This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
To Win Her Heart
Bethany House (May 1, 2011)
by
Karen Witemeyer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Karen Witemeyer is a deacon’s wife and mother of three who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.After growing up in California, Karen moved to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University where she earned bachelor and master’s degrees in Psychology. It was also there that she met and married her own Texas hero. He roped her in good, for she has lived in Texas ever since. In fact, she fell so in love with this rugged land of sweeping sunsets and enduring pioneer spirit, that she incorporates it into the pages of her novels, setting her stories in the small towns of a state that burgeoned into greatness in the mid- to late1800s.
Karen is living her dream by writing Christian historical romance novels for Bethany House. When she visited her publisher back in January of 2010, she was interviewed by the staff. If you’d like a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how she develops her story ideas and a description of her bumpy journey to publication, click here to listen to a podcast of that interview.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
After completing his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father’s knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past.Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs in the town her father founded. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she’s reluctant to trust him. Yet as the mysteries of the town’s new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.
Eden believes she’s finally found a man of honor and integrity. But when the truth about Levi’s prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian’s affections?
If you would like to read the first chapter of To Win Her Heart, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
For some reason, it took me awhile to get into To Win Her Heart but I really don’t think it was any fault of the author. Probably just a combination of my over-commitment of books to review and the constant distraction of severe storm warnings while I was trying to read it. Fortunately, once I got past all the obstacles, I totally enjoyed the story.
Karen Witemeyer has created one of the most unique heroes for To Win Her Heart that I believe I have ever run across. Imagine a big, strong, ‘manly’ man who has been cursed with a lisp – a man who goes to great lengths to avoid using any word that contains an ‘s’. Add a violent past that has been redeemed and a kind, compassionate spirit and Levi Grant becomes a new pattern for a hero who is flawed but has a heart of pure gold.
Now Eden Spencer is another matter altogether. The daughter of a wealthy man, Eden’s heart was wounded by the rejection of a fiance who was interested only in her father’s money. An avid book lover, Eden began a lending library in her home and convinced herself that she could be happy alone the rest of her life with her books and her charity work. At first I found Eden to be a bit spoiled and snooty, but as I learned more about her character I grew to understand and sympathize with her.
So, as you may have already surmised, Levi and Eden are the key players in this story. The question is “What happens between them and how does it turn out?” I’ll leave that to you to discover when you read your own copy of To Win Her Heart. Wouldn’t want to take away all the fun of discovery would I?
Karen Witemeyer has earned her place on my favorite author list. Her characters are fresh, her plots are intriguing, and her mix of drama, romance, humor, action, and faith are perfectly balanced. Who could ask for more? I suggest that you give her books a try.
