
Member Reviews

The story of Faith Jackson and Matthew Weber is sweet, a little dangerous and so good!
I liked Faith when we meet her as a little girl although the prologue is sad it also shows her character as being sharp, adventurous and strong. Qualities that she needed when she became a spy.
Matthew was the perfect partner for her because he is a gentle and caring man. Together he and Faith were interesting and I looked forward to their meetings. I liked that the author gave then plenty of interaction with other characters including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.
Overall, The Patriot Bride is a very good read. I liked the female friends that were loyal to Faith and I enjoyed their afternoon visits with each other but the one character that I absolutely adored was her butler, Clayton. He was funny and the one character that totally surprised me. I liked both the historical and faith storylines making this one for the keeper shelf.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Patriot Bride just may be my favorite of the Daughters of the Mayflower series! Kimberley Woodhouse gives attention to historical details of America's independence from Britain! Faith Jackson is a wonderful socialite widow who also delivers secret messages for the Patriots. You will love Matthew Weber, a handsome spy! George Washington and Benjamin Franklin are also important characters in this fiction book! I recommend The Patriot Bride to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

As a Daughter of the American Revolution whose 4th great grandfather served in Patrick Henry's, Lighthorse Brigade, I love to read Revolutionary War fiction, and Kimberley Woodhouse did not disappoint.
Focusing on the time period just before the Revolution began, our hero, Matthew Weber is embroiled in the Patriot movement and finds himself pretending to be a Loyalist in order to spy for the Patriots. The heroine, Faith Lytton Jackson, a descendent of the Mayflower Lyttons, is an extremely wealthy widow who aligns herself with the Patriot movement. Throw in important names like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, a group of women who learn to send coded messages, knit socks, and pray for the movement; and you have a wonderfully written pre-Revolution novel
Woodhouse's obvious research into the pre-Revolution time period and its events is displayed throughout the novel. I felt like I had stepped right into the midst of that period. Her main characters are well developed and feel very realistic. I loved her ending which was the Declaration of Independence.
Well done and highly recommended.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Set in 1775 just prior to the Declaration of Independence, it was a time when people needed to decide which side they were for - the King in far-away Britain and his local army of well-trained soldiers, or the Patriot cause which aimed to break free of the tyranny of the king, but had limited means. And the cost of a wrong choice could be death - and a most unpleasant death at that. Even after choosing one's side, though, there was still the need to decide how much one was willing to do to help that side.
Faith and Matthew have both decided to espouse the Patriot side, and to do it thoroughly. He is to become a spy in the ranks of the Loyalists, and she is to be his messenger. And so are brought together two people who have long known of each other through a mutual friend, George Washington. With war coming ever nearer and the stakes increasing, will they find the time to get to know each other? And will they overcome the problems besetting them in their efforts for the cause?
I wanted to like this, but in the end it was just okay. The time period covered was interesting, as I knew little about it, but the story didn't really hold my interest, the writing quality wasn't great, and the characters didn't feel real to me. The story itself was okay, but not a lot really happened, which seems sad for a story set in such an eventful time period. All in all, while not a bad book, it's not one that I would particularly recommend.
Characters: Felt somewhat wooden - and Anthony made no sense. Could anyone really be that arrogant and oblivious of all around him? I didn't really connect with any of the characters.
Storyline: Not bad, but not particularly eventful. I think I'll find the book fairly highly forgettable.
Content and language: Clean, no bad language, limited (non-descriptive) violence.
Message: Somewhat of a message to rely on God, but not particularly strong. Good to have in the background, and definitely didn't feel 'preachy' when present.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

