A new Jody Hedlund book is always something that I meet with great anticipation. When it’s the opener of a new series, even better! A Reluctant Bride is a lovely start to her Bride Ships series. I love that Hedlund tackles another intriguing historical event, this time women being a part of a bride ship to be sent to marry complete strangers. This is something I have vaguely heard about before but have never read any fiction concerning this happening.

Our main character Mercy is a desperate woman. Given the option of the workhouse, living on the streets, or perhaps an even worse fate, Mercy decides to forgo them all and agrees to sail on one of the bride ships. Bound for a colony and potential marriage to men they have never met, Mercy and the other women are kept under strict separation by their chaperones. Mercy, however, has a gift for tending to those who are ill, and becomes a great help to the ship’s doctor. This doctor, Joseph Colville, happens to be an aristocrat, and the stark contrasts between their stations in life is one of the fascinating elements of this story. From living conditions in London to sailing conditions on the ship, Hedlund shows the contrast between the sheer desperation of the poor and the ease of the rich.

While this novel is classified as a historical romance, the plot doesn’t suffer any from that distinction. Plenty of plot points held my attention, and I also enjoyed Mercy and Joseph trying to work through their obvious differences in stations of life. The romance is easy to root for, of course, and readers looking for some sigh-worthy moments will not be disappointed. I’m hopeful that some of the secondary character from this story will be back with a story of their own in coming books.

A Reluctant Bride is the perfect summer read to sink into with its fascinating history, endearing characters, and tender romance. I am eager to see where Hedlund takes the series next!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and the opinions expressed here are my own.

A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund is an excellent historical fiction tale set in the 1860's of protagonist Mercy Wilkins, a poor young woman in London faced with many difficulties and choices to make that lead her to a transatlantic voyage.  Mercy Wilkins never dreamed of leaving her home in the poor slums in London; however, when she is forced to either find work or leave home, she has no other choice but to accept the journey on a bride ship going to British Columbia.  Needless to say, Mercy has been through much in her young life, yet she still has pushed through the grief, pain, and obstacles in order to survive on her own in a new foreign land. 
Joseph Colville has endured much loss and tragedy in his life and has pushed forward through it to become an excellent doctor. He has a hard time settling down in one spot, instead, serving as a doctor aboard various ships on voyages around the world.  Joseph takes the next adventure of serving as the surgeon/physician for the long voyage from England to British Columbia on the Tynemouth.  He enjoys his work and never had thought of settling down with a wife and a family, yet when Joseph happens into Mercy perhaps his mind changes.  
Will Mercy and Joseph survive the voyage full of physical sickensses, social class tifts, storms, strikes, and so many other difficulties? Will their friendship develop into something more or will their vast difference in social class destroy their chance at happiness?  I guess you'll just have to read it to find out! :) Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from the deep characters, the historical themes, and the struggles of faith, love, pain, and life.  I am a fan of Jody Hedlund, and this work of hers did not dissapoint. It was an excellent historical trip in adventure, struggle, pain, faith, and love. I would definitely recommend this book. An excellent read!

Bride ships. Hmmm...a term that I had never heard before. In the 1800's, women who were living horrendous lives would board these ships in hopes of securing a better life elsewhere. That is precisely what the main character, Mercy Wilkins, does in this beautiful book. @jodyhedlund has once again done her research well and invites readers to delve into circumstances that they never knew existed.
Does Mercy escape a wretched future?
Does working alongside Doctor Colville offer far more than gainful employment?
This is a book about hope and the gift of second chances. I highly recommend it! amygreen@bethanyhouse.com @bethanyhousefiction @bakerpublishinggroup #booklove #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bookmail #areluctantbride #brideshipseries #brideships

I could not go through what Mercy did. She gave up everything and still kept her sweet helpful nature. She had people looking down on her just because of where she was born, but did not let that stop her. She was able to find the best in her circumstances and I loved how it all turned out.
Mercy finds herself on a bride ship as she is trying to get out of a bad situation. While on the voyage over, she finds herself helping others, a carry over from her previous life. She was able to make the long voyage from London to British Columbia more bearable for many on the ship.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series.

