Can Love Form Amidst Tensions of War? During the clash between Union and Confederacy, quiet Tennessean Pearl MacFarlane is compelled to nurse both Rebel and Yankee wounded who seek refuge at her family’s farm. She is determined to remain unmoved by the Yankee cause–until she faces the silent struggle of Union soldier Joshua Wheeler, a recent amputee. The MacFarlane family fits no stereotype … fits no stereotype Joshua believed in; still he is desperate to regain his footing–as a soldier, as a man, as a Christian–in the aftermath of his debilitating injury. He will use his time behind enemy lines to gather useful intelligence for the Union–if the courageous Rebel woman will stay out of the line of danger.
Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Rebel 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)
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 (July 2019)
more
The Rebel Bride by author Shannon McNear is Book Ten in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. This is a beautiful story! Filled with lessons of love, faith, and humanity, it is set in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the Civil War (1863).
The author has done her research and I learned more about the Civil War. Her writing style is easy to read and follow. The story flows along at a nice pace. Dialog was plentiful and authentic. This was a well researched, well written, and well organized novel. Characters are believable and relatable.
Pearl MacFarlane is forced to take injured soldiers from the Battle of Chickamaugs into her Tennessee home and nurse them back to health. Her father’s health is declining and her mother has passed, leaving Pearl to care for her younger brother Clem. Pearl’s father does what he can to help. He kindly welcomes the enemy into his home like the bible says we should even though he has lost three sons in the war and had his farm raided by soldiers on both sides.
Josh Bledsoe is a soldier from Ohio who loses part of his arm during battle. He is sent to the MacFarlane home to recover and then will be sent to prison in Richmond. When he sees Pearl sparks fly. Josh knows he has to avoid being sent away at all costs.
I loved the Christian faith of both Pearl and Josh. It sustained them during a difficult time. Pearl’s father (Pa) was a man of strong faith and added much to the story. It is so refreshing to read a Christian novel that does not hide or disguise its faith.
I highly recommend this page turning book. It is captivating and has life lessons that are timeless. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by the publisher but these are my own, honest words.
This book, oh my, it is so good! The author, Shannon McNear, chose to write The Rebel Bride from a different perspective than most Civil War settings. Set in Tennessee, the MacFarlanes are forced to house and tend to injured northern soldiers.
In part, an examination of how non-military citizens truly felt about the was, the author looks at how perhaps the supposition that all southerners were against the north and vice versa. Looking back it is often made to seem like it cut and dried. But what if a small southern farming family is suddenly called upon to care for wounded men of the “other side”? What if, during the time of tending and caring for the men, came with a realization that these were people, people with families who have also lost brothers and fathers on the battlefields?
Pearl MacFarlane is already angry after loosing two brothers to this horrid war, and her father was showing the beginning signs of dementia. Then there was the younger brother, who too young to sign up, spent his days disappearing instead of home helping out on the farm. Pearl was tired, and hungry. Bearing the days until the war was over.
Josh Wheeler is one of the soldiers placed under Pearl’s care; young and missing part of an arm to a Confederate bullet. He almost dies when infection sets in, despite Pearl’s diligent care. All seems lost, there’s nothing left to help this seriously injured soldier, but prayer. And pray Pearl did, by his bedside, through the night for several days. Josh Wheeler survived and Pearl became a friend, and he, the extra hand the farm needed.
With blossoming feelings both Josh and Pearl strive to maintain the positions in which life had placed them. Would this war ever end?
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.
The Rebel Bride is set in southeastern Tennessee during the Civil War. The Union troops are encamped in Chattanooga, and the Confederate troops are encamped outside of the city. Both sides have suffered terrible losses at the recent Battle of Chickamauga, and as the Confederate army is collecting Union soldiers from the battlefield to hold as prisoners, Union soldier Joshua Wheeler is picked up. Joshua’s injuries require amputation of his hand and much time to recover before being sent to a Confederate prison, and he and several others are taken to the home of the MacFarlane family to recover. Pearl MacFarlane is charged with caring for the soldiers, and at the same time, she is trying to care for an ailing father and a younger brother, all while grieving the loss of her three older brothers in recent battles. Pearl is not eager to help enemy soldiers recover, but as she begins caring for their most basic needs, she finds herself connecting with them and truly caring, especially for Joshua Wheeler. But how could a Union soldier and a Rebel girl ever make a life together?
