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A Worthy Pursuit #1
A Worthy Pursuit
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.
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.
341 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2015
511 people are currently reading
3962 people want to read
About the author
Karen Witemeyer
69 books4,321 followersFor 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 566 reviews
August 12, 2015
A smidgen difficult to get into at the very beginning, but that only lasted until the end of the prologue. I loved this story!! So fun and enjoyable and a bit suspenseful at times too. And the epilogue... If you know me at all, you know that the epilogue is a big deal to me. Well, this one was perfect, absolutely perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better one.
September 15, 2022
About this book:
“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 little girl entrusted to her care after her mother’s death. 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 the teacher he’s after produces documentation that shows she’s the little girl’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is Miss Atherton villain or victim? She acts more like a loving mother than an abductress, and the children in her care clearly adore her. Should Stone break his perfect record?
Then a new danger threatens, and Charlotte is forced to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone becomes determined to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart.”
Series: No, it is a stand-alone.
Spiritual Content- Deuteronomy 31:6 at the beginning & later quoted; Talks about God & trusting Him; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many Prayers; Many Scriptures are quoted & mentioned; Mentions of Bible reading; Charlotte & Stone both have faiths; Mentions of those in the Bible (and Stone’s horse’s name is Goliath);
*Note: a “devilishly”
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘dad-blamed’, a ‘drat it all’, a ‘hang it all’, a form of ‘sissy’, a ‘why the devil’, two forms of ‘dad-gum’, two ‘dumb’, three ‘shut up’s, four forms of ‘idiot’, five forms of ‘stupid’, fifteen forms of ‘shoot’; Curses are said but not written; Blood & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, guns & knives (semi-detailed); Wrestling a bobcat (detailed); Mentions of drinking, a bar and using whiskey for cuts; A mention of a threat to drown a kitten (barely-above-not-detailed); Stone mentions about the evil he’s seen (barely-above-not-detailed).
Sexual Content- An almost (semi-detailed) kiss, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, a semi-detailed kiss, a very-detailed kiss; A cheek kiss, Two forehead/head kisses and two barely-above-not-detailed hand kisses; Mentions of kissing & kisses (semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss, touch & embrace; Touches & Embraces (border-line semi-detailed // detailed); Noticing, Nearness & Attraction (border-line semi-detailed // detailed); a ‘hussy’, A mention that Stone has trailed men who’d rape a woman (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a brothel that catered to wealthy men; *Spoiler**End of Spoiler*; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Charlotte Atherton, age 28
-Stone Hammond, age 35
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1891
341 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
Something I learned while reading this book: Cameo pins need to make a comeback. You just never know when you might need to stab an attacker in his thigh. Interesting tid-bit, I know. ;) I laughed really hard reading “A Worthy Pursuit” and while it wasn’t as good as “Stealing the Preacher” (which I still need to review...) by Miss Karen Witemeyer, it was enjoyable. It was a bit too much Sexual Content in my opinion, but I really liked that both characters had faiths as most Christian fiction books have one character struggling. Probably my fourth favorite by this author as I really liked the plot and Charlotte. :)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House Publishers) for this review.
“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 little girl entrusted to her care after her mother’s death. 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 the teacher he’s after produces documentation that shows she’s the little girl’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is Miss Atherton villain or victim? She acts more like a loving mother than an abductress, and the children in her care clearly adore her. Should Stone break his perfect record?
Then a new danger threatens, and Charlotte is forced to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone becomes determined to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart.”
Series: No, it is a stand-alone.
Spiritual Content- Deuteronomy 31:6 at the beginning & later quoted; Talks about God & trusting Him; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many Prayers; Many Scriptures are quoted & mentioned; Mentions of Bible reading; Charlotte & Stone both have faiths; Mentions of those in the Bible (and Stone’s horse’s name is Goliath);
*Note: a “devilishly”
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘dad-blamed’, a ‘drat it all’, a ‘hang it all’, a form of ‘sissy’, a ‘why the devil’, two forms of ‘dad-gum’, two ‘dumb’, three ‘shut up’s, four forms of ‘idiot’, five forms of ‘stupid’, fifteen forms of ‘shoot’; Curses are said but not written; Blood & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, guns & knives (semi-detailed); Wrestling a bobcat (detailed); Mentions of drinking, a bar and using whiskey for cuts; A mention of a threat to drown a kitten (barely-above-not-detailed); Stone mentions about the evil he’s seen (barely-above-not-detailed).
Sexual Content- An almost (semi-detailed) kiss, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, a semi-detailed kiss, a very-detailed kiss; A cheek kiss, Two forehead/head kisses and two barely-above-not-detailed hand kisses; Mentions of kissing & kisses (semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss, touch & embrace; Touches & Embraces (border-line semi-detailed // detailed); Noticing, Nearness & Attraction (border-line semi-detailed // detailed); a ‘hussy’, A mention that Stone has trailed men who’d rape a woman (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a brothel that catered to wealthy men; *Spoiler**End of Spoiler*; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Charlotte Atherton, age 28
-Stone Hammond, age 35
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1891
341 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
Something I learned while reading this book: Cameo pins need to make a comeback. You just never know when you might need to stab an attacker in his thigh. Interesting tid-bit, I know. ;) I laughed really hard reading “A Worthy Pursuit” and while it wasn’t as good as “Stealing the Preacher” (which I still need to review...) by Miss Karen Witemeyer, it was enjoyable. It was a bit too much Sexual Content in my opinion, but I really liked that both characters had faiths as most Christian fiction books have one character struggling. Probably my fourth favorite by this author as I really liked the plot and Charlotte. :)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House Publishers) for this review.
