More Than Meets the Eye

Karen Witemeyer's books are always enjoyable. she writes historical fiction that usually showcases her dry wit. I find her books to be delightful reads. More Than Words Can Say is no exception. Both Zach and Abby are well thought out characters. The plot is a take on marriage of convenience but written in a fresh manner. I did not realize that this was the second book in the series, but that was not a problem. now that I have finished this book I will go back and read More Than Meets The Eye to get the back story on Zach. So settle back with a cup of coffee and a sticky roll while you enjoy More Than Meets The Eye.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

". . .a soul’s sore spots didn’t really disappear. They could be buried, defended, and denied, but until they were loved, they wreaked havoc with a person’s peace."

1879 Texas. Christian Historical. First in a new series. There were four orphans on a train that crashed, three escaped, forming their own family, taking care of each other, each with their own strengths. The girl, Eva, has two different color eyes which are off-putting to others, one of the reasons she hadn't been adopted. They struggle to find what they need to eat, with the oldest boy, Zach, taking on the responsibility. After it gets harder and harder he runs out of options, and gets a farm for them in an uncommon way, never expecting repercussions. Logan wants revenge and restitution for his family. When he searches out the person he believes responsible, he's surprised at what he finds. Interesting story of survival and love in an unconventional family whose bonds are tighter than many normal families. Throw in some mystery and danger. You won't be bored.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”
#MoreThanMeetsTheEye #KarenWitemeyer #NetGalley

Patchwork families are some of my favorite stories to read. This book carried that expectation well. The familial love imprinted upon every page made my heart sing. The Hamilton siblings were amazing and came alive from page one. It was fun following their journey in this first Patchwork Family book. The gut-wrenching opening made me cry, so I knew I was in for a keeper. I love how deafness and heterochromia (having two different eye colors) played significant roles with both characterization and plot. The mystery was creative and unpredictable to me, which kept the chapters zooming. The themes of overcoming one’s past and creating for one’s family a brighter future were spot-on and delivered beautifully.

As a bonus, it was fun to see Bonham, Texas, featured in the opening scene. I used to live mere miles away from that town and would visit there quite often as it was the closest town with a grocery store in the 1990s when I small. It’s always a delight to see real-life small towns show up in the pages of books.

Content: one expletive, one sexual phrase, saloons, gambling, suicide (off-page), alcohol

I took a “gamble” on a new author, and I was NOT disappointed. If you’ve never read anything by Karen Witemeyer, then don’t wait a second longer, because you are truly missing out.
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Before this, I had never read a book by Karen Witemeyer and honestly, I had no idea what to expect! However, I was not expecting perfection in so many pages! Humor, drama, and constant entertainment meets heartwarming dialogue and character dynamics that took me back to a time, not so long ago, when life was a little bit simpler, but the stakes were quite a bit higher! Whatever good things you have heard about this book, I promise you, they’re all true!
From the beginning of the prologue (read the prologue, don’t be like fourteen year old me and skip it because you didn’t think prologues were important), I found myself completely attached to these characters. Maybe it was the fact that it was set on an orphan train that made me want to adopt them all and make them a part of my own family?
Evangeline was the perfect female lead. She is obviously different, sticks out from the crowd, and endures the scrutiny of many of the people who also live in the small town of Pecan Gap. Despite all of this, she does not let it define her, but rather rises above it all, embracing the uniqueness that God has given her, and showing others how to do the same!
Amid the romance and action, there was also a hint of mystery and suspense hidden in the book that made me keep turning the pages! I appreciated that this book had so many different aspects of stories and familiar arcs that I love – that’s why I think it would be perfect for anyone to read!
By the end of the story, the characters have overcome trust issues, deceit, grief, confidence and self-esteem problems, and even anger and grudges! Never has a book made me laugh out loud, cry oh-so-many tears, and still demonstrated important lessons about life and love all at the same time!