Deeply satisfying. This girl knows how to write a story, and how to end it, with a promise for more, and you can't wait. Based on historical facts. Mercy was from the poorest of the poor, living in the slums of London. But she had been raised with love and caring, mostly by her sister - who was in a Workhouse and near to death. She made Mercy promise to go on a ship to British Columbia for a new start. A ray of hope for the hopeless. Reluctantly, Mercy went, not realizing that it was a Bride Ship. She accepted the role that she had lived as due her station, felt she was the bottom of the bottom of society. She reached out to help all around her in any way that she could, primarily nursing the sick. She became deeply attached to each in her care, showing kindness and love. Joseph is a member of Society, but chose to be a ship's surgeon. He learns a lot about himself and how he and his peers treat the poor. Mercy proves to be a perfect nurse, and they spend time together as they travel. Each learns they have prejudices, and work through the assumptions of those who surround them on the ship. The author must have done a lot of research to know what it was like to live in a ship at that time, because you can easily picture everything. A story where you become attached to the characters - need a two five-star rating to give it justice. Eagerly awaiting the next in the series!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#AReluctantBride #JodyHedlund #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

Mercy Wilkins’s future in Shoreditch, London, is hopeless. Her family struggles to feed the children, pay the rent, and just survive. Mercy’s older sister, Patience went to the workhouse to relieve the family of her upkeep. Patience, though, encourages Mercy to sign up for a ship going to British Columbia for Mercy to get a fresh start. With nothing to lose, Mercy signs up, hoping to land a job in the new land. Unbeknownst to her, in her haste to sign up, she has signed onto a bride ship.
Dr. Joseph Colville (a/k/a wealthy Lord Joseph Colville, Baron of Wiltshire) is running from the death of his parents and brother. For a long time he has bypassed the trappings of his wealth and worked to make his way. He knows his place, but he moves beyond social class to treat people equally, most of the time.
How does a child of the slums come to befriend a wealthy baron? You’ll have to read and see.
I love Jody’s books because she does her homework. You can count on her stories to really dig into the historical setting to bring the time to life. I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

A Reluctant Bride is a historical gem. The different settings are so beautifully crafted you can practically smell the slums of London or hear the sea birds at sunset aboard the Tynemouth or smell the pine trees as you set foot in Vancouver. It is a vivid world, to be sure.
The story of the brides recruited by the Columbia Mission Society is intriguing and quite an adventure for the poor women from the slums as well as for me! I could hardly wait to see what awaited them on their trip around the Horn as I devoured chapter after chapter and visited each port along the way.
Mercy is truly an angel with a heart bursting at the seams to aid any and all--no matter their social class. And although she thinks herself no better than a servant, she is a brilliant example of a servant of Christ. I cheered for her as I watched her mature in her confidence once she left the oppressive life of the slums.
Joseph is a most definitely a swoon-worthy hero, with wealth and a title to boot. But it is his humble ability to leave his title behind in order to serve others that will steal your heart--and Mercy’s, too. Their chemistry simmers despite the difference in their backgrounds. And the gap in the classes only intensifies their romance as they try to put aside any feelings they have for each other for the sake of society’s opinion.
If you love a book rich with historical details that don’t bog down the story (or the romance), then you will enjoy A Reluctant Bride. I know I did!

“Our whole lives are going to be filled with challenges, and our job is to keep growing and seeking after what God has next for us.”

Jody Hedlund ranks among the top Christian fiction authors in my book, and “A Reluctant Bride” is the perfect illustration of why. Her writing impeccably integrates plot, history, characters, and setting to create a stunning journey that sweeps the reader into the story right from the first page and stays in mind long after the last. A seamless coalescing of elements breathes life into each chapter, both informing and resonating with the reader. Fans of such authors as Connilyn Cossette, Tessa Afshar, and Kate Breslin will not want to miss out on Jody Hedlund’s own repertoire, and “A Reluctant Bride” is an excellent starting point.

Based on a true story, “A Reluctant Bride” opens in London, England, in May of 1862. While she keeps the narrative clean, Hedlund does not shy away from the gritty details, which is so important not only in maintaining historical accuracy but also for the sake of appreciating the characters’ perspectives and drawing contemporary parallels. This is Dickens’ London, with its rampant disease and strife, its destitute population, and its permeating hopelessness. It is this milieu from which the aptly named Mercy Wilkins emerges, a tenderhearted young woman forced to make her way in the world apart from her family and the life that she has always known. Encountering Lord Joseph Colville, a physician running from the pain of his past, the two would seem to be polar opposites. However, circumstances draw them together and cause them both to examine their lives.

One of the best aspects of this novel is the fact that the main characters’ faith is not deeply rooted to begin with but grows and matures throughout their journey as a result of their struggles. Moreover, all of the characters are three-dimensional and authentic, with plausible motivations. Two of the secondary characters, Miss Lawrence and Mrs. Moresby, particularly intrigued me. Given the time period, concerns regarding women’s propriety and social class disparities pervade the story. How Mercy responds reflects her subservient upbringing and serves as a call to action for readers today: “Don’t get stuck thinking you don’t matter or you’re not important enough. God didn’t create some people to be better than others. He created everyone to have equal value.”

