Part of Your World by Karen Witemeyer

“So what am I supposed to do? Be who ye made me to be, or be what Da wants me to be? ‘Tis a puzzle, fer certain. One that leaves me in a muddle. Is there a way to be both? If so, I’m gonna need ye to show me. I haven’t had much luck findin’ it on me own.”

Karen Witemeyer’s newest retelling of The Little Mermaid, Part of Your World, is fantastic!

I have loved all of Karen Witemeyer’s books and would have a really hard time choosing a favorite. But…there is just something extra special about her fairy tale retellings.  Ms. Witemeyer writes Christian historical romance set in the late 1800s.  Her characters range from ranchers to lawmen, bakers to telephone operators, architects to book binders.  If you are new to her books, Part of Your World is a great place to start!

Although I have read and enjoyed many fairy tale retellings over the years, I have never read one based on The Little Mermaid before.  As The Little Mermaid is set in the ocean, I was intrigued to learn how some of the major elements of this fairy tale would play out in late 1800s Texas.  In the animated Disney version, Ariel’s companions were a fish and a bird…who would they be on land?  How would Ariel and Eric reconnect after she saves him?  How would Ursula’s taking of Ariel’s voice be reimagined?  As expected, I was not disappointed.  It was a joy to discover the answer to those questions and many more.  God has definitely gifted Ms. Witemeyer with a beautifully creative and imaginative mind.           

Zane and Muriel, in Part of Your World, follow along the storyline of The Little Mermaid by becoming enamored with one another from the start…and then having to find their way through a series of hurdles to be together, including getting out of a binding agreement with Octavia Underhill.  Although you know the basic roadmap of the story since it’s based on a fairy tale, Ms. Witemeyer weaves a tale that keeps you anticipating the journey!

One of my favorite parts of all Karen Witemeyer books is the way she weaves faith throughout the story. In this story, Zane and Muriel both grapple with the commandment to “Honor your father and mother as the LORD has commanded you…” (Deuteronomy 5:16) while pursuing the passions God gifted each of them with.  We are also reminded of God’s unconditional love and the importance of family.

I love that Ms. Witemeyer’s Texas Ever After and Once Upon a Time in Texas series both pay homage to the fairy tales we love through realistic stories that keep the integrity of the times without sacrificing the sense of wonderment. 

In case you are a stickler for reading books in order like I am, I will tell you that there is zero connection between any of the books in either her Texas Ever After or her Once Upon a Time in Texas series.  They are all truly stand-alone books.  I highly recommend that you read ALL of them!  They are sooo good!  Whether you’ve read the others yet or not, now is the perfect time to order and read Part of Your World!! 

Wedding at Sea by Melissa Tagg

Wedding at Sea, Muir Harbor Series #3
by Melissa Tagg

Truly, there is nothing much better than a Melissa Tagg book. I look forward to each one with great anticipation and “Wedding at Sea” lived up to and exceeded my expectations. Wedding at Sea is the conclusion to the Muir Harbor series. And, as much as I wanted to learn Lillian and Wilder’s story, I did not want this series to end. Each book is wonderful…and really, I just want more! Haha!

God has beautifully gifted this author with a unique ability to spin words into stories that draw you in, make you feel a part, and cause you to want to remain in the world she has created. As with each of Ms. Tagg’s previous novels, the characters in Wedding at Sea are so real that they become your friends. Their struggles are familiar. Their hopes and joys your own. And as usual in her books, belief in, and relationships with God are authentically written in such a way that you can’t help but draw nearer to Him yourself.

Between the series long mysteries being solved, coming to terms with some deep emotions, and the long-awaited romance unfolding, you just do not want to put this book down.

I highly recommend Wedding at Sea (and the other books in this series)!

The Heart’s Charge (Hanger’s Horsemen #2) by Karen Witemeyer

Wow!  Karen Witemeyer’s new release, The Heart’s Charge (Hanger’s Horsemen #2) has it all, DOUBLE!  This author consistently writes wonderful Christian historical romantic books, often with a thread of suspense.  My favorite kind!!  This is such a good book!!

