This book caught my attention when I read the synopsis from the back cover but it ended up being a bit disappointing. First, I had a very hard time getting into this book because of so much information being thrown at the reader in the first few chapters. Eventually, the pace slowed down.
On the other hand, I liked Ellis’s stubborn and strong personality as a healer because it gave an interesting perspective to the time era. I also liked all of Ellis's references to Psalm 91.
I have to admit that near the end of the story, I could not put the book down and the epilogue was amazing. It cleared up a lot of questions that I had and also had a plot twist.
The Alamo Bride can be read as a standalone but I would highly recommend reading the earlier books in the series to get a better understanding.

Personal Rating: 3 Stars
Content Rating: 4.5 Stars

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

RTC ( )

The Alamo Bride was an intimately personal read for me. I am a true-blue Texan, being born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and my family has ties to several places in Texas that date back centuries, so I share the author’s sentiments of connection to this story, as well as to the history of Texas.

Clay and Ellis are both fiercely loyal to causes that they believe in and, in this case, to the independence of Texas from Mexico. This was such a tumultuous time in Texas and The Alamo Bride highlights yet another facet of this fight to freedom.

I admire how brave and fiercely loyal Ellis is to those she cares about. She is so ardent that she puts her own safety at risk to help others, even if they are strangers. If someone his hurting she wants to help heal them. That kind of love is intense and admirable, considering the unique situation she finds herself in: essentially bringing a stranger back from the dead.

The snarkiness between Clay and Ellis was entertaining, and added an element of humor to an otherwise depressing situation. The attraction between Clay and Ellis is subtle but evident that there is something brewing beneath the surface, even while Ellis struggles with trusting Clay, while Clay also tries to remember his past. The whole part about the feathers made me absolutely swoon, the beauty in the simplicity, while the powerful metaphor is something I will personally take with me, “and under his wings shalt thou trust.”

I love all things Alamo, so I knew this was going to be an enjoyable read, but I didn’t realize just how much I would be transfixed. I also appreciated the author sharing quite a bit of her research at the end of the novel. As a history nerd myself, I found this part just as fascinating as I did the fictional narrative.

This was a pleasing and educational read that has a thread of faith and love, combined with suspense, and wonderful characters, that took me on an incredible literary journey that I won’t soon forget.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from Barbour Books through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own. ( )

This was an enjoyable edition to this series. I enjoyed the characters in the story, especially the grandfather. I loved the history. I also love what a strong character that Ellis is. It would be hard to live where there was a war being fought. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

Since Kathleen Y’Barbo wrote “The Pirate Bride”, book 2 in The Daughters of the Mayflower series, it is also fitting that she penned “The Alamo Bride”, as there are direct connections between some of the characters. Although I mention this in most of my reviews for this series, it is worth echoing; each book in this series contains a solid plotline that allows it to stand on its own, yet with some mention of previous characters, and the series never feels formulaic. Each contains a romance, but there is a fresh diversity with each new time period and couple. Part of this is no doubt due to having different authors, and the challenge of maintaining the overarching theme of faith and adventure is always met. Readers can start with any book in the series, but for the best experience, I would recommend reading them in order. Doing so also offers a nice chronological timeline of America’s pivotal historical events.

Prior to reading this novel, I must admit that I had little knowledge about the Texas Revolution and the Alamo. Nor have I read many books about the Southwest. Thus “The Alamo Bride” was both enlightening and entertaining. The New Orleans Greys were new to me as well, and it was interesting to learn about their involvement in the conflict. Clay Gentry’s role in the novel surprised me, and Ellis Valmont always brought a smile to my face with her feistiness and devotion to her family and the cause. Jean Paul Valmont provided an appealing character because of the difficult decisions he had to make as a patriarch and businessman. The danger of everyday life during this time period was startling, but Y’Barbo does a nice job of presenting the humanity of both the Texian and Mexican sides. As a crucial element of the plot, the head injury was a fascinating and unique touch, adding an extra layer of intrigue. This novel delivers faith, conflict, humor, and love while exploring an often-overlooked piece of our nation’s history.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. ( )