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A Reluctant Bride

Bride Ships, Book 1

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A Reluctant Bride

By: Jody Hedlund
Narrated by: Esther Wane
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About this listen

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 60 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?

©2019 Jody Hedlund (P)2019 Tantor Christian Fiction Clean & Wholesome Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance Heartfelt
All stars
Most relevant
Absolutely lovely story. So romantic without being too graphic. Likeable characters with emotional depth. Couldn't stop listening.

Wonderful!

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The excellent portrayal of slum life, poverty, social class and of the power of assumptions and hope.

Brilliant!

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A very good story. Wonderfully narrated. I would recommend it to everyone. I will pass it on to my friend

I listened to it for hours, most enjoyable.

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The Reluctant Bride has great depth in character and their relationships. The writer is also unafraid to show the devastation of poverty - which most historial romance authors seem to ignore. A running theme is class prejudice and how Godly love can overcome that.

Perfect love is unbiased

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Easy going read, just a shame that yet again an American author has not got the UK English quite right: suspenders are what ladies wear to hold their stockings up, men wear BRACES to hold their trousers up. A vest is an undergarment - we would call the item of clothing a WAISTCOAT.

Enjoyable read.

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