Wealthy Arabella Lawrence flees to British Columbia on a bride ship still wearing the scars of past mistakes. One of the few single women in the boomtown, she immediately has suitors, but she is determined not to find herself trapped again by a poor choice.Vying for her hand are two very different men. Lieutenant Richard Drummond is a gentleman in the Navy and is held in high esteem. Peter Kelly … Peter Kelly is the town’s baker and has worked hard to build a thriving business. He and Drummond not only compete for Arabella’s affections, but clash over their views of how the natives should be treated in the midst of a smallpox outbreak.
As Arabella begins to overcome her fears, she discovers someone in dire need–a starving girl abandoned by her tribe. Intent on helping the girl, Arabella leans on Peter’s advice and guidance. Will she have the wisdom to make the right decision or will seeking what’s right cost both her and Peter everything?
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I love Jody Hedlund’s book and she has done a great job on this series! I had heard about mail-order brides in America but I hadn’t ever heard of bride ships from England to Canada. I thought this was a great view into history. I loved the romance between the two main characters and how patient Pete was with Arabella when he realized that someone had hurt her in the past. I thought Jody did a wonderful job of making the characters likable and of showing us a period in time that many of us may not be aware of. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
The Runaway Bride, second in the Bride Ships series, can be read and enjoyed even if you have not read the first book in the series.
As the story opened, it was clear that Arabella had definite views about her place in society and at what level she should marry. It was a bit hard to like Arabella at this point for me, however, the author allowed flashbacks to occur throughout the novel that spoke of some very scary past events that Arabella had indeed run from. I grew to like Arabella more and more and rejoiced as she began to view all people as important and part of God’s creation.
Pete was such a great character. I loved that he didn’t shy away from his past, but looked to God to help him to be a better man. His compassion for others, especially the natives of the area, helped firmly cement him as a man of good character. The attraction that developed between Pete and Arabella crackled with chemistry and I was once again reminded that Jody Hedlund writes pretty amazing kissing scenes!!
The Runaway Bride was a great story that focused on who people truly were and looked at the condition of their hearts rather than their position in society.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Wow! Jody Hedlund is one of my favorite historical authors! The Runaway Bride (#2 in The Bride Ships series) is another well written, moving, fantastic story that transports you back in time! Love the research and information Jody shares in her stories! Definitely worth the read. Fantastic book! Thank you, Jody, for another great read! And thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve on your book release crew.
If you haven’t read the first book in this series “A Reluctant Bride” I’d encourage you to buy this great read, too!
*4.5 stars*
After devouring the first book in this series I’ve been impatiently awaiting the release of this one. Yet again, Jody Hedlund has penned an engaging read that the reader is sure to enjoy.
Arabella was a wonderful character. It was interesting to see the series continue with a leading character in very different circumstances from the first. She was born into privilege but found herself aboard the ship to due to desperate circumstances that was able to escape from. She was considered a higher class than many of the other women aboard the ship and while on her own she had to learn how to decide things for herself instead of listening to other around her. I felt that her growth as a character was very well written and it was easy for me to get inside her head and really root for her.
Both a pro and a con, this book read as more of a standalone than I was expecting. There were a few brief clips that mentioned other characters from the first book, but this ended up being more Arabella’s story outside of the journey aboard the ship. I would have liked to see more female companionship with other women who were aboard with her, but I can also understand why it made sense for her growth to be more on her own. I’m curious to see what the next in the series will read like.
Peter Kelly? Oh, how I loved Peter Kelly. But I won’t spoil him for you. You’ll have to read about him for yourself. But his witty, fun personality made me love him and I’m sure others will feel the same way.
