On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can scarcely believe it when he's forced off the train by a retired outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the minister she requested for her birthday. Worried this unfortunate detour will ruin his chances of finally serving a congregation of his own, Crockett is determined to escape. But when he finally gets away, he's haunted by the memory of the young woman he left behind--a woman whose dreams now hinge on him.
For months, Joanna Robbins prayed for a preacher. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. A man to help her discover answers to the questions that have been on her heart for so long. But just when it seems God has answered her prayers, it turns out the person is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett to stay in her little backwoods community? And does the attraction between them have any chance of blossoming when Joanna's outlaw father is dead set against his daughter courting a preacher?
For months, Joanna Robbins prayed for a preacher. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. A man to help her discover answers to the questions that have been on her heart for so long. But just when it seems God has answered her prayers, it turns out the person is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett to stay in her little backwoods community? And does the attraction between them have any chance of blossoming when Joanna's outlaw father is dead set against his daughter courting a preacher?
MY REVIEW:
The path you choose for yourself may not be the path to your true destiny. There is a master hand at work in all life plans, and sometimes the road is rough and rocky before you reach the clear horizon. In author Karen Witemeyer's "Stealing the Preacher", Crockett Archer is sure that he wants to be the minister of the church in Brenham, Texas. His plans are abruptly changed when the train carrying him toward his destination is held up at gunpoint. However, the bandits didn't come to rob the passengers, they came to steal the preacher! Silas Robbins may have been a robber bandit in his younger days, but he is still a loving and concerned father when it comes to his daughter, Joanna. When Jo said she wanted a preacher for her twenty-first birthday present, then Silas was bound and determined to grant her wish. Jo's mother had been a woman of faith, never giving up that someday her husband would see the light. Her death the year before had left a gaping hole in the lives of Silas and Joanna, with Joanna trying her best to continue her mother's reformation of her father. Crockett is understandably upset at being kidnapped, but he is charmed by Joanna, and finds himself drawn to helping her with her cause, which includes restoring an abandoned church and regaining its congregation. Resisting Joanna is futile, and soon everyone is contemplating the changes taking place in all their lives. Were Jo and Crock brought together just to resolve a matter of faith, or is there more in store for the two of them? Karen Witemeyer is a delightful storyteller, always sprinkling her inspirational romantic works with a liberal dose of love and laughter.
Review Copy Gratis Bethany House Books
Review Copy Gratis Bethany House Books
No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.
Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.
Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?
Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.
Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?
Having completed 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. But small towns leave little room for secrets...
Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town's new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.
Levi's renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she's finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian's affections?
Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town's new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.
Levi's renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she's finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian's affections?
MY REVIEW:
A brainy blacksmith whose halting speech makes him seem slow-minded. A prim and proper librarian with a warm heart hemmed in by societal conventions. Two seemingly mismatched characters with a shared love of reading find themselves head-over-heels in love and not sure of how it all happened. Levi Grant's imposing size and prison record are intimidating, and his awkward speech is a cover for his hidden stuttering problem. Instead of speaking at a natural pace and exposing his stutter, he searches for words that he won't stumble on, making him seem somewhat limited in mentality. Eden Spencer is appalled to find herself attracted to such a man, but when they share their mutual love of books, she cannot deny Levi's appeal. When they began to write notes to each other, and Levi can "speak" with his natural intelligence and flow of words, Eden is hopelessly smitten. Their physical awareness of each other, at a respectful distance, is sweetly enticing. Their growing happiness is threatened by the sheriff in the town, a man who has always wanted Eden for her beauty and her family's wealth. Levi and Eden learn that being true to your faith and who you really are as a person is the key to real happiness. Luckily, their real happiness is found in each other's heart.
Review Copy Gratis Bethany House Books
Review Copy Gratis Bethany House Books
Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.
When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.
When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?
Jericho "J.T." Tucker wants nothing to do with Coventry, Texas's new dressmaker. He's all too familiar with her kind--shallow women more devoted to fashion than true beauty. Yet, except for her well-tailored clothing, this seamstress is not at all what he expected.
Hannah Richards is confounded by the man who runs the livery. The unsmiling fellow riles her with his arrogant assumptions and gruff manner while at the same time stirring her heart with unexpected acts of kindness. Which side of Jericho Tucker reflects the real man?
When Hannah decides to help Jericho's sister catch a beau--leading to uproarious consequences for the whole town--will Jericho and Hannah find a way to bridge the gap between them?
Karen Witemeyer |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment