The Reluctant Bridegroom

The House of Winslow #7

by Gilbert Morris

The Reluctant Bridegroom begins with Sky Winslow, the son of Chris and Dove Winslow, agreeing to return East and bring a wagon train of brides to the men of Oregon City. As experienced as he is on the trail, the past hurts of an unfaithful wife and the care for a twelve-year-old son who truly needs a mother's love make Sky an unlikely candidate for such an assignment. On the long trip from New York to Oregon, two of the women who join the wagon train will make their impact on Sky Winslow. Rebekah Jackson, in hope of finding a new start, is leaving a broken past. Rita Duvall is a dance hall girl who knows the way to break down a man's defenses. Book 7 in the House of Winslow.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Inspirational

299 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 1990

About the author

also published under the name Gilbert L. Morris

Gilbert Morris was one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris

Series:
* Adventures of Kerrigan Kids
* American Century
* Appomattox Saga
* Barney Buck
* Bonnets and Bugles
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Lynn Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Lynn Morris)
* Chronicles of the Golden Frontier
* The Creole (with Lynn Morris)
* Danielle Ross Mystery
* Daystar Voyages
* Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
* Far Fields (with Robert Funderburk)
* House of Winslow
* Jacques and Cleo: Cat Detectives
* Katy Steele Adventures (with Alan Morris)
* Lady Trent Mystery
* Liberty Bell
* Lions of Judah
* Lone Star Legacy
* Omega (with Lynn Morris and Alan Morris)
* The Price of Liberty (with Robert Funderburk)
* Reno Western Saga
* Seven Sleepers
* Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles
* Singing River
* Spirit of Appalachia (with Aaron McCarver)
* Too Smart Jones
*

Reviews

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reviewing this book instead of the others that I've read, because The Reluctant Bridegroom might just be my favorite one in the series. The House of Winslow series is a romance series, beginning with Gilbert Winslow, and continuing with his descendants. Sky, who's half Indian, had a very bad experience with marriage once, so he's sworn never to marry again. Even though Sky is stubborn and hates God, (it's implied) I immediately fell in love with him. Maybe his blue eyes, or maybe it was his face on the cover. ;) I see a resemblance between this book and Love Comes Softly, although there was no "soft" love for Sky. This is the sort of book that you know what will happen, but you like the characters too much to be bored with it. Plus, after you've gone through six House of Winslow books, it gets a little predictable. It definitely didn't ruin this book for me, though.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series by Gilbert Morris is one of my absolute favorites. Each book follows at least one member of a generation in the Winslow family tree and the member(s) gets saved and finds true love. There's also some commentary on the social conditions of the time frame. Truly interesting.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good love story! It has 3 settings: New York, Oregon Trail, & Oregon City!

