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The Daughters of the Mayflower #12

The Chisholm Trail Bride

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Stubborn Hearts Clash on a Cattle Drive

Eliza Gentry’s pursuit of marriage to the son of her family’s sworn enemy has cost her greatly. Furious at his daughter’s choices, her father sends her off with the cattle drive heading toward Fort Worth and the Barnhart ranch, but under the watchful eye of Wyatt Creed, a Pinkerton man he has hired to see to her safety. With danger at every turn—not the least of which to his heart—can Wyatt Creed keep his focus with Eliza Gentry around? Is the Chisholm Trail a place for falling in love or a place to die at the hands of cattle thieves?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Chisholm Trail Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo

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)
The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1836 Texas (February 2019)
The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1849 San Francisco (April 2019)
The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1860 Utah (July 2019)The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear – set 1863 Tennessee (December 2019)
The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze – set 1888 Nebraska (February 2020)

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2020

23 people are currently reading
696 people want to read

About the author

Kathleen Y'Barbo

132 books748 followers
Publishers Weekly bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee of more than one hundred novels with almost two million copies in print in the US and abroad.

A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award as well a Reader’s Choice Award and is the winner of the Inspirational Romance of the Year by Romantic Times magazine.

To connect with her through social media, check out the links on her website at www.kathleenybarbo.com.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
Profile Image for Deanne Patterson.
2,433 reviews122 followers
October 15, 2020
I was so happy to read this series, The Daughters of the Mayflower series.
Sadly this is the last book in the series and I've read every one of them.
I have had so much fun reading and learning about different times in history. All stories though fictional are based on events happening in history and the back of each book gives us a summary of the events the book is based on.
I loved the plot of each book and how easy it was to follow along and the characters you really feel as though you are listening to a private conversation with them.
The books are not romance heavy and concentrate more on the historical aspect which I enjoyed a lot.
I can always count on clean,sweet,inspirational books which is just what I enjoy reading.

I loved this series idea Barbour Books came up with and look forward to more series such as this.

Paperback, 256 pages
Published April 1st 2020 by Barbour Books
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Profile Image for Staci.
2,317 reviews673 followers
March 25, 2020
I loved how this 12th novel of the Daughters of the Mayflower Series begins...with the main characters Eliza and Wyatt as young teens. Their strong of friendship with a dash of fighting was a great background for their relationship years down the road.

While I enjoyed the entire novel, the first 2/3 of the novel were especially delightful. There was the banter of Eliza and Wyatt and then later on the addition of young and feisty Justine. My favorite scene in the novel was Justine, a pre-teen, schooling Eliza on how to properly eavesdrop on a conversation.

The time spent in Austin was especially dear to this former 30 year Austinite. Fun to read about places I am familiar with.

This is a great series through American history and I look forward to the next one.

My gratitude to publisher Barbour for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Marlene.
563 reviews127 followers
June 16, 2021
"The boy she imagined rode on the tail of every falling star… "

The Chisholm Trail Bride (2020, Barbour) by Kathleen Y'Barbo, twelfth in the Daughters of the Mayflower series, is a historical romance mostly set in May of 1889 in New Orleans. The novel is standalone, with the only connection to prior books consisting of the heroines all being ancestors of the heroine from the first book. The Chisholm Trail Bride is the final book in the series, but can be read out of order without a problem. I have enjoyed reading this multi-author series released over a two-year period.

Rating: 5 stars

Is it clean/chaste? Yes! This author's books are consistently clean.
Other content issues: Some violence, but nothing that felt over the top. I let my daughter, who was 14 at the time, read the books in this series.
Christian elements: This book is Christian fiction, so expect some mention of God and prayers.

In 1880:

Wyatt Creed is a young hired hand on a cattle drive. He had a difficult life due to an abusive father, who was all Wyatt had. [Wyatt's dad]: "That's how he [Wyatt] got that scar across his neck. If I'd been aiming to kill him, I would've, but I was just looking to get his attention." Wyatt's life was further traumatized by the tragic death of his father, who tells Wyatt with his last breath, "Just remember, you ain't me, but you could be, so watch yourself. Your mama's heart is in there, not mine."

Eliza Gentry loves going on cattle drives on the Chisholm Trail with her father, who was the trail boss. She dreams of "studying the stars and discovering new galaxies," and finds a kindred spirit in Wyatt. With the loss of Wyatt after his father's death, "She wondered how she would ever manage without him."

