Loved. It!

The first handful of pages were heartbreaking and I really didn't like to stomach it. So glad I pushed through that initial sadness and reminder of a sad part of American history.

When one of the Hanger's Horsemen, Wallace, is injured and needs medical attention, Matthew seeks assistance at the nearest town. To their surprise, the town doctor is a woman. After she competently cares for Wallace, they leave only to be stopped within hours to come to Doc Jo's brother's aid.

Josie and Matthew are great. I love them individually and together. Josie is strong and self-assured and a pioneer for female physicians. Every woman she symbolizes is admirable for pushing through stereotypes and taking on the hardship of moving out west, to the middle of nowhere, in order to pursue a career. Matthew is a soldier through and through, tough, commanding, and honorable. But I love that he has a marshmallow center in his feelings for Josie.

The whole book is, simply put, fantastic. I really enjoyed the characters, good and bad, and the plot. I definitely recommend it!

Thank you, @bethanyhousefiction and @netgalley for the advanced copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.

At Love's Command (Hanger's Horsemen #1) by Karen Witemeyer

“Everything else faded away. Hi surroundings. His stress. Even the strategies knocking around in his brain stilled. All that existed was the horse. Heads close together. Breathing meshing into a common rhythm. Man and horse. Horse and man.”

Dr. Jo is definitely not a man as Captain Hanger burst into her clinic. Josephine Burknett is passionate about her patients. She loves her family and has a soft spot for her younger brother. Josephine and Matt Hanger’s verbal exchange and Josie’s use of big words makes this book interesting. Their love story is fast but circumstances make their feelings stronger. It’s sweet when Matt calls her Josie.

I admire the loyalty among the Horsemen. They also value each other’s strengths. The description of the wounds, how to clean and stitch them are too detailed for me. I must admit, I skipped those. I am in awe of these horsemen’s endurance to withstand all their struggles and physical pain. Their “Got a verse for me?”routine is amazing. Preach is like a walking bible. I’d like to see the map drawn by the preacher.

There is so much action and rough scenes but it’s needed especially since they are dealing with outlaws. I am ashamed of Charlie’s decision to involve Jo in his antics but he loves her. If you like this kind of book, this one is for you. 4 stars

*Thank you #netgalley and @bethanyhouse for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.*

#historicalfiction #christianfiction #christianromance

If Karen Witemeyer was not already a favorite, must-read author, then At Love's Command would definitely put her in that category.

With a capable and forthright heroine, a no-nonsense ex-calvary officer hero, and his band of mercenaries dedicated to non-lethal justice, this is an action-packed start to the Hanger's Horsemen series that is at turns amusing, riveting, tense, and touching.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy Historical Christian Romance with action and a sometimes contentious but ultimately tender romance, where an unlooked-for love blooms in spite of their resolve as they look to God for strength through difficult times.

This review refers to a digital galley read through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

The first book in Karen Witemeyer's historical western romance starts this series in a great way. Set in 1893 Texas , starring 4 wonderful western calvary men whose aim is to fight for right and justice and are all strong Christian men. Throw in a lady doctor with plenty of grit, determination and faith; and you just can't miss. Add some villains, a wayward brother, suspense, humor and romance, and this book is a recipe for success.

Looking forward to the next book in this series to see where life takes Hanger's Horsemen and Dr. Jo as well as which one of the Horsemen will find love next!

** I received this from the publisher through NetGalley and was not required to review. All opinions are my own.

I went and fell in love with Hanger’s Horsemen. Once you get your hands on this book you’ll know exactly what I mean. Witemeyer did it again. I found this book totally impossible to put down. I easily loved Matthew and his unique band of mercenaries. Then again, who wouldn’t love a group of men who take on jobs to help the helpless, and do so with out casualties. But don’t tell the outlaws that. Matthew is fiercely loyal to his men, and would do anything in his power to help and protect them. I love watching how he interacted with them, and the way Josephine got under his skin so quickly. Definitely a swoon-worthy love story. Witemeyer had me laughing out loud, holding my breath, and sighing in delight. I loved every moment and can’t wait to see what she does next. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Historical Romance. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Hanger's Horsemen series started out with a bang! The four equestrians are a band of ex-cavalry soldiers for hire to right wrongs. These honorable men have a secret, though. They have determined to use their guns but not to kill – whenever possible.

When one of the four is severely injured, Matt is directed to Dr. Joe's office in Purgatory, the nearby town. To his surprise, Dr. Joe is really Dr. Josephine! To his credit, once he recovered from his initial shock, he treated her with respect for her knowledge and allowed her to do what she had to in order to save Mark's life.

Jo, or Josie, as Matt came to call her, was at lot of fun! She used her ten-dollar-words as a weapon against ignorant men who couldn't or wouldn't accept her as a qualified doctor because she was a woman. She had plenty of spunk and was fiercely loyal.

A man of faith, Matt relied on God even when he couldn't see how things would turn out. Which is, of course, the real sign of faith. He started his days and his missions having Preach share quotes from the repository of scripture he stored in his heart. (You're gonna love Luke!) Matt was strong and determined – a man's man – and yet was gentle and humble enough to serve his men and be willing to keep vigil over a wounded soldier to see that he recovered.

I loved the verbal sparring between Matt and Josie. And the dramatic way God answered the prayer of the horsemen when they were in need - and how in meeting their need, He also met the need of their rescuer.

The theme of At Love's Command is surrendering to God. Matt had to surrender all his military skills and knowledge and trust God when all else was stripped away. I appreciated the beautiful ways the characters learned these lessons and how when they fully trusted God, He worked on their behalf in surprising ways.

Full of action and surprises, this story was such a pleasure to read. Karen Witemeyer created a great balance between realistic gunfights full of suspense and light-hearted banter. There is a little blood but not too much. The suspense is not overwhelming.

I'm really excited about this new series! Matt and his men are so ... admirable! I can't wait to learn what happens to Preach, Mark and Jonah, too!

A Witmeyer book is certain to give me a break from the everyday, and with the news over the past few weeks and months, that escape is sorely needed. I can also say, however, that while I take that break from reality, I also get a good dose of the reminder that there is hope beyond today’s world, and love still exists in our broken lives, regardless of the situation.

The characters in this particular story really spoke to me and captured my heart early on. I’m not sure exactly why since I don’t have a whole lot in common with either one, but they were so well-drawn and fleshed out, I felt like I was visiting with friends throughout the novel. Maybe it’s because they aren’t perfect, but they also have an internal compass that drives them to be better than they already are.

Matthew is truly a man of honor. I loved getting to hear this thought processes and see his care, both for his team, and as he came to love Josephine. And I adored our introduction to the doctor; her sassy response to Matthew’s assumption that the doctor must be a man had me laughing out loud. Beneath their exteriors of honor and sass, however, beat hearts with real wounds that a doctor cannot heal.

The romance between Matt and Josie is sweet and slow building, but with plenty of chemistry that kept me hopeful and smiling, even when they were challenging each other and somewhat at odds. In any relationship on the page, I like to see the characters making others better versions of themselves, and that was certainly the case for this couple.

This book is also quite timely, with characters ahead of their setting in history, in accepting and respecting those from different backgrounds and with different talents, despite their gender or skin color. It was an encouraging picture of how things can be when we see each other as people, all belonging to the human race and deserving honor simply because we are all created in God’s image.

As always, the author gives us the full package: characters to root for, a fascinating plot, and a beautiful romance, situated within a setting that transports the reader to another place while still staying grounded within our faith. We’re reminded that good still exists and that people can improve the world around us, starting with the people next to whom we’re standing.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.