After reading Matthew Hanger’s story in At Love’s Command, I could not wait to read the stories of his Horsemen!  So, it was extra exciting to learn that The Heart’s Charge tells the stories of TWO of these Horsemen – Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks!!  One might be concerned that with two main character relationships, the depth of character exploration would not be the same as with a single main character relationship.  You need not be worried.  Karen Witemeyer does a masterful job of sharing the hearts of both of these fine men and the ladies they fall in love with…along with a variety of other characters.

The situations they find themselves in range from shocking and embarrassing to sweet and suspenseful.  I found myself laughing out loud in certain scenes and on the edge of my seat in others.  A good book always causes me to feel a range of emotions and this book definitely delivered!!  I love Christian fiction in general because I am drawn closer to God through the stories.  Karen Witemeyer writes characters in different stages of their walk with Christ and as they learn to draw nearer to Him, it never fails to speak to my heart as well. 

I also love Ms. Witemeyer’s attention to detail.  One of the beautiful details that caught my attention as I read through this book was her explanation of how one of the side characters was given his name…and why it was important. It reminds me that there is often more to people than meets the eye and learning their stories is important and worthwhile. 

I have loved every one of Karen Witemeyer’s books.  They are all fantastic and each time a new one is released, I have a new favorite.  Haha!  The Heart’s Charge is a must read, as is the one that came before it and I’m sure will be the one that comes after it!  Happy Reading!

With This Pledge (A Carnton Novel)

With This Pledge (A Carnton Novel) by Tamera Alexander

I highly recommend everything written by Tamera Alexander. She writes with such elegance and grace. She does not shy away from difficult situations and perceptions. Rather, she wades right into the middle of them, shines Jesus’ love and truth on them and in the process causes one to examine their own heart and motives…and draws her readers to the feet of Jesus.

With This Pledge is set towards the end of the American Civil War at Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee. This story is based on true events and highlights real people. Tamera Alexander weaves this fictional account in a way that honors those who served…on the battlefield and off. She tells of the good that was done and of the poor and misguided decisions that were made. She shares of God’s unfailing grace and mercy. We are introduced to people, ideas, beliefs and dreams of those who lived and died during this time. And the impact that their lives have had on our lives today. We are reminded that one person can make an everlasting difference.

I am very thankful to Tamera Alexander for writing this novel…for the extensive research she did…for following God’s guidance in writing this story. I learned so much, not only about this war and the people who lived and died through it, but of Jesus’ love and guidance of the people in the midst of the turmoil. My heart was touched and this story has remained with me for days since having finished it.

This is a very appropriate book to be sharing about on Memorial Day weekend. I know I will be thinking of the soldiers in this book (the ones based on real-life soldiers) and thanking God for the the sacrifice they and their families made so we can live in a free America today.

If you have read this series, I would love to hear your thoughts. If you haven’t read it, be sure to put it on your list (and bump it to the top) because I think everyone should know this story. I would recommend starting with the prequel novella, Christmas at Carnton. I am now very much looking forward to reading book two, Colors of Truth.

Best Book I’ve Read This Year!!!

FORD (Montana Marshalls) by Susan May Warren

“I think hope is also about who you hope in.  Maybe you don’t trust the circumstances, but the source.”

Goodness!!  The third book in Susan May Warren’s Montana Marshalls series, FORD, is absolutely fantastic!!  In fact, it’s so good that I am having a really hard time putting into words just how much I love it.  I am not generally one to choose a single favorite book, because there are so many wonderful ones available.  But FORD, oh FORD!  This book shot straight to the top of my favorites list before I was even done reading it.

Susan May Warren is a fabulous author.  I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve ever read of hers.  I knew the Montana Marshalls series was going to special when I read and fell in love with the first book, KNOX.  TATE came next and the story was just amazing.  And then FORD…FORD is riveting.

