I have enjoyed reading the Bride Ship series. Each story stands alone yet eloquently captures the very heart of not only the time period but also the characters. I find myself saying, “this is my favorite one”, And then I read the next story, and its even better! The flawless descriptions of the setting bring me right into the story with the characters. I could almost smell the abundant evergreens and feel the mud sucking at my feet as we traveled through the town burdened down with our purchases from the small, cluttered general store. Even the background characters felt real and important.

I loved Zoe’s heart for others, especially children. Even though she has known her share of heartache, and tries to hold her heart away from others, she just can’t help but be lead by her heart. I also, wanted to scoop up baby Violet and cuddle her and sing her songs, and give her bubble kisses on her sweet cheeks. It is easy to see how Zoe instantly fell in love with this sweet baby!

Abe may have bumbled his way into his marriage with Zoe, but once he made the commitment he didn’t stray from it. I just wish he had learned a little sooner how to express his affection and commitment. Of course it was his personality type and his history that held him back. But once he figures it out, nothing holds him back!

I absolutely loved this marriage of convince story and I know these dynamic characters will stay with me for quite a while. This story has easily earned a place on my favorite keeper shelf and I smile ever time I glimpse the book there, knowing what delights await within its pages! I highly recommend this wonderful story!

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Jody Hedlund does it again. I loved this book so much, I read it in one day! It captured me from the very beginning. The heartbreak of Jane to meeting Abe, I just knew I would love Zoe. The story is so well planned out, I couldn’t guess what would happened next. The historical aspects of her books are researched so well. The characters are well defined and engaging. It is a Christian historical and since Abe is a minister, there are many references to religion. I enjoyed the way Abe and Zoe worked together to help those around them. This is the third book in the Bride ship series, they can be read individually. I am looking forward to book 4!
Thank you to Bethany house publishers and net galley for my copy of this book. This is my honest review of A bride of convenience.

This is the third book in The Bride Ships series about the women who left England in the 1800s to become brides for the men in British Columbia. The author did intense research to discover what could possibly motivate these women to leave their homes, endure the hardship of the voyage, and settle in a new land with a stranger. Zoe is a displaced mill worker who came from Manchester on the second ship with the goal of finding her twin brother Zeke. Soon after arriving, she met Pastor Abe, who was introduced to us in the previous book as a minister to the miners and the Indians of the area. Together they agreed to care for an orphaned baby, and in an unusual set of circumstances, entered into a marriage of convenience. The whole scenario places Pastor Abe's ministry in jeopardy and he is urged to find another home for the baby and to undo the marriage. Just when the book started to become a little too predictable, a stunning plot twist occurred that jolted me back into riveted attention. Although I always recommend reading books in their proper order, I don't think it would be a problem to read this one ahead of the first two, if you don't mind meeting Pastor Abe too soon. I'm looking forward to the fourth book in the series, and I've already preordered it. I did receive a complimentary copy of this one through NetGalley, but my opinions are my own.

I loved this beautifully written story of Zoe, a woman who comes over on a brideship from England, looking for her brother. She meets Abe, a minister, and unexpectedly marries him. They are given custody of a baby girl, just before the child's father dies. Another local boy becomes a part of the growing family, and they begin a new ministry that grows. Of course, the two fall in love, but they're differences are a source of concern for Zoe who believes she is the wrong woman for him. Great story I truly enjoyed!

Proverbs 16:9 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. Jody Hedlund's A Bride Of Convenience demonstrates the wisdom of these words. Zoe Hart has plans to arrive on a Bride ship and hopefully find her twin brother. Abe Merivale plans to finish his 5 years as a missionary and return to his parish in England and marry his betrothed. God has other plans for these two. I loved this story and enjoyed the plot. Jody leads these two through some amusing incidents on their journey to find God's plan. I think this is my favorite book in this series. So grab your tea and settle back for a fun read.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

An amazing book! Jody Hedlund always does a phenomenal job writing books that draw you in. The characters, setting, and story in all of her books makes you feel like you are there with them. A Bride of Convenience is no exception. The characters all have traits that you admire and yet completely relate to. As in all Ms. Hedlund’s books there is an underlying spiritual message that not only points out her characters’ flaws, but usually something in my own life as well drawing my attention back to God.

