After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he’s always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get involved, he can’t turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . … . . or her adorable dimples.
Abigail Kemp needs a man’s name on her bakery’s deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. That person definitely isn’t the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can’t even control her pulse when she’s around him.
When vows are spoken, Abigail’s troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. Can she put ever more trust in Zach without losing her dreams of independence?
more
Abby took over the running of the family bakery after the death of her father, but due to an archaic law she has until the end of the month to get a man’s name on the deed. She devises a marriage of convenience to keep her business, but will she lose her heart in the process?
Zach is a man of few words, but also a man of his word. Getting married was never part of his plan, he never considered himself marriage material. Strong and silent he doesn’t crack under pressure either. He admires Abby for her faith and determination.
Abby has never been popular with the young men, she likes to keep the background, convinced that men don’t find her attractive. Abby loves her family and has great business sense. She looks to the faith of her family to encourage her during difficult times.
One of my very favorite Karen Witemeyer books of all time, great romantic tension and interaction between Abby and Zach. I didn’t want to put this book down, yet at the same time I didn’t want it to end. I loved the close bond that the sisters share, as well as Abby’s friendship with Lydia.
Though part of a series, it reads as a stand alone, set in a different town and a whole new cast of characters. I loved how relatable Abby was with her insecurities about her looks, and how she learns to move past that and see herself as others do. Neither Zach or Abby are perfect people and their marriage might not have been the perfect situation, but they make the best of it, keeping their heads, treating each other with respect and supporting each other through the hard times. A memorable read, full of romance, faith, and family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
‘While I believe in prayer and utilize that weapon every day, when one faces Goliath, it’s best to have a rock in the sling. And he was the rock she planned to have on hand.’
Karen Witemeyer brings us another novel in her Patchwork Family series and it’s the best of the series in my opinion. In fact, I think it’s just my favorite of all her work!
Zacharias Hamilton is free now to live his life the way he sees fit. His adopted brother and sister are now both married and on their own and he settles down in the town of Honey Grove, Texas to live out his bachelorhood in peace. Until one day the sweet baker in town comes to his place of work and hands him a contract for marriage. She needs a man’s name to put on the deed of her bakery so the town won’t close her down. And he’s her first choice. What? Zach immediately says no, yet he begins to rethink this, even though he knows Abigail Kemp only has a marriage of convenience in mine. He doesn’t.
They marry but threats to her bakery continue and even her sister seems to have trouble surrounding her. Zach is not one to let those under his protection suffer, so he decides that his wife and sister in law need a strong man to watch after them. Soon, however, Abigail begins to think maybe this man means more to her than just a way to keep her bakery and she thinks she wants his heart.
I adored this book! Witemeyer’s wit is such a fresh breath of air on the pages. I’ve watched Zach through the last two books and wished so badly that he had someone to truly love him for who he is. He is a true man of integrity, despite his horrible upbringing and treatment at the hands of those supposed to love him. His light shines through this book from beginning to end. Any woman would be proud to have a husband like Zach Hamilton. And the wonderful spiritual theme sings through all the way: God can make a way where there seems to be no way and He can use what was meant for evil and turn it into good. I’ve seen him do this in my own life. Well done!
*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers and the author for a preview copy of this book. The opinions stated in this review are entirely my own.
This romantic fun and sweet tale will have you turning the pages quickly. A marriage of convenience with a handsome groom of few words and a bride baker who needs a business partner. Can the arrangement bake up love? Witemeyer uses humor with an inspirational message to make this a book to read that will keep you smiling throughout.
*I was given this book by the publisher. This is my honest opinion.
The follow-up to More Than Meets the Eye, book two of the Patchwork Family continues to delight in a very Witemeyer way: unique characters with distinct characteristics that endear them to the reader. If you read the first book in the series, there’s some repetition throughout the book that explains what happened, but not enough to slow down the book too much. While all of her books have a Christian element in them, this one isn’t subtle. It’s much more in-your-face than some of her other books, but not in a preachy way — it all ties in with the story in such an organic way that it’s hard to imagine the story without it.
The story captured my attention from the beginning and I stayed up all night to read it because I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen. Another great book from Witemeyer!
After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he’s always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get involved, he can’t turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.
Abigail Kemp needs a man’s name on her bakery’s deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. That person definitely isn’t the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can’t even control her pulse when she’s around him.
When vows are spoken, Abigail’s troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. Can she put ever more trust in Zach without losing her dreams of independence?
