Karen Witemeyer

Fairest of Heart

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️

Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻

Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️

Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒

Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂

Fairest of Heart is the first book in the "Texas Ever After" series and I just had to try this one out after loving "If The Boot Fits" and I didn't think a book would beat that ...but Fairest of Heart definitely beat it. This book just had me in so much more of my feels. And it was much closer to the original fairytale and I was all on board with it. Its very rare to find a snow white retelling, let alone a really well written one. I was impressed with how this author handled this retelling, the deep connection of the romance and the evolvement of the plot. I also find it refreshing the low spice in this one.....closed door romances I don't get a chance to read as often as I would like, but this author is definitely at the top of my list for being so well done.

Penelope Snow has always been a great beauty, but she grew up an orphan and had to become a personal maid to a traveling actress. When they make a stop in Texas, she runs into Titus Kingsley, a Texas Ranger, in the rescue of a hurt dog. They have a instant connection but neither thought that they would see each other again. When Penelope's mistress, blames her for stealing her attention, she plots her demise with her partner in crime. But she is just left tied to a tree with just rags on and lost. She is then found by a group of elderly ranchers and the Texas Ranger that she ran into earlier. They give her a safe haven at their ranch house. Titus is on the hunt for jewels being stolen and he has two prospects....a infamous actress and the stranger they took into their home...Penelope Snow. He is cynical over beautiful women....but there is something different about Penelope, she has a kindness and sweet innocence that goes deeper than just being a beauty. But when the truth is revealed.....will he be able to protect her from the evil actress who wants to destroy the woman he loves?

Fairest of Heart was poignant and heartfelt, with plenty of wit and charm that delivered in every single way. I didn't want to put this jewel of a read down. I was so endeared by the characters but most especially Penelope. Its so rare to have such a wonderful heroine, but Karen Witemeyer really writes them so perfectly. Fairest of Heart really showcases one of the most beautiful retellings that I have ever read and this is definitely going to be a top read of the year.

What I really appreciated was that Penelope truly emulated the classic character that we know as Snow White. She embraces feminine qualities of kindness, gentle spirit, soft spoken, serving others and not being self centered. She sees the magic in nature and the simple things in life. She is humble and aware of others needs before herself and I really appreciated such a thing in this heroine. She was beyond endearing and the type of heroine that inspires you to be a better person. The hero was the character I struggled with at times. Although I still understood where he was coming from, he wasn't always the best hero to Penelope. But I became so endeared to the "seven dwarfs" that are so defensive of Penelope and will defend her with everything that they have.

The plot of the story was so well done and the villain in the story was truly so evil and conniving and what justice she gets in the end. She really added the right level of evil to match the fairy tale and I really loved the historical american west theme to this one here. The ending was so heartfelt and satisfying and was a "riding off in the sunset" type of ending.

The hero at times was a bit off putting in how he treats the heroine in some parts, but I respected why the author wrote him the way that she does here.

She really narrates this author's writing so well, it really makes it come alive and has such a rich voice for this story.

Fairest of Heart is a story full of adventure, charismatic emotion with a rugged rich setting in the American West that will capture your heart and deliver deep layers.

Sub Genre: Inspirational Romance, Historical Romance, American West

Character Types: Feminine Heroine, MC on the run, Law Enforcement

Themes: Western, Heart/Emotionally touching, Snow White Retelling, Leading Lady

Tropes: MC on the Run, Fairy Tale Retelling

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥.5
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
Fairest of Heart is the first book in the "Texas Ever After" series and I just had to try this one out after loving "If The Boot Fits" and I didn't think a book would beat that ...but Fairest of Heart definitely beat it. This book just had me in so much more of my feels. And it was much closer to the original fairytale and I was all on board with it. Its very rare to find a snow white retelling, let alone a really well written one. I was impressed with how this author handled this retelling, the deep connection of the romance and the evolvement of the plot. I also find it refreshing the low spice in this one.....closed door romances I don't get a chance to read as often as I would like, but this author is definitely at the top of my list for being so well done.

First Line
Keep you eyes down and head bowed.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Titus Kingsley
The Heroine: Penelope Snow

Summary
Penelope Snow has always been a great beauty, but she grew up an orphan and had to become a personal maid to a traveling actress. When they make a stop in Texas, she runs into Titus Kingsley, a Texas Ranger, in the rescue of a hurt dog. They have a instant connection but neither thought that they would see each other again. When Penelope's mistress, blames her for stealing her attention, she plots her demise with her partner in crime. But she is just left tied to a tree with just rags on and lost. She is then found by a group of elderly ranchers and the Texas Ranger that she ran into earlier. They give her a safe haven at their ranch house. Titus is on the hunt for jewels being stolen and he has two prospects....a infamous actress and the stranger they took into their home...Penelope Snow. He is cynical over beautiful women....but there is something different about Penelope, she has a kindness and sweet innocence that goes deeper than just being a beauty. But when the truth is revealed.....will he be able to protect her from the evil actress who wants to destroy the woman he loves?

What I Loved
Fairest of Heart was poignant and heartfelt, with plenty of wit and charm that delivered in every single way. I didn't want to put this jewel of a read down. I was so endeared by the characters but most especially Penelope. Its so rare to have such a wonderful heroine, but Karen Witemeyer really writes them so perfectly. Fairest of Heart really showcases one of the most beautiful retellings that I have ever read and this is definitely going to be a top read of the year.

What I really appreciated was that Penelope truly emulated the classic character that we know as Snow White. She embraces feminine qualities of kindness, gentle spirit, soft spoken, serving others and not being self centered. She sees the magic in nature and the simple things in life. She is humble and aware of others needs before herself and I really appreciated such a thing in this heroine. She was beyond endearing and the type of heroine that inspires you to be a better person. The hero was the character I struggled with at times. Although I still understood where he was coming from, he wasn't always the best hero to Penelope. But I became so endeared to the "seven dwarfs" that are so defensive of Penelope and will defend her with everything that they have.

The plot of the story was so well done and the villain in the story was truly so evil and conniving and what justice she gets in the end. She really added the right level of evil to match the fairy tale and I really loved the historical american west theme to this one here. The ending was so heartfelt and satisfying and was a "riding off in the sunset" type of ending.

What I Struggled With
The hero at times was a bit off putting in how he treats the heroine in some parts, but I respected why the author wrote him the way that she does here.

Narration
She really narrates this author's writing so well, it really makes it come alive and has such a rich voice for this story.

Overall View
Fairest of Heart is a story full of adventure, charismatic emotion with a rugged rich setting in the American West that will capture your heart and deliver deep layers.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Inspirational Romance, Historical Romance, American West
Character Types: Feminine Heroine, MC on the run, Law Enforcement
Themes: Western, Heart/Emotionally touching, Snow White Retelling, Leading Lady
Tropes: MC on the Run, Fairy Tale Retelling

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Anita Stansfield
Mary Connealy
Julie Klassen

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Narrators:
Mary McCulloh


Fairest of Heart

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