January 20, 2021
**Edit 2020** I really do have a soft spot for this book. I love these characters and this story. And whoa, dramatic ending!! And I love my 2015 self for writing this review, so please enjoy:
WOW. This book had all my favorite things--richly developed characters, suspense, humor, rough 'n' tough Texans, and NEW VOCABULARY WORDS. I love a book that will send me to the dictionary. Thank you, Karen Witemeyer. Sending me to a dictionary is no easy task. Of course I could gather from the context clues what the words meant, but I wanted to KNOW, so I could go forth and actually use the words. I could really go on and on about this book. The love story was beautiful, the suspense plot was on point, and I loved, loved all the characters. I'm a teacher like Lottie, and a reader like Lily. Though not NEARLY as gifted as the latter, as I cannot do what she does after one read-through, I do have a tendency to remember what I've read/seen very vividly, even years later. My friends are always saying "How can you keep all of those books straight in your head???" I really don't know! I have the oddest collection of random information in my head due to all of the reading and remembering I've done. Anyway, READ THIS BOOK. It's SUPERB. FABULOUS. SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS.
WOW. This book had all my favorite things--richly developed characters, suspense, humor, rough 'n' tough Texans, and NEW VOCABULARY WORDS. I love a book that will send me to the dictionary. Thank you, Karen Witemeyer. Sending me to a dictionary is no easy task. Of course I could gather from the context clues what the words meant, but I wanted to KNOW, so I could go forth and actually use the words. I could really go on and on about this book. The love story was beautiful, the suspense plot was on point, and I loved, loved all the characters. I'm a teacher like Lottie, and a reader like Lily. Though not NEARLY as gifted as the latter, as I cannot do what she does after one read-through, I do have a tendency to remember what I've read/seen very vividly, even years later. My friends are always saying "How can you keep all of those books straight in your head???" I really don't know! I have the oddest collection of random information in my head due to all of the reading and remembering I've done. Anyway, READ THIS BOOK. It's SUPERB. FABULOUS. SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS.
August 15, 2023
This is one of my favorite Witemeyer books, tied with In Honor's Defense. A ton of faith, a ton of character development, the adoption theme, and some delightfully evil nasties you will love to hate.
Okay, I'm going to...not fangirl, but get really excited and go on a squeal spree for a minute. There was a tall female character. Stone is 6'3" and based on his description of Charlotte, I can assume she's in the high 5's. GUYS. A TALL MAIN FEMALE CHARACTER. As a tall girl, this was so, so, so, so refreshing. I have nothing against short girls, but it is irritating to always read about the short girl getting the tall guy. If you couldn't tell, I heartily appreciated that Charlotte was tall.
Stone was a fabulous male main character.
And I really liked Charlotte's protective instinct. As someone who is protective, I could empathize exactly where she was coming from. Yes, I do believe Charlotte may be my favorite main female character of Witemeyer's.
This book is excellent for other reasons, but you'll have to read it to find out those reasons. I wholeheartedly recommend A Worthy Pursuit. I'll have a full review once I reread the book for the fifth time.
Okay, I'm going to...not fangirl, but get really excited and go on a squeal spree for a minute. There was a tall female character. Stone is 6'3" and based on his description of Charlotte, I can assume she's in the high 5's. GUYS. A TALL MAIN FEMALE CHARACTER. As a tall girl, this was so, so, so, so refreshing. I have nothing against short girls, but it is irritating to always read about the short girl getting the tall guy. If you couldn't tell, I heartily appreciated that Charlotte was tall.
Stone was a fabulous male main character.
And I really liked Charlotte's protective instinct. As someone who is protective, I could empathize exactly where she was coming from. Yes, I do believe Charlotte may be my favorite main female character of Witemeyer's.
This book is excellent for other reasons, but you'll have to read it to find out those reasons. I wholeheartedly recommend A Worthy Pursuit. I'll have a full review once I reread the book for the fifth time.
June 27, 2020
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book, and I ended up listening along with the audio too. These are my honest thoughts.
The children in this story were delightful! I love a story that features prodigies, and the talents these particular kiddos had were lovely and well written.
I adored the use of dime novels in this story. So creative!
The “grizzled gnome” was amazing, as was Dead-Eye Dan.
There were plot twists galore, which pleased this reader’s heart. I also enjoyed the adventure of it all. It was quite a great romp!
Leading lady, Charlotte Atherton, had a wonderful heart for children, and I love that her mama-bear mode was well on display. This personality trait made Charlotte so relatable.
The narrator of the audio version, Barbara McCulloh, did a marvelous job! She was delightful at voices, particularly that of the little girl. I’m looking forward to listening to more of the books she’s narrated.
The only disappointments were the two profane words and one expletive in the early chapters. I’d never heard such vulgar language in a Karen Witemeyer book before. I was quite shocked. If it weren't for those three words, this book would have hit my favorites list, because it was a fun adventure of a western.
Content: two profane words, one expletive.
