Perfect Reading Slump Cure
I have been in a horrible reading rut several months. I couldn’t find anything that kept my attention. I tried three or four books and, each time, gave up after only a few chapters. Though I usually am one to encourage pushing through a book, it had been a rough few weeks, and I was not in the mood to read something I simply didn’t want to read. Hence… rut.
I wanted something light but addicting, like Jody Hedlund’s Waters of Time. So I gave another one of her series a try.
Setting & Concept
This faith-based, historical romance series Bride Ships includes:
- A Bride of Convenience
- The Runaway Bride
- A Reluctant Bride
These three books explore bride ships (duh) and a settlement in British Columbia. The bride ship scenario is a fascinating part of history, and I enjoyed reading about it.
Romance with Substance
One thing I love about Hedlund is she takes the things we love about romance novels and puts her own spin on it. She provides spicy romance but also emphasizes individual growth and what a healthy relationship should look like. I love that!
I also like that, while she stays within the constraints of the time period, each of the main female characters has a drive and independence that sets them apart from their peers. They are hard, skilled workers, and they stand up for themselves. They are definitely women to be inspired by.
This also goes for the men. While they fulfill the trope of being handsome, strong, and protective, they also go against the grain of their time to learn how to actually romance, love, and serve their new wives in a time period where that was not always common. This was refreshing against all the problematic relationships we see in the media.
What Each Book Brought to the Table
While each novel has some overlapping characters, they can be read as standalones. I loved all the characters – from our brides and their new husbands to the supporting members. Each book had something unique that made it stand out:
- Setting of The Reluctant Bride – explored class tensions and the toll of the journey across the sea, setting the theme of bride ships and colonizing British Columbia
- Courtship of The Runaway Bride – focused on resisting social pressure and truly falling in love. I especially loved Pete and Arabella’s romance in this one.
- Marriage in A Bride of Convenience – tackled marriage itself, exploring what it means to build something strong and healthy from an imperfect beginning. Abe and Zoe’s growth felt especially grounded and tender.
If You Like These Books, You May Like…
If you like clean, steamy romance and historical backdrops, consider these other Jody Hedlund books:
- Water of Time – time-travel romance, sending characters (and readers) to 1300s England
- Come Back to Me (#1)
- Never Leave Me (#2)
- Stay with Me (#3)
- Wait For Me (#4)
- Orphan Train Series – faith-based historical romance set in 1850s New York
Final Thoughts
These are clean, relatively short, easy-to-get-through novels with the perfect amount of heat, tension, and drama to keep you flipping through the pages. I’m really enjoying Hedlund’s style and the fact that her books are getting me out of my reading slump!
Content Rating: Mild
for sexual tension and relationship drama
Copyright Jody Hedlund and Bethany House Publishing. Image from Amazon.
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