To me this story is about devotion. Devotion to your country, your fellow soldiers, your horse!, your honor, your duty, your family and your woman/man Matthew started out as a Captain in the Army. However, he was greatly disillusioned at Wounded Knee and needed to find something else that would fill his need to help others in an honorable way so Hanger's Horsemen was born. He & 3 other men from his Army days took on jobs that helped the people not helped by law enforcement & other types of jobs. When one of his men is seriously wounded, he finds a doctor and wouldn't you know, it's a woman! Dr. Jo is a feisty gal who is used to having people not wanting her to treat them because she's a woman. Matthew doesn't care about that. I loved the two of them together. They were such opposites but fit together so well. Matthew so quiet, yet filled with honor & duty. Josie so cheerful, yet determined and pushy! When her brother is kidnapped, she asks The Horsemen to rescue him. It's dangerous but they don't hesitate and of course, Josie gets involved. She's a darn good doctor! There are a lot of outlaw shootouts and strategy in this book but also a lot of sweet redemption! I loved every page! I also loved the great love between a man and his horse that was shown in this story. This author writes so realistically! I wait so anxiously for each book!

A great wild west book! Matthew Hanger and the Hanger Horsemen are dedicated to helping the innocent and not taking a life unless absolutely necessary! One of the Horsemen takes a bullet and they need help. Imagine their surprise when Doc turns out to be an attractive young female! Doc Jo is a great female protagonist as she rides with the Horsemen to rescue her brother from kidnappers. Matthew's family was killed by Indians when he was five years old and he has determined he will never have a family again. If you like historical fiction, you will enjoy At Love's Command by Karen Witemeyer. I received an advance e-book from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. This is my honest opinion.

At Love’s Command by Karen Witemeyer was the perfect book for me. I read this on the recommendation of another reviewer and loved it within 30 pages.
Dr Jo was an amazing character. We saw her struggle with being accepted as a doctor and the respect she earned. Her heart for helping the wounded. She was not one of those stubborn women that made stupid decisions.
Matt and his Hanger Horsemen gang were swoon worthy. Matt was absolutely perfect for Dr Jo. I am looking forward to Mark, Luke and Jonah’s stories.
The author did a fabulous job with scriptures for Preach to share before each adventure.

I am a new fan of WItemeyer and I am looking forward to finding additional books by her to see if they are as good as this one.

Sexual content – kissing
Violence – gangs out to kidnap, old west shootouts

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

Dr. Josephine Burkett is an intelligent force to be reckoned with. She's plucky, fierce, quick-witted, and the perfect match for a worthy gentleman. Josephine meets a less-than-perfect Matthew Hangar, who's heart is hidden behind his brawn and mettle. Who might be a perfectly imperfect match for Josephine.

Karen Witemeyer has caused me to giggle, cheer, and sigh. All the qualities that an avid-reader such as myself craves in a novel. And, to go on the record, Matthew Hanger just might be more swoon-worthy than the Archer men, but don't "tell" on me, please.

There's more to come in the series, and I'm looking forward to reading them, the cast of characters comprising Hanger's Horseman are very memorable and loveable. I'll be stalking Amazon for the release date for those books. Find out for yourself, and join in on the fun!

I received the book from the publisher but was under no obligation to post nor write a review.

At Love’s Command is book one in the new Hanger’s Horsemen series from firm favorite, Karen Witemeyer. And yes. Oh my yes. Bring on book two.

The start of the series introduces readers to ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger. After some horrifying experiences, Matthew and three of his men form a band of mercenary angels, defending the innocent and protecting the defenseless.

One of his men gets wounded and Matthew encounters Dr. Josephine Burkett. Matthew is unaccustomed to women, and when drawn to Josie, won’t act on his feelings, carrying the heavy burden of guilt for past actions beyond his control. When someone close to Josephine is threatened, Matthew is forced to face his feelings and springs into action.

As with every Witemeyer book, there’s a solid mix of different things to enjoy. For example, in this book you’ll find lightheartedness, adventure, desperate circumstances and some gospel-driven hope. The ensemble cast of soldiers-turned-mercenaries bodes well for the dynamics in books two and three.

Matthew Hanger is the type of hero readers of romance, especially ones with a western flavor, will adore. He’s strong and unflappable, brave and noble, willing to take a bullet to protect those he loves. And yet there’s a vulnerability that makes him all the more appealing. He’s perfectly matched with Dr. Josephine and her fancy vocabulary and strong will.

I highly recommend At Love’s Command if you like historical romances, western romances or a thoroughly great story.

To read an excerpt or buy a copy of At Love’s Command, click here…

Connect with Karen via her website here…

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Karen Witemeyer is one of my go-to authors as I've been reading her books for several years. I'm proud to say I've read all of them! If you're new to Karen's books, some things you can expect are a western setting, strong character development and dialogue, romantic tension (sweet, clean romance), and a balance of external and internal conflict. I am loving this new band of brothers that are introduced in "At Love's Command"! Matthew Hanger is the hero in this novel, the leader of the famous Hangar's Horsemen, and former Civil War officer who struggles with the aftermath of his part in the bloody massacre at Wounded Knee. I love the additional battle that rages in him as his tough, soldier side is met head on with smart and beautiful Dr. Jo. I also liked that the male and female lead characters were a little older and more mature. Dr. Jo is a fun character as well. Strong physically and mentally, "Josie"...as she is nicknamed...can be ready to perform medical procedures or jump on the back of of horse at a moment's notice. I love that her character is strong but also makes wise choices. A few plot twists were included but the reader is not denied the aspects of the genre that we know and love. As a Christian fiction novel, the main characters experience spiritual encounters and growth throughout the story. The hard part is going to be waiting for the next book in the series to come out!

**I was given a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in order to give my honest opinions, which I did.**

I've been exploring the historical fiction genre over the last couple of years. I occasionally read one here or there in the past, but as with most things in life, my expectations of the genre were quite different than the reality. Lately, I've been devouring new (to me) authors, new books, and new periods. At Love's Command was one of them.

Josephine is a woman in what's considered at the time as being a man's profession. She's a doctor who has had to earn the respect of the town she is working in. She doesn't stand for any man to talk to her like she doesn't know her own mind or like he knows better than her. Jo gave up on the idea of having a family for herself because not many men would be accepting of her profession. But she's never been drawn to a man who just might make her crave more from life than the calling she loves.

Matthew joined the Calvary after his family was slaughtered by Indians (Native Americans). But after the battle of Wounded Knee where his regiment decimated an entire tribe of Indians--men, women, and children. Matthew and 3 of his fellow officers need to atone for the innocent blood spilled. They attempt to right wrongs using non-lethal force. Matthew recognizes a kindred spirit in Dr. Jo. He does everything in his power to block the effect she has on him, but when she hires his crew to rescue her brother from a band of outlaws trying to use him for ransom against her father, Matthew is thrown into a relationship with Josie that he can no longer ignore.

All in Matt and Josie progress quickly as far as the amount of time they spend together for their relationship to reach the level it does so quickly. Granted a good bit of that time is heightened by high stakes and pressure situations. But there can't be more than a month spanning the entire book. Probably less. This type of thing doesn't usually bother me, and it didn't in this case either. But I do know that many readers take issue with fast relationships like this.

One of the biggest compliments that I can give Karen Witemeyer and At Love's Command is that I'm already excited about reading books focused on each of the other Horsemen. I feel like I know each one of them just enough to feel connected and intrigued. I want to know more. And I already like them all. I would read a sequel in this series immediately if I had it available. Plus I'm anxious to find out which Horsemen book 2 will follow and technically no book 2 has even been announced yet.

I connected to Matt and Jo on a personal level because she struggles with trying to control her life and he struggles with knowing that even with God in control, sometimes bad things still happen to us and those we love. My favorite quotes centered around these areas, but here are my favorite quotes from the entire book:

-Yes, God was capable of protecting Josie, but there was no guarantee that he actually would. And it was that uncertainty that drove Matt step after grueling step. He supposed a more faithful man would take comfort in knowing that God’s will would prevail, and whatever happened would be for the best. But Matt believed there was an evil force with a will of its own at work in the world too. A force that inflicted pain for its own sadistic delight. A force that would steal a five-year-old boy’s parents and sister from him and make him bear witness to the atrocities. He didn’t believe their murder was God’s will. A God who spoke commandments against murder wouldn’t condone such an act. Yet this same God had done nothing to stop it.

