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The Mayflower Collection #2
The Winter Years
America, 1620.
Desire Minter, 19 years old, is nursing the sick aboard the Mayflower when tragedy strikes and a young woman dies.
With disease rife and food stores running low, the passengers weaken and are desperate to move ashore. As the death toll rises, Desire takes courage from her betrothed, an ambitious young physician named Jedediah Trelawney.
But as building work begins on the new village of Plimoth, a brutal winter brings uncertainty for everyone, eroding Jed’s confidence and leaving Desire wondering if she has a future in this unfamiliar land…
Does Desire have what it takes to confront the challenges of her cruel new life, and will Jed be part of her future?
A gripping tale of ambition, hardship, sacrifice and love.
Desire Minter, 19 years old, is nursing the sick aboard the Mayflower when tragedy strikes and a young woman dies.
With disease rife and food stores running low, the passengers weaken and are desperate to move ashore. As the death toll rises, Desire takes courage from her betrothed, an ambitious young physician named Jedediah Trelawney.
But as building work begins on the new village of Plimoth, a brutal winter brings uncertainty for everyone, eroding Jed’s confidence and leaving Desire wondering if she has a future in this unfamiliar land…
Does Desire have what it takes to confront the challenges of her cruel new life, and will Jed be part of her future?
A gripping tale of ambition, hardship, sacrifice and love.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2021
230 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Dionne Haynes
9 books42 followersDionne Haynes is the author of the Mayflower Collection novels, a series of books that has proven popular with descendants of the Mayflower passengers and fans of historical fiction. She parted ways with her medical career after 20 years as a doctor when the time had come to fulfil her dream of becoming a full-time author. She lives with her husband in Plymouth, England where they enjoy walking coastal paths and exploring historic houses.
You can get a FREE novella – visit dionnehaynes.com for details.
Connect on social media on Facebook (@DionneHaynesUK) and Instagram (@dionnehaynes.author).
You can get a FREE novella – visit dionnehaynes.com for details.
Connect on social media on Facebook (@DionneHaynesUK) and Instagram (@dionnehaynes.author).
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 14, 2022
Loved it! It wasn’t exactly what I expected because it pulled us off into another direction. But it was really good and drew me right into the story. If you like historical fiction then I can recommend this short series, I just wish there was another book to follow.
October 20, 2021
Wonderful Sequel
The Winter Years was even better than book 1 and book one was a five star rating. This book continues where book one leaves off after the pilgrams make it through the winters and were thriving. Several ships have now made it to Plymouth and taken goods back with them,as well as replenish the settlers with needs. The settlers have gotten healthy again and Jed is restless to learn more. The next part of the book is Jed and Desire`s story. There were so many interesting medical and midwifery facts that just that part kept me interested. Being a nurse, I found the medieval practices they did was doing so much more harm than good in a lot of cases. When science started playing a role in medicine is when the death rate started going down. Another great book by Dionne Hayes
The Winter Years was even better than book 1 and book one was a five star rating. This book continues where book one leaves off after the pilgrams make it through the winters and were thriving. Several ships have now made it to Plymouth and taken goods back with them,as well as replenish the settlers with needs. The settlers have gotten healthy again and Jed is restless to learn more. The next part of the book is Jed and Desire`s story. There were so many interesting medical and midwifery facts that just that part kept me interested. Being a nurse, I found the medieval practices they did was doing so much more harm than good in a lot of cases. When science started playing a role in medicine is when the death rate started going down. Another great book by Dionne Hayes
January 18, 2022
A wonderful story, based upon what happened to the Pilgrims when they arrived at what became Plimoth Colony in 1619. Arriving in November, they had to scout for suitable land, build homes, and face the perils of an extremely harsh winter.
Haynes traces the story of Desire, a 19-year-old on the Mayflower as she spends and survives the harsh winter, chronicling the everyday lives of her and her companions. Some are people we already know from studying about the Mayflower, and we find an accurate recounting in this fictional account of the first year of settling in America.
Haynes traces the story of Desire, a 19-year-old on the Mayflower as she spends and survives the harsh winter, chronicling the everyday lives of her and her companions. Some are people we already know from studying about the Mayflower, and we find an accurate recounting in this fictional account of the first year of settling in America.
July 10, 2021
I loved this saga. The story revolves around Jed Trelawney and Desire Minter as they battle through their first winter after leaving the Mayflower. The trials and tribulation the people go through trying to build a settlement facing fear, death, love and show a strength of character. This story kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. I would highly recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
December 27, 2021
LOVED THIS DOWN TO EARTH STORY!
More, More, we want more! I have always enjoyed Early American history, but this had it all.. I loved the different medical findings from the very most basic understandings to the slow progressed to future findings. It was also a sweet love story of to people devoted to each other and to their life's work. Thank you!
More, More, we want more! I have always enjoyed Early American history, but this had it all.. I loved the different medical findings from the very most basic understandings to the slow progressed to future findings. It was also a sweet love story of to people devoted to each other and to their life's work. Thank you!
April 23, 2022
I had written a review on her book Running with the Wind and ordered this sequel The Winter Years. It was really good too. I love to read Early American books and I read all day finishing it. It was too good to put down. ❤️❤️❤️
November 29, 2023
This was so good. It is a story of pushing through and never giving up hope even in the toughest of times. They start on the Mayflower and land on an unexpected location to start new.
May 14, 2024
OMG, I have been searching for Book 3 but there is no Book 3! Need a third book, please. I feel as if I know these characters personally and I want to continue sharing their experiences as pioneers in the country they have come to settle. So to the author, please continue this saga. To readers, do not hesitate! This is a great piece of historical fiction!
June 18, 2021
I have read this book and giving my honest review:
This book follows from the first one, wow it was exciting
Full of adventure, love but I am not going to spoil you have to read for yourself.
You really get drawn into the book, you are with them all of the way.,
Fantastic
This book follows from the first one, wow it was exciting
Full of adventure, love but I am not going to spoil you have to read for yourself.
You really get drawn into the book, you are with them all of the way.,
Fantastic
June 29, 2023
Not as good as the first book
It felt like the story dragged in the middle. And why did they have to go back to England? I wanted to know more about life in early America. Furthermore, it was never explained why Desire kept getting nose bleeds...
It felt like the story dragged in the middle. And why did they have to go back to England? I wanted to know more about life in early America. Furthermore, it was never explained why Desire kept getting nose bleeds...
August 13, 2024
I've enjoyed reading this book . Dionne Hayes has taken an inspiration of a lady called Desire Minter who was a passenger in The Mayflower and written a story of what may have happened whilst she was at sea .
The story is well written , but slow paced . Desire and Jed are good hearted characters who are betrothed on the Mayflower and come together during the journey at sea as the ship is hit with a disease that affects and even kills many to try to save as many as the can as nurse and physician. This makes the couple find strength and bring them even closer together . This part of the story is sympathetically written , and you can tell that the author has researched it .
When they arrive in the new village of Plimoth and it's being built a hard winter sets down . Life gets difficult as Jed and Desire try to make it work , having them doubt that their move was right . They persevere and create a life there with an adopted daughter but it's not easy . You can feel everything they go through emotionally , but I feel that it needed more enhancement still .
It's a quick read , good on historical content but I feel it needed something extra to make it a memorable read .
It's a 4 star ⭐️ read because of the slow plot and that the story focused more on the journey on the mayflower .
The ending felt rushed a little for me .
The story is well written , but slow paced . Desire and Jed are good hearted characters who are betrothed on the Mayflower and come together during the journey at sea as the ship is hit with a disease that affects and even kills many to try to save as many as the can as nurse and physician. This makes the couple find strength and bring them even closer together . This part of the story is sympathetically written , and you can tell that the author has researched it .
