Book Review: Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Fairest of Heart is an interesting tale on one of the famous fairytales, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I like Penelope’s loving heart and the seven men at the Diamond D were just the sweetest. There was even a grumpy one, but Penelope won him over. T

The romance was sweet. A little bit of mystery made it intriguing. I enjoyed the new friends that Penelope found at the ranch and Titus' lesson on truth and mercy. This was an entertaining Christian fiction set in the 1800's.. I look forward to reading more books by the author.
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Thank you Bethany House Publishers and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rating: 4 stars
Pub Date: 06 Jun 2023

I found Fairest of Heart to be an entertaining read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction, historical romances, and fairy tale retellings. I'm happy I gave this book a try and am looking forward to seeing what the next book in the series will be.

I really enjoyed this Western take on a retelling of Snow White. It was such a fresh idea! I like the parallels and similarities yet differences. The book was had hope, and of course the dreaded despair, danger, jealousy, theft, and the hero(s)! I definitely recommend this book. The author has such a talent for writing and this is now my favorite retelling of the this fairy tale.

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemyer was amazing. It had me laughing and tearing up. I love finding and reading revamped versions of fairy tales, especially Christian-based ones.

I enjoyed the characters. You knew who was who when you read each one. As far as Snow White is concerned, everything is funny and adorable. The only thing I want to say is that there are a couple of places where there are misspellings. Other than that, I again enjoyed it.

The book cover looked great, very lovely to look at. The faith-based part of it was amazing. It felt great. It made me cry and cheer and praise.

If you see this book, you should check it out. It will definitely be worth it. The author did great with it. Two thumbs up from me.

Fairest of Heart is a western historical Snow White retelling complete with a mirror-carrying villain obsessed with her own vanity, seven protective old men on a ranch, a sometimes naive protagonist who likely whistles a happy tune, and a love story.

I enjoyed reading this book! It had the same feeling as reading fairy tales, where you live in a world not quite like our own, and I enjoyed the nods to the well known story.

The Wild West was the perfect setting for this story! The ranch setting was so lovely, and the dramatic headline performer for a traveling show being the cat burgling villain was perfect.

I recommend this one to fans of sweet romance with a faith-driven storyline.

Fairest of Heart also has one of the best covers I have ever seen on a Bethany House book! Absolutely stunning!

Thank you to @bethanyhousefiction for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

A fairytale retelling set in historic Texas. Texas Rangers, theatre troupes and romance. Fairest of Heart is the first book in a new series by Karen Witemeyer.

Penelope knows to keep her head down. Working as a lady’s maid is her last chance. When when her mistress discovers Penny in her evening gown (put on for alterations), in a fit of jealousy she throws Penny out form the theatre troupe and orders her to be killed. Penny manages to avoid being killed but she is rescued by an unlikely group - seven older cowboys and one Texas Ranger. Penny finds safety and a home she’s never had before at the Diamond D ranch. But when Titus’s new case seems to point a string of robberies at Penny, he returns home to investigate. Could the sweetest woman he’s ever met be a danger to his family?

What a cute and clever idea - fairytales given a country, historical romance twist. Fairest of Heart is lots of fun. The fairytale similarities are obvious but woven cleverly into the story so the events of the story and ending are not too predictable.

As usually, Witemeyer writes fantastic chemistry between her main characters. Thanks to our seven dwarves characters, the seven old drovers Penny takes refuge with, there is a loveable cast of side characters. Just like a fairytale, some of the drama leans towards the dramatic, like Madame Labelle’s scheming. But Penny herself is so delightful and earnest and Titus is so heroic, reading about their fight for justice and their growing feelings make for a lovely story.

I’m looking forward to future books in this series.

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

Of all the fairytale retellings I have read, Fairest of Heart is by far my favorite! Witemeyer, in my humble opinion, has raised the bar in this genre.

I felt as if I was transported into the re-release of the first fairytale I ever saw on the big screen in 1967. I can remember the excitement of seeing the characters come alive and as then, today my attention and emotions were fully engaged with Penelope, Titus, Doc and ALL of the old drovers, aka the graybeard brigade, at the Diamond D Ranch. They played across my mind’s eye with ease, bringing great affection for this well written re-telling.

At the same time, I thought it was brilliant to have several POV instances from the seductive villainess Narcissa LaBelle. Boy howdy, she is wicked to the core. Witemeyer perfectly describes her cunning mind and conniving ways. I could not wait to see how Ranger Titus Kingsley was going to catch her and what a great sting it was!

