I love fairy tale retellings, and even though I’m not a Snow White fan in general, I had no doubt Karen Witemeyer would write a story I adored—and I was right. The characters are fantastic, the plot is interesting, and the writing kept me grinning.
In some versions of Snow White, the main character seems pretty bland and passive, but I loved Penelope. She’s just GOOD. She’s cheerful and just keeps working hard, hoping for the best. I think it can be easy to dismiss characters like her as being simple or unrealistic, but I really liked her. She reminds me of me ten-year-old daughter—just a sweetheart who keeps going and tries to stay positive. So, I really liked Penelope even if I myself might be a little more like Jeb (more about him in a minute…)
As for Titus....oh, boy! He's a terrific leading man. His backstory was interesting and made his determination to do his duty toward Penelope but not get involved realistic--and that made it all the more fun to see him falling for her and his growth along the way.
Now, the "dwarves." In most versions of Snow White I've seen or read, they're not really that interesting. In this book, they are a HOOT. I loved them. They kept me laughing. They're all wonderful, although I'm a little partial to Jeb, the "Grumpy" character. (If I believed in reincarnation, I’d believe I’d been a grumpy old man in another life or be aiming to be one in a future life, because I just relate to them so well! Haha!)
The plot was really interesting! There's a little bit of mystery and danger (totally fitting for the wild Texas setting!) Seeing some scene's from the POV of Narcissa (the evil queen) and what made her tick was neat; she's not a good person but seeing what made her tick and getting a glimpse of why she did the things she did added some depth to her character.
I liked the scriptures and messages of faith throughout the story as well. I really enjoyed seeing how Titus and Penelope relied on their faith, thought about their feelings toward God, etc. Their reflection and growth on their journey was totally believable and resonated with me because of how I try to rely on my faith in God in my own life.
From the opening page to the last, I found this book to be engrossing, entertaining, and just terrific! 5 stars! This is also one of picks for the best books of 2023!

I read an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Awwww
Who wouldn’t love this book!

The characters except the not so pleasant ones stole my heart. A very beautiful redemption story that tugged at my heart strings.

Karen Witemeyer has been one of my favourite authors and this book did not disappoint.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

Karen Witemeyer is known for her adventurous heroines and handsome cowboys in her historical western romances. Fairest of Heart is a fun retelling of Snow White and the seven dwarves...I mean cowboys!!

In Fairest of Heart we meet Texas Ranger, Titus, who doesn't know what to think of Penelope when he meets her. She has been working as a personal maid to a conniving actress and she tends to get into scrapes. He has hardened his heart because of past hurts and isn't quite sure if he can believe in her but maybe, just maybe, Penelope will be able to soften him up so that he can forgive himself and move on.

I can't wait to read Karen's next book!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 6 June 2023.






Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 6 June 2023

A delightful fairy tale re-telling with a Texas twist!

Orphaned at a young age, for Penelope Snow her growing beauty has always been something of a misfortune. Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley is more than a little suspicious of the young woman who has taken up residence with 7 rough and tumble old cowpokes, as he investigates a string of thieving.

A charming read from beginning to end, I loved the characters especially the old cowhands with their various defining qualities and tender heart towards Penelope's plight. Such a fun read that brought a smile to my face, I loved Penelope and Titus together. I really enjoyed seeing Ms. Witemeyer's take on a classic tale, bringing it out west and making it her own, infusing it with a strong core of faith.

Overall, this was a wonderful read, it brought a smile to my face and I liked Penelope's heart for others. A compelling read with a fairy tale twist, it makes for a cozy escape, entertaining, engaging, filled with romance and not shying away from faith. Highly recommend, and can't wait to read more in this series!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Karen Witemeyer’s novels have long been among my favorites, and Fairest of Heart is no exception. I love fairy tales so I was super excited when Karen announced she was writing a series of fairy tales with a western twist; I loved the nods to the Snow White story in Karen’s signature Texas setting. The romance in her books always makes me feel giddy, and I loved Titus and Penelope’s love story. Readers will also fall in love with the seven drovers, and will certainly take something from the lessons learned by characters along the way. I highly recommend Karen’s books, and I can’t wait for more in this series! 4.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A delightfully sweet, Christian, historical romance!
- And it was so fun that this was a loose fairytale retelling of Snow White! There were things throughout the book that mirrored the original fairytale, but also many original plot lines and scenes that still made this story original and engaging!

