This book read so smoothly, making it hard to put down. Karen Witemeyer really makes it look easy!

The marriage of convenience trope is used to full effect here, with a large part of the ongoing tension being when Zach and Abigail will make this a "real" marriage and begin having those "relations" that Zach bargained for. That makes it sound a tad unseemly, but it's really a rather cute, clean story that is refreshingly frank about marital love and the emotional intimacy that should co-exist with the physical intimacy.

Characters are well-drawn - independent, generous Abigail and taciturn, protective Zach. It's obvious the author "knows" her characters well as they always remain in character.

The spiritual messages of letting go of grudges, forgiving oneself, and relying on God are well done.

My only disappointment is in the cover the publisher selected. It's attractive and cute - but it's not Zach and Abigail. I rarely comment on covers in reviews, but the dissonance between the cover and the text really struck me. It's lovely if the author portrays an overweight heroine who is loved by her husband just as she is, but when the cover model is anything but overweight, it undercuts the story's message. Likewise, the model for Zach does not resemble the gruff, silent hero who permeates the pages of More Than Words Can Say.

Another winner by Karen Witemeyer in More Than Words Can Say! The premise is simple, Abigail is forced to marry someone to keep her bakery. I adored the twist where Abigail and Zach don't have "relations" until she is ready. So they basically marry and then he courts her. I loved, loved, loved how the reader had a backstage pass to the journey of them falling in love with each other. The love grew in such a tender and organic way.

This book held great tension and very nice plot twists to keep me interested until the very end. Grab your copy of More Than Words Can Say today!

Super cute perfect sweet romance story. I love reading good clean books!
5 stars!!! I really enjoyed the charcters and the charcter growth. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
Book summary
After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he's always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council.

There is something about Karen Witemeyer’s writing that allows it to be light-hearted, easy reading while also being entirely sincere. More Than Words Can Say broached subjects of past regret, secrets, broken relationships and a woman’s desire for both independence and fair treatment within a story that captivated the heart of compassion and the beauty of God’s redemption.

While this book could stand alone it would be best read after the first book in the series: More Than Meets The Eye.

PS – My only disappointment was not with the novel itself, but with the cover. I thought the cover was really appealing until I read the book and realized that the cover image of Abigail was a long way from the plump baker that I found in the novel. (Think Sookie from Gilmore Girls). In retrospect I feel a little disappointed for the character that on the cover they would choose to keep her dimples but alter her weight.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I started this book with the sole intention of reading one chapter. My bath water was run and I knew I wasn’t going to stay in there long, just long enough to relax for bedtime. Or so I thought.

Once I started on this book stopping at just one chapter was out of the question. My toes turned into raisins as I turned page after page to see what was going to happen. The story had me tuned in from start to finish.

Karen Witemeyer always writes well thought out books that captivate the reader, and fortunately this one was no different.

The main character has a problem and that is sometime ago in the laws of the town, because she is woman, she cannot own her own business. She spent the last months, after her father died keeping the business strong and running and now a bunch of men are telling her that she can’t keep it any longer. What they don’t expect her to do, she does.

So we have the story of Zachary Hamilton which is essentially the continuation of the set of three adopted siblings. The focus of the story is on Abigail, yet we have Zachary and his story woven into this one. The great thing about it, is that even though I vaguely remember the setup with his sister, I didn’t need to read the previous stories to understand. Each book is solely on it’s own and can stand there with no problems.

Excellent book and as always, I look forward to the next compilation of words that Karen brings together.

In More Than Words Can Say, Abigail Kemp inherits her father’s bakery after his death, unaware of an obscure law requiring main street businesses to be owned by men. She needs to sell the business or find a male business partner so she can continue to provide a living for her sister Rosalind and herself. Abigail picks her rescuer from among the town’s eligible bachelors – Zach Hamilton.

After raising his siblings to adulthood, Zach enjoys a carefree bachelor’s life. When Abigail proposes a marriage of convenience, he hesitates to say yes, despite being a fan of her baked goods! However, he is opposed to the city council forcing her to comply with this unusual law, and reluctantly he becomes her hero. Will they find a happily-ever-after as they get to know one another, have hard discussions in which they uncover secrets from their past, and learn to build trust with one another?