Infused with a strong faith component, “A Reluctant Bride” encompasses several prevalent themes. The romance is swoon-worthy yet clean, and it does not fall into the typical formulaic patterns of so many love stories but rather embodies a stirring complexity. The story encourages readers to challenge the status quo in a world where compassion and loving one’s neighbor goes against the grain. Helping the downtrodden and putting others before oneself reap eternal rewards and can change the world, one person at a time. As Joseph ponders, “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?” Most importantly, “A Reluctant Bride” emphasizes surrendering everything to God, a habit that requires continual practice and that brings true peace and contentment. For a thought-provoking, inspiring, soul-stirring read, look no further than Jody Hedlund’s “A Reluctant Bride.”

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

This first book in the new Bride Ships series by Jody Hedlund was, for me, like most of her other first-book-in-a-new-series novels. By this, I mean that it spent most of its time setting up the time period and place that the book was set in, introducing the characters for this book (and often for sequels), and really just establishing her general setting for the series, without being a spectacular novel itself. I didn’t connect to either of the characters; I thought their romance was just odd. The timing of it was odd, the plot was odd, and nothing really just seemed to jive with me. However, I’ve noticed this being a pattern among first books of hers, and I know that the latter ones in her series are always phenomenal, so I don’t mind reading the first ones to get myself placed in the setting of the series. It’s not usually a great read, but it’s not usually bad either–just kind of bland and generally not as exciting as the books that follow it. I understand completely that the first book in a series has a lot of work to do in setting up the time and place of the series, so I’m not disappointed about it. I would just say, if you miss this one, don’t worry. It’s usually not too hard to pick up with the second book, and you don’t miss much from the first one. This is not to say that this isn’t a sweet historical romance based off of real people–it is, and I loved all the history incorporated into this novel. It just wasn’t one of Hedund’s best, in my opinion.

Thank you to Bethany House and Net Galley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to read and review. I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

The start of a new Jody Hedlund series is always an exciting thing. She has more than earned her spot as one of my must-read authors with her stellar characters and in-depth research that shines through in her stories. The idea of bride ships is something I think I was aware of but had never really given much thought to. Through Mercy and the women she befriends on the voyage I was really able to feel the desperation that would drive a woman to leave her family and homeland behind for such an unknown destination.

The journey from England to British Columbia felt very claustrophobic and Mr. Scott’s presence always seemed to loom around the corners as I was turning pages. I was getting some serious Mr. Collins vibes from this character and his obsession with class and patronage. His awkwardly long bows had me looking around uncomfortably right along with Joseph and Mercy!

Mercy’s situation in life is about as bleak as it could be and yet she is always willing to give a little more of herself to those in need, even to her own detriment. She is a ray of light whenever she’s on the page and it is so easy to see why others are drawn to her.

The living conditions in the slums of London were absolutely shocking to read about! Buildings being propped up and filth in the streets? I could almost feel the diseases crawling and was so happy to escape.

I am looking forward to reading the next in the series to see how life develops on Vancouver Island after the brides arrive and begin to settle into life on the frontier. I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction and romance.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love reading the author’s notes on the background of a novel and this fictional story has lots of real facts and happenings included. History is so much more interesting learned this way. My eyes were opened to the poverty and slum areas of London around 1862. My heart broke for Mercy and how she had to live. The love she never received for herself she gave willingly to those around her in need. From helping those sick to begging for stale bread from a baker to share with the orphans on the street. When an opportunity arises for her to travel by ship to British Columbia to a new settlement she reluctantly agrees. Thinking she is going to find a job and work there she later finds out she’s expected to be a bride for one of many men waiting for the women to arrive.
On board ship she meets the doctor, Joseph, an aristocrat and gives her help to him when needed. They are both hiding deep hurts and griefs from the past and have run from them and from God. The story told about them and how they change and grow during their lengthy voyage is truly worth reading. This is going to be a series and I’m truly looking forward to the next one after reading A Reluctant Bride.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

What a beautiful book cover for a beautiful story this book has told…….I love Historical fiction and this one begins in the slums of London in the 1860’s. I had never heard of a Bride Ship but it stands to reason that willing women would be brought to a place where there were very few men to become brides. To many of these women it would be so much better than what they were facing in their present dilemmas. This story revolves around a beautiful woman who can hardly find enough food for herself, yet has the heart to help the sick and others who fare worse than she. Merci finds herself on this ship at the request of her sister who is in the Poor House, and dying from little food and hard work. Merci agrees to go, but is determine to never marry. Then we have a young Lord who is also a doctor who has signed on to be the ship’s doctor on this Brides Ship. All of this makes for a very interesting read. Each page filled with suspense, hardships, tragedy and yes, romance. What a book to keep you reading on and on until the last beautiful ending for this beautiful book……I received a copy from the publisher and am happy to leave a review.

