Book Review: Short Straw Bride, by Karen Witemeyer

Short Straw Bride, by Karen Witemeyer
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?

Print Length: 371 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; 1 edition (June 1, 2012)

My Review:
This is another sweet, christian romance novel that is free of sex scenes and/or violence.  There is some suspense and romance, but nothing to make you squirm.  Meredith is a strong christian heroin with a vibrant love for the Lord and a desire to do His will.  She gets caught in a predicament that forces her to marry Travis Archer, the recluse cowboy that refuses to let anyone come onto his land. 

The Archer brothers are all so humorous and adorable.  I especially loved Crockett.  He was quite the character.  Jim was funny because he was so stoic, and you never quite knew what he was thinking, except when it came to Meredith's cousin.  

I love characters that have flaws, whether they are physical or internal.  Both Meredith and Travis have strengths and weaknesses that make them more realistic and believable.  

I felt like the second half of the book dragged on a little bit too long.  One thing after another kept popping up to keep the newlyweds from ever being alone together.  But it was a fun twist to see a couple that is forced to marry still try to go through a proper courtship and get to know each other before anything physical happens between them. 


The Cover: I love this cover.  It is super cute, and I love the way Meredith is trying to sneak a peek at the straws in Travis' hands.  The title design is really cute and goes well with the rest of the cover.

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About the Author:

CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. In 2011, her debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, was a finalist in the Best First Book categories for both the prestigious RITA® award and the National Reader's Choice Award. Karen holds a master's degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers' guild. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.


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Book Review: Making Waves, by Lorna Seilstad

Making Waves, by Lorna Seilstad
When spunky Marguerite Westing discovers that her family will summer at Lake Manawa in 1895, she couldn't be more thrilled. It is the perfect way to escape her agonizingly boring suitor, Roger Gordon. It's also where she stumbles upon two new loves: sailing, and sailing instructor Trip Andrews. But this summer of fun turns to turmoil as her father's gambling problems threaten to ruin the family forever. Will free-spirited Marguerite marry Roger to save her father's name and fortune? Or will she follow her heart--even if it means abandoning the family she loves?
 
Author Lorna Seilstad's fresh and entertaining voice will whisk readers away to a breezy lakeside summer holiday. Full of sharp wit and blossoming romance, "Making Waves" is the first book in the LAKE MANAWA SUMMERS series.

My Review:
I've been reading a lot of Christian Romance lately.

Making Waves was a really cute historical romance novel.  It had everything that a Christian Romance novel should have: a horrible suitor, a mysterious and handsome hero, a feisty and adventurous heroin, and plenty of Christian values thrown in.

I've never been sailing, but I was able to appreciate Marguerite's love of it from the way the author describes everything so well.  Marguerite is a disaster most of the book.  She stirs up trouble (albeit mostly unintentional) wherever she goes, she is perpetually late for everything, and has this very unladylike love of the water and sailing.  

The challenges and restrictions placed on women during this time period were well described.  Women should not go swimming, sailing, or do anything other than sit around and chat with one another.  While other women do not even seem to notice the restrictions placed on them, Marguerite is not one for sticking to the expectations of others.  She wants to live life to the fullest and she fully plans on doing so, whether it is proper or not.

Roger was a perfectly horrible suitor.  He was boring, self-centered, and rude.  He even became a heartless and violent towards the end.  

Trip was a nicely flawed hero that I couldn't help but love.  Besides being handsome, he also sports a wicked temper and an uncanny way of making Marguerite feel special.  He treats her well and does not expect her to be anyone or anything that she is not.  They both have to learn some things and change a few others along the way.

The Cover:  Meh.  Don't love it, don't hate it.  It is what it is.

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About the Author:
For as long as I can remember, I loved writing. I even dreamed in plots. I also grew up attending antique auctions nearly every weekend, so history was as much a part of my life as chores on our farm in Iowa, reading books, and playing with Barbies.

So, writing historical romances fit perfectly. Times may change, the style of clothes, the way we speak, but the common threads that unite us remain the same. Couples fall in love. Injustices
happen. We fight for what we believe in. We struggle. We endure. We grow.

After graduating from York College in York, Nebraska with an A.A. and then receiving a B.S.Ed. from Lubbock Christian University, I met and married the love of my life, David. God had
written our love story, and I knew from the moment we met that he was the one. It was not love at first sight by any means, but I was so sure he was "it" that I wrote that I'd met the man I would marry in my diary. We pledged our hearts to one another two and half years later.

I taught high school English until my oldest child was born. After that I began my career as a professional wiper. I wiped noses, counter tops, tiny tushes, tears, and scraped knees.

Deciding that my children were now older and less in need of my constant supervision, I started pursuing my first love again --writing. After joining American Christian Fiction Writers, I found a wonderful critique group and began studying the craft of writing.

David and I have three children ages 18, 16, and 11. We also work in youth ministry and teach youth and adult Bible classes. Pin It

Book Review: Gentleman of Her Dreams, by Jen Turano

Gentleman of Her Dreams, by Jen Turano

When Miss Charlotte Wilson asks God for a husband, she decides He must want her to pursue Mr. Hamilton Beckett, the catch of the season. The only problem? She's never actually met Hamilton. Fortunately, one of her oldest and dearest friends, Mr. Henry St. James—who has returned to New York after a two-year absence—does know Hamilton. Much to Henry's chagrin, Charlotte immediately ropes him into helping her meet Hamilton. However, none of her plans to catch Hamilton's eye go as she expected, and she is even more confused when her old feelings for Henry begin to resurrect themselves. In the midst of the mayhem Charlotte always seems to cause, she wonders if the gentleman of her dreams might be an entirely different man than she thought.

This novella is a companion to A Change of Fortune, Jen Turano's full-length debut novel, available fall 2012.

***

Short, sweet, and adorably funny, Gentleman of Her Dreams is a companion novella for the full length novel A Change of Fortune.  However, it is not necessary to read one to understand the other.  They are both fine on their own.

This quick read was an absolute delight and just what I was looking for.  I love historical fiction, and every now and again I feel the need to get away from all the paranormal and adventure and just read a good clean romance.  This short christian romance was exactly what I wanted.  It was humorous, witty, and super cute.  It was squeaky clean, too!  

It is FREE right now on Amazon.  Definitely worth the read.

File Size: 415 KB
Print Length: 81 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 1, 2012)

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Review: Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist

From Goodreads:
From the day she arrives at the Biltmore, Tillie Reese is dazzled—by the riches of the Vanderbilts and by Mack Danvers, a mountain man turned footman. When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack's rugged behavior by tutoring him in the ways of refined society, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie's efforts to be chosen as Edith Vanderbilt's lady's maid.

But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangled in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs...and their hearts.

***

Every now and then I like to read a pathetic romance novel.  I usually stick to books categorized under "Christian Romance" because they tend to be sexless, clean romances.  This book was a fun break from my usual selection of entertainment.  

As far as plots go, it wasn't anything spectacular.  Most of these books are painfully obvious, but it was set in a fun time period and gave a glimpse into the lives of servants that lived a hundred years ago.  I didn't know that servants could never marry.  Choosing to be a house servant meant you were to be a spinster (or bachelor) for the duration of your employment.  

Other than the plot of the book being rather predictable, it was an enjoyable read with plenty of interaction between the heroine, Tillie and her love interest, Mack.  It was an easy and fairly short book, so I would definitely recommend it to anyone that wants to lose themselves in a clean romance for an afternoon.


Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (June 1, 2010)
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