I was quickly drawn into the story of The Rebel Bride. I found the characters to be well-developed, likeable, and relatable. There were many strong emotions in this story, and those emotions really came through. The debate between Joshua and Pearl over the sides of the war and the internal struggle that many characters had about the two sides was also compelling. And the story of the relationship between Joshua and Pearl was beautiful. Overall, I found The Rebel Bride to be exciting and emotional and a real pleasure to read.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Rebel Bride is the Civil War Era and revolves around Pearl and her family farm. She is left to take care of her younger brother and her dad. Her mom has passed away and she has lost 3 brothers to this work between North and South. She is brought injured Yankee soldiers to care for and does so. She believed firmly that we should take care of all even if this is her enemy. Trying to keep up with the soldiers is hard on one person. She cant help but feel bad for their situations. One in particular catches her attention. Josh is not like the others he just sees a woman who is helping them . No matter what side they are on . She cant see herself with a Yankee considering her family’s situation. This book shows how hard it must have been for our country during this time. Deciding what is the right thing to do and who to trust. This book given to me by the publisher for my honest review
I’ve been enjoying the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Each story is its own little slice of history, and it’s been so enlightening to learn about the different time periods in the history of the United States. I’m so impressed with the rich historical detail in these books, and Shannon McNear’s The Rebel Bride is no exception. Her research notes at the end of the book were fascinating, and I appreciate the time she took to include those. Her impeccable research added such authenticity to her story.
The setting in Tennessee during the Civil War intrigued me, especially since it showcased a southern family that wasn’t wealthy and didn’t own slaves. The characters were well-drawn and realistic, and the relationship between Josh and Pearl developed believably. It’s hard to read about the hardships both sides endured in the war and the lives that were lost, destroyed, and forever altered because of it. McNear treats the subject fairly and impartially, so the reader can see both sides, even though it’s told mostly from a southern character’s view.
Poignant and heart-wrenching, this story is a wonderful addition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I’m looking forward to more books in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing/NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I was really looking forward to this book after reading an earlier Daughters of the Mayflower novel by Shannon McNear. While her previous book brought to mind authors such as Laura Frantz, Michelle Griep, or Jocelyn Green; The Rebel Bride fights for its place in a full field of Civil War novels. It alternately is compelling and then more of a textbook. The first sign of struggle is when the author, Shannon McNear, pens a very cautious “note from the author.” While I was impressed McNear wants me to follow her way of thinking, I did not feel she came across as confident in her ability to convince me.
The storyline itself was sound and seemed at times strong, at other times weaker. A Sergeant from the Union Army, Joshua Wheeler, has had an arm amputated. He finds himself and several other very ill, POW Union soldiers billeted in a humble house in Georgia, following the Battle of Chickamauga. Pearl McFarlane, on the other hand, is the one pressed into caring for these grievously ill enemies. Can she handle the events God allows into her life around this time?
I liked the secondary characters that McNear factored into the story.
A father who is progressing through dementia; a wandering, curiously absent brother when work needs doing; and a shunned sister-in-law.
There were times the narrative shone, but it just didn’t flow smoothly, consistently, as I would have liked.
The author’s ending note was quite long and a little off-putting because of said length. In retrospect, I believe there may have been too much information the author wanted to share, and the pressure of that came across in the written page. Please remember this is only my opinion and others, including yourself, may see the book quite differently.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, which in no way influenced my opinions.
What a sweeping saga of a story! I so loved the humble beginnings of Josh & Pearl’s story. He was dragged as a prisoner to her home, which was conscripted into duty as a convalescent home for assorted Union soldiers after the Battle of Chickamauga. Although she’s impressed into providing care to the enemy, she refused to give up on his recovery. Im pretty sure I was in love with the brown eyed Josh myself, from the moment he spoke his name. I have loved each of the books in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, but this one was so particularly rich in detail, and Josh & Pearl must overcome so much in order to be together. It’s clear that Shannon McNear makes every effort toward accuracy, and I loved the connections to the previous books (Pearl is the Granddaughter of Kate & Thomas from the Cumberland Bride). I received a complementary copy of this book from Barbour publishing and NetGalley, and was under no obligation to post a review.
“Seems all we can do sometimes is just keep choosing the right thing to do, right in front of us, and trust He’ll bring good of it.”
Sometimes the strength of a story is in its perspective, especially when the subject matter is as tremulous as that of the Civil War. Caught between the battlelines along the Chickamauga River bordering Tennessee and Georgia, Pearl MacFarlane’s home is conscripted as temporary housing for Federal prisoners whose injuries appear dire. One of those entrusted into her care is Sergeant Josh Wheeler, whose amputation and ensuing infection will result in his death if not properly treated. Spending time with the handsome Yankee, Pearl’s heart begins to beat with words better left unsaid, and questions better left unanswered. It could never work between them.
