To Win Her Heart

Actual Rating: 4.5

This one was recommended to be recently, and I'm so glad I picked it up! Historical Romance tends to be a bit hit-or-miss for me, as romance as a plot doesn't always grab my attention. This is a clean Christian Romance, but I really enjoyed the writing style and getting to meet these characters!

I admit, while I did like Eden, her uppity tendencies and prejudice ideals did gets old quick at times. More so, as the readers already know about Levi's past, and that she's about to find out too... I loved Levi's parts through-out though, and really loved seeing his gentile ways and patient nature slowly change the way the town dealt with their fears and concerns as his past, and the church's Bible funds drive start to make show more sense.

I also can't write a proper review with at least mentioning Chloe and Duncan! I loves several of the townspeople in this one (and honestly wish it was part of a series...Stand alones are find, but part of me wishes to return to this town a while longer...) I loved both of these supporting-characters and really enjoyed seeing how Chloe's story helps Eden learn to trust and open-up to the idea that her past, and her thoughts on forgiveness and redemption can change over time without her being naïve or loosing a part of herself in the process. She has long thought that if she allowed the events of her past to be anything but a guiding force to prevent repeated heart-break, that she would be less than the woman she strived for years to become or considered 'broken' regardless of what anyone else tries to teach her.

I also loved the library scenes, each one! I also loved how a love of books and literature is one of the things that connected these characters!

Overall, I found this one a charming and entertaining read. While there were a few places there I wished it would *hurry up and move to the next scene already!* I did enjoy this one and loved meeting these characters! I really enjoyed this story of finding one's place, love, redemption, and new beginnings. I also really enjoyed how the events around the side-characters and townsfolk also plays a role in changing up the MCs' perspectives a bit toward each other, and others from less fortunate upbringings or past mistakes that have followed them by way of stigmas. I also loved the detailed descriptions in this one! The writing style flows and is picturesque at times, with beautiful fields of wildflowers, cozy library afternoons, and lively exchanges around town! show less

If you know me, then you know how cynical I am when it comes to romance stories. I usually come away feeling rather blah or meh about the storyline. In fact, this year I've only come across one other romance story that I really loved (A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell) and that truly made me swoon. I'm glad to say that this book is of the same caliber.

Oh this book was wonderful! I have really enjoyed Karen Witemeyer's previous books and each one keeps getting better and better. In this book there is a librarian (mad props for book love!) who's reluctant to fall in love after being dreadfully hurt and a blacksmith who has a past that he would rather keep under wraps. The two begin to fall in love over the love books (more book love!) show more and their relationship is totally sweet and caring. I loved how letters are used as a way to communicate instead of just verbally saying things.

The characters are not perfect. Eden goes through several spells where she keeps trying to uphold her character instead of doing the right thing. She judges people unfairly and there are times when she thinks she's better than other people. Levi does the same thing though in reverse as he continually thinks he's worse than everyone else and unworthy of forgiveness. Both have things in their past they are hiding and if everything had been explained earlier, it could have saved some heartache. However, the pair are willing to work through their flaws and it is because of this it makes the story really work.

Meanwhile the sheriff is a character that you will love to hate. He's not a stock villian but he's vile, crude and just plan ignorant. If the story took place in modern age, he would be slapped with sexual harassment charges among other offenses. He cannot take the hint that Eden wants nothing to do with him and his stupid mind seems to think that disgracing Levi will make her want him instead. I was SO glad to see what his final outcome turned out to be and good riddance!

The circumstances that Eden and Levi have to go through in their relationship bring out their true characters and make each other of them totally transparent to the other. I loved the end scene where they both have to prove their love to each other. It's not cheesy at all. It's incredibly romantic and moving and simply put shows what I think love should be. I am so pleased with Witemeyer's writing as she doesn't fall into the predictable Christian historical romance plot. She takes the story further with things not ending with just a marriage proposal.

This is what I wish all romance books would be like and especially how I wish more Christian authors would style their historical romances. If you focus more on writing a GOOD story as Witemeyer did, the romance will be more natural and more focused. The male hero doesn't need to be confident and witty all the time, sometimes the shy quiet vulnerable guy wins in the end. VERY HIGHLY recommended. show less

This is by far my favorite of all the Christian fiction/ historical fiction books I've read this year. Though it's characters definitely have Christian values, they're not in-your-face preachy about it like in some books, and don't spend pages in internal "WWJD" monologue like in others. This one was definitely more realisticly done; the characters didn't even beat themselves up (literally or figuratively) about having a physical response to one another, which was a nice change. If all Christian fiction were written like this one, I'd definitely read more of it.

Another thing I really liked about this book was the character of Levi. He has a speech impediment--he's unable to make the "s" sound well--and as a result tries not to use it at show more all. A teacher had suggested this solution to him as a child, and Levi became an avid reader in order to improve his vocabulary so as not to have to say "s" sounds in conversation. As a result, his speech is often slow as he tries to find a substitute word for the obvious ones, which of course often leads people to believe that he is slow. I was really amazed with how Witemeyer truly managed to keep the dreaded "s" sounds out of his conversation--it became almost a game for me, comparing what he does say to what "normally" would have been said in that situation. As an English teacher and wanna-be writer, I was truly impressed.

My fingers are crossed that Head in the Clouds (her third book) comes to my library's Overdrive soon! show less

Levi is a blacksmith with a somewhat violent past. A prize fighter who accidental killed a man in the ring, he has paid his dues in prison and has vowed to give up fighting and live a peaceful life. Eden, once jilted by a fiancé, has decided to live a single life, and has devoted herself to giving assistance to others and has opened her home as a lending library with her own books. She believes Levi to be slow-witted, due to a speech problem he takes care to hide, until she discovers their shared love of books. Through written letters left the borrowed books, they discuss literature, and fall in love. But all is not peaceful in this little town. The sherif has decided Eden will be his, despite her protests to the contrary, and he will show more do anything necessary to rid the town of his rival. Though the romance in this tale tends to be a bit too sweet for my tastes, there are some meatier parts to the book. Several topics arise in the course of the story, from forgiveness, to open mindedness, to compromise, to upholding your standards in the face of oppression. The setting and the time frame adds much to the enjoyment of this well written novel. show less

Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father's knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets...
Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town's new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in show more him that tempt her heart.
Levi's renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she's finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian's affections? show less

This was a story I didn't start out thinking I would enjoy that much, but the more I kept reading, the more this story grew on me. It was a story of second chances. Levi Grant is starting over in the town of Spencer, Texas, after completing his sentence in prison for the unintentional crime that "derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune". He is now the town's blacksmith, which is a trade he learned from his father, before he struck out on his own as a prize-fighter.

Eden Spencer chooses to spend her time running a lending library in Spencer, the town her father founded. When Levi decides to visit her library she is hesitant to trust him. Levi's struggle with words was heartfelt in this story. Eden soon starts to believe he is a show more man she could give her heart to, until Levi's past is suddenly brought out into the open. Levi will now need to 'win her heart' and show her he needs a second chance. show less

After serving two years for manslaughter, Levi Grant has reconnected with his faith and made the decision to leave his prior career of prizefighting behind him and devote himself to his family trade as a blacksmith. Moving to a new town, he finds himself besotted with the local librarian, Eden Spencer. But with her utter abhorrence for any violence can Levi convince her to love a man with such a dark past?

Yet another enjoyable Christian romance from Karen Witemeyer, this time with bonus small town librarian.