Hello Bookworms!
The novel that I am featuring today is from a series that I have been attempting to complete for years. I love the series premise and have enjoyed the novels thus far. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on my latest read and I hope that you're enjoying your fall so far. It's still summery where I'm at but let me know in the comments if you're area is starting to transition into fall.
About the Book
The Wilderness Is a Great Place to Hide
Jacqueline Rivers manages a Pony Express station in 1860 Utah territory after her father’s death. There are daily stresses placed on her in this unconventional role—and now a government official is asking her to sniff out counterfeiters. When Elijah Johnson passes through on the stage while on an exhausting quest to find his boss’s heir, he doesn’t want to leave the beguiling station manager. In fact, he may never leave when caught in the crossfire of the territory’s criminal activities. Jackie can’t decide if Elijah is friend or foe. Can she remain strong when secrets of the past and present are finally unearthed?
Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookbub
My Review
From the moment I started reading, I felt a connection to this story. Like Anna, I left a dire situation, having to leave the person I loved due to being in an unsafe environment and not wanting my children to witness nor endure what I had. I could feel her fear so vividly that it took me back to that moment in my life. Very powerful writing in a fairly short moment. What I can’t wrap my head around is running away to unknown territory, constantly looking over your shoulder, and having that sense of dread follow you wherever you go, and running all alone. I was lucky to have family that supported me and helped me and my children through such a difficult time, and after reading this harrowing tale, it makes me all the more thankful for their love and support.
Jackie is such a strong heroine, and my admiration grew for her the further I read. When I think about her strength, not only in what she’d lived through but also in the time period in which she lived, it made that feeling grow stronger. It is women pioneers like these that helped fight for the freedoms that we enjoy today, and while this character is fictitious, I know there were women who lived that were like her and possessed this strength and heroism.
There are some very powerful moments that felt so raw and beautifully written that I felt all the emotions. Yes, the love story between Jackie and Elijah was sweet, but the love story between father and daughter was what really shined brightly to me. Redemption always does.
While this really is a wonderful story of redemption and the power of grace, this novel was a bit of a struggle for me to get through. I do feel like the subplot was a bit muddled and wasn’t given as much depth as Jackie and Elijah’s story, but maybe it was more overshadowed. Still, it has such a wonderful message that I couldn’t quit it, and I’m so glad I stuck it out.
Other Books in the Series
About the Author
Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling author of more than thirty books and novellas, including A Deep Divide, Bridge of Gold, and The Mayflower Bride, as well as the coauthor of the Heart of Alaska series with Tracie Peterson. Kimberley’s writing has earned a Carol Award, the Christian Market Novel of the Year, the Holt Medallion, and many others. A proud former resident of Alaska, she now makes her home in the Pennsylvania Poconos.
Connect with Kimberley by visiting kimberleywoodhouse.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
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