What lovely treatment of a jagged piece of American history. References to actual people, places, and events are carefully tucked into a story whose characters come alive on the page, impressing upon their readers’ hearts a remarkable amount of believability.
“If thine enemy hunger – feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.”
This is a well-researched treatment of romance between a young lady from the Confederacy and a Union soldier. Josh is among the captured and injured Yankee soldiers who are literally dumped at Pearl’s home for her to tend. Neither is looking for romance in this situation, but respect grows between them and develops into caring for one another. There is appropriately motivated angst that prevents either one from assuming that the other views a match favorably.
I thought the author did a great job in diffusing the many potential landmines inherent in writing about this period in American history that come in our current atmosphere of enlightenment and political correctness. Her characters present their cases for believing in the correctness of their loyalties. God is honored in the story. This can be enjoyed by a wide variety of ages.
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response.
*I received a complimentary copy
of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post
a review*
The Rebel Bride
By: Shannon McNear
*REVIEW*
I’m new to the Brides of the Mayflower Series, but The Rebel Bride is fine as a standalone. This story is a compelling look at the Civil War from both sides. Pearl lives near Chattanooga, and circumstances demand she care for wounded Yankee soldiers. Although experiencing her own grief, Pearl tends to the wounded men with grace and kindness, thus forming a relationship with one, Josh, who lost his hand. Pearl and Josh are natural enemies, but they don’t view the situation that way. They endeavor to see the opposite point of view and its humanity. This story gives you something to ponder about good and evil, right and wrong and the grey area where reality exists. A must read for anyone interested in the Civil War era and daily life.
This is another wonderful story in the Daughters of the Mayflower Bride Series. I have read several of these books and they all have been interesting. The Civil War being one of my favorite eras I have really enjoyed reading this book.
From losing her brothers until the first wagon load of injured soldiers brought to Pearl’s home captured my heart. I put myself in her position and wondered if I could handle that situation myself. I loved the way the scripture kept coming back to her. “If thine enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirst give him drink. Prayers and scriptures from the Bible are the only things that kept her going.
Pearl’s faith was stretched and grew as she took care of the soldiers. One certain soldier named Josh kept her attention but for several days she didn’t know if he would live. She actually found herself praying for the Union soldiers and learning their names.
The historical details, the romance, the desperation of the characters and the hope and forgiveness in this story will keep you flipping those pages. I know this book was one of my favorites in the series.
I recommend this Historical Romance to friends. You don’t want to miss this story that will touch your heart and make you think beyond your own feelings.
I received this book from Barbour House Publishers but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This thought-provoking novel was unputdownable. McNear’s skillful pen fills the pages with vibrant characters and vivid descriptions of the horror and destruction of the American Civil War. I was captivated by Pearl’s strength of character when faced with the ugliness of war. As she comes to terms with grief, she is forced to care for the wounded soldiers that have been brought into her home. Her spiritual struggle of caring for her enemy was convicting, as well as discerning the right/ wrong side of a war that had torn the country apart.
I am truly enjoying all of the books in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Each can be read as a standalone and are written by different authors. I look forward to reading more in the series as well as any releases of MS. McNear in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
This story illustrates how you can’t help who you will fall in love with. Pearl was a rebel and Josh was a Union soldier who was injured and captured after a battle in Tennessee. These two characters learn that no matter ones beliefs it won’t keep you from falling in love. I loved the romance and the history that was woven into the story. Not many stories I have read about the Civil War take place mainly in Tennessee. This series never disappoints me. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishers for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Reading of these soles related down through history from the Mayflower voyage on has been most rewarding. The Rebel Bride is the tenth in this series. I’ve read them all, by different authors, and absorbed bits of real history.
This novel takes place near Chattanooga, Tennessee at about the middle of the Civil War. It is heartbreaking to realize fellow countrymen fighting among themselves and so much loss on both sides. The characters in this novel even express those thoughts among themselves. Pearl MacFarlane is between a rock and a hard place where she lives. Her mother has passed away, her father is in ill health and her youngest brother Clem, is trying to run the family farm. I cannot imagine the hardship she faces when wounded Yankee soldiers are brought to her house for her to take care of. Her stamina was amazing, I was tired just reading about all that was put upon her each day and night.
To her dismay she found herself falling for one of the Yankee soldiers, her enemy. And her older brother had “married” a Negro woman, totally frowned upon and not recognized legally at the time.