-Forfeiting control to an almighty God should be easier than giving in to a gang of outlaws, yet he still struggled. He wanted to trust, but he’d lost loved ones before, and the little boy inside the man was terrified that history would repeat itself.

-I’m afraid, Lord. Afraid to completely surrender. Afraid that if I have no control over the outcome, it won’t end the way I desire. Afraid you’ll take Matthew from me. Lean not unto thine own understanding. Josephine’s heart pricked. That was it, wasn’t it? She trusted her own understanding more than she trusted God’s unfathomable wisdom.

-How quick she was to grab for the reins the instant the path the Lord led her down took a turn she didn’t favor. Where was her trust? Her surrender?

-Control was nothing more than an illusion, a lie to trap the competent in their own capability. One that created such a dependence on self that it clogged the conduit of wisdom and power flowing from the Omnipotent until only a trickle of living water found its way through.

-Help me, Lord. Clear out the debris of pride and fear clogging my soul and let your river of living water flow through me unhindered. Help me trust that you are at work. That you will fight for Matthew, for justice. And should the worst happen, that you will fight for me too. That I might believe in your goodness even in the pit of despair.

At Love's Command had a lot going for it. Even though there was a mystery to solve or outlaws to overcome, the relationship between Josie and Matt felt like it was at the heart of the story and moved the events along rather than the story or other characters driving the bus. The side characters pop off the page just as much as the leads, and I can't wait to dive into each one's story. At Love's Command easily gets 4 Stars. Have you read At Love's Command? What did you think? Let me know!

I love, love, love Karen Witemeyer’s books and At Love's Command does not disappoint. This first installment to her Hanger’s Horsemen may be up to the top of my favorite I have read by her. Matthew and Josephine were so entertaining together. I had myself giggling reading some of their scenes. I enjoyed getting to know them and spending a few quick hours with them.

I am giving At Love's Command a very well deserved five plus stars. I can not wait to continue the Hanger’s Horsemen. I highly recommend this one for who enjoy fun and inspirational historical romance.

I received this book by the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

I enjoy Karen Witemeyer for her very flowing writing, wittiness, and sturdy plotlines. For some reason, I found this one to have a very different "feel." It wasn't bad. It was just different. I really did like the fight scenes and enjoyed the whole Hanger's Horsement plot. There were some nice twists that kept me guessing, and I appreciated that.

The diversity of characters was great--from the four horsemen to Josephine and her brother.

I absolutely loved the Christian elements. The characters were solid believers and didn’t leave me guessing. They turned to Scripture for comfort, help, and assurance. They saw “convenient happenings” as directed by God’s hand. I loved how Matt always asked for Scripture from Preach (Luke). The last few "Christian" books I've read were shallow in the spiritual element, so it was refreshing on that end.

My one drawback for most of Ms. Witemeyer's books is the romance-on-the-edge. I'm not a big romantic anyway, but there seemed to be so much touching and so much obsession over what a person looked like or felt. There were a few parts I skimmed because of that.

Still, I am looking forward to book two and can't wait to find out which of the horsemen it follows!

