IN HONOR’S DEFENSE
Hanger’s Horsemen, #3
by
KAREN WITEMEYER
Fiction / Christian / Historical / Inspirational
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Date of Publication: June 7, 2022 ** 384 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!
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He’s Faced Countless Perils on the Battlefield, but Nothing so Dangerous as Falling in Love
Luke Davenport has been fighting all his life–for respect, for country, and for those unable to fight for themselves. But now that his Horsemen brothers are domesticated, he’s left alone to battle the wildness within. When an opportunity arises to take a job on his own, tracking down a group of rustlers, he jumps at the chance.
Damaris Baxter has mastered the art of invisibility. Plain and quiet, she hides in books and needlework, content to be overlooked. Until her brother dies suddenly, leaving her custody of her nephew. She moves to Texas to care for Nathaniel, determined to create the family for herself that she never thought she’d have and to give him the family he desperately needs.
When Nate finds himself knee-deep in trouble, Luke’s attempt to protect him leaves Damaris feeling indebted to the Horseman. But suspicions grow regarding the mysterious death of Damaris’s brother. And the more questions they ask, the more danger appears, threatening the family Luke may be unable to live without.
***** CLICK TO PURCHASE! *****
│Baker Book House |
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There are so many things to like about this book from the characters to the setting to the drama. I enjoy country life and riding horses, and being immersed in the vividly described countryside was a great way to vicariously have those pleasures for a little while.
The three central characters Damaris, Luke, and Nathaniel became real to me as I followed their story to the very satisfying conclusion. Luke came across as a superhero, who wore boots and jeans instead of a cape, and, even though he was flawed in some ways, it was easy to see how he won the heart of Damaris. But she was so fainting heroine. She was stronger than she’d ever thought of herself when faced with challenges, and it was great to see how she rose to the difficulties and dangers of ranch life and never gave up on her nephew who was so deep in his grief over losing his father.
There were so many unique turns of phrase that I highlighted throughout the book until I finally realized I couldn’t quote them all in a review. One in particular comes when Damaris is struggling so hard with a difficult decision after Nathaniel has been arrested for rustling and is locked in jail. Luke is with her and he thinks, “She looked so lost, as if she were drifting on the open sea, only to have him start dismantling her boat, board by board. Needing to shore her up somehow, he cupped her cheek and stilled her wagging head. Her gaze lifted. Met his. Pleaded for something solid to hold on to. Never had his towering frame felt quite so flimsy.”
Finding such treasures of careful wordage in descriptions of special moments and special places is always a delight for me when I’m reading. I pause and read them over a few times, just to savor the wonderful use of craft. I paused quite a bit while reading this book.
For readers who enjoy Christian romance, with a great deal of suspense and drama thrown in, this is the perfect book to pick up for a satisfying summer read.
Voted #1 Reader’s Favorite Christian Romance Author of 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE WINNER!
All three books in the HANGER’S HORSEMEN SERIES.
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 7/8/2022)
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CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, or visit the blogs directly:
| 6/28/22 | Notable Quotables | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 6/28/22 | BONUS Promo | Hall Ways Blog |
| 6/28/22 | Review | It’s Not All Gravy |
| 6/29/22 | Guest Post | KayBee’s Book Shelf |
| 6/29/22 | Review | The Plain-Spoken Pen |
| 6/29/22 | BONUS Promo | LSBBT Blog |
| 6/30/22 | Author Interview | The Adventures of a Travelers Wife |
| 7/1/22 | Scrapbook Page | The Page Unbound |
| 7/1/22 | Review | Shelf Life Blog |
| 7/2/22 | Excerpt | All the Ups and Downs |
| 7/3/22 | Excerpt | Reading by Moonlight |
| 7/4/22 | Review | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 7/5/22 | Series Spotlight | Writing and Music |
| 7/6/22 | Review | The Clueless Gent |
| 7/6/22 | Excerpt | Forgotten Winds |
| 7/7/22 | Review | Book Fidelity |
| 7/7/22 | Review | Rox Burkey Blog |
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WOW! What a rave review! Sounds like a series worth starting at the beginning and binge-reading straight through this one. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
My thoughts exactly about reading from the first book.
What a fabulous review, MaryAnn! I love the lines you chose to quote.