Witemeyer is known for her historical romances, filled with humor, clean romance, dreamy heroes, and independent heroines. Abigail is not your typical heroine; she struggles with her weight and her self-image. Her books are appropriate for adults as well as older teens. The faith element is not heavy-handed, and themes of forgiveness for past actions run throughout the novel. Zach, Abigail, and Rosalind have regrets for past actions, afraid that when the past is revealed, others will look down on them. Filled with hope, humor, trust and family, this book is a delight for the reader.

I enjoyed this sweet story. It was light and peppered with humor. I appreciated the real life approach to problems that the characters had and that the author focused on characters with real life flaws. The hint of mystery added some intrigue to the story and as always with Karen Whitmeyer there was so great spiritual truths woven into the story. Not my favorite by this author, but it was entertaining and cute!

Karen is one of my go-to authors when I'm looking for a book that will make my laugh out loud, has great historical details, romance that is just perfect, with a bit of mystery mixed in. I think I've said before that I get bored with regular ole romance, and hers are anything but. I really enjoyed More Than Words Can Say. It was so fun to read Zach’s story, since I got to know him in a couple earlier books. He was a rich secondary character, but shines as the hero. Swoon worthy. Then you add this amazing heroine and her sidekick sister, and the plot is rich, the romance sweet, and a fresh take on the marriage of convenience plot. Perfect for those who love late 1800s romances.

More Than Words Can Say is the second novel A Patchwork Family series. While I have not had the opportunity to read More Than Meets the Eye, I found that I was not lost. The author provided details from the first novel which featured Evangeline, Seth and Zach. I am looking forward to reading More Than Meets the Eye which tells the story of Evangeline Hamilton and Logan Fowler. I thought More Than Words Can Say was well-written with steady pacing. Abigail, Zach and Rosie are delightful characters. There are equally pleasing secondary characters like Reuben Sinclair and his wife. Abigail cannot believe an antiquated law requiring a man’s name on the deed will be her downfall. A marriage of convenience is the most logical solution and Abigail drafts up a contract. Abigail wants to make sure she retains control of her bakery once she marries. There are only three “eligible” men in town which consist of quiet, grumpy Zach, Elmer Beekman who has bad breath, and Clarence Ormandy with a domineering mother. Zach is the best option, but he is not willing to settle for a marriage of convenience. He finds Abigail attractive which she finds hard to believe. But Abigail must admit that when she is with Zach, she finds her heart racing and wonders what it would be like to kiss Zach. The road to happiness, though, is bumpy as they each have issues from their past that holds back from having a happy life together. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story (I laughed so often while reading More Than Words Can Say). Zach and Abigail are cute together and I could not help but root for them. Abigail’s faith is strong, and she works on getting Zach back on speaking terms with God. Rosalind has a problem that she needs assistance with, and Zach is there to help her. I look forward to reading Rosalind’s story. I can tell that the author did her research for this book. Honey Grove is a real town and Karen Witemeyer brought it alive. I felt I was taken back in time with this charming historical novel. More Than Words Can Say mixes one independent baker with one cantankerous man which produces an entertaining and witty story.

Sometimes after reading a really good book I have a hard time getting into the next one I pick up. I had just finished reading a book that was amazingly good, so when I picked up More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer I was not sure how easily I would "get in" to the story.



How wrong I was. This was such a delightful book! I have been reading a lot of suspense novels lately and this was a refreshing change. When a book can bring out real emotion from me, I know I have found a favorite and this one had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. It was just a fun book to read.



It's actually the second book in the Patchwork Family series. I would definitely say that it works well as a stand alone book, because I have not read the first book in the series. I will soon be remedying that though. I loved it so much that I want to read more about the family. I'll be ordering More Than Meets the Eye very soon!



