A Reluctant Bride

The Bride Ships #1

by Jody Hedlund

Description

Living in London's poorest slum, Mercy Wilkins has little hope of a better life. When she's offered an opportunity to join a bride ship sailing to British Columbia, she agrees. After witnessing so much painful heartache and loss in the slums, the bride ship is her only prospect to escape a bleak future, not only for herself but, she hopes, someday for her sister.

Wealthy and titled Joseph Colville leaves home and takes to the sea in order to escape the pain of losing his family. As ship's surgeon, he's in charge of the passengers' welfare aboard the Tynemouth, including sixty brides-to-be. He has no immediate intention of settling down, but when Mercy becomes his assistant, the two must fight against a forbidden love. 

With hundreds of single men congregating on the shore eager to claim a bride from the Tynemouth, will Mercy and Joseph lose their chance at true love, or will they be able to overcome the obstacles that threaten to keep them apart?

Biography

Jody Hedlund is the author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

My Perspective ~

A Reluctant Bride is an incredible journey from poverty stricken London, and the impossible living conditions in the slums. Mercy Wilkins finds her way to a bride's ship bound for British Columbia. Conditions on the ship are grim, and Mercy's only saving grace is that the ship's surgeon recognizes her compassion for those who need her. He requests her assistance in nursing the sick aboard ship, and the two share a unique camaraderie which develops into a strong attraction forbidden by Mercy's chaperones and the doctor's position in life.

Filled with danger on the high seas and plagued by seasickness among other serious illnesses suffered aboard the Tynemouth, the sadness and losses that Mercy suffered at home appear to have followed her aboard. Hedlund's cast is strong and well developed. True life situations are heart wrenching, but true strength of character is one of the highlights in those represented in this book.

A great deal of research was obviously undertaken in order for true life events to have been portrayed through Mercy's story. This is a fast paced tale of the torments of the time, and yet a blossoming love story creates a charming quality that surpassed my expectations. Don't miss this deeply touching story. I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. All expressed opinions are honest and my own.