Fairest of Heart - (Texas Ever After) by Karen Witemeyer

This was such a fun and unique book to read. I could easily see the fun parallels to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. But it was also very much it’s own. Karen Witemeyer is always a blast to read, and I couldn’t wait to see how she spun the Snow White retelling. Witemeyer kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly happen next. Historical Romance with the perfect amount of suspense mixed in was just what I needed. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book. Penelope wasn’t handed an easy life, but she made the best of what she was given. She could see beauty where most others wouldn’t and she was good at her job. When her boss decided she was the enemy her life got flipped even more upside down. But Titus and the old men at his grandfather’s ranch just might be what she needed all along. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. I can’t wait to see what Witemeyer comes up with next! I received a complimentary copy of this book and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A funny, romantic, and exciting fairytale that takes place in Texas? Karen Witemeyer is known for her humorous Western romances and now, she's offering a retelling of a beloved fairytale! This is a captivating story that alludes to the classic fairytale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I found myself laughing out loud at the antics of Doc Kingsley and the Geezer Gang, the six retired cowhands who live on Doc's Diamond D Ranch, and I enjoyed comparing each of their quirky personalities with those of the original seven dwarfs! Witemeyer also adds action, danger, and mystery, but it's the special connection between Penelope and a very reluctant Titus Kingsley that makes this such a special story! How could anyone not love a homeless young girl who only wants to make others happy? Witemeyer never fails to offer inspiration in the faith messages that she weaves into her plots, and this book is no exception. Readers are given a powerful reminder that sin and evil do exist in our world, but they can be overcome with faith, prayer, and God's Word. Fairest of Heart is the first book of a new series, Texas Ever After. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy today! I received a complimentary copy from the author and Bethany House. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

5 Star Review! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Posse!! Fellow book dears!! Attention, Attention, and ATTENTION!! Karen Witemeyer has created the ultimate multi layered treasure that is sure to capture Christian book lovers and bring them closer to Jesus everywhere!💋💋💋If someone were to ask me, Lisamarie, what is an example of a Christian romance book that is the epitome of warm and wholesome romance? Mixed with outstanding Western Adventure, clean, and examples of Christs good works in us? I would say "Fairest of Heart" by Karen Witemeyer!! ❤️A dream for me is to have Christian romance mixed with Disney fairy tales! I couldn't believe one of my most favorite authors was writing this book! The moment I opened the book I saw the faces of my characters and went all 90s! LOL📷🌻📷Penelope Snow is the true wholesome goodness of God's grace on Earth! In a world where mankind's rules have tried to darken the Lord's light, Penelope is sent to shine forth! She is an orphan raised by a sweet lady cook at an all girls school. When Pen gets in kind of a pickle with her former employer, Edith, her adoptive mother of sorts immediately goes to protector mode! She sends Penelope away with an acting troupe serve under a vein and manipulating actress. 🌻🌻🌻Penelope's Beauty catches her boss's attention and she sends her man servent out to kill Pen! Taking pity on the poor girl he gives her a way out. Titus and his men, his grandfather and his friends, find Penelope and save her! Along with the cutest hero the black dog Lucky! A beautiful pure and wholesome 🎆🎆🎆adventure of a found family and a even bigger found romance awaited me in this book! This romance is the epitome of tradition and Godly beauty! Titus is the ultimate gentleman hero! He is a true Texas Ranger and values God, family, and justice! 📖📖📖Penelope values God, family, and books! I loved all these characters so much they all are with me in my heart forever! I'm getting this book in hardback God bless you karen! And God bless Baker Book House!💕💕💕💕

