I don't think I've ever read anything about the bride ships that came to Canada from England. It doesn't necessarily surprise me that something like that happened but what does surprise me is the "how" of it all, I guess. The author took many of the events of this book from actual accounts so the story was very true to what really happened. I really love that because it gives me such a good feel for where the brides came from and how they may have felt and acted. It was so interesting! I love learning about lesser known events in history which would explain my love for historical fiction.

Mercy is such an awesome character. Despite her horrible upbringing she embodies everything kind, gentle and compassionate. I loved her almost instantly. The author does such an incredible job of bringing the characters in this book to life. They felt like real people with struggles and growth. The growing intensity between Mercy and Joseph was fantastic. I was completely caught up in it and invested every step of the way.

This is one of my favorite books this year, I think. I have a handful of them now. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series!

Content: peril, mild violence, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another great read by Jody! I really enjoyed learning about brides that were sent over to Canada and as well as the story line. I loved getting to see two different type of people, from two different classes work out their feelings and own lives. To see the romance blossom and change. To see the journey that some had to take just to start a new life.

This is a superbly crafted read! Jody has woven an immersive tale that does not let go until you finish the book and even then, it lingers. This story has a lot of heartbreak and tragedy given the time period and the harshness of poverty in London during that period but even then there is hope and love that shines through this book. This is definitely a "meatier" read, it's not a light fluffy story but it is a wonderful book. I really enjoyed traveling with Mercy and Joseph aboard The Tynemouth and their arrival in British Columbia and Vancouver Island. That was quite a voyage! I liked most of the characters in the novel, with the exception of Mr. Scott(he played his part well!). Jody wrote him to be the perfect villain/foil to Joseph and Mercy. Mr. Scott was horrid in his treatment of the women. I really wanted to smack sense in to him on more than one occasion!! All in all, this book was a wonderfully entertaining read and I an eagerly looking forward to the next in the series!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

If you are looking for a historically intriguing read about an event you may not know about or a romantically told tale that goes soul deep, look no farther than A Reluctant Bride. First off this story is about bride ships, one that took women from England to British Columbia in the hopes of becoming brides for the many single men there.
Author Hedlund shows the desperate situations that could lead to the fateful choices some of these women made to get on that bride ship. Focusing specifically on Mercy Wilkins story, we see the abject poverty she and her family lived in. The jobs her family must endure to pay rent and put a little bit of food on the table. The sacrifices that must be made with children and the lengths that their mother would go to just to survive. For Mercy, marriage was not a rescue, nor was working in the unhealthy conditions of the workhouse, or working the streets; none of these options were a way to a happy future or a long life. Battling circumstances beyond her control, Mercy becomes a passenger on this ship headed for a world unknown to her in hopes of a better life for her and eventually her beloved sister.
Joseph Colville the ship’s doctor is also running from his life in a different way. He is a man who is not only skilled as a doctor, but also has wealth and is a lord. However he is quite surprised at what cargo the ship is carrying and through the storms of the travel and the strict watchful eyes of the chaperones, he and Mercy form a friendship that soon begins an attraction to each other.
This story does not shy away from the details of the poor in London and shows their great desperation and the unbelievable difference and prejudice within the class distinctions. What Mercy and Joseph feel for each other is forbidden in their culture. And while they both know this, their romance blooms despite it all.
Mercy is a woman without many choices, not only just being poor but also being a poor woman. Joseph has an opportunity to make a difference; Mercy has a chance for a different life. What will each of them choose? Be sure to read the author’s notes on her research with this story.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund is a wonderful story about bringing brides from England to British Columbia in 1862. The women who boarded the Tynemouth did so not knowing what their fate would be upon their arrival. They left all behind and there would be no turning back once the ship sailed.



Our heroine, Mercy Wilkins, knew she was just one more burden to her family if she stayed at home and wasn't going to settle for life in the workhouse or on the streets. But marriage was definitely not in he plans. She was a gifted nurse, with no formal training except love for others and the desire to care for the sick. It was her talent for nursing that led the wealthy Dr. Joseph Colville to seek her assistance among the sick aboard ship. Working side by side worked out well for some time since they both had no intention of marrying. The best intentions, however, don't work out at times.