This series centers around the six Marshall siblings.  Reuben’s story was told in a previous series.  Knox and Tate’s stories were shared in the first two Montana Marshalls books.  And now, in book three, we learn the story of Ford Marshall…and some of his twin sister RJ’s story.  Wyatt’s story is yet to come.  Reminiscent of Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series and Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series, these books revolve around a very intertwined family.  This is my favorite kind of series because all of the family members show up in some fashion in every book.  As readers, we are drawn into the family and are actually made to feel a part of the family.

I loved everything about FORD.  As you can surmise from the title, this book is Ford’s story.  We met Ford and Scarlett and began to get to know them in TATE.  Ford is a Navy Seal and Scarlett is a communications expert turned Rescue Swimmer candidate.  This book takes us to Russia as Ford and Scarlett go on a crazy dangerous mission to try and save Ford’s twin sister, RJ…a CIA analyst who went into the field to try and save someone’s life but became a target herself.  Enter York, an ex-special ops soldier who is working independently and becomes RJ’s self-appointed protector.

The way Susan May Warren interwove the character development with the suspense, the spiritual elements and the romance is unparalleled.  She creates characters that are so exceptionally real that I had to remind myself, more than once, that they are fictional and that my “friends” would be okay…even when it seemed that they wouldn’t.  I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.  Between Ford and York, the intensity and suspense was gripping.  Although I enjoy suspense, I am a bit jumpy and since hiding in the hall or behind the couch isn’t effective while reading a book, I had to put down the phone when it got really suspenseful.  Haha…up and down, and up and down, and up down my phone went.  I couldn’t leave it down for long though because I had to see what was going to happen next!

The spiritual elements sprinkled throughout Christian fiction books are one of the main reasons that I read Christian fiction.  In FORD, there is a stark difference between Ford’s belief in God, the way he leans on Him and calls out to Him for help, and Scarlett’s bitterness and unbelief.  This allows for some beautiful spiritual conversations to take place that we get to witness and be challenged by ourselves.

And, as we can always expect from Susan May Warren, the romance is woven throughout the story with just enough tension to be believable and to cause you to root for them to find a way past the hurdles and into a God-honoring relationship.

And as if all of that weren’t enough, the author’s use of humor throughout the story brings a breath of fresh air amidst the mad dash across Russia to keep RJ alive.

Wow…just wow!  I cannot recommend this book highly enough.  Read it…you’ll be glad you did!  The books in this series are set up to overlap each other.  So if you have not read KNOX or TATE yet, start there because you really don’t want to miss any of this series!!

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

 

“Jesus walking on water, calming the storm… Knowing He tamed something so wild and free settled her soul in a way nothing else did.”

 

Wow…just wow!  The Killing Tide is the first book in Dani Pettrey’s new Coastal Guardians series…and what a way to get things started!!  It’s fantastic!  In true Dani Pettrey fashion, this book captured me from the get-go and didn’t let go all the way through.

I very much enjoyed getting to know the new cast of characters.  The author sets up this new series well, introducing us to many new characters in a way that doesn’t overwhelm, but leaves us looking forward to learning their stories as the series continues.

Both Finn and Gabby are strong characters that evoke great emotion in the reader.  From the beginning the reader is pulled into the life of Finn and can’t help but root for him both in his career and his personal life.  Gabby is very headstrong and determined, not willing to take no for an answer.  Her tenacity has the potential of putting her in very dangerous positions and causes the reader to worry for her safety.

The suspense definitely kept me on the edge of my seat!  When watching a suspenseful movie, I am known to be quite jumpy.  And the further from the screen I am, the safer I feel.  So, as my family and friends can attest, hiding in the hall or behind a couch is a normal occurrence. Haha!   With a book I’ll never learn what happens from the hall or behind the couch…so, when it gets a bit too suspenseful and I need to feel safe, the book gets decidedly shut.  That happened more than once in this story.  But, of course, it couldn’t remain shut for long because I just had to find out what was going to happen next!!  It was written perfectly, keeping me guessing the identity of the “bad guy” to the very end!

Readers of The Killing Tide are privy to the thoughts and perspectives of some of the other characters as well.  Rissi is one of those characters and the ending sets up the next book beautifully.  I’m already anticipating its release!

Dani Pettrey is a fantastic author and her stories never disappoint.  If you love romantic suspense, you don’t want to miss this book.