This was another one that I enjoyed and I look forward to continuing with the next one in the series 🙂
*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
The Runaway Bride is the story of another single woman who arrives in British Columbia looking for a husband! Arabella Lawrence was a secondary character in The Bride Ships #1 but this book is Arabella’s story and can be read as a stand alone. Arabella had been raised for London society and has difficulty changing from those attitudes even though she has run away from an abusive “rich old man” fiance! Sometimes Arabella seemed to hold promise as she made friends with baker, Pete, and discovered a flair for baking cakes and when she protected a starving girl. But she was so gullible and let herself be influenced by the wealthy Lieutenant Richard Drummond of the Royal Navy! If only she would have kept her mouth shut around the lieutenant! The Runaway Bride is an excellent book which I recommend to others! I received an advance copy of The Runaway Bride from the author and Bethany House Publishers. This is my honest opinion.
The Runaway Bride is book 2 in The Bride Ships series by Jody Hedlund. Although we were introduced to Arabella Lawrence in book 1, A Reluctant Bride, this story can be read as a stand-a-lone.
When we “met” Arabella in A Reluctant Bride, we did not know much about her. All we really knew was that she was on the bride ship for some reason and that she had some interesting scars. In this book, we not only learn about her past, we also get a wonderful love story. I loved Arabella’s growth throughout her story as it felt very realistic.
There are so many good characters in this book, including some great secondary characters. But my favorite character, by far, is Peter. He is arrogantly confident, but somehow loveable at the same time. I think it’s his heart and sense of humor that really drew me to his character. He is the perfect match for Arabella no matter how hard she fights it!
I am really liking this series! There is so much actual history that influences the storylines and the setting is not one I’ve read often. Once you start reading this story, you don’t want to stop.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Ms. Hedlund has done it again! She’s written another page-turning story! I loved the story of Arabella, Pete, and Lieutenant Drummond. Ms. Hedlund does a wonderful job of developing the characters and setting. Additionally, this story is based on stories of actual bride ships, something I’d never heard of until reading this series. Read and enjoy learning about the struggles of being stuck in a certain class with so many expectations and how one woman’s courage to break the barriers changes her life and the lives of so many of those around her.
I highly recommend this story for lovers of history and Christian fiction.
“Perhaps forgiveness took the greatest courage of all” is one of the many fabulous quotes contained within the pages of The Runaway Bride, Book Two in the Bride Ships series. Author Jody Hedlund’s research and writing talent take you on a journey that will keep pages turning. Some of the characters from Book One make an appearance like Arabella Lawrence, who is onboard the bride ship, Tynemouth. It seems Arabella is running away from an unbearable situation, and she’s hoping to find a husband who can offer the lifestyle she is accustomed to. Upon her arrival in Victoria, BC, Canada, she meets Lieutenant Richard Drummond, a royal naval officer. Then, she meets handsome, kind-hearted local baker, Peter Kelly, and can’t deny the attraction. Who will win her heart? Author Jody Hedlund has a flair for writing stories filled with inspiration and faith. I always look forward to her new releases. You won’t want to miss this series!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
I was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint. I have been eagerly waiting for it ever since I finished the first book, A Reluctant Bride. The Runaway Bride is the second book in Jody Hedlund’s new series, Bride Ships. This book picks up on a character who has left you with many questions. Arabella Lawrence is a runaway bride, but what exactly is she running from?
You meet Arabella Lawrence in the first book, but you really don’t know much about her. All you know is that she is one of the more wealthy women to travel on the ships. She is not like the poor women and that sets her apart. But in a way she is not better off, she has been held captive by the rules of her class.
Peter Kelly is a new character, this is the first time you read about him. But I fell in love with him at the beginning. He had made mistakes before you met him, but he has done his best to make amends and turn his life back to God. He is now a respectful baker in his town and well loved by most. But he is not without his demons and there are some who seem to only want bad for him.
I thought Arabella was sweet, she had gone through a lot back in England. She was just trying her best to learn how to survive in this totally different world. It was so cool to see her learn to see that class is not everything and that she didn’t have to be the kind of person who lived under the high standards of England. She learned that it was better to be kind than to care about what others thought about her.
