I greatly enjoyed this Christian Fiction story by Ms. Witemeyer. I always enjoy her works, and she didn't disappoint me this time!

This storyline centered around a female Dr in the day that men and women had very specific jobs acceptable within society. Dr. Joe (Josephine) was a doctor because she believed God created her to be one. As a result, she believed that she would never be a wife or mother. However, God would have plans to reward her with that life too.

At Love's Command was a story that depicted the beauty of following God, even when faith was not easy or convenient. As a result, God showed himself to be totally trust worthy in meeting all needs along the way, in ways that were just totally unexpected and clearly from Him.

I loved all of the characters, and the wonderful depth developed in each of them. Even the minor characters were well developed. I will continue to seek books by Ms. Witemeyer, as she is a wonderful storyteller!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Karen Witemeyer is a masterful storyteller. She has a way of bringing the reader into the story until the very end. At Love’s Command is a story of love, adventure, and the bond of true friendship. You don’t want to miss the beginning of a new series.

Ex-cavalry officer Matt Hanger is used to giving orders and having them carried out but when he meets Dr. Jo Burket, he learns that his heart doesn’t obey him but beats At Love’s Command.

After the disaster of Wounded Knee, Matt critiqued the military’s handling of the situation and left the army. Three of his men followed, and together they formed the mercenary band Hanger's Horsemen. Their excellent reputation means they only need to take the jobs which meet their code of ethics, opportunities which allow them to defend the innocent and fight for what’s right.

Which is how Matt finds himself exchanging gunfire with a band of ornery cattle rustlers. As usual, Hanger’s Horsemen win the day, but the youngest member of the group takes a bullet in the arm. Matt’s afraid the boy will bleed out before they can reach a city big enough to have medical professionals so he is delighted to learn that the tiny nearby town of Purgatory Springs, less than an hour's ride away,  has a doctor.

Jo is used to men reacting with surprise when they realize that the physician is a woman but she has to hand it to the cranky cowboy, he recovers his aplomb quickly and proves to be a big help during the surgery. He only wants what’s best for his friend and Jo is happy to oblige. She’s surprised by the reaction she has to him, though. Her attention is not normally captured by a handsome face, broad shoulders and commanding presence but she finds that all that, combined with Matt’s kindness to his compatriot and his practical, helpful demeanor in the sick room have her resurrecting dreams of romance she’d abandoned long ago.

Matt knows his lifestyle isn’t conducive to wooing a woman, getting married and starting a family but the beautiful lady doctor has him reconsidering his feelings about settling down. She’s strong, smart, caring and resourceful, just the kind of gal he would want to share a life with. He admires her dedication to her craft and can’t help but think about how handy having a doctor around would be for a group of men who have a violent career.

So it’s with a heavy heart that he gathers up his men and heads out once his friend has healed enough to sit on a horse. He knows he will miss Jo but fortunately, he doesn’t have to miss her for long. They aren’t more than a few hours out of town before they notice a rider trailing them. Turning around to confront their stalker, Matt is surprised to find Jo racing toward him.

The dust hasn’t even settled behind Matt Hanger and his men when Jo gets the letter advising that her scallywag of a brother has gotten himself abducted and their wealthy father is refusing to pay the ransom. Charlie hasn’t been the easiest sibling to have, and his carefree (read careless) ways have cost the family more than a fair share of heartache, but Jo is determined not to leave him in a dangerous situation. She doesn’t have the kind of money the kidnappers are looking for but she hopes she can make a deal with Matt so that he and his men agree to rescue her kin. She puts on some pants, grabs what little cash she has and gallops after the recently departed group.

Matt has his suspicions regarding the details of the hostage situation but he’s not about to turn down this damsel in distress. He and the other horsemen set out to rescue Charlie with Jo accompanying them as a field medic. He’s not sure how successful their mission will be but he does know he will take every chance he can get to spend time with Jo.