This book also has a fantastic cast! I loved Penelope Snow, and our hero Titus Kingsley, and the seven old men who Penelope stays with!

The adventure/mystery/suspense and good vs. evil was all very well done and I enjoyed this story from beginning to end! Each different POV added to the story!

I will say I wish there had been more romance between our two main characters - more moments of them together/time together, more forced proximity or moments of building chemistry. But I like my stories with lots of romance😁 but this story was still very sweet!

If you enjoy Christian historical fairytale retellings, definitely add this to your tbr!

Oh.my.adorable! A western fairytale retelling of Snow White? I was intrigued the moment I heard about this one and absolutely loved it!

Penelope Snow's beauty has always been a curse, especially now that she works for an actress who is cruel, vain, and ultimately jealous of Penelope. She is threatened enough that she plots to have Penelope taken care of...permanently.

Titus Kingsley is a Texas Ranger with a deep mistrust of beautiful women. When Penelope ends up at his grandfather's ranch, he is drawn to both her beauty and her kindness and when she is accused of theft in a case he is investigating, Titus has to decide if he is going to believe the evidence or his heart.

What I Loved:
Clever fairytale retelling
Historical western
Damsel in distress trope
Protective hero
Kind but strong heroine
Super sweet romance!
The 7 drovers of Diamond D Ranch
Inner beauty vs outer beauty
Entertaining and witty characters
Light faith thread/redemption theme

I loved all the clever nods to the fairytale yet the author put such a fun and unique spin on the story. Even though I had a general idea how it would end since it is retelling, I couldn't put the book down because I just had to know how it would happen.

This is a Christian fiction which I do enjoy but for me, there were a few parts where I wish that aspect had been dialed back a little bit. I loved and appreciated the themes of self-forgiveness and redemption.

And I absolutely cannot end my review without giving an extra shout-out to the 7 geriatric men who take Penelope under their wing. They were fantastically written and stole the show with every scene they were in.

I enjoyed this book from the first page until last and am eagerly awaiting more books in the series!

CW: villain seducing men + lots of talk about bust size means I probably wouldn't hand this one to a young teenager

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

I totally forgot this was a retelling of Snow White until about halfway through, but very well done! I loved the chemistry between the two main characters and the way the story of Snow White was weaved in, but not so much that it made the story boring. I will agree with other reviewers that the heroine was a little too perfect, but other than that, a delightful read!

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

Review: 3.5 stars

I was very sad to give this book such a low review. Now, I know what you’re probably thinking, - three and a half stars is not that low - but I don’t think I’ve ever given Karen Witemeyer less than a four stars and many of her books are five stars to me.

I appreciated seeing how Witemeyer worked all the key elements of the fairytale Snow White into this western romance. Penny was a sweet character and I really appreciated the depth that she has — a depth which is a bit lacking in the original fairytale. The fact that she has allowed the Lord to shape her into such an empathizing and caring character, with a surprisingly strong backbone, was inspiring.

Titus was not my favorite of witemeyer’s heroes, but I still liked him. I didn’t have anything to really complain about with him… but I also didn’t have anything that really set him apart from the crowd for me either.

I loved the seven grandfathers. They were funny, sweet, and added a much needed spice to the story.

What bothered me was the emphasis on bodily beauty. I mean, yes, it’s a Snow White retelling and it’s supposed to be about beauty, but this beauty talk seemed to focus on big busts. Both Madame LaBelle and Penelope are well endowed and there is a lot of emphasis on that. Yes, other beauty standards are brought out as well, such as smooth skin and pretty faces, and Penelope has a lot of emphasis put on the beauty of her spirit and character, but it felt like the bust size was emphasized more than anything else and that bothered me quite a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Another Witemeyer masterpiece!
`Fairest of Heart` is an enchanting retelling of Snow White, featuring Penelope Snow, a beautiful damsel-in-distress and Titus Kingsley, a handsome Texas Ranger. (I hope you get the name references, because I love them!;)
I loved this book's cover from the first time I saw it! It gives me `Head in the Clouds` vibes and I just knew it's a great book!
The characters are strongly build, and I totally loved the `Snow White` and greek mithology references.
The faith theme is what I usually love in Mrs. Witemeyer's books and in this one I really enjoyed the characters' relationships with God.
Personally, I loved this quote: "God had written this man into her story at just the right moment". It's such a beautiful thought!
After reading this book, I was left with such deep thoughts, which doesn't happen really often to me. That makes it one of my favourite books!

