At Love's command is an old fashioned western romance that satisfies a need to read of cowboys and frontiers. I loved Dr. Jo and Matthew Hanger is a hero worth drooling over. I really enjoyed the interaction and banter between these two characters. Both were witty and they had real depth. The setting of the old west is always fun. I loved the fact that Dr.Jo and Matthew were not ashamed of their faith. Karen Witemeyer is to be commended for another great book!. I hope to read more about Hanger's Horsemen in the future.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own

I loved this book! Karen has such a wonderful, enjoyable style of writing that I love. This is a delightful western to pick up and read.

Love Karen's books, just don't have time to write a review. Love the tension between the main characters, the clean romance, and the setting. It's what I look for in a book when I need to relax.

This is book one in the Hanger's Horsemen series. I look forward to reading more from this series. Karen Witemeyer has a fun, spunky, detailed writing style. If you enjoy historical romance books you will like this one.
We are introduced to Hanger's horsemen in this book with the main focus being on Capitan Matthew Hanger. When Matthew meets the beautiful independent Dr. Josephine Burkett their worlds are forever changed.

At Love’s Command, by Karen Witemeyer, is book one in the Hanger’s Horsemen series. This is a fun Christian Historical Romance story to read. The story takes place in the 1890’s in Texas. The Hanger’s Horsemen are made up of four ex-Calvary men who hire out to help where other help is not available. They try to take care of the situations and capture the outlaws without fatally injuring them. When one of the Horsemen needs medical attention, Dr. Jo is there to treat him. When she finds out her brother is held hostage and their father refuses to pay the ransom, she gets the Horsemen to help.

I really enjoyed reading this story. It moved along steadily without lag in action. It had action, suspense, and nice clean romance. The parts I enjoyed most about this story was the way the Horsemen got the outlaws and the Bible verses chosen before the Horsemen would start their travels. I also enjoyed the character of the cook, a minor yet caring character in the story. I enjoyed the humor written into the story as well, especially the references to Jo’s vocabulary.

I received an e-book copy of this story from the publisher through NetGalley, this is my honest review.

4.5 stars for this witty, suspenseful, action packed, romantic novel. This is a clean Christian romance set in Texas in late 1800. The main characters are easy to love and root for. It will keep your interest as you try to understand the mystery and how the action will play out! I am excited for the rest of the series! I love all of Hanger's Horsemen!

This book was the adventure I was looking for!

Road trips are my favorite vacation, but I’m not so sure I’d love it if the transportation options were horses and trains. Then again, I might. This book featured both, but not in a vacation sort of sense. Rather, they were on a manhunt that involved outlaw gangs, kidnappings, rescue missions, and a female doctor.

Let’s chat about this female doctor. Her spunkiness and gumption and stick-her-nose-in-where-it-isn’t-wanted personality were very reminiscent of one of my favorite shows: Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. I couldn’t help but wonder if the author had recently binge-watched that show as inspiration for Josephine, because I very much saw parallels between that show and this book. Either way, I adored Josephine. With this lead, as with most, if not all, of Mrs. Witemeyer’s others, there was a splash of feminism. However, this did not come with an abrasive, in-your-face voice. Thankfully, it was delivered with respect for men while also standing up for her own rights. It’s so refreshing to see that a strong woman is still willing to accept assistance from a man. This type of mutual respect for one another is something I can actually get behind, unlike the abrasive, derogatory-to-men type of feminism that is so prevalent today.

That the story opened up with the massacre of Wounded Knee was a shock. A good shock, but a shock just the same. I wasn’t expecting that (clearly). The author wrote this very well, and I love how the emotions of that event plagued the leading man throughout the remainder of the book… but that his part in the massacre also drove him to become a better man, to help the downtrodden and abused rather than take further part in annihilating a certain group of people on any of his commanders’ whims.

Grit, spunk, gumption—name it what you will, but these characters all have it. One thing to know about a Witemeyer book: This personality trait will always be featured, and it will be done in spectacular fashion under a master artist’s hand.

I love so much that the characters leaned on God for help in facing their enemies. The victory belongs to God that way, and all the glory is His. This was expressed so beautifully on the pages of this book, and it made the journey with the characters so much richer, because they knew the Source for their aid and victory.

