Tender Story of Two Unlikely Characters Perfectly Brought Together

Honey Grove, TX 1896
Abigail Kemp is running a bakery with her pretty younger sister, Rosalind, as she has been doing for quite some time. However, now that her father has passed, “somebody” has dug up an antiquated city ordinance that does not allow women to own a business. “These stuffy male councilmen might want to hold her down, but like a well-made bread dough, she planned to rise to the occasion.”

Zacharias Hamilton is finally free to do as he pleases. He has fulfilled his obligations to his adopted siblings and moved away from near-by Pecan Gap to start fresh. He has carved a niche at the local lumber mill and keeps to himself as much as possible, save for a corner table at the local bakery where he enjoys coffee and sticky buns every morning and the occasional run-in with his boss’s passel of kids. Life is pretty comfortable now. Although his past deeds still haunt his thoughts. When Abigail approaches Zach with a proposition, he nearly chokes over her business plan. But, after some thought, he might consider it, with a few tweaks to her contract.

This was a wonderful, feel-good read. I really enjoyed getting to know Zach more. He is somebody special. He’s a bit gruff, but he feels deeply. He is a champion when needed and fights hard to overcome obstacles, even the unseen ones of foolish female hearts. I appreciated that Abigail was not the typical size 2, but a curvy, kind soul with a lot to offer. Both characters came to know each other and fit so perfectly together, in a way only God could have orchestrated.

I also liked learning about how Davy Crockett was responsible for naming Honey Grove in real life. Apparently, he set up a camp under the trees on his way to the Alamo and enjoying it so much, he carved his name in a tree along with the name Honey Grove, intent on returning there one day. Sadly, he did not survive the Alamo, but a friend, Sam Erwin purchased the land and honored the name.

Humorous Tea Moment: “One sat by the window. Bran muffin and tea with sugar. Man and muffin shared a remarkable resemblance – both a bit squatty and thick around the middle with smooth, round tops.”

I highly recommend this 5-star story and look forward to the next one. Thank you to Bethany House Publishing who sent me a review copy. My opinion is my own without expectation or compensation.

Award-winning & bestselling author Karen Witemeyer “writes historical romances because she believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters”. She is one of the sweetest authors you can connect with! You may do so at: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/ or at: The Posse FB group fan page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839437643052460/ where the ladies in the group build community like no other group I have experienced! Truly a blessing.
Patchwork Family Series:
1 - More Than Meets The Eye 6/5/2018 – 5 STARS
2 - More Than Words Can Say 6/4/2019 – 5 STARS
2.5 - Serving Up Love: A Harvey House Brides Collection expected 11/5/2019

True to the late 1800's, this novel tells the life of a young woman about to lose her family business because she's a woman. Abigail enters into a marriage of convenience with Zach to save her bakery. Both have been hurt in the past by their fathers and are leary of marriage. This story shares the historical view of a small town in Texas but greatly emphases the subject of forgiveness. Recommended.

(4.5 stars) - a reminder that love is primarily a verb

A Karen Witemeyer book is always guaranteed to leave me with a smile that won't let go. This one was certainly no exception.

This story is the follow-up on what happened to Zach after the first book about Eva & Logan, "More Than Meets the Eye". Even though I generally hate reading books out of order, this is one that works just fine as a stand-alone.

Abigail & Zach take a while to figure it out, but they are perfect for each other. Zach has been thru a lot of abuse in his younger years to the point that he has been conditioned not to express himself. Abigail has been thru a form of abuse herself from an emotionally unavailable father. She's better able to express herself but the experience helps her to be more sympathetic and open to Zach's efforts.

The two have some difficulty understanding each other, but the key is that they care enough to keep trying - and giving the other room to try, and make mistakes, and to clarify as needed. Because of their efforts, they learn to understand each other better, with and without words.

Most importantly, Zach & Abigail learn to communicate love to each other by their actions. Their marriage of convenience becomes a real marriage.

The story is funny and touching and I became invested in it almost immediately. I fervently hope that the author will be sharing Rosalind's story with us next!