This is a continuation of the Hamilton family. Zach feels he doesn’t deserve to be happy because of what he did years ago. Abigail doesn’t think anyone will want her because she sees herself as plain. The only thing she has going for her is she owns and operates a successful bakery. The city council makes it impossible to stay in business unless she turns ownership over to a man. This is where the fun starts. I was pleased how Zach’s story turned out. I hope in the next book we hear Rosalind’s story.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
“Choosing a husband was much like choosing a good baguette. One looked for a strong outer shell, a tender interior, and most importantly, a tractability of dough to hold whatever shape the baker deemed appropriate. Abigail needed a good baguette by the end of the week.”
Karen Witemeyer is best known for the unconventional & out-of-the-ordinary in her books. In More Than Words Can Say it was the marriage-of-convenience proposal by Abigail. My favorite theme in a book, so I knew I was in for a real treat! She didn’t do it for love, but to save ownership of the bakery she inherited after her fathers death. The top three candidates who frequented her bakery every morning were the contenders, but only one could take the prize home. Witemeyers signature wit comes out in the choosing:
“Unfortunately, Mr. Beekman was nearing fifty and had breath that could kill a bread dough’s rise at twenty paces.”
Obviously she doesn’t choose him, but I just thought Abigial’s inner musings about each of the men was hilarious! She’s desperate and desperate times often leads to desperate measures.
I missed Zach after he took off on his own at the end of More Than Meets the Eye and I’m so glad Witemeyer gave him his own story! Quiet, contemplative, and a man of few words he shows his feelings more than verbally expresses them. When Abigail presents him with the marriage bargain contract, his plans of bachelorhood go right out the window! She brings out the protective instinct in him and has his heart stuttering with the small amount of attraction for the pretty baker. Though this is a business deal, he finds himself having difficulty keeping his feelings at bay. Can these two form a true partnership both in business and matters of the heart?
With every story Witemeyer pens I find myself saying it’s her best yet and this was no exception. Between her wit & humor, the unconventional elements, her characters I come to love, the uplifting spiritual truths, and the story to get lost in, it’s the whole package for me. I also love the growth I find in her heroes & heroines…both Zach and Abigial try to hide painful pasts that can affect their relationship. What I really liked about this, is instead of burying them deeper, they eventually talk it out. Circumstances forced them to face them and move on, thus bonding them closer. I also really loved Abigail’s sister Rosalind, they had a rock solid relationship that shows in everything. She too, has a past she’s ashamed of and once that comes to light, she can finally be free of the regrets she’s harbored for too many years. I’m hoping her story comes next because she’s a young lady I came to care about.
“I’ve chosen fear over faith more times than I can count. And every time I did, I ended up with regrets. When I chose faith, I didn’t always get the outcome I wanted, but I never regretted my choice, because I felt God beside me, holding my hand and lending me strength”~Abigail
I loved this book for everything mentioned here and more! Witemeyer knows how to engage the reader and keep them turning pages while reminding them of the promises God’s given us through her characters lives. I always look forward to her next story.
*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
Set in 1896 Honey Grove, Texas I found this to be a delightful story that held my attention. According to the author’s notes there was such a town and many of the real people and their businesses were portrayed in the story. This makes the fiction more fun and realistic.
Abigail, Rosalind and Zach were fictional characters but were brought to life by the words of Karen Witemeyer. In trying to save her bakery, willed to her by her father, Abigail had to find a husband quickly. City ordinances did not allow a woman to own a business but she could keep the bakery if the deed was in a husband’s name. Of her three candidates Zach seemed the most appealing but she had to convince him to go along with her plan.
There were also secrets alluded to by all three of the main characters that shaped their adult lives. I enjoyed the references to seeking God and his plans for their lives. Heartache can be sometimes avoided if you give God complete control but of course that didn’t happen right away.
Abby had a nemesis in the mayor’s wife Sophia, who spewed gossip and threw obstacles at her. Every great story has to have a token villain and she fit the bill perfectly.
And I found the romance aspect to be so special and tender. The love had to grow over a period of time.
My mouth kept watering for the taste of the baked goods described in the book. It made me want to go and seek out a local bakery and indulge.
