More Than Meets The Eye by Karen Witemeyer introduces book number 1 in A Patchwork Family series published by Bethany House. This story starts by introducing us to four-year-old Evangeline Pearson traveling through Texas in the year 1879. Evangeline is an orphan and she is headed to the last stop on the orphan train to try to be adopted. Life has been hard for her, born with a pair of mismatched eyes, one dark brown and the other a bright blue, she has been judged and talked about her whole life.

“Every time you look in a mirror, you see both Mama and Papa looking back at you. Mama from your blue eye, and Papa from your brown one. And you know how much they both love you. It’s kind of like getting one of those hugs where they sandwiched us between them. Remember those?”

Evangeline is going to experience more hardships before she grows up, but she finds her way with the help of Seth and Zach, two fellow orphans that she now counts as family. Her family now lives in Pecan Gap, Texas in a home that gives the three of them a good life and room to be themselves. But a new person has moved into the property that boarders their home, and Evangeline wants to find out more about this man.

Logan Fowler is 23 years old, and he has been waiting seven years to seek justice against the man who destroyed his family. Now he has Zach Hamilton in his sights and he is bound and determined to make the death of his father count for something and bring his birthright back to his mother and himself. Evangeline is the first person he meets, in an unusual rescue attempt, and she is the most unique person he has ever met. Not because of her eyes, but instead her perspective on life, her honesty and her never ending positive outlook on how things will work out.

Soon Logan finds himself interacting more with both Seth and Zach and the more he learns about the Hamilton family, the harder things become due to his feelings about Eva. He hasn’t been honest with her, and things are starting to get complicated. Can he get his justice and still hold on the one thing he never realized the he really needed?

You are going to love the characters in More Than Meets The Eye, right down to Hezekiah the pig (Hezzy as he’s called by Evangeline) who has to wear a big red bow to stop from being identified as a feral pig. The emotions of the characters will have you smiling to yourself one minute, and then gripping the book a little to tight at the need to get through the suspense of the next big reveal. Each discovery brings a new story plot that keeps the book moving along a lot faster than you will want it to finish. A great summer read, that will have you wanting to find a special place to enjoy this story.

A book that offers a lot of different things going on including, prejudice, murder, bootlegging, kidnapping, cheating, to name a few.
While this book begins on the orphan train, that is not the main focus of this story, yes, it is about the children’s survival, but mostly as adults.
We do get a bit of romance here, and it is really sweet with new beginnings, and you can see the faith of these people leading them.
This book became a real page turner for me, I had to find out the outcome, and there are a lot of surprises right to the end.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

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More Than Meets the Eye is a fantastic tale of finding love in the American west that captured my heart from the start.

When she first steps on the orphan train, Evangeline – Evie – Hamilton is a tiny child full of dreams. The day she gets off she is a heartbroken little girl, aware that her mismatched eyes have made her a pariah among much of polite society. Many believe her cursed, others believe her capable of casting curses with her disparate orbs. The love of one person can make a huge difference though, and Evie is fortunate enough to have the love of two extraordinary young men. Like her, they had been long term orphans on the train, facing rejection in town after town. At the end of the trip, choosing not to go back to the tough streets of New York, the three build a life for themselves in Texas. It wasn’t easy – there have been plenty of lean years – but now they have their own farm and a decent reserve of funds. The locals may consider them odd, but fifteen years down the road they are just happy to be whole, healthy and have a home of their own.

Logan Fowler is convinced his home was stolen from him. Once one of the denizens of a small Texas town, he’s been wandering the state in recent years, honing his skills as a fighter and card shark. It’s a long way from his mama’s Sunday school teachings but Logan feels it’s a necessity. He’s determined to win back his land from Zach Hamilton, the man who cheated his daddy out of the family farm in Pecan Gap. But when he gets there, the first Hamilton he encounters isn’t Zach, but sunshiny Evie. He’s heard how the town folk talk about her but knows there is no way this bright, lively, effervescent young lady is anything but as wonderful as she seems. And it’s clear she loves her rapscallion brothers a lot. As Logan spends time with Evie and slowly falls under her spell, he finds himself faced with a much tougher decision than he had ever expected: the future or the past. Because if he goes after vengeance against Zach, he knows the price will be the future he could have with Evie. And he’s not sure it’s a price he is willing to pay.

Le sigh. This story is easily the best Inspirational romance I have read in years, if not the best Inspirational romance I have ever read. The execution of the tale is just amazing; I kept waiting for a shoe to drop – for something, somewhere to be off – but instead I got a book that I finished and then restarted with ease.

