Taming Lady Temperance by Karen Witemeyer

 

Title:  Taming Lady Temperance

Author:  Karen Witemeyer

Narrated by:  Kate Forbes

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 51 minutes

Source:  Thank-you to @karen.witemeyer @bethanyhousefiction @greatreadsbookpromo for the review copy of the physical book as part of the Great Reads Book Promotion Tour and thank-you to @Netgalley for the audiobook review copy.

Do you have a cause that you believe in?  I have many, but a lifelong cause I have is to promote engineering to youth and to help increase the number of women in engineering.

Noreen O’Sullivan firmly believes in the temperance cause.  When she is invited to join the Secret Society of Spinsters, she hopes she will be able to rally others to her cause to close the local tavern.  Not everyone is town is happy about this, and Deputy James Paxton is often called in to keep the peace.  Noreen and the Deputy are at odds at first, but soon sparks fly.  Will these two be able to find love?  Will Noreen be able to shut down the tavern?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved the discussion of favorite books including Little Women.

·       It was interesting to think about “spinster” ladies and how they could be devoted to a cause back then, like temperance, and work together for a change for the greater good.

·       I was not sure about Noreen’s crusade at first, but as she described her abuse by her alcoholic father and his early death, it made sense that she wanted to shut it own.  The cruel violent beating of her friend in a similar circumstance was horrifying.

·       I loved Deputy James Paxton and how he is always trying to do with is right for the community. He was caring and empathetic man.  I also liked how he investigated a crime at the end and was able to put together all the clues.  I also loved how he was able to change his viewpoint as he emphasized with people.

·       I was call this enemies to friends to lovers book.

·       This was a western frontier historical romance set in Albany Texas in 1894.  It was a clean romance and a Christian read.

·       The point of view would switch between Noreen and James.

·       I loved Noreen and James’s relationship and the growth of both characters throughout the novel.

·       The audiobook was interesting with a good narrator. 

·       There are great discussion questions at the end of the book for a book club to use.

·       This is the first book in a new series, The Secret Society of Spinsters.  I am looking forward to continuing to read this series.  An exciting excerpt of the next book in the series is included at the end of this book.

Overall, Taming Lady Temperance by Karen Witemeyer was a good western historical romance that had an interesting spin with the temperance and spinster women topics.

Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Do you enjoy reading fairy tales?  I have enjoyed them since I was a child. I love reading different takes on fairy tale stories.  Cloaked in Beauty is a new take on Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty that weaves together the essence of both stories into a new unique story.

Scarlett woke up to her home being burned down.  Her mother has a plan for just such a case and sends Scarlett off with her Grandmother to remain hidden until her twenty-first birthday.  Her father has passed away, and her Uncle will inherit her fortune if she dies before the age of 21.  Now known as Lettie, she has grown up in the woods in Texas with her grandmother and pet wolf.  As she nears twenty-one, her mother has sent a Pinkerton agent, Philip, to escort her back to Houston.  Will Scarlett/Letty make it back alive and allude her Uncle’s nefarious schemes?  Will she find love?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved the start of this novel.  It really pulled me into the story and made me excited to read it.  This novel had a very engaging plot that kept me reading until the last page as Philip and Letty try to make their way back to Houston.  The ending was perfect.

·       The novel is set in Texas in the late 1800s.

·       I always enjoy animals in a novel and loved Rusty the trusty wolf.

·       The characters were all interesting and well written.  I especially loved Letty and Philip.  Letty is a strong character.  Although she lived a sheltered life, she is self-assured and is always trying to do what is right.  Philip has a fun sense of humor and is a good-hearted person.

·       The romance was sweet.  This is a clean read.

·       Letty and Philip’s Christian faith was important to them both and it woven in throughout the novel.  I also liked that Letty wanted to use her fortune to do good in the world.

·       As a mother, I especially was touched by the reunion of Letty and her mother.

·       Karen Witemeyer has written other fairy tale inspired historical romance novels including Fairest of the Heart and If the Boot Fits.  I need to read these novels.

Favorite Quote: “Worrying about tomorrow only served to steal the joy from today.  And this day was far too fine to squander.”

Overall, Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer is a riveting fairy tale inspired historical romance novel with great action and characters.  I highly recommend it.

Book Source:  Review copy from Bethany House as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 BOOK DESCRIPTION

Trust no one in the shadows of the piney woods . . .

Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother in the backwoods of east Texas to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit.

Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one duty: get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty's resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to her survival grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping Letty out of harm's way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his heart.

AUTHOR BIO

Voted #1 Reader's Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction magazine, bestselling and Carol and Christy Award-winning author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She and her husband make their home in Abilene, Texas. Learn more about Karen and her books at KarenWitemeyer.com.