At Love’s Command is a classic Western romance sure to delight readers of that genre. Ms. Witemeyer utilizes her authentic Texas setting to advantage and peoples her story with realistic, richly drawn characters that perfectly evoke the rugged, romanticized charm of the stagecoach era. Her hero and heroine fit perfectly into that environment.  Matt is the quintessential cowboy: brave, stalwart, stoic, handsome and gallant. His occasionally rough exterior hides a heart of twenty-four karat gold and his bossy demeanor conceals an egalitarian mind which respects independent women and judges a man not by his color but his character. Jo is a competent, clever heroine whose kind heart is balanced by her reason and astute understanding of human nature. She doesn’t wear rose colored glasses but she tries to see the good in the people around her and roots for them to aspire to their best selves.

Their romance isn’t exactly love at first sight but it’s pretty close. Both characters believe they’ve missed whatever opportunity they might have had for love, Jo because she has concentrated so much on her unconventional (for the time) career and Matt because he’s devoted himself to a rambling, danger-ridden life style. They are surprised but delighted when they meet and find themselves immediately drawn to each other. They have issues to work through but quickly realize they are willing to tackle whatever challenges they have to to be together.

This is an Inspirational romance so faith is shown as central to the character’s lives. The issues of God’s will, prayer, and trusting God with what’s important to us are all brought up within the context of the story in a natural, conversational manner. Preacher, one of Hanger’s Horsemen, always had the perfect bible verse for any occasion, but none of the characters sermonize, lecture or otherwise soliloquize about spiritual issues.

At Love’s Command is a fun book full of the adventure and excitement Americans associate with the Old West.  Fans of the author will be delighted with this offering and I am happy to recommend it to readers of Westerns, Inspirationals or anyone looking for a light, lively read.

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This book is a fast-paced, action-packed story from the Wild West, but with romance and a strong theme of following the Lord’s will. I started reading and before I realized, I was 40% through!
Matthew and Josephine are both strong-willed characters, as to be expected from a former military Captain and a female doctor, but it was so much fun watching their love develop and their hearts shift to include one another.
I am so glad that this is the first book in a series. I am already looking forward to the stories about the rest of Hanger’s Horsemen!

This is the first book in the Hanger's Horsemen series. We are introduced to Matthew Hanger the leader of the group. After serving in the Calvary, Matthew and his men are on a mission to do some good with their skills. They hire out to people who are in need of help. Their goal is to bring justice to those that are trod upon. When one of the men is shot they bring him to Dr. Joe. Upon arrival they find that Dr. Joe is a woman not a man! Josephine has an established practice Purgatory Springs, Texas. It isn't easy being a woman doctor, but she has paved her way. While Matthew is surprised that the doctor is a woman he treats her with respect and accepts her abilities to help his friend.



Matthew and Josephine have an instant attraction for each other, but Matthew knows nothing could ever come of that attraction because he is destined to be on his own. After all, no wife could live with a man of war.



When Josephine needs to hire the horsemen, Matthew is willing to drop everything to help her in her mission.



I love love loved this story! A great start to the series and definitely has me excited about what is to come for Hanger's Horsemen. I loved that Dr. Josephine was not a shrinking violet. She was a strong woman. She needed to be strong in order to gain Matthew's attention! I loved that they fit together so well. Josephine was strong enough to handle his past and he was strong enough to protect her from a dangerous enemy and both were tender enough to see that God had brought them together and love can heal many wounds. I enjoyed the action of the story. There were good, old-fashioned shoot-outs, kidnappings and dire situations that grew the characters and gave them depth. I'm a fan of The Horsemen and looking forward to see what happens next for them!

A fun and intriguing read by Karen Witemeyer. Matthew Hanger of the famous Hanger’s Horsemen and Dr. Josephine Burkett tangle in more ways than one in 1890s Texas. I enjoyed the characters and plot of this new series. Recommended.

This new set of characters reminded me of some from possibly my favorite book by this author: the Archers from Short Straw Bride (etc). If you liked that book and the series, I have a feeling you'll like this new novel and series too.