The children in this story were delightful! I love a story that features prodigies, and the talents these particular kiddos had were lovely and well written.
I adored the use of dime novels in this story. So creative!
The “grizzled gnome” was amazing, as was Dead-Eye Dan.
There were plot twists galore, which pleased this reader’s heart. I also enjoyed the adventure of it all. It was quite a great romp!
Leading lady, Charlotte Atherton, had a wonderful heart for children, and I love that her mama-bear mode was well on display. This personality trait made Charlotte so relatable.
The narrator of the audio version, Barbara McCulloh, did a marvelous job! She was delightful at voices, particularly that of the little girl. I’m looking forward to listening to more of the books she’s narrated.
The only disappointments were the two profane words and one expletive in the early chapters. I’d never heard such vulgar language in a Karen Witemeyer book before. I was quite shocked. If it weren't for those three words, this book would have hit my favorites list, because it was a fun adventure of a western.
Content: two profane words, one expletive.
December 15, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! I haven't had an emotional connection to a historical romance in quite a while, but this one grabbed me by the heartstrings and didn't let go!
This story starts with a bang (literally) and doesn't let up for a moment. The main characters, Stone and Charlotte, are excellent. From the beginning, you can see that they belong together, but their journey to that conclusion is so much fun.
Stone is a wonderful hero, but Charlotte stole the show for me. In my opinion, it's so hard to create realistic heroines in romances without making them either too irritating or too perfect, but Ms. Witemeyer did an excellent job with this one. My heart truly went out to her and all of her reactions were plausible and understandable considering her background.
The kids were so cute in the story, each one multifaceted and refreshingly unique. Too often, it's hard to tell kids apart in a story because they begin to sound the same. No such issues with this book!
If you're in the mood for a sweet, funny, and heart-wrenchingly romantic historical read, pick up a copy of this one. I highly recommend it!
(Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.)
This story starts with a bang (literally) and doesn't let up for a moment. The main characters, Stone and Charlotte, are excellent. From the beginning, you can see that they belong together, but their journey to that conclusion is so much fun.
Stone is a wonderful hero, but Charlotte stole the show for me. In my opinion, it's so hard to create realistic heroines in romances without making them either too irritating or too perfect, but Ms. Witemeyer did an excellent job with this one. My heart truly went out to her and all of her reactions were plausible and understandable considering her background.
The kids were so cute in the story, each one multifaceted and refreshingly unique. Too often, it's hard to tell kids apart in a story because they begin to sound the same. No such issues with this book!
If you're in the mood for a sweet, funny, and heart-wrenchingly romantic historical read, pick up a copy of this one. I highly recommend it!
(Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.)
June 24, 2015
*happy sigh*
So, if you’ve been following me for any length of time, you probably know already that Karen Witemeyer is one of my top favorite authors. She’s just so good. Of course, I jumped at the chance to get a copy of A Worthy Pursuit to read and review. After all, I’d been waiting for it for months. It definitely did not disappoint. I love how all of Karen’s books and characters are so different. And I almost always love her male characters. Stone Hammond was no exception. I loved how rugged he was, yet such a softie. ;) I wouldn’t mind meeting my own Stone Hammond. Lol! But anyway, I very much loved the story, and I highly recommend looking into Karen Witemeyer’s books if you haven’t already. Really. Do it. Even if you don’t normally read Western/historical fiction, Karen is such a fantastic writer that I’m sure you’ll enjoy it anyway. And if you’re a writer like me, then definitely read them. There’s a lot to learn from her writing style. :)
I received the book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
So, if you’ve been following me for any length of time, you probably know already that Karen Witemeyer is one of my top favorite authors. She’s just so good. Of course, I jumped at the chance to get a copy of A Worthy Pursuit to read and review. After all, I’d been waiting for it for months. It definitely did not disappoint. I love how all of Karen’s books and characters are so different. And I almost always love her male characters. Stone Hammond was no exception. I loved how rugged he was, yet such a softie. ;) I wouldn’t mind meeting my own Stone Hammond. Lol! But anyway, I very much loved the story, and I highly recommend looking into Karen Witemeyer’s books if you haven’t already. Really. Do it. Even if you don’t normally read Western/historical fiction, Karen is such a fantastic writer that I’m sure you’ll enjoy it anyway. And if you’re a writer like me, then definitely read them. There’s a lot to learn from her writing style. :)
I received the book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
July 19, 2018
A Worthy Pursuit was an amazing read. I've read and loved several Karen Witemeyer stories, but I think this is one of my favorites. I found the characters delightful and the danger in the story made for a gripping read.
The romance was very good. I liked how she was "a worthy pursuit" and the ending was so tender and sweet. The writing was excellent and I didn't have any trouble following the story.
All in all, I loved A Worthy Pursuit and recommend it if you like historical romance novels. It is a great one.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
The romance was very good. I liked how she was "a worthy pursuit" and the ending was so tender and sweet. The writing was excellent and I didn't have any trouble following the story.
All in all, I loved A Worthy Pursuit and recommend it if you like historical romance novels. It is a great one.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
October 22, 2021
It was a really good storyline! I enjoyed it a lot. I just couldn't stop laughing at the sappy romance. Ohhhhh the cringe 😬. The descriptions.....oh man. At least it was clean :D
I thought it was kinda funny that she kept calling Moonlight Sonata just Moonlight. I've never heard that.....hmmm. some of the descriptions of music were as equally cringy as the romance descriptions, but most of it was interesting. I always love when authors write about pianists :p tho they never talk about actually practicing. They just go and play a perfect Chopin Etude, and trust me, it's a lot harder than it sounds.
