life right off the pages with detailed descriptions of the era including vivid descriptions of the landscape, the vegetation native to the area and the terrain of the road (which had me almost dusting myself off) the fluctuating emotions of the characters and the natives of the land and their culture. I enjoyed the author’s note and historical note at the end of the book which adds insight to the historical aspects of the story. A gripping, heartwarming story.
Each book in this series is a stand-alone novel written by several different authors. Each book follows a specific family tree through important time periods in our history from 1620-1849.
*The Daughters of the Mayflower series:
#1-The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse –set 1620 Atlantic Ocean
#2-The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo –set 1725 New Orleans
#3-The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep –set 1760 during the French and Indian War
#4-The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse –set 1774 Philadelphia
#5-The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear –set 1794 on the Wilderness Road
#6-The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall –set 1814 Baltimore
#7-The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1836 Texas
#8-The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse -set in 1849 San Francisco
~I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~
The Cumberland Bride, by Shannon McNear, is another in the fabulous Daughters of the Mayflower series. It is a historical fiction series that follows a family tree linked by the daughters across American history from the landing of the Mayflower through the events of World War II. In The Cumberland Bride, the author brings us to Tennessee in the mid-1790s and the reader meets Katarina Gruener, (curious–almost to the point of pestering, warm brown eyes and so full of grit and faith!) and her family following the Wilderness Way through the Cumberland Gap to frontier land in Kentucky. We also meet Thomas Bledsoe, their guide, a man who has determined to live a life alone so as to not “leave a woman cry over me” as he had done with his sisters, a man who does not know who he truly is or where he belongs. Beautifully written, the story draws the readers in right away and keeps their interest high with the struggles and dangers that Kate and her family encounter along the way, as they cross mountains, rivers and are sometimes plagued with dissension in the caravan and are ever on the lookout for Shawnee attacks. The personalities and emotions of the characters are realistic and relatable. The settings are such that the reader can easily visualize and even transport themselves into, feel the desolation of the wilderness with its rutted roads, dusty trails, and dangerous waters. The author adds in a lot of historical information and gives a glimpse of Native American life during this time period and of course, there is a romance–often tension-filled but sweet, none-the-less. The pages of this book were infused with drama, history, family, and emotional tension. and threaded throughout was the soft tender message of God’s love and the reality that there is no hope but in Him, God the Father. I am looking forward to reading more of this author’s works and more, as well, in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, a series for those who love stories of history, adventure, romance, and family legacy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.
Oh what a moving and emotional tale! The sparks of the romance were heart warming and made for a very satisfying read. The danger and trepidation of having to make the journey and decisions here were felt with every fiber. An amazing author who knows how to weave a story! Reading this made me feel for both sides during a time where tempers were high and attacks were always a chance with Indians and travelers. You will be on the edge of your seat flipping the pages fast to know how it all ends! Thomas and Kate were very well written with flaws to keep them relatable and lovable. A bookshelf keeper!
I received this book from Barbour and this is my opinion on it.
This is an adventure across the Kentucky Wilderness Road. Traveling to their new home we run across Indians, on the road troubles and the rain and mud that comes with the dirt trails. Some hard times, kidnapping and a little romance made this an interesting and sometimes oh no, now what’s coming story. Enjoyed every page! “I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.” My review is voluntary..