I can hardly wait to find out what happens next with Hanger’s Horsemen. Please tell me the other three will all be getting a book in this series!

At Loves Command by Karen Witemeyer is an absolute must read. Witemeyer once again brings depth to her characters and produces another page turner. In fact, a few cups of coffee went cold because of that. We are first introduced to our male lead character, Matthew Hanger and his friends, later to be known as Hanger’s Horsemen. We see the bond that he has with his friends, Mark, Luke and Jonah. These men are not afraid to put God first in all of their endeavors and lots of scripture is quoted throughout the book. Dr. Josephine Burkett is trying to start her medical practice in Purgatory Springs, TX. She tends to one of the Horsemen after he is hurt on one of their missions and she meets Matthew Hanger. Witemeyer beautifully writes the attraction between the two in this period piece and I like that Matthew starts calling her Josie. In typical Witemeyer writing, sparks fly and sparring words are exchanged, even some ten dollar words on Dr. Jo’s part. There is plenty of action in this book set in Texas. It is a perfect first book in this series. I can’t wait for the next installment. I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and my opinion is my own. #NetGalley #AtLovesCommand #KarenWitemeyer

This series might just be my new favorite of Karen Witemeyer’s! I loved this first book-it was full of the perfect combination of adventure and romance. Five solid stars!

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Karen Witemeyer can be counted on for several hours of enjoyable historical fiction. At Love’s Command, #1 Hanger’s Horsemen, is no exception. Captain Matthew Hanger and 3 other men are so disillusioned with the atrocities of victory at Wounded Knee (1890) that they leave the military and join to form a vigilante service to solve crimes the local lawmen can’t. But this group, Hanger’s Horsemen, agrees not to use their guns to kill unless absolutely necessary.
This is the story of how Matt Hanger and Josephine Burkett meet. This novel proves that adage, “There’s somebody for everyone.”
Matthew seems so grief and conscience-stricken that he is only able to be a commanding military figure, kind and caring to his comrades, but otherwise without emotions or entanglements. He just isn’t the type to go soft in the head over some female.
It takes someone like Jo who isn’t cowed by his “I’m in-charge” demeanor, but who is also abundantly capable in her field to catch his attention. While I appreciated Matt’s growing admiration for Jo, I felt like her lack of listening to him at times could have been downright dangerous. I wanted her to respect him a little more in his area of expertise. Just my opinion.
I look forward to reading the stories of the other Horsemen, but especially Jonah, who is a man of color. He already promises to be a very unique and interesting person, who might educate a few of us.
Another point of interest in the novel for me is the faith element. It is an integral part, without being drawn-out or preachy. Just shown as the basis for life.
Redemption and growing up are also themes of this book, thank goodness. Our God is a God of second chances, but sometimes it is hard to know if you dare trust a promise-breaker again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. These are my own thoughts, voluntarily submitted.

"He's fought through ruthless outlaws and injury.
But with her, he's tempted to surrender."


I really loved the connection between the Horsemen! I feel like we don't see a ton of this kind of relationship between guys in Christian fiction, so it's definitely a refreshing theme to see!
I CANNOT wait to read the rest of the Horsemen's stories!

I liked the main characters! Both characters were strong, a just a smidge stubborn, but in a way that worked with the other. They complemented each other.

The romance was super quick in this story, but the whole book was fast paced! From the first page until the last, it was an action packed book. I'm kind of glad the romance kept up with the rest of the story. it didn't bog it down at all.

As always Karen wove a STRONG Christian message into the book, and I LOVED IT! I love reading her books to see what lesson she's going to remind me of. This one had strong "let go & let God" message for me. It's a reminder we all need from time to time. (I might need it day to day sometimes)

I hope we see Charlie get a bit of a love story. (Novella, Karen? 😉)

Overall, it was a great introduction into this new series! I cannot wait to see how it goes!
I rated this a 4/5 stars.

*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

If you were to ask me who my favorite hero is, I would have to say my husband. He isn't perfect, but he is a hard worker, caring, and so handsome too. Fictional heroes can't really come close to my hero, but who would I say is a perfect fictional hero? Well, I'm sure I could come up with a list from the many books I've read, but one of the fictional heroes I've read about recently comes to mind first, Matthew Hanger from At Love's Command by Karen Witemeyer.
This book was fun with dangerous outlaws, a doctor who loves her family even when they are not the most loveable, and a man who is the perfect hero. There is adventure, romance and a little bit of humor. I enjoyed reading the interactions between Matt and his men. They were brave and kind, and the care they showed for each other was truly admirable. Matt was willing to sacrifice his life to help others, which is what a hero does. I also really liked how Josephine wanted to protect her brother even though he was the one that had caused the trouble he got them into. This book is an excellent book if you want to escape to another place and time to read about a perfect fictional hero and his perfect fictional heroine . I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

So, Karen Witemeyer, when is book 2 coming out? ‘Cause I need to know what’s going to happen to the next Horseman. I haven’t laughed out loud or teared that much while reading a novel in a while.

Josephine and Matthew’s story was sweet, clean and love at … wait, no spoilers. Goodness it’s hard to write a review for a great novel and not give away too much. The struggle is real, folks. Just ask my husband. Yes, he’s quite informed on At Loves Command.

There are a few things that make a great Historical Romance book for me, besides the sweet love story and historical parts … guns, adventure, wit and more wit, faith & happy endings are at the top of the list. Kidnappings are quite gripping as well. In novels, only, of course. But is there a kidnapping in At Loves Command? Well, the back cover might give a bit of a hint there. If Josephine could have heard me I might have yelled to her to run away from the trouble looming! Yes, I was that into the story. Unashamedly.

I was laughing out loud at Josephine’s inner dialogue, struggling with getting the Captain and his muscles out of her mind, only to have them follow her.

I was in tears as God provided over and over again.

Witemeyer’s ability to weave faith & scripture in such a natural, inspiring and un-preachy way caught my attention very early on, and all the way through. If there’s one spoiler I feel okay about giving you, it’s the faith thread. God’s provision. God’s protection. If you struggle with having faith for one or both of these things, I recommend to you, my reader friend, to pick up this title.

This was a great story, as I’ve mentioned, but it’s more than that. Karen Witemeyer encourages and uplifts her readers giving them something we all need every day of our lives.

Hope.

And a challenge.

A challenge to grow our faith.

And perhaps a challenge to enjoy the next western historical romance in the series. I just gotta know, who will book 2’s hero be? Preach, Wallace, Brooks … or maybe even Charlie? I will be watching for it, absolutely.

I always enjoy Witemeyer's delightful way with words! It's so obvious she has fun when she writes her characters and i so enjoy her romance! The hero in At Love's Command is a new favorite! Highly Recommend!

Karen Witemeyer’s At Love’s Command is an entertaining read, a delightful beginning to the new Hanger’s Horseman series. I love this author’s writing style and historical subject matter. She seamlessly injects plenty of romance, an abundance of action, a bit of humor, and a significant amount of faith to her stories. It is obvious when reading that Witemeyer has done her research both historically and spiritually, but her stories are never dry or a regurgitation of facts.

I love a tale in which someone has made up his mind to live life a certain way and God steps in and says, “I have a better idea.” Such is the case with the two main characters, Doctor Josephine and Matthew Hanger. Once I started reading this one, I could not put it down. It may be a new favorite of her books.

Secondary characters added greatly to this novel. We meet the other 3 horsemen and our appetites are whetted for up-coming stories. The bad guys in this book sure stir up a lot of negative emotion as well. I mean, what’s a good western without a really bad guy?

I definitely recommend this book for readers of historical Christian romance.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I love to watch old western movies on television, and this book made me think of those. It’s a clean and sweet story with an entertaining storyline and has all the elements that make a story like this great—brave heroes; a feisty, intelligent, and beautiful heroine; and good supporting characters. Dr. Josephine Burkett is accustomed to men not taking her medical knowledge and skills seriously. As she works to save the life of one of Matthew Hanger’s men, he realizes that Josephine is a woman to be respected and trusted. When Josephine’s brother is in danger, she calls on Matthew and his “Hanger’s Horsemen”to help save him. As the battle becomes dangerous, both Josephine and Matthew realize that their only true source of help and encouragement is from God.