Montana Marshalls #2 – TATE

“We love, simply because we’re loved.  God’s love comes first and ours is just a response.  We didn’t trigger it – He did.”

I have always loved Susan May Warren’s writing.  Her contemporary, her historical, her suspense…it’s all fabulous!  She crafts characters that you connect with from the moment you meet them…and from then on you consider them friends.  She draws you into each story and you are not only entertained, but ministered to.

As soon as I heard about the Montana Marshalls series, I knew I wanted to read them.  I purchased the first book, KNOX, and it was sitting on my to-be-read pile when I heard that TATE was soon to hit shelves.  These books were coming out fast!  I devoured them both and oh my goodness!!! Ah-maz-ing!!!  So, so good.  I couldn’t put them down…KNOX or TATE and I really, really can’t wait for FORD to become available!

Until I started reading KNOX, I thought that the Montana Marshalls were marshals…as in law enforcement marshals.  Haha – nope!  This series is a family with the last name of Marshall.  This is my favorite kind of series because the siblings all play a part in each book.  We know them all, on some level, from the beginning of the series which makes the rest of the series that much better.  I am a stickler for reading my books in order.  With this series, I would recommend that even readers who aren’t sticklers read them in order, as the author has set this series up to overlap one another.

We have a good feeling for who the main characters, Tate and Glo, are when we start TATE because they were such an integral part of KNOX.  We are already invested in their relationship even though there are some huge obstacles to conquer to make it work.   I loved seeing them grow and learn to overcome these obstacles.  I also loved seeing them learn to truly rely on God and His leading.  I can’t say enough good about this book – or this series.  If you don’t already have them in your to-be-read pile…order them now!!

Book of the Wars #1, Storm Rising – by Ronie Kendig

Storm Rising is the first book in Ronie Kendig’s new series, The Book of the Wars.  I have heard rave reviews about her work, but this is the first book I’ve read by this author.    I wasn’t really sure what to expect but was very excited to jump into the world Ronie Kendig has created.  She did not disappoint.

This book grabs you from the get-go and keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very last page.  I enjoy romantic suspense and I enjoy military themes, but this paramilitary story was unlike anything I had read before.

Despite dealing daily with things I can’t even imagine, I found the characters to be very relatable in their personalities…their need to succeed, their need to protect, their need to be in control.  I enjoyed seeing how individual and unique each character was, primary and secondary characters alike.  The flaws of each made them very real to me and also demonstrated how much we each need one another and God.

I was delighted to find humor in the midst of the nail-biting suspense by way of funny expressions. For example, “I’ve tapped in Iliescu and Braun, because this is big Cheez-Its.”

The Book of the Wars is a new series, but it follows characters found in the Tox Files series.  I am generally a stickler for reading my books in order, but made an exception with this one.  Although this book can be read as a standalone, if you are like me and want the richer experiencing of having all of the info as it happens, I would recommend starting with the Tox Files.  If that doesn’t matter to you, then pick up Storm Rising right now!!  It’s a fantastic book.

I’m very glad I read it and am looking forward to reading more by this author!

I LOVE this book…”More Than Words Can Say!”

More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer

“Choosing a husband was much like choosing a good baguette.  One looked for a strong outer shell, a tender interior, and most importantly, a tractability of dough to hold whatever shape the baker deemed appropriate.

Abigail needed a good baguette by the end of the week.”

Oh wow…this book is sooo good!  I love Karen Witemeyer’s books…all of them.  The title of this book sums up my feelings about it perfectly.

I love this book…“More Than Words Can Say.”

More Than Words Can Say is Karen Witemeyer’s second Patchwork Family Novel.  As the quote above suggests, this is a marriage of convenience story.  Zach’s story has been highly anticipated and meeting Abigail, a joy.  Zach was such a rough and broken, yet loyal and dependable character in More Than Meets the Eye, that I couldn’t wait to see his tale unfold in More Than Words Can Say.  I was not disappointed.  Witemeyer expertly crafted each thought and interaction, deepening our regard for Zach.  He is a man of few words, with a heart of gold.  Abigail’s determination and protectiveness were apparent from the beginning causing you to want her to succeed.  The warring confidence in her abilities in the shop versus her insecurities in her personal life were realistic and very relatable.  Zach and Abigail’s interactions are one of my favorite things about this book and they range from lighthearted and funny to deep and heartbreaking.

