Texas, 1894: Schon seit längerem hat der Fuhrunternehmer Benjamin Porter ein Auge auf Victoria Adams geworfen, die von allen nur Tori genannt wird. Als ernste, alleinerziehende junge Mutter führt sie den Gemischtwarenladen der Frauenkolonie Harpers Station. Auf Männer reagiert sie mit Ablehnung und macht auch bei Ben keine Ausnahme. Dieser blickt hinter Toris kühle Fassade und nimmt ihre Verletzlichkeit und ihr liebenswürdiges Wesen wahr. Für Lewis, ihren aufgeweckten kleinen Sohn, würde er nur zu gern die Vaterrolle übernehmen. Als Tori mit Hilfe von Bens Frachtkutsche die umliegenden Farmen mit ihren Waren zu beliefern beginnt, versucht der kräftige Riese mit dem sanften Charakter die gemeinsame Zeit zu nutzen, um ihr Vertrauen zu gewinnen. Doch die Schutzmauern um Toris Herz scheinen unüberwindlich. Ein dramatisches Ereignis stellt Tori unvermittelt vor die Frage, ob sie bereit ist, schmerzvolle Erfahrungen der Vergangenheit hinter sich zu lassen und noch einmal Vertrauen zu wagen. Karen Witemeyer liebt historische Romane mit Happy-End-Garantie und einer überzeugenden christlichen Botschaft. Nach dem Studium der Psychologie begann sie selbst mit dem Schreiben. Zusammen mit ihrem Mann und ihren drei Kindern lebt sie in Texas.
For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline.
Karen also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.
I loved revisiting Harper's Station and seeing how Tori finally lets her guard down enough to trust Ben. I admired his patience and gentleness, and also that he stood his ground and provided stability and protection. Tori definitely has her reasons to mistrust men, but it took a special person to help her see that releasing the feelings she has been hiding from will bring her freedom from her past and peace in trusting God. This novella is just what I needed to tide me over until Heart on the Line releases! (It also includes a sneak peek at the first few chapters on Heart on the Line which promises to be a wonderful and exciting book!)
I loved this novella all to pieces! The only thing that it needs to make it better is to have it published in one of those small, slender hardcovers that accommodate novellas so well.
Ben and Victoria make a fun and interesting couple, and it's even better if you've seen their history in No Other Will Do. It's hard to mention much without adding spoilers with a novella-length book, but just to say...a puppy acts as catalyst to a sweet and heartfelt ending. How much better does it get?
And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is how a novella is written.
Characters with depth, a plot, an adorably mischievous youngster, and a puppy sew this sweet story together marvelously. I think this novella has the slight advantage of being a 1.5 versus a 0.5, meaning that we are already somewhat acquainted with the characters and setting. However, this little book has all of the hallmark qualities of the stellar writing of Karen Witemeyer. That feeling of being transported to another time, another place. Relatable characters. A solid storyline. An actual inspirational message. She has definitely earned her spot on my Favorite Authors list.
A harmful incident in her past leaves Tori not just fearful of men, but petrified. Living in a women's colony gives her a sense of peace, but fear creeps back in when her business relies on the handsome, very large Ben who transports goods to and from the colony.
What she tries to avoid is the ever increasing attraction Ben feels for her, and his fondness for her four year old son. And honesty about her history is simply not an option.
This novella deals with a tragedy all too common in this world, but it’s approach, although honest with a bit of a surprise, is done very well. Grace, sympathy and patient understanding is so healing for hurt souls. And Ben is full of it all.
What I liked about this novella (and this comes from someone who is mostly not fond of them) is that it doesn’t take a whole book and try to squeeze it down into short-story form. This is basically a day in the life of... Much more believable, yet satisfying.
This was a deeper more serious short read. A woman who has a tragic past and then man who will wait for her. It had a pretty heavy subject matter for a short book. It is also attached to a longer novel. I thought it was well done. A little too much drama for me. Very clean with a bit of a religious element. Took me about an hour and a half to read.
I adore this humorous and heartwarming novella! The story flowed well from book 1 while still providing enough background to refresh the reader’s memory or stand alone. I highly recommend this series so far and the sneak peek of Heart on the Line looks very promising as well!
Tori Adams was hurt by a man in her past. It brought her to Harper's Station to run the general store with her 4 year-old son Lewis in tow.
Ben Porter is the freighter that carries goods in and out of the all female town of Harper's Station. They put their heads together to try and garner more business for the town's success. But can Tori trust herself and push through the anxiety of being with a man...in a wagon...all day on route?
Even though she's seen Ben's character (in book #1) she harbors the fear and memories of hurt by another man.
A beautiful short-story novella of trust and putting the sins of another on someone you know you shouldn't.
***There are spoilers in this review. They are not hidden, as I don't use the spoiler function in my reviews.***
This book wasn’t what I was expecting. Oh sure, it had the author’s trademark humor. It had memorable characters and horses.
