School Marms & Bounty Hunters - A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer Review
Forgive me. Between summer camps, summer school, and getting sick, I've fallen behind on reviews! If you remember last month's Last Ten Books in My Possession list, you'll probably recognize this title ...
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| (c.) 2015 by Bethany House |
Author: Karen Witemeyer
Published: 2015 by Bethany House
About the 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.The Artist Librarian Review:
Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan’s Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the little girl entrusted to her care after her mother’s death. 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 the teacher he’s after produces documentation that shows she’s the little girl’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is Miss Atherton villain or victim? She acts more like a loving mother than an abductress, and the children in her care clearly adore her. Should Stone break his perfect record?
Then a new danger threatens, and Charlotte is forced to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone becomes determined to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart."
I've loved reading Karen Witemeyer's books ever since I discovered her work about four years ago. While I normally shy away from western/prairie settings now (due to reading almost nothing but fiction in those settings in high school), Witemeyer is one of the few prairie/western authors I'll make an exception for. Her books are lighthearted and sprinkled with humor that makes you smile. While the story moved a teensy bit slower than I'm used to seeing, it was understandable, since due to the plot, much of the time Charlotte and co. are either in hiding or waiting for information, documents, or other messages (this is 19th century Texas, after all). However, despite this, I'd say this is one of her most action-packed novels to date! There are others after Lily and the bounty placed on her and Charlotte's heads, which lend to several dramatic scenes.
Trusting in God through or despite fear was one of the main themes of the novel and while I enjoyed Stone and Charlotte's stories, I was constantly captivated by Charlotte's young wards: Lily, the main impetus of the story, who has a photographic memory; Stephen, a child inventor and another of Charlotte's students, left in her care since his parents are traveling abroad; and John, an orphaned piano prodigy in the making. I admit, I may have "squeed" a bit when I saw that John was Chinese --I rarely seen Asian characters in the fiction I read, so I have to give credit to Witemeyer for her historically believable inclusion. I'd be thrilled to see their stories continue as young adults --perhaps through novellas?
With humor, romance, and a bit of action, Karen Witemeyer fans old and new are sure to enjoy A Worthy Pursuit.
Check out behind-the-scenes of A Worthy Pursuit's book cover photoshoot on Karen's website!
[Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher for review purposes]
Do you enjoy reading prairie/western historical fiction? What are some of your favorite titles or authors?
About the Author:
"Two-time RITA finalist and winner of the coveted HOLT Medallion and the ACFW Carol Award, bstselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romances because she believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. She is an avid cross-stitcher and shower singer, and she bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.
To learn more about Karen and her books and to sign up for her free newsletter featuring special giveaways and behind-the-scenes information, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com"
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