The Blizzard Bride

The Blizzard Bride takes place in 1887-1888 in the small town of Wells, Nebraska. Abigail Bracey has suffered many losses, being abandoned by the man she loved, becoming a social outcast due to her father’s criminal behavior, and the deaths of both parents, leaving her bitter and resentful. She’s been offered the opportunity by the Secret Service to help in their efforts to catch the man responsible for her father’s death, a counterfeiter and murderer named Fletcher Pitch. Pitch is searching for his son, an 8 year old boy being hidden and cared for by his aunt since his mother’s death. Abigail has been offered a position teaching the school in Wells, Nebraska, the town that an informant told them the child and his aunt have recently moved to. Here, she is to use her position as teacher to try to determine which of three 8 year old boys being raised by a single mother is actually Pitch’s son, as they don’t know what names the boy and aunt are going by or what they look like. Abigail is eager to have the chance to bring her father’s killer to justice, but then she learns the Secret Service operative she must work with is Dashiell Lassiter, the man who broke her heart. Abigail and Dash must find a way to work together to catch a criminal, and Abigail must find a way to forgive for past wrongs and to again find her faith that God really is there and has always been there loving her even during her darkest times.

I’ve read several of the Daughters of the Mayflower series, and I found The Blizzard Bride to be as exciting and engaging as the others. I love when stories like these are based on historical events, in this case, the Children’s Blizzard of 1888. I found the characters to be well-developed, and I found Abby to be relatable; the fear, bitterness, and resentment that she holds as well as her struggle to offer forgiveness. I found Dash to be endearing; his steadfastness in his love for Abby and his desire to protect her and do what will be best for her even if it comes at a cost to him. And I love the rekindling of Abby’s faith that helps her to forgive, helps her to encourage a friend to also make peace, and allows her to open her heart up to love again. I truly enjoyed reading The Blizzard Bride.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

‘After all this time, she was starting to miss talking to God, or maybe she always had, but was just now admitting it.’

I look forward to each new installment in the Daughters of the Mayflower and this one certainly did not disappoint! The author has taken wonderful characters, historical details, the beginnings of the U.S. Secret Service, counterfeit money, murder, a missing child and kidnapping to keep me in my chair until the last period.

Abigail has experienced more than her share of heartbreak. Teaching children in a small town in Nebraska is just what she needs, or so she thinks. Dash, a secret service operative, is tasked with finding and arresting the man that has managed to remain elusive for a number of years, spreading his counterfeit money far and wide. Will they be able to set aside their past differences and work together to bring this murderer to justice?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which reminded me of the importance of forgiveness and forgetting the past. The root of bitterness and hatred is hard to kill if you feed it! I also loved reading how the town people rallied when disaster struck, bringing people together for a common cause.

I received this wonderful story through NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. All impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.