Friday, June 25, 2021

THE HEART'S CHARGE by Karen Witemeyer, Reviewed by Paula and Rebecca


PAULA'S REVIEW:
Great Cowboy adventure!

Ms. Witemeyer usually highlights heroines in her stories but this series happily zeros in on a brotherhood of heroes.

After encountering a gun toting pregnant lady, Mark and Jonah are questioning what they got themselves into. As half of Hanger’s Horsemen, they are on their way from a job. Honorable men who retired from the Army, the Horsemen take on jobs to help the helpless. Little did they know that Mark would reconnect with old friend Kate and Jonah would have his interest piqued by the intriguing, independent headmistress of a foundling home, Miss Eliza.

Kate and Eliza have a heart for orphans and encounter a band of rail-riding boys. “As much as she appreciated cleanliness, Kate also realized that feral boys were about as fond of bathing as feral cats.”

The witty exchanges and internal dialogue are never lacking as the two couples get to know each other amidst a scary mystery. Kate muses about Mark: “After spending several hours in his company today, her urge to explore had expanded to Lewis and Clark proportions.”

The faith element is strong, showing how the characters live out their Christianity. “Leave tomorrow alone, girl. The Lord is the only one strong enough to carry the future. You will wear yourself out trying.” “Satan uses loneliness to isolate and depress. But God uses it to build compassion.”

This has been a great series. I am anxious to see how the story plays out for Preacher, the remaining Horseman.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.* I give this 5 stars and a strong faith thread

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"There were some things a man just wasn't meant to do, and bringing another man's baby into the world topped the list."

A baby changes everything. When Hanger Horseman Mark Wallace becomes inadvertently tasked with bringing a total stranger's baby girl into the world, he never imagined how far his axis would tilt when he and fellow Horseman Jonah Brooks sought refuge for the little one, whose mother was too overcome with grief to care for her. Knocking on the door of a nearby foundling home, Mark came face to face with the prettiest blue eyes he had ever seen . . . because he had seen them. . . . .on the lovely face of Katherine Palmer, his almost, would-have-been wife.

Katherine Palmer couldn't believe her eyes, even though she wanted to. Mark Wallace . . . whew! . . the grown up version of the boy-turned-man generated enough heat to roast a turkey. What was he doing in Llano County, Texas of all places, with a newborn infant swaddled close to his chest? Evidently the towering, stoic man behind him, with the beast of a horse was doing a little studying of his own . . . taking in every detail of Eliza, her mission partner. Trying to push obvious complications from her mind, Katherine assumes the men will "drop and go". Oh, no. They end up sticking around. And it's a good thing they did, because there are kiddy-snatchers wreaking havoc on the local boxcar children and the community needs their help.

This fun and flirty continuation of the Hanger's Horsemen series quickly changes into a fight for their lives, but not before the winsome duo adds a dollop of heart snatching into their investigation.

Have two battle-worn cavalrymen finally found a place to call home? "With God - all things are possible."

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. In addition, I purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 

 
BackCover Blurb:
Members of Hanger's Horsemen, Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks arrive in Llano County, Texas, to deliver a steed, never expecting they'd deliver a baby as well. Left with an infant to care for, they head to a nearby foundling home, where Mark encounters the woman he'd nearly married a decade ago.

After failing at love, Katherine Palmer dedicated her life to caring for children, teaming up with Eliza Southerland to start Harmony House. From mixed ancestry, illegitimate, and female, Eliza understands the pain of not fitting society's mold. Yet those are the very attributes that lead her to minister to outcast children. The taciturn Jonah intrigues her with his courage and kindness, but there are secrets behind his eyes--ghosts from wars past and others still being waged.

However, when a handful of urchin children from the area go missing, a pair of Horsemen are exactly what the women need. Working together to find the children, will these two couples find love as well?

Bethany House Publishers, June, 2021
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:


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