Karen Witemeyer: To Love a Beast

 By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: To Love a Beast (One Upon a Time in Texas Book One)

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 10, 2025

Beauty & the Beast in 1800's Texas.

Once known among New York's elite as the American Adonis, Everett Griffin now lives as a recluse in the wilds of Texas. The treachery of a former admirer left his face and his spirit riddled with scars, so he hides himself away, his only companions a trio of trusted servants and an oversized dog. Locals whisper of the beastly man who lives in the gloomy manor outside of town and his tendency to attack anyone who dares approach. Everett relishes his fearsome reputation and uses it as a shield to guard his privacy. Until a young woman as stubborn as she is beautiful infiltrates his sanctum and lays siege to his defenses.

When an injury to her father jeopardizes the family's book binding business, Callista Rosenfeld determines to fulfill the contract herself, and no insufferable client or woman-eating dog will deter her. Finding unlikely allies among Mr. Griffin's staff, Callista secures her position and sets to work transforming the manor's remarkable library. Her employer transforms as well, his ill-tempered growls subsiding to reveal a considerate, intellectual nature. Affection blooms as Callista and Everett discover hidden depths in each other, but the evil schemes of a vengeful hunter threaten to leave their love and their lives in tatters.

My Thoughts:

To Love a Beast by Karen Witemeyer was a predictable, yet delightful story. Anyone that has read or seen any Beauty and the Beast movies, knows the basic concept of the plotline. Readers will notice many similar lines from the 1990 Disney Beauty and the Beast movie. Just like in the movie, Witemeyer briefly shows the element of the how the Beast becomes so disfigured and how it changes his whole outlook on life.  First, the cover is beautiful. I love the bookshelf behind the heroine. In the story, there is a scene that I believe this is an important moment in the overall story arch. As for heroine, I loved how strong and determined that she is. Bookworms can hide behind books a lot, but we are definitely not shy when it comes time to push back. As for hero, I love how the heroine sees past his scars and helps him to become a better man overall. The transformation was my favorite part. As for the setting, I know it is supposed to be happening in the wild west in Texas, but the story really did not feel like it was in the middle of Texas, but then again, my view of Texas as someone who has spent all her life in the Mid-west is vast nothingness for miles and miles. It read more like a Victorian style story that could have taken place in a castle or manor in London. Overall, To Love a Beast by Karen Witemeyer will capture the imagination of any reader that enjoys the Beauty and the Beast storyline. I'm anxious to see what fairytale Witemeyer will bring to life next. 

I received a complimentary copy of To Love a Beast by Karen Witemeyer through Celebrate Lit Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase To Love a Beast

About the Author

Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen’s books have won numerous awards, including the prestigious Christy Award, Carol Award, and National Reader’s Choice Award. Karen is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, Texas with her husband. Learn more about Karen and her books at her website.

 

 

 

More from Karen

Having Fun with Character Names

I was a college student when the Disney animated adaptation of Beauty and the Beast released, and it instantly became my favorite fairy tale of all time. As a bookish young woman myself, I found Belle so relatable, and the rest of the cast delighted me as well. Throughout my Texas Ever After series and continuing with this new Once Upon a Time in Texas series, I’ve enjoyed paying homage to the Disney characters who inspired my western retellings. To Love a Beast is no different.

Let’s start with our beastly hero, Everett Griffin. The name Everett means “wild boar” and a griffin is a mythological beast with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. Quite fitting for our Beast. Next is the lovely Callista Rosenfeld, a book binder and novel lover. Callista means “most beautiful,” perfect for our Beauty. Rosenfeld references the enchanted rose that plays such a key role in the fairy tale plot.

Next, we have our supporting cast. Mrs. Potter is our motherly housekeeper who invites Callista to tea on a regular basis. Our stuffy butler playing the role of Cogsworth is Mr. Timens. Notice the TIME in his name that pays homage to the clock-faced Disney character. Everett’s valet and best friend is Ray Lightfoot, who’s name plays with the candlestick image with both his first and last name.

I love having fun with my character names and giving them additional story meaning. You’ll find more Beauty and the Beast Easter eggs in my story as well. Those elements make the story so fun to write, and I hope you will find it incredibly fun to read as well.

Happy Reading!

