The Mark of the King

Julianne is a talented midwife. But she knows that she can't save this one. The midwife before her has practically bled the woman to death but it's her name that goes down in the muck now as this was nobility.

Branded for a crime she didn't commit and sent to prison can Julianne survive?

She trades her life to go to the colony for French inmates in the New World. Her brother is over there and she hopes she can find him.

What she didn't count on was that she's treated like livestock. Forced to wed and consummate the marriage to a criminal she has no idea about though he seemed like the nicer of who was left to choose from, she begins her journey.

I have read the works of Jocelyn Green that center around the Civil War and LOVED them. So I knew that I loved her writing. When this book arrived I knew that I wanted to read it and read it quickly. I was not disappointed. This book is amazing.

Travel back in time. I’d never even heard of this! Forced marriages so you could get out of jail and go colonize a new world. I personally don’t think I’d have chosen hardened criminals for this but I’m guessing the king just wanted people over there.

Anyway back to the book! Julianne is an intriguing character that you can’t help but be drawn towards. She has great strength and makes the most of her lot in life. Being a gifted midwife she can’t practice since she’s imprisoned for killing a mother. Well, she really didn’t kill her but you’ll have to read the book to find out! Then she marries a man she doesn’t know, travels across the ocean, and sleeps in the mud and rain. Such fun! But it gets better! Her brother is supposed to be in this new land. The brother she raised and loved and nurtured like a mother would. Will she ever find him?

And what about this husband? Can he be a good man or is he bound by his criminal past? Will she be able to hide the mark on her or will the world find out and make her an outcast again?

Oh guys! This is suspenseful and full of good plot twists and characters. I love the little girl she gets to mother and the complexities of her character. I love her relationship with Marc-Paul and lets not even get into her brother.

Definitely one I’m keeping on my shelf to reread! Well after it comes back from making the rounds of all my avid reader friends.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.