In 1889:

Nine years later, Eliza Gentry, now an adult at 21 years old, recently promised to marry Ben Barnhart. She has backtracked on her intentions since then. Interestingly, Ben was another youngster on Eliza's last cattle drive in 1880. He is now a rising political star, who is thought to be a viable candidate for president of the United States someday. Eliza's father was previously not in favor of the engagement, and is still concerned, as Ben continues to try to persuade Eliza.

Something I liked:

*Cookie, a secondary character: "Not only did he require the men to stand still and wait until he prayed before each meal, Cookie also insisted on a thank-you from each cowboy once his plate had been filled."

Something I didn’t like:

*There is an underlying mysterious element to this story that frustrated me. I wanted the explanation long before the author granted it to me! It was very well done, though - it's just not what I prefer in my romances. I don't remember any of the other books in this series having this kind of undertone. It's not so much that the mysterious part made the book scary or unsettling, but that certain details were confusing because the reader is missing some information. Not to worry. All is revealed eventually.

***********

Below are links to my reviews of some of the previous books in the series. Books 2 and 7 were also written by Ms. Y'Barbo.

Book 1: The Mayflower Bride
Book 2: The Pirate Bride
Book 3: The Captured Bride
Book 4: The Patriot Bride
Book 5: The Cumberland Bride
Book 6: The Liberty Bride
Book 7: The Alamo Bride
Book 11: The Blizzard Bride

The bottom line: This book would be a good fit for anyone who would enjoy a clean historical romance with just a hint of mystery about events in the past. As always, I look forward to reading more by this author.
Profile Image for Paula Shreckhise.
1,545 reviews144 followers
July 25, 2020
This story is a great Western yarn that starts and ends on the Chisholm Trail. Eliza and Wyatt are childhood friends. An incident breaks them apart but they do not forget eachother. A little deception, a few lies and the past looms.
The characters are well developed. Eliza is a bit headstrong and can make snap decisions. Wyatt is patient and has made a career for himself as detective John Brady. A likable secondary character is barely out of the nursery cousin Justine who follows Eliza around. She is nosey and proves that sometimes eavesdropping can be helpful.
The book would not be complete without a little mystery, excitement and romance, which are all done in a fresh way. I did not see some things coming! A very enjoyable book from the Daughters of the Mayflower series.
*I purchased a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for Missy.
371 reviews114 followers
February 28, 2020
The Chisholm Trail Bride is a great book of The Mayflower Brides series. Loving each of these books the more it goes on. Growing up on a beef cattle farm I could see the cattle drive, much like we did moving cattle from one farm or pasture to another, but on a much smaller scale. It put me back to my younger days, riding atop of my favorite horse with my little dog running beside me keeping those cattle in line, and being in the fresh air. It was a great time, I could see why Eliza loved it so.

This is the story of Eliza Gentry, the granddaughter to the Alamo Bride. Eliza is the only daughter, she is 13 at the beginning of the book, and wants to be like her older brothers and ride the cattle up the Chisholm Trail, but her mother says she needs to go to New Orleans to be refined. Eliza gets to ride on the Chisholm Trail, but it is anything but the experience she is longing for. Her best friend and "partner in crime" Wyatt Creed is also along for the ride. But when things happen between Wyatt and his father, Eliza's life changes forever.

Eliza grows up and still has her wild days, but she also has the eye of bad boy Ben Barnhart. Ben is the son of the local judge, has his sites on becoming senator and then president. Ben also was on the trail ride many years ago. With the arrival of a mysterious man, John Brady, who has been hired to keep an eye on Eliza, does Ben's plans take an erratic move, and puts Eliza in danger. It is up to John to keep Eliza safe, but will his secret put her in more harm.

This was a great book about forgiveness, of the closeness of a family, and true love. I would recommend this to those who love this series, historical fiction, and life on the cattle ranch.

Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for giving me this early review of this great book. This review is my own opinion and I have not been compensated.
Profile Image for Susan Snodgrass.
2,002 reviews275 followers
March 16, 2020
'He'd have to work on that whole praying-for-your-enemies thing.'

This series has had some outstanding additions and this one is just so good. I've long been a fan of Kathleen Y'Barbo and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. The characters were well fleshed out and the plot was very believable, as was the history. I really recommend this one.