I thought it was kinda funny that she kept calling Moonlight Sonata just Moonlight. I've never heard that.....hmmm. some of the descriptions of music were as equally cringy as the romance descriptions, but most of it was interesting. I always love when authors write about pianists :p tho they never talk about actually practicing. They just go and play a perfect Chopin Etude, and trust me, it's a lot harder than it sounds.
May 26, 2018
Charlotte Atherton is a kidnapper.
Or that's the way Stone Hammond heard it. He's been hired to retrieve the grandaughter of a wealthy client; and when Stone goes after something, he gets it. His reputation as a Texas retriever is so well established, he has even become an overblown character in some fellow's dime store novels about the heroes of the West.
But the three kids that have supposedly been kidnapped by Miss Atherton don't need a dime store hero. They have the real thing in Charlotte, who may be past her marketability on the marriage market; but is well and truly the only person who seems to love the two boys and girl she rescued--in the dead of night--from the very real hazard of neglect upon the closing of their boarding school for exceptional youth.
Stone is flumoxed. Charlotte is not at all what he was expecting to find. But she and the kids just might be exactly what he needs. If his appearance doesn't wind up destroying the home they have scratched out for themselves.
A Worthy Pursuit is an entertaining Texas romp, with Whitemeyer's classic blend of old-western style shenanigans, dastardly villains, and true heart. Enjoy.
Or that's the way Stone Hammond heard it. He's been hired to retrieve the grandaughter of a wealthy client; and when Stone goes after something, he gets it. His reputation as a Texas retriever is so well established, he has even become an overblown character in some fellow's dime store novels about the heroes of the West.
But the three kids that have supposedly been kidnapped by Miss Atherton don't need a dime store hero. They have the real thing in Charlotte, who may be past her marketability on the marriage market; but is well and truly the only person who seems to love the two boys and girl she rescued--in the dead of night--from the very real hazard of neglect upon the closing of their boarding school for exceptional youth.
Stone is flumoxed. Charlotte is not at all what he was expecting to find. But she and the kids just might be exactly what he needs. If his appearance doesn't wind up destroying the home they have scratched out for themselves.
A Worthy Pursuit is an entertaining Texas romp, with Whitemeyer's classic blend of old-western style shenanigans, dastardly villains, and true heart. Enjoy.
January 29, 2021
ms. witemeyer has become one of those comfort authors i know i can always turn to when i’m feeling like i’m about to fall into a reading slump, or just need a little pick-me-up. they’re sweet and quick reads that i enjoy every single time.
this one is no exception... i adored the characters and the plot moved better than i was expecting when i read the summary. the romance was sweet (per usual) and a little bit of a slower burn than i feel like she normally writes, but i still enjoyed it! definitely recommend.🤗
this one is no exception... i adored the characters and the plot moved better than i was expecting when i read the summary. the romance was sweet (per usual) and a little bit of a slower burn than i feel like she normally writes, but i still enjoyed it! definitely recommend.🤗
January 26, 2023
Another enjoyable read by Karen Witemeyer! Music, adventure, faith, and romance...what's not to love? I'm still working my way through Ms. Witemeyer's backlist so it's onto the next book!
April 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this one! Full review to come.
Content
Romance: Squeaky clean
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Religious: Mild
Source: Received review copy in exchange for honest review.
Content
Romance: Squeaky clean
Language: None
Violence: Mild
Religious: Mild
Source: Received review copy in exchange for honest review.
September 27, 2022
An amazing introduction to a new-to-me author, A Worthy Pursuit is a fun adventure with a great premise, inspiring faith, endearing characters and a swoony romance.
Charlotte Atherton is an elegant and refined school teacher, and the complete opposite of rough-around-the-edges and valiant Stone. However, these opposites attracted oh-so-well and matched each other in strength, wit, kindness and love. Stone's pursuit for Charlotte's heart was so romantic and sweet; their vulnerability with each other and steady growth of trust made them an easy couple to wish a happy ending for and I completely adored them.
The children were lovable and authentic characters that were each distinctive and great additions to the story. And I loved the family this ragtag bunch created and that the affection was evident between them. The action was fantastic and the story never stalled - flowing at a great pace to a satisfying and heartwarming ending!
Karen Witemeyer just became my new favorite author! I highly recommended this book. It was an absolute delight!
Charlotte Atherton is an elegant and refined school teacher, and the complete opposite of rough-around-the-edges and valiant Stone. However, these opposites attracted oh-so-well and matched each other in strength, wit, kindness and love. Stone's pursuit for Charlotte's heart was so romantic and sweet; their vulnerability with each other and steady growth of trust made them an easy couple to wish a happy ending for and I completely adored them.
The children were lovable and authentic characters that were each distinctive and great additions to the story. And I loved the family this ragtag bunch created and that the affection was evident between them. The action was fantastic and the story never stalled - flowing at a great pace to a satisfying and heartwarming ending!
Karen Witemeyer just became my new favorite author! I highly recommended this book. It was an absolute delight!
August 5, 2018
The start of the story was so good and it had me hooked for a large portion of the book, but some parts were not too believable. I liked that the romance didn't happen instantly and that the couple was on the older side for the time. The ending was good and wrapped everything up pretty well. It's a book I'd recommend.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
July 17, 2018
This was a cute little love story. It read a little bit like one of Lily's dime store reads, but it was cute and held my interests. The story follows Charlotte Atherton, a teacher at a school for gifted children, John (a pianist), Stephen (who was talented with mechanics), and Lily (who had a photographic memory). When the school is about to close Charlotte leaves in the middle of the night to protect Lily from her scoundrel grandfather. But little does she know he hires a "retriever", Stone Hammond, to bring Lily back to help him in his dirty deeds. But when Stone meets Charlotte, he is completely under her spell. And then Lily figures out he is none other than, Hammer Rockwell from her dime store readers. When her grandfather sends a second bounty hunter after her, and Stone says they are going to his good friend, Dan, Lily is beyond excited when she learns he is none other than Dead-Eye Dan, her hero. But it is up to Stone and Charlotte to keep Lily safe forever. Through it all Charlotte and Stone break down walls each has built up.
This book was the perfect bit of happiness. I loved how Stone and Charlotte fell in love, with the little bit of suspense built in, and that it was the perfect bit of lightheartedness that I needed.
This book was the perfect bit of happiness. I loved how Stone and Charlotte fell in love, with the little bit of suspense built in, and that it was the perfect bit of lightheartedness that I needed.
November 25, 2021
This was a great book and very interesting read. Bounty hunting, retriever and figuring out the truth behind the obvious direction to go. I loved the unique gifts displayed by the 3 children in the story and the teacher in charge of their care. I really enjoyed the budding romance and that initial kiss completely took the cake! Perfect!
August 29, 2015
Packed with the perfect blend of romance, emotion, faith and action, plus twinkles of humor, A Worthy Pursuit is a more than worthy read. The characters – main and supporting alike – are lifelike and skillfully developed with a depth of heart and history that feels like they are part of a series rather than merely a stand-alone novel. The message of orphans (of all ages) finding a place to belong and be loved resonates sweetly and subtly. The fast-paced action drives through the book with all the drama of Lily’s beloved dime novels but without the cheese, and the romance…. ohhhhh be still my heart, the romance!
Before I get all distracted from swooning, let’s discuss the great characters. The children will win your heart immediately, their exceptional abilities and understandable insecurities making them endearing supporting characters. “Dead-Eye Dan” and “the gnome” are nice foils-as-friends and add comic relief – plus they give Stone the opportunity to grumble which we all know we love in our heroes. (Why do we love that?) Charlotte Atherton has been burned too many times – enough that she hides behind a stiff, schoolmarm exterior instead of risking her heart again to anyone but the child prodigies in her care. And haven’t we all been there? Maybe not those exact details but the gist of it – being hurt and walling ourselves off. In Charlotte’s case, thank goodness for Stone who decided that if she was going to build a wall he was just going to have to build a door. Speaking of Stone – *dreamy sigh times 1000*. Larger than life, he is able to fight off a bobcat with his bare hands and later tenderly hold his woman with those same hands and watch the Texas sunset.
At the core of A Worthy Pursuit is a message for orphans of all ages and walks of life. No matter who else has given up on you or walked away, there will always always always be One who calls you beloved.
(I received a copy of the novel from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.)
Before I get all distracted from swooning, let’s discuss the great characters. The children will win your heart immediately, their exceptional abilities and understandable insecurities making them endearing supporting characters. “Dead-Eye Dan” and “the gnome” are nice foils-as-friends and add comic relief – plus they give Stone the opportunity to grumble which we all know we love in our heroes. (Why do we love that?) Charlotte Atherton has been burned too many times – enough that she hides behind a stiff, schoolmarm exterior instead of risking her heart again to anyone but the child prodigies in her care. And haven’t we all been there? Maybe not those exact details but the gist of it – being hurt and walling ourselves off. In Charlotte’s case, thank goodness for Stone who decided that if she was going to build a wall he was just going to have to build a door. Speaking of Stone – *dreamy sigh times 1000*. Larger than life, he is able to fight off a bobcat with his bare hands and later tenderly hold his woman with those same hands and watch the Texas sunset.
At the core of A Worthy Pursuit is a message for orphans of all ages and walks of life. No matter who else has given up on you or walked away, there will always always always be One who calls you beloved.
(I received a copy of the novel from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.)
August 25, 2015
I am such a sucker for Karen’s books. I can’t wait for them to release and I snatch them up right away!! In her latest book, A Worthy Pursuit, she has done it once again. Drew me in and kept me interested.
When the academy closes down mid-semester, Charlotte is worried about what will happen with some of the children that are orphaned. She takes off in the middle of the night with three of them so they will not be sent back to the poor house and the brutality that is there. Unfortunately, a grandfather decides he wants one of the children and sends a tracker to find them. She claims to have custody over the children, but will her documents and “proof” hold up once she is caught?
Always a pleasure to read. Story moves along and the characters are full of life. God is always deeply saturated within the pages of a Karen Witemeyer book. I have nothing negative to say. Pick up a copy!!
Thank you, Bethany, for sending this book to me. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
If you would like to check out my face-off with Karen, just head on over to:
http://atransparentmom.com/2015/02/05...
