Now that I've read the book I understand why she titled this series "Patchwork Familly" and I love the name! I also love the title of the book too!

From where this book started to where it ended I never would have guessed. It wasn't so much that it had suspense (though it did have a little) but just because it didn't go the direction I expected. It also didn't have as much of the humor I'm used to in a typical Witemeyer book and I'll admit that threw me off a little.

Once I got into the story and realized it was a different rhythm than her previous books I found that I really liked Evangeline and Logan. I liked that Logan's character had a lot of room for growth. But I must admit I was most impressed with Zach in the book. For a kid with such a chip on his shoulder at the beginning, he turned out pretty good by the end!

What most fascinated me in this book was how the siblings figured out how to control Seth's asthma! I love that they were able to keep him so healthy. It also made me wish we as a society would try a little harder with health issues through healthy choices instead of always taking medicine but that is another story!

In the end, this was a good story with a little love, a mystery, and a lot of forgiveness. I enjoyed the book a lot but suddenly feel the need to revisit some of her humorous stories I love so much.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. This is my honest opinion.

More Thank Meets The Eye is a book of true dichotomy. Evangeline was seen as being cursed - first she lost bother her parents at a very young age and second there is something that I think is very beautiful but others think it is the opposite - but through it all Evangeline has kept up a positive attitude and a smile on her face and heart. Plus she has two special men in her life - why are they special? well you have to read this to find out - Then there is Logan who comes to town to find someone who did something outrageous to him - they - nope that too you have to find out - but Ms. Witemeyer grabs you by your collar at the very first word - "don't" - and it keeps you entranced to the very last - that word I wont tell you because maybe it will tell you too much - maybe it won't.

Karen Witemeyer’s book, More Than Meets the Eye, was appropriately named. It caught my eye because of the cover and then the description. Yet there is so much more to this book than meets the eye as one dives into the actual story. There is humor, mystery, romance, and a major conflict too. And these ingredients are all perfectly combined into a story that absorbed me into the tale of a family, who is a real family yet not related. Evangeline was my favorite character since she was so sweet and cheerful even though she had gone through many hard times. I completely enjoyed following her story with Logan in this book.

I would recommend this book for those who enjoy historical romances with a little bit of humor and a lot of adventure.

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

I enjoyed every moment of this story. From the heart-wrenching prologue to the very last scene the characters come to life and lived in my imagination. Reading this story is like watching the movie play out in your mind.

Lively, witty conversations, exciting adventure and mystery, tender heartfelt moments of family love and a sweet budding friendship that grows into love. This story has it all!

Each character is endearing and unique. They all have their own hardships and burdens they carry. The Heroine Evangeline (Evie) may have two different colored eyes, and she may be considered an outcast by the society standards, but she doesn’t let that drag her down. She is a ray of sunshine and has a tender heart for those who are hurting. She is a champion of the underdog.

A story about true beauty as well as about loving others just as they are. Offering forgiveness, even when it’s not asked for. I simply didn’t want to see this wonderful story end. I give this story 5-stars and am eagerly looking forward to the next story from Karen!

(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

Talk about a opening scene, I was immediately hooked. From the very first page I was transported to another place and time, and immediately fell in love with the characters. Witemeyer had me both crying and laughing. Craving more, it was nearly impossible to stop reading. I loved the storyline, and it is so unlike anything I’ve ever read. The relationship of siblings is like no other. I loved getting a glimpse into a bond formed by choice that might even be closer than blood. There was the perfect amount of romance, surprises, and suspense. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. While reading I was already anticipating the next book, that’s how much I love the characters. 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.

More Than Meets the Eye (2018) by Karen Witemeyer is the first book in her Patchwork Family series. This book recently published on June 5th by Bethany House Publishers, and can be purchased wherever books are sold. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 352 pages in length. With a full-time job and quite the rambunctious six-year old at home, More Than Meets the Eye took me three days to read. I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give More Than Meets the Eye 5+++++ STARS. This story is a Christian Historical Romance.

More Than Meets the Eye is an AMAZING story. I loved every minute of this book. From the heartbreaking prologue to the final paragraph of the epilogue, I was completely hooked. The storytelling in this book is stellar. There’s a debt that needs paying, an attempted murder, a mystery to be solved, creepy villains, and a friendship that blossoms into a very sweet romance. This book has everything a reader could want in a great book!

Evangeline Hamilton is the main character, and she is excellent. I adore her personality, and wish I could be more like her. She is like sunshine, and it’s consistent. She is always able to see the best in people, and she never judges others. Because of her mismatched eyes, the people in her community treat her like she is a leper. At best, many ignore her as if she doesn’t exist. At worst, some say really awful and hurtful things about her just loud enough so she can hear. They accuse Evangeline of being a witch. They call her names. They are just plain awful. BUT, she never lets it get her down. Yes, this treatment pains her deeply, and she is so lonely being an outcast, but Evangeline never lets the meanness make her dark or blacken her soul. I found Evangeline’s character refreshing, and a great model for how a Christian should behave especially in the rougher times.

Another aspect I especially love about this book is when Logan realizes God’s Truth. There is a fabulous “unveiling” moment when the scales fall from Logan’s eyes. I promise not to spoil a single thing — suffice it to say, it’s a really significant moment and one of the best parts of the story. Witemeyer is able to perfectly capture that moment when one is at his/her weakest and lowest point — that pivotal moment when God reaches into our hearts and we finally realize His Truth. This scene is a great reminder of what Paul discusses in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (ESV):

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

It is at our weakest moments that we are actually our strongest IF we go to God. When we go to God, we have God’s power and presence surrounding us. There is no safer or stronger place to be than with God. And, that is exactly what Logan does. Once he realizes his grave error, Logan turns to God. He asks for forgiveness and help. And, wouldn’t you know it, God totally delivers! It’s a fantastic moment in the book, and it’s a great reminder for me.

More Than Meets the Eye is a great read. I enjoyed every moment of this story, and I am really sad my time with Evangeline and Logan is over. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series. If you are looking for a highly engaging, fast-paced novel filled with excellent characters, a fantastic story line, and very timely lessons than this book is definitely the one for you!

It took me a good 1/3 of the book before I really got "into it". I struggled with relating to the characters, and almost set it aside several times -- which I just felt terrible about, because Karen Witemeyer is a great author, and I know it! I love her books and couldn't figure out why I struggled so to get invested.

But thankfully, a switch flipped at that 1/3 mark -- nothing in particular I could point to, but something happened! -- and I finished the book in short order!

Eva, Seth, and Zach make quite a trio, and Logan is the perfect fourth. He's just what the doctor ordered and, in my mind, a tall, cold drink on a hot day.

I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series.

I received a free copy of the book via the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was my first time reading a book by this author but I really enjoyed the story. Normally I don't like "historical fiction" but the characters were interesting and tied togther in a manner that made you want to find out what happened in their lives. I enjoyed the scripture references and found them to be helpful. - I wanted to keep reading about Evie and her adopted brothers and hope that there will be another in this series of books to continue the story.

Plot: I really enjoyed it! From the very first chapter I was immediately drawn into the book, and wanted to find out what would happen!

Characters: Evangeline was a great main character! I really liked the fact that while she was adventurous, she wasn't stupid. She thought things out before she did them, but wasn't afraid to act to help her family. I loved her brothers! The family that they had made together was really nice. I especially liked Zach, and I hope the author is writing a book about him. Logan was great!

The cover: I like the fact that the cover mentions how her eyes look, because they play a big part in the book.

Overall: I loved this book! This was an excellent new book by Karen Witemeyer, and is now one of my favorite Adult Christian books. And I really hope the author is writing a book about Zack! A really good book, I highly recommend it! :)

I enjoyed this book. I loved the story of the siblings and how they chose to be a family and stuck together despite not being blood and being really young when they got together. I also think that a lot of people could relate to Evie in that even though most people don’t have two different color eyes, almost everyone has something about their body that they’re ashamed of. I would have liked to see how Logan reacted to the siblings not being blood but it was still good nonetheless. I also think Logan’s forgiveness of what Zach did to his family seemed a little fabricated and quick but nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and I’m looking forward to Zach’s story and seeing more interaction between Zach, Evie, and Seth.

The first in a new series by Karen Witemeyer it follows three unwanted orphans who met on the orphan train, banded together and made their own family.



Zach is the oldest, he is a gruff, protector, with a heart of gold. Seth is scrawny, with asthma, who reads everything he can get his hands on. Both of them are very protective of Evie, who has face prejudice because of her different colored eyes. They find a safe place out of town where Seth is free of asthma and Evie can wander the hills with her pet pig, Hezekiah.



Logan Fowler is a man bent on revenge, he wants to ruin the man who hurt his family, but he isn't expecting to find Evie. He tells himself that befriending her isn't a lie, and he is intrigued by her beautiful eyes.