*I received this book from Barbour Publishing via Net Galley and was not required to leave a review. All opinions in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Karen R.
744 reviews95 followers
February 2, 2020
Another enjoyable story in the Daughters of the Mayflower series! Western flair adds something special to this coming of age tale, that starts with a life changing cattle drive along the infamous Chisholm Trail. The drama fast forwards almost a decade later as the main characters still wrestle with the aftermath.

Adventure, romance and a cast of strong characters held my attention, making this a fast paced read for me. A battle of wills, a fight for truth and honor seemed to dominate Wyatt and Eliza's story. She seemed to not be very astute when it came to people, lacking in the area of discernment. He was truly a noble character, and it was painful to imagine what he went through. I enjoyed the side characters, Justine, and the Italian family in Galveston; they livened up the story with a bit of humor. The author's notes at the end were interesting. It was truly a romantic era in our country's history. The song references to "Deep in the Heart of Texas" had me singing it for days!
"The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas."

Fans of historical romances with some action and inspiration would probably enjoy this. It reads fine as a stand alone.

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)
Profile Image for Loraine.
3,468 reviews
April 5, 2020
I have enjoyed each of the books in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. We are now in the 1880's and the next generational descendant of the Mayflower daughter is Eliza Gentry. She lives in central Texas, and her father owns a large cattle ranch. Her best friend is Wyatt Creed; and they both are fascinated by stars and planets and love to joke and prank. They are also both friends with Ben Barhart the son of the local judge. Even though they are young, both boys are crazy about Eliza.

Filled with witty banter, sweet romance, a wonderful cast of characters, and and vaudevillian suspense, this story kept me up way past my bedtime. Eliza's parents, although wealthy, were down to earth people who wanted the best for her. Wyatt grabbed at his second chance at life and became an honorable, hard working man. Justine was a perfect pre-teen with all her nosiness and wishes to grow up and wear fancy ball gowns and beautiful hats. Ben was a typical spoiled brat who thought everything he wanted should be his with no concern for anyone else and would do anything to get what he desired.

Wonderful continuation of the series, and I look forward to the next book.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
Profile Image for Elodie’s Reading Corner.
2,554 reviews153 followers
March 27, 2020
The Chisholm Trail Bride
Daughters of the Mayflower Series #12
Kathleen Y’Barbo
https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.yba...
Release date 04/01/2020
Publisher Barbour Books

Blurb :

Stubborn Hearts Clash on a Cattle Drive Eliza Gentry’s pursuit of marriage to the son of her family’s sworn enemy has cost her greatly. Furious at his daughter’s choices, her father sends her off with the cattle drive heading toward Fort Worth and the Barnhart ranch, but under the watchful eye of Wyatt Creed, a Pinkerton man he has hired to see to her safety. With danger at every turn—not the least of which to his heart—can Wyatt Creed keep his focus with Eliza Gentry around? Is the Chisholm Trail a place for falling in love or a place to die at the hands of cattle thieves?

My review :

Will their past mistakes and tragedy catch up with them ...

Wyatt is a good man, he paid a heavy price for a tragedy not of his making. Still, he rebuilt himself.
I can understand his attachment to his childhood friend, but the woman she turned in, is rather a spoiled fickle one.
He tried at every turn to prevent her from running into disaster, and she is lucky he has a talent for rescuing people, or else she would still stuck in a predicament of her own making.

I am not sure I liked Eliza, for a stubborn, clever young woman, she is one to fall in every trap set for her. She is blind and deaf, unable to recognize her long lost friend and unable to listen to the voice of reason.
Like acting rebellious by deciding to elope with the one man everyone warned her to avoid just to spike her father?
Quite stupid.
Even more when years earlier she swore she would be marry him.
And with danger lurking around her, she continues her old habits to sneak away or is unable to stop to think for two seconds before acting.
Her deeds unsettled me, I was mostly upset by her then when she found some stamina to fight back, I rooted for her, then she would belittling it by a silly act right after.