So, what makes it so great? The writing is delightful. The prose has wit and gentle humor and yet is clear and concise, painting wonderful word pictures. The author does a great job of explaining things without info dumping; I understood why Logan and Evie were attracted to each other, were able to ‘get’ each other because everything I needed to know appeared naturally within the text.

The characters are fully rounded and charming. Logan is an alpha-male without ever heading into alpha-jerk territory. He can shoot, ride, run cards, and prevaricate with the best of them but he realizes that those things have limited merit. He longs for more, which makes it perfect when he meets our heroine. He values Evie right away because he has leaned to see beneath the surface and what he sees is someone amazing. I liked that he didn’t give any thought to her mismatched eyes other than to think they were beautiful. Evie is sunshine to his dark shadows and he finds himself suddenly craving the light.

Evie is a wonderful balance of sweet and good, savvy and capable. She is as friendly as can be to new neighbor Logan but also wary. The man has secrets and she knows those can be dangerous things. Having lived with Zach for years, she recognizes a noble heart behind a crusty exterior when she sees it, which helps her to bring out the best in Logan and hold her own in their encounters. His occasional growling doesn’t cause her to panic, pander or bluster and she keeps calm under fire, a very admirable trait. She has a naturally sunny personality, but it isn’t nonsensical. She doesn’t believe the world is made of sunshine and roses, she just gives everyone a chance and doesn’t let life get her down.

As a couple they are awesome. They meet when Evie follows strange footsteps to Logan’s camp and he saves her from a charging hog who happens to be her pet pig Hezekiah. The two exchange quips and gentle banter, falling into an instant comraderie. Logan is a bit taciturn but that is made up for by the fact that the reader is privy to his thoughts and knows the delight he is taking in the encounter. He and Evie develop a friendship before a courtship although both are thinking of/hoping for more. As the story progresses and secrets are revealed, they work through them with maturity and honor and arrive at a very satisfying HEA. This is an Inspirational so while passion is mentioned and desire is shown, the ‘action’ is kept to kisses.

Like in most religious novels there is a a moral to the story and this is where the author’s skill truly shines. The problem most writers have is keeping that message from overwhelming the romance or from turning the storytelling into a novelized sermon by having the characters pedantically lecture at the reader. In this story, Evie and Logan’s conversations contain faith in a very natural way. From the beginning, they know the other has had some exposure to Christianity since they both have pets named after biblical characters. The conversations they have beyond that initial exchange of information aren’t pedantic but searching; they are both trying to discern how to live a Christian life in a world that doesn’t always make sense. Their talk about God is relevant to them as characters, not just thrown in to give a spiritual veneer to the tale. I also deeply appreciated that the author shows that church isn’t always a safe place; both Logan and Evie find friends and foes in that space. I would say that the religion level is high here but appropriate for the time and place where the tale is taking place. It is also a form of faith that has a universal aspect; finding solace in God and being kind to others are something most denominations teach.

More Than Meets the Eye is an enchanting tale of love between two damaged but resilient hearts. It’s cheery and enjoyable and will definitely leave a smile on the reader’s face. For fans of Inspirational romance, this novel contains everything you are looking for.

Each time I read a Karen Witemeyer novel, I feel so blessed. Her storytelling remains in the top five of all romance authors I read on a regular basis, and even though she has a lot of books published now, each story remains unique and inspiring. I never feel like elements are repeated orr that characters are predictable. This story was perhaps my favorite of all she has written for both its embrace of flawed characters and its portrayal of humble forgiveness. I identified with both hero and heroine, and I felt instantly bonded to the heroine's family, which seems to be a trend with Karen Witemeyer books. She makes you want to jump inside the pages of the book and live there alongside the characters.

Evangeline Hamilton lives in virtual isolation with her two brothers, heckled for her mismatched eyes and unable to socialize with the people her age in town. But that hasn't kept her spirits down, and her shining optimism gets her through each day. When she notices there is a stranger on the property next door, she goes to investigate, and she finds herself rescued by a scarred man with a hidden past. Logan Fowler has been waiting for seven years to get justice for his father's death, and he believes Evangeline's eldest brother is responsible. Now all he has to do is win her trust to get information. The only trouble is that while he might be gaining her trust, he's also losing his heart, and things soon become more complicated than he could have expected.

