Review - "A Worthy Pursuit" by Karen Witemeyer

 

 

A Worthy Pursuit

by Karen Witemeyer

 

Published by Bethany House Publishers

352 Pages

Target Audience: Adults

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

 

About this book:

 

"A teacher on the run. A bounty hunter in pursuit. Can two enemies learn to trust each other before they both lose what they hold most dear?

Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily's mother she'd keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.

When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily's legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he's been led to believe. Is she villain or victim?

Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he's ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte's heart."

 

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A Worthy Pursuit is the first book I've read by author Karen Witemeyer and I really liked it! After I started reading it, I did not want to put it down! I found some parts to be quite funny and I was laughing a lot while reading it. There was also quite a bit of action in the story making it a fast-paced read.

I thought the characters were great, both the main and side characters. I admired Charlotte's character for wanting to take care of the three children she has taken charge of and her wanting to keep them safe from harm no matter the cost to her own self after the school they attended was closed and the children didn't have a good place to go.

Stone is a likeable and honorable character. He is more concerned with finding out the truth about the situation he has become involved in and doing what is right instead of just retrieving the girl he was sent to find in exchange for money with no thought to who might be the best guardian of the girl.

The three children - Lily, John, and Stephen - were charming. I enjoyed reading about the uniquely different talents that they've each been blessed with and how they use those talents. I thought Lily was absolutely delightful and her character had me laughing the most in the book.

Overall, I enjoyed A Worthy Pursuit and would be interested in reading more books by Karen Witemeyer. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, westerns, and Christian romances.

*I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Review - Love's Rescue by Christine Johnson

 

 

Love's Rescue

By Christine Johnson

 

Keys of Promise series, Book #1

Published by Revell

352 Pages

Target Audience: Adults

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Romance

 

About this book:

 

"Can a girl enamored with the adventurous seas ever be content with the tame life of a Southern belle?

When her mother dies, Elizabeth Benjamin heads home to Key West, determined to transform herself into the perfect Southern belle her parents always wished her to be. But nothing goes according to plan. Her brother resents her, the servants do not obey her, and Rourke O'Malley, the dashing man she vowed to forget, refuses to relinquish his hold on her heart. Worst of all, it becomes painfully obvious that her father is not the man he appears to be.

As family secrets come to light, Elizabeth is faced with a difficult choice: to perform her duty and abandon her dreams, or to leave her life of privilege behind to chase the man her father sees as little better than a pirate.

From the first emotional page, author Christine Johnson throws you into a world of impossible choices, hidden desires, and heart-melting romance in the steamy South."

 

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As a South Floridian, the summary of this book immediately caught my interest. A Christian historical novel set in the Florida Keys? Yes, please! It is so rare that I see historical novels set in Florida, especially novels set in the 1800s. While I've never been to the Florida Keys, I could picture the plant life and ocean shores described in the book quite well as it's not too different from the coastal areas of the part of Florida that I'm from. Oh, and let me not forget to mention that the story started with something us Floridians despise - that's right, the dreaded hurricane!

Set in 1846, the story starts with Elizabeth having to leave Key West in a few days to travel to Charleston where she is expected to secure a prominent match. But Elizabeth loves a man in Key West who her parents don't approve of: wrecker Rourke O' Malley. In her last attempt to change her future before she must leave for Charleston, Elizabeth and her brother Charlie venture out into a storm to try to find Rourke. However, Elizabeth's choice to go out during the storm ends with consequences she never expected.

Four years later, after her mother's death, an unwed Elizabeth journeys home with her aunt after her long stay in Charleston. On her voyage home she finds herself in a situation from which she needs rescuing, and her rescuer is none other than Rourke, than man she left behind. However, her homecoming is not a happy one. Her brother resents her, her father still does not approve of Rourke, and her aunt is trying to turn her into someone she doesn't want to be. While her father and aunt try to force her into a marriage to a man she despises, Elizabeth discovers family secrets that shatter everything she knows about her family. Will Elizabeth do what is expected of her, or will she follow her heart and her dreams?

Love's Rescue drew me into the story from the very beginning and it had enough action and mystery in it to where I did not want to put it down. I thought the author did a good job with the characters and I wanted to find out what was going to happen to them. I enjoyed the unique setting and I learned about some new things, such as wrecking in the Florida Keys and how the wreckers were seen as not being much better than pirates. The story had good themes of forgiveness, redemption, and self-sacrifice. Overall, I really liked it and would be interested in reading the next books in this series when they are published.

A couple notes on the content: There are mentions of an affair in the book. Also, as this book does take place before the end of slavery, there is prejudice against slaves and free black people by some characters, and the term "darkie" is used more than once.

*I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for my honest review. 

Review - "As Love Blooms" by Lorna Seilstad

 

 

As Love Blooms

by Lorna Seilstad

 

The Gregory Sisters series, Book #3

Published by Revell

320 Pages

Target Audience: Adults

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Romance

 

About this book:

 

"Young romance opens like a rose . . . but even a rose has its thorns.

Tessa Gregory is nothing if not tenacious. Denied a position as a horticulturist at prestigious Como Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she is not above a little benevolent deception in order to get the park superintendent to change his mind and hire her. She plans to infiltrate the world of wealthy and influential people in hopes of drumming up financial support for a world-class conservatory. But before she can put those plans into action, she meets Reese King, a handsome gardener at Como Park--and a major distraction. Still, Reese might be the key to achieving her dream. But is his goal to help her . . . or to capture her heart?

Against the lush backdrop of manicured gardens and greenhouses full of the exotic, Lorna Seilstad weaves a sweet and sassy story that is sure to delight."

 

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I really liked As Love Blooms! It was a cute and funny book. As Love Blooms is the third book in the "The Gregory Sisters" series and while I haven't yet read the first two books in the series, I didn't really have any problems following the story in this third book. It read well as a stand alone.

I loved Tessa's personality in the book! She's a spunky, ambitious, and fun character. She is a bit of a thrillseeker as well and isn't afraid to try new things. She also shows determination, working hard to make her dreams come true even when others, including members of her own family, don't believe in her and her dreams. I'm afraid I can relate to her quite well in that aspect.

The historical setting was interesting. Taking place in 1913, the story shows how major cities in the United States were building up their parks and were working to build new conservatories for park visitors to enjoy. Women's suffrage is also a main historical subject in the book.

I also liked the theme that the book had: that we should put our hope and trust in God to help us do things, not rely only in ourselves. Unfortunately, this is a lesson that Tessa has to learn the hard way as she keeps secrets and sometimes uses deception to try to get the things she wants done.

Overall, I really enjoyed As Love Blooms and I definitely want to read the first two books in the series now to find out more about Tessa's sisters.

*I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for my honest review.