Book Review: The Pelican Bride (Golf Coast Chronicles, Book 1) by Beth White

The Pelican Bride
by Beth White
Copyright 2014
Revell Books
ISBN: 9780800721978

The Story:
She's come to the New World to escape a perilous past. But has it followed her to these far shores?

It is 1704 when Frenchwoman Geneviève Gaillain and her sister board the frigate Pélican bound for the distant Louisiana colony. Both have promised to marry one of the rough men toiling in this strange new world in order to escape suffering in the old. Geneviève knows life won't be easy, but at least here she can establish a home and family without fear of persecution for her outlawed religious beliefs.

When she falls in love with Tristan Lanier, an expatriate cartographer-turned-farmer whose checkered past is shrouded in mystery, Geneviève realizes that even in this land of liberty one is not guaranteed peace. Trouble is brewing outside the fort between the French colonists and the native people surrounding them. And an even more sinister enemy may lurk within. Could the secret Geneviève harbors mean the undoing of the colony itself?

Gulf Coast native Beth White brings vividly to life the hot, sultry South in this luscious, layered tale.

“Available April 2014 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”


My Thoughts:
Sometimes as a romance reader the, "been there, done that" deja vu feeling is difficult to escape. The settings are often very similar and the characters can seem "cookie cutter". With Beth White's The Pelican Bride, you get not only a unique and interesting setting and time period that isn't often explored as well as some complex and interesting characters that make the world of the 18th century Deep South come to life.


Set in the early 1700s, The Pelican Bride explores not only the life and love of Genevieve Gaillain, but also gives readers a peek at what life may have been like for some of the earliest settlers of the south. Genevieve, fleeing from persecution in France along with her sister, Aimee, has no choice but to marry a stranger in order to keep her past a secret and live freely in the French territory. Tristan Lanier doesn't plan on ever marrying again, but seeing the beautiful Genevieve disembarking from the frigate, Pelican, he knows his heart is in trouble.

The downside of the story, Genevieve seemed a little bit too perfect at times, while Aimee was altogether unlikeable. For someone who had dealt with so much tragedy and violence, she was very concerned with appearances and was so self absorbed it was tough for me to even read about her in the book. Ugh. What a brat! I thought she could have done with a little dose of humility. I did like most of the cast of characters in this book, but the sabotage, the adventure, and the danger outside of the forts are what kept me reading. It's definitely "edge of your seat"! Did I mention the dishy Tristan? ;-) A true alpha male in all respects, but still an exciting romance character to add to your book boyfriends list! The Gulf Coast Chronicles has the makings of an epic family saga. The blend of fiction and real history along with gripping romance will have you turning the pages at a rapid pace.

~ My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars ~ 

*I receive complimentary books for review from the publisher. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I express are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

 Happy Reading!