Abigail needs a mans name on her bakery's deed or she will be out of business due to an outdated town ordinance. She decides her best solution would be a marriage of convenience and proposes to Zacharias. She presents a contract and surprisingly he agrees, but not without a few stipulations of his own. Zacharias is so much more than what she bargained for. She did not expect such a compassionate, hard working and caring man. It's not long before feeling start developing and their marriage of convenience is becoming more and more like a real marriage. Everything should be going smooth, but it seems as if someone is out to destroy Abigail and her business. Plus, Abigail's sister has some secrets of her own.



Zach and Abby's love is so pure and innocent and it was so enjoyable to read and see it unfold.



***Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book. I was not required to review and all opinions are my own.

I have this weird thing about baking novels. I wonder if I like reading about them because I can't bake. Cook, yes. Bake, no. I have no patience for it and and I don't understand the chemistry behind it. It could also stem from my weird obsession with the Great British Baking Show. But either way I was excited that Witemeyer had written about a baker. I'm also a fan of Witemeyer and so that and the cute cover made me pick this book up.

To jump right in, while I enjoyed the book immensely and will probably read it again, I did feel like a lot of it was focused on the intimacies of marriage. Maybe too much. I would have rather had that as a side note instead of a main point. The story didn't need all of it, maybe just a little, because the rest of it was great! Who was behind all of Abigail's troubles? Why was it still happening after she gets hitched? This is what I wanted more and more focused on.

You also have great side characters that I'm hoping will get their own story, or show up in future novels. Abigail has personality issues that she deals with in this novel that I felt were well written, and of course, Zach is great. Witemeyer knows how to write a great male lead.

It's another great addition from Witemeyer, and I'd suggest checking it out, along with her other novels.

Witemeyer's More Than Words Can Say is the epitome of what happens when an author takes a run-of-the-mill trope and turns it into something completely unexpected. The character development in this book was amazing (and I can say that even though I've not yet read the first book in the series) and the chemistry between Zach and Abby was equal parts heartwarming and romantic. In fact, I thought their connection was so intriguing, I felt it stole the story--in a good way. I can honestly say that if this book had had zero plot (which wasn't the case at all), I'd have read it anyway just to "watch" Zach and Abby's relationship. They came across as the kind of people you'd choose to surround yourself with simply because they radiate a level of joy that's often imitated in books, but never genuine. They were the real deal, I thought. I thoroughly enjoyed their story.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, however all opinions are my own.

Abigail Kemp finds herself in hot water—the town council of Honey Grove will shut down her bakery if she doesn’t find a man to run her business. She doesn’t need a man—since her father’s death, she has managed to turn a profit just fine. But in 1896, a stubborn group of men can’t countenance a successful businesswoman.

Her younger sister Rosalind depends on her, and Abby can’t stomach the thought of selling her building and starting over somewhere else. So she does what any logical businesswoman would do. She identifies potential partners, writes up a business plan, and sets out to offer her hand in marriage to a biddable candidate.

Abigail doesn’t feel she has a lot to offer—she doesn’t have Rosie’s beauty, she’s plump, and she has no desire to subject herself to a man who only sees her worth as a vessel for producing children. One of her three potential candidates might feel desperate enough to accept her offer. She hopes.

Zach Hamilton has settled into Honey Grove just fine, despite his unusual background and dark past. He sometimes wonders what the matchmaking mamas would say if they knew the real him. When his favorite baker approaches him with a marriage proposal, he has to decide if he’s willing to give up his most precious commodity—his freedom.

Readers will love this quirky romance between two people who marry before courtship. If you’ve read Karen Witemeyer’s More Than Meets the Eye, you’ll recognize Zach. If not, no worries, this book stands alone.

I love how Witemeyer always has well-developed characters with relatable problems. She skillfully weaves spiritual truths into the story as well, while never sounding preachy or heavy-handed. Put this book on the top of your good historical romance novels to read list today!

More Than Words Can Say was yet another fantastic read from Karen Witemeyer. I started the book with the expectation that I would enjoy it, but it completely blew my expectations out the window -- I was hooked after just the first couple chapters.