~Karen

Blog Stops

Maureen’s Musings, June 27

Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 28

The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate , June 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 29

Inspired by Fiction, June 29

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , June 30

Where Faith and Books Meet, June 30

Devoted Steps, July 1

Sylvan Reads, July 1

She Lives To Read, July 1

Texas Book-aholic, July 2

Blossoms and Blessings, July 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 3

Blogging With Carol, July 3

Stories By Gina, July 4 (Author Interview)

Labor Not in Vain, July 4

For Him and My Family, July 5

Holly’s Book Corner , July 5

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 6

Jodie Wolfe, July 6

The Lit Lady, July 7

Wishful Endings, July 7

Bizwings Book Blog, July 8

Life on Chickadee Lane, July 8

Books You Can Feel Good About, July 9

Mary Hake, July 9

To Everything There Is A Season, July 10

Life Love Writing, July 10

Min Reads and Reviews, July 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of the book and Beauty & the Beast themed goodies!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54249

Jen Turano : A Lesson in Propriety

 By Kelly Bridgewater

LESSON ONE: Stand in the way of the Windy City's criminal world and expect a most improper proposal from an eligible gentleman in return.

With her father dead, her fortune stolen, and her fiancé casting her aside, Miss Drusilla Merriweather's privileged life has been upended. She is left with only one option: to provide for her family by opening a finishing school in the allegedly haunted castle she's inherited from her eccentric aunt. However, her plan is immediately threatened by unscrupulous developers keen on claiming the coveted estate for themselves by any means necessary.

Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker, a dashing architect with a tendency to charm his way out of trouble, is convinced he can protect Drusilla but is challenged by her fierce independence. Yet when strange occurrences--walking suits of armor and unexpected ghostly visitors--arise within the castle's grounds, Drusilla must decide whether to risk her family's safety and her school on the gallant architect who seems to have found his way into her heart.

Laugh-out-loud witty banter, swoon-worthy romance, and delightful mischief in the Gilded Age string together this entrancing series starter. Fans of clean romance, Christian fiction, and strong female characters will enjoy this read.

My Thoughts:

A Lesson in Propriety by Jen Turano was a wonderful jump into her new series. The first couple of chapters in a tea room really do not show any propriety in any way. I love the heroine, Druscilla. Right away, Turano shows her strength and allows the circumstance that is affecting her current life to make her a strong heroine. Readers will enjoy that another one of Turano's heroine does not really care what society or a man thinks. As a result of this, funny things happen to the heroine. Funny items like a herd of goats, a duck, and a bunch of ravens. I really love the setting in a castle alongside the Lake Michigan. When Turano has the heroine and her family and friend come to the castle, it really wrapped me in the mysterious element, and I couldn't wait to learn more about the setting and what is going on there. Of course, there is some romance to the plot with a neighboring man. While the heroine is a strong-willed woman, she comes to learn that not all men are horrible and allows her heart to open to the possibility of marriage. Overall, A Lesson in Propriety by Jen Turano is a rip-roaring fun of a novel in an abandoned castle. I honestly can't wait to continue this series and see how some of the unanswered questions are handled.

I received a complimentary copy of A Lesson in Propriety by Jen Turano through Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase A Lesson in Propriety

Dani Pettrey: Two Seconds Too Late

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: Two Seconds Too Late (Jeopardy Falls Series: Book Two)

Author: Dani Pettrey

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: April 29, 2025

 A missing woman. Two hit men. When every second counts, who will survive?

In the stark but beautiful wilds of northern New Mexico, a couples' retreat at a luxury resort turns into a chilling nightmare when a woman vanishes. Skip tracer Riley MacLeod and private investigator Greyson Chadwick pose as a couple to hunt for clues that might reveal the missing woman's location. Those leads uncover a harrowing truth: They're not the only ones looking for her. What begins as a normal tracking case turns into a deadly chase when they, too, become the hunted.

As Riley and Greyson work together, their partnership ignites a tumultuous attraction, but Greyson's secrets prevent him from acting on his feelings for her, and Riley can't bring herself to fully trust him. Delving deeper into the case, they find themselves fighting not only for justice and the chance at a loving relationship . . . but also for their very survival.

My Review:

Two Seconds Too Late by Dani Pettrey takes readers on a ride through two mysteries. While in a suspense novel, one mystery is enough to keep the reading turning the pages. In Two Seconds Too Late, Pettrey actually weaves together two mysteries into one. Eventually, they do combine and crash into one another, creating a resolution that was coming since the beginning of the book. The plot was nicely mysterious. At times, in the one plot line, I did see the emotions and feelings of the two characters bleeding into the mystery element. But as readers will come to understand, it was necessary to craft that plot line. The overall mystery that takes the second two people on the run I wanted more of. This is where the real mystery lied. It could have been explained a little more instead of leaving until the end. Then readers will become interested and wonder why that mystery storyline was not actually explained and explored a lot more. On the other hand, the characters had faults, and those faults kept coming back up as a way for the characters to deal with them. Overall, Two Seconds Too Late by Dani Pettrey did capture my attention, and I enjoyed it, but I believe there was an overarching mystery that could have been dived into a little more throughout the plot.

I received a complimentary copy of Two Seconds Too Late by Dani Pettrey through Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

I received a complimentary copy of Two Second Too Late by Dani Pettrey from Bethany House Publishers through Celebrate Lit. Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Two Seconds Too Late

About the Author

Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly one million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.

Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).

Dani loves to mentor aspiring and newly-published authors. Seeing them grow and spread their wings is so rewarding. She recently was awarded ACFW’s Mentor of the Year. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Florida, where she lives with her husband.

More from Dani

Hi friends! Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to stop by and say hi. I deeply appreciated. I have loved writing Riley and Greyson’s story. They are my favorite couple since Landon and Piper in my Alaskan Courage series. She’s fiery and independent and he is smitten by her, but also fears for her safety and after you read Two Seconds Too Late, you’ll understand why. Taking them out of their regular environment and placing them as a couple at high-end spa and resort brings on the opportunity to test out their feelings for one another under the guise of playing along. It’s a close proximity, opposites attract, and fake relationship story that tugged at my heart and I hope it’ll dug at yours too.

Every time I release a new book, I get a bunch of questions, which I love. I love sharing more about the story and digging into my hope for it, so I’m sharing several of the questions I get asked most and I wanted to share the answers to them with you. Please feel free to ask any other questions in the comment section below and I’ll respond within a day. Thanks again for stopping by! I hope you enjoy reading Riley and Greyson’s adventure as much as I enjoyed writing it.

• What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

That despite a strong, complexed and nuanced antagonist, that light can come from the darkest places and bring peace or, at the very least, closure to not only the families of the victims but to the hero and/or heroine as well. It might not be perfect, and it certainly doesn’t fix anything, but I still believe in the hero/heroine triumphing over the villain.

2) What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why?

So many. I would say my top three influencers were Sue Grafton and are Lisa Gardner and Dee Henderson. The three write very different style of stories. Sue perfect the mystery with some edgy suspense scenes. Lisa creates the best or worst, I suppose. They are a force to be reckoned with and I love her twists and surprises. And, Dee’s book are paced so well and laid out so methodically. I’ve learned something different, and continue to do so, from these three, excellent authors.

3) Which took shape first: plot, character, or setting?

To me it’s a combination of knowing the hero and heroine’s jobs. I like to think about what kind of person would do that job and how it will affect them and the story itself. I also know the setting as it’s a character its own right and adds to and affects the story overall. I also know the crime, but I don’t know who did it. I like to leave my options open to see the direction the story goes, and where the investigation leads.

4) What was the biggest challenge this book presented? What about the biggest opportunity?

The balance between what was occurring on the surface in contrast to what was simmering beneath the surface and rising up in subtext. Creating that balance and keeping things on track was interesting, but It provided the perfect opportunity to delve into the deepest part of the characters. Overall, it was tricky to strike the right balance and have the subtly rise to the surface in a natural and authentic way.

Homemade Butterscotch Recipe:

Butterscotch is Riley’s favorite candy & the bane of Greyson’s existence (you’ll see why in the book J).Ingredients:

2 ½ cup sugar

1 cup unsalted butter

1/3 tsp. salt

¾ cup water

½ cup molasses

¼ cup honey

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

And a little sea salt for an added touch.

Directions:

Put ingredients in pan. Cook mixture to 250 degrees.

Pour into a lined pan with parchment paper and leave it alone.

Sprinkle some sea salt if you’d like.

Let it sit overnight.

Cut it up into squares (a pizza cutter works great) and store in fridge.

Blog Stops

Book Looks by Lisa, April 23

CeCe Reads and Sings, April 23

The Sacred Line, April 24

Southern Gal Loves to Read, April 24

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 24

Where Faith and Books Meet, April 25

Wishful Endings, April 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 27

Inklings and Notions, April 27

Texas Book-aholic, April 28

For Him and My Family, April 28

Maureen’s Musings, April 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 29

Betti Mace, April 30

Bizwings Book Blog, April 30

Leslie’s Library Escape, May 1

Just Your Average reviews, May 1

Blogging With Carol, May 2

Inkwell Inspirations, May 2

Stories By Gina, May 3 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 3

Cover Lover Book Review, May 4

Labor Not in Vain, May 4

Holly’s Book Corner, May 5

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 5

Lights in a Dark World, May 5

Pause for Tales, May 6

Roads to Everywhere, May 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dani is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of the book in winner’s choice of eBook or paperback, and a $20 Starbucks gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54203

Jessica R. Patch: The Other Sister

 By Kelly Bridgewater

 She thought she was the only one lying about her identity. Until she stepped into her sister’s life.

Charlotte Kane has always dreamed of a different life, one where she isn’t living paycheck to paycheck. An existence worlds away from the chaos of her own. Then her estranged mother dies, and Charlotte makes a stunning discovery—she has an identical twin who was given up for adoption.