With fabulous descriptions of…well…everything, I can see this becoming one I reread many times! Of course, no one writes western quite like this author so when a beloved classic fairytale meets a pen like Witemeyer wields, it is bound to become a classic in its own right among Christian fiction fans. Truly, the faith thread was so well done for both Penelope and Titus, and their romance is as delectable as apple cider.

I received an early copy of the book from the publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. No compensation has been received.

Book Review / More Than a Review: Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Rating:
Violence: 2/5
Sexual Content: 1/5


Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer is a delightful and enchanting historical romance novel that captures the essence of love, adventure, and the power of self-discovery. Set in the 19th century, this story follows the journey of a strong-willed heroine, Mercy McClain, as she navigates the challenges of her past while embracing the possibilities of a brighter future.

When it comes to violence, Fairest of Heart maintains a relatively low level of intensity. While there are instances of mild conflict and tension, the author focuses more on the characters' emotional growth and personal development rather than on explicit violence. The book is suitable for readers who prefer stories with minimal violence.

In terms of sexual content, Fairest of Heart falls into the clean romance category. The author weaves a tender and heartfelt love story, but explicit or graphic sexual scenes are not a part of the narrative. The focus is on the emotional connection between the characters, allowing readers to enjoy the romantic journey without explicit sexual content.

Overall, Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer is a captivating historical romance novel that combines elements of adventure, love, and personal growth. With its mild levels of violence, clean romance, minimal profanity, and responsible portrayal of alcohol use, the book is well-suited for readers who enjoy heartwarming stories with a touch of historical charm.

That was one of the most adorable fairytale retellings I have ever read. I love how the author weaved in all the classical Snow White elements while also giving it a bit of a fresh twist. Titus was the perfect hero and Penelope was just the absolute sweetest heroine.

But my favorite part had to be the ranch with all the retired cowhands. Jeb's wise words of faith to Penny was one of my favorite scenes in the book.

I loved the faith in this book and how natural it was to the story! It's the thing I appreciate most about this author. I always know that the faith message will be strong, without being cheesy when I pick up a Witemeyer book.

Were there other elements of the story that felt a little cheesy? Sure. But, honestly, I didn't care. LOL The rest was just too cute.

**I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Yes - read it.

The first in a series which is off to a very promising start!

This is the most clever take on a fairy tale I've come across. The story was riveting on it's own merits. It took my quite a while to realize how skillfully all the pieces of Snow White fit in. Maybe I didn't read the description well enough or forgot it before I started reading, it was just kind of nice to be taken by surprise!

I received an ARC from Netgalley to help me prepare my honest review.

What an enthralling and delightful rendition of the Brother’s Grimm’s novel Snow White!
Karen Witemeyer’s novel, the Fairest of Heart is one of those novels which can be likened to biting into a sweet apple, it gets sweeter and sweeter with each bite. Penelope Snow is a young woman who has known pain, betrayal, and rejection right from infancy. However, despite all these her heart remains pure and gullible making her a target for evil people. For someone who easily forgets the names of characters in the novels I read, still being able to remember the names in this book with a smile speaks of how much this book has been imprinted in my mind. I loved the grandfathers of Diamond D and Titus who God use to show love to Penelope.
One thing that has consistently stood out in Karen Witemeyer’s writings is the strong foundation of Christian faith in her novels and how scriptures are woven in her novel. There are nuggets of wisdom on having faith in trying times, justice, mercy, and truth which have been deposited in my heart.
Fans of Karen Witemeyer will not be disappointed by this new series. I am greatly anticipating the next books in this series. For those who are yet to sample Karen Witemeyer’s writing, may this novel capture your attention to read.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews

4.5 stars, This is book one in the Texas Ever After series, so what a great place to start. Penelope Snow and Texas ranger Titus Kingsley find themselves in need of helping each other out. Penelope has always been a bit of an outcast, her inner beauty shines bright even while she tries to hide her outer beauty. Titus wants nothing to do with beautiful women, however when he must decide to trust Penelope or not he is torn.
Karen Witemeyer writes with such passion and her characters truly come to life. I love the spunk, twist and turns and life lessons learned throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes Historical Christian Fiction Romance. I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion.

What a fun retelling! Snow White comes alive in Texas in this engaging frontier story with a mystery twist.

From the very beginning, the foreshadowing of the employer not being good for her is clear, but I didn't honestly expect the twists that come next! I'm not very familiar with the Snow White tale--just enough to recognize the elements of her loving nature, enjoying reading, being happy to help others, and the seven "dwarves" (here retired drovers) are all easily recognizable.