The characters were lovely. They weren't perfect and had some things they needed to work through, which made them realistic and the story believable.

I LOVED the romance. It was so sweet how he waited for her to be ready for their marriage to not be in name only...and yet he only had one request that they end each night with a goodnight kiss. He was a great hero in the ways that he protected not just Abigail, but also her sister.

All in all, I give More Than Words Can Say 5 stars and highly recommend it if you enjoy historical romances.

*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/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and 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.*

I read and enjoyed the first in this series, so when a book about Zach came out, I was eager to finish his story.

This is, more or less, a story about a passionate marriage of convenience. As in, the couple was attracted to each other before something made them agreed to a business-partnership-type-marriage of convenience. Though there was a non-romantic thread, the primary thread was romantic. And, yes, I’m not a romantic swooner here. It *was* sweet, and I liked both Zach’s and Abigail’s personalities very much. But for a single gal, the romance was a little too much. Detailed kisses were woven throughout the whole book (“acceptable” because they are married—but a good dozen or so written in detail about sparks and wishes for courage to do more) and then the romantic plotline was basically getting to the marriage bed. So yeah, romantically speaking, it was a little too over-the-top for me.

But writing-wise, this totally sucked me in. I do like Witemeyer’s way with words. Like “This man had just made a date with his fist.” Yeah. She’s very colorful in her writing style and I enjoyed it as a writer.

The non-romantic plot involving Rosalind did whet my appetite for book three hopefully being her story. However, depending on if her secret comes back to haunt her, it could be a very touchy subject right there.

Spiritually-speaking, there were mentions of God throughout the whole book. Abigail was, more or less, a strong Christian. However, it was when her husband said that she was beautiful that she changed—though she did say it was because her husband helped her to see she was fearfully and wonderfully made. It is evident that Zach got saved toward the end of the book. One of those subtle things stood out to me: before he “made his peace with God,” he referred to God as the “Big Man” (which I find highly disrespectful), but afterwards, the “Almighty” and “Lord.” To me, that was very neat.

I do find it hard to know how to rate this book. For the writing and spiritual aspect, I’d say a solid five stars, but the romance content was too much for me (so much so, that I really am glad I don’t have the paperback around for my teen sisters to thumb through) and I’d put that rating at most three.

*I received this book from NetGalley and happily provided my honest review*

If you are looking for a spark-filled, sweet romance, then More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer is a sure bet. Set in the late 1800s in small town Texas, this novel is a fun and fast read that will delight. Hunky hero Zach Hamilton (last seen in More Than Meets The Eye) is a man of few words, but what he does say he means. And, especially in his case, actions speak louder than words. Abigail Kemp, a determined businesswoman who whips up treats in her Taste of Heaven Bakery, wants to keep their relationship strictly professional, but Zach is as tempting as the sticky buns he loves. I loved this marriage of convenience story. There is chemistry right from the start with the characters — it was only a matter of time before they both recognized it. 😉 Honey Grove, the setting for the story, was perfect — small town people with big hearts and down-home celebrations. There is also conflict introduced that kept Zach and Abigail committed to their arrangement, while keeping the pages turning for the reader. Guilt and unworthiness are explored in the novel, and the characters supported each other in their faith journeys. Reminiscent of the story of Joseph in Genesis, circumstances and the machinations of others did not keep God from working out His plan for their lives.

Fun and funny, sweet and sizzling with some great kissing scenes, More Than Words Can Say checks all the boxes for fans of historical romances.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

This was a delightful story of how two unmarried women, in the growing US, survive on their wits to keep control of the family bakery after their dad dies. The older sister, Abigail, only know bakery life and vows to marry to save the business from a ridiculous city law. Thankfully bachelor Zacharias Hamilton has taken a shine to Abigail and is willing to help out. The younger sister, Rosalind, is protecting a secret that threatens her reputation. Enjoy this heart-warming, quick read story.

More Than Words Can Say has skyrocketed to the top and is now probably my favorite Karen Witemeyer book! I enjoyed this story so much! It is book two in the series, yet can easily be read as a stand alone novel if you haven’t read book one.

