More Than Meets The Eye by Karen Witemeyer

More Than Meets the Eye is a Patchwork Family Novel and I understand why now. Karen Witemeyer starts her story with a prologue of 3 orphans, Zach, Seth, and Evangeline, that survive a train wreck, and become their own family, fighting to survive.  All 3 are "broken" and society treats them like outcasts.  They have learned how to deal with others in town and their own "handicaps".  Fifteen years later, Logan Fowler buys land beside their property and is seeking revenge on Zach, who cheated his father off their homestead and caused his mother to be a shell of what she used to be.  He isn't expecting to meet Evangeline, who has a beauty and joy inside of her that Logan has never seen. Evangeline has never even had a friend, but with Logan there is the added chemistry of a first love.  The more time they spend together, Logan struggles with the secrets he has and his plan for vengeance.  When they witness an attempted murder of a young woman Christie, they must work together to find her attacker, protect the lady from further harm, and save themselves. 
First off, I love the quick wit Karen Witemeyer always uses in her novels.  This one didn't disappoint.  Evangeline is such a strong character, who just wants to be cherished by someone, after being lonely her whole life.  She chooses joy, even when she is called names and regarded as a demon by the townspeople. The emotions of both her and Logan make them so real!  Also, she and her brothers have struggled with trusting outsiders their whole lives.  Yet, they accept Christie into their "family", and show her the love of Christ.  When Logan can't seem to give up his plan for revenge, Evangeline challenges him to think about what God wants, as well as how his actions have affected his mother.  I love a mystery/romance set in the time period of the late 1800's and the western setting with saloons, horses, and first love.  Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  Looking forward to the next novel by Karen Witemeyer!

Hearts Entwined A Historical Romance Novella Collection

Bethany House recently sent me a collection of historical novellas for free in exchange for a honest review.  Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears each tell a story of strong women that find love.  In The Love Knot, an old friend from the past shows up in Texas with an infant nephew she has never met, with instructions to raise him as her own.  Claire had moved out west to forget the past, and the rejection of her first love.  Peter has vowed to never let Claire get away again, and sets out to prove he is the one for her, even with a baby to care for now.  In The Tangled Ties that Bind, Maggie is training to be a doctor and she is not letting anyone stop her, not even Connor her childhood best friend, who has just returned home after 5 years.  Connor has grown up and is ready to settle down on the family ranch with Maggie, but Maggie has moved away to pursue her dreams.  She is only in town temporary to help her sick mom.  There is conflict and humor when they try to compromise. In Bound and Determined, Private Bradley Willis is assigned the duty of helping a retired cavalry officer move a heard across an Indian Reservation.  He truly believes he is being punished when he discovers the herd is camels, and the officer's headstrong daughter, Ambrosia is along to thwart the plans of her father.  She has been living a opulent life, and doesn't want camels or a lower class private to ruin it.  Ambrosia wants adventure, but isn't looking for love.  In Tied and True, Marianne has found the man of her dreams.  However, her parents have another man already chosen for her in their social class.  Calvin is in agreement; he cannot provide Marianne with the life she needs, and tries to get her out of his heart.  Marianne sets out to prove she can live like the middle class does by getting hired at a cotton mill.  She wants to marry for love, but Calvin loves her too much to cause her to live a life of what he foresees as hardships. 
I love the comedy in these stories, especially the one involving the camels.  Regina Jennings did a outstanding job describing their trek across the plains that I could easily picture the camels antics and how they would have been perceived in the eyes of the cavalry.  I like the historical aspects of the story of Maggie trying to become a female doctor in a time period when they were rare.  Connor doesn't expect her to give up on her dreams just to follow him either.  The authors also referred to characters from past novels in their respective series, which I was familiar with and enjoyed "catching up on their lives". The beauty of four novellas is that the reader can sit down and read one each night before bed.  They are short, humorous, and reminders that God works everything out according to His purpose.