Will Evie and Logan find in each other More Than Meets the Eye?



Logan is an unexpected hero who bursts onto the scene--literally. He has a bent for revenge, but the more that he gets to know Evie and her family, the more he comes to realize that he needs to come clean about his reasons for coming to them. I like how he encourages Evie, and urges her to pay not attention to the ignorant townspeople who fling their painful insults. I liked the dialog between him and Evie.



Evie has a big heart, despite being hurt by people's ignorance. She is kind, honest, and gives a first impression of naivety, but has a level of spiritual maturity that shines through. I love her pet pig, who brings a lot of humor to this riveting novel.



I liked this book from the beginning, and how you don't only see the relationship of the main characters, but also get to know Evie's brothers, and their new friend Christie, a deaf girl who can speak and read lips. There are great characters, humor, faith, mystery, with an action packed conclusion. I liked the theme of giving God control, and trusting in His plan and not our own. I couldn't put it down, it was an absolute delight to read. This is one of my favorite books so far by this author!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

More Than Meets the Eye is a fantastic tale of finding love in the American west that captured my heart from the start.

When she first steps on the orphan train, Evangeline – Evie – Hamilton is a tiny child full of dreams. The day she gets off she is a heartbroken little girl, aware that her mismatched eyes have made her a pariah among much of polite society. Many believe her cursed, others believe her capable of casting curses with her disparate orbs. The love of one person can make a huge difference though, and Evie is fortunate enough to have the love of two extraordinary young men. Like her, they had been long term orphans on the train, facing rejection in town after town. At the end of the trip, choosing not to go back to the tough streets of New York, the three build a life for themselves in Texas. It wasn’t easy – there have been plenty of lean years – but now they have their own farm and a decent reserve of funds. The locals may consider them odd, but fifteen years down the road they are just happy to be whole, healthy and have a home of their own.

Logan Fowler is convinced his home was stolen from him. Once one of the denizens of a small Texas town, he’s been wandering the state in recent years, honing his skills as a fighter and card shark. It’s a long way from his mama’s Sunday school teachings but Logan feels it’s a necessity. He’s determined to win back his land from Zach Hamilton, the man who cheated his daddy out of the family farm in Pecan Gap. But when he gets there, the first Hamilton he encounters isn’t Zach, but sunshiny Evie. He’s heard how the town folk talk about her but knows there is no way this bright, lively, effervescent young lady is anything but as wonderful as she seems. And it’s clear she loves her rapscallion brothers a lot. As Logan spends time with Evie and slowly falls under her spell, he finds himself faced with a much tougher decision than he had ever expected: the future or the past. Because if he goes after vengeance against Zach, he knows the price will be the future he could have with Evie. And he’s not sure it’s a price he is willing to pay.

Le sigh. This story is easily the best Inspirational romance I have read in years, if not the best Inspirational romance I have ever read. The execution of the tale is just amazing; I kept waiting for a shoe to drop – for something, somewhere to be off – but instead I got a book that I finished and then restarted with ease.

So, what makes it so great? The writing is delightful. The prose has wit and gentle humor and yet is clear and concise, painting wonderful word pictures. The author does a great job of explaining things without info dumping; I understood why Logan and Evie were attracted to each other, were able to ‘get’ each other because everything I needed to know appeared naturally within the text.

The characters are fully rounded and charming. Logan is an alpha-male without ever heading into alpha-jerk territory. He can shoot, ride, run cards, and prevaricate with the best of them but he realizes that those things have limited merit. He longs for more, which makes it perfect when he meets our heroine. He values Evie right away because he has leaned to see beneath the surface and what he sees is someone amazing. I liked that he didn’t give any thought to her mismatched eyes other than to think they were beautiful. Evie is sunshine to his dark shadows and he finds himself suddenly craving the light.

Evie is a wonderful balance of sweet and good, savvy and capable. She is as friendly as can be to new neighbor Logan but also wary. The man has secrets and she knows those can be dangerous things. Having lived with Zach for years, she recognizes a noble heart behind a crusty exterior when she sees it, which helps her to bring out the best in Logan and hold her own in their encounters. His occasional growling doesn’t cause her to panic, pander or bluster and she keeps calm under fire, a very admirable trait. She has a naturally sunny personality, but it isn’t nonsensical. She doesn’t believe the world is made of sunshine and roses, she just gives everyone a chance and doesn’t let life get her down.

As a couple they are awesome. They meet when Evie follows strange footsteps to Logan’s camp and he saves her from a charging hog who happens to be her pet pig Hezekiah. The two exchange quips and gentle banter, falling into an instant comraderie. Logan is a bit taciturn but that is made up for by the fact that the reader is privy to his thoughts and knows the delight he is taking in the encounter. He and Evie develop a friendship before a courtship although both are thinking of/hoping for more. As the story progresses and secrets are revealed, they work through them with maturity and honor and arrive at a very satisfying HEA. This is an Inspirational so while passion is mentioned and desire is shown, the ‘action’ is kept to kisses.

Like in most religious novels there is a a moral to the story and this is where the author’s skill truly shines. The problem most writers have is keeping that message from overwhelming the romance or from turning the storytelling into a novelized sermon by having the characters pedantically lecture at the reader. In this story, Evie and Logan’s conversations contain faith in a very natural way. From the beginning, they know the other has had some exposure to Christianity since they both have pets named after biblical characters. The conversations they have beyond that initial exchange of information aren’t pedantic but searching; they are both trying to discern how to live a Christian life in a world that doesn’t always make sense. Their talk about God is relevant to them as characters, not just thrown in to give a spiritual veneer to the tale. I also deeply appreciated that the author shows that church isn’t always a safe place; both Logan and Evie find friends and foes in that space. I would say that the religion level is high here but appropriate for the time and place where the tale is taking place. It is also a form of faith that has a universal aspect; finding solace in God and being kind to others are something most denominations teach.

More Than Meets the Eye is an enchanting tale of love between two damaged but resilient hearts. It’s cheery and enjoyable and will definitely leave a smile on the reader’s face. For fans of Inspirational romance, this novel contains everything you are looking for.

Buy it at: Amazon/Barnes & Noble/iBooks/Kobo

KAREN knocks another winner in the book world. Enjoyed this story and loved the twists and turns of Evangeline story. Catchy title.

I love when an author can draw me right into the story and setting and make me feel like I'm there! Evie's background as an orphan on the orphan train is tragic, yet she uses her trials to strengthen her faith and stays optimistic. She has such a fun and funny personality, it was a pleasure to read about her mannerisms and special way of warming up even the most recalcitrant cowboy. Her insecurities about her eyes and the way many of the townspeople respond to her difference sharply contrasts with the young woman that Logan gets to know, and he provides encouragement and support. Logan has his own spiritual journey as he struggles with the concepts of justice and vengeance, and his blossoming relationship with Evie. I liked seeing the interactions between Logan and Evie's overprotective brothers and the way they slowly began to trust each other. The discovery of an abused young woman shakes up the plot and adds mystery and danger as Logan and the siblings protect her and themselves against a ruthless and conniving villain. Secrets, family loyalty, and romance all complicate the decisions Logan and Evie have in front of them, and I was completely immersed in the story the whole time. Highly recommend!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

What an entertaining story! Karen Witemeyer’s book about the Hamilton patchwork” family” is sweet, funny, inspiring, and at times suspenseful.

Evangeline is a wonderful main character in this book. The timeframe of the story is in 1894, but Evangeline’s struggle of being “different” is common to our present time. She is overlooked, misunderstood, and made fun of because of her mismatched eye color. I loved her empathy for others and the way she always tried to find a way to help, even when she was treated poorly herself. Her brothers’ family loyalty and their care of her was touching. Her faith was always strong. The romance between she and Logan was sweet and wholesome. I’m hoping there’s a follow-up story about Zach, as he deserves his own happily-ever-after story. If you love Christian historical novels set in the 1800’s, gou’ll Love this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Karen Witemeyer always writes great romances. This one is no exception. It is a very sweet romance that jumps to a page turning start. It begins with Evangeline Pearson and her brother, Hamilton on an orphan train trying to be united with new parents when tragedy strikes. Evangeline ends up with two new brothers and a new last name instead.

Jumping ahead in time, Evangeline and her new brothers, Zach and Seth now much older are happily living on their ranch. Enter Logan Fowler, looking to restore to his mother what was taken from them in a card game years earlier leading to the suicide of his father. He blames Zach Hamilton and means to make him pay. But Logan, meets the ever cheerful, Evangeline with two different colored eyes and he is never going to be the same and he just might have to change his agenda.

I highly recommend this for your reading list. I received it from Netgalley for my honest review.

