Synopsis:
After facing desperate heartache and loss, Mercy agrees to escape a bleak future in London and join a bride ship. Wealthy and titled, Joseph leaves home and takes to the sea as the ships surgeon to escape the pain of losing his family. He has no intention of settling down, but when Mercy becomes his assistant, they must fight against a forbidden love.
Rating: 5-stars
Review:
A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund is a mesmerizing historical novel. The journey women made back then was difficult. I could not imagine the hardships they had to face. From gossips to illnesses, the ladies had their hands full. Especially, Mercy. Mercy is a young woman destined to leave London. A place where the poor like her and her family were suffering. So many did not have enough food let alone it being fresh, nor the clothes to properly dress right. Medical help was expensive and scary. Mercy went about bringing children to the doctor, Mr. Bates, to help them get well. But one such child, an infant, doesn’t survive. I felt Mercy’s pain. She wanted the child to live. Her hope and love for it, was beautiful. If only all people were like Mercy. An angel in disguise is what the doctors call her. This story is about Mercy and her people. Mercy finds her true calling and maybe even a happy ending. Love is on the horizon along with hope. Together, Mercy and the young doctor on the ship, will learn about life. Among them misery, death, and loss, the pair give humor and life to the book. I fell in love with them. Overall, this was a well-written story with a heartfelt tale.
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