The struggles were real, the love and care sweet, and some of the real history shared rewarding. I highly recommend this book as well as any other in The Daughters of the Mayflower series. Be sure to read the author’s historical notes in the back of the book. They are very eye-opening.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The Rebel Bride is another good installment from the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I enjoyed this Civil War era story. It was interesting to see how the author was able to bring real people from the past to life. It had to be quite a hard decision for Pearl to decide what was right. Such a wonderful tale of faith and inspiration.
I enjoyed The Rebel Bride and would give it four stars. I look forward to see where the next book from the Daughters of the Mayflower goes into history next.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
This was a wonderful story. A great addition to this series. I loved Pearl and Josh. They were on opposite sides, but were drawn to each other and ended up taking risks for each other. One thing I loved was how the author was able to show both sides of the conflict. The characters telling each other why they believed what they did. At least they were able to start to understand the other side. Another thing I liked was that they came to the realization there were Christians on both sides of the war and they both prayed to the same God. I loved Clem’s questioning, trying to figure out what was right. I thought the author did a wonderful job and did her best not to write the “typical” Civil War story. I would recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
I am a fan of the Civil War era so I was excited to learn that author Shannon McNear had taken a different approach in The Rebel Bride. It isn’t set on a Southern plantation; instead, the action centers around a middle-class family on their farm in Tennessee. Pearl MacFarlane and her family find themselves with both Union and Confederate soldiers needing care after being wounded in a battle in nearby Georgia. Pearl becomes worn out physically and drained emotionally as she tries to help these men but she becomes especially involved with a soldier whose hand and lower arm had to be amputated. As she tends his wound, a friendship develops between them but their relationship faces many trials. Josh Wheeler is determined to help the Union cause and Pearl’s loyalties lie with the South. Is there any way that they could ever find a middle ground?
This is wonderful historical fiction and McNear’s descriptive powers placed me right there. I heard the guns being shot, followed by the screams of the wounded soldiers; I felt the cold and the fear; I smelled the blood and chloroform. The Rebel Bride is also Christian fiction and prayer and Bible scripture are often used to show how Pearl and Josh seek help and guidance as they struggle with their different beliefs.
In the historical notes the author mentions her extensive research and it is evident because this story is so very rich in historical detail. Fans of Christian fiction and historical romance will certainly want to read The Rebel Bride.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
This series is just wonderful. I’m not typically a fan of romance fiction, but I live the historical aspect of this series. I’ve learned so much about different historical periods. This installment in particular shed new light on opposing sides of the Civil War. More than anything the focus was on the struggle of both sides believing their cause to be just. But also the realization that people of faith lay on both sides of the divide – and how can God be with both sides? Not everyone on the side of the Union fought for freedom of slaves, and not everyone on the Confederate side believed slavery should stand.
Time and again when faced with difficulty questions the characters choose to seek God’s wisdom, follow him to the best of their ability and just follow the conviction of their heart.
It led a Rebel girl to fight for the lives of enemy soldiers quartered in her home, it led a Union soldier to fight for the safety of a God- fearing Confederate family, even against his own brothers in arms. And it led those two to trust God for a future together when there seemed no other way.
This book also speaks to anyone providing care for aging relatives, hope for anyone struggling with their job or their calling, and anyone who finds themselves struggling to hear God’s voice in the midst of difficult times.
A beautiful story, beautifully researched history, and a beautiful portrait of how God can change the hearts of men.
The American Civil War pitted Northern and Southern states against each other, and sometimes neighbor against neighbor. Tragically even family members sometimes chose opposite sides and fought against their own. This wonderful story tells of the human costs, but also the human kindness of ordinary people caught in the middle of the fighting, doing extraordinary things not just for “their side”, but for fighters for the other side. War thrusts Pearl – a southern girl, and Joshua, a Yankee, together, where they find peace, friendship, and even love, amid all of it. None of this comes easy, but Shannon McNear has shown us a depth of humanity and caring where we might not expect it. I have loved the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I have found some new favorite authors among these books and always look forward to the next. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. These are my own honest thoughts and opinions.
The Rebel Bride is a wonderful historical romance set during the Civil War near Chattanooga, TN. This is a steady and easy book to read. I really enjoyed it because I am a born and bred Tennessean. (go Vols) I learned new things about the war and felt the book had a refreshing and a bit different slant about it compared to other stories out there. The heroine is a brave and feisty young woman who worked tirelessly nursing Union soldiers in her Confederate Tennessee home. The hero lost his left hand in battle fighting against the rebels. The romance built gradually and the kisses made me swoon. I thoroughly enjoyed it and even checked out the author’s Pinterest page and fell totally in love with Josh Wheeler the hero.
*I was given a copy of this book by Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to leave a review.