Eva was an absolute delight! From her generosity towards others to her ability to look past a person's exterior to the heart within, she was a woman without a flaw. Except, that is, for her "demon" eyes, which I felt instantly angry about. The way the townspeople treated her was awful, but I also recognize that it wasn't farfetched during that time to view differences with contempt rather than understanding. Science wasn't advanced back then, so someone with one blue eye and one brown eye would be viewed as afflicted rather than just another person. Personally, I think people with eyes such as these have the prettiest eyes out there. And clearly, Logan shared my view, because as soon as he saw her eyes and experienced her bubbly personality, he fell for her. His part in the story was a little hard for me at first, as I never like to see the hero deceive through seduction. I wondered how the author would pull this off in a Christian romance, but she did a wonderful job! Logan may have had dishonest intentions initially, but his attraction to Eva proved stronger, and soon his game was no longer a game at all.

I hope Eva's brother, Zach, gets a story next! I would have liked a book dedicated to her brother, Seth, as well, but it seems that his tale was told within this one. So I'll settle for brooding, gruff Zach - everyone likes tall, dark, and handsome, right?

This is a story of love, forgiveness, and learning to overcome challenges. It is presented as a historical romance that also includes a mystery that requires digging into clues, elements of danger and drama. As much as the suspense kept me intrigued it was the personal relationships that captured me. The bond between Evie, Seth and Zach was wonderful. They were loyal to one another, supporting and looking out for each other, at times this might come across as a bit overbearing but when push came to shove they did whatever they could for each other.

Evie was easy to love, even though she has endured many hurts she remains optimistic and treats others with kindness. This is how she approaches Logan, the stranger that purchases the property beside her family. She continues to treat him with kindness even when she finds out he is hiding something from her. Logan came to town with one motive in mind, but after meeting Evie things become complicated for him. Will he follow through with his plan? How does meeting Evie change his plans?

I loved the interactions between Evie and Logan, there was a connection between them from their first meeting that only grew stronger the more they spent together. I found it easy to cheer for these two, wanting them to establish a future together. There was a second budding romance that I was not expecting, but I loved that we got to experience a part of it.

We got little peaks into the type of person Zach is, what he has done for his family but also that he is searching for peace. I look forward to reading his story soon. (I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

Witemeyer does a great job with her characters. They’re so vibrant and real. When three kids on an orphan train realize they’re going to be sent back to the orphanage because nobody wants them, they decide to escape and be a family to each other. Zach has a tough persona but he takes Seth and Evangeline under his wing and does what it takes to provide for them. Seth is sickly but he finds his own way to contribute to their home. Evangeline is sunshine itself despite being taunted for having two different colored eyes. She has an active curiosity that sometimes gets her in trouble. Other than her brothers, her best friend is a pig. I love it when animals become characters in the story.
Logan holds a massive grudge against Zach. His plans get more complicated as he gets to know Evangeline more. Their interactions made me laugh. I liked how Evangeline challenged Logan to see things in a different way.
I really enjoy Witemeyer’s writing style. The dialogue is colorful. The descriptions are fabulous. When Logan comes to a realization, Witemeyer writes, “He just hadn’t expected it to whoosh down on him like a twister, knocking his feet out from under him and banging his limp carcass against rocks and trees until finally spitting him out at the feet of truth” (location 2877). It’s very picturesque.
This book made me laugh and cry. It moved me. There are mysteries to solve that bring a certain danger to their doorstep. I didn’t want this book to end and look forward to learning more about this special family in future books.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Logan Fowler is finally going to get justice. He's spent years preparing to face the man who cheated his father in a card game, winning the deed to the Fowler farm, which led Logan's father to kill himself. Now Logan has purchased the land next to his former home and he's ready to force Zacharias Hamilton to play another round of cards. What Logan isn't ready for is Zach Hamilton's sister, Evangeline, who is friendly and cheerful and brings sunshine and laughter into his life.
Evie isn't used to being accepted--with one brown eye and one blue, she's viewed as odd or even evil--so when Logan doesn't seem to mind her eyes and enjoys her company, she's happily surprised. She knows he has secrets and has been hurt in the past, but she also knows that God's grace can help him, if Logan will only let Him.

I love this book! Eva is terrific--so spunky and cheerful and fun. The attraction between her and Logan, who has a great mixture of good characteristics and flaws, is well-developed and believable. Zach might have stolen the show a little bit, though--I'm a sucker for a man who is tough on the outside but a softie on the inside, so I can't wait for his book! There were so many laugh-out-loud moments in this book, as well as swoon-worthy sweet romantic moments, and good reminders about God's grace. I thoroughly enjoyed this book--there wasn't anything I dislike other than the fact that now I have to wait awhile until Karen Witemeyer's next book comes out.

I read an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I've not read any books by this author so I didn't know what to expect. This was a very enjoyable book highlighting the importance of family. Sometimes families are not what you expect like the one is this story. I love the way the three children bonded and together to made their own family. Evie's faith and sunshine attitude should bring encouragement to readers. Highly recommend!