After my lukewarm response to the first book in the Daughters of the Mayflower multi-author series, The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse, I was contemplating skipping this, the fourth book in the series. So, when Barbour sent me an email with a pre-approval link to NetGalley, inviting me to read The Patriot Bride, I decided I would risk having to write another "constructive" review and take the plunge.
Happily, whether it is that the elements of the story are more suited to her writing or that her writing has progressed, The Patriot Bride left me comparatively little to dislike. After a bit of a slow start with the prologue, though it very nicely set the stage, and if you disregard the slightly clunky incorporation of real historical figures and some of the word choices that may have gone farther than necessary to make the story more readable to a modern audience, this Revolutionary War spy tale was quite fun. The dynamics between Faith and her two suitors, along with the ladies who attend her social gatherings are really where this story shines. And whether or not the way the scripture memorization for code practice method used by Faith and those ladies is historically accurate, I adored it.
Having enjoyed this story in spite of my misgivings, I am optimistic at the news that of the two novels now added to this series that moves through United States history as well as Faith Lytton's family tree, one will be written by Kimberley Woodhouse.
Each of these novels can be read as a standalone, if there is a particular storyline or period of history that interests you as a reader. I'm personally looking forward to specific time periods, but hope to continue reading them all in order.
This review refers to a NetGalley e-galley read courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was pleasantly surprised by The Patriot Bride. I've read the previous novels in the Daughters of the Mayflowers series and enjoyed them, but when I realized part of the story was told from the villian's perspective, I was apprehensive--I usually do not like books when this happens. However, I did enjoy the book despite this. I also thought the author did a good job with the many appearances by real historical characters--this is another one of those things that bothers me when not done well. I liked the romance between Faith and Matthew, but I especially enjoyed the supportive relationships Faith had with her friends, especially the female ones. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!

Kimberley Woodhouse’s new book brings history to life. With characters like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, you’ll be on a journey back to the beginning of the Revolutionary War. I learned things I didn’t know before about the time period. You’ll enjoy the love story between two spies. And the villain will make you laugh. The scenes are relatively short and skip through time rather quickly, but the story was easy to read and enjoyable,

Inspiring historical fiction! I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, reading all the different time periods. Typically Colonial American fiction is not a genre I read but I really enjoyed these characters - especially the fact that the cast included Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Compared to the other Daughters of the Mayflower books, I didn't feel like this one had quite as much character development as some of the others, but I really enjoyed reading about independent Faith and dashing hero Matthew. Seeing the Eve of the Revolution unfold through the eyes of these characters was very insightful.
I will continue to read this series! Just as a side note, I would like to see each book in this series include the family tree at the beginning so I can keep everyone straight.

I love books with spunky female characters, turn her into a spy and I'm hooked. This story was well written and filled with loads of historical facts that turned this into a very compelling read. Another great read in this amazing series.

I read this book and found most of the story to be believable and interesting. I love the interactions with Washington and Franklin - two men that I admire and would love to have met! However, there was one character in the story completely unbelievable - the odious Mr. Jameson. He wasn't really necessary for the storyline. However, I did enjoy reading about Matthew and Faith. I love that so many people were instrumental in fighting for our county's freedom - everyday men and women!

The Patriot Bride
By Kimberley Woodhouse
This book takes you back to the years 1752-1776. It is the dawn of America- the land of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This book follows the life of Faith Lytton- courageous, independent, and honorable patriot. Faith’s tale begins when she is a young girl learning how we are never alone when we let God into our life. Over the years Faith’s faith is tested and now once again she finds herself in the middle of changing times and relying on God to lead her way. This time the stakes are higher. It is life or death. Faith is an adamant Patriot and decides to use her position to aid the Patriots as a spy. In a time of great adversity Faith finds herself falling in love.
This is the 4th installment of the Mayflower Brides Series. I feel like all the books can be read as stand-alone novels since there is little in each book tying them together. They are linked through the generations of Lytton women. It is enjoyable however to read them as a series and I enjoy having each book authored by different authors.
It was fun to read a book with personal telling’s of some of Americas forefathers, however I felt it to be a bit lax in retelling the perils of the revolutionary war. Although serious situations arise I never felt on edge. It never felt dangerous as I’m sure it would have been. It was enjoyable to read never the less. I enjoyed the spice of Faith’s character. Over all this was a good addition to the series.
I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest opinion.

WONDERFUL!
A captivating read that is so realistic that you feel like you've been transported through time living the experience as the story unfolds! Gripping emotions, intense and non-stop twists to keep you glued needing to turn the pages! An amazing must read!

I definitely enjoyed reading this book by Kimberley Woodhouse. It was a great combination of fictional and real historical characters. She did a great job of combining the two very well. As supporters of the Patriot cause Faith and Matthew make a great combination. Although times are hard, they continue to forge ahead in a most worthy cause.
I am sure you will really enjoy this book. And I am looking forward to the next in the series! I have loved everyone of them so far!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This was a fun book to read, not a lot of depth. I really like Faith for her spunk. The obnoxious suitor, Anthony was so dense that it was funny. The love, friendship and loyalty within her group of women really stood out.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book (from NetGalley). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As with all of the others in this series, I have to say that I enjoyed The Patriot Bride. However, this one would not likely be my favorite of them. So as to not spoil the book, I will just say that I wish the characters had more time together to get to know one another. I completely understand that their positions did not allow for more than what was provided. It just felt that I had to believe that the emotions were there more than see them developing for myself--which I loved about the others in the series. There was still a bit of action and adventure-- just not as much romance as I had anticipated.