This is one of the best Snow White Fairytale Retelling I’ve ever read, and I loved that it’s a “Western” Fairytale Retelling, which makes it unique too! Penelope Snow’s beauty has always garnered her unwanted attention and she tries to hide it beneath shapeless dresses and not meeting anyone’s eyes. Working as a personal maid for Narcissa LaBelle, a famous actress, whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she’s at the mercy of her volatile and abusive boss. Still, as she continues to attract the wrong attention, she is not only dismissed by her jealous mistress but her life is in peril too. Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley always expects the worst from women, especially after his brother Tate lost his life over an evil woman. He doesn’t believe in true love or in their innocence. Until he meets Penelope when she is rescued and taken to his grandfather’s Diamond D ranch, where seven old drovers live and work. Penelope immediately wins each of the men’s heart with her sunny disposition, her kindness and the hard work she does at the ranch to earn her keep. Titus’s heart is affected too, but he tries to distance himself, especially when he is assigned to investigate a chain of robberies that are tied to Penelope’s acting troupe and all evidence points to Penelope’s guilt. But how can a woman that inspires such beautiful feelings in others be such a deceit? Can he believe her when she sustains that she’s innocent? Moreover, can he prove it before more damage is done? This was an absolutely fantastical Western Fairytale Retelling! I totally adored it! I love Fairytale Retellings, but I had never read a truly good one of Snow White. Well, this one was truly good! It had all the Snow White vibes: the orphaned beauty, the jealous beautiful villainess, the swoony and protective hero, and the seven quirky friends that help her out. But aside that, everything is unique and genuine. My favorite part of the book are the characters. I fell in love with Titus and sweet Penelope, but the seven older men at Diamond D Ranch were adorable too! They had quirky personalities and all were besotted with Miss Penny. I loved Titus kind and protective heart. Even if he was distrustful of women, he could recognize Penelope’s true character and that she was incapable of feigning. The sweet attraction they felt toward each other melted my heart, because it was not based on beauty solely, but especially in each other’s heart. Penelope’s innocence and huge heart was a sight to behold. I liked how fiercely she loved the ranchers, even if some of them had difficult or particular characters (I loved how they simulated the seven dwarfs personalities in some kind of way). She gave her love freely, and she gained the others love -more like devotion- without much effort because of her sweet nature, hardworking spirit and her kind heart. I really loved how protective Titus was of her, and how he took care of his grandfather and the other six old drovers at the ranch and worried about them too. The plot was engaging and fast paced. The mystery of the jewels theft added adventure and intrigue to the story. Madame LaBelle was truly a villainess. This was an interesting turn, since I’m more accustomed to male villains. She was truly evil and had no heart. I loved everything about this story: the sweet romance, the endearing characters, the intriguing plot, and the inspiring message about trusting God above everything. The author’s note at the end had some very interesting historical tidbits included in the story” In overall, this is a wonderful story I vividly recommend! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

The Snow White story is told anew in this western fairytale full of adventure, romance, and faith. Karen Witemeyer has delivered another flawless masterpiece! Penelope was a sweet and pure heroine in great contrast to a devilish villainess, and she honored the beloved heroine of the classic fairytale with a positive outlook, strong faith, and perseverance amidst hardship and the forces of evil. The villainess was fabulously detestable, and I loved that we got her point of view throughout the story. I especially adored the various subtle nods to the Walt Disney film—from Penelope’s outfits to the mannerisms of the seven ranchers of the Diamond D. Best of all, Titus was a hero in cowboy boots that exceeded every expectation of a fairytale prince! A beautifully written backstory and excellent character development made him much better than any shallow storybook character. The emotional and tender scene that takes the place of “true love’s kiss” in this faith-driven fairytale was breathtakingly beautiful and romantic. It is hard for me to adequately express how much I cherish this book, and I have no doubt I will return to it again and again! I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher for review purposes. My thoughts are my own. I really did love it!

Karen Witemeyer is among one of my favorite historical writers. I was honored to have the opportunity to read the start to her new Texas Ever After series, Fairest of Heart. I thought it was a fabulous beginning to the series. I adored Penelope and Titus' story so much. It had a fun mixture within the pages of adventure, action, love, hope, faith, humor and suspense. Even though I wanted to keep reading the whole book all the way through in one sitting, I took my time to read it for several days and savored every single word. I loved it. Fairest of Heart will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical and western romance. I will be excited when the second installment from the Texas Ever After series releases to see where Karen Witemeyer takes her readers to next. I received a paperback copy of Fairest of Heart from the publisher, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Fairest of Heart is the first book in Karen Witemeyer’s new Texas Ever After series, which will feature different retellings of fairy tales with a cowboy slant. Fairest of Heart is a retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and I thought the author did a fantastic job of using the original tale while still making it new and unpredictable. The seven retired ranch hands each had a trait that gave credit to the fairy tale, but they were completely their own characters, and they were my favorite part of this story! They may have been up in age, but their hearts were just as young and upright as ever. I loved seeing them take Penelope into their flock as one of their own. Penelope and Titus’s story is a tale of sweet romance, mutual respect, and slow-growing love. I enjoyed the theme of inner beauty versus outer beauty in seeing the contrast between the loving and generous Penelope compared to the selfish and seductive Madame LaBelle. And I appreciated how Titus, although wary of beautiful women, acknowledged Penelope’s good looks but didn’t use them as the basis for his attraction to her. Their slow-burn romance was one to rival any fairy tale! I’m not always a fan of fairy tale retellings, but I thought Karen Witemeyer did a fantastic job of making Snow White and her seven dwarves into a fine Texas tale. I enjoyed looking for the many clever nods to the original story, and loved the author’s original take on this beloved princess story. If you’ve loved all of Karen’s other books, then don’t hesitate to read Fairest of Heart! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Where to start on things I loved about this book? First the Snow White inspired story made for a wonderful read. I was hooked by the second page and the story did not once disappoint. Second, Titus was incredible! My favorite hero of Karen's has long been Amos from "Hearts on the Line", but Titus is now a very close second-in fact Titus reminded me of Amos a bit-which I loved. Third, I absolutely adored Jeb, Rowdy and the rest of the drovers. They were adorable and a hoot! I really need another story with them involved. I'd be willing to say this is now my second favorite Karen book of all of hers. "Hearts on the Line" will forever be my favorite, but this claims the second-place title. Loved this story!! I received a copy of this book from the publisher but also purchased my own Audible copy. All thoughts are my own.