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE by KAREN WHITMEYER is a delightful romance novel with a great deal of action, and also strong biblical truth of which we are reminded throughout.
The story starts in 1879 with four children going back on the Orphan Train, having been unable to find anyone willing to take them in. There is an accident and four year old Evangeline's brother, Hamilton, dies, after asking Zach to look after his sister. Zach is an angry young man of thirteen who takes it upon himself to take care of Evie and Seth, an unhealthy boy who suffers from asthma. Evie has one brown and one blue eye, and is shunned by many who see her as an evil witch. Nothing could be further from the truth as she grows into a compassionate and praying young woman. These three "misfits" call themselves the Hamiltons and they make up a very close knit and strong family unit.
Zach works hard to provide a home for his little family and takes his responsibility seriously. The story carries on in 1894 with Logan Fowler buying land next door to them. When Evie befriends their new neighbour her brothers become worried, being overly protective of her.
I don't want to spoil the read for you so I won't tell you any more except to say that we see that there is always hope in the Lord, even for the most broken of people. We see how important it is to not keep grudges and to not be bitter and unforgiving towards one another. It is important to look further than a person's outward appearance for the qualities that may lie underneath. The best gift that one can give another person is to accept and love them unconditionally.
I really enjoyed this novel and can highly recommend it.
I was given a free book by Bethany House Publishers from NetGalley. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

4.5 stars
Karen Witemeyer is one of the few authors I always pre-order any new books. I trust she will keep me thoroughly entertained & captivated. This novel was no different. My paperback copy will grace my bookshelf soon, but I was thankfully able to review an advanced digital copy.
The Hamilton siblings are a motley crew that you can't help but love. They only had each other & the fierce loyalty they showed was inspiring. I loved Zach's protective nature, Seth's inner strength, & Evie's positivity & desire to see good in everyone.
Logan is the outsider looking for vengeance. But thanks to Hezekiah, the pig, he is introduced to Evie, and life will never be the same.
This book basically had it all: Romance, love, loss, humor, mystery, & lots of twists & turns. One of my favorite lines from the books is, <i>"We're all broken."</i> A lot of healing happens in the pages of <b>More Than Meets the Eye.</b> I also see a sequel in the future... I'm looking forward to reading more about Zach. I pictured Jason Momoa as him in my head as I read. :)

** Very clean, although some violence. Some Christian themes sprinkled throughout.

This was a really cute story. The main characters were all likeable in their own ways, but my favorite was Evangeline. Her sweet, positive spunk was delightful. And Logan's personal growth was so subtle and believable--really well done. As I think about what I liked best there are two things that come to mind. First, the patchwork quilt of the family of orphans was precious. Each person was unique and added to what the group needed. I don't think they could have succeeded so well without each person's contribution. Second, I really enjoy Karen Witemeyer's writiing. Her characterizations are so well rounded, the plotlines are tight-no suspension of belief is required, and descriptions are spot on without being verbose.
I really hope that Zach's story is next. He has a huge journey ahead of him and I really want to find out where it takes him.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and all reviews are my own. Karen Witemeyer is one of my favorite authors and she didn't let me down! Again! I was so excited to get to read her new book. She develops the characters so well that you laugh, cry, and get angry all right along with them. Evangeline feels like she doesn't fit in and Logan is so blinded by his chance to get revenge, it's so easy to relate to these characters. The most amazing change can only come from God. I love how Karen weaves salvation and forgiveness into More than meets the eye.

Karen Witemeyer's new book is her best yet, the prologue had me in tears. I wanted, needed to know what happened to Evie, Zach, and Seth. The Hamiltons are a family who stick close to each other, Zach has always been the provider. Logan comes to town for justice for his family and revenge against Zach Hamilton.
This book is filled with redemption, love, acceptance, and family.

I have loved EVERYTHING I've read by Karen Witemeyer--she writes historical romance with a touch of humor. She begins her newest book with an orphan train trip trying to place the last four orphans on the train. When the train derails, and Evangeline's brother dies in the accident protecting her from injury. There were two other boys on the train who were not chosen and Hamilton makes them promise to take care of Evangeline. They all decide to take Hamilton's name as their family name.


Fast forward a few years, Evangeline, Seth, and Zach, and they are living in a nice house with a good sized farm. Logan Fowler buys the plot of land next to their farm with the hope of getting the Hamilton's home back. It was the home Logan grew up in.

Evangeline meets Logan when she is out on a jaunt and sees a man throwing a burlap wrapped bundle into the river. She and Logan rescue the bundle and find Christy, a deaf woman who knows too much.

