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.

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer is an excellent start to her Texas Ever After series. This creative take on the Snow White fairy tale will delight her fans.

Penelope Snow is a different version of Snow White, but one that is infinitely more relatable. Her innocent and generous nature captures the reader's attention from the first page.

I loved all the nods to the original fairytale - the huntsman and his mercy to Snow White (I mean Penelope), the wicked witch (who isn't a witch but acts like one) our handsome prince in the form of Titus. And, of course, the seven dwarves (aka grandfathers) who come to Penelope's rescue.

I loved this story from beginning to end and applaud the author for her ingenuity. I can't wait for the next one!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest review.

Do you love fairytale retellings? What about westerns? Snow White? If you answered yes, then this book is perfect for you. I absolutely loved this story! The author follows the Disney Snow White storyline, retold of course. I love how the author gets all the characters of Snow White in the story, Snow White, the Prince, the Evil Queen, the Huntsman and the Seven Dwarves. Snow White is Penelope Snow, who is beautiful and works as a maid for a famous actress Narcissa LaBelle(The Evil Queen). Narcissa thinks Penelope is going to take her place so she sends “The Huntsman” to dispose of her. He instead takes Penelope to a tree and ties her up but leaves her with a knife. Soon the Prince, Titus Kingsley who is a Texas Ranger, finds her with help from his grandfather “Doc” and his grandfather’s 6 friends. They take her into their home. Titus is tasked with finding missing jewels that seem to missing after Narcissa LaBelle’s shows.

I really enjoyed this story!! I love the story of Snow White so when I saw a Western retelling, I was definitely interested. I loved all the characters except Narcissa but she is the bad guy so we aren’t supposed to like her. Penelope is sweet and kind. Titus is nice and smart. I love them together! I love all the old men and how they want to protect Penelope. Overall a great story and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Content:Narcissa uses her body to seduce men and a closed door scene is included with a little more detail than I would prefer but still okay.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Yes, this story does have a lot of greed, jealousy, and a quick reminder of your childhood story of Snow White!

The author did a wonderful job of bringing this story alive, and loved the twists she gave this read, and then surprises!

The banter often had me smiling, but there are times when you wonder if all will survive? Page turner for sure, I need answers!

We are offered some sweet romance, but I loved the compassion shown to the less fortunate here, and the home that was made for them!

Now I can't wait for the next book in this series!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer is a fun and engaging Christian Western. I’ve been a fan of Witemeyer’s novels for a long time now, so when I heard she was going to do a series around classic fairytales I knew it would be fantastic. This first book does not disappoint. I love the way Witemeyer takes the classic Snow White story and makes it wholly her own. Hands down, I loved the seven grandpas the best. They make this story. I love how each grandpa resembles a famous seven dwarf, but is also unique and endearing in his own right. I love how they take Penelope in and love, nurture, and protect her as if she really was their grandchild. As far as the other characters go, Penelope and Titus are a fun couple. They each play their Snow White role well. Penelope is the perfect fairytale princess, and Titus is an excellent prince-in-Ranger clothing. There is instant attraction between the two, but there is no acting on those feelings until much later in the story. I would definitely call their relationship a slow burn. On their way to love, however, Penny and Titus have quite an adventure. Madam LaBelle is a nasty villain. She actually makes the evil queen in Snow White seem tame. I appreciate that we get to see her point of view, but, man, is she a villainous and vain and vile person. The way she sees the world — that it owes her something — is really hard to handle. I wanted to slap her a few times. As with every Witmeyer novel, there are many themes discussed. My favorite topic is about blame and where we focus it. Humans have an odd tendency to forget where blame lies, and, instead, take blame away from the villain and put it upon themselves. We are not responsible for the evil actions of others. That’s it. Period! Bad guys do bad things and the icky, ugly fallout of their choices is their fault.