There was a little too much insta-love for my taste, but the characters are charming and Josie and Matthew's interactions are funny and sweet. Josie was interesting. She's educated, competent and confident, but at times I was a little annoyed with her behavior - when I felt like she acted overly emotional or demanding. It felt like she was trying to backseat drive or co pilot Matthew sometimes. I felt like she needed reminded, either you trust the man you hired for his skills or you don't. And you're not one of the horsemen. And there was one scene in particular where her bravado would have been better left unsaid. Lull your enemy into complacency. Let him think you're beaten so he keeps his guard down. Instead she put him on high alert and made things harder for Matthew and his men. But she also kept her wits about her under pressure and managed to get a message to Matthew. So I had mixed feelings about her.

I think Preach was my favorite character. I loved the regular request for a fitting Bible verse from him. Really, I loved Hanger's Horsemen as a group. They felt like a family. I have high hopes for this series and look forward to the next book!

Karen Witemeyer’s newest series, Hanger’s Horsemen, is off to a great start with At Love’s Command. Set in the old West, this story is filled with cowboys, villains, danger, and suspense. But underlying all of this is the clear theme of redemption. Whitemeyer manages to fully entertain while digging deeper into the very human need to belong and atone for our wrongs.
Featuring a woman doctor and former Calvary soldier, Witemeyer sets up her readers for quite the adventure. While I felt the romance between these two characters moved a little too quickly, it fit with the fast paced action of the story. Through gun fights, abduction, and rescues, we see these characters unfold.

Readers will love the cast of characters and action packed plot Witemeyer has given us in this book. Hold on for the ride, because it’s a fun one!

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

At Love's Command is the first book in Karen Witemeyer's new Hanger's Horsemen series. Hold on to your hats because Karen Witemeyer is about to take you on a wild west adventure you are sure to enjoy and remember for weeks to come! Gun slinging mercenaries willing to risk everything for love and dastardly banditos bent on extortion keep this story moving at a lively, entertaining pace. The cast of characters are unique and lovable, devoted to each other and to honoring God in their pursuit of justice. For two people who had given up on love, we are reminded that God's timing is perfect and beautiful. At Love's Command is an exciting beginning to this new series and I can't wait to read more. If you enjoy reading westerns and like some romance sprinkled in then you would enjoy reading At Love's Command.

At Love's Command will be available for purchase from your local or online book retailer June 2, 2020.

Thank you Bethany House and Net Galley for the free advanced reader copy of At Love's Command. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Wonderful characters that pull you into the pages of this story. The Hangers Horseman was a great addition to the plot. I enjoyed every shoot out, so much action and strategy to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The author brings romance, betrayal and justice to creat an epic story that keeps the reader in a stupor of delight. There is so much to love about this book including how God’s greatness shone has he provided for the Hangers Horseman. Witemeyer weaves a tale of love, duty and courage to bring about a book that is sure to be a best seller.
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

At Love’s Command is a combination of action, adventure, and romance. There was never a dull moment! I love that Karen Witemeyer’s stories are never predictable.

The first chapter is intense but it sets the stage for each of the Horsemen and shows you what made them who they are today.

Josie is a spitfire who makes sure her voice is heard. Matthew is closed off with everyone except his band of brothers after the massacre. Only after meeting Josie, Matthew is finally able to start healing.

The group of Horsemen are like brothers standing up for justice, and they have such a strong connection to each other. I look forward to reading each of their stories.

Karen Witemeyer is one of my favorite "western" authors and rarely fails to please with her offerings. Most of her books take place in Texas and this one is no different.

There are four men who have banded together as a group of vigilantes or mercenaries for hire. They have a code of conduct they try never to break--never shoot to kill, just shoot to wound enough to stop the outlaw so that he can be taken in to the authority. They are called Hanger's Horsemen and ride to wherever the need is greatest.

During one of their operations, one of the horsemen gets wounded, so the horsemen are directed to Dr Jo's in Purgatory Springs. What they didn't realize is that Dr Jo is Josephine Burkett. She cares for the wounded man and watches the leader of the horsemen care for his wounded man and begins to fall for him.