It’s farmhouse meets fairytale in the first book in the Texas Ever After series. Doesn’t the cover capture the Snow White and western vibes so perfectly? This retelling is complete with an innocent maid, a wicked mistress, a prince-worthy hero, and seven “geriatric cowhands” who are patterned after the original seven dwarfs. Penelope Snow is the epitome of kindness. She encompasses all the wholesomeness and sweetness of a fairytale princess while her villainous employer, Madame Labelle, portrays all the shadiness and vileness of Queen Grimhilde. Quite a bit of attention is given to both women’s fair faces and figures, but the contrast between their conduct is HUGE! Titus Kingsley is a driven Texas Ranger who’s sworn off romance. Beautiful women equal trouble in his book. A robbery investigation leads him on a journey to truth, but will he solve the case in time to save the people he cares about most? He kind of reminds me of Jericho from Witemeyer’s debut novel. (Anyone know which book I’m talking about?) I love the themes of justice, mercy, and truth and the portrayal of honorable, godly men who desire to protect women. I would definitely classify this as a clean romance, but Madame LaBelle’s seduction scenes give slightly more detail than I prefer. Everything is closed door, though. Recommend if you like historical fiction and fairytale retellings. I received a paperback ARC for review. All opinions are my own.

With Fairest of Heart, Karen Witemeyer has skillfully reworked the classic Snow White fairy tale to create a fun, endearing Western read. Set in Texas in the late 1800s, the well-structured plot--combining humor, drama, romance, faith, and history--drew me in from the beginning and kept me captivated to the end! The characterization is perfect! I especially appreciate the strong faith thread that imparts valuable life lessons. This is the best fairy tale retelling I have read with a western setting, and I highly recommend it as an entertaining, satisfying read. I look forward to reading the next book in the Texas Ever After series! I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

1892 Christian Historical. A snow white tale with quite a twist, involving a well-endowed Snow and a corset. She's an orphan who's been treated badly in her life but always raises up and works very hard. She gets caught up in being a servant to the wrong woman, an entertainer who is a thief. The merry chase leads her to a farm with 7 old men where they give her a place to live and protect her. Entertaining read with great Christian lessons. 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. #NetGalley #FairestOfHeart #KarenWitemeyer #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalFiction #BethenayHousePublishers

I could have enjoyed this story if not for unnecessary and shockingly inappropriate content. This book contains strong sensuality and even a fade-to-black scene. This was most unexpected for a reputable author of clean and sweet reads. The villain, Narcissa, is quite vain about her appearance and always adjusting her charms to be on display by dressing in revealing clothing and trying to get men to lust after her. This is as far as it goes...at first. The story continues, focusing on the heroine and hero and our 'seven dwarves', all of whom show admirable traits and are kind and honorable. The MC's romance is a breath of fresh air, slow-building and true. But then we return to Narcissa, and for one full chapter the reader is dragged along beside her through one of her seducing escapades. This includes more of the previous and comparably mild content, as well as a man's lustful gaze focusing on cleavage. Then a bedroom scene in which Narcissa partially undresses with the man, lies in bed with him, with passionate kissing and embracing before he passes out. A later chapter takes a similar scene even further with groping and the fade-to-black. This content ultimately ruined any chance of enjoyment I could have had for Titus and Penelope's story. If you are looking for a clean and sweet read, this is not for you. I was given this book for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A delightful fairy tale re-telling with a Texas twist! Orphaned at a young age, for Penelope Snow her growing beauty has always been something of a misfortune. Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley is more than a little suspicious of the young woman who has taken up residence with 7 rough and tumble old cowpokes, as he investigates a string of thieving. A charming read from beginning to end, I loved the characters especially the old cowhands with their various defining qualities and tender heart towards Penelope's plight. Such a fun read that brought a smile to my face, I loved Penelope and Titus together. I really enjoyed seeing Ms. Witemeyer's take on a classic tale, bringing it out west and making it her own, infusing it with a strong core of faith. Overall, this was a wonderful read, it brought a smile to my face and I liked Penelope's heart for others. A compelling read with a fairy tale twist, it makes for a cozy escape, entertaining, engaging, filled with romance and not shying away from faith. Highly recommend, and can't wait to read more in this series! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An impressive retelling of my favorite fairy tale Snow White that leaves you smiling from ear to ear. The characterization is top notch and I love the grandpas and want to go live with them. Penelope was endearing but has more depth than you might think. She dances her way into your heart and I can vividly see her with the descriptive writing that sparks your imagination. I love the western setting for this retelling as it amped it up in my estimation. Titus is the perfect lawman and hero as he embodies strength and also a gentle side. The Faith theme that is woven in rounds out all the great things I could say about this first book in the Texas Ever After series and leaves me wanting more. You can never go wrong with a book by Ms Witemeyer as she writes books that always leave me with that warm, fuzzy glow inside. A definite must read. Gobsmacking good. I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.