I like this book because at the heart of this story is a young woman who had very little that she left behind. She saw what her parent's lives were like with little or nothing coming in to support a large family. Poverty caused her mother to do things that Mercy never wanted to emulate in her own life. It took courage for her to swallow her pride and board ship. She, like the real life women who left England to help settle the western part of our world blazed the trail for life as we know it today. This book is Mercy's story but there were others on board that ship and not all were poor, at least not financially. For whatever reason that led the women to seek that new life, they were all starting over from scratch, with no class or society to dictate.

Once again, Jody Hedlund has written an amazing historical novel that I recommend with 5 stars. Her research, as usual, is impeccable and the story is one that is very compelling. A Reluctant Bride is Book one in The Bride Ships series and already, I am eagerly waiting for the release of book two, The Runaway Bride in March 2020!

I absolutely adore Joseph in this book. There were times that he admitted out loud his faults, but even with his faults he was a great lead. I found his honesty reassuring and his care for his patients was perfect.

I never really connected with Mercy. I loved how she helped her friends and family, but her attitude towards marriage was too much sometimes.

I cannot imagine being on a boat as long as they were. The scenes of seasickness were awful. I don't think I could cope!

I liked this story, but found it a little too predictable. But overall another good read from Hedlund.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

Jody Hedlund has officially penned the latest must-read in historical fiction! This is not a book that is merely read, but experienced. The author is able to draw you so deeply into the heart of the characters that it's as if you are standing right amongst them. I was not ready to let them go when there were no pages left to go. I absolutely loved this story, and am already impatiently waiting for the next release in the series!

My favorite part of this book was the romance. I am a very picky person when it comes to the romance in novels. I love that the development of the relationship between the characters came primarily from a place of caring for the person and not the phsyical attraction. Joseph and Mercy each saw the other acting in love to the sick and hurting around them, and it was their care and compassionate hearts that initially forged their relationship. Although as time went by their phyiscal chemistry significantly increased, it was never the primary catalyst. I fully prefer a romance that is built on character and developing a love for one another on a deeper level than their physical appearance. Maybe it's because I'm caught in a world where we are constantly bombarded with the idea that our worth is based on our physical appearance, but when I read a book I want to escape that. I want to enter a world where people see the heart before the curves. That's why I fell so deeply into this novel and didn't want to leave when the pages were finished.

One of the other pieces of this story that I believe was fleshed out extremely well, was considering how the upbringing of a person affects their life as adults. Wealth and social standing can buy a great deal in life, but it can't purchase happiness. Despite being born into a wealthy family, Joseph lost them when he was a young boy to cholera. It left him afraid to love so he'd never have to say goodbye. Mercy grew up in a poverty stricken family with a mother who was constantly bringing more babies into the world with questionable paternity. Mercy questioned if love even existed. There was a great deal of growth and healing that had to occur in the hearts of the two before they could see how desperate they were for love and connection. Little did they know just how much that connection could heal.

I was surprised how much of this journey was based on actual people and events. I always appreciate when an author shares some of the fact or fiction in their notes at the end of one of their works. As connected as I felt to this story as I was reading, I feel even moreso knowing just how steeped in reality it truly was. I am already impatiently waiting for the next book in this series to release so that I can reenter their world. This one has successfully sealed a spot on my favorites list for this year!

*I received a copy of this book from the author. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Victorian England, to the settlement of Victoria Island, Canada...What.an.adventure. And so much real history! Even the main characters were inspired by real people!!! I have always admired how Jody Hedlund can seamlessly weave romance into her stories in a real, passionate, and Godly way. The faith is genuine and the struggles Mercy and Joseph face in their relationships with God are relatable and familiar to us.

The setting in this story is unlike any other book I have read. I didn't even know that there were bride ships that came to the west coast of Canada! (I'm a Washington State native myself.) But it makes so much sense and I am really looking forward to learning more history about the mining settlements. Although, I have no idea where Jody will be taking us next in this series.