Clean romance level: passionate kissing, some discussion of marital intimacy but nothing graphic

[This is a Christian book with discussion of God, forgiveness, Scripture and prayer. It fits the setting & the context in a natural, non-preachy way]

I was excited for More Than Words Can Say as soon as I finished the first book in the Patchwork Family series by Karen Witemeyer. It is rather unique series in my opinion and I really enjoyed More Than Meets the Eye so I couldn't wait to read the newest book in the series! Here are my thoughts on what was great about this book.

I really enjoyed reading about Zacharias Hamilton's loyalty and service towards those who belong to him. In the first book, he was one of my favorite characters and his character is revealed even more in More Than Words Can Say because the focus of the story is on him.  I loved how he didn't say much (hence the perfect title) yet he showed his love in so many ways.   I also enjoyed the look into what a bakery would be like in the late 1800s. I could smell the scent of freshly baked treats coming from my kindle as I flipped the pages. If you want to grab a cinnamon roll or a slice of freshly baked bread to munch on while you read, I won't blame you! I thought that More Than Words Can Say was a fun, cute romance with the perfect title! 

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romances and marriage of convenience stories.

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

More Than Words Can Say is a cute light romantic read. This is my first read from Karen Witemeyer and I was not disappointed. It is nice to see a heroine who is not perfectly beautiful but gorgeous in her own way.

A marriage of convenience turns into a story of passion between Zacharias and Abigail. Wow! Karen Witemeyer really turns up the heat in More Than Words Can Say. The plot, of course, captured my attention because I wanted to know what would happen to Abigail's bakery, but the tension and heat between the two sparked most of the story. So if you are not a fan of a lot of romantic tension between the heroine and hero than you might want to hold off on reading this book. I'm not, but overall, I enjoyed this latest book. I loved how Witemeyer showed their friends and family who supported them. I also enjoyed how she allowed the heart of both characters to shine on the page. Either through their deeds done for others or the actions they went through to woo the other person. There was a huge moment of both characters being vulnerable and laying their hearts on the line for the other person to realize what secrets from the past they were dealing with. But like any good marriage, both partners have to take the good with the bad. The marriage vow does say for better or for worse. Overall, More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer has a lot more romantic spark than most Witemeyer books I have read, and I haven't read them all yet. But the transforming power of love is definitely worth sticking around and engrossing a reader in for a couple of hours. If you enjoy Julie Lessman's western series, than this might be the type of book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

All Abigail Kemp wants to do is to keep her bakery shop open. It is just her and her younger sister Rosalind. Her father had died a few months earlier. She was a skilled baker having being trained by her father who owned the shop. Her fat Because of some asinine country law that states a female cannot own a business she must come up with a solution. She refuses to sell the shop. Her only other option is to find someone to marry. She has three choices. Zach Hamilton reluctantly agrees to marry her. He wants a real marriage so he courts her while living in the same dwelling. He was quite the gentleman never pressuring her for anything but he did want that goodnight kiss which she quite enjoyed. There was a female character in the book that kept causing trouble for Abigail. This particular person managed to create quite a bit of drama.

Other things I loved about the book beside the growing romance between Abigail and Zach was the appearance of Zach's siblings at the wedding. His sister gave Abigail some good advice about Zach being a man of few words. I also like Rosaline. She was considered the pretty one while Abigail was had more girth to her waistline. We will be seeing Rosaline in a novella come Fall 2019. I had a feeling at the end of the book the author was setting Rosaline up for her own story so I went to Karen Witemeyer's web page and sure enough Rosaline's story which will be called More Than a Pretty Face will be part of the Serving up Love novella collection.

Thanks to Bethany House and Netgalley for providing me an e-copy of this book to read and review. This book will be released on June 4, 2019. Highly recommended!

I give this one a very enthusiastic five stars! I think this is the best Karen Witemeyer book yet.