I love the way God speaks through Karen Witemeyer’s fictional characters to teach, us, His non-fictional children how to draw nearer to Him.  Witemeyer takes us to church without making us feel like we’ve been preached to.  In this book guilt holds Zach back from a true relationship with God.  It also causes Abigail to cower from her harasser.  A conversation Abigail remembers and shares with Zach allows us to learn along with them.  “Guilt leads us to confession and repentance, she told me, but after we take it to the cross, we’re supposed to leave it there, not carry it around with us.”

One of the things I enjoy most about Karen Witemeyer’s writing is her beautiful balance of humor and heartache.  She writes historical romance and life was hard in the late 1800s.  Just as in every period of time, God was good and good could be found in and through the difficulties of life.  Witemeyer’s writing handles these matters with grace and wit.  A perfect example of this is Zach’s realization that God might just have a sense of humor. “The Big Man must be elbowing the angels right now and guffawing with the heavenly host over the fool mortal who’d done the marrying part yet was still combusting over a pair of dimples.”

More Than Words Can Say is definitely a book for the keeper shelf…one I will be reading again.  And, I’m already looking forward to the next installment – which is a novella of Rosalind’s story…yay!!  If you enjoy historical romance, if you enjoy well developed characters in cute little towns, if you enjoy seeing God working in the lives of others, you will enjoy this book.  Whether you are like me and a stickler for reading your books in order if it doesn’t matter either way to you, you should order the first Patchwork Family Novel, More Than the Eye Can See.  This series is fantastic, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.  Happy Reading!

*Thanks to the publisher and the author for the complimentary copy to review.  A good review was neither encouraged nor requested.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

Now and Then and Always

A rambling run-down bed and breakfast, some deeply broken people, a decades old mystery…when put together with God in the center, it makes for a powerfully moving story.

I’ve missed Maple Valley…the charming, quirky town and its amazingly loving and welcoming residents. Reading Now and Then and Always, set on the outskirts of Maple Valley, just felt like coming home – oh I wish this was a real place! As always when we visit Maple Valley, we get to meet some new characters, but we also get to “run into” some old favorites. It’s such an added joy to catch up with these “friends.”

The newest Maple Valley residents, Marshall, Mara and Lenora are flawed and broken people. In this story, we witness God meeting each of these characters right where they are. And although this is a fictional story, it mimics how God uses us, flawed and broken people, to do His work…to care for, to offer acceptance, to love one another. The deeply broken characters in this book serve as examples to us of people in our own lives who need to be offered that care, acceptance and love. God uses Melissa Tagg’s writing to teach us how to be His hands and feet. Her writing has a unique blend of humor and depth that grabs hold of our hearts and ministers to us as we read.

This story deals with addiction, grief, hurtful family relationships, abandonment, abuse and scars. It deals with choices, perspectives hope and healing. It deals with all of this while sharing a beautiful story that draws you in and causes you to feel as if you are a part of it. Therefore, even though I have finished this story, I do not want to leave Maple Valley and these people yet. My real life is full of people who are dealing with these same things…the good and the bad. This story encourages me to be present in their lives and be the kind of friend and relative that I loved meeting and visiting with in this book.

If I’ve not made it clear enough in my review thus far, I love this book. It touched my heart and I am already anticipating another visit to Maple Valley.

Although set in a beloved fictional town full of stories already told, Now and Then and Always can be read as a stand-alone novel. If however you enjoy the added depth of reading stories in order, to enhance the overall enjoyment of the book, like I do, then I would recommend going back to the beginning of Maple Valley and starting with the prequel novella to the Walker Family Series, Three Little Words.

*Thanks to the publisher and the author for the complimentary copy to review. A good review was neither encouraged nor requested. All thoughts expressed are my own.