But I might praise the author for the villain, he was someone I loved to hate. Awful to the roots. A prefect characterization of a despicable person. Still I found the resolution a bit rushed, hopefully the lovely epilogue made up for the end.
Why the 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Barbour Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Profile Image for Bess.
777 reviews
February 16, 2020
The 12th book and I think it might be the last, but who knows for sure.
I will refer to it as the last. This was a great way to end the series. I loved Eliza and Wyatt. It goes to show you what a traumatic experience can do to you as you age.
Eliza was great friends with Wyatt when they were young. But an unfortunate event caused a rift in their relationship. I can't say too much without spoiling it. I did see a few things coming but overall this was an exciting adventure for me. And I have to say the book I read just before this was a dark high fantasy and generally I don't do well with historical fiction coming down off of that type of adrenaline surge. However, this had enough to keep me pouring over the story until the end without the typical feel of slogging through a book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The twists and turns kept me guessing and I probably shut down the part of my brain that typically likes to guess and make accusations about what happens next. So, I just rolled with the punches and was delightfully entertained and surprised. Ms. Y'Barbo wove a fascinating tale. Regardless of how accurate or inaccurate it was from a historical point (and I cannot tell you in truth about the accuracy), it was a great story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Sarita.
1,531 reviews655 followers
April 8, 2020
This was another great addition to this series. I loved how the book started with teenager Eliza and her friendship with Wyatt. A lot happened in the first few pages of this book.

Ben was a great villain and the author did a great job of showing the reader his true colours but hiding it from Eliza. At one point I did thought she was a bit naive in trusting Ben and he was efficient in using her vulnerable moments. I think between 30-70% I flew through the pages because I could just not believe what was happening.

I loved Wyatt as a hero. He was strong and bold but still had his own vulnerable points as well.

Really enjoyed this book and will recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own*
Profile Image for Melissa Henderson.
Author 8 books190 followers
April 27, 2020
What an interesting story! From adventures on a cattle drive to the possibility of finding true love, the author takes the reader on a great journey. I enjoyed this one. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Profile Image for Kim.
837 reviews1 follower
March 28, 2020
Another great installment in this multi-author series. These books are all stand alone stories connected through genealogy and can be read in any order. Eliza Gentry is the only daughter of a wealthy Texas cattle rancher. She loves nothing more than going on cattle drives with her brothers and father on the Chisholm Trail. When the story opens, Eliza is 12 years old and on what will be her last cattle drive for a very long time. It ends tragically, and afterwards her mother tries to turn her into a proper young lady in New Orleans high society. Eliza considers a forbidden suitor from her past but really just wants to go home to Texas to study the stars and try not to think of her childhood best friend Wyatt Creed whom she hasn’t seen in 10 years. The thwarted suitor ends up being quite a villain with a rich, powerful family. To protect those she loves, Eliza must deceive everyone. When the situation spirals out of control, Wyatt must step in to protect the only woman he has ever loved and to face the truth of what happened on the Chisholm Trail. There are some great twists to keep the story moving though I was somewhat surprised in the convenient resolution. The story is well written and well paced, and I enjoyed it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars.

I received a complimentary ebook through NetGalley. A positive review was not required. Opinions expressed here are my own.
Profile Image for Joleen.
2,683 reviews1,227 followers
March 23, 2021
Slowly but surely I’m getting ahold of the different books in the Daughters of the Mayflower series. This is number 12. The same author wrote the second and seventh books in the series, but I enjoyed this one so much more. I loved Wyatt and Eliza and couldn’t stand Ben, which was the way it was supposed to be.

"Not only did he require the men to stand still and wait until he prayed before each meal, Cookie also insisted on a thank-you from each cowboy once his plate had been filled."

Several other characters caught my attention including Cookie, the cook for the trail ride, and Red, a long time hired hand and father figure to Eliza.

Did I say I didn’t like Ben? Yeah, I didn’t. Horrible person.

Aside from that I enjoyed the author's comprehensive knowledge of spring cattle drives from Texas to Kansas. It was clear she did extensive research on this and cities in the story.

Good book I can easily recommend.
Profile Image for Hannah Leake.
Author 4 books21 followers
March 23, 2020
As the 12th installment of the “daughters of the Mayflower” series, the Chisholm Trail Bride is an excellent addition to a phenomenal series.

The story of Wyatt and Eliza was one of the most interesting storylines that I’ve read in awhile. It kept me captivated the whole story long, just waiting to see what would happen next. My only disappointment is that I felt the characters were not as developed as I had hoped. I felt that even though the story was wonderful, the lack of character depth was a little disappointing.

The relationship between Wyatt and Eliza was excellent, as was the villainous Ben. All in all, this was a great Christian Historical Romance, but just lacked a little of the depth that I had come to love from some of the other books in the series.
Profile Image for Scarlett.
585 reviews60 followers
March 19, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC of this book! Release date - April 1, 2020

And now for another installment in the never-ending series!

I actually quite like Kathleen Y'Barbo's writing. It was her book The Pirate Bride that first got me roped into this series, so in a way I blame her (kidding, kinda), so it's a good thing that I've mostly enjoyed her books. While I did like The Pirate Bride more, I liked this one better than The Alamo Bride. I also like that the characters in all the books she writes are descendants of previous books, while also being able to be standalones.

I think there were moments of this book that were 4 star worthy, and I felt like it was a good story and I enjoyed it. But overall I think it was mostly just ok. Several plot developments were entirely too convenient to be realistic, especially the resolution to the main problem, which was very abrupt and anticlimactic despite being a huge part of the storyline the entire book. It kinda just disappears in the background.

That being said, I did like the overall romance and the reasons the two characters were kept apart. I liked seeing them as children and then jumping ahead about 10 years and seeing those comparisons. I also really liked the way it ended.

If I have one more small complaint it's that other books in this series have been based during a major historical event, the Revolutionary War, the Battle of the Alamo, the Civil War, or the Children's Blizzard, to name a few. This just kinda took place around the time that people were traveling on the Chisholm Trail, and the actual trail itself played a very small part in the story. I guess I just felt like it deviated from the typical pattern and would have liked a little more historical context.

That being said, I definitely liked this one more than previous installments in the series, and I'm curious to see the next one NetGalley will inevitably deliver to me in the next few months.
Profile Image for Robbie .
440 reviews55 followers
May 31, 2020
TEXAS! The stars...big and bright! Oh, my. Be still my heart. Kathleen Y'Barbo writes about Texas in a way that makes me feel like I am back in my adopted home state.

The Chisholm Trail Bride introduces us to the main characters, who are all in their early teen years. There is Eliza Gentry, daughter of a prosperous cattleman; Wyatt Creed, son of a retired Texas Ranger, who is also an alcoholic; and Ben “Benjy” Barnhart, son of a Texas judge. The narrative begins as they are about to set out on the Chisholm Trail to deliver cattle to buyers in Kansas.

The trail ride brings joy and deep heartbreak along the way, and this ride becomes the three’s last trail ride. Ben, unlike Eliza and Wyatt, creates his own problems due to his selfish and wantonly cruel ways.

Years later, we find Eliza living in Louisiana with her mother. Life has not been the same for her since the trail ride, and it looks like it never will be.

Y’Barbo writes a mesmerizing and captivating tale, melding mystery, murder and kidnapping, along with love and forgiveness. Her portrayal of the trail leaves you wishing you were under the stars, too, etching the story in your memory. She draws such wonderful pictures of Texas, Louisiana and all the happenings between the two states that I was often left breathless. (I also never guessed the ending, which is something that almost never happens to me. It is stunning and surprising!)

The Author’s Note at the end is a do not miss portion of the novel, as there is a plethora of fascinating information about the Chisholm Trail.

I received this book from NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to write a review.
Profile Image for Trisha.
453 reviews46 followers
April 6, 2020
What a fantastic story to dive into! At a time when I had been struggling to concentrate enough to loose myself in a story, this was just the book that I needed to pick up. In no time I found myself fully pulled into the dynamics of this story and carried away, back in time for a cattle drive that I won’t soon forget. I enjoyed the witty banter between the characters, and the lush scenery along the way.

Wyatt Creed had a rough upbringing, yet he managed to surround himself with positive role models and though he may have made mistakes, he admitted it, and made recompense where he could. He stuck to his word and was a loyal friend.

Eliza Gentry may seem like she has stars in her eyes, but her feet are firmly planted on the ground. She struggles at times to find her own identity, as we all have done at one time or another. When the chips are down, she shows that she’s not afraid to fight for what she truly knows is right.

With a perfect balance of mystery and romance you are sure to fall in love with these characters! This is the perfect book to pick up and get lost in!

Each of the books in this collection stand on their own. Each story takes place during different event in American History. I have enjoyed each and every book, and I really hope there are a few more to come!

