Virginia Company Bride

The American Brides Collection

by Gabrielle Meyer

James Fort at Jamestown, Virginia, 1608

In September 1608, Anne Burras is the only European woman in Jamestown when her mistress dies upon arrival. Laborer John Layton is one of only thirty-eight colonists who survived the first year in the colony. Both want Anne on the supply ship returning to England in three months, but neither foresee the difficulties they will face just to stay alive—or the painful sacrifices they will make to stay together.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Christian, Romance, Novella

139 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2024

About the author

Gabrielle Meyer grew up above a carriage house on a historic estate near the banks of the Mississippi River, imagining real and make-believe stories about the occupants who had lived there. She went on to work for the Minnesota Historical Society and loves writing fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She currently resides in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River, not far from where she grew up, with her husband and four children. By day, she’s a busy homeschool mom, and by night she pens fiction and non-fiction filled with hope. Learn more about Gabrielle and her writing by visiting www.gabriellemeyer.com.

Reviews

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s my first Gabrielle Meyer book, and now I have a severe must-read-backlist situation.

I absolutely loved this novella, and the premise had me from the start. There’s forced proximity, and there’s living in the same one-acre colonial fort in the Virginia wilds kind of forced proximity.

A former-rake, gruff hero that would sail across the ocean and try his hand at colonization just to get away from women. Ugh, can’t a man just conquer the New World in peace?

A lady’s maid heroine who ends up being the only woman in a settlement of two hundred men when all she wants is to blend into the wallpaper. Not that there was wallpaper in settlement living quarters. It’s the “Everyone else is falling over themselves for her, and he treats her like she’s a plague” trope *swoony sigh*

The sense of urgency, unrest and threat worked so well to push these two together, and the pacing was great for me. These were perilous times. And our capable, protective John Layton goes from “Send her up the river” to “I’ll get her to marry me and make sure she gets sent up the river” real fast. We love to see the most love-dummy, counterproductive-logic scheming. But, really, if they truly see each other, the values match, the competence and attraction is there? Shorter life expectancy and all, let’s get that priest.


I read mostly Regency, where the worse we can get is a fit of vapors or like some bad rattafia, so I was uncomfy for most of this because so much could go wrong. And spine-of-steel or not, she was so vulnerable ( seriously, what a nightmare). But it kept me invested. Like a death grip on a corn ration, I could not put it down. The historical figures, the time period and based-on-true-events aspects had me ah-geeking out, and I love when I can tell the author loves a good history nerd-fest. I mean, a boat load of cedar shingles, really? *enthusiastically googles*

A straight-forward love and learning how to face fears together. I adore finding novellas that will change your mind about novellas. Also hummed “the Virginia Company” refrain from Disney’s “Pocahontas” every time it came up. Anyone?

Content notes: Kissing Only, mention of loss of family members grief. Mention of sickness deaths and threat
of attacks.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

1608 James Fort, Virginia

Based upon the life of Anne Burras, the only European woman in Jamestown and laborer John Layton. Who knew there was initially only one European woman in Jamestown? Wow.

Enjoyable novella.

[Amber Underhile · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short & sweet historical romance

3.5 stars - love Gabrielle’s writing and her sheer brilliance of bringing history to life but short stories aren’t really my genre. I don’t like the fast pace especially when it’s a romance story. Sweet story nonetheless.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical to read as the USA celebrates 250 years.
Insight into the hardships and customs of a colony and the only European woman among the settlers in Jamestown 1608. Anne Burras finds herself alone among the men that were brought to the New World. Her mistress has died and she must keep house for Master Caldwell until the ship can return to England.
A slow romance builds between her and John Layton. After she recovers from a severe illness, they discover that they care for eachother.
The author shows the resilience and faith of the main characters.
Originally published in a novella collection. I look forward to more historical stories from this author.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for a newsletter sign up. All opinions are mine alone.*

[twirlinginameadow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet short love story infused with rich history of early America. I thoroughly enjoy Gabrielle Meyer’s writing. I also greatly appreciate her historical notes at the end. This novella was actually based on real people and what their love story could have been. I loved the history in this! There was John Smith, Pocahontas, what life was like in the early colony of Jamestown. I’m looking forward to the next novella in the series!