When the academy closes down mid-semester, Charlotte is worried about what will happen with some of the children that are orphaned. She takes off in the middle of the night with three of them so they will not be sent back to the poor house and the brutality that is there. Unfortunately, a grandfather decides he wants one of the children and sends a tracker to find them. She claims to have custody over the children, but will her documents and “proof” hold up once she is caught?
Always a pleasure to read. Story moves along and the characters are full of life. God is always deeply saturated within the pages of a Karen Witemeyer book. I have nothing negative to say. Pick up a copy!!
Thank you, Bethany, for sending this book to me. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
If you would like to check out my face-off with Karen, just head on over to:
http://atransparentmom.com/2015/02/05...
December 26, 2015
Another delightful story from Karen Witemeyer...I was so excited when this book came in a few days early (before the official release date) that I bought it right away and thought I'd read it quickly. But library books got in my way...well, the waiting just made me love it more.
Charlotte is the perfect heroine–big heart, spunky, willing to do anything to protect the children under her charge. And the children are dears themselves: Lily with her devotion to dime-novel shoot-em-up heroes; John with his talent in playing piano; Stephen with his knack for inventions. And then there's the hero, Stone Hammond, tracker extraordinaire. I loved them all!
Charlotte is the perfect heroine–big heart, spunky, willing to do anything to protect the children under her charge. And the children are dears themselves: Lily with her devotion to dime-novel shoot-em-up heroes; John with his talent in playing piano; Stephen with his knack for inventions. And then there's the hero, Stone Hammond, tracker extraordinaire. I loved them all!
April 21, 2022
It's no secret that I adore Karen Witemeyer's historical fiction stories. AWorthy Pursuit is no exception. One of the reasons I love Witemeyer's work is because she always has colorful descriptions. I am not a visual person, but I can see her descriptions as she paints very vivid descriptions and uses colorful language.
“How could the man be named anything other than Stone? He was solid muscle from head to toe and had a hard resiliency about him that projected competence-a competence that would have been rather nice to resiliency around had the man not been hired by her enemy.”
Another reason I enjoy Witemeyer's stories is because she always has interesting characters that are easy to get to know and love. Her dialogue is a mix of humor, sarcasm, and endearing sweetness. The story, the danger, the romance, and the setting are all realistically portrayed.
Even if you do not normally like historical fiction and westerns (I don't), this book and its author are a must-try! You will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by Cindy D. (UCL Volunteer)
“How could the man be named anything other than Stone? He was solid muscle from head to toe and had a hard resiliency about him that projected competence-a competence that would have been rather nice to resiliency around had the man not been hired by her enemy.”
Another reason I enjoy Witemeyer's stories is because she always has interesting characters that are easy to get to know and love. Her dialogue is a mix of humor, sarcasm, and endearing sweetness. The story, the danger, the romance, and the setting are all realistically portrayed.
Even if you do not normally like historical fiction and westerns (I don't), this book and its author are a must-try! You will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by Cindy D. (UCL Volunteer)
March 8, 2025
Another fantastic Texas adventure!
And I’m in love with Stone & Charlotte. Witemeyer writes strong men & their strong women with such loveliness. Stone proves to Charlotte his trustworthiness and she offers him room to dream of home. Their growth is so cute!
And I’m in love with Stone & Charlotte. Witemeyer writes strong men & their strong women with such loveliness. Stone proves to Charlotte his trustworthiness and she offers him room to dream of home. Their growth is so cute!
May 30, 2018
A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer
Date: 1891
Place: Texas
Genre: Christian Western Romance
Format Kindle
Main Characters:
Charlotte Atherton, 28: Teacher in hiding with three students
Stone Hammond, 35: Tracker sent to retrieve one of the students
Lily: Student grandfather hired Stone to return
Stephen and John: Students (Parents are traveling/other an orphan)
Dead Eye Dan aka Daniel Barrett
Mr. Dobson Caretaker and protector of Ms. Charlotte and the children
P.O.V. switches between Stone Hammond and Charlotte Atherton.
Stone used to be a bounty hunter, but is now hired as a retriever, and he never returns without his quarry. Lily is his quarry. He was told she was kidnapped by her teacher, so his belief about her is that she’s evil, because only an evil person would kidnap a child.
Charlotte was told by her best friend that her daughter Lily must never be returned to her grandfather, so she gave Charlotte guardianship of Lily before she died. All Charlotte knew was that she must hide the girl. When the school closed she took two boys and Lily with her to a secret location for Lily’s safety. (Stephen’s parents were traveling abroad and couldn’t be reached; the other is a musically gifted orphan named John).
How Stone and Charlotte meet (or when Stone finally tracked her) is quite a story, and entertaining from beginning to end.
Loved: Each character, even the bad ones because they added not only the needed conflict, but brought out the heroism of each of the good characters.
Lily was so sweet, and so gifted; a gift on which her grandfather capitalized.
John was an introverted child and so loveable.
Stephen was gifted in other ways and cared deeply for Lily’s safety which was so endearing.
Stone was brave, strong, and a true hero.
I also loved the dime-novel story lines that Lily read, the characters of which, in true life, felt was all hogwash, and the cause of much embarassment. This was so funny.
