I chose Trial And Error by Robert Whitlow as a surprise selection for my book club because he is a favorite author. The group had mixed reactions, but my husband and I listened to the audiobook (separately) and really enjoyed it. I give it a recommended rating.
A small-town lawyer has been searching for his daughter for eighteen years. Now another young woman is missing, and he’s determined to find them both—no matter the cost.
Buddy Smith built his law practice around tracking down missing children. After all, he knows the agony of being separated from a child. Not long after his daughter’s birth, her mother ran away and Buddy never saw either one again.
Gracie Blaylock has known Buddy her entire life, and now that she is clerk of court for the county, their paths cross frequently. When Gracie hears that a teenager in town has gone missing, she knows Buddy is the one for the case.
The girl’s parents are desperate for answers. Together with Gracie and Mayleah—the new detective in town—Buddy chases all leads, hoping to reach the missing teen before it’s too late. And as he pursues one girl, he uncovers clues that could bring him closer to the girl he thought he lost forever: his own daughter.
Master legal writer Robert Whitlow will keep you guessing in this gripping legal drama while reminding you of the power of God’s restoration.
Robert Whitlow grew up in north Georgia. He graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with a BA in history in 1976 and received his JD with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1979. A practicing attorney, he is a partner in a Charlotte, NC law firm. He and his wife Kathy have four children and nine grandchildren.
Robert began writing in 1996. His novels are set in the South and include both legal suspense and interesting characterization. It is his desire to write stories that reveal some of the ways God interacts with people in realistic scenerios.
My Impressions:
Robert Whitlow is a must-read author for both my husband and me. We appreciate the finely drawn characters and the story lines that are entertaining while making you think. Trial And Error has both of those elements. I liked the day-to-day lives that were depicted in the book making the characters very relatable. It did slow the story down somewhat, but I think the way Whitlow writes reflects real life. The subject matter focuses on missing/lost children — some in danger and others that don’t want to be found. The research that goes into finding a missing person was fascinating. The faith thread is especially strong, and the depiction of the impact of prayer is powerful. Some characters are Christians, others are not, but are open to honest dialog and sincere testimonies. I found that very meaningful. As I said, this is a slow-moving story, but I never lost interest. The audiobook is well done and was a great accompaniment on my morning walks.
All in all, I enjoyed Trial And Error.
Recommended.
Audience: adult
(I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
What a delight Hope Between The Pages by Pepper Basham was to read! This book has so much for book lovers to, yes, love! A dual timeline with past secrets kept me turning the pages. This one is highly recommended!
Uncover the Story Behind a One-Hundred-Year-Old Love Letter
Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with a southern Appalachian flair. Her books have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inpsys, and the ACFW Carol Awards. Her books are seasoned with her Appalachian heritage and love for family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
You can get to know Pepper on her website, http://www.pepperdbasham.com, on Facebook, Instagram, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley.
My Impressions:
First let me say that Hope Between The Pages is ideal for a book nerd like me. Each of the two story lines feature main characters who love books. Basham sprinkles in a lot of references to both current bestsellers and beloved classics. Clara and Sadie know their books, and I would have loved to have a conversation with them both. LOL! Clara is a modern-day book shop owner who dresses vintage, but has an eye to the future. Sadie is her great-grandmother who starts out as a book housemaid (a kind of librarian) at Biltmore house over 100 years prior to the contemporary story. I loved how Basham used first person present tense POV for Sadie’s story. It helped make her real and relatable. Her story becomes very personal as she struggles with love that spans class divides and two continents. Clara’s contemporary story is told in third person past tense — giving a hint to a final happily-ever-after. Each style was so effective.
Basham is also adept to bringing the setting to life. I loved visiting the Biltmore library again in this book. And I felt like I was at home in the Lake District of England even though I have never been there. Her eye to detail is perfect. There is a mystery surrounding Sadie’s life that is uncovered through Sadie’s own narrative and Clara’s research. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat! And if you are a fan of romance, Basham delivers every time. Known for her kissing scenes, Hope Between The Pages goes above and beyond for Basham fans! Swoony-ness is a very real thing in the pages of this book. 😉
I loved this look at the past and present. A fun bookish story with suspense and romance aplenty, it gets a highly recommended rating from me.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Barbour Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Katherine Parker is on the cusp of having everything she ever wanted–fame, money, and acclaim. So why isn’t she happy? In search of answers, she comes incognito to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast for some R&R. Maybe in her secluded rental house overlooking the serene Pacific she’ll be able to calm the storm inside.