[Angela Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "The American Brides Collection," Gabrielle Meyer has curated a delectable assortment of eight novellas, rich and sweet as a box of chocolates.

Skillfully hand-crafted, each novella features nuanced characters, atmospheric settings, fascinating history, and heart-fluttering romance.

If historical romance is your favorite bookish treat, you’ll enjoy savoring The American Brides Collection!

📚 The American Brides Collection
📖 1) Virginia Company Bride
📖 2) Love's Undoing
📖 3) Four Brides and a Bachelor
📖 4) A Groom for Josette
📖 5) First Comes Love
📖 6) The Ranger's Reward
📖 7) A Tale of Two Hearts
📖 8) Bride of Basswood Hill

[Meghan W. (Bookswithmegh) · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS:
A short and sweet historical fiction on Anne Burras and her short time in Jamestown colony fort before she married John Layton. I loved the history behind this, & the creative liberty that was taken! The times during when the first settlers came to North America were dangerous times, from sickness to violence from those around them. This story was a perfect example of it all wrapped together but not too busy! I really liked this one, and I'm looking forward to reading the other novellas from this series!

GENRE: Historical fiction
PAGES: 117
RATING: 4☆

[Rebecca Trump · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virginia Company Bride by Gabrielle Meyer is a lovely novella of hardship and hope, bravery through the trials and trust in a great God who always comes through in His timing. And, of course, the love story was precious.

[Holly Pick · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer! I wish I could’ve read even more! I loved this time period and haven’t read many books about it. I love that it was based on real people and real events and I loved the times we got to see Pocahontas! A great read!

[Kaity ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and beautiful!! I loooved this! Anne and John were so lovely and I really enjoyed how detailed the writing was. I could tell a lot of research was put into this and I found the historical notes at the end fascinating!! 🤎

[Nikki Akerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet romance. I loved Anne and John’s story. Will be looking forward to the next Novella!

[Emily McMahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read since it is a novella series. If you want something heartwarming and quick this is the novel for you. As always I love Gabrielle Meyers writing style. I can never get enough.

[Sylvia Kinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great for a novella and I enjoyed the historical note at the end of the book explaining who the characters were in American history.

[Nicole Goodrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good novella! It was a quick read, well-written, and I really enjoyed the setting! I don't think the romance was developed well enough, though---but probably because this is a novella.

[Melody Chamness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always well researched and well written books. This was a perfect bubble bath read as it is novella length.

[Karri Stoerp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read

Great little read. The story was easy to read, and flowed well, not too long and drawn out, and held my attention.

[Emily Waits (emilylovesreading_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so excited for this 7-part novella series and this was a lovely start to it. I love learning about real historical figures this way! This is a sweet/clean, kisses only historical romance, available on Kindle Unlimited.

[Kathryn Spurgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

This is a sweet little romance book, and a quick read with delightful characters. I especially loved the historical note at the end.

[Amanda Styler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice novella written about the first woman who married and started a family in Jamestown Virginia. I appreciate how this author makes sure the story is as historically accurate as possible and gives a window into that real life story.

I also appreciate how the author writes from a Christian perspective and keeps things clean. Albeit, maybe not as riveting a story as possible but a truly sweet and pleasant one. This has been good to break up some of my heavier reading.

[Lakeisha Heeringa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love free books! I got this gem for signing up for Gabrielle Meyer's newsletter. It was a great intro to her writing style and I'm eager to read more.
I haven't read any early American history/Jamestown in a long time so this novella was a good refresher. It was sad being reminded how pathetic the first Jamestown adventurers were. Yes, it took courage to come to the wild new world, but many of these men were lazy and irresponsible. Those that actually cared were shackled by unreasonable demands from England and the petty disputes of their fellow settlers.