More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

Eva is quite possibly my very favorite female character, at least for this year. As I was reading, I kept coming up with more and more descriptions for her. Words like vivacious, feisty, flirty and fun. Like a beautiful bubble wafting on the breeze, casting prisms of light on everything around. Yeah, ouch. Forget I used that one! Let me say that she was so alive and so tender and sweet. Logan began to call her his wood sprite, which is a good way to describe her. I especially appreciated her tender heart and her love for the Lord. She had such compassion for all living things which resulted in her adopting a baby wild boar. Seriously.

Speaking of wild boars (because I was in the last paragraph – speaking of wild boars, that is – re-read it, you’ll see), Hezekiah, Eva’s boar, was the catalyst for the interesting meeting between Eva and Logan. I can’t do justice to it here and don’t want to spoil the surprise. Let’s just say that Logan is such a protector and hero. That scene was so very funny!

Logan had a terrible desire for vengeance. Inconveniently, the man he sought it from was Eva’s brother. How inopportune – falling in love with your enemy’s sister!

Eva’s brothers were such strong and interesting characters. Zach was terrific and I am hoping very much that the next book in this series will give him peace and his happy ending. He is so noble and is the kind of big brother every girl should have—willing to sacrifice just about anything for his sister. He did make his share of mistakes and dealt with feelings of deep remorse and guilt.

Seth suffered from asthma that came close to killing him. He and the others learned how to manage it for the most part and he became the brains of the family.

Combining humor with poignant spiritual truths, author Karen Witemeyer wrote a wonderful story. In addition to Eva and Logan’s story, a mystery pops up in the middle resulting in some interesting adventures for the entire family and a new friend they acquire along the way.

Captivated by this story from the onset, I found myself smiling and marking far more quotes than I can possibly share with you, though I have included a fair number with this post. Feel free to tweet them, post them, pin them and share them in whatever way you like.


This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net.

Get a preview of More Than Meets the Eye at AmongTheReads.net


I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers, Netgalley for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

Karen Witemeyer is one of my go-to authors for this Christian fiction genre. I'm never disappointed, as her characters always have depth, the plot moves at a great pace and has interesting twists along with good dialogue. You will also have a solid Christian message without the "preachy" feel. I love it when authors weave their faith into a story, but when it is laid out more like a textbook than a natural part of the plot, it is kind of a turn off. This has never happened when I've read one of Witemeyer's books. I also love the play on words with this title! There is a lot of good backstory with each of the characters, the depth of which causes each of them to be more than they seem. Along with that, Evangeline's two different colored eyes make her even more interesting, or even cursed, as some of the townspeople think.

I really loved the central themes of family, loyalty, and serving others. Evangeline was a fun heroine. She could turn on her sweet innocent side when it served her, but deep down she was perceptive and knew that Logan wasn't all he seemed. Logan was dead set on his mission of reclaiming what he felt was rightfully his, but when he meets Evangeline his path begins to take a different direction. She softens his heart, yet he still has to work through a lot of circumstances and memories that have hardened him. The romantic tension was well written and just right!

Personal takeaway...We never know what is behind a person...what their story is or what they've been through. Showing them God's love and kindness can soften hearts and build beautiful relationships.

I would certainly recommend this book as well as Witemeyer's other books!

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley, in order to share my personal thoughts and opinions, which I did.**

In her new series debut, Karen Witemeyer examines some characters with unique challenges.

Evangeline Hamilton has not had an easy life. She’s lost family and people steer away from her because of her unique eyes (one blue and one brown). Yet she has managed to carve her own happiness with her brothers in the town of Pecan Gap, Texas. And she has not let the tragedy nor the ignorance of people smother her joy.

Logan isn’t at all expecting to find someone like Evangeline in his search for justice. And this woman manages to upend his world (in the best kind of way).

More than Meets the Eye is a book that examines what makes a family. Evangeline’s family is what not traditional, but she and her brothers have carved out their place with each other. Evangeline’s sunshine filters into Zach’s sullenness and Seth’s protectiveness. None of this family is perfect, but they love each other.

With a little mystery, some action, a few laughs, and loads of emotion, Witemeyer delivers another engaging read with lots of heart.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

A book that offers a lot of different things going on including, prejudice, murder, bootlegging, kidnapping, cheating, to name a few.
While this book begins on the orphan train, that is not the main focus of this story, yes, it is about the children’s survival, but mostly as adults.
We do get a bit of romance here, and it is really sweet with new beginnings, and you can see the faith of these people leading them.
This book became a real page turner for me, I had to find out the outcome, and there are a lot of surprises right to the end.

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