Coffee shop owner Zach Garrett has found his niche after a traumatic loss — and he has no plans to change the life he’s created. Nor does he want to get involved with his reticent new neighbor, whose past is shrouded in mystery. He’s had enough drama to last a lifetime. But when Katherine and Zach are recruited to help rehab a home for foster children, sparks fly. And as their lives begin to intersect, might they find more common ground than they expected . . . and discover that, with love, all things are possible?
Irene Hannon is the best-selling author of more than 35 novels. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine and the Daphne du Maurier Award for mystery/suspense. Irene and her husband make their home in Missouri, USA. Irene invites you to visit her at her website, http://www.irenehannon.com
My Impressions:
A return to trip to Hope Harbor is always greatly anticipated. The fictional small town on the coast of Oregon created by Irene Hannon is a special place. I love the small town vibe, the caring and slightly quirky people, and the wildlife that have a magical quality. Fans of the series will not be disappointed in book 7, Blackberry Beach. Love is in the air for more than one couple, and the reader will love the realistic struggles that each face to find their happily-ever-after. This is a must-read!
Blackberry Beach focuses on Kat, an incognito actress escaping from Hollywood craziness and Zach, a former high powered businessman turned coffee shop owner. The attraction between the two is immediate, yet Kat has a lot of decisions to make that potentially will keep them apart. While the reader may not be able to identify with Kat’s movie-star life, her struggle with doing what she loves and finding peace in her decisions will resonate. Zach has already found his purpose, and his unselfish advice marks a man of integrity. I liked these two characters very much! A secondary story follows Zach’s recently retired Aunt Stephanie and part-time barista Frank. This late in life romance — the first for Stephanie and second time around for Frank — is a great parallel and contrast to Kat and Zach’s relationship. Being a reader of, ahem, a certain age 😉 , I appreciated the more mature characters’ chance at love.
As always, this book features elements that fans of the Hope Harbor series love — Charley the taco truck owner, seagulls Gladys and Floyd, and sweet treats woven into the book. In the case of Blackberry Beach, Kat’s truffles will make you crave the chocolatey treat! Hannon plans more return trips to Hope Harbor, and I cannot wait!
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Pugtato is back in a new board book that will appeal to the littlest of readers. Pugtato, Let’s Be Best Spuddies is as cute as the first book in the series with all the vegetable critters showing how to be friends. My granddaughter loved the original Pugtato book, but let’s be honest, at 16 months old she is a bit rough on standard children’s books. Besides engaging her with colorful illustrations and easy to understand text, she can throw it, stand on it, and chew on it to her heart’s content! I know this book will become a favorite. I can’t wait to give it to her!
Recommended!
Audience: toddlers to preschoolers
(Thanks to Zonderkidz for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
What does it mean to be a best spuddy? Spend the day with Pugtato and his very best spuddies and find out! A best spuddy likes to play and listen, share, and give a helping hand. Spend time with Pugtato and his very best spuddies as they show us exactly how to be a best spuddy too.
Pugtato, Let’s Be Best Spuddies:
Features adorable and silly illustrations by Sophie Corrigan
Shows the youngest readers ages 0-4 how to be a good friend
Written in delightful, giggle-inducing rhyming text
Is great for discussions and story times focusing on friendship, sharing and helping others
I follow Cheryl Barker on IG. I love her beautiful pics of all things weddings. When I found out she had a book geared towards MOBs (mothers of the bride), I knew I had to get it when my daughter got engaged. If you are a MOB, or know someone who is, then I recommend you get Mother of The Bride: Refreshment And Wisdom for TheMother of The Bride! Her short essays provide insight into all aspects of a wedding — from engagement to the day of. I liked the tips she shares as well. There are great worksheets and guidance for making the day as special as your little girl. Insightful and handy! It is also faith-based so that in all the craziness of wedding planning you don’t lose sight of the significance of weddings and marriage and the One who created them. All in all, a great resource to keep you sane and centered. 😉
(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Here is all the info:
Mothers in today’s world wear many hats and struggle to keep the stress in their lives at manageable levels. Add the delightful but demanding new hat of mother of the bride (MOB) to the roles they are already juggling, and you have a host of middle-aged moms pushed to their limits, in desperate need of an empathetic voice and moments of nourishing relaxation. While trying to maintain life as they knew it before their daughters’ big announcements, MOBs are called upon to magically morph into wedding planners, help their daughters navigate the journey to the altar, and establish new and loving relationships with their prospective sons- in-law and their families. With all focus, financial and otherwise, dedicated to the brides and the weddings themselves, the needs of mothers of the bride are overlooked. Mother of TheBride will help MOBs step away from the hurried pace of daily life complicated by a demanding new role. It will offer them the refreshment found in discovering community as they take time for themselves time to be encouraged, to gain helpful insight and practical tips, and to enjoy the feminine beauty of a book designed just for them. Through essays featuring relevant quotes or Scriptures, personal stories, nuggets of wisdom, simple suggestions for personal pampering, journaling opportunities, communication aids, and practical tips for wedding planning, Mother of The Bride will nurture the all-important but too often neglected mother of the bride.