When they arrive in the new village of Plimoth and it's being built a hard winter sets down . Life gets difficult as Jed and Desire try to make it work , having them doubt that their move was right . They persevere and create a life there with an adopted daughter but it's not easy . You can feel everything they go through emotionally , but I feel that it needed more enhancement still .
It's a quick read , good on historical content but I feel it needed something extra to make it a memorable read .
It's a 4 star ⭐️ read because of the slow plot and that the story focused more on the journey on the mayflower .
The ending felt rushed a little for me .
November 19, 2025
A great sequel to Running With The Wind. The author who is the narrator did a wonderful job. I will say there is some cursing but Not saying God’s name in vain.
Such hardships they had to face. I really got into Jed and Desire’s story and wasn’t sure if the story was going to end happy. This is only the second book I’ve ever read by this author so I didn’t really know.
I did enjoy reading about Jed learning medicine and the way he could figure out some of the treatments himself.
I got a little upset with Jedediah because it seemed he was very selfish and never put Desire’s needs before his own. My husband spoiled our daughters and me and I guess that made me think Jed should treat her a little different. Now this did not make me not like the book because I really enjoyed it and made the book what it is. By the way I loved how it turned out in the end.
A wonderful historical novel and I loved the audiobook edition.
I received a copy of this book from the author but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Such hardships they had to face. I really got into Jed and Desire’s story and wasn’t sure if the story was going to end happy. This is only the second book I’ve ever read by this author so I didn’t really know.
I did enjoy reading about Jed learning medicine and the way he could figure out some of the treatments himself.
I got a little upset with Jedediah because it seemed he was very selfish and never put Desire’s needs before his own. My husband spoiled our daughters and me and I guess that made me think Jed should treat her a little different. Now this did not make me not like the book because I really enjoyed it and made the book what it is. By the way I loved how it turned out in the end.
A wonderful historical novel and I loved the audiobook edition.
I received a copy of this book from the author but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2021
The Mayflower has arrived in America, the year is 1640.
Life is looking pretty bleak for the setters on board, sickness, death hunger and poverty hang over their heads constantly.
Desiree has done her best to be of assistance and comfort to everyone on board.
Jedediah is slowly loosing his excitement for a new land.
This is a wonderful historical, romance based on the founding fathers, looking for a new life and a better future.
I have had a wonderful time reading this book, following the characters as they have grown, on the pages of this book.
Dionne Haynes has provided a detailed authors introduction blurb, for us to read.
Life is looking pretty bleak for the setters on board, sickness, death hunger and poverty hang over their heads constantly.
Desiree has done her best to be of assistance and comfort to everyone on board.
Jedediah is slowly loosing his excitement for a new land.
This is a wonderful historical, romance based on the founding fathers, looking for a new life and a better future.
I have had a wonderful time reading this book, following the characters as they have grown, on the pages of this book.
Dionne Haynes has provided a detailed authors introduction blurb, for us to read.
July 29, 2021
This is a well written book that hooks you on the first page. It's full of adventure, drama, hardship and love. This is a story that once you start reading it you can't put it down. If you like Christian historical fiction you will love this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I received a complimentary copy and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary copy and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 21, 2021
‘The Winter Years’ picks up where the author’s previous novel, ‘Running with the Wind’, left off. And we’re thrown straight into the thick of things, with the passengers-turned-settlers struggling to survive in the New World.
Once again we follow Jed and Desire as the main characters, and as Jed is training to be a doctor and Desire has taken on the role of nurse and midwife, most of the first half of the book focuses on the accidents, illnesses, births and deaths in the colony. The second half then takes us on a change of scene, as Jed and Desire confront their pasts and plan their futures.
The writing is crisp and clean and gets straight to the point, while the story fits the historical facts surrounding the voyage and the beginnings of the colony. By the end, I felt like I’d been on quite a rollercoaster as so much drama and action is crammed into each page. I was happy with the ending, but the author has left room for a possible third book in this series, so the story may not be over yet!