Abby Kemp needs a man. Any man will do, as long as he's willing to put his name beside hers on her bakery's deed. After her father's death, the city council barely gives her time to grieve before attempting to enforce a little-known law that women are not allowed to own businesses on Main Street in the town of Honey Grove. Put on the books to close down a brothel, Abby is furious that the council won't budge for her. Facing pressure from all over - from those who want to swoop in and buy her out, to one very malicious former friend - Abby digs in and considers her options. Marriage would be the ultimate solution, but with only three unmarried candidates in town, and two of them completely unpalatable, can she talk handsome Zach Hamilton into being her convenient husband?

Zach Hamilton is finally free. No longer responsible for his adopted sister and brother, he can do whatever he wants. With no woman to tie him down, he enjoys his bachelor life. If it's a bit lonely, he can deal. His morning sweet rolls at A Taste of Heaven, served by the lovely Abby, is his once concession to being alone. When Abby approaches him, contract in hand, and tells him her dilemma, he gives her a hard NO, but when her sister, Rosalind, comes to him later and explains that, of Abby's three choices, he is the only one equipped to keep her safe from the danger that Rosie has possibly stirred, he reconsiders. His only request is that, if they do marry, it becomes a real marriage, not one of those "in name only" things.

As Abby and Zach interact, their care for each other grows. Can Abby begin to see herself through Zach's eyes, and believe that he finds her beautiful, even when she never has seen herself that way? Will Zach realize that sometimes, a woman needs words, not just action, to tell her she is loved and cared for?

More than Words Can Say is actually a sequel to More than Meets the Eye, and is book #2 in the Patchwork Family series. Abby has been convinced for years that she is the fat, ugly duckling sister, and that no man in his right mind would look her way. Her father only valued boys, and his desire for a son eventually killed her mother. Why would she ever choose to tie herself to a man? Zach has been caring for two younger children since he was 13, so he doesn't want to marry either. I loved how, when he finally decides to go along with Abby's scheme, Zach is all in. No doubts, just looking ahead.

Sweet romance readers will love this one. I know I did! The marriage of convenience trope is well done, and there's enough mystery in each of their histories to spice up the story. I definitely recommend, and if you haven't read More Than Meets the Eye yet, start there to get some of Zach's back story.

Fun book! Second in the series, More Than Words Can Say tells Abby and Zach's stories. Abby has recently lost her father. The town enforces an out-dated law that requires all local businesses to be owned by men - NOT women. At the risk of losing her father's bakery, Abby has to find a mate - QUICKLY. She chooses three men and proposes to Zach first. Zach has to decide whether or not it is worth giving up bachelorhood to marry Abby or not. Fun historical romance filled with sibling interaction and forgiveness from surprising areas.

More than Words Can Say is another wonderful novel in Karen Wittemeyer's Patchwork Family series. In this novel, readers are treated to the story of Zach Hamilton and Abby Kemp.
After her father dies, Abby Kemp wants nothing more than to continue running his bakery to honor his legacy and provide for her sister. Unfortunately, the town council has invoked an outdated law that forbids female business owners. Rather than selling out, Abby determines to find a solution. Her unconventional solution is to propose to the dark, handsome, and , according to her sister, slightly scary, Zach Hamilton. All Zach wants is his freedom, but he finds himself drawn to Abby, and her sister's pleas seal the deal. Together, Abby and Zach face the town and the foe determined to destroy Abby's business, and together they learn what it truly means to trust God and to love one another.
In this novel, readers will find Karen Wittemeyer's characteristic wittiness and ability to craft a sweet love story, while pointing readers toward God's faithfulness. What I love most about this book is the fact that both Abby and Zach, though they are bound up in their preconceptions based on their past experiences, refuse to be ruled by them. They fight for each other and for truth instead of letting appearances determine their actions. A great read!

More Than Words Can Say is a delightful novel by Karen Witemeyer. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book written by Ms Witemeyer. She has a way of expressing a story that makes her characters feel real.

This story, of a marriage of convenience to save a family business, was intriguing. The story of Zach and Abby and the contract they agree upon, contains some humor plus romance.There is a tension that runs throughout with someone who wishes harm to come to Abby. But she is always gracious and kind. This was in inspiring story where with God's help, trust and forgiveness overcomes hatred and evil. I would recommend this book as I think it is a very enjoyable read.