Cheryl Barker is a writer from Kansas who loves the Lord and longs for her words to be a blessing to others. Her heart’s desire is to refresh spirits and nourish souls.
Cheryl grew up in a house full of girls. Along with her mom and three sisters, they had her dad outnumbered five to one. Right in the middle of her college years, she married a fun-loving but dedicated biology student named Don. After graduating with a BSED and a major in English from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, Cheryl taught English for a short time before becoming a stay-at-home mom to daughters Kristin and Kelli. During her daughters’ teenage years, she began freelance writing on a part-time basis. Kristin and Kelli grew up to be amazing women who brought equally amazing men into their family as sons-in-law. In January 2015, Cheryl and Don became the happy and proud grandparents of Isaiah and James, the twin sons of Kristin and Shawn, and in August 2016, Kelli and Jake made them grandparents again with the birth of Samuel and Silas–that’s right, another set of twin grandsons! Cheryl is now one busy grandma and loves every minute of it.
In addition to her book Mother of The Bride, Cheryl’s work has appeared in magazines, compilation books, and other publications as well as in Blue Mountain Arts greeting cards and also their gift book anthologies and calendars. She started her inspirational/devotional blog in 2007 and also launched a blog for mothers of the bride in 2013. She edits and publishes Life Notes, her quarterly inspirational newsletter that features her work along with that of other writers.
When she’s not writing or tending to life’s chores, Cheryl loves to spend time with family and friends, take photos, sing in her church choir, teach preschool Sunday school, read, go to movies with Don, and stay involved in her church and her writers group. Last, but certainly not least, she loves to indulge in daily doses of chocolate. Cheryl would love to connect with you. Find her social media buttons for Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, Pinterest, and LinkedIn on her website athttp://cherylbarker.net/.
The first book in Elizabeth Goddard‘s Rocky Mountain Courage series, Present Danger, proved to be a fast-paced puzzler. Main characters Jack and Terra put aside their past history to join forces in this intriguing romantic suspense. Recommended!
Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He’s committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors.
When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn — one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he’s failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.
With over one million books sold, Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling, award-winning author of over fifty romance novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, The Camera Never Lies — a 2011 Carol Award winner. Four of her six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried, Backfire and Deception are finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.
I was first introduced to Elizabeth Goddard’s romantic suspense novels with her Uncommon Justice series. I loved the rugged settings of those books and was excited to dig into Present Danger, the first book of a new series. Goddard has created another winner! I loved the main characters, the new-to-me Montana setting, and the twisting plot full of puzzling clues and serious bad guys. If you are looking for fast-paced suspense with a wonderful second-chance romance, this is the book for you.
Main characters Jack and Terra have a history. Their romance ended badly when Jack walked away to join the FBI. Now years have passed and they are both back in their home county — he is a sheriff’s deputy and she is a USFS special agent. Thrown together by a body found in the national forest, the two work hard to keep things professional. But those embers of romance refuse to die! The two have tried to live up to or live down their parents’ legacies. Always trying to prove themselves and feeling like they have missed the mark puts barriers up for their relationship to go forward. I think this aspect of the story is very real. Many people struggle with being good enough. The two are real and relatable — outstanding in their respective careers, but still vulnerable to doubts and regrets. Their relationship is a big part of the story, but the murder investigation kept me turning the pages. There are plane crashes, break-ins, murders, and trafficking of valuable artifacts. I needed to know whodunit now! LOL. Goddard kept me guessing to the very end. I seriously suspected everyone!
In Present Danger, Goddard introduced some characters that are sure to be the focus of future books in this series. I’m already intrigued! Can’t wait for more from this talented author.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father’s unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, she is forced into a different future. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan–find Willow a spokesman king in order for her to become queen of the business empire.
Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society’s elite group called the Four Hundred. She has six months to court the group and is told to to eliminate men each month to narrow her beaus until she chooses one to marry, ending the competition with a wedding. Willow reluctantly agrees, knowing she must do what is best for the business. She doesn’t expect to find anything other than a proxy . . . until she meets a gentleman who captures her attention, and she must discover for herself if his motives are pure.
Grace Hitchcock is the author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in Baton Rouge with her husband, Dakota, son and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.
My Impressions:
My Dear Miss Dupre´ is something of a Gilded Age Bachelorette. Author Grace Hitchcock takes a modern idea and gives it a historical twist. While the premise sounded good, I just don’t think it came off on the page. I did like main character Willow Dupre´ and her marriage dilemma — find a husband to help her run her family’s business empire, since women of the day were seen as emotional and fit only to raise children. Turning those notions on their heads was a good thing, but I felt the way the suitor competition was carried out was a bit far-fetched. I found the various competitors endearing and annoying, just as I was supposed to. But the whole competition didn’t ring true to me. Not a fan of the modern-day TV version, I am probably not the target audience for this book anyway. 😉 Besides the romance, there is a bit of suspense as one character changes his mind on his motive for marrying Willow. Please note that reviews are very subjective and based on the reviewer’s likes and sometimes biases. My Dear Miss Dupre´ has 76% 4 and 5-star reviews, so I urge you to find out for yourself. I have enjoyed other books by Hitchcock, and my experience with this one will not keep me from picking up more books by her.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.
When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie’s English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.
But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn’t forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.
Wow! I was totally blown away by A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy. This book has EVERYTHING! This 5-star historical novel is a must-read — put it at the top of your TBR now!
So I loved A Tapestry of Light — let me count the ways. 😉 First, the characters are complex and very, very real. Although I have very little in common with main character Otillie, she is Ango-Indian and very much a bound by the conventions of her day, she is a character that struggled and grew in ways that I could definitely relate to. And relatable is probably the best word to describe all of the characters. Even one character in particular who was not very nice and very easy not to like AT ALL, I found to mirror some of my more unlikable character traits as well. Talk about uncomfortable. But Duffy writes her characters in such a way that they become friends and you can learn from each of them. Second, the setting of the first half of the book is amazing. India, and in particular, Calcutta of the late 1880s, becomes something of a character on its own. It plays such a big role in who Otillie is. Duffy engages all of the senses in her vivid descriptions. I also really liked that the setting for the second half of the book — England — mirrors Otillie’s emotional state. As winter turns to spring, Otillie begins to thaw and see new growth as well. Duffy explains her connection to Otillie in the Author’s Note. Otillie’s story is very personal — this reader felt that and it again makes real the strong spiritual threads in the book.
A Tapestry of Light gets a Very Highly Recommended rating from me. It will definitely be on my best of the best list for 2021.
Very Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
About The Author
Kimberly Duffy is a Long Island native currently living in Southwest Ohio, via six months in India. When she’s not homeschooling her four kids, she writes historical fiction that takes her readers back in time and across oceans. She loves trips that require a passport, recipe books, and practicing kissing scenes with her husband of twenty years. He doesn’t mind.
More from Kimberly
When I set out to write a new novel, I plan the entire thing from start to finish. I write down each scene on an index card and know exactly what’s going to happen when I sit down for the day’s work. I’m meticulous that way.
But I never plan my characters’ spiritual arcs. Because I want their faith journey to be organic to the story. I want it to feel authentic. It’s such an important part of each of my books and I recognize that some things just refuse plotting and need to develop in a more natural way.
My debut novel, A Mosaic of Wings, features a heroine steeped in science. Nora loves the natural world and so her faith was encouraged by studying the wings of a butterfly or examining an interesting plant. She’s not particularly sentimental or emotive so the faith element of that story had to be presented in a way that made sense for her. Nora’s faith arc is subtle.
Not so for A Tapestry of Light. I had no intention of writing a book that delved into my own struggle with doubt. But that’s what Ottilie required. And it wrung me dry.
Then built me back up.
My faith story is a twisted kind of one. Raised a Christian, I went into ministry, firmly attached myself to the faith of my childhood, and thought it would never waver.
I was wrong.
Oh, how it wavered. For whatever reason, when I hit about 30, it seemed everything I had always believed no longer made sense. It was devastating. Terrifying. And it broke me.