(I would just mention, there are a couple of deaths in the story which could be interpreted as suicide. The story doesn’t dwell on them and we don’t know the characters well, but as I couldn’t find a trigger warning at the start of the book, I thought I should warn future readers who might be sensitive to this. I’d also like people to know I received an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.)
Once again we follow Jed and Desire as the main characters, and as Jed is training to be a doctor and Desire has taken on the role of nurse and midwife, most of the first half of the book focuses on the accidents, illnesses, births and deaths in the colony. The second half then takes us on a change of scene, as Jed and Desire confront their pasts and plan their futures.
The writing is crisp and clean and gets straight to the point, while the story fits the historical facts surrounding the voyage and the beginnings of the colony. By the end, I felt like I’d been on quite a rollercoaster as so much drama and action is crammed into each page. I was happy with the ending, but the author has left room for a possible third book in this series, so the story may not be over yet!
(I would just mention, there are a couple of deaths in the story which could be interpreted as suicide. The story doesn’t dwell on them and we don’t know the characters well, but as I couldn’t find a trigger warning at the start of the book, I thought I should warn future readers who might be sensitive to this. I’d also like people to know I received an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.)
February 15, 2023
An Amazing Read!!
I read the entire series from the Introduction and on to the Mayflower Collection. I hated to see it end. Author Haynes magnificently webs and weaves the lives of Desire and Jed from England to America. What a ride. I highly recommend this book if you want an amazing read. You will fall in love with the characters wishing it would go on forever…
I read the entire series from the Introduction and on to the Mayflower Collection. I hated to see it end. Author Haynes magnificently webs and weaves the lives of Desire and Jed from England to America. What a ride. I highly recommend this book if you want an amazing read. You will fall in love with the characters wishing it would go on forever…
January 24, 2025
Where Is Home
This was the third book of the May flower story. The tale is enjoyable and the characters are quite interesting. Jed is difficult to warm up to while Desire gives you that caring feeling immediately. I would have liked them to stay in America and continue their friendship with their fellow passengers and their newly acquainted Native Americans.
This was the third book of the May flower story. The tale is enjoyable and the characters are quite interesting. Jed is difficult to warm up to while Desire gives you that caring feeling immediately. I would have liked them to stay in America and continue their friendship with their fellow passengers and their newly acquainted Native Americans.
May 16, 2024
Historical fiction at its best
This story is a continuation of people’s lives in an old world that made a new country. The people are so interesting, their lives journey is so addictive.
This story is a continuation of people’s lives in an old world that made a new country. The people are so interesting, their lives journey is so addictive.
August 6, 2021
I loved this book. I felt connected to the characters from beginning to end, laughing and crying with them through all their good and bad times.
A great read.
A great read.
August 23, 2021
Great read.
I couldn’t put the book down until it was finished. I sincerely hope there is a sequel
Loved it. It was amazing.
I couldn’t put the book down until it was finished. I sincerely hope there is a sequel
Loved it. It was amazing.
April 10, 2024
Great 2nd book
I enjoyed reading the continuation of Jed and Desire. The author makes it easy to imagine life in the 1600’s.
I enjoyed reading the continuation of Jed and Desire. The author makes it easy to imagine life in the 1600’s.
July 12, 2024
A poignant full-bodied tale
As a lover of historical fiction, I delighted in this historically accurate series, but really devoured the author's gifted story telling.
As a lover of historical fiction, I delighted in this historically accurate series, but really devoured the author's gifted story telling.
November 22, 2024
Very interesting and enjoyable
December 13, 2024
Pilgrimage of the New World
This was a very interesting story into the lives of the Pilgrims entering into the start of New World . Loved the story line
This was a very interesting story into the lives of the Pilgrims entering into the start of New World . Loved the story line
May 4, 2025
Entertaining, enjoyable read. The book weaves historical facts in a smooth natural way. Was engaged from the first page.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews