Showing posts with label ChristianHistorical. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

To Love a Beast (Once Upon a Time in Texas Book One) by Karen Witemeyer

Such a beautiful love story. Many places of fluid beauty in prose. He was terribly scarred and disfigured. She isn't bothered by it. She goes to his home to bind his books in his library and breaks through to him in common sense and caring. She can see his beauty through his scars. They see the inner beauty in each other. Meltingly lovely. Add in some evil and danger, a belonging to a new family. A perfect read. Not sappy.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and CelebrateLit book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ToLoveABeast #KarenWitemeyer #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #HopeLightPublishing #ChristianHistoricalRomance

About the Book

Book: To Love a Beast (One Upon a Time in Texas Book One)

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 10, 2025

Beauty & the Beast in 1800’s Texas.

Once known among New York’s elite as the American Adonis, Everett Griffin now lives as a recluse in the wilds of Texas. The treachery of a former admirer left his face and his spirit riddled with scars, so he hides himself away, his only companions a trio of trusted servants and an oversized dog. Locals whisper of the beastly man who lives in the gloomy manor outside of town and his tendency to attack anyone who dares approach. Everett relishes his fearsome reputation and uses it as a shield to guard his privacy. Until a young woman as stubborn as she is beautiful infiltrates his sanctum and lays siege to his defenses.

When an injury to her father jeopardizes the family’s book binding business, Callista Rosenfeld determines to fulfill the contract herself, and no insufferable client or woman-eating dog will deter her. Finding unlikely allies among Mr. Griffin’s staff, Callista secures her position and sets to work transforming the manor’s remarkable library. Her employer transforms as well, his ill-tempered growls subsiding to reveal a considerate, intellectual nature. Affection blooms as Callista and Everett discover hidden depths in each other, but the evil schemes of a vengeful hunter threaten to leave their love and their lives in tatters.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen’s books have won numerous awards, including the prestigious Christy Award, Carol Award, and National Reader’s Choice Award. Karen is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, Texas with her husband. Learn more about Karen and her books at her website.

More from Karen

Having Fun with Character Names

I was a college student when the Disney animated adaptation of Beauty and the Beast released, and it instantly became my favorite fairy tale of all time. As a bookish young woman myself, I found Belle so relatable, and the rest of the cast delighted me as well. Throughout my Texas Ever After series and continuing with this new Once Upon a Time in Texas series, I’ve enjoyed paying homage to the Disney characters who inspired my western retellings. To Love a Beast is no different.

Let’s start with our beastly hero, Everett Griffin. The name Everett means “wild boar” and a griffin is a mythological beast with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. Quite fitting for our Beast. Next is the lovely Callista Rosenfeld, a book binder and novel lover. Callista means “most beautiful,” perfect for our Beauty. Rosenfeld references the enchanted rose that plays such a key role in the fairy tale plot.

Next, we have our supporting cast. Mrs. Potter is our motherly housekeeper who invites Callista to tea on a regular basis. Our stuffy butler playing the role of Cogsworth is Mr. Timens. Notice the TIME in his name that pays homage to the clock-faced Disney character. Everett’s valet and best friend is Ray Lightfoot, who’s name plays with the candlestick image with both his first and last name.

I love having fun with my character names and giving them additional story meaning. You’ll find more Beauty and the Beast Easter eggs in my story as well. Those elements make the story so fun to write, and I hope you will find it incredibly fun to read as well.

Happy Reading!

~Karen

Blog Stops

Maureen’s Musings, June 27
Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 27
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 28
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 28
The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate , June 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 29
Inspired by Fiction, June 29
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , June 30
Where Faith and Books Meet, June 30
Devoted Steps, July 1
Sylvan Reads, July 1
She Lives To Read, July 1
Texas Book-aholic, July 2
Blossoms and Blessings, July 2
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 3
Blogging With Carol, July 3
Stories By Gina, July 4 (Author Interview)
Labor Not in Vain, July 4
For Him and My Family, July 5
Holly’s Book Corner , July 5
Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 6
Jodie Wolfe, July 6
The Lit Lady, July 7
Wishful Endings, July 7
Bizwings Book Blog, July 8
Life on Chickadee Lane, July 8
Books You Can Feel Good About, July 9
Mary Hake, July 9
To Everything There Is A Season, July 10
Life Love Writing, July 10
Min Reads and Reviews, July 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of the book and Beauty & the Beast themed goodies!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54249

My reviews

Barnes and Noble

Facebook Christian Historical

Facebook Avid Christian Readers

Twitter

Instagram

Threads

Friday, December 22, 2023

Bygone Christmas Brides - Six Stories of Old-Fashioned Christmas Romance

Special stories from special authors.

They had me at old-fashioned. Then at the first page. All six are SUCH good stories and even include characters from Ireland and Scotland. PLUS there’s a recipe at the end of each story. I hadn’t known about the tradition in Ireland of lighting a candle for the holy family and found it very interesting.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#BygoneChristmasBrides #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #BarbourPublishing #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarHistorical #GinnyAiken #CarlaGade #PamelaGriffin #TamelaHancockMurray #JillStengl #GinaWelborn

My reviews

Love's Faithful Promise by Susan Anne Mason

Drop right in to an Irish family. Dierdre is a nurse who is just starting to study to become a doctor in pediatrics. When her mother has a stroke, she goes to visit a doctor to convince him to help her mother. Dr Matthew Clayborne is a young widower who served in the military. While wounded he learned techniques in physical therapy to help injured limbs recover and began a practice when he returned to Toronto. Emotionally shutdown, as much as he helps his patients he is yet withdrawn from them and from his little 4-year-old daughter who had contracted the same disease that killed his wife. Persuaded because of his daughter’s health, he decides to go with Dierdre to help her mother. He hadn’t counted on how much Irish Meadows estate and the O’Leary family would affect them both. Wonderfully told story where you’ll feel right at home.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#LovesFaithfulPromise #NetGalley #SusanAnneMason #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #BethanyPublishing #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarHistorical

From the Publisher:

A Stirring Story of Love and Faith and America's Great Promise

When her mother suffers a stroke, medical student Deirdre O'Leary makes the difficult choice to put her career on hold to care for her. Dr. Matthew Clayborne is renowned for his amazing results with patients, but when Deirdre approaches him about helping her mother, she finds him challenging and surly. Deirdre has had enough of complicated men in her life. After her fiancé left her, she vowed never to give a man that kind of power again.

Widower Dr. Matthew Clayborne is devoted to two things: his work with wounded soldiers and his four-year-old daughter, Phoebe. He won't abandon either of these priorities to care for one older woman. However, when Phoebe suffers a health scare, they're offered respite at the Irish Meadows farm, where his daughter's weakened lungs can recover--but only if he cares for Mrs. O'Leary.

Matthew intends to hate Irish Meadows, yet he immediately feels at home, and soon both Mrs. O'Leary and Phoebe are showing improvement. But since he has no intention of leaving his life up north forever, and Deirdre has sworn off marriage in favor of her career, how will they deal with the undeniable attraction between them?

My reviews