A Bride of Convenience is set in the rugged mountains of British Columbia where Zoe Hart and Abraham Merivale marry for reasons beneficial to each of them. Before long they both realize that they may have jumped before thinking. Through the ups and downs they have to learn to be honest and trust each other, but more importantly they have to learn to trust God’s plan instead of their own. Woven seamlessly into the story is a concept we all struggle with, will God’s way really be the best for me? Sometimes God changes our plans and we are given a divine opportunity to do something that we never dreamed we could do. Zoe and Abe each have to make a decision about whether they believe God can be sufficient if they let go of doing things their way.

The story is woven seamlessly together with witty dialogue and beautiful descriptions of the scenery. Overall, I loved this book and it is my favorite of the Bride Ship series so far. I want to thank Jody Hedlund and Bethany House for allowing me to be a part of promoting this book. I was given a complimentary copy of this book, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Wow, Judy Hedlund did it again! She produced a wonderful book that is well written with historical romance and faith. A Bride of Convenience is the third book in the series The Bride Ships but each book can be read as a stand alone book. This book has quite a few of good quotes, I would have to say my favorite is, “you don’t have to be perfect or have your situation all figured out to be used by the good Lord. If you have a willing heart, that’s all He needs.” I love how serving God and trusting Him is woven though Zoe and Abe’s lives, even if it is not the plan they had for themselves, it makes them relatable. The descriptions of the landscape truly make the readers imagine they are there. Hedlund does a wonderful job of of writing about how harsh the frontier was and how people handled it. I would recommend this book to everyone. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley, opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Back of the book: “Unemployed mill worker Zoe Hart jumps at the opportunity to emigrate to British Columbia in 1863 to find a better life and be reunited with her brother, who fled from home after being accused of a crime.
Pastor to miners in the mountains, Abe Merivale discovers an abandoned baby during a routine visit to Victoria and joins efforts with Zoe, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women, to care for the infant. While there, he's devastated by the news from his fiancée in England that she's marrying another man.
With mounting pressure to find the baby a home, Zoe accepts a proposal from a miner of questionable character after he promises to help her locate her brother. Intent on protecting Zoe and frustrated by his failed engagement, Abe offers his own hand as groom. After a hasty wedding, they soon realize their marriage of convenience is not so convenient after all.”

This might just be my new favorite book by Jody Hedlund--and with how much I've enjoyed all of her books, that's saying something. I loved Zoe from the get-go; she was so sweet and always caring for others. Her absolute devotion to Violet, a half-white, half-Indian child whom a lot of people would have rejected, was just so sweet. Zoe's mother-heart, combined with her spunk, just drew me in right away. Abe was lovable, too, although there were a couple times I wanted to smack him upside the head for not realizing how wonderful Zoe was. However, he had a good heart as well and truly wanted to help others and was trying to follow a plan he thought would allow him to do that. Seeing his journey and ultimate realization of what God was truly calling him to do was such an engaging story that it kept me interested just as much as the romance did. I just devoured this book, enjoying every minute of it. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year!

5 stars.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars for this third installment of the Bride Ships series by Jody Hedlund. Of the 3 released thus far, this one was definitely my favorite. For the best amount of history, I'd recommend reading these in order, though they could all stand alone. There's a bit of history from The Runaway Bride (book 2) in this one, and so if you do read them out of order, I'd recommend still reading that one before this one. Fans of the series will be glad to see Pastor Abe get his own story.

I loved Zoe. She reminded me a lot of myself. Spunky and sassy, but still compassionate with a heart for orphans, she was such a great leading lady. Her back-story was a good one and I loved how she never lost faith no matter what had happened to her. Marriage of convenience stories are my favorite kind of romance novel as the love grows out of the commitment in that trope. This one was no different. I enjoyed the story line, the romance between the 2 and learning more about Pastor Abe's story as well. I appreciated how the 2 came to love each other. While not as steamy as the other 2, the kissing scenes in this one were still a bit more intense than I like..... but that's just a personal preference. All in all, this was a great inspirational historical romance that I'd highly recommend!

