Book Review #9: Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer

I just love Karen Witemeyer. I have ever single one of her books on my kindle. 

I will not deny I have been anticipating her newest book since I found out about it. That was quite some time ago.

On some circumstances I prayed for the release date to be earlier or for God to loan me a time machine so I could acquire it. None of those two things happened.

After months of agonizing pain, due to my impatience, my bookreader's heart can finally rest and so can my body. I spent the previous night staring at my kindle app on my iphone--which tends to make your eyes feel like they are burning-- until  4am so I could finish it. I just couldn't be patient and read 1-5 chapters a day...my brain doesn't work that way. 

When I finished this book I sighed and the first word that came out of my mouth was, "Satisfaction."

If I learned anything after reading this book it was: do not start reading this book after 10pm. It is so great you will not want to put it down once you start. Follow that one rule and you will enjoy this book, and still be well rested (and less crankier) the next day. 

Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer 

Karen's newest book will steal your heart!

Karen has such a gift with grasping her readers within the first chapter. It's fast pace, in your face, hilarious, sweet, and overall enjoyable. 

1885 - Crockett Archer is on his way to interview for a position at a church. While on the train Crockett can barely believe it when he's forced off by a retired outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the minster she asked for her birthday. 

Back Cover Description: 

Worried this unfortunate detour will ruin his chances of finally serving a congregation of his own, Crockett is determined to escape. But when he finally gets away, he's haunted by the memory of the young woman he left behind--a woman whose dreams now hinge on him.

For months, Joanna Robbins prayed for a preacher. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. A man to help her discover answers to the questions that have been on her heart for so long. But just when it seems God has answered her prayers, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett to stay in her little backwoods community? And does the attraction between them have any chance of blossoming when Joanna's outlaw father is dead set against his daughter courting a preacher? 

[End of Description]

The only way to make me stop reading this book would only be if  my hands or eyes were ripped from my body. I could not stop! 

I loved Joanna's soul it was beautiful. Her passion and commitment to her father's salvation was  endearing and encouraging. I even got teary eyed at the end (p.s. it concerns her father asking for water)

To read about the beginnings of the church and the community surrounding it was insightful to the beginnings of all church life.

I feel in love with Jackson, the brother like figure to Joanna. (Reader's heads up: Jackson's entrance in the story is perfect.)

Crockett is a man after God's heart and also mine I'm more than positive! 

This book should be on your bookshelf, kindle, somewhere in your possession! It's just divine and I am so honored and blessed to have had received a copy. 

I give this book a 5 out of 5 bookshelves. 

[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. 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."]

Amazon  link to the book~ 

For His Kingdom, 

Taylor Adams