Mercy was such a great woman to get to know. I felt connected to her. Even though I can't relate to a lot of the things she went through. She was an easy person to listen to, to learn about, to become friends with. Joseph was a bit of a mystery to me at first. It was great to watch him come into his own and to realize things about himself that he didn't understand before.

All said and done, I really think this is one of my favorite stories Jody has written. Between the romance, the friendships, and the unique setting, this story definitely holds a special place in my heart. Oh! And just a word of advice, don't start this book at 11 o'clock at night unless you intend to stay awake reading for several more hours!

I received a complimentary copy of A Reluctant Bride from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

A Reluctant Bride
By Jody Hedlund
Mercy Wilkins unknowingly lives out her name as she cares for those around her in the slums of London. Without hope for a future and as a promise to her sister, Mercy decides to apply for a spot on the Tynemouth sailing for British Columbia.
Lord Colville has gone against convention in becoming a doctor and now restless decides to be the surgeon on the Tynemouth. Little does he know that the women he last treats in the slums of London will also be aboard the ship.
Trapped on the rough seas Lord Colville and Mercy find themselves crossing paths to aid the people around them. While working together Lord Colville and Mercy share their hearts not realizing that love is blooming. Can they see beyond their classes and struggles to a future together?
I really enjoyed this book as it was well written and catching. This is the first book to the Bride Ships series and I can say I look forward to reading more.

Jody Hedlund pens another winner! It did not take long for me to fall in love with the characters in this novel, for they are realistic with trials that pull at your emotions and make you connect with them as a reader. The plot is interesting and the author gives exquisite details about a fascinating part of history. There is conflict in the story to keep you as a reader guessing and wanting to learn more, and I found myself staying up way too late one evening to finish it! I always look forward to great historical books by this author and I am pleased that this new series is off to a fantastic start! I most highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The opinions of the review are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

The Reluctant Bride is an outstanding book by Jody Hedlund. It takes place during the time period when there were many orphans in London. It is the first book in the Bride Ships series. Mercy Wilkins is from a poor family. She shows Christian kindness and mercy to those around her whenever she can. Mercy was offered the opportunity to go to British Columbia on a sailing trip with a sponsored group. She believes she will be able to be hired to work for families and have a better life. She also hoped to pave the way for her sister to come on the ship in the future. She came with a group and there are many sick. She ended up showing compassion for the sick people on the ship. She met Joseph Coville who was a doctor on the ship and became his assistant. He admired her compassion for the patients. She is supposed to be sold once she gets off the ship. What will become of Mercy once she gets off the ship? This book was given to me by the publisher and netgalley to read and review . I am not obligated to give a positive review of the book. Thank you for allowing me to read and review this outstanding book.

Mercy Wilkins is an Angel of Mercy on the streets of London, seeing only a bleak future ahead of her if she stays she heeds her sister's urging and joins the bride ship headed for British Columbia.



Dr. Joseph Coville is titled and wealthy, a sought after match for many looking to secure a husband for their accomplished daughter. Joseph has encountered much loss in his life, and is caught between running away and his calling to make a difference in the lives of those without access to care. He signs on with the bride ship, and is struck early on by Mercy's selfless care for others, her compassion and beauty.



Mercy is determined not to marry, but is it possible that God has other plans?



The very first in a brand new series by Jody Hedlund, this book explores the situations and hopes for a fresh start that made women choose to take a chance on a new life. I was surprised by how much of this was inspired by a true story. Ms. Hedlund highlights the differences in class that held poor women back in London, and the opportunities awaiting them in a new home.



Mercy is compassionate and selfless, automatically taking on a mother-like role for the younger girls on the ship, caring for them through every storm. While she is fearless when championing others, she struggles to see value in what she herself has to offer. Her natural nursing skills lead her to assisting Dr. Coville as he tends the sick during their long, rough journey. I admired her love for others, she is humble to a fault at times, with a courage that not even she knows.



