The Wilderness Is a Great Place to Hide Jacqueline Rivers manages a Pony Express station in 1860 Utah territory after her father’s death. There are daily stresses placed on her in this unconventional role–and now a government official is asking her to sniff out counterfeiters. When Elijah Johnson passes through on the stage while on an exhausting quest to find his boss’s heir, he doesn’t want … heir, he doesn’t want to leave the beguiling station manager. In fact, he may never leave when caught in the crossfire of the territory’s criminal activities. Jackie can’t decide if Elijah is friend or foe. Can she remain strong when secrets of the past and present are finally unearthed?
Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.
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)
The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1849 San Francisco (April 2019)
The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1860 Utah territory (July 2019)
more
As always, I love Kimberley Woodhouse books. This one didn’t disappoint. I highly recommend it.
Book 9 of the Daughters of the Mayflower series, this one is my favorite. (Each book is a stand alone so feel free to jump in!)
Author Kimberley Woodhouse did a fabulous job with this one, and kept my attention all the way through. I enjoyed learning more about the Pony Express, and how it worked. The characters were well developed and the descriptions of the area made the story come to life.
Unexpected twists and turns, intrigue and secrets abound. Who is Jack? What’s her secret? She doesn’t even know! I really enjoyed seeing the characters grow, and learn to trust God with their secrets and with their relationships. With strong references to faith, and a sweet romance, if you enjoy Christian historical fiction then you’ll love The Express Bride.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
This book brought me such joy reading it. The characters were so wonderful and I feel in love with all of them. I have to say my favorite character was Ann who was deceased in the book but her legacy was so big and touched so many people in this story. This story was phenomenal, showing us God’s love and forgiveness. I cried happy tears as I was reading, this story touched my heart so deeply. The author does such a beautiful job showing how we all sin and how our sins can hurt others so deeply. Kimberly Woodhouse goes on to show the reader that only God can help us to forgive and love as he has. The romance was sweetly done, I loved every facet of this book! Kimberley Woodhouse has made me a fan for life.
Was given a complimentary copy from Net Galley. All opinions are of my own.
My Reviews:
Genre: Historical, western, fiction, Pony Express, romance, and just pure wonderful!
My Rating: 5 stars, I’d give 10 if I could!
My Recommendation: 13/16 up for slight violence.
My Favorite Character: Jack, Jackie, Jacqueline, no matter the name she’s a lady and one you’ll love with every word of the book. Her determination to do right and follow fulfill her father’s work was beautiful.
My Verse for Jack is Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (King James Version.)
My Thoughts: Ah, sighs happily this is so sweet and sad all in one. The travel that starts off The Express Bride, the mysteries were interesting; one of which I had figure in the first few chapters and the other that kept me guessing, and the romance was sweet and the relationship cute. The family that wasn’t family through blood but love, all of it makes this one to read!
Warnings: Slight violence and mentions of abuse.
I received an ARC of this book from the author — all the thoughts are my own and I am truly happy to share my review.
Jacqueline Rivers, better known as Jack, is the new unofficial manager of the Carson Sink Pony Express station in Utah. Unofficial, because she’s inherited the station from her father and the owners of the Express might not take be keen on having a female as a station manager. But she’s determined to keep her father’s business going. She’s a great character—intelligent and hardworking, and not afraid to stand up for herself.
Elijah Johnson visits Carson Sink on a mission for his employer—to find his long-lost daughter. He has almost no clues, not even a name, but Carson Sink is a Pony Express station which at least means he can communicate with his boss. The Express in the title is the Pony Express, which ran from Missouri to California between March 1860 and October 1861 (when the completed telegraph rendered the Pony Express obsolete).
I’ve never read any novels about the Pony Express before. It’s hard to imagine living in a tiny town with only two women, and no shop other than a blacksmith—a necessity for a Pony Express station.
I thought the novel was excellent. It’s the perfect mix of romance and suspense, set against a fascinating historical background. The writing is solid, the plot works well, and the characters are both intriguing and likeable. The Express Bride is part of The Daughters of the Mayflower, a multi-author series set in a range of different time periods. This is the first book I’ve read in the series, and it definitely worked as a standalone novel.
Recommended for fans of Christian historical fiction with a western setting.
Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
The Express Bride, # 9 Daughters of the Mayflower by Kimberley Woodhouse, is yet another slice of life in American history and women’s roles in it. This era, lasting only a year and a half, was nevertheless a very important part of our country’s history. Woodhouse incorporates an engrossing story of a millionaire seeking a long- lost family with that of a female express station operator. The story flows smoothly, employing romance, faith, and mystery as it serves a memorable history lesson on this time long past. I especially loved the mystery thread.
Well- done, Ms. Woodhouse!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion for which I am solely responsible.
Romance, intrigue, mystery, suspense, and danger — how can you go wrong with all of these elements combined? This story was interesting and engaging with likable characters and a fast-paced, unpredictable plot. Truly a joy to read!
#KimberleyWoodhouse #TheExpressBride #NetGalley
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Barbour Publishing, Inc. in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.
I’ve always been interested in the Pony Express. Kimberley’s novel is he best I’ve read that stayed true to the history of the Express. And I absolutely loved the characters in this novel. I highly recommend it.
This was such a marvelous addition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series! I knew very little about how complex the day to day operation of the Pony Express was, so I very much enjoyed the history lesson wrapped into the blossoming romance between Jackie & Elijah. I also loved the deep, abiding friendships & sense of kinship, which I’m sure was so precious in such a remote area. The underlying themes of forgiveness and unconditional love, as well as personal salvation, were woven in so effortlessly. An absolute joy to read!
I enjoyed the history of the Pony Express and the message of forgiveness this story portrays.
Just like the rest of this series, this book doesn’t disappoint! I absolutely loved it! I love how this book gave a look at the Pony Express. Kimberley Woodhouse did a great job writing these characters! It was so easy to love them. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of this series! I highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
This was an especially intriguing book to read. I love learning everything I can about the Pony Express. Can you imagine getting your mail from a young man who rode a horse as fast as he could across country? The mail you receive may be old news by the time you receive it. I loved how the author described how fast the horses traveled to the way stations and barely stopped long enough to get a fresh horse, deliver the mail and take off with a fresh pouch filled with mail going to other cities. We all know the saying about how the mail is delivered come rain , hail , sleet or snow. These men lived that everyday.
Jackie is running the station on her own since her father passed away. The town she lives in is barely a town with few buildings and a handful of people. You could tell everyone was close and I loved how they had church every Sunday sitting around a table. Their discussions were lively and everyone came away with a renewed sense of His presence. I would love to be part of this little town and experience all it had to offer.
There are two intriguing mysteries going on in the story that kept me glued to the book. One is about forgery and the other is about a woman and baby who disappeared a long time ago. Two men show up in town to investigate for their employers. One will take on the forgery case while the other will
try to determine if he has finally found the lost child that his employer has been searching for.
Elijah is a wonderful character and intends to help his employer with a special request. Elijah finds himself in a little town where Jackie is. I think he was impressed that she was running the station and had everything under control. There is an abundance of historical facts in the book which I loved reading about. I thought Elijah was an honorable man and I liked how he felt protective of Jackie.
It is a great story about forgiveness, redemption and faith.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
I honestly do not have the words to describe how much I love this series! I am a huge historical fiction fan, but I will admit that I fall into the habit of reading books from the same specific time periods. I’m not complaining about this, but I appreciate this series because it takes me to times and places I probably wouldn’t have traveled otherwise. Even though the books can each be read as a standalones, the knowledge that the characters are connected through lineage breeds a unique appreciation and respect for the history of our nation.
Although he may have just been a smaller supporting character, I really adored Michael, who was Jackie’s adopted little brother. In the story he’s 14, but he’d been with her family since he was 7. It was clear just how much he loved Jackie and looked up to her, even when he called her “bossy, bossy” like a pesky little brother. He was a fierce protector of her, and was the kind of side-kick we all wish we could have.
One of the strongest messages in this novel was the power of forgiveness. Not only between people, but between us and God. Has there ever been a person that you looked at and thought they were too far gone or undeserving of God’s forgiveness? Or have you ever felt that way about yourself? Charles’ story of redemption in this novel is powerful but also a lesson in the knowledge that there is no one too far separated from God that He cannot redeem them and turn their hearts away from evil. It was also heartwarming to see that instead of judging him as unchangeable, the people in his life prayed for him, and what a testimony that was in and of itself!