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

I think this is my favorite of Jody Hedlund's bride ship series! I'm a sucker for a good marriage-of-convenience story, so this one hit my sweet spot. The characters are lovable and sympathetic and the story moves along at a great pace. I read it in a day and loved every moment!

This bride is Zoe Hart who arrived on the bride ship in a quest to find her twin brother Zeke who had some to this area a couple of years earlier to escape an untrue belief in his being the cause of a local calamity. Zoe now has proof that someone else did it and he has been cleared back home She wants to take that information to him but she has to find him first.

Zoe meets Pastor Abe Merivale, who we met in the previous Bride Ship story, a man who ministers to the miners and the Indians in the high country. They almost immediately get an orphan half Indian baby girl dropped off and Zoe wants to keep her and take care of her. Pastor Abe is struggling to help her keep the child over the strenuous objections of his Bishop. They hastily marry to make it easier to provide a home for the baby and make matters even worse with the Bishop.

This is such a fun story, just like the previous ones in the series. I can’t wait to see who comes along next.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I could not put this book down. I loved everything about it-the characters, the setting, the faith. I adored how plucky Zoe was and how quickly she stepped up to help those in need. I admired Pastor Abe’s tenacity to minister to his flock and obey God’s calling on his life. This is a beautifully written love story about two people coming together for convenience sake, but finding so much more than they expected. I loved the conclusion and I feel it is one of the most satisfactory endings I’ve ever had the privilege to read.
I was given this ARC in exchange for my honest review and opinion. All ideas and opinions expressed are completely my own.

What a great read, and this is the third book in the series, and while there are a few recurring characters, this book could be read alone. There are a few references to the past reads, but you won’t be lost.
This is Pastor Abe’s chance to find love, his hearts desire is still in England, when circumstances take a turn, and Zoe Hart appears.
Zoe is a joy of a character, she shows love and compassion to most everyone, and she sure has a heart for children.
We are again reminded of the conditions in England that leads these young woman to travel to the unknown, no jobs and no food, but what will they face when they arrive in Western Canada. These are strong woman and there could be stories here for all of them.
As I finished this read, I felt as if the author had given me a personal gift, I just hated for it to end!

I received this book through the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

This book, like many by Jody Hedlund, did not disappoint! It was a sweet, engaging love story. While parts of it were certainly predictable (I am 100% ok with that), there were enough surprise twists to keep you on your toes. Hedlund painted a vivid picture of the Canadian frontier, the struggles of women in the era, and sometimes unpleasant social norms.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it to others.

Thanks publishers & NetGalley for the free e-ARC. The views are my own.

Another beautiful story by Jody Hedlund. Filled with love, faith and trust 'A Bride of Convenience fulfilled all my expectations and more. I've always been a huge sucker for books with the marriage of convenience trope and so naturally I've been eagerly awaiting this book! Every book I've read by Jody Hedlund has quickly engaged my attention and this book was no exception! I thoroughly enjoyed every element included and loved that I could relate so well with the characters especially Zoe. Her compassion and love of children was beautiful and inspiring. Abe was such a noble strong man filled with a love of God and service. His journey to find what truly was most important was written so well. I loved the developing romance between Abe and Zoe and while it was a little slower than most of Hedlun'd other novels, the message that love can overcome many barriers and help us become our best selves was so strong and the ending very rewarding. Jody truly has a talent for making her characters real and it's so easy to loose yourself in the story. I loved the glimpse of characters from previous books as well as a sneak peak into the next and final books' hero. All in all this book is definitely a new favorite of mine and I highly recommend reading it!

A Bride of Convenience is the third book in a series called The Bride Ships. It stands alone well, but I enjoyed it enough to seek out the previous two books. Overall it is lighthearted, but it deals with some difficult subjects such as the treatment of Native Americans and the plight of mill workers in the 1860s.