* I received a copy from the publisher via NatGalley, and this is my honest opinion.*

Oh, my word!! I loved this book!! Fairest of Heart, book 1 in the new Texas Ever After series by Karen Witemeyer, was an absolute dreamy fairytale. Snow White in the Old West. If you love romance and mystery and outright adventure with a little fairy dust along the way, you will love this beautiful tale.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.

Karen Witemeyer will always give her readers sweet romance, quirky, funny dialogue and a great story all the way around.

I enjoyed this sweet historical Snow White retelling so much! Karen Witemeyer knows how to write a sweet romance with just the right amount of suspense and intrigue. 💗

This book was so cozy and sweet. I loved reading Penelope’s journey to finding a home with the elderly Diamond D family. She and Titus were both sweet characters and I loved reading their romance!
The fairytale aspect of this book was woven in well to the story. Penelope was a wonderful Snow White and the Diamond D crew were so lovable and sweet! Also the vibe of the story was just sweet, romantic, and cozy. 💗

The only part of this book that I didn’t enjoy was Narcissa’s POV which was to be expected since she is the villain. I mostly skimmed her POV.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story! If you’re looking for a sweet historical romance with a fairytale vibe, I think you’ll love this one! It’s also perfect to read during spring and summertime.🥰

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy in exchange for a review! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Abandoned as a baby, Penelope Snow has led a difficult life. She has learned the hard way that it’s best to downplay her good looks and try to appear as drab as possible in her job as assistant to renowned actress Madame LaBelle. While the acting troupe is performing in a small Texas town, Penelope inadvertently raises the wrath of her employer and finds herself abandoned once again, this time, tied to a tree and left for dead. Rescued by a handsome Texas Ranger and an unlikely band of seven crusty old men from a nearby ranch, Penelope doesn’t realize that trouble will soon come her way again. Cozy up and enjoy this entertaining retelling of a classic fairy tale with a Texas ranch flair.

The Heroine

Although an orphan, Penelope Snow grew up knowing an adopted mother who taught her about God and provided an education for her. Her first attempt at independence, working as a maid in a wealthy Chicago household, ended in disaster. Penelope takes her chances by hiring on as a lady’s maid to a famous actress heading west with her theatre troupe. This time, Penelope makes sure to disguise her natural charms.

But things look dark when Madame LaBelle explodes in a fit of rage and orders her henchman to ‘deal’ with Penelope. Tied to a tree in the middle of nowhere and dressed in nothing by her undergarments, Penelope manages to free herself and sleep beneath the tree. The next morning, she wakes up to find seven men surrounding her.

She only recognizes one of the men—a handsome stranger she startled on her walk the previous day, and the rest look elderly and harmless. But a defenseless woman can never know what the future will bring. Will this encounter bring her the one thing she’s always longed for?

The Hero

Titus Kingsley knows firsthand the evil power of a beautiful woman. His older brother fell victim to such a schemer and lost his life. So, when he crosses paths with a beautiful woman in the middle of nowhere, his inquiring Texas Ranger mind starts churning. He vows to investigate when he finds the same woman sleeping beneath a tree near his grandpa’s Diamond D ranch. He’d do anything to protect men (even if the ranch’s residents have all passed their 60th year) from the wiles of deceptive beauty.

But the more he learns about Miss Snow, the more he rethinks his views of beautiful women, for Penelope’s beauty wells from deep within. Just when he starts to trust Penelope’s integrity, evidence points to Miss Snow as the perpetrator of a string of robberies.

With the help of seven old men, Penelope and Titus have a chance at true love. But only if they can figure out the villain behind the thefts.

