The Reluctant Bride

Reviewed by:

Cindy Akre, blogger and voracious reader

REVIEW INTRODUCTION

Title:

The Reluctant Bride

Author:

Jody Hedlund

Publisher:

Bethany House

http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse

Date:

2019

Format:

Paperback

Length:

342 pages

OVERVIEW

Mercy Wilkins finds her life in London in the 1860s bleak and hopeless.  She discovers a possible remedy: joining a bride ship for Canada.  She agrees to the conditions that, upon arrival, she must marry one of the men waiting for a bride.  Her travels on the ship are not what they could be and she finds herself in an awkward position attracted to the doctor on board while she is thrust into service to him. Joseph Colville, the ship’s surgeon, is running from his own painful past.  Despite his attraction to her, he realizes she has signed a binding contract to marry upon arrival, and he is not a prospect.  He takes great pains to maintain his own personal integrity on the crossing, which is admirable.  But their arrival in Canada concerns him with such a diverse group of men vying for the attentions of the 60 women aboard, including the one he has come to love.  The situation gets dire when Mercy decides to assert her independence and balks at the marriage agreement made in London.  The author provides the historical account she used for her novel’s basis which was an actual ship, the Tynemouth.  Knowing you are reading historical fiction makes this a fascinating read, especially with the risks women were willing to take to escape dire conditions in England.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5):

5

Suggested Audience:

High school and above

Christian Impact:

The author weaves Christian faith elements into the narrative quite seamlessly.

Other Notes:

The author provides the historical account she used for her novel’s basis which was an actual ship, the Tynemouth.