Fairest of Heart is an enjoyable read that I highly recommend. If you are a fan of Westerns, if you love a highly engaging story, and if you like a well-done fairytale variant then I recommend you purchase a copy of this story ASAP. You will not be disappointed you did.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, via NetGalley in order to read and review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Once upon a time in Texas...This is a fairytale Western retelling of Snow White, The romance between the two main characters was wholesome and clean, and based on principles of trust and faith. Penelope and Titus were just wonderful characters. They were engaging and I felt for them both as they tried to figure out life. A fun Read! with a charming and joyful heroine and a Texas Ranger imperfect hero in quest for justice. A storyline that captures your attention and emotions.

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

This is a totally different take on western historical fiction. Snow White has just been upgraded. I loved everything about this book.

From Penelope with her joyful attitude even in the worst circumstances, to Titus a Texas Ranger with his imperfections and quest for justice, and finally the retired Doc and six retired cowpokes who live on the D & D Ranch. All combined to make this a most enjoyable read.

The story itself is unique. An orphan who works for a theater troop’s diva meets a Texas Ranger who is rescuing a dog. Soon he may be rescuing her. There’s romance, family, faith, and a very unlikable antagonist whose partner in crime has a few redeeming qualities.

Karen has a way with her description of each character that brings them to life painting a clear picture not just physically but also who they are on a deeper level. She pulls on your heartstrings, makes you smile, and immerses you in the story. This book was a quick read and one I highly recommend.

I was given a copy through NetGalley courtesy of Bethany House and this is my honest opinion of the book.

Penelope Snow is travelling with an acting troupe as an assistant to the lead actress, Narcissa. When Penelope starts to catch on to Narcissa's evil ways, she's abruptly taken out to pasture and left to die by Narcissa's right hand henchman.

Titus Kingsley is a Texas Ranger who's reeling from the loss of his brother, Tate. He's officially taken himself off the market after a woman led to Tate's demise. That is, until he sees HER. She's twirling around in a field with not a care in the world.

The seven men of Diamond D become super protective over Titus and Penelope when life brings them together unexpectedly. Can the lot of them keep the Evil Queen (Narcissa) away and let the Prince win his girl?

I LOVED this story!! Karen Witemeyer never disappoints with her stories! There are so many levels in this book and many raw emotions that come out. This is a loose retelling of the fairy tale of Snow White but on a much deeper level. This is a story of true forgiveness, of submission, and of love. I can't wait to read more books in this series!

Fairest of Heart
By Karen Witemeyer
Pub Date: June 6, 2023
Bethany
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netagalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
First, I loved relationship between Titus and Penelope.
Second, as a Snow White retelling there’s a contrast made between physical and inner beauty.
Third, I felt the book was slightly preachy. Generally these books are read by Christians so the preaching is grating.
4 stars

A sweet, Christian, western Snow White adaption is waiting for you to enjoy! There is even a slight connection to Odysseus. I loved the seven misfit cowboys who take the place of the seven dwarfs. Even the wicked step-mother gets replaced with her evil twin – Narcissa. Faith, scripture, forgiveness and love are interwoven into the heart of this romance. And, Penelope’s joy for life wins over everyone, except Narcissa! With the book set in Texas, who else could be Prince Charming but a Texas Ranger in the form of Titus Kingsley, hero extraordinaire!

There is one area that could be adjusted. This is definitely a Christian romance. So, I expect faith to be a huge part of it. I do feel the romance would be just as enjoyable with a bit less scripture and ‘sermonizing.’ Your reader base is already Christian. We just want a ‘clean’ romance to enjoy.

For a fairy tale romance without too much angst and with a huge dollop of fun, enjoy Fairest of Heart.

Wow! Just wow! Fairest of Heart is a classic storyline that captures your attention and emotions. Like a retelling of Snow White one character has beauty without and within, while the other has outer beauty and inner darkness. Penelope’s beautiful nature captivates those both on the page and off. I absolutely loved this book, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.


I received a complimentary copy, but all opinions are expressly my own.

That. Was. Adorable.

