My Bookshelf: A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer

(This is my regular Tuesday My Bookshelf post, only it is being posted today, on a Friday, because I received this novel from a Bethany House giveaway and had planned on reviewing it this week, only it didn’t arrive until late Monday night. So I just swapped the days!)

A teacher on the run. A bounty hunter in pursuit. Can two enemies learn to trust each other before they both lose what they hold most dear?

        Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

        Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan’s Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily’s mother she’d keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.

        When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is she villain or victim?

        Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart.

        A Worthy Pursuit was one of the few books by Karen Witemeyer that I had not read, until now of course. She has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read Stealing the Preacher a few years ago, and I have been unable to put any of her novels down after picking them up. With her witty dialogue and swoon-worthy heroes, Karen crafts historical stories that will draw you in and leave you melting in a little puddle, and A Worthy Pursuit is no exception.

        Let me introduce you to Stone Hammond. A former Texas Ranger turned successful tracker (though I like to say retriever, you’ll know why if you read the book), Stone appears at first to Charlotte as the strong, burly, intimidating—albeit handsome—man that he is. On the inside though, is another story. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stone is a good, Christian man with a soft heart that quickly grows to love Charlotte’s charges who vows to protect them, and their teacher, with everything in him. How can you not fall for a hero like that?

        Now, Charlotte may not be a dashing Texas cowboy, but she is important too. Still reeling from the rejection of her father and a former suitor, she hides herself behind a mask she has let no one—not even her young charges—penetrate. When Stone comes looking for Lily, she coolly proves to him she’s Lily’s legal guardian, despite the fear that rages inside. Slowly, though, she begins to trust their rugged hero, especially as he proves he would do anything for her and her students. But, there is a big difference between trusting him with their lives and giving him her heart. Will she ever surrender to his very worthy pursuit?

        If you are not jumping out of your seat determined to pick up A Worthy Pursuit this very minute—or at least very soon—then I have done a sorry job describing it. Believe me, this novel deserves double the five bookshelves I am giving it, but my scale doesn’t go that high. I cannot describe to you in words how amazing this novel was, not just because of its melted-me-into-a-puddle love story. Although that (obviously) played a really big part. The suspense playing into Lily’s situation gave this book exactly what it needed, and the little details made it all the more enjoyable. A Worthy Pursuit is a novel fully worthy (see what I did there?) of all the praise I could ever give it, and the assurance that I know I will read it again and again. If you pick up this book, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

        Happy reading!

You can purchase your own copy of the book here.
All credit for the amazing photography goes to my little sister Allie (check out her blogs here and here).

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Karen Witemeyer and her publishers.