While the famous Pocahontas and John Smith are featured, they are side characters in the based-on-a-true-story tale of Anne Burras, an orphaned servant girl who arrives in Jamestown in 1608. As the only white female in the new world, Anne finds herself at the center of attention. Yet, despite the daily marriage proposals, Anne is on edge. The secret she harbors could ruin her and the disease that ravages this outpost could kill her. A return passage to England may be her only chance at survival. But as the ship prepares to set sail, the easy decision turns into a difficult choice. The new world may be deadly, but is her newfound love with John Layton worth the risk of staying?

Pros: Quick and easy read with a setting memorable enough to stay with you for a while. I appreciated the historical note at the end. My 21st century sensitivities were appalled that Anne Burras was only 14 when this happened!

Cons: It's a novella, so it's fast, but I felt it could have been drawn out a bit more while still staying within a manageable word count. The pacing was a trifle rushed.

Bottom Line: A delightful way to while away an hour and increase your Goodreads book count for the year.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a novella, Virginia Company Bride by Gabrielle Meyer packs a wallop. I devoured this highly-engaging story in a single day. As with all Meyer novels, I did not want to put this book down. Virginia Company Bride is a great blend of historical fact and fictional romance. I was delighted to discover at the end of the story that the protagonists — Anne and John — were real people. How cool is that? I don’t know why, but it always makes me enjoy a Historical Romance all the more when it is based off of humans who actually lived and loved and journeyed through life. Anne’s story is harsh. I won’t spoil anything, but her life leads to her being the sole English woman abandoned in America in 1608 at the tender age of 17. Terrifying! I really appreciate how strong Anne is. 100% she is scared and unsure and frightened of everything, but she accepts that this is where God has her, so she pulls herself up by her bootstraps and gets to work. Anne is awesome! John is the hero readers of historical romance love — he is super hardworking, has a strong moral compass, and pays attention to all the details. John is put off by Anne at first, but quickly changes his mind once he sees how good her heart is and how dedicated and hard working she can be. For a novella, I found the pacing of Anne and John’s relationship from acquaintances to friends to lovers to be quite realistic, especially given the nature of their meeting and their time period. I so enjoyed everything about Meyer’s characters, but I also appreciated her attention to historical detail and the timely themes discussed. Overall, this novella is a home run!

Virginia Company Bride is a stellar Historical Romance. I highly recommend this book, and I very much look forward to reading book 2 in the collection. If you’re in the mood for a well-written, fast-paced Historical Romance that will teach you a bit and leave you smiling, then this is the novella for you!

I borrowed a copy of this novel from Amazon.com via my Kindle Unlimited subscription on June 1, 2024. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Maggie | TheeReadingRedhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 Series: American Brides Collection (1 of 8)
🎭 Genre: Historical Fiction

🥜 In a Nutshell: A group of early colonists in Jamestown, Virginia are accompanied by just one woman who is a distraction to the men. One man vows to look out for her and develops feelings of his own in the process.

✅ Portrait of Early American Settlers
✅ Characters Based on Real Historical Figures
✅ Historical Note Included

I always love how Gabrielle Meyer makes history come alive for me! I enjoyed this little novella showing what settling in the first colonies in America was like. I liked Anne and John as characters and how they took care of each other. Their romance was sweet albeit a little too insta love for my taste. But it was a novella so I will give it some grace. I wasn't familiar with the historical aspects other than John Smith and Pocahontas so I really enjoyed reading her historical note at the end. All in all, a quick and interesting look at the life of early colonists and the issues they faced with a sweet love story woven in.

[Kaylee Rae Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabrielle Meyer's 21st century writing has completely swept me away to the 17th century effortlessly! I am reading any and everything of hers that I can get my hands on. This little diddy has been SUCH a delight!