Y’all, it made me weep.
That’s right. Weep.
I’m not used to that sort of emotion being spurred on by a Witemeyer book!
Mr. McPhearson’s admission was what did it. I’ve known hard times too, so it was easy to relate to his predicament, his wishes and hopes, his regrets and fears, his desire to make life better for his wife. He might have been a minor character, but he’s the one I’ll remember the most from this story.
Another thing I wasn’t expecting was for rape to be a main theme/topic. I knew there had to be something dark in Tori’s past, but I wasn’t anywhere close to figuring that one out. Ms. Witemeyer handled the topic very well, keeping the actual act off-page yet describing the emotions of it in a way that wrenched my heart in compassion for the character. Very nicely done, Ms. Witemeyer!
The biggest disappointment about this book was the fact that Roman and Greek mythology were so highly featured. Nearly a full chapter was devoted to expounding on mythological characters and names and their stories. That is not something I like in Christian fiction, as it draws attention away from God and toward the sinful idea of worshiping other gods, especially when none of the characters admit or even think they were wrong in doing so. It really concerned me that a four-year-old child was being taught that mythology was neat and something to study and admire. That is creating a stumbling block for a child, which is dangerous, according to Matthew 18:6, which says, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." On top of that, at one point during a mythological discussion, the lead even “thank[ed] God for allowing her to retrieve the name [Hercules] before it flew from her brain.” That is not an appropriate response to a dialogue/debate on mythology, in my opinion, as it indicates that God is okay with people worshiping other gods, which He clearly is not, from the punishments the Israelites received after worshiping other gods (found in Exodus and other places in the Old Testament).
Rating: 3 stars Reasons: Mythology was highly featured. “Heaven” was misused several times. There was one case of swearing “by all that was holy.”
I feel like if I hadn't read the first book and gotten to know Tori and Ben through that story, I wouldn't have found their story in here believable due to the fast pace romance. One day (especially a day with puppy's, head injury's and old secrets coming to light) to fall in love require me to ignore a lot. I liked this story overall. I like Tori, Ben and little Lewis and I do believe that they loved each other (Ben stood guard over her store for DAYS in the first book which made my heart pitter patter) but I do wish Witemeyer had written this novella over a few days. It would have been more enjoyable, believable and less rushed.
Title: Worth the Wait Written By: Karen Witemeyer Genre: Christian Western novella Recommended Ages: 13 & up
Introduction: This book all takes place in one day in Tori and Ben’s life. And what a day it is. I’ve read both of the novels in this series and must say that I personally prefer the novels over the novellas, but more on that later.
Characters: 1/1 As always, the characters are done well. Each of them has a unique personality and grows in some way during the story. My only complaint is that I think Ben was a little bit too perfect in this book. He may not have all the struggles that Tori does, but I think he should have had at least one flaw. He does get angry in a couple spots, but both times it is justified and he doesn’t overreact.
Dialogue: .75/1 The dialogue was well done, period accurate, and perfect for each situation. There was wit, frustration, arguments, and so much more. Some of the dialogue did seem a little stilted or rushed. I think that’s one problem with many novellas. If the author doesn’t want it to get too long, the dialogue tends to speed up a little more than it should.
Plot/storyline: .5/1 Overall, the plot and storyline are good. However, when I finished the book, I was a bit disappointed. I felt like the plot wrapped up a little too suddenly. I think Tori and I have similar personalities, especially with hiding emotions and if I had been in her situations, I’m not sure I could have been so quick to do what she does at the end (trying to avoid spoilers here). Yes, she had a little bit of time to think about it, but I personally would have wanted to take at least another day to mull things through and work out my own personal demons so to say before taking that next step.
Overall writing quality: .75/1 The writing quality was excellent as usual with Karen’s books. Besides the rushed nature I mention above, I have no other complaints.
Un-put-down-ability: 1/1 This book was nice and short and I got to read it while bottle-feeding and holding a baby all in about two hours. Even if I hadn’t had that wonderful chore, I wouldn’t have been able to put it down.
Conclusion: 4/5 Despite the flaws I pointed out before, I still really liked this book and would recommend it for anyone who wants a quick read.
"Worth the Wait" has Witemeyer's characteristic blend of humor and heart, and if anything, they're more intensified in this short novella. There were some pretty funny moments involving a little boy and appropriate terminology regarding bodily functions. For a novella, it addresses some pretty intense subjects, but at the same time, there's some intense healing happening too. While I always prefer the longer books, this still makes a nice interlude between novels--don't have to wait as long for the next book, and it provides another fun opportunity to learn more about the ladies of Harper's Station!