While I've heard of mail-order brides, I had never heard of bride ships prior to learning about A Reluctant Bride. (Except those that brought women to Australia to marry the convicts there.) So it was fascinating to discover that ships once brought women to Canada from England in response to the pleas of the men who lived there, outnumbering the women exponentially.

Mercy's story highlights the deplorable conditions of the poor in London in the mid-nineteenth century. Reading about the filth, disease, and abject poverty made me cringe, especially the details of the occupation Ash, Mercy's father, had. Eew!!

It was easy to see the desperation Mercy felt that led her to embark on the journey to Victoria, British Columbia. It was a humorous touch that Mercy didn't realize it was a bride ship - she thought the mission society was simply looking for domestic workers.

As the living embodiment of her name, Mercy had a heart bigger than most. She cared for the neglected children in her slum as much as she could, even sacrificially. She so naturally assumed the role of surrogate mother to the young orphans on the ship and assisted the handsome young ship's surgeon in caring for the sick.

I was very interested in the historical details shared along the way, descriptions of life on board and the conditions of the various strata of passengers, learning about the improved methods of sailing to compensate for the times when the winds were not sufficient to propel the ship, and the glimpse of the Falkland Islands.

Class distinctions and feelings of inferiority permeated Mercy and Joseph's lives. She struggled with the intense need to be nothing like her immoral mother and feelings of inadequacy, which were echoed to her even by the minister who chaperoned the brides. Joseph struggled with a heart closed off to love because of the loss he had experienced.

Overall, the story was interesting, yet it did drag a little. The backstory of one of the brides was alluded to enough so I want to know more about Miss Lawrence's history and what happens next. I am hoping to read more about her in a future story of The Bride Ships series.

I was eagerly anticipating this, the second book I have read by Jody Hedlund, and was not disappointed. It is always such a pleasure to find a new "favorite author," and Jody has earned a place on my list.

A Reluctant Bride, set in Victorian England tells the tale of a "Bride ship" bringing young women, often escaping the "workhouse" to find employment and eventually marry in British Columbia. The story revolves around Mercy - a kind-hearted, beautiful and compassionate young woman leaving in hopes of a better life and the Ships surgeon Lord Joseph Colville. They come from entirely different stations in life, but as they are thrown together caring for the sick aboard the ship they find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other.

Themes in this novel included seeking and knowing the Lord's direction for one's life, and overcoming the pain of our personal history. "Patience always said that we might be troubled on every side, but God's still there working things out in his way. And God's way is something we can't always see or make sense of."

There was much of interest to me in this book - a nurse myself, I always enjoy learning about medical and nursing practice around the time of Florence Nightingale, so I found this aspect of the book intriguing. Mercy, an intuitive and genuinely caring nurse, who is willing to go far more than an extra mile for those in her care.

Reading about the Tynemouth and the journey from England down to and around South America and up to the then English colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia was an incredible feat to ponder. Having been born in and lived my entire life in Beautiful British Columbia, I can attest to Hedlund's assertion that these two places have "unparalleled beauty."

I'm excited about the next stories to come in Hedlund's Brideship series and eagerly anticipate the next one. My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC for this, my honest review.

A Reluctant Bride was a beautiful novel and a wonderful start to a new series. The author wrote a story that truly captured the main character’s despiration. She felt that she had no choice but to join the women on this voyage and try to escape the horrid circumstances and living conditions of the slums of London.

The main characters, Dr. Joseph Colville and Mercy Wilkins, came from very different upbringings and stations in life. They were continually drawn to each other throughout the novel and both resisted the idea of a possible relationship based on what was expected of them. I really appreciated the way Joseph and Mercy began to understand the idea that their placement in certain social classes was not something that came from God, but rather that God valued all people as equals.

I loved the romance in this story, as well as the vivid detail of the long sea voyage, which was full of danger.

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

Prior to reading this story, I'd never heard of bride ships! What a wonderful story Jody Hedlund has weaved with her telling of A Reluctant Bride, a story based on true events and well-researched.