Zoe traveled to British Columbia on a bride ship to look for her brother. It was no place for a woman alone, so she sought a husband to help her get to the gold mines where her brother might be. Before she found her husband, she found an orphaned baby that immediately stole her heart. The addition of a half-breed child made finding a husband even more difficult.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Although part of a series, this was easy to read as a standalone. Entertaining and heartfelt in its account of faith, convenience, romance, and history. I quite enjoyed the heroine's feistiness and got frustrated when the couple didn't communicate. I love "feeling" when I read a book and this provided "all the feels.". Inspirational historical fiction done well - easy to read and enjoyable.

My thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the third book in the series, but I still enjoyed this book, even though I haven't read the first two. This was a wonderful story. And I really liked how seamlessly the Christian message was woven throughout. Sometimes with Christian books, the message feels like it's been awkwardly inserted as an afterthought, but it didn't feel that way with this book.

A Bride of Convenience
By Jody Hedlund
Back of the book: “Unemployed mill worker Zoe Hart jumps at the opportunity to emigrate to British Columbia in 1863 to find a better life and be reunited with her brother, who fled from home after being accused of a crime.
Pastor to miners in the mountains, Abe Merivale discovers an abandoned baby during a routine visit to Victoria and joins efforts with Zoe, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women, to care for the infant. While there, he's devastated by the news from his fiancée in England that she's marrying another man.
With mounting pressure to find the baby a home, Zoe accepts a proposal from a miner of questionable character after he promises to help her locate her brother. Intent on protecting Zoe and frustrated by his failed engagement, Abe offers his own hand as groom. After a hasty wedding, they soon realize their marriage of convenience is not so convenient after all.”
First impressions: This was a sweet and clean romance. This is the third book in “The Bride Ships” series. There were glimpses of previous characters but not enough to make this unreadable as a stand-alone novel.
Liked: I enjoyed getting to know Abe and Zoe. I liked how thoughtful Abe was in his ministry. By the end of the book, it was clear however that Zoe had a heart for ministry as well. It really brought this couple together in a special way and I liked how Zoe and Abe kept each other accountable.
Disliked: I didn’t care for the excitement at the end of this book. It felt contrived and I imagine things would not have transpired so smoothly. I thought the story could have done without Wanda’s character as well. I didn’t find her adding to the story. Without her, I think Abe would have appeared more consistent in his character.
Learned: Abe got caught up in rules, not ordained by God but man until Zoe reminded him who he should be seeking and following. “God gives me my ministry and no man can take that away from me.”
Quotes:
“…you don’t have to be perfect or have your situation all figured out to be used by the good Lord. If you have a willing heart, that’s all He needs.”
“…perhaps you out to seek God and ask Him what kind of husband He would have you be.”
“You might still be running away from God. But He’s never left you, and He’s waiting for you to seek Him again.”
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

Okay, I am a huge fan of this series!
I have been a fan of Jody Hedlund for years and I have loved most of the books that I have read by her.
This series is fantastic!
I loved the way she incorporates just enough history to make you feel like you are learning something about the setting, but not so much that you feel like you are reading a textbook.
And the way she incorporates romance......swooooon!
Abe and Zoe's story was so good, it was sweet, it was complex and they just meshed so well together as a couple, they had their obstacles and failings, but I was just rooting for them the whole time!
Abe is a more reserved hero (especially in comparison to Pete), and I loved how Zoe had a way of drawing him out and encouraged him to stand up for himself.
I really liked the way that their relationship developed, they started on rocky ground but I really liked that you could see them working together as a team. I liked that it wasn't only physical attraction that drew them together (the chemistry was there believe me), but you could really see them with their genuine love for people coming together, and using that for their work in ministry.
I loved the setting! Because my parents grew up in BC, and I loved reading about the town of Hope and the Frazier Valley, these are names I am familiar with and I loved getting to explore the historical version of them!
All the happy feels after this story!
Looking forward to the next book!
I was provided with a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All my opinions are completely my own.