This is another in the Mayflower series done by several different authors. It is a very good historical series. I've enjoyed most of the books and learned alot of interesting facts shared by the various authors. The Golden Bride can stand alone, however, as a good read.
Most of the story follows Olivia Brighton as she travels to San Francisco to join her brother after her parents have died. She marries quickly for survival and becomes a widow just as quickly. She arrives in San Francisco jaded and determined to endure a just fate of spinsterhood. But she grows in her faith and in emotional maturity as she helps her brother manage his restaurant and as she joins forces with Daniel's best friend Joseph to improve the plight of their new city.
Romance blooms slowly between Olivia and Joseph while Joseph struggles to find those responsible for an underground slave trade and abuse of children. Daniel has given Olivia a trunk that had belonged to their mother and holds the journals of several of her ancestors including her mother. She finds commonalitiy with them and encouragement from their struggles and achievements.
I recommend this book for your summer reading pile and thank Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read this book through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