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

It took me a while to figure out that the hero of this story was Zach Hamilton, adopted big brother to Evie and Seth, from More Than Meets the Eye, a book I reviewed quite a while ago. Once I had that figured out the read was so much more enjoyable having had the chance to learn his history before I cracked open this book. That being said, I don’t think one would have much of a challenge getting into the story without having read the previous book. The author gives enough backstory in all the right places as to not break up the pace of the story.
Zach Hamilton has relocated to Honey Grove, TX, and finally enjoying his freedom as it were as a bachelor. Having seen his responsibilities through in caring for his adopted brother and sister, both of whom are happily married to other people, Zach now seeks to only have to care for himself. His quiet life, and morning routine of sticky buns and a cup of coffee at his favourite bakery, takes a wild turn when Abigail Kemp confronts him with a business proposition he’d like to refuse.
Abigail Kemp has been successfully running her deceased father’s bakery for some time now and is still grieving his passing three months later. When an archaic law is enforced, Abigail has one decision to make, find a man willing to put his name on the bakery’s deed or risk losing everything she’s worked hard to keep.
What starts as a marriage of convenience, turns into a beautiful story of faith, forgiveness and love.
I didn’t know really what to expect when I started reading this latest upcoming release. I’d found with the past couple of books I’d read by Karen Witemeyer that they were starting to sound the same. Main characters would have the same body language and would react predictably, but this book felt fresh and different. What I really appreciated I think the most was that Abigail is a plump woman and conscious of her “belly and caboose”, a welcome change to the predictably skinny and beautiful heroines we get used to seeing. What Abigail feels she lacks in beauty, she more than makes up for in business savvy, brains, and compassion for the less fortunate. Abigail’s character felt real and relatable.
Zach continues his struggle with his background but Abigail helps him to come to terms with it, and points him back to God. Her background holds a similar type of trauma that haunts Zach, but through her example he is able to face his past and move on to his future with Abigail.
There are a lot of kissing scenes, though they are kept chaste. After all, this arrangement is a business one…in the beginning. The romantic tension definitely increases until our main characters reach their happily ever after. Sub-plots abound and create an interesting redemption story for Zach.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this newest book in The Patchwork Family Series.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer is the eagerly awaited sequel to her book More Than Meets the Eye, which I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed (See my review for that here: More Than Meets the Eye Review  .  I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue this series (A Patchwork Family) and read another work by Ms. Witemeyer. Before I begin my reasons for recommending this book, I must disclose my bias and say that Karen Witemeyer is definitely one of my top three favorite authors. I was introduced to the genre of Christian fiction by her books, specifically her hilarious and sweet Short Straw Bride, and continue to enjoy each of her individual novellas, books, and series.
More Than Words Can Say continues the tale of the three siblings joined not by blood but by choice and tragedy, the Hamiltons.  This book hones in on the oldest and least talkative of the siblings, Zacharias Hamilton. After dealing with his past and finally opening up to his siblings, Zach leaves the family farm to find his own place and way of life. He ends up in Honey Grove, a small rural town working at a lumberyard and living a simple life of bachelorhood.
Zach is simply minding his business one day at work when the local baker, Miss Abigail Kemp shows up with a very peculiar proposal.  Miss Kemp asks Zach to assist her in her quest to keep her bakery. Due to some meddling of the townspeople and an archaic city ordinance disqualifying women from owning a business in Honey Grove, the judge told Abigail that she would need to partner with a male financial backer or close the shop by the end of the month(in just five days). Scratching your head yet?  Zach certainly was at this point, but then Abigail shocked him with a marriage proposal!  While it would definitely solve the problems for her bakery, this marriage of convenience would create a pile of other issues.  Zach declines her offer, but then as he considers her predicament and her need, he is drawn to help her and protect her and her sister from the many dangers they are facing.
Zach and Abigail get married quickly and begin a tenuous friendship, hardly knowing anything about each other besides their work ethic and character.  They must face many issues as part of a small town, the busybodies, gossips, slander, and even sabotage, not to mention the great awkwardness of a life-long marriage initiated by a business contract. Is it possible to overcome the plenitude of hurdles that Zach and Abigail have in their path?  Can they learn to trust one another with the ghosts of their past?  What will happen to Abigail's bakery?  Will the town shut it down?  Will the new Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton survive the many attacks they face?
I greatly loved each of the main characters, Zach, Abby, and Abby's younger sister Rosie, not to mention Zach's siblings from the past book: Evie, Seth, Logan. Each character of Ms. Witemeyer's creation has genuinely realistic characteristics, flaws, and struggles. While this book isn't set in modern society, the difficult situations faced by these characters have very similar applications to our modern day.  I also appreciated the fierce love (and, to be honest, the arguments) between Abby and Rosie, showing true family loyalty, love, and protection. I also appreciated how Zach protected and watched out for his new wife's younger sister Rosie. Rosie, Zach, and Abby are a fierce trio, so when it comes time for them to face difficulties, they pull together in a remarkable way that is so refreshing to see, especially with the way modern society has tended to de-emphasize the family relationships.

