Stealing The Preacher by Karen Witemeyer

Overview: A cowboy who wants to be a preacher. An outlaw's daughter who wants to change his mind.

On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can't believe it when he's forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the preacher she requested for her birthday. He's determined to escape—which would be much easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected request.

For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?

With her signature blend of humor, history, and lively western romance, two-time RITA Award finalist and bestselling author Karen Witemeyer delivers a Texas love story sure to steal your heart.

ISBN-13: 9780764209666
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 6/1/2013
Pages: 352

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My Review: As always, Karen Witemeyer delivers a fantastic story with witty dialogue, a fast-moving plot, and characters we can all relate to. The story line for Stealing The Preacher is a little different from her other stories; there is not a lot of action, but that I still enjoyed it immensely. The story was very well written and kept me interested, despite the lack of action. It allows the reader to focus more on the characters and their feelings and developement, than the story itself.

I loved the characters in this book. Crockett Archer is taking his first steps toward a new life outside of his ranch and immediate family. His character is written in a way that makes him strong and confident, yet vulnerable because he's branching out on his own for the first time in his life. I love that Karen didn't write him as a cocky, self-assured man, but gave him a real heart and compassion, as well as doubts. Joanna Robbins is a woman I would look up to in real life. She is confident, independent, and has a loving heart. Her faith is strong and she takes her calling seriously. She is the perfect match for the compassionate, kind-hearted preacher. Their romance was precious! I loved hearing about the other Archer brothers and the secondary characters (Jackson and Silas) made the story more enjoyable.

The message was deeply rooted in the story. Some might say it's "preachy," but I think it's written perfectly. Crockett is a preacher, after all. I would be concerned if there wasn't a lot of biblical truths written throughout the story! Trust and obedience are the main truths each character has to come to terms with. It is very well-written, and flows naturally throughout the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to find out Neill Archer's fate!

About the Author: Karen Witemeyer is a confirmed bookaholic who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.

After growing up in California, Karen moved to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University where she earned bachelor and master's degrees in Psychology. It was also there that she met and married her own Texas hero. He roped her in good, for she has lived in Texas ever since. In fact, she fell so in love with this rugged land of sweeping sunsets and enduring pioneer spirit, that she incorporates it into the pages of her novels, setting her stories in the small towns of a state that burgeoned into greatness in the mid- to late1800s.

Karen is living her dream by writing Christian historical romance novels for Bethany House. Her books have consistently hit bestseller lists and have garnered awards such as the ACFW Carol Award, the Holt Medallion, and the Christian Manifesto's Lime Award for Excellence in Fiction. In addition, she is a multiple RITA and National Reader's Choice finalist. Karen is also a sought-after speaker for national writing conferences and regional workshops.

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