THE CUMBERLAND BRIDE by Shannon McNear, reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

 The Cumberland Bride is the fifth book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, and it is a thoroughly captivating story of a wilderness journey in 1794.

Kate Gruener and her family are making the difficult trek from Bean’s Station, Tennessee, through the Cumberland Gap then farther into the wilds of western Kentucky. Her father has hired Thomas Bledsoe to scout for the party. Thomas has experience with the Shawnee and Cherokee. The road is very primitive and there are many hardships and dangers along the way. But the travelers bathe their trip in prayer and trust they will make it through to a place where they can put down roots and prosper. By the end of the trip both Kate and Thomas will have answers to the questions of where they truly belong.

Shannon McNear has done extensive research and her narrative puts you into the heart of the story. The historical detail is very interesting and she sheds light on customs and myths that are often associated with this time period. The characters are rich, with hopes and dreams that make them very relatable.

If you like historical fiction that not only feeds your curiosity of the past but keeps you reading because of the exciting content.......don’t miss this wonderful book.

* I was provided an ARC copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

Back Cover Blurb:

Thomas Bledsoe and Kate Gruener are traveling the Wilderness Road when conflicts between natives and settlers reach a peak that will require each of them to tap into a well of courage.
A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.

Love and Adventure Are Discovered on the Wilderness Road
In 1794, when Kate Gruener’s father is ready to move the family farther west into the wilderness to farm untouched land, Kate is eager to live out her own story of adventure like he did during the War for Independence and to see untamed lands. And she sets her sights on learning more about their scout, Thomas Bledsoe. Thomas’s job is to get settlers safely across the Kentucky Wilderness Road to their destination while keeping an ear open for news of Shawnee unrest. But naïve Kate’s inquisitive nature could put them both in the middle of a rising tide of conflict. Is there more to Thomas’s story than he is willing to tell? Is there an untapped courage in Kate that can thwart a coming disaster?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear.

More in the 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)

Available in paperback, hardcover and digital ebook:
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