What I Loved About This Book

Readers will love this grown-up version of the classic tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Witemeyer turns it into a rollicking melodrama set in the 1890s in Texas. Unlike the run-of-the-mill melodrama, the author creates a cast of well-rounded characters on a journey to understand the destructive power of self-blame and the power of faith to face the tribulations of life.

Fans of Regina Jennings and Kathy Marie Hake will love Fairest of Heart.

This was a book that grabbed my attention from the very beginning. Penelope is an orphan who is struggling to make her way in the world. Her problem is that she is a beauty and that is all guys see. So she tries to make herself invisible with drab and loose clothes. Her boss finds out and orders her to be taken away. Titus, a Texas Ranger, finds her and takes her to his grandpa's ranch.

I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend to everyone. Titus and Penelope were fun to get to know.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Those who follow me probably know of my love for Karen Witemeyer’s books, I have collected all of them in both English and Dutch. In fact, my family does, my dad, my 87 year old grandfather and grandmother can’t wait till there is a new one and keep bugging me about it. But I must admit that I was a bit skeptical about a Snow White retelling, as I already know that story (ok ok I know these books are all happy ever after so that’s not a suprise but still). Instead I found myself laughing out loud when finding a clever Snow White reference, and I ended up wanting even more Snow White in the book. Ok, so as always: I loved it.

The book is quite funny, funnier than usual, but with quite a bit of depth in it, especially about God’s justice versus mercy. The kindness of Penelope combined with the strong sense of justice from prince… err.. ranger Titus were perfect. The retirement home run by Titus’ amazing grandfather is a stroke of genius, and I love all the men living in this amazing, loving house.

The “evil queen” for me was a bit too much at times, she really did some dumb things, but that is to be expected of a fairytale retelling, though I would’ve liked for her to be a bit more likeable instead of cartoonishly vain and greedy. Penelope is the sweetest (don’t underestimate her though!), and I loved her character the most. She’s resilient, strong, has been duped by the world many times and hasn’t known real life, yet she remained kind. Love that!

The story is so intruiging, you need to know what happens next, not a dull moment to be found. I absolutely love this newest Karen Witemeyer book and I’m sad it’s over. Can’t wait for the next book though!

I received a free e-arc through Netgalley but it hasn’t influenced my opinions.

I love the "modern" historical take on the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I loved the "dwarfs" in the story - the old gentlemen - and how integral they were to the story. They made me laugh with the bantering and their different personalities. Penelope Snow was a little too naive for me at times but overall, I loved the book.

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer is another winner for me. I love a good fairy tale with a happily ever after and this one is just that. This is a western retelling of Snow White. I thoroughly enjoyed Penelope Snow and the Texas Ranger, Titus Kinglsley. As well as the seven old ranchers on the Double D Ranch. They were the steal of the show in my book. I loved each and everyone of them. The evil Narcissa Labelle was definitely a mean, self centered villian. The second half of the book had a lot of action and it kept me turning the pages until the end. Scripture sprinkled throughout the story for wonderful inspiration. I have to say it blessed my heart. I'm like a dry well thirsty for The Word. The author inspires in a beautiful way and the whole of the book was a pleasure to read and escape from reality for a spell. I definitely recommend anyone who loves western romance with scripture for inspiration.
*I was given a copy of the book by Bethany House Publishers and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars

Karen Witemeyer is off to a great start with this book as the first in her new series. It reminded me a little of Snow White, but I'm not sure if the author meant to do that even if the last name is Snow. It was fascinating to learn about how the theater world operated in 1890s, especially in the midwest and south. Karen Witemeyer has a gift of placing the reader right into the pages of her story and I felt like a part of the traveling troupe and then the Diamond D Ranch alongside Penelope.

Penelope's sweet, kind, and helpful spirit was easy to love, though she felt like a cookie-cutter heroine. Titus was a bit prickly in the beginning but his unswerving loyalty, tenderness, and sense of duty and justice won me over quickly. Their faith journeys were real with plenty of take-away lessons. Their romance was slow, sweet, and quite lovely. The secondary characters were equally remarkable and the villain was quite devious, which added depth to the plot.

If you enjoy historical romance, you will definitely enjoy this book. I received the book from Bethany House via Interviews and Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.