Karen has wrapped this family's life into a mystery that isn't so mysterious, but she works in the healing between the two families and brings such a satisfying conclusion to the book. I love the way she writes, it always captures my attention and keeps me involved in the book to the very end. In fact, this book is More Than Meets the Eye. I loved Evangeline from the very beginning because of her eye color. My son's eyes are not the same color and while his eyes don't vary as much as Evangeline's, it is noticeable when he wears certain colors.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and eye catching eyes.

Bethany House provided the galley I read through NetGalley with no obligation on my part except to share my honest opinions. I appreciate it.

More Than Meets The Eye is a story of overcoming. Overcoming the circumstances of a harsh world. Overcoming prejudice. And most of all, overcoming our own flawed perspectives, because when it comes to our perspectives there is often much more going on than meets the eye.

I always appreciate that Witemeyer’s characters are real down to earth people with a mix of flaws, complicated motives and true desires. I loved Evangeline’s character. I loved the loyalty of the siblings. I loved the comic relief and the unconventional romance(s). This was an all around fun read that possessed depth along with a sense of hope.

While I have always enjoyed Karen Witemeyer's novels, this one didn't make quite the same impression on me. It is a slower story without much action, and I had difficulty connecting to the characters, especially the hero. Still, I enjoyed the concept of three orphans creating their own family, and look forward to the next book in this series.

Started out slow but picked up speed and really got intense toward the end of the book. Five people's lives were in danger. I loved how Logan turned his life around. He started out wanting to seek revenge for a wrong done to his father but eventually leaned to let go of bitterness and follow God's plan. Evangeline was just a sweetheart. Her adopted brothers Seth and Zach just wanted to protect her. A few of the people in town think she is bewitched just because she has two different eye colors. They don't see the beauty that is within in. Loved the romance between Evangeline and Logan and the other romance that developed. This is first in the Patchwork family series. I'm hoping that Zach will find love next!

This book will be released on June 5, 2018. Thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House for providing me a copy of this book to review. My opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

4.5 stars. More Than Meets The Eye is a delightful historical Christian romance, with a touch of mystery, plenty of suspense, and a warm heart that celebrates family and belonging. From the gorgeous cover to the heartwarming story where family is the people you choose, More Than Meets The Eye was wonderful from start to finish.

Evangeline Hamilton knows the cost of heartbreak. Yet she chooses to remain optimistic, celebrating the family God gave her and the simply joys in life. When a stranger purchases the land adjoining her brothers’ land, she intends to discover his true intentions, and if she shows him a little happiness and kindness along the way, all the better. Logan never intended to entwine Evie in his quest for revenge on her brother, but the Hamilton family is not what he expected. Evie and Logan must face the truth of the past and the dangers and mystery of the present if they are to have a future together.

Karen Witemeyer writes such excellent romance, and More Than Meets The Eye was certainly no exception. Logan and Evie’s connection is undeniable, tangible and so much fun to revel in. But Logan’s secrets and his plan for justice threaten the foundation of their growing friendship and romance.

Evie is a strong, stubborn and resilient character. Her joy seeps from the page - no wonder Logan falls under her spell so quickly. From the prologue, it is clear that Evie has faced many challenges in her life. But she, Seth and Zach forged together a wonderful little family. Their bonds, gentle teasing, and genuine sibling banter are such a delightful part of this book.

Along with romance and family bonds, More Than Meets The Eye also contains mystery and suspense, both in Logan’s quest and an unrelated mystery that falls into their laps. Shoot-out, ambushes, fights, and clues that need to be uncovered all add drama and excitement to the story, as well as an extra romance plot line, which is very sweet.

I thoroughly enjoyed More Than Meets The Eye. This book is the first instalment in the Patchwork Family series, which means there will be a sequel!!!! I cannot wait to read Zach’s story. My heart broke for his grief, the burdens he carries and the kindness and love he shows Evie and Seth, in his own reserved way. I just know that his story will be as wonderful as More Than Meets The Eye.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Interesting twist on three orphans creating their own family. Three orphans band together to protect and care for one another as they grow into adulthood. The book includes unpredictable twists and turns as the main characters grow and begin to experience love outside of the walls of their created home.

Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill her—would he?

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth—and family—is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

Another great book by Ms. Coble. A lot of twist and turns that I didn't expect. I wouldn't say this was an edge of your seat book. But it sure kept me interested.

Ellie carries around guilt from her sisters death that she just can't seem to let go of. This colors her life if about every way. Grayson finds out he's adopted and this throws him for a loop. His familiy dynamics starts to make since to him now. So them dealing with these issues and then throw in terrorism it make for a great read. I would highly recommend this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.