*I received this book from Net Galley and happily provided my honest review*

After battling war as a Cavalry Officer and Captain, Matthew Hanger has a new mission. He will pursue justice, but without ever taking a life in vain. He and his closest friends (family for him) form the group Hanging Horsemen and they are hired as a kind of law enforcement to solve problems, capture bandits and rustlers, and promote peace. This group of friends means everything to him. As an orphan, he was raised by a disciplined uncle, and he’s a men of honor and duty, and loyal to his country and friends to the bone. After suffering loss, he’s sure he’s not meant to marry: his job is too risky to put someone through that stress; plus, love means risk of losing and hurting, so he’s better of as he is, honor bound to his people and his closest friends. But his way of thinking gets shaken, as he lands in Dr. Jo Burkett office, while taking seriously injured Wallace to the nearest and only Doctor in Purgatory Springs, the nearest town to where his friend was shot in the shoulder, while capturing some rustlers. But Dr. Jo is not what he expected: instead of a bald and aging male Doctor, she’s not only a woman, but a beautiful one at that, with a fierce and loyal spirit that he can’t help but be attracted to… Josephine Burkett has worked long and hard to earn her respect as the town doctor. It hasn’t been easy, but gradually, people –and men- have been warming up to her enough to trust them with their health. But her ordinary life gets shattered when Matthew arrives with his wounded friend.There’s something about Matthew, his devotion to his friends, his loyalty, his selfless nature that pulls her... And just when she’s lamenting his leave, she gets a note that says her rebellious and irresponsible younger brother has been kidnapped by a dangerous gang. Not only that, but her father refuses to pay the ransom, wanting to give his son a lesson he won’t forget. But Jo’s loving nature, she’s been like a mother to him after their mother died, can’t allow her brother to be in such a dangerous situation, and is afraid he’s suffering harm from the gang so she runs to the only man –and group of men- that she can think will be able to save her brother, for her sake. This new mission will embark them on an amazing and dangerous western adventure, where they will be able to test if this attraction is deeper than they think, and loyalty and friendship will have an important role too. Will Matthew succeed on his mission in rescuing Jo’s brother? Will the Hanging Horsemen cooperate? Will Jo and Matthew have a chance at love in spite of Matthew’s dangerous and unstable career? This was a beautiful and touching story, especially because of the characters. Matthew was a true hero: his love and admiration for Josie was a sight to behold, and his selfless love that made him risk his life without a doubt in order to keep his promise to Jo and bring her happiness. Not a man of many words, and with a bit of a broken neart, but his actions said so much more about his generous and loyal nature. I loved Jo’s feisty and determined character. Well, she needed those qualities in order to become a Doctor in a place and time where women were supposed to just marry, and take care of their husband and children. She was unique and genuine, and so tenderhearted. She will do anything for her brother even if he doesn’t correspond as he should to her sisterly love. And she was the perfect match for Matthew to heal his heart and open it to a happiness he never imagined. The plot kept me reading until late at night. There was constant action and adventure. There were also funny moments, banter and dialogue between the main characters and their friends, which just charmed me. I love this kind of lighthearted relationships, even if there’s a bit of drama here and there. All in all, a beautiful story, very enjoyable and entertaining, with a sweet and endearing romance, and many uplifting insights about faith and trusting God with your life, about selfless love, true friendship and loyalty. And redemption too...! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes Historical Romances with a lighthearted and inspiring touch. Can’t wait to read more about the Hanging Horsemen characters, they all grew on me!
I received a complimentary copy of this book vía NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

What a way to start a series! Karen’s books never fail to disappoint, and this one was no exception. I loved Matthew. He’s every bit the swoon-worthy Western hero, a devoted leader to his group, and has no problem rushing into danger, though he does tend to think it through first. And then there’s Josephine, who’s sweet, but with plenty of backbone, doctor who’s used to fighting for the respect of others. The romance between them is especially sweet, growing on mutual respect. The characters’ growth is wonderful, the adventure heart-pounding, and the messages of faith deep. It’s an amazing book, and I can’t wait to read the rest of Hanger’s Horsemen’s stories.



*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel through NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Every time I've picked. up a Karen Witemeyer book, I know that I'm in for a great read. At Love's Command, the first book in the Hanger's Horsemen series, is no exception. I really enjoyed the relationship that developed between ex-cavalryman Matt Hanger and Dr. Josephine Burkett. The story kept me reading from beginning to end. She's a favorite author of mine for a reason!

Review This is a great start to a new series! I really enjoyed this book! I read most of it in one sitting. I really liked Matthew and his Horsemen. I also really liked Josephine’s spunky character. I can’t wait to see what the next book holds!




I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.