Historical Romance
The Backcountry Brides Collection
by Shannon McNear, Carrie Fancett Pagels,
Angela K. Couch, Debra E. Marvin, Gabrielle Meyer,
Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Pegg Thomas, Denise Weimer
-From Amazon- Love on Colonial America’s Frontier Travel into Colonial America where eight women seek love, but they each know a future husband requires the necessary skills to survive in the backcountry. Living in areas exposed to nature’s ferocity, prone to Indian attack, and cut off from regular supplies, can hearts overcome the dangers to find lasting love? Shenandoah Hearts by Carrie Fancett Pagels 1754 - Great Wagon Road, into the Shenandoah Valley (Virginia) As the French-Indian War commences, Magda Sehler wonders if Jacob Owens lost his mind to have abandoned his Philadelphia business and moved to the Shenandoah Valley. Or has he lost his heart? Heart of Nantahala by Jennifer Hudson Taylor 1757 - (North Carolina) Joseph Gregory plans to buy a lumber mill, but Mabel Walker becomes a formidable opponent. When she’s forced to make a painful decision, she must choose between survival and love. Her Redcoat by Pegg Thomas 1763 - Fort Michilimackinac (Michigan) during Pontiac’s Rebellion Laurette Pettigrew grew up in the northern frontier. Henry Bedlow arrived against his will. Their chance meeting changes everything. Will a deadly clash of cultures keep them from finding happiness? A Heart So Tender by Debra E. Marvin 1764 – (New York) As thousands of Native warriors converge on Fort Niagara, jaded British Lieutenant Archibald Walsh and idealistic schoolmistress Susannah Kimball learn the greatest risk lies in guarding their hearts. A Worthy Groom by Angela K. Couch 1771 - Sapling Grove settlement on the Holston River (Tennessee) The Cowden temper has been Marcus’s lifelong bane. A trait Lorinda Cowden curses. Now, winning the heart of his bride hinges on fighting a war without raising a fist. Across Three Autumns by Denise Weimer 1778-1780 – (Georgia) Fighting Loyalists and Indians, Jenny White settles for strength over love . . .until Scottish scout Caylan McIntosh leads her family on a harrowing exodus out of Georgia’s Revolutionary “Hornet’s Nest.” The Counterfeit Tory by Shannon McNear 1781 – (South Carolina) Tasked with infiltrating an infamous Tory gang, Jed Wheeler has no wish to endanger the leader’s cousin, Lizzy Cunningham. He risks not only his life. . .but his heart. Love’s Undoing by Gabrielle Meyer 1792 - Fur Post on the Upper Mississippi River (Minnesota) When Englishman Henry Kingsley meets Abi McCrea, the daughter of a Scottish fur trader and Indian mother, will their worlds keep them apart, or have they finally found somewhere they truly belong? ISBN-13: 978-1683226222 8 women find love & turmoil in Colonial America... | This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating. |
I've been a fan of the author for awhile now and I really enjoyed this wonderful start to the novella collection. Danger, romance, and the lovely scenery of the Shenandoah Valley...what more could you ask for?
Heart of Nantahala by Jennifer Hudson Taylor
This is only the second story I've read by this author but I found it to be quite interesting. I had never really thought much about where the Colonists got the lumber to build those lovely houses. Add a romance and you get a nice novella.
Her Redcoat by Pegg Thomas
New to me author and one I enjoyed. I learned quite a bit of history about one of the places in Michigan that fascinates me, Fort Michilimackinac. The added tension of forbidden romance in a dangerous time kept me reading to find out what might happen next.
A Heart So Tender by Debra E. Marvin
I'll admit that I had never heard of the Great Gathering before so it was fun to learn something new against the awesome backdrop of Niagara Falls. Moving past fears and the path to forgiveness are also explored is great addition to the collection.
A Worthy Groom by Angela K. Couch
I think this was one of the best novellas in the collection. There was just something about this very flawed hero and his struggles, not to mention his new bride's battle towards trust. Really liked this one for sure.
Across Three Autumns by Denise Weimer
This is the other story that I most looked forward to reading in the collection and it did not disappoint. Not only did I fall in love with the brave heroine and her strong hero, but, I also loved learning about some of the lesser known conflicts during the Revolutionary War.
The Counterfeit Tory by Shannon McNear
A great introduction to another new-to-me author. This novella has plenty of danger and intrigue not to mention some pretty interesting history. I got a little involved in this story causing me to want to thrash to villains just as much as the hero wanted to!
Love’s Undoing by Gabrielle Meyer
The final novella in the collection, this story caught my attention right away because shortly into to it the hero and heroine were traveling by dogsled. This story had a little bit more of a sweet romance feel to it set against the cold Northern winter.
Overall
I've read a couple of Barbour's novella collections but I have to say that I think The Backcountry Brides Collection is quite easily my favorite. I learned a lot about Colonial-era history, surpisingly so considering the shorter nature of novellas. For fans of historical romance stories that can easily be read in a single sitting I'd certainly recommend checking out The Backcountry Brides Collection.
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Backcountry Brides Collection by Shannon McNear, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Angela K. Couch, Debra E. Marvin, Gabrielle Meyer, Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Pegg Thomas, Denise Weimer 4.5 Bark rating.