But brokenness is its own sort of beauty and when you recognize there is no way for you to pick up the pieces yourself, God can come in and fill those cracks and shattered places.
Those five years of doubt and questioning and facing the reality that even though I’d always loved Christ, I didn’t really know Him (and didn’t really know why I believed in Him), were some of the most painful I’ve experienced. But I believe with every bit of my being that God is in the business of redemption. Of restoration. Of filling up so that we can pour out.
And he took my own very personal struggle and helped me turn it into a story that, I hope and pray, might encourage others. I gave Ottilie my questions. I gave her my doubt. I gave her my fear and desperation and, in the end, I gave her my hope.
There’s a little piece of me in each of my books, but this one contains my heart.
To celebrate her tour, Kimberly is giving away the grand prize $25 Amazon gift card along with a signed copy of either A Mosaic of Wings or A Tapestry of Light!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
I am excited to share a wonderfully engaging children’s board book based on Psalm 139. With Sally Lloyd-Jones‘ verse and Jago’s illustrations, Near is sure to become a favorite in your family.
From Sally Lloyd-Jones, the author of the bestselling The Jesus Storybook Bible, comes an uplifting new board book in a soft padded format that is a perfect fit for little hands. Inspired by Psalm 139—which begins, “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me” — Near’s lyrical text reminds little ones that God is with them anywhere they go in God’s wide world.
God is my Father who made everything.
And I am a little explorer of the wide world.
He is near me
And he protects me.
He sees me
And he knows me.
He is strong
And he looks after me.
He is with me—always!
Sally Lloyd-Jones is a Brit who came to the US in 1989 “just for a year.” She’s still here.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, raised in East, and West Africa and at a boarding school in the New Forest, the first book she ever remembers reading all the way through was THE COMPLETE NONSENSE by Edward Lear. Things have not been the same since.
She lives in Manhattan and enjoys dividing her time between the front half of her apartment and the back.
I loved Near by Sally Lloyd-Jones. The author takes the beloved Psalm 139 and presents it in a way that even the littlest of readers can understand. The verse shows God as creator, provider, and sustainer in all situations and in all places. The accompanying illustrations by Jago are wonderful. Not only are they vivid, but they help a child visualize what the Psalm means to them. I am looking forward to sharing this one with my granddaughter! Highly recommended!
Highly Recommended.
Audience: preschoolers
(Thanks to Zonderkidz for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
The past month has been tough emotionally, so I really needed an easy read for my morning walk. So how do I define easy? — a book with engaging characters, perhaps a little (or a lot) of romance, some humor, and no heavy topics. While More Than Meets The Eye by Karen Witemeyer checked all the boxes, is was not fluffy. There is a great message about not judging people’s appearances or limitations, but looking at them how God does. This book was really what I needed!
Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes–one bright blue, the other dark brown–Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world’s judgments, and Eva has two–Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers.
Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father’s death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach’s sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?
For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warm-hearted historical romances with a flair of humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. A transplant from California, Karen came to Texas for college, met a cowboy disguised as a computer nerd, married him, and never left the state that had become home.
Winner of the HOLT Medallion, ACFW Carol Award, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, National Reader’s Choice Award, and a finalist for both the RITA and Christy Awards, Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit http://www.karenwitemeyer.com.
My Impressions:
I admit I read The Patchwork Family series out of order. I learned about the Hamilton family in MoreThan Words Can Say which features oldest brother Zach. I found the book charming, so I was eager to learn more about this patched together family. More Than Meets The Eye, book 1 in the series, starts with the main characters as children riding an orphan train to find new families. They are not successful for a number of reasons, and tragedy and a promise cause them to form a family of their own. The book follows Zach, Seth, and Evangeline in their early adulthood. Although they are prospering, they still haven’t found a place in the surrounding community. Differences seen and unseen from the townspeople of Pecan Gap keep the siblings aloof. Two strangers enter their circle, and the dynamics change quickly. I really liked all of the characters in the book. Each has a unique story that many can identify with. The plot moves at a brisk pace, and besides romance, there is mystery and suspense. I loved how God changed hearts and minds as well.
If you are a fan of historical romance set in the western America, I think you will really enjoy More Than Meets The Eye. I found it to be a great way to keep on track with my morning walks.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Many of the books I review are provided to me free of charge from publishers, authors, or other groups in return for a review. The opinions expressed in the reviews are mine and mine alone. No monetary consideration is given. This disclaimer is in accordance with FTC rules.
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