Joseph feels pulled in many directions, he feels called to help the less fortunate, yet has a passion for seeing the world. He is inspired by Mercy's selflessness and unassuming nature never expecting something in return, unlike his peers in society. As he gets to know Mercy, he begins get just a taste of her experiences, realizing that maybe he isn't as blind to class as he thought that he was. I think all of us can see a bit of ourselves in Joseph, everyday I myself have my eyes opened to the realities of this world through relationships with and the experiences of others.



Strong tension throughout, whether from chemistry between the characters or through through situations. I was inspired by the bravery of these women headed to a place they had never been in hopes of a bright future where they could be anything. Ms. Hedlund does an excellent job of realistically showing the binds of class, and how it was so big a part of life for many in the 1800s dictating marriage, opportunity, etc. I loved Mrs. Moresby and how she represented the opportunities ahead for the women in British Columbia. Miss Lawrence is a kind and silent ally, an I am excited to read her story in the near future. A strong start to a new series, great character development and interaction. You won't want to put it down!



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Reluctant Bride is the first book in a new series, Bride Ships, by Jody Hedlund. With great attention to historical detail, Hedlund takes the reader on a journey from the poorest slums of London to hope for a better life in British Columbia. I enjoyed meeting the well-crafted and colorful characters and learning more about bride ships and the part they played in history. The settings in both London and British Columbia in the 1860s intrigued me and made vivid backdrops for the story. With just the right touches of suspense, romance, and inspiration, this book kept me riveted, while messages of hope, faith, courage, and the value of each individual added to my enjoyment of the story.
Hedlund’s distinctive historical detail, along with her memorable characters and brilliant story-telling make this a must-read for those who enjoy compelling historical fiction based on actual happenings. The author’s notes in the back of the book were an added bonus, and I was intrigued by some of the fascinating research she uncovered while writing the story. This book is headed right for my keeper shelf, and I’m anxiously awaiting the next in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher/NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund is a mesmerizing historical novel. The journey women made back then was difficult. I could not imagine the hardships they had to face. From gossips to illnesses, the ladies had their hands full. Especially, Mercy. Mercy is a young woman destined to leave London. A place where the poor like her and her family were suffering. So many did not have enough food let alone it being fresh, nor the clothes to properly dress right. Medical help was expensive and scary. Mercy went about bringing children to the doctor, Mr. Bates, to help them get well. But one such child, an infant, doesn't survive. I felt Mercy's pain. She wanted the child to live. Her hope and love for it, was beautiful. If only all people were like Mercy. An angel in disguise is what the doctors call her. This story is about Mercy and her people. Mercy finds her true calling and maybe even a happy ending. Love is on the horizon along with hope. Together, Mercy and the young doctor on the ship, will learn about life. Among them misery, death, and loss, the pair give humor and life to the book. I fell in love with them. Overall, this was a well-written story with a heartfelt tale.

There is so much to love about this book. Who doesn’t love the opportunity for someone who’s living in unimaginable circumstances to change their life? Mercy lives in the slums and is surrounded by hunger, filth, and need. For as long as she can remember she has taken care of her siblings, and helped the neighbors with theirs as well. Living in a place where it isn’t uncommon for children to die of hunger or sickness wears on a persons’ soul. By chance, Mercy is given an opportunity to go somewhere where life will be much easier. The downfall is, she may never see her family again. When the sister who practically raised Mercy begs for her to take the opportunity, she can hardly refuse. Once aboard the ship Mercy sees a doctor that she met before when bringing in a child in need. Joseph seemed like a kind man, and seeing him there puts her a little more at ease.

A lot can happen in a trip across an ocean. Mercy knows a little about hard work and determination and that’s just what Joseph needs when helping patients. Working together has caused more than a few heads to turn, but they both know that a love between their classes would be forbidden. Being a titled gentleman, Joseph knows there is much expected of him and the bride he chooses. Not only that, but sixty ladies including Mercy, are meant to be brides for a colony where women are in short supply. Can their forbidden love overcome so many obstacles? Or are they destined for heartbreak?