I throughly enjoyed devouring the story that was a fast read for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Celebrate Lit and Netgalley but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
Once again Karen Witemeyer has managed to bring together an unlikely pair that ended up being the perfect match. Despite his flaws, I developed a fondness for Zach in the first book of this series, and that only grew more with this one. As a woman in today’s modern age I was intensely angered with the injustice that Abby was handed simply because of her gender. It didn’t take me long at all to be rooting for things to work out for this unlikely duo.
The character development overall in this series is nothing short of masterful. The mood and energy of the interactions between the characters (leading or supporting), are easily visualized by the reader’s understanding of their personalities and backstories. This is one of those books that is easy to escape into and forget you aren’t actually standing in the middle of a bakery with real people. Even when it came to the antagonists in this story, you were still able to develop a level of empathy for them which only draws you deeper into their world.
It was quickly observed that life had dealt Abby a difficult hand. She spent the earlier part of her life trying to prove her worth to her father considering she wasn’t the son he’d always wanted. After his passing, she fought to continue to run his bakery and remain profitable, only to be told she wasn’t allowed to simply because she was a woman. The injustice is palpable, but the fight in her was strong. The more the story progresses the more you hope for her happiness and a relationship she can find love and security in.
I loved this novel, and highly recommend to historical romance fans. While I believe it could be read as a stand-alone, Zach was a large presence in the first book as well and to grasp the fullness of his character I think it would be helpful to read the books in order.
*I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
More Than Words Can Say, Karen Witemeyer’s book #2 in A Patchwork Family Novel series is entertaining, heartwarming and full of surprises. Zach and Abigail are bound to capture your heart. All the foibles they manage to get through make them as believable as your neighbor. There is a depth of character, though, that the reader goes through as the story reveals more of what they have both experienced while growing up.
I found this book is as serious as it is amusing. It shows that life can throw curve balls, but it is how you handle them that either gives you mettle or makes you bitter and withdrawn. When Abigail is faced with trial after trial at the expense of an unforgiving former friend, she relentlessly moves forward as she prays for God’s guidance. When she is finally faced with the possibility of losing her business through a long forgotten law, she garners all resources and meets the challenge head on. Only her head is very in touch with her heart, and as the story goes along, her heart warms to the idea that she does not have to take charge of everything on her own. Her resilience, faith and growing love for Zach make this book one that you will want to have in your “To Read” pile.
If ever asked why Karen Witemeyer is one of my absolute favorite authors, I will hand this book over as proof.
She is a master at creating characters that feel realistically flawed but genuinely lovable. Zach is absolutely swoon-worthy–not because of his oozing charm and ability to say all of the right things, but because he truly has a heart of gold and he shows it in his own way. I loved him in More Than Meets the Eye and I love that readers were able to get a deeper glimpse into what makes him tick.
Because I loved Zach dearly, I knew it would take a special woman to capture his heart. Abigail fit the bill perfectly. I truly appreciated her struggles and insecurities as it often felt that she was voicing thoughts I have had before.
Spiritual truths were sprinkled generously throughout the novel and the romance was masterfully done. I caught myself grinning and sighing on numerous occasions. This was an absolute delight to read. Witemeyer has hit it out of the park again!
{I received a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher and Netgalley. All expressed opinions belong solely to me.}
This is an entertaining story of a young couple who marry because of Abby’s unusual business situation. Zach and Abby have been attracted to each other for some time. However, it’s not until Abby asks Zach to marry her to save her family business that they acknowledge, even to themselves, that attraction. Giving up their individual independence to marry was a big consideration, but Zach and Abby want to make their marriage work. Before they marry, Zach tells Abby that he does not want a marriage-in-name-only, but a “real” marriage in every respect. Abby agrees, and Zach’s efforts to court Abby after they are married do not always go as planned.
This storyline features the importance of taking care of family; helping your community; and taking care of those in need. Zach and Abby find that although they each have heartache in their past, God’s faithfulness and forgiveness will show them a future brighter than anything they could have imagined.
One note about the story: Because Zach and Abby’s marriage begins as a marriage of convenience, there is part of the storyline that follows Abby’s indecision as to stop sharing a room with her sister and move into Zach’s room with him after they are married and having their marriage become “real” in every respect. There’s nothing inappropriate in this, and all scenes in the book are clean and sweet. I’m only mentioning this in case you are a reader that would be uncomfortable with that part of the story. It still fits well into the guidelines of Christian fiction. The faith aspect of trusting God to provide all needs was the part of the story I enjoyed the most and is the major theme of this book.
I always enjoy reading Karen Witemeyer’s stories and I’m already looking forward to her next book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.