What a sweet, sweet story. I was intrigued by Victoria and her son, Leiws, as well as Ben Porter, then the only man allowed in Harper's Station, from the outset of the first book in the series. I was glad to see that Tori and Ben got their moment to have their story told. I will admit that I had some guesses as to what had happened to Tori to make her so fearful of men in general, but when she was able to give voice to her pain, my heart absolutely broke for her. However, she trusted in God and Ben trusted in God, and all worked out as it should. (TW: sexual assault mentioned)
I loved this novella! If you haven't read the first book in the series, you can still enjoy this story. I, however, had just finished reading No Other Will Do, so it was especially wonderful to get to read Tori and Ben's story.
The author tackles some difficult topics regarding Tori's past. It was interesting to learn more of her backstory and see more evidence of the noble and good man that Ben was.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Tori and Ben's story was the focus of this book. I knew that Tori had something in her past that had made her so anti-men, but it was devastating to hear her backstory and realize what she had been through. But she definitely came out stronger, more independent, and more caring because of it. Ben was a true hero. Patience, kindness, and warmth filled all his interactions with Tori. His love for her was obviously deep as he slowly built their relationship over a full year. I loved the role Frannie played in helping Tori to understand that she must move on from the past and forgive herself in order to have joy and love in her future.
Excellent historical romance series dotted with Karen Witemeyer's usual humor as well as spiritual content.
I love Karen Witemeyer's writing. It just makes me happy. Even though this novella had some darkness to it, it didn't overshadow Ben's sweet, thoughtful personality. (I was crushing on him the whole time!) & Tori, (awesome name, btw) bless her heart, just needed to give herself a break. I loved watching healing, and pure, simple, nonjudgmental, love in action.
I've had this on my Kindle for ages and finally decided to read it before I start "Heart on the Line."
This was really sweet and fast-paced, but took a much darker turn than what I was expecting. I appreciated the sentiments throughout about healing and letting go. Tori and Ben's relationship, in my mind, took a backseat to Tori's healing which was nice to see. My only qualm came from the children who appeared here and there, but especially Lewis. Each child's voice seemed much, much older than what their indicated age called for. That was a little off-putting.
I'm looking forward to starting "Heart on the Line" soon, and I'm glad this story was featured as I wondered what would happen to Ben and Tori in the first novel.
After re-reading "No Other Will Do" and re-aquaiting myself with the ladies of Harper Station, I was eager and excited to read more about Victoria and Ben. I just wish the story was longer! I loved the "gentle giant" and how he treated Tori with such love and respect, even when she pushed him away repeatedly. I admire Tori for her persistence in holding onto her position, but letting it go when the time was right. Overall, Karen Witemeyer writes another excellent story about love and faith. I can't wait to read more about the Ladies of Harper Station!
OMG .. Karen Witemeyer is one those rare authors who can make me so ingrossed in their story that I can't help but to finish her books in one sitting :D I was very interested to know more about Tori and Mr.Porter because their premise seemed so cute, and Holly Molly this did not disappoint, I loved every second of this book so much .. ahhh can't wait to get more of this cuteness with the second book of the series :D
A good addition to the series and wraps up a story line introduced in book 1. It felt like it ended a bit abruptly, but I can't wait to see these characters again in book 2!
I dnf-ed the adjoining novel to this novella due to content, but this novella was a delight. Ben Porter is every woman's dream. He's caring and waiting. He's sweet. He loves Tori a ton. This novella felt very well paced and never rushed. Just solid and amazing. Yes.
A fantastic novella that has me eagerly anticipating book two in the Ladies of Harper's Station series. Karen Witemeyer writes such wonderful romance and her characters leap from the pages.
I loved it! Definitely Worth the Wait! I was so glad to see Tori and Ben's story. Tori, so determined not to trust men for anything. She was hurt badly and built a wall around herself. It was good to see her learn that she could trust Ben in more ways than business. Big strong Ben is such a great hero, swoon-worthy as some say. Protective, faithful, so very patient and gentle. His muscles aren't bad to look at either as Tori reprimands herself for doing more than once. I don't give spoilers. This is such a good story! Just get it, read it and be happy!
I really liked Ben and Tori from the first book in the series, and I wish they had a full length book to themselves. Sine it's a novella, I was further disappointed that their story wasn't more interesting; it was mostly a repeat of what happened in the first book. I also disliked the reliance on a huge coincidence toward the end, and missed seeing the MCs interact more over the proposed business. So it wasn't as good as it could have been, still I enjoyed it. 2.5 slightly disappointed stars.
2.5⭐️this is a very, very quick read (it’s an novella, but I love when they don’t FEEL like novellas! This one def did.) Their relationship just felt too rushed, and the end was abrupt.
3.5 When I started reading this I realized it seemed familiar, I had read the first book a couple years ago. I'm actually a little surprised I remember the first book as well as I did. Anyway, this was a sweet story but a bit more serious than I usually like. It was still good though and had its own charm. It does deal with sensitive issues but has a good message about overcoming the hardest of difficulties. I would have liked to have a bit more closure with her parents