The Golden Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower #8) by Kimberley Woodhouse [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN13: 9781683228912

My thoughts:  The author takes readers into the lives of characters from the mid-1800s and on the western frontier of America during the Gold Rush that exploded in San Francisco and environs creating a ripe environment for meanness, crime, immorality to run rampart.

The history of San Francisco is well developed in this novel although the author takes license to mold it a bit herself. The fires. The crime. The immorality. The stench.

And yet all is not lost as people of good conscience do succeed in overcoming obstacles and difficulties. As the book begins, Olivia is on the westward trail with her husband of mere weeks headed toward his dream of mining for gold. He dies in a gunshot accident leaving an ill-prepared Olivia to continue her journey to San Francisco in search of her older brother, Daniel.

She arrives and discovers that it is not a place for a lady to be on her own and is much relieved to find her brother. From this point on, the story progresses with twists and turns that delve into the covert operations of the criminal element to control the growth and activities of the city.

Much lawlessness exists and there is no law enforcement as there is no statehood, no governor, no police, no fire department.

As the story unfolds Olivia, her brother Daniel, and his best friend Joseph are involved in dangers and yet their faith keeps them strong.

A highly recommended story.

About the Book: Can Olivia survive the crime and Gold Rush fever of 1849...and the countless marriage proposals?

The Daughters of the Mayflower series continues when Olivia Brighton finds herself widowed and working her brother’s restaurant in San Francisco during the height of the rush for gold. Even though she receives at least twenty marriage proposals a day, she will never marry a gold miner. Her brother’s friend Joseph Sawyer has gotten caught up in local politics and the plight of Chinese in forced labor. The more Joseph gets pulled into investigating crime in the city, the less Olivia sees of the compassionate man. And just when she thinks she could love again, a fire threatens to steal all hope.

Daughters of the Mayflower series:

• The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1620 Atlantic Ocean (February 2018)
• The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1725 New Orleans (April 2018)
• The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep – set 1760 during the French and Indian War (June 2018)
• The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1774 Philadelphia (August 2018)?
• The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear – set 1794 on the Wilderness Road (October 2018)
• The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall – set 1814 Baltimore (December 2018)
• The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1836 Texas (February 2019)
• The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse - set in 1849 California (April 2019)

GIVEAWAY

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Begins April 10

Ends May 2 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing to facilitate a review. Giveaway winners' copies will be provided and shipped directly to the winners by the publisher.