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

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The Journey A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli

 

For the beauty of it. Some places simply take your breath away. Andrea and other singers who join him are fabulous of course. Gorgeous views of Italy. Inspiring testimonies.

Synopsis:

A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli combines world-class musical performances with intimate 

conversations across the awe-inspiring Italian countryside

“We journeyed by horse for over 300 kilometers along a path that was not always 

easy to travel, but absolutely beautiful, made of meadows and forests; sacred 

places filled with lasting testimonies of faith, full of art of incredible beauty, and 

views in front of which one can’t but ponder about creation and the miraculous 

work of our Heavenly Father.” Andrea Bocelli talking about his movie, THE JOURNEY, 

in theaters beginning Palm Sunday, April 2.

 

Buy tickets today to see THE JOURNEY in theaters starting today 4/2!

Links

Movie Website: LINK 

Buy Tickets Link: LINK 

Giveaway: $10 Amazon gift card

(Note: This is limited to US winners only. Please submit your full name and email address by 4/8 in comments below. One winner will be chosen randomly.)

Many thanks to TBN for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 

100% my own.

#TheJourneyTBNMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

The Homestead Brides Collection 9 Pioneering Couples Risk All for Love and Land

 

Christian Historical Romance. Wow. What unique stories. A book of substance. The only thing in common between the stories was women who left home to make a new start. Interesting information contained in them, like what it took to make a soddy. Different areas of the country, each with pluses and minuses, each with beauty and danger. Nothing simple about any of the situations. It's easy to become completely immersed in each tale. Special people involved in quite individual lives, using their skills and adapting as needed, each with special people to love. Excellent, deep read.

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

#TheHomesteadBridesCollection #NetGalley

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The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel

 

1920 Galway Ireland. Lady Annabeth comes with her family from England, as new Landlords of Galway Manor. It's a time of Irish Revolutionary actions. Anna is bored with society things, has been given a year to decide whether to accept betrothal to the older man her father has set up for her. Her father is quite indulgent with her and arranges for her to apprentice at Claddagh Jeweller's shop. Their family had the ancestor who first designed the claddagh, handed down, with the legend, through the years. Steven has his own reasons to want the British out of their town.  Having his father agree for him to teach Anna went against him. As they spend time together, they each learn about the other and the many untruths on each side. As Anna interacts unselfishly with the townspeople, they get to know her and like her. Throughout the story you see the give and take, the acceptance of each other and beauty of the Irish way of life. A true love story encompassing the legend of the claddagh, and God's way for us. As the author says, all are created in the image of God, therefore, all are valuable and hold purpose. Many examples of Irish culture are illustrated within the story. People on both sides give of themselves for the other. Christian Historical Romance.

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

#TheLadyofGalwayManor #NetGalley

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Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes

"So many stories. In this pocket of a harbor where broken lives, like waves upon the shore, are gathered up and held close."

Set in Maine starting before WW2, on the coast, in the uppermost corner, near Canada. A rugged, weather worn area of strong people. This is a story that grabs you right in the first few lines, and gives you a perfect image and feeling of what is to follow. Layer upon layer of beautiful life, heartbreak and again beauty. Such depth of feeling. Weaving through time - back and forth together. Perfectly woven. A story so richly told that you can almost see God's hand around them. Christian Historical.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#WhoseWavesTheseAre #AmandaDykes #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #NetGalley

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An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter

What a beautiful romance! So creative in how it’s written. I love the way the characters think. The character Griffith is a Duke and carefully reasons everything out, sometimes with the help of his friend and brother-in-law who is equal to the task. He is pressured to get married and through his reasoning chooses one of the social debutantes who is not in the limelight, yet is on the fringe. Not the most beautiful, but socially prominent and acceptable. However, there are a few things he didn’t know when he was making his decision – like the fact that the girl was in love with someone else and she was using her cousin as a shield from him. And that her father was using her cousin as bait for his own political agenda - the cousin who is uncommonly beautiful and completely in the limelight. The story is very well woven, has good depth and held my interest through every line.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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