I thoroughly enjoyed this account of America’s turning point in history. The men and women who fought for our independence and took risks to ensure our freedom were portrayed so vividly. With each Daughters of the Mayflower book, I’ve been able to piece together how this great nation was formed and governed.
Kimberley Woodhouse has done her research and it shows! She brought both George Washington and Ben Franklin to life in my mind and gave them personalities. I could hear Paul Revere call out “The British are coming” and the fear it instilled in many of the Patriots hearts. It was a time of uncertainty in our nation where both friends and families were divided and loyalties tested. I could not imagine living in this era! It was so real to me as if a movie were playing in my mind; Woodhouse did an exceptional job of describing places, people and events happening! And no story would be complete without a little romance. Both Faith and Matthew felt an immediate attraction the first time they met while secretly passing on messages. But their budding love would be tested as war edged closer and times became more dangerous.
Historical events come to life in this well-written book set before our Independence Day 1776!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing/ NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review. *

This is such an amazing story. I learned so much, and it was an enjoyable way to do so. She writes with so much emotion and passion for our history. I loved Faith and Matthew so much.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Faith has grown up with George Washington as her neighbor, her guardian, and her best friend. Faith, now living in Boston, helps send coded messages to Washington from other Patriots. When a lady is needed to pass messages back and forth to Matthew, a spy for the Patriots, Faith volunteers. This book brings history to life. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. Even though Faith has qualms at time, Faith is a courageous and resourceful heroine. Matthew is in a dangerous position posing as a Loyalist while war is imminent. As they pass coded messages back and forth, Faith and Matthew's admiration for each other grows. Faith also has to deal with a self-absorbed opportunist who could hurt the Patriot's cause. This book was well written and researched. I love this book and am enjoying this series.

Spying for the Colonies
Living in Boston as the Colonies prepared for the Revolutionary War was dangerous, but also exciting. Faith Jackson, a wealthy widow and ward of George Washington, is a patriot who wants to help her country. When a message needs to be passed to a Loyalist, Faith becomes the courier in spite of the danger.
Mathew Weber is a friend to both Ben Franklin and his son William. As the opinions about the revolution separate Ben and William, Mathew finds himself getting information on the impending conflict from both sides. He too becomes a spy. He gets to know Faith through clandestine meetings and they begin to see in each other the possibility for new love.
This is a good historical novel, historically accurate, and with a romantic plot. However, I found this fourth book more disappointing than the earlier books. This was due to the use of historical figures like Washington and Franklin. I have read a great deal about the period and both Washington and Franklin. I didn’t think the portrayal of either rang true. This is always a problem when well know characters are used in a historical fiction, because many people already have preconceived ideas of the characters, their motivations, and how they would behave.
The other characters are better. Faith is a strong woman with solutions that while they work are often unusual. Mathew is a good foil for Faith. He’s honest and ready to take chances for the cause of the Colonies. Their love and faith are good themes for the book.
If you enjoy a good historical novel, you’ll like this one.
I received this book from Barbour Publishing for this review.

The Patriot Bride is the fourth book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. Kimberley Woodhoue wrote the first and fourth books. In this most recent addition to the series, Faith Lytton, great-great-great granddaughter to William and Elizabeth Lytton, was orphaned at the age of ten and made ward of then twenty-year-old George Washington. Faith grew into a fine, Christian woman who embraced the Patriot's cause. Having been widowed after one week of marriage and having never remarried, Faith felt compelled to take on a dangerous mission as messenger between Patriot spies, sparing those women with husbands and children from the dangers involved. Matthew Weber, a close friend of Washington's and a thirty-six-year-old bachelor, was a Patriot spy among the Loyalists. It was to him that Faith carried coded messages while receiving messages in return. Neither anticipated the spark that became a flame growing between them, nor the consequences of the request of the Loyalists whom Matthew moved among that he spy on the Patriots.
Woodhouse provides her reader with an interesting historical romance with a dash of intrigue. While the book is one of a series, it works well as a stand-alone read. The book holds the reader's interest without a great deal of complexity; is is a simple, entertaining, quick read. For me books like this are akin to using a palate cleanser between courses.
I thank NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Patriot Bride in exchange for an honest review. I was under not obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.