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction. The characters are easy to love, and I enjoyed seeing life through such different eyes. I couldn’t help but get swept up in the story and found it hard to put down. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Jody Hedlund always baffles me with her keen eye for history and ability to really bring the context alive.
My heart hurt for Mercy and the other immigrants whose lives have not always been kind to them.

Jody also has a deft hand to write a believable character who walks the thin line of finding contentment despite having so little (as in, she's never had a cloke in her life). Mercy Wilkins is worthy of her name, but I mostly loved how Jody chose this to be because of the influence of her sister, Patience, and not a naive characteristic.

Her compassionate heart will definitely bewilder aristocrat and doctor Joseph Coville. He has completely turned his back on society and traveled the world to fulfill what he believes to be his calling. In reality, Joseph never expected to inherit the title as it belonged to his elder brother. But cholera in one fistful event took those he held dear, and now Joseph avoids, though his dear friend Dr. Bates would way runs from, anything that reminds him of his grief.

These two characters have nothing in common it seems having grown up in such divergent circumstances. But a heart that beats solidly for the same cause might just have its way in joining two unlikely people.

I believe that this will be one of my favorite books by Jody Hedlund ever. I loved the history behind this because I had never read about these bride ships before. I loved the characters. I enjoyed getting to know a bit about many of the minor characters as they interacted with Mercy and Joseph. I especially liked to see how Mercy was able to overcome some of her ingrained habits. It is nice to see someone grow as a person throughout a story. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

It is so exciting to read Jody Hedlund's first book from her new Bride Ships series. I loved Mercy from the start. Her bravery and courage made her a fabulous character. It was great watching her friendship with Joseph grow.
I am giving A Reluctant Bride a well deserved five plus stars. I can not wait to get my hands on the second installment, The Runaway Bride, in 2020. I highly recommend this one.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion

We can’t get caught upon seeing problems from our view. God’s so much bigger and has things worked out in His ways - ways we can’t begin to understand”... A Reluctant Bride.
Wow! I’m totally in love with Jody Hedlund new series!
I love Historical Romances and Jody is absolutely one of my top favorite authors!
I love that her stories are usually based on true stories, even if the characters are sometimes fictional, but they manage to reflect so well how people lived under such hard circumstances, and how all this hardship made them strong and compassionate for others. There’s always an inspiring message in her books, and this was no exception, and I love that it doesn’t feel preachy at all.
Mercy Wilkins lives in one of London’s poorest slums. She’s totally devoted to taking care of her younger siblings and helping feed and care for other needy children in her slum. But the more she does, the more she realizes it’s never enough. She has heard that God provides for all his children, but has she, as well as so many people surrounding her, been forgotten and neglected from Him? Suddenly, her mother gets fired from her work, and she overheard her mother and her husband questioning who will have to leave the house next, since they can’t feed so many mouths anymore. When she hears they are thinking of sending her young brother to live in the docks, she knows she won’t allow it so she takes a providential opportunity of joining a ship to start a new life in British Columbia, where women are scarce. She’s just not aware that she’s sent as a bride to be for one of the many men that live there...
Joseph Colville is a wealthy man, Baron of Wiltshire. But his estate and the social life attached to it is the last thing he wants after watching his whole family die to a cholera epidemic that ravaged London. So he instead devotes to study medicine and later to serve as a surgeon in long ocean voyages to India and other places. His mentor, Dr. Bates offers him partnership in his medical office for the needy people of London slums, where he sporadically helps, but he’s not ready to compromise. He wants his freedom and the excitement of exploring new worlds. So when he’s offered the chance to be the surgeon of the Tynemouth, he knows he can’t lose this opportunity of a new adventure...
But life in the ship proves more difficult than expected and both Joseph and Mercy meet again, after having met at Dr. Bates office, when Mercy brings in a very sick little girl. Dr. Bates told Joseph afterwards that Mercy really was an “Angel of Mercy” as she was always helping someone in need, in one way or another. But it’s not until meet again in the ship that he has a chance of experience himself what Dr. Bates meant. At the first sea storm, where many people fall ill and get injured, it’s Mercy the one who assists the doctor in taking care of the sick. Soon she’s an essential aid to the doctor in assisting him to care for the sick, as there are many needs that he alone can’t take care of. This forges a deep and beautiful relationship based on caring for others, that slowly grows into something more. But a romance in their circumstances is prohibited and when they get to British Columbia, there will be many men vying for her hand. Will they have a chance at love after all? Or will circumstances keep them apart from each other?
This was a beautiful story! I loved the depth of the characters. Mercy was a beautiful woman, inside and outside, always putting the welfare of others before hers, and sacrificing everything she has to make others lives more bearable. She’s innocent and transparent, even there’s misery and evil near her, and what is most beautiful about her is that she’s not aware of her beauty or the generosity of her spirit. Joseph was also a strong character, still grieving and searching for his real identity, but with a kind and compassionate heart. Mercy’s generosity humbles him and makes him question if he can make a difference in this world, just as she is doing, one person at a time.
I loved the romance in this story. It’s not a romance based on physical attraction but in the beauty of the other’s soul. What truly brings them together is the generosity and selflessness that the circumstances bring out in them, the understanding of doing something that matters and makes a difference in people’s lives, more than love at first sight. The way the relationship grows was beautiful to watch. And I really fell in love with these characters, the things they endure, and the decisions they make.
This is also a faith inspired novel and it has a beautiful message too about trusting God and how He can bring beautiful and more meaningful things from bad things and hardship than an easy and comfortable life.
I also love Jody’s expertise in historical settings. I’m not an expert, but it feels so realistic and I’m sure it’s very well researched. I felt I was reading a Charles Dickens novel, but with sweeter elements to make the misery less painful.
This is a new favorite book of mine. I love every single one of Jody’s stories but this one is right now at the top of the list.
Can’t wait to read the next installment in this series. Hopefully it will be Patience story, Mercy’s sister who remains at a workhouse in London.
I highly recommend this new start to a captivating and realistic series.
I received a copy of this book from 5e Publisher via Netgalley and this is my honest and unbiased review.

