Tag: Witemeyer Karen

If the Boot Fits + Giveaway

Determined to prove that cattle king Eli Dearing has no justification for evicting his stepmother and half brothers, Asher Ellis uses the cover of a fancy ball to break into the Three Cedars ranch house to search for proof of wrongdoing. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy’s cry compels him to make a daring rescue.

Spunky and independent, Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting in her honor is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from her unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother’s life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind–his boot–and resolves to find him herself.

But when Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. And although Asher tries to keep his distance from Samantha for reasons of his own, a series of suspicious accidents befall her, and his protective instincts flare, no matter the cost to their future.

This Western reimagining of the classic Cinderella fairy tale is an enchanting story of courage, family, and the power of true love.

My Review:

While I wouldn’t call this a true Cinderella reimagining there are some light nods to the fairy tale, the major one being the boot left behind at the ball. I like the gender swap with Asher in the Cinderella role (clever name) and Samantha the western ‘royalty’ on the hunt. But after that eventful opening scene the story becomes very much it’s own Western romance with not nearly enough connections to the fairy tale. Still a rollicking good story, I just wouldn’t define it as a retelling.

There’s action and adventure and a building threat that leads to a mystery which needs solving so be prepared for a fast paced read that’s hard to put down. And a solid faith thread that winds through it all. I really appreciated the scriptures shared and snippets of wisdom from certain characters.

Then there’s the romance. Happy sigh. Asher’s loyalty and dedication to his family make him perfect hero material…even if it drives him to do something regrettable. Samantha is no pampered princess, well, she is sort of, but she doesn’t let it go to her head. She has a heart for service and that leads her to Asher’s family and, voila, sparks fly and energy sizzles and things get delightfully complicated.

I listened to the audible edition aptly narrated by Barbara McCulloh. She’s a favourite of mine and has the perfect voice for a Western — if that makes any sense — and I thoroughly enjoyed the way she brought these characters to life.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of If the Boot Fits, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 20 2024.

Fairest of Heart + Giveaway

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young woman found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe. The evidence points to her guilt, but Titus’s heart divines a different truth–one that might just get Penelope killed.

An enchanting Western take on the classic Snow White fairy tale, Fairest of Heart will sweep you away from once upon a time to happily ever after.

My Review:

Okay, I’m beyond giddy and well into bubbleheadedness over this — eeeeeppppppp — first book in the Texas Every After series which is all about fairy tale retellings!!!!! I can’t even…there just are no words to convey my bookish glee. So if I come across as slaphappy and scatterbrained in this review, blame the author’s storytelling prowess.

First — I love, adore, delight in fairy tale retellings and to find one in the realm of Christian Fiction with a significant faith thread…well…I just…like I said, no words.

Snow White takes an entirely different spin in this Old West version that comes complete with a prince of a Texas ranger (see what I did there?) and seven retired drovers (seriously, is that not clever or what?!) And, of course we have Penelope Snow who does justice to the fairy tale heroine but adds a charm all of her own.

The way Witemeyer has adapted the classic Snow White plot to her Western setting is sheer brilliance! I got such a charge out of recognizing familiar elements in a different way. Beyond clever. And it was so much fun kinda knowing how the story was going to progress, but being constantly surprised by each new twist. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a fairy tale retelling more.

And there’s a spectacular faith thread about mercy that’s woven throughout Titus’s story. He’s all about truth and justice. A personal tragedy led him to join the Texas rangers but, when Penelope shows up in his life, he begins to wrestle with the notion of mercy and where it fits in. “Mercy and truth always together. Mercy always leading the way.” There’s even an awesome scripture chain on mercy that I’ve written into my bible as Titus shares verses tied together “like clues on a treasure map.” And what a treasure he finds by the end!

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Barbara McCulloh. She’s a familiar voice in Western Christian Fiction and I’ve enjoyed all her performances whether she’s reading from works by Mary Connealy, Tracey Peterson or Karen Witemeyer.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Fairest of Heart, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 17, 2023.

In Her Sights + Giveaway

He’s sworn off love, but she has his heart in her sights and doesn’t intend to miss.

Stained by his wastrel father’s legacy, Jackson Spivey lives on the fringes of society. Townsfolk tolerate him since he keeps the local hotel supplied with fresh game, but mothers coach their daughters to avoid him. After tasting consistent rejection, Jackson spurns all attempts at courtship. The only things he can count on are his guns and his God.

Tessa James has been secretly in love with Jackson for ages, but trying to gain his favor only pushes him further away. When she learns Annie Oakley is traveling through Texas, Tessa seeks lessons from the famed markswoman. If Jackson’s life revolves around guns, taking up shooting might help her engage his interest. Too bad she can’t hit the broad side of a barn.

When Annie loans Tessa a custom pistol, however, things begin to change. The lore behind the mysterious weapon fosters hope that Tessa might finally hit the target of Jackson’s heart. But when danger threatens, she might be forced to use the pistol for something other than finding love.

My Review:

This was just plain fun! If you told me I’d be gushing over a romance that centres around a very special gun, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here I am, marvelling once again at Karen Witemeyer’s clever storytelling skills.

This is the first book of the multi-authored Pink Pistol Sisterhood series (isn’t that title fantastic? And yes, the pistol is pink!) I’m definitely intrigued enough to check out the other novellas in the collection. Each book reads as a standalone though they are linked by this rather special pistol and how it can work magic when it comes to romance. 🙂

Equal parts comedy and drama with a resounding action scene towards the end, Tessa and Jackson’s story is a classic Western…with a twist.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere with a .com Kindle account.

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of In Her Sights, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 10, 2023.