The true story of the first woman in the Jamestown Colony (plus some artistic liberties) with a sweet romance! As always, Myers historical accuracy blows me away! I loved getting to the end to see the personal connections to Meyer's family, it added a little spark! I also enjoyed seeing Pocahontas and John Smith as supporting characters and accurate depictions of them and their roles.

I also like to read in the season I am in so this Mid September-Mid October Novella based on true events from Jamestown has been quite the cozy escape this evening, So glad I saved it specifically for an October read! Pro-tip: turn on some indian drums or colonial background music! 👌🏻

[Alyssa Amey Madjeski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short novella with a lot of sweetness and history packed in its pages. It tells the fictionalized true story of Anne Burras- the first woman to live in James Fort in 1608 and her love story with John Layton. The hardship and danger so prevalent, the value of each day a gift. I cannot fathom the hard work and heartbreak of trying to scrape out an existence in America those first years. The brother of one of my ancestors being one of the first chaplains to go to James Fort, but did not survive the first winter. My family arriving in the north about 30-40 years later, still incredibly hard, but their way paved by these courageous souls. Loved this love story- a glimmer of joy in the harsh reality, truly the start of something far greater than they could ever know.

I loved this story, 4.5 stars only because I wished it was far longer and I probably won’t reread it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet short romance. I actually picked it up because I'm in love with the author's Timeless series and I saw this book would work for one of my reading challenges. I was excited to get to read another of her books. I am embarrased to admit I didn't realize this story was based on real people. Anne Burras and John Layton are the main characters, and yes, they were real people who lived in James Fort in Jamestown, VA. I had recognized some of the other real life characters. The author took some creative liberties telling the story of Anne and John and I loved reading their story. I also loved that she brought that time in history to life.
The author drew me in to the story right away and I finished in about a day.
I can't wait to read more from this series.

[Audrey Colman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and oh so sweet read!

Could you imagine being the only woman in primitive conditions? Such was part of Anne Burras’s life.
Anne traveled to James Fort as a maid to Mistress Forest, who happened to die.
Without a place of her own in James Fort or back in England Anne agrees to be a servant for one of the men.
John Layton is contracted at James Fort as a shingle maker. And he doesn’t like women. He cannot wait to see her back onto a boat and across the pond.
But God had different plans. What follows is a sweet romance and story of protection and weathering the challenges life, especially life in a new unexplored place.

You can read this one is probably an hour! It’s on KU and is told in dual POV third person. Just kisses, and faith elements.

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a history lover I thought the idea of this series was so fun— a series of historical romance novellas set throughout time periods in American history.

This first release had a very interesting premise inspired by a true story: a single woman unexpectedly becomes the first and only woman settler in the Jamestown settlement. The story was short and sweet with a tender romance and intriguing historical backdrop.

Trigger/content warnings: illness, death and injury (all very mildly portrayed). Steam level is kissing.

[RhodaJane Olmstead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, fun, and historical read. Gabrielle's thorough research and how she weaves in historical characters that are an integral part of American history make this novella a book sure to put a smile on your face.

My only negative comment is that there seems to be a drastic leap between when John despises women and when he falls for Anne. A more gradual change of mind would have been less of a literary whiplash for me, but perhaps she was under a word count limit since this is a novella instead of a full novel.

Overall, a good read. I look forward to reading the others in the series.

[Joan Arning · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting story! I just wish it had been a full length book rather than a novella! I could not imagine being Anne Burras, the only European woman at Jamestown, since her mistress died on the journey there. Oh, the attention she gets! Both Master Burras and laborer John Layton want Anne on the first ship returning to England but for different reasons! I liked reading about life in Virginia colony and recommend this novella to others. I received a free e-book of Virginia Company Bride from the author. This is my honest opinion.

[Shellee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet, little novella fictionalizing the romance between the actual first English woman in Jamestowne and one of its early male occupants who she actually did marry. Gabrielle Meyer did a good job of portraying the dangers from illness and Indians and Spaniards that the people faced on a daily basis. You can always count on learning some history from a Gabrielle Meyer book, but her story telling makes it fun.