I found this Christian fiction Snow White retelling set in Texas to be nothing short of delightful. Yeah, our heroine, the Snow White character, was too perfect, but that's really the only complaint, since this book was just so fun. Titus was such a great hero on an important growth journey of his own. The faith message wasn't something tacked on at the end, but something Titus, Penelope, and their friends (yay for wise mentors) referred to regularly throughout the story.
The shining jewel of this story was without a doubt, our seven "dwarves" - the most adorable collection of retired cowhands I've ever seen. They were all true to themselves throughout, giving us hours of delightful banter and interactions.
As you can see, I really enjoyed this book. I read a copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley so I could write an honest review, and all opinions are my own.

This was an ok read, but it reminded me too much of Snow White and the 7 dwarfs with big huge words that didn't really need to be in there.
But that's just me. For example; tenacious. Why not simplify it? The cover is simply beautiful. Yellow is my favorite color.
I did like the theme of forgiveness, and I did end up liking Penelope at the end.
Good always wins out no matter what.
The author did an excellent job with that.
She's also set a wonderful example of teaching the characters to keep the Faith no matter what happens to them.
So, overall, a good story.
A story that will leave you thinking about it long after it is over.
Jeb is quite the character once you get to know him.
Narcissa is a great name for the selfish one.
I will still recommend this novel for both young and old.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Fairest of Heart" is a retelling of the Disney version of Snow White but loosely set in 1892 in Texas. This was not an attempt to make the fairy tale realistic but fitted the main parts of the tale into a new setting and filled it out some. This made some parts (especially the beginning and the end) unrealistic. For example, a dog charged a Texas Ranger during an arrest. Titus was determined to save the dog that his teammate shot. Somehow this wound ended up on the dog's abdomen. He flipped the strange, previously-aggressive dog on it's back and pressed hard on his wound, and the dog just calmly submitted to it. Titus then abandoned his duty to help take his captives (one of whom was also shot) to jail and put this injured dog on his horse to canter several miles to the nearest doctor. The dog still didn't object. Fairy-tale, yes? And, seriously, why tear up a perfectly good blanket to make "shoes" for a barefoot Penelope to wear when Titus could have just gotten a horse for her to ride.

The core story was good, though. Even after Penelope was wronged, she sweetly sorrowed for the actress who was so obsessed with her appearance. Her kindness and goodness won everyone over (except the actress). I appreciate that Titus was able to see past the accusations against Penelope and his own prejudice against beautiful women when he was presented with her side of the story (as in, the truth). I like that he sincerely apologized for his behavior toward her and fought his tendency to want to doubt her again. He slowly but steadily sorted through the clues to figure out and then prove who the true criminal was.

Everyone on the ranch were better people by the end of the story, and Titus and his grandfather worked through their guilt over the death of Titus' brother. The main characters were Christian, and Penelope's faith was why she was able to forgive and not turn bitter over how she's been wronged in life. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this story to those who enjoy the fairy tale.

Penelope is in service to an actress named Narcissa LaBelle. Narcissa is difficult to please, but Penelope has been doing her job well. That is until Narcissa throws one of her royal fits and has her henchman take Penelope out to the woods and expose her to the elements to get rid of her. That is where the men from the Diamond D ranch find Penny and rescue her.

Titus Knightley is a ranger and has no time in his life for pretty women. He is not happy about the men of the Diamond D taking in Penny. He is sure that Penny is deceitful just like all women and it is his job to expose her deceit and send her packing.

I love the romance and mystery that each story by Karen Witemeyer brings. Fairest Of Heart has such sweet characters! I love all of the grandfatherly types at the Diamond D. They have open hearts for Penny and they show her a love that her life has lacked from the time she was abandoned as a baby. It didn't take Titus too long to get over his prejudice against her, but the getting there was a little rough! He frustrated me for a little bit, but when his big heart toppled it toppled pretty good! As always, the mystery was pretty exciting and brought many tense moments. If you like romance with a added side of mystery then I highly encourage you to read this book!