Another thing I really enjoyed in this story was the witty humor. It was lighthearted and often subtle, but it truly warmed my heart to the characters and their friendships with one another. Personally humor in a relationship is an instant captivator for me. Seeing two people laugh with one another in a kind-spirited way, instantly made me connect with and adore them more deeply.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, one thing I admire about Kimberley’s writing is that her love and respect for history is clearly visible in each of her works. As with any historical fiction piece, I always appreciate reading the author’s notes at the end to help separate some of the fact from fiction. Even though the majority of the characters may be completely fictional, Kimberley makes every attempt to recreate the setting and events as respectful to historical accuracy as possible. She is also known to throw in actual historical figures, and I enjoy seeing if I can figure out who some of them are as I’m reading. I love it when a book is able to awaken an interest for me to look deeper into historical events and time periods.
I have read each of the books in this series from the beginning and I look forward to reading more as they release. I honestly can’t recommend this series enough!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
With her signature blend of romance, history, and suspense, Woodhouse ups the stakes in The Express Bride by creating characters who all have secrets to hide and reasons to distrust one another. The phrase, ‘appearances can be deceiving,’ describes this story perfectly. I loved every page!
The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse Historical Fiction of the American West in the mid 19th century. In this new story in the Daughters of the Mayflower series there is excitement from the beginning pages. Crimes to be solved, a runaway, romance, secrets and mysteries from long ago. The old old story of sick souls and the redemption offered by God. I loved the real historical details of the Pony Express, never ending action and especially the gospel story throughout this book and series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
Jack (Jackie) runs a station for the Pony Express. If any of you loved the Young Riders like I did, this book will pique your interest. This series “The Daughters of the Mayflower” is written by various authors and covers some interesting time periods of American History. I’ve read a few books in the series and this is one of my favorites. The conflicts are more solid, The secrets that have brought people out West for a fresh start or to hide are more realistic. Jackie is a conflicted yet strong woman protagonist. There are a lot of Christian themes and values that fit nicely in this Women’s Historical Fiction. I love that I learned new things about this fascinating time in American history and our nation’s expansion. One fact that I’ve repeated when speaking about this book to friends is “Did you know that the Pony Express only ran for 19 months? Yet, something about it has captured our collective imagination.” Whether it’s the importance of getting mail to those pioneers expanding our nation westward, the adventure and tenacity of those who rode, housed & fed as well as supported the Pony Express.
I thank both #NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request for an ARC copy.
I recommend this book for its historical fiction value.
This story has western and romance elements that are prominent. Likable characters make you care, and a fun and playful story line makes you want to keep reading. Jaquelin (Jack) is a strong, gritty female protagonist, who you can’t help but like.
See my full review here: https://writingtoberead.com/2020/03/30/judging-for-the-2020-w-w-a-spur-awards/
Kimberley Woodhouse wrote another wonderful book! The Pony Express has always intrigued me. I grew up on the back of a horse and played “Young Riders” with my brother and sister. Kim’s book brings even more detailed account of Express life to us. The story is beautifully woven with God’s love and forgiveness. Jackie and Elijah’s adventure made me laugh, cry, and praise God for His goodness!
This is a wonderful historical romance!
I absolutely loved Jack Rivers! She has been shaped by the dad who raised her and the life that they have lived running a Pony Express Station and stagecoach stop. She has a firm foundation in Christ and a love for the bible. As her life goes through unexpected changes she finds that she needs every bit of that foundation to help her get through.
I definitely enjoyed seeing how the relationship between Jack and Elijah grows throughout the book. The mystery that is involved about the counterfeiters is interesting and brings just the right amount of danger into their lives.
This story has a strong component of the redemption of Christ. This brings up the need to see beyond the past of a person and move into forgiveness. We all know people that have changed drastically and now need these things from us.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. 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.*
I’ve enjoyed the concept behind the books, which has been the fictional genealogy of women in pivotal times of American history who can trace their roots back to the Mayflower. This one is set during the days of the Pony Express, and a young woman who ends up managing one of the stations. Not only does the reader set in a fascinating time and place, but the characters weave intrigue and more than one mystery behind the scenes, which eventually come to a satisfying conclusion at the Pony Express station. I especially appreciated the Note from the Author at the end, explaining which details were fact, and links to a map of Pony Express stations and more, plus a list of books about the days of the Pony Express.