(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
Profile Image for Patti Whitson Stephenson She Lives to Read.
1,197 reviews27 followers
June 11, 2020
One of my favorite books in this series! As a young girl, Eliza shares her her love of star-gazing with Wyatt. As they accompany Eliza’s father on a cattle drive on the Chisholm Trail, they have a friendly competition to see who can spot the most “shooting stars”. But tragedy lies ahead for them, and although Eliza retains her love of the stars, she never forgets Wyatt, her best friend in childhood. When Eliza grows up to become an attractive young woman, her heart is at first torn between marrying Ben Barnhart and helping him further his political career, or going to school to study astronomy. However, things take a major, troubling turn in Eliza’s life. She becomes unsure as to who is telling her the truth about the tragedy long ago. This story moves smoothly between the rugged ranch in Texas and the beautiful ballrooms of New Orleans. I enjoyed the historical details the author added into the story about both the Chisholm Trail and the city of New Orleans.

I also liked Eliza’s parents in this story. I thought their differences complimented each other and added depth to the story. This story takes some unexpected twists and turns that makes it seem as if Eliza’s story cannot have a happy ending. But there’s a beautiful romance that blooms for Eliza, and a determined hero who would give his life to protect her. I truly enjoyed this book and know I’ll be reading it again.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Debby *BabyDee*.
1,483 reviews80 followers
March 16, 2020
As I’ve enjoyed other novels in the “Daughters of the Mayflower” series, I didn’t hesitate to jump at reading Kathleen Y’Barbo’s “The Chisholm Trail Bride”.

This story was such a good story and the characters had me drawn in from the first page to the end. It was well-written and historically descriptive with the places and scenes that projected much excitement. Eliza Gentry was a relatable character and it was not easy to love her, her family and friends. The romance between Eliza and Wyatt Creed was nicely developed and you can see that both characters had strong personalities and convictions. There is quite a bit of surprises, twists and turns but it made the story interesting and draws the ready to wanting to know the end and if there will be a HEA for the H/h.

As with the other stories in the “Daughters of the Mayflower” series, this one did not fail as a very nice historical Christian romance novel. Having read another of Ms. Y’Barbo’s novels in this series, I find the author a very good writer and enjoy reading her books. Totally recommend this read and others in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.0-Stars
Profile Image for Vera Godley.
2,007 reviews56 followers
April 15, 2020
I found this new book in the Daughters of the Mayflower series to be a light, enjoyable read. Lots of wit and humor in the conversations of the characters. Friendship. Enemies. Family. Good interaction and ultimately, good overcomes evil. In other words, the good guys win.

But before that, you get a nice read that is clean, wholesome, and sure to take your mind off the worries of the day.

The gist of the story is that of a sweet young lady that is head strong. It begins on a cattle drive (her father's cattle) and her best friend, Wyatt, is along to help with the drive. A clash of personalities, angry words, and gunshots. The result is a tragedy.

Flash forward about 10 years and the same stubborn young lady, though a bit older now, is about to marry. And therein lies the problem. Her father's goal is to keep her safe and prevent a marriage of which he disapproves and knows is dangerous. The method he uses to keep her safe is where the story really gets interesting.

I totally enjoyed this light, and a bit exciting read and can easily recommend it.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review and was under no obligation to post a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
Profile Image for Jaquelyn Scroggie.
383 reviews5 followers
April 25, 2020
This book was so much fun to read. Y’Barbo kept me on the edge of my seat dying to see what would happen next. I enjoyed seeing a character from when she was a little girl to when she became a young woman. One Chisholm Trail ride changed the course of her life forever. Eliza wanted nothing more than to be out on the trail with her father and brothers. She somehow seemed to find a way to get into trouble, whether it be from her brothers ideas, or her friend Wyatts’. According to her mother, no refined young ladies would do half the things Eliza got caught doing. But she doesn’t stay little forever. Deciding she wants to get married Eliza embarks on another journey that will alter the course of her life forever.

I loved watching the chemistry between Eliza and her guard. They were both so fun to watch, and I couldn’t guess what they would get into next. Eliza loved her family and would do anything for them. Can she look beyond the obvious and see the truth before it’s too late? I couldn’t imagine how she would get out of the mess she found herself in, and I enjoyed every moment of the fight with her. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction. I received a copy of this book from Barbour House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Karen Martin.
147 reviews2 followers
April 7, 2020
This story certainly took on a different tone than most of the others in this series, but it was no less wonderful to read. I really enjoyed the heroine, Eliza, even if she can be her own worst enemy sometimes. Being caught in one impossible situation after another, she none-the-less is not willing to give up the fight to do what she believes to be right. Then there’s John Brady, her father’s hired protector, and a man who challenges her in quite a lot of ways. But, when someone else’s plans become a little too controlling, they have to learn to trust each other to discover the truth. All together, this was a great addition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series, and I’m looking forward to the next.

* Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this story through NetGalley, but was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Suzie Waltner.
Author 13 books148 followers
April 15, 2020
4.5 Stars

Kathleen Y’Barbo wrote one of my favorite books in the Daughters of the Mayflower series way back when it started (The Pirate Bride), so it’s fitting that the series ends with another book from Y’Barbo that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Wyatt and Eliza are childhood frenemies but one night on the Chisholm Trail ended their friendship rather abruptly. Nine years later, Eliza is pursued (romantically speaking) by one of the instigators of the events that happened on the trail.

I’m a huge fan of friends first romances and the elements of family, danger, and intrigue just added more aspects to like about The Chisholm Trail Bride. If you’ve missed out on the series (or if you were waiting for it to be completed before picking up the first book), now is the time to dive in and discover a little history along with the great stories told in each of these books.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Donna.
343 reviews
January 11, 2023
The last book in this 12-book series. I have enjoyed reading throughout the whole family tree of characters, starting with the Mayflower. This last story was really good. It was like a good, old western. It had all the parts to make a great western - love, loss, suspense, action, and a secret --that is the basic backbone of the book. I also love how in every book you learn a little bit about history and this one was interesting because it showed ranch life back in the late 1800s. You learn about cattle trails and how ranchers used to transport their cattle through them. This particular trail originated somewhere San Antonio and went through Texas into Oklahoma and Kansas. The love story starts on a ranch and, in a way, begins on the cattle trail. I enjoyed the story and the historical perspective. It was a quick read for me. I am sad the series is over.
Profile Image for Lori.
1,892 reviews134 followers
March 25, 2020
This series is just so awesome!
Starting from the Mayflower on up until this novel has been a wonderful journey indeed. I try not to miss a one.
I loved imagining myself on the trail with cattle, horses, cowboys and oh so much more!
Wonderful characters with a great plot this author will pull you into Wyatt and Eliza's story and before you know it you're at the end of the book. I was sad when I closed this book because I hate saying goodbye to good friends. But hey, at least we can visit them from time to time cant' we?
To make this story even more exciting the author adds just the right amount of mystery along with some bit of romance as well.
There are some shady characters that you probably will not like. But to me, it takes all kinds to make a story.
I like this story so much! Made me think of watching a Tv Western with John Wayne.
Wyatt is A ok in my book. I wouldn't mind having a Wyatt along in my life either.
My thanks to Netgalley and Barbour for another fantastic book in this series. Please keep them coming!
I was NOT required to write a positive review for this book. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Teresa.
893 reviews
March 28, 2020
Ms. Y'Barbo has added another awesome book to the Daughters of the Mayflower series. In this historical fiction story you meet Eliza and Wyatt when they are young. After a fateful event while pushing cattle down the Chisholm Trail, Eliza loses the best friend she ever had. Years down the road, events lead to a meeting with another man on that ride is making his promise to make Eliza his wife but Eliza does not agree. Through twists and turns, faith in God along with some help from Eliza's father, things work out as they should. Loved it! Cannot wait to read more in this historical fiction series. Thanks to Ms. Y'Barbo, Barbour Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this awesome book!
Profile Image for Rebecca.
2,375 reviews166 followers
April 8, 2020
"Her heart had been broken on that trail. Completely and forever broken."

Having talked her father into letting her accompany him on a cattle drive up the Chisholm Trail, Eliza Gentry is inconsolable after a terrible shooting incident took away her best friend one starry night in Texas. Wyatt Creed was always daring her, teasing her, taunting her, but he would come to her defense when it mattered the most, how could he have made such a terrible mistake?

Years later, as Eliza considers her future, family friend Ben Barnhart is determined to make her his wife. What lengths will Ben take, and who will Eliza's father call upon to keep Eliza safe?

An intriguing story, for sure!
Profile Image for Kailey.
797 reviews95 followers
April 5, 2020
This one was so good! Knowing that it’s the last book in this series made it a little bit harder for me to read. While I was loving the story and wanted to read it all right away, I did end up pacing myself so it would last longer. It was very bittersweet finishing it. I really did love this book! This storyline was so unique. I loved Eliza and Wyatt! I can only hope that there will be more.


I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Profile Image for Abigail Harris.
Author 52 books263 followers
July 9, 2020
A historical whirlwind romantic suspense!

This fast paced story with a horrific beginning is one I am glad to say, I love.


I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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