Karen Witemeyer writes clean, intriguing Western fiction and her stories always have a thread of faith that weaves through them. This is the first book in a series that promises to be one filled with faith, courage, and love.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was such a sweet and lovely read! If you’re ever interested in an adorable light read that will make you blush, give you good feelings, and ultimately leave you smiling from ear to ear then I highly recommend anything by Karen Witemeyer!

This story is no different! It was a wonderful read that I truly enjoyed! I really enjoyed Mathew and Josephine, though I wish the romantic tension would have been pressed a bit more until they really started to fall for each other as I tend to like slow-burn stories. But it didn’t take away from how great this was and the fun Texas adventures Witemeyer created!

Both Josephine and Mathew were great characters and I really enjoyed their characters and how they interacted with each other. And though they did fall quick, reading of their growing feelings was such a delight, and made me blush like crazy!

Plus I found out that this is going to be a series, so I’m very excited to see what Witemeyer has in store for us...and of course the Hanger brothers!


*I received a free advance review copy from NetGalley and BethanyHouse but will still be giving my honest review of this book.*

At Love’s Command, the first book in the author’s newest series, Hanger’s Horseman, did not disappoint this avid Witemeyer fan. The witty banter Witemeyer readers have come to expect is laced throughout this sweet romance but unlike the author’s previous stories that I can recall, there is more adventure and danger woven into the plot, especially in the opening scenes. And the fast-paced story kept me guessing and turning the pages. The romance between Jo and Matt is tender and sweet and I love Jo’s spunk as she takes on the role of doctor at a time when that was uncommon for a woman. And before I forget let me say something about Matt -- whew, ladies have the fan ready, because he is a totally swoon-worthy hero. I think fans of the Archer Brothers series will gravitate to Hanger’s Horseman. At Love’s Command commanded my attention from beginning to end.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I can never not get excited about a new Karen Witemeyer book! Her stories are always just so much fun.

With At Love’s Command, the new Hanger’s Horsemen series begins—Matthew Hanger and his good-hearted band of mercenaries at the heart of all the action. A bullet brings them to Dr. Josephine Burkett, and naturally, an attraction sparks between Matthew and Jo. They may fall quickly, but their story is not without plenty of exciting Texas danger and adventure.

I so enjoyed my time with these characters. Matthew must make peace with his past, while Jo must prove her capability in a man’s profession. Neither necessarily wanted to find love, yet they do anyway. Their story definitely set up Witemeyer’s new series as one I want to continue, and in the meantime, I definitely recommend At Love’s Command to readers of western romance.

One of the things I have come to appreciate about Witemeyer's books over other authors in this genre is her inclusion of the hardest parts of western life. Not just the tough landscape, but the tough questions that people faced back then and are facing again today: Whose land is this? Are we better or worse with law enforcement, what are the challenges of seeking justice in a rugged and often unforgiving landscape? Must our future life (and happiness) be dictated by our past mistakes, or does forgiveness really change us?

At Love's Command focuses on Dr. Josephine Burkett, and a retired calvary officer, Matthew Hanger. Though these are fictional characters, the challenges and choices they face come right from the pages of history. Calvary life after the Civil War ended was challenging, and many soldiers then, as today, face a certain amount of PTSD as well as self doubt. Being a female doctor in what was considered a man's profession was an almost unsurmountable obstacle, yet, some women trudged through the bias and misunderstanding and forged the way for others.

Dr "Joe" and Matthew face challenges from within and without. Josephine is worried for her younger brother Charlie, who cannot seems to accept their father's direction and insistence he work for a living, instead of relying upon Dad to provide him with funds. She also wonders if part of Charlie's waywardness could be attributed to her leaving home and striking out for a new place to begin her medical practice, instead of trying to begin nearer to home. Texas is a big state, even with the use of trains it takes time to get home and back.

Matthew and his group of Horsemen: Jonah Brooks, Luke Davenport - commonly called 'Preach', and Mark Wallace have decided to leave the calvary behind and work as guns for hire. Not in a traditional mercenary fashion, but in trying to use their refined skills to search out justice for the oppressed and a fair ending to disputes and cattle rustling.