The Bride Ship

GIVEAWAY

SCOTT, REGINA
THE BRIDE SHIP

Sweetheart reunion

What was his brother's widow—his first love—doing on a ship full of prospective brides headed out West? Clay Howard had been tasked with escorting the Boston belle home, but he didn't anticipate Allegra being so strong-willed—or that he'd wind up traveling with her just to keep her from leaving without him!

Allegra Banks Howard isn't going to let Clay interfere with her plans for a new life with her daughter on the frontier. True, Allegra needs his wilderness savvy, but if Clay thinks he can rekindle what they once shared, he had better think again. Because risking her heart for a second chance at being his bride isn't something she'll undertake lightly….

Frontier Bachelors: Bold, rugged—and bound to be grooms

My Review:

This is a subject that has fascinated me for years so I was thrilled to discover The Bride Ship was inspired by actual historical events. Asa Mercer's enterprise of shipping Eastern ladies to Washington Territory is the perfect setting for romance as far as I'm concerned. And this is a shipboard one!

Allegra and Clay's second meet is memorable. All fire and ice -- anything but lukewarm! Years and life experience have matured them and suddenly their previous relationship pails in comparison to the depths that are possible this time around. Of course, they are both reluctant -- but the ship's close quarters and conniving friends mean success is inevitable.

A perfect blend of humour and drama with a good dose of romance thrown in. Stunning start to an new series.

But...

There is one thing that threw me for a loop. Tell me what you think. All the single ladies are referred as Ms. not Miss. And it happens over and over again because, of course, no proper gentleman would presume to address a woman by her first name. So it's Ms. O'Rourke this and Ms. Stanway that. I associate the term Ms with the 20th century woman's movement so I did some research. Turns out it has been noted as far back as the 17th century but usually as an abbreviation to Mistress on a tombstone. In 1901 it was briefly proposed as a solution to the problem of having to address a lady without knowing her marital status. Heaven forbid you use the 'inferior' term of Miss to a Mrs! How derogatory! Anyway, just as I thought, the term wasn't universally adopted until more recent times. So it totally pulled me out of the story every time I saw Ms. instead of Miss. I've begun to wonder if it was a massive auto correct-glitch. And no other reviews have mentioned it so far. Am I crazy?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of The Bride Ship please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 9  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!