Facing mounting hardships, Mercy Wilkins decides to join a bride ship sailing to British Columbia. Although she has zero desire to marry, she sees this as her only choice of survival. Joseph Colville also joins the same bride ship to care for its passengers during the arduous journey. Dr. Colville comes from a wealthy family and has faced ridicule for his choice of becoming a caretaker of others. Thrown together aboard the ship, both Mercy and Joseph work to help and to avoid their growing attraction to each other--an attraction they both know is not allowed. Can they overcome their obstacles or must they go their separate ways?

I highly recommend this story to lovers of history! This is a clean story that is well-researched and draws the reader from the very first page.

Jody Hedlund hit another one out of the park. From the beginning I was captivated by this story, by Mercy’s plight and her need to help others and basically sacrifice her well being for people she loved and people she just met.

Joseph is a wonderful hero. He doesn’t think highly of himself even though he could based on his title. He serves others and that is what makes Mercy and Joseph a perfect team.

Of course the questions lingered of what would happen when they reached their destination and Mercy was supposed to be marrying someone else.

You’ll just have to read the book to find out!


A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

What an enjoyable story from beginning to end the author held me spell bound, and then I didn’t want to leave.
We get and up-close look at the poverty that was prevalent in1860’s London, England, and the difference between the classes, and see the constant death because of the conditions. Times and people so desperate for food and any comfort that they are willing to leave and travel to the unknown, or leave on a bride ship to the Canadian North West.
I am excited that there are more books in this series to come!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

This is quite a story.

I’ve always admired the research that Jody Hedlund does to make sure that her books have an authentic feel to them. When you combine her research skills with her amazing ability to write a compelling story, it’s no wonder that I can hardly put any of her books down once I began to read them. I don’t think that I’ve ever read a story about the “bride ships” until I read this one. The history behind this makes for an extraordinary story, and that the book is somewhat based on a true account of a doctor on board ship falling in love with one of the brides who assisted him adds special interest to the story. (Don’t miss reading the author’s notes at the end of the book.) The author does a great job with the settings of this story. I felt as if I were in the squalor of London and on board the ship during the storm.

The heroine of this story is Mercy Wilkins. I instantly had sympathy and admiration for her. Despite her horrible living circumstances, she’s a loving and kind sister who is desperately trying to find a way to provide food for her younger siblings. In England in the year 1862, there is very little respectable work for a poor, uneducated young woman. When Mercy’s mother loses her job, her mother makes it clear that Mercy must leave the family in order to have enough for the younger children. She discovers that the Columbia Missions Society is offering a chance for young women to have a new opportunity in British Columbia, and will pay for their passage there. Mercy joins this group, unaware that it is actually a “bride ship” and that on arrival in British Columbia, she’ll be expected to find a husband.

On board the ship, Mercy begins to work with Lord Joseph Colville, the ship’s physician. Joseph is quickly drawn to Mercy’s compassion and nursing skill of the ship’s patients, as well as her beauty. Joesph is an honorable man who, much like the Biblical character of Jonah, is on board the ship running away from the ministry he believes God was calling him to do. As they work together, the two fall in love. But the social and economic differences in their lives seem almost impossible to overcome. As they face desperate circumstances on sea and land, they realize they must both make their peace with God. I loved the conclusion of this story. There are some other characters whose storylines were unfinished in this book, and I’m looking forward to reading more about them in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Jody Hedlund writes compelling historical fiction that intrigues the reader from beginning to end. A Reluctant Bride is no different and is based on historical fact.

Mercy's parents are living in a hovel and running out of room for their ever-growing family. When a new baby is born, Mercy's parents are going to send her younger brother to the docks to work. Instead, Mercy volunteers to go out to find a position. She finds out there is a ship going to Vancouver Island with the promise of jobs (or so she thinks) for the women who are going on the ship. What Mercy doesn't know is that this is a bride ship for hundreds of single men waiting for wives.

On the ship, Mercy meets Joseph, the ship's doctor. Because Mercy is rather stalwart, Joseph calls for her as a nurse as he takes care of the sick on the ship. Feelings begin to grow between them, but when they reach shore, the lose track of each other.

Jody has given the reader a peek into life on the ship among the various classes of passengers. The most elite have all the amenities and plenteous food. The second class have nice enough rooms with about six to a room with bunks that are comfortable enough. The third class passengers are down in the bowels of the ship with poor food, lack of clean water, multiple people in a bed, and no time on deck to get fresh air and sunshine.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and some smuggled rolls for the poorer passengers.

Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the galley I read. The opinions posted here are totally my own.