Pete was a great character, he was unique and himself. I liked that even though he gave off an air of confidence, he was still a humble guy who loved God and loved to help people. He didn’t let the fear of man stop him from doing what he believed was right. He knew that he had his faults, but he did his best to honor God. I really liked how he really loved Arabella, he wanted what was best for her.
I also really enjoyed the fact that Mercy was in this book. It was really interesting to see Mercy from a different view, since the first book was from her perspective. There were a couple of new characters and they won my heart, but I was so happy to see that Mrs. Moresby played a big part in this book.
This book had so many good quotes and so many good reminders. Some of my favorite quotes are, “Character is much more important than class” and “The world around us will always shift their definitions of what’s right and wrong. But God’s word never changes. His truth is steadfast. Why build my life on sinking sand when I have something much more solid I can live upon?” This is such a good reminder that God will never change and we can rest in Him.
This was an amazing book, I loved it so much. The Runaway Bride reminds us that we need to fear God and not man. Arabella struggles with letting what others think of her lead her life. Will she choose to do the right thing, or let her fear of man lead her. I read it so fast and it kept me up late at night, even though I had an early morning the next day I could not put it down. I definitely recommend this book and I can’t wait for the next one to come out.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
‘Maybe it was time to let the wisdom of God’s Word guide her.’
Jody Hedlund brings us the second book in her Bride Ships series with this one, my favorite so far. Arabella Lawrence, a wealthy young woman, escapes from a forced marriage in England by getting on a bride ship, ships that carried women to marry men they’d never even seen. But anything was better than the brutish and cruel man her father was forcing her to marry. Arabella is determined not to fall prey to such a man on Vancouver Island. There are two men here who would love to marry her. Lt. Drummond, a Navy gentleman who is upstanding and Peter Kelly, the town’s baker who has worked very hard to build his business. Both these men would make good husbands, but they clash constantly. Their stance on the natives of the island and how the smallpox outbreak among them must be treated are at opposite ends of the pole.
Arabella is beginning to overcome her fears of somehow going into a disastrous marriage and then she finds a starving native girl. She accepts Pete’s help in caring for the girl, but then things start turning sideways. Can she find hope and have her heart fulfilled and keep the girl and Pete safe? Or is she headed down the wrong side of the aisle again?
I loved these characters. Pete Kelly was such a fun character in this book. He could win over anyone’s heart. He was absolutely delightful and had such a heart for God. I especially loved how he knew where he came from, what he had become and what he came out of. God can indeed make a person a new creation! And Arabella’s character touched me greatly, too. She knows God loves her but is scared He will not bring her to a happy ending.
Hedlund is at her best here. I love the research she puts into her books and love learning about all the different plots she writes, based on actual events. It prompts me to check it out even further. Well done!
*My thanks to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.
“Today she might meet the man she’d marry.”
Jody Hedlund’s second installment in her new Bride Ships series, The Runaway Bride, explores the relatively unknown history of poor and middle-class British women willingly boarding bride ships to seek a better life and to find husbands in British Columbia in the 1860s. The treatment of the natives during the smallpox epidemic of 1862 in Victoria is a part of history that may also be unknown to many readers and is very interesting to learn about in this novel.
In an effort to escape the pain of her past, wealthy Arabella Lawrence heads to British Columbia aboard one of the bride ships where she meets two very different suitors, Navy Lieutenant Richard Drummond and Peter Kelly, the poor town baker with a heart of gold.
Jody Hedlund creates delightful characters and allows their personalities to shine, especially with Arabella and Peter. Handsome baker Peter Kelly, with his charming personality and wonderful sense of humor, is a hero that readers will be rooting for.
Hedlund shares the powerful message of breaking free from society’s expectations and to discover God’s expectations and plans for us. Mrs. Moresby continues to be a beloved secondary character in this series with her mentoring Arabella as she struggles with decisions that will affect her life and the lives of those most important to her. The Runaway Bride is highly recommended for readers of inspirational historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
“Character is much more important than class.”