Book Review: The Pelican Bride by Beth White Rating: 4/5

The Pelican Bride by Beth White
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Rating: 4/5
Revell – Historical Romance

In Book One of Beth White’s Gulf Coast Chronicles, Frenchwoman Genevieve Gaillain and her younger sister have just arrived in the New World in 1704 on The Pelican. The Louisiana colony needs wives for their settlers and soldiers while the young women need a quick escape from the religious persecution in France. What the ladies of The Pelican find at Fort Louis is not what was promised by the government.

Meet Tristan Lanier. The widower chooses to live outside the fort closer to his late wife’s native family. A cartographer, Tristan was one of the original Canadian settlers. After a quick courtship, he and Genevieve get married, but he must go on a peacemaking mission of the utmost importance that will easily take 2 months. The safety and future of the French colony is at stake. Can the two learn to trust each other with their darkest secrets?

I don’t believe I’ve ever read such an interesting, historically-based story. As someone who loves history, I enjoyed all the hard work and research that went into making this book a reality. I can just imagine how hard life was for these Pelican brides. At the end of the book, White shares some more background regarding the history of the colony, and I must say that I want to know more. Having never studied the Louisiana colony so thoroughly, I was happy to learn something new.

The characters are lovely, flawed and authentic. I also enjoyed all the intrigue and mysteries in the story. I found the story to be less of a romance and more of a mystery-thriller. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I read the book, but I was pleasantly surprised; I could not put the book down because I had to know what was going to happen next. The writing is rich with history and sucks the reader into the 18th century. I’m excited this is only the first in the series and can’t wait to read the others.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves historical romances with some mystery involved.

I received this book for free from Revell but was not required to give a positive review.