Mr. Dobson was suspicious of Stone, but so protective of Charlotte and the children
Spiritual content was mild. The gospel is never spelled out. Words like Christ, gospel, salvation or cross are never mentioned. Jesus is only mentioned in a song title. God is mentioned a lot, there’s prayer, and bible verses. So I wouldn’t label this as Christian fiction, rather religious fiction.
Didn’t like: The cover. It gives a wrong impression of what the book is about. Charlotte looks so welcoming in the picture, but most of the way through the book this is simply not the case. She is leery of men because she has been so badly burned. Stone, to her, is a threat, and she does not trust his sincerity at all. She tries, but retreats to her secure skeptical box to guard her heart.
There was a bit of physical contact, fairly innocent, but some of it was not necessary.
Language: Some people may be put off by some forms of this like blasted, or dad-blamed/dad gum, or why the devil, even shut up. I don’t mind some of it, I mostly ignore it. But in case some are sensitive to this as “cursing”, just be aware.
All in all this was a fun read. Romance is gently done. I love the integrity Stone has to give Charlotte space, but still let her know he will not give up on her.
Good book.
Date: 1891
Place: Texas
Genre: Christian Western Romance
Format Kindle
Main Characters:
Charlotte Atherton, 28: Teacher in hiding with three students
Stone Hammond, 35: Tracker sent to retrieve one of the students
Lily: Student grandfather hired Stone to return
Stephen and John: Students (Parents are traveling/other an orphan)
Dead Eye Dan aka Daniel Barrett
Mr. Dobson Caretaker and protector of Ms. Charlotte and the children
P.O.V. switches between Stone Hammond and Charlotte Atherton.
Stone used to be a bounty hunter, but is now hired as a retriever, and he never returns without his quarry. Lily is his quarry. He was told she was kidnapped by her teacher, so his belief about her is that she’s evil, because only an evil person would kidnap a child.
Charlotte was told by her best friend that her daughter Lily must never be returned to her grandfather, so she gave Charlotte guardianship of Lily before she died. All Charlotte knew was that she must hide the girl. When the school closed she took two boys and Lily with her to a secret location for Lily’s safety. (Stephen’s parents were traveling abroad and couldn’t be reached; the other is a musically gifted orphan named John).
How Stone and Charlotte meet (or when Stone finally tracked her) is quite a story, and entertaining from beginning to end.
Loved: Each character, even the bad ones because they added not only the needed conflict, but brought out the heroism of each of the good characters.
Lily was so sweet, and so gifted; a gift on which her grandfather capitalized.
John was an introverted child and so loveable.
Stephen was gifted in other ways and cared deeply for Lily’s safety which was so endearing.
Stone was brave, strong, and a true hero.
I also loved the dime-novel story lines that Lily read, the characters of which, in true life, felt was all hogwash, and the cause of much embarassment. This was so funny.
Mr. Dobson was suspicious of Stone, but so protective of Charlotte and the children
Spiritual content was mild. The gospel is never spelled out. Words like Christ, gospel, salvation or cross are never mentioned. Jesus is only mentioned in a song title. God is mentioned a lot, there’s prayer, and bible verses. So I wouldn’t label this as Christian fiction, rather religious fiction.
Didn’t like: The cover. It gives a wrong impression of what the book is about. Charlotte looks so welcoming in the picture, but most of the way through the book this is simply not the case. She is leery of men because she has been so badly burned. Stone, to her, is a threat, and she does not trust his sincerity at all. She tries, but retreats to her secure skeptical box to guard her heart.
There was a bit of physical contact, fairly innocent, but some of it was not necessary.
Language: Some people may be put off by some forms of this like blasted, or dad-blamed/dad gum, or why the devil, even shut up. I don’t mind some of it, I mostly ignore it. But in case some are sensitive to this as “cursing”, just be aware.
All in all this was a fun read. Romance is gently done. I love the integrity Stone has to give Charlotte space, but still let her know he will not give up on her.
Good book.
May 28, 2015
Stone Hammond is the best in the business. The business of retrieving people that is. When he is asked to track down and return a little girl to her grandfather, Stone is determined to locate the child and her teacher. Charlotte Atherton is the former headmistress at Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths. When the school closed suddenly, Charlotte left with Lily and two boys, one an orphan and the other's parents were traveling in Europe and unable to come get him. She will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially Lily. Charlotte made a promise to Lily's mother to not let the child return to her grandfather. When Stone appears on her doorstep, Charlotte is even more determined that he not return Lily to her grandfather. When he discovers that Charlotte has documentation that legally lists her as Lily's guardian, Stone is determined to get to the bottom of the situation. What he learns casts a whole new light on his employer. Soon, he has one goal left - claim Charlotte's heart for his own.
I've always loved each book I've read by Karen Witemeyer. This one is no exception. While it doesn't stand in the same regard as either Short Straw Bride or Stealing the Preacher, it was a delightful read.
First, I loved Stone. I loved how he was good at what he did and that he was more concerned with the truth as opposed to the just collecting the reward. Once he met the children, I loved how he treated each one as someone special. And the way that he was with Charlotte made him a very noble gentleman.
I thought that Charlotte was a bit stiff. Sure it was the walls that she had built around herself that made her seem stiff, but I didn't really relate to her. I did find her determination to protect the children very admirable.
