With This Ring?: A Novella Collection of Proposals Gone Awry

by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Mary Connealy and Melissa Jagears

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~ MY REVIEW ~

Witemeyer, Jennings, Connealy, & Jagears.
When I saw those four names on the cover of a novella collection, I knew I was in for a great time!  And I wasn’t disappointed! 😀

As I thought over what words I could use to describe this collection, these came to mind: light, witty, spunky, funny… thoroughly enjoyable!

These novellas are quick, fun reads that just fly by!  Yet, they don’t feel overly rushed like some novellas do.  I really enjoyed reading about some characters who I recognized from other books by these authors– and I look forward to seeing some of them in other books!

I believe I must say that Karen’s novella was my favorite.  I had been wanting so badly to read more about Daniel Barrett!  And I must say I am quite happy with how his story turned out. 😉

I highly recommend this collection of novellas to anyone who is a fan of these authors (and fans of authors such as Tracie Peterson, Robin Lee Hatcher, and Tamera Alexander), enjoys historic fiction, “historic comedy” (as I call it), or just any kind of good, clean, Christian fiction! 😀

(Scroll to the bottom of this post to see some of my favorite quotes. 😉 )

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I received a copy of this book free from the publisher for a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A special ‘Thank You!’ to author Melissa Jagears, who contacted me to see if I wanted to be a part of this. 🙂

 

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The Husband Maneuver
(A Worthy Pursuit, #1.5)
by Karen Witemeyer

Marietta Hawkins has been in love with ranch foreman Daniel Barrett since she came home from school three years ago. Unfortunately, her father’s rule about hands not fraternizing with his daughter has kept him out of reach. She believed patience would prove a virtue in winning him over–until now. He is leaving. Starting up his own spread. To have any hope of maneuvering him into a proposal, she has to act fast or lose him forever. Fans of A Worthy Pursuit will enjoy seeing these characters again!

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Her Dearly Unintended
(Ozark Mountain Romance, #2.5)
by Regina Jennings

Heavy rain means trouble for Katie Ellen. With her parents away, she’s left to take care of the mountaintop farm alone until Josiah Huckabee happens to check on her. She used to think him charming–used to–but before she can run Josiah off, a stranger appears. The bridge has washed out, stranding a weathered and threatening man with them. Immediately sensing danger, Josiah steps in and claims the place–and Katie Ellen–as his own. His farm, his wife, and this Silas Ruger character better be respectful. Furious, Katie Ellen is forced to play along. Readers of Regina’s Ozark Mountain Romance series will love seeing favorite characters all grown up.

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Runaway Bride
(Kincaid Brides, #3.5)
by Mary Connealy

Big John Conroy is a Texas Ranger asked by a friend to assist Carrie. He catches up to Carrie and her brother Isaac and races away from a dangerous man who will stop at nothing to make the beautiful young woman his wife. Soon Big John’s feelings for Carrie turn to more than simply protective, and Carrie finally feels that she’s in the presence of a man she can respect–something she’s never known. Fans of Mary’s The Kincaid Brides and Trouble in Texas series will enjoy catching up with those characters.

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Engaging the Competition
(Teaville Moral Society, #0.5)
by Melissa