I loved Penelope, Titus, and his grandfather best. There is a rescue dog named Lucky that also tugged at my heart!

Overall, a great read and one I'll definitely be buying the paperback and rereading!

Best ages: 16+ because the villainess is particularly evil: <spoiler> She uses sex as a weapon against men and some of the elements of that are clearly suggested, although off page. </spoiler>

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

There is nothing like a fairy tale retelling and this was one of the great. Snow White set in the 1880’s Wild West was a perfect mix. The seven old men who live on the same ranch that Penelope Snow finds herself were adorable. Prince Charming was a Texas Ranger who has trust issues with beautiful women. The Evil Queen is an amazing actress and con woman. I loved these characters and I really enjoyed how each plot twist of the original was changed or inspired into something that worked in this world. I just love Karen Witemeyer’s work and I am so excited for this new series.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I absolutely loved Fairest of Heart! In this retelling of the classic Snow White fairytale, the author was so clever and creative in bringing multiple aspects of the traditional story to the Old West (I won’t share any spoilers). The love story of orphan Penelope Snow and Ranger Titus Kingsley is so sweet and the men of the Diamond D are so easy to love!
I am so hopeful that this is the first of many of this style book by Karen Witemeyer!

BOOK REVIEW - Fairest of Heart - Karen Witemeyer - 4/5 Stars

THE STORY
It's basically impossible not to get excited when one of your favourite authors decides to combine two of your favourite genres! Karen Witemeyer's Texas Ever After series are Western retellings of classic fairytales with the first book in the series, Fairest of Heart, being a cowboy take on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. And let me just say that it is utterly adorable and very clever! Snow White is probably my least favourite fairytale but I do love the twist taken on this tale especially the 'seven dwarves', they are so lovable! I prefer flawed characters in stories, so Penelope didn't really resonate with me but I loved seeing Titus' growth and spiritual revelations (and his name!).

THE ROMANCE
Like every Karen Witemeyer story, the romance was fantastic and oh so swoony! I did have to mentally remove Titus' mustache (I'm really not a fan 🙃) so his looks could match with his character! Titus and Penelope are very cute together and I did love their contrasting personalities that made them work well together.

THE TRUTHS
In the story, Titus notices while reading Scripture that mercy and truth and often paired together with mercy always being first. It got me thinking how much we need them together. Truth convicts us of our sins and shows us the flaws we need to work on but mercy offers us forgiveness and second chances. We need truth to keep us on the right path but we need mercy to keep us walking on it. Truth points us to Jesus' salvation but mercy allows us to accept it. And God offers us both freely and abundantly, how amazing is that!

I so wanted to love this like everyone else. Unfortunately, I didn't. Characters were very one dimensional, either very good or very evil. The plot struggled and I couldn't force myself to finish at 72%, complete.

A fresh Texas take on an old fairy tale.

Penelope is the classic genuine and innocent beauty, but the author draws upon a depth that the fairy tale often lacks. It is Penny’s relationship to the Lord, her dependence on the truth of Scripture, her genuine love and humility and her expectation that the Lord is at work that outshines even her physical beauty.

Titus is both skeptic and hero – the Texas ranger with a big heart, out to serve, protect and bring justice – and the man with a drive and perspective that arises from his own wounds and guarded expectations.

The villain is entirely self focused and the evil is real.

The story is satisfying.

Fairest Of Heart is a delightful retelling of Snow White. The setting is a ranch in Texas, populated by a retired Dr. and 6 elderly cow hands. I thought Penelope White made a great Snow White and Titus Kingsley was a wonderful "Prince" in spite of his flaws. I recommend this book to all of those who love fairy tales.

So grab a mug of apple cider and settle in for a fun read.

I was given a copy of Fairest Of Heart with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Fairest of Heart is the first book in Karen Witemeyer’s new series, Texas Ever After, and is set in 1892 Texas. Penelope Snow, a beautiful young woman with a heart as pure as snow. She has so much trouble with being beautiful, she has taken to wearing dull shapeless clothing as to hide her figure from the opposite sex. Through no fault of her own making she has revealed her shapely form and therefore her jealous evil mistress has deemed she must die. Thus what follows will take the reader on a most interesting story of a reimagined telling of the Snow White fairytale. The dwarfs are old men who have retired from life mostly but now they have a purpose in life and that is to protect Penelope from harm. The prince is Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley who has no trust in women, especially beautiful women….Witemeyer did not disappoint in this first book of her new series. I was given a digital copy by the publisher, I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.