When Josephine gets a letter from her father's housekeeper, saying that her brother was being held hostage by a gang of outlaws. She follows the horsemen to get them to go after her brother.

This is a five star book that will not let the reader go from the very beginning to the back of the book. Two Thumbs Up, and free doctor's care for life.

Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a fun book. I loved this start to a new series, and I absolutely loved the fact that the main characters are men. What a fun change! And the Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Jonah was hilarious to me. The characters were great and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Excellent!

I received a copy of this book to facilitate a review. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.

Wow, Karen Witemeyer did it again. She produced a wonderful book that is well written, historical romance with suspense built in and faith based. I like how Karen gives both POV of Jo and Matt, so the reader can follow both of theirs journeys. The story starts with the Hanger’s Horseman, who all were in the cavalry, their leader is Matt, Preach has a Bible verse for everything, Mark is hard working and Jonah is an amazing sharp shooter. These men banded together to help innocent people and uphold justice. When an injury causes these guys to look for a doctor they are directed to Doctor Jo, who is a women! Doctor Jo may not have fought on a battlefield, but she fights to save her patients and fights for her position as a doctor to be seen as worthy as a man. I like how Matt and Dr. Jo relationship is believable and how both of them communicate about how they really feel. Oh, also I like how the cover has Matt.

Description
Haunted by the horrors of war, ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger leads a band of mercenaries known as Hanger's Horsemen who have become legends in 1890s Texas. They defend the innocent and obtain justice for the oppressed. But when a rustler's bullet leaves one of them at death's door, they're the ones in need of saving.

Dr. Josephine Burkett is used to men taking one look at her skirts and discounting her medical skills. What she's not used to is having a man change his mind in a heartbeat and offer to assist her in surgery. Matthew Hanger's dedication to his friend during recovery earns Josephine's respect, and when she hears of her brother's abduction, he becomes her only hope for rescue.

Matt has stared down ruthless outlaws, betrayal, and injury, but when a bossy lady doctor crawls under his skin, his heart is tempted to surrender. And when she is caught in the crossfire, he may have to sacrifice everything--even his team--to save her.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Karen has done it again. She has crafted a novel that had me caring so deeply about the characters I had to put the book down when the danger ratcheted to high levels. I'm so glad I quickly came back to it because the combination of Matthew Hanger and Dr. Jo Burnett was perfect. Two lead characters who care and live deeply, both strong on their own, but learning to give control to the only One who can realluy save the day. Add a great cast of supporting characters, a little brother I did not like at the beginnig but who showed signs of coming around, and a story with tighting tension, and I'm a goner. This book is a perfect example of why her books jump to the top of my to be read pile immediately.

Matthew Hanger, Luke Davenport, Mark Wallace and Johan Brooks make up the Hanger’s Horseman. They started their group after a particularly nasty battle, vowing to only take a life if their was no other recourse. An injury to Mark has them traveling to Purgatory Springs to a Dr Joe, for his medical needs. Matthew raises his eyebrows when he discovers Dr Joe, is actually Dr Jo, but gives her room to do her job. A missive from her home sends them on a mission, that adds layers to what they originally had planned. Fast paced story, with wonderful characters and a wonderful start to a new series set in Texas. This book will garner your attention until the last page. Looking forward to what is in store for the rest of this series!
A complimentary copy was provided by Bethany House. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

At Love’s Command by Karen Witemeyer is the first story in her new series, Hangar’s Horsemen. I really like the idea of this series - a group of mercenaries that protect the innocent.

This story has a sweet romance and a lot of action. I really enjoyed the beginning of the story when Matt and Josie met. Their banter and getting to know each other was fun. I also liked the banter and camaraderie between the guys. I did feel like the story had some slow parts in the middle and I would’ve liked more page time with Josie and Matt as well as more romance. I’m looking forward to the second book in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Another absolutely delightful western/historical romance novel by Karen Witemeyer! You will swoon over the ruggedly handsome good guys who take on outlaws, but do so in God's power without killing. Josie, the main female character is a fearless, sassy, loyal, smart doctor in a small, western town. The story is filled with good, ole western action-packed story combined with family loyalty plus romance. What a great mix in this hard-to-put-down novel! Enjoy!!!

