Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

westerns

One author I turn to when I need a guaranteed good read: Review of A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer

A note about book reviews: Generally I post them on Wednesdays only, but I’m adding in a few extra ones here and there in June and July. Maybe you’ll find a fun summer read!

a worthy pursuitSome people have comfort food; I have comfort authors. (Okay, I have comfort food, too.) During a recent multi-day stretch of solo parenting while my husband was away, I read two books by two favorite authors because I needed the comfort of a well-written, entertaining, inspirational romance. One of the authors guaranteed to provide that for me is Karen Witemeyer and her new book A Worthy Pursuit is worth picking up. (Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review.)

Witemeyer creatively places her heroine and hero in situations that cause conflict and stand in the way of their feelings. In this one, Stone Hammond is a tracker sent to find the woman who kidnapped the granddaughter of his wealthy client. He’s the best in the business and the clues lead him to the Texas homestead of Charlotte Atherton, the girl’s former teacher. Charlotte claims she was acting as the girl’s legal guardian and produces paperwork to prove it, placing Stone in the position of wondering if he’s trusted the wrong person in this circumstance. When danger threatens Charlotte and her charges, Stone vows to protect them. Both of them have to decide if it’s worth the risk to trust.

Though it’s an inspirational romance set in the 1800s Texas frontier, Witemeyer rarely casts her heroines as damsels in distress. They are strong women capable of taking care of themselves and making decisions but who find themselves in situations where they need the help of a good man. Charlotte is fiesty and independent but scared to trust. Stone is as hard as his name sounds when he’s in pursuit of his prey but fiercely determined to protect the innocent and win the heart of this woman.

Danger and romance combine for a story I could hardly step away from. Another solid story from Witemeyer and just what I needed for the mood I was in.

For reviews on other Witemeyer books I’ve read, check out these:

A western for women: Review of Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Since the first time I watched Tombstone, I’ve been a fan of westerns, a genre and setting for stories that I once thought was reserved for men–you know, gun-toting, hard-working, manly men.

That movie, and others, including some John Wayne classics, reformed me.

anna finchAnd books like Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y’Barbo are making me a fan of written westerns.

Anna Finch is an adventurous and unconventional woman who aspires to be a journalist when her father just wants her to get married. Unwilling to settle, Anna pursues her own interests, which lands her in the company of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. She’s also often in the company of Jeb Sanders, a Pinkerton detective her father hired to keep an eye on her.

The plot is somewhat predictable but the story is fun–a light read to pass the time–and I’d look for another book from Y’Barbo in the future. As a writer, I’m curious about where authors get the inspiration for their stories, and Y’Barbo’s explanation of how this story came about is interesting.

I was left with a desire to rewatch Tombstone, and I couldn’t get Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday out of my head.

Overall, if you like the Old West and you’re in the mood for a quick, light, fun read, then check this one out.

Here’s a sneak peek.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/v4QKFHr80t4]