Not only were the characters in More Than Words Can Say very wholesome and easy to relate to, but the adventurous plot, real-life struggles, sly antagonists, and struggles and triumphs of faith also completed the excellence of this story. I absolutely enjoyed this book.  The characters were genuine, the plot was unique and entertaining, and the overall effect was refreshing. Overall, I would highly recommend this book with no hesitation.  I hope you have the chance to pick it up and enjoy!

I felt like I recognized the author's name when I chose this book. I am so glad I did. I had read More Than Meets the Eye and enjoyed it. As I read More Than Words Can Say, it was a few chapters in that I finally recognized Zach and his siblings. I can't tell you how delighted I was that Zach was getting his own story!

Abby is now the owner of her father's bakery since his death. The town she and her sister reside in have a law that no single woman can own a business. Abby tries to fight the order, but a pushy business owner who wants her property get the town council to rule against her, so she takes matters into her own hands.

Zach Hamilton is a happy single man and intends to stay that way...he wants nothing to tie him down. He is a daily customer at Abby's bakery because he loves the cinnamon rolls and coffee plus Abby is a nice girl to look at and she treats him like everyone else.

But desperate times calls for desperate measures, Abby decides a marriage of convenience will allow her to stay in the town and run her bakery. Her perspective groom of choice..
Zach Hamilton!

I won't give away any more of the story because these thoughts are just in the first couple chapters and there is a whole lot more to read about these two. I really do love the humor sprinkled throughout the story! It is a great book!

I adore Karen Witemeyer’s writing and More Than Words Can Say exceeded all my expectations. Funny, sweet and deliciously romantic, this story of resilience, family and love was wonderful from beginning to end.

Abigail will do anything to save her bakery and the livelihood of both her sister and herself - even if it means a marriage of convenience to satisfy the backwards ruling of the town council. When Abby asks Zach Hamilton - lumberjack, brooding type and overly handsome - to marry her she isn’t surprised when he initially turns her down. Even more surprised when he later agrees to her business-partner-based marriage. But as threats to the newly formed family arise, Abby and Zach will have to decide if building their marriage is worth revealing the secrets of the past.

More Than Words Can Say has so many ticks in the pros column:
Written by Karen Witemeyer (one of my favourite historical Christian romance writers). Tick
Marriage of convenience story. Tick
Story about baking (food. I’m a fan). Tick.
Story about a headstrong, courageous and independent woman. Tick.
Story about a strong, happy-as-a-bachelor, protective man who falls for the headstrong woman. Tick.

“Choosing a husband was much like choosing a good baguette.” And that quote pretty much sealed my love for this book - and that was only the first few pages. I adored every humour-laced, secret sharing, will-they-won’t-they, steamy, swoon-worthy, delicious moment of More Than Words Can Say. I loved the historical town setting. Loved the characters, from strong yet vulnerable Abby to protective but surprisingly loving Zach. I loved the story of arrangement of convenience to love and every tense, tantalising moment in between.

If you are a fan of Witemeyer’s books or a keen newcomer, you are sure to delight in More Than Words Can Say.