It starts at the Governor's Spring Ball, April 1, 1838. Rebekah Jackson was taken by her cousin, Nora Bayless, even wearing Nora's gown, which she thought was beautiful, but...she felt almost undressed! Nora hadn't wanted to take the "blue-nosed Puritan", but her parents had insisted because Nora's father didn't want to offend Rebekah's father for political reasons. Although Nora thought Rebekah was going to be ugly, she was pleasantly surprised and amazed that Rebekah had never been to a ball. Rebekah was not only beautiful, but she seemed vulnerable. Before going into the ball, Nora compared Rebekah to Cinderella. Nora introduced her to Robert St. Cloud, who then introduced her to Tyler Marlowe, who danced off with Rebekah. Nora explained to Robert that Rebekah's father had practically treated her like a nun. Marlowe knew women well, but was drawn to Rebekah's innocence, but her inexperience kept her from sensing danger. He found out her past while she drank the punch which had alcohol in it, unbeknown to her. He told her of Venice, & how she'd like it. He compared her to a diamond. When he tried to kiss her, she admitted that he was too experienced for her & tried to get away, but told him she'd be there for a week. He invited her to a concert the next day. When they left the ball, Rebekah told Nora that Marlowe had been married, but his wife had died in childbirth. Rebekah told Nora that she thought he was handsome, but he had tried to make love to her, but she had refused. On Friday, when Nora inquired about how her packing was going, she invited her back. Rebekah informed her that she was going to marry Tyler! When Tyler picked Rebekah up, Nora felt sick, thinking that Rebekah didn't really know him.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sky is a very stubborn man. And with his own ideas for himself, he decides to bring a wagon load of mail-order brides back to Oregon City for the towns sake. Against his better judgement, he lets several people on the train that he constantly doubts was the right decision. After finally making it to Oregon City, he just can't seem to follow through with his plan. Then he does and that just leads to more trouble.
Gunsmoke style western with bad people running the town and no Marshall Dylan to keep them in line. But things have a way of working out!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's repeating himself with ideas and incidents. When writing a series of 24 books (I think that's right) there's always that risk. Also, I'm noticing major similarities between characters' personalities (example, Sky is far too much like Mark, and at the same time he's also like Zach.) Each book should be different from the others in every sense; apart from the fact that the main characters are all Winslows, of course!
Oh well. It's hard to explain what I mean, but yeah.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked reading about this time period - trekking across the prairie in a wagon train would have been a hard adventure. Rebekah sure had a rough go of it - even after she got to Oregon. Great western with a bar fight at the end :) Thought provoking to think about how forgiveness can destroy your life if you can't forgive - hurts you worse than it hurts the person you can't forgive. I like reading things that have Christian values in the book.

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book number 7 in the House of Winslow series. This book follows Christmas Winslow's son, Sky. Kind of a prodigal son. He's stubborn and strong-willed and definitely not very kind to women. He's hired on to drive a wagon load of women across the states to Oregon as mail-order brides. He just didn't bargain on keeping one for himself.

[Partridge Public]

Morris, Gilbert PB

[Jencey/ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took place in the mid 1800s.

[Cws]

YA Mor

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it in a way, but in another way didn't like it too much. Just a lot of rather foolish behavior.

[David Prieto · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read series with my wife many years ago

[Lorrine Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many of Gilbert Morris's books and have never been disappointed. This was yet another good book.

[Arnetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up with the TV show 'Here Come the Brides' and this brought that back to me. The book is about a man who reluctantly accepts the job of going back east, choosing women who want to come to Oregon to become wives, and then running the wagon train that gets them there. That gives lots of opportunities for a lot of interesting situations. Great characters again - that seems to be a guarantee in these books. Always a strong Christian ending.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gilbert Morris does it again as he weaves a tale of excitement and adventure into the narrative of our nation’s history. The perils of the Oregon Trail, life in an old west frontier town, the stress of being a trapper, and so much more on top of the personal stories of several characters. From Part One of the book you’re captivated by the characters you meet and are invested in their story. Excellent book!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in the series. The Winslow men are all so different in some ways yet have many of the same qualities and characteristics. Sky Winslow struggled throughout the entire book with his hatred for his first wife. I was happy when he finally learned to love again. Now another generation of Winslows will pass on the legacy of their faith in God.

[Dorry Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of a man who agrees to bring a wagon of women to Oregon to marry some of the many single men that were there. Lots of adventure as they traveled from the East to the West . The man in charge of bringing the women had no desire for a wife has he had had one that had been unfaithful.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history

[Nikki Slezak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually thought this was going to be a 5-star from me, but the last page or so had suuuuuch cheesy dialogue. I really enjoyed everything else in the book.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it! But I wish there was a longer resolution at the end. Another chapter or something.

[Carolrmiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all this series of books by Gilbert Morris! Each is focused one of the Winslow Family Line. Each book is so different as it progresses through the development of the United States history!

[Jeri Stockdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable characters, a good plot, and an excellent read!

[LadySnowAngel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one not to get your theology from, but I still enjoyed most of the story. I like Sky and Rebekah's storyline all the through this section of the series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Reluctant Bridegroom: 1838 (The House of Winslow #7) by Gilbert Morris - An Oregon trail historical romance that you will love! These books are better in order! Happy Reading!