As with any of Karen's books, the characters are delightful, for the most part, and the story is very engaging. It's definitely one that her fans would enjoy reading. And for any historical fiction fan, this would be a delightful read.
I received this book for free from the author to help promote it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Jody Hedlund, historical fiction, Tamera Alexander
Rating - 4 stars
I've always loved each book I've read by Karen Witemeyer. This one is no exception. While it doesn't stand in the same regard as either Short Straw Bride or Stealing the Preacher, it was a delightful read.
First, I loved Stone. I loved how he was good at what he did and that he was more concerned with the truth as opposed to the just collecting the reward. Once he met the children, I loved how he treated each one as someone special. And the way that he was with Charlotte made him a very noble gentleman.
I thought that Charlotte was a bit stiff. Sure it was the walls that she had built around herself that made her seem stiff, but I didn't really relate to her. I did find her determination to protect the children very admirable.
As with any of Karen's books, the characters are delightful, for the most part, and the story is very engaging. It's definitely one that her fans would enjoy reading. And for any historical fiction fan, this would be a delightful read.
I received this book for free from the author to help promote it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Jody Hedlund, historical fiction, Tamera Alexander
Rating - 4 stars
June 9, 2015
Sitting down to read a Karen Witemeyer book is like settling back on the couch and chatting with a friend or loved one who I haven't seen in awhile over a cup of coffee. Exciting, comfortable, and over way too soon!
What a great cast of characters! Charlotte, aka Miss Lottie, former headmistress who creates her own family of abandoned students. Lily, an orphan entrusted to her care by Lily's mother, Lottie's best friend. Stephen, left behind by parents who travel extensively in Europe, and John, an orphan with musical gifts. Stone calls himself a "retriever," hired by Lily's grandfather to bring her back. And the gnome gave me laughing fits!
The plot moves along at a fast clip. Romancing man-shy Charlotte takes a little longer, but the sigh-worthy hero vows not to give up. A gentle faith thread addresses topics like discerning God's path for our lives and choosing joy over our circumstances, and music lovers will appreciate the musical theme. A Worthy Pursuit is definitely worthy of a few hours of your time. :)
Disclaimer: Sending my thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the privilege of reading and reviewing A Worthy Pursuit. I was provided a free copy of the book in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. I was in no way compensated for my review.
What a great cast of characters! Charlotte, aka Miss Lottie, former headmistress who creates her own family of abandoned students. Lily, an orphan entrusted to her care by Lily's mother, Lottie's best friend. Stephen, left behind by parents who travel extensively in Europe, and John, an orphan with musical gifts. Stone calls himself a "retriever," hired by Lily's grandfather to bring her back. And the gnome gave me laughing fits!
The plot moves along at a fast clip. Romancing man-shy Charlotte takes a little longer, but the sigh-worthy hero vows not to give up. A gentle faith thread addresses topics like discerning God's path for our lives and choosing joy over our circumstances, and music lovers will appreciate the musical theme. A Worthy Pursuit is definitely worthy of a few hours of your time. :)
Disclaimer: Sending my thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the privilege of reading and reviewing A Worthy Pursuit. I was provided a free copy of the book in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. I was in no way compensated for my review.
July 6, 2021
An adorable action read taking place in Old West Texas. The children are a delight in this story with three different personalities that help make this not overly a romance novel. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
I'm not sure how the cover fits with the character of the story. Our heroine doesn't seem to be all that "smiley" throughout the novel.
I'm not sure how the cover fits with the character of the story. Our heroine doesn't seem to be all that "smiley" throughout the novel.
June 3, 2018
A great historical romance.
May 1, 2023
I enjoyed this book so much! I found it so hard to put down that I almost finished it in an evening. It made a perfect front porch read.🥰
I quickly grew to love the characters! I really liked Charlotte from the beginning. I admired her so much as she took care of these three sweet children like they were her own. She was such a great heroine!
Stone took a little bit to grow on me but oh my goodness, he was a great hero! He was everything a good hero should be. I loved the way he intentionally pursued Charlotte, gently tearing down the walls she had built around her heart, waiting patiently for her, and showing her how he loved her with his actions. He was just a great hero and I liked him so much!
I love books where children play a big role in the story so I quickly grew to love the three children in this story.💗
In conclusion, I loved this story! It’s Karen Witemeyer so I’m not surprised.☺️ It had the perfect mix of action, suspense, and sweet romance. I really couldn’t put it down. It felt really fast-paced. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a sweet historical romance with a lovable characters and a good amount of action to keep you turning pages!
I quickly grew to love the characters! I really liked Charlotte from the beginning. I admired her so much as she took care of these three sweet children like they were her own. She was such a great heroine!
Stone took a little bit to grow on me but oh my goodness, he was a great hero! He was everything a good hero should be. I loved the way he intentionally pursued Charlotte, gently tearing down the walls she had built around her heart, waiting patiently for her, and showing her how he loved her with his actions. He was just a great hero and I liked him so much!
I love books where children play a big role in the story so I quickly grew to love the three children in this story.💗
In conclusion, I loved this story! It’s Karen Witemeyer so I’m not surprised.☺️ It had the perfect mix of action, suspense, and sweet romance. I really couldn’t put it down. It felt really fast-paced. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a sweet historical romance with a lovable characters and a good amount of action to keep you turning pages!
July 12, 2022
Can’t believe this is my first Karen Witemeyer book!
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