Acelynn Benedict is polished, successful and seems to have everything Charlotte yearns for—a wealthy, doting family in Savannah, a handsome boyfriend, a great career. She’s just as surprised as Charlotte to learn she has a sister. But when tragedy hits and Charlotte is forced to assume Acelynn’s identity in a desperate moment, she uncovers something altogether darker…

No one in her sister’s life is quite who they seem to be. And every discovery leads Charlotte deeper into a web of deadly secrets. Charlotte may have wanted Acelynn’s life, yet now that she’s living it, she wants out. But if she reveals the truth about herself, it will mean returning to her old life—and she’s already a dead woman there.

My Thoughts:

The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch is a unique story. What if you could trade your life with a twin that you never knew existed? What would your life look like? What issues or joys would you find? Patch does a wonderful job at answering the questions. The suspense is pretty interesting and kept my attention. The Then chapters gave me the chills. What a horrible little girl. I kept trying to guess who she was in the regular chapters. Patch had me guessing to the very end. When she showed who it was, I was surprised, which takes a lot to do for me. She did a good job at keeping the actual villain a secret. Even at the end of the novel, there is another twist that I kind of figured out, but I needed Patch to show me. I really like her stories, and I hope she keeps writing them. Overall, The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch thrilled this reader who LOVES to be surprised in a suspense book. This story definitely kept me engrossed the entire time. I can't wait to read her next book.

I received a complimentary copy of The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Other Sister

Latest Blog Post

 By Kelly Bridgewater

dreamstime.com

Thank you for your support!

Hopefully, next time I am on this is because I have signed a book contract.

Disclaimer: There might be reviews once in a while, but nothing like I used to do.

Renee Ryan: The Last Fashion House in Paris

By Kelly Bridgewater

n the heart of occupied WWII Paris, an elegant fashion house is the unlikely headquarters of a daring resistance network. Behind closed doors, courageous women vie to save loved ones and strangers alike from the Nazis in this powerful story of survival, friendship and second chances.

France, 1942

Once, Paulette Leblanc spent her days flirting, shopping and drawing elegant dresses in her sketch pad. Then German tanks rolled into France, and a reckless romance turned into deep betrayal. Blaming herself for her mother’s arrest by the Gestapo, Paulette is sent away to begin a new life in Paris, working as apprentice to fashion designer Sabine Ballard.

But Maison de Ballard is no ordinary fashion house. While seamstresses create the perfect couture gowns, clandestine deals and secrets take place out of sight. Mademoiselle Ballard is head of a vast network of resistance fighters—including Paulette’s coworker and friend Nicolle Cadieux—who help escort downed military men and Jewish families to safety.

Soon Paulette is recruited as a spy. Working as a seamstress by day, gathering information at glamorous parties by night, Paulette at last has a chance to earn the redemption she craves. But as the SS closes in, and Nicolle goes missing, Paulette must make life-and-death decisions about who to trust, who to love and who to leave behind…

 

My Thoughts:

The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan is a World War II story that takes place in Paris, France in a fashion house. The two heroines are brave and daring as they face the challenges of trying to hide from their heritage and their past. Readers will learn about the world of fashion and see the way that the fashion was used to help rescue Jews from Paris as the Nazi's tried to take over. The plot is predictable and mingles in with some plots of other novels that I have read about world war II. The setting will be familiar to readers of World War II novels. Occupation from the Nazi's and trying to escape their wrath. Guilt does haunt the two main characters, but they learn to let their guard down and learn to trust others again. Enough to make better decisions that will affect others lives through their choices. Overall, The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan fits nicely into the World War II fiction genre, but the story was predictable.

I received a complimentary copy of The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan from Harlequin Trade Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Last Fashion House in Paris

Reason Why I Have Chosen To Stop

By Kelly Bridgewater

Last week, I shared why I started blogging ten years ago.

I have written TONS of book reviews to help new authors, accomplished authors, and budding authors.

I have tried giveaways to no avail.

No one ever comments.

Not many people visit my blog.

My name is out there. Authors have approached me with wanting to me review their novels.

On Netgalley, the publishing companies have auto-approved me for novels, which sounds exciting.

BUT  . . .

clipart-library.com

After 10 year of doing this, I have not written any books since my Daddy passed away on Halloween 2015.

I have decided that at on December 27th to celebrate my 10.5^th year anniversary of this blog that I won’t be doing this anymore.

I will still read.

That will never end.

BUT . . .

I need to spend time writing the stories that God has placed on my heart. I have the ideas and scribbles for about a dozen different novels.

I need to spend time focusing on writing or one day, I will be on my deathbed and regret that I have never written a story for publication.

I need to spend more time learning how to dive deeper into my character’s emotions and write these stories that will not go away.

Thank you for supporting me and reading my reviews!

Maybe someday soon, I will have a book or more than one book that someone will review for me.

Maybe even you could review it for me.

Maybe this will come back with more information about an upcoming book release!