At Love's Command by Karen Witemeyer is a sweet story full of adventure, humor, heartache, betrayal, redemption, faith, and love. As with all of Ms. Witemeyer's works, she weaves humor and kindness into each chapter as well as supplying plot twists to further grow her already well-developed characters. I am definitely a fan of Ms. Witemeyer's writings and At Love's Command begins her new series Hanger's Horsemen in a very exciting way. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
At Love's Command starts with a bang, no really, an old fashioned 1890s shootout in the American wild of Texas.  Matthew Hanger, formerly a cavalry officer, leads a band of men called Hanger's Horsemen to take on the evils of cattle rustlers, thieves, and many other plagues of the American 1890s.  Their mission is to defend the innocent and enact justice at all costs. When one of Matt's group is riddled with bullets, Matt is desperate, and turns to a local doctor to save his friend's life, Dr. Jo.
When Matt brings his friend to Doctor Jo, he is surprised to discover that Dr. Jo, is actually a woman, Dr. Josephine Burkett.  Jo is used to people discounting her as a medical doctor because of how uncommon it is for women to be in such an occupation; however, she is surprised by Matt's respect because of her skill in saving his friend from bleeding out from his bullet wounds. Jo has obviously heard of the famed Hanger's Horsemen, with their thirst for justice, yet is surprised to meet them in person and see that the stories told about them are true. As they both fight to save Matt's friend's life, they both reluctantly realize that they are attracted to each other.  
After saving one of the Hanger's Horsemen, Jo has a bond to their group, so when Jo gets news about her brother's abduction, she only can think of one group to help her save her brothers life---Hanger's Horsemen.  Already setting out on another mission, the Hanger's Horsemen are surprised to find a lone horseman pursuing them, but are even more shocked to realize that it is Jo! When Jo comes back into his life, Matt is surprised at her courage as well as how much she means to him.  Matthew is reluctant to do anything that would put Jo in danger, but he can't refuse to help someone in need. When the entire group is caught in deadly situations, will Matt and his friends be able to rescue Jo's brother and protect Jo too? Can they all survive? Will Matt be able to protect the woman he is starting to care for?  Will Matt be able to let his past brokenness and guilt go? Can Jo mend her family's broken relationships?    
 I thoroughly enjoyed At Love's Command with the unexpected plot twists, the heartbreaking betrayals, the sweet redemption, as well as the overall themes and historic context. I absolutely loved the two main characters of Matt and Jo, as well as the excellent secondary characters. Jo and Matt's relationship was exceptionally real. I appreciated how Matt's past hurts and baggage were his focus without seeing the many similarities between Jo and himself, which would tie them closer together. I absolutely loved Jo's fiery, independent, and stubborn spirit.  The entire book was exceptional and the messages were conveyed very clearly. Well done!  I would highly recommend this book and I hope you have the chance to read it.  

Disclaimer: Bethany House Publishers graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

First sentence: They’ve got us pinned down, Captain.

At Love's Command is the first in a new book series by Karen Witemeyer. It is set in Texas in the 1890s. The hero is Matthew Hanger. He along with three other Horsemen help ensure justice is done. It is sometimes a risky affair. Soon after the novel opens, one of the men--Mark Wallace--is shot. Luckily there is a doctor in the nearby town of Purgatory Springs, a Dr. Burkett.

Dr. Josephine Burkett is our heroine. She is pleasantly surprised by the appearance of the four Horsemen. She's heard plenty about them: they're famous or infamous. As she tends to Mark, she finds herself drawn more and more and more to their leader, Matthew. But she's never considered courting or marriage as anything for her--doctoring, helping, healing that's her life's call. Is there room for both in her life?

Perhaps when her BROTHER is kidnapped or "kidnapped" she'll get the chance to work out for herself how she feels about Matthew. If she can convince him and the others to take the case...

I really enjoyed this one. That isn't a surprise. I love her works. LOVE. I've yet to be disappointed by any of her series.