Book Review: Can love break the barriers of class, work and society’s expectations?


A Reluctant Bride
(The Bride Ships Book #1)
by Jody Hedlund



Jody Hedlund’s newest series, The Bride Ships starts with A Reluctant Bride. She takes us to the slums of 1862 London, England. Mercy Wilkins is the “angel of mercy” that cares for the young children not only in her family, but those who live in the tenements around her.

When she rushes in a sick, neighbor child to the medical clinic she meets Lord Joseph Colville, the substitute on-call doctor.

Tragedy strikes and her mother loses her job. Mercy desperate to not burden her family, agrees to go to British Columbia with the Columbia Mission Society to find work in a new land.

On the ship she runs into Lord Colville again who is now the ships surgeon. Mercy becomes caretaker to the younger women of the Columbia Mission Society, that inform her she is expected to be a “bride-to-be” when they arrive at their destination.

Realizing that Mercy was an asset as a nurse, Joseph requests her assistance from her chaperones. During the trip across the seas, a love blossoms that neither wants to admit is happening. Mercy never intended to be a bride. Joseph wasn’t ready to settle down. Of course, his title stands in the way and her commitment to the Society keeps her from acting on her feelings with him.

So many things threaten to keep them apart when it is obvious they belong together. One of my favorite quotes from the boom is from the ships captain, “My advice,” said the captain, his voice turning gentle, “do not let the barriers of class interfere with anything. Not work. Not life. And certainly not love.”

Another quote, “Who determined their stations? Why did the world need such stations anyway? Would not the world be a better place if a man simply lived in humility and loved his brother or sister as himself, regardless of one’s birth?” Is so poignant that it applies to today as well as the past.

Jody Hedlund again not only entertains, but gives inspiration of how love can conquer so many things if only our hearts allow. I look forward to many more books in this series if they are as wonderful as A Reluctant Bride. Be sure not to miss this one!

Please visit her website at https://jodyhedlund.com


FTC Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this title by Bethany House publishing and NetGalley for review purposes only; no other compensation was awarded.