I love marriage of convenience stories and this novel is one of the best of this type of plot that I have read. I loved the commitment that Abby and Zach made to each other when they did decide to get married. I loved the tension between this husband and wife. And I loved the way they cared about each other and wanted what was good for each other, even as they were still getting used to the idea of being married.

This story deals with being able to forgive not only others, but also yourself, and allowing yourself to accept God’s forgiveness for those things that need forgiving. There was a lot of character growth in both Zach and Abby. I liked them both at the beginning of the story, and loved the way they grew together by the end.

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

First sentence: "The council has denied your appeal, Miss Kemp." Mayor Longfellow delivered the blow with a finality that threatened to buckle Abigail's knees.

Premise/plot: Abigail ("Abby") Kemp has inherited her family's bakery shop--A Taste of Heaven. But the bakery is now being threatened by the city council: she needs to sell her property or find a silent business partner, a MALE business parter by the end of the week. Abby rejects both options. Instead, she plans to find a HUSBAND by the end of the week.
Choosing a husband was much like choosing a good baguette. One looked for a strong outer shell, a tender interior, and most importantly, a tractability of dough to hold whatever shape the baker deemed appropriate. Abigail needed a good baguette by the end of the week. The crust could be a little stale. The crumb could be chewy and tough. Beggars couldn't be choosers, after all. But she refused to scrimp on malleable dough. Too much depended on the outcome.
Her first choice for husband is "Bachelor #3" a newcomer to town, a regular for breakfast at A Taste of Heaven. His name? Zacharias Hamilton. (Readers may remember him as the older brother in More Than Meets The Eye.)

Zach isn't looking for a wife. And when Abby proposes completely out of the blue, his first reaction is to say YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING?!?!?! But. The more he thinks about Abby, her sticky buns, and her offer of a convenient marriage...the more he's tempted to say yes. But he has a few conditions...

Will these two fall madly in love with each other after saying I do?!

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, loved, loved, loved, loved, loved, crazy-loved this one. I thought Short Straw Bride would forever be my absolute favorite book by Witemeyer. (I'll have to reread that one again to see if it still holds its spot.) But I could easily see myself rereading this one frequently. It is a swoon-worthy book cover to cover. I loved Abby. I loved Zach. I loved them together. I loved the spiritual aspects of this one. I loved getting to know the other characters as well that live in Honey Grove, Texas. Speaking of which, I love her TEXAS setting.

When I read the description of this book, I knew I was in for a delightful ride. More Than Words can Say, is the story of Abby and Zach and their unconventional marriage. Surprised by an antiquated law on the Honey Grove Texas books, Abby has to find a man to put his name on the deed of her bakery. Not wanting to give up control of her business and profits to a partner, and not willing to sell, Abby has only one option: find a man to marry who will be content to lend only his name, but not his opinion to her business, and to keep his hands to himself. She makes a list of eligible men and starts proposing.

Zach Hamilton has had his eyes on the curvy, dimpled baker for quite some time. He appreciates her pastries and enjoys their morning interaction before his goes to work. But when she sidelines him with a marriage proposal, what is a red-blooded man to do? Renegotiate certain aspects of her contract. Namely, that part about keeping his hands to himself.

Karen Witemeyer has written a delightful tale. The growing relationship between Zach and Abby is so fun to watch. As they change and develop as a married couple and as individuals, they must hand the pain from their pasts over to God and to trust each other with the whole truth.

I was immediately and fully immersed in this story world with these well-developed characters. It made me want to travel to Honey Grove to visit Abby’s bakery, hug her sister, Rosalind, and then sit down to a lemon scone and a chat. All the town’s folk are fantastic. I especially love Lydia Putnam, a widow in the town. She has gumption and grit and I loved to see her relationship with Abby as she mentored the young bride. The antagonist of the story, Sophia Longfellow, was absolutely perfect. You will love to hate her as she makes life difficult for Abby time and time again. All in all, a wonderful read that you will not want to miss.

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