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

Abigail wants to continue to run her bakery after her father dies, but the city council has told her she can't run it without taking on a male business partner. She has a better idea -- she will get married and make her husband the owner of record. One of her customers, Zach, seems like the ideal candidate. We met Zach in a previous book by this author concerning the Orphan Train and a trio of orphans who escaped a train wreck and set out together to live on their own.

Someone wishes her ill and even after she and Zach tie the knot, things continue to happen. This is the story of how they triumped over that with God's help and the assistance of some special friends and customers.

I loved this book! It was fun to read. I received an e-version of the book from Bethany House through NetGalley for the purpose of providing a review. It was my pleasure! I highly recommend this book and this author.

I loved this book!!!! I really enjoy a marriage of convenience story line and this one was probably the vest I have ever read. I loved that it was a Christian book but the husband was open, yet respectful, about wanting a real marriage. I thought the author did a perfect job of showing that you have can have love and desire and all those intimate things in a Christian book and still have it be clean and appropriate.

Wow, where to start? This book was a great mix of charming and romantic. I loved the bakery setting. The love interest doesn't disappoint. The sisters where highly believable.

I've been a Witemeyer fan for years and I highly recommend this one, as well as, all of her books!

I have truly enjoyed every Karen Witemeyer book, but this one was over the top! I think I can confidently say this is her most romantic book to date. This book held all the elements of a great book.....a bit of intrigue, humor, historical detail, a lesson to be learned, and of course the sweet romance. There were a couple of things that sent this story into a bigger and better territory for me. Number one, these characters were very real, which I feel like Karen has done before, but maybe on a bigger scale in this story. Number two, I felt I could relate to many of the situations and raw emotions dealt with in this story. And number three, the Faith content in this tale was out of this world! I felt the characters growing, but more than that, I felt myself growing in the Lord right alongside them. What an awesome, tangible thing to read a book by an author you can trust to include God's Word and Truths in a world where that may not be how it is always done even when it should be. I am abundantly grateful for that! I thank God for authors such as Karen who follow His leading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review.

The town council has told Abigail Kemp that she may not own and run her families bakery. She must either go in business with a man or close her business down. Abigail refuses to give up her business that easily. Abigail comes up with an idea to keep her business and have a man's name on the deed without giving up her freedom to run it the way she wants.



Zacharias Hamilton is enjoying his freedom. Having raised his adopted brother and sister from the time he was 13 Zachary is enjoying his crusty bachelorhood with nobody demanding anything from him. When Abigail comes to him with a proposal he is all set to tell her NO, until her sister comes to him and begs him to change his mind. Zach tells himself he can't resist helping a woman in distress, but Abigail's dimples don't hurt the deal much either.



It doesn't take long for Abigail's business deal with Zach to turn into affection and caring on both their parts. But does their relationship even have a chance with both of them keeping secrets?



First off I really love Zach and Abigail. I love how Zach wanted to take care of Abigail and her sister from the beginning. He was honorable and treated her well. Abigail in turn did the same for Zach. She fed him, made sure he was comfortable, supported him. She even cared for his spiritual well-being in that she wanted to help him heal from his childhood. I did have a few issues though with the story. I felt like a lot of time was spent on the two characters wanting to cement their relationship physically but things kept getting in the way. And then I really had an issue with Zach's referring to God as The Big Guy or The Big Man. It is a huge pet peeve of mine to have God referred in such a casual or cavalier way. It is so disrespectful and dishonoring and Zach's character did it a lot. I understand that he was unpolished etc. but as I said, it is a pet peeve. Moving on. I also had an issue with the author constantly referring to Abigail as too curvy or pudgy or round or any reference to her weight. I understand that that is what was part of Abigail's insecurity, but it seemed a trifle over-done. The rest of the story I totally enjoyed. I found myself getting very angry at the antagonist of the story, former friend Sophia. I could never have been as patient as Abigail was, but I loved the way she finally found her confidence to stand up to her. I loved seeing Zach's brother and sister from MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE and seeing how they were doing. I hope there will be another book in the series so that we can find out how Abigail's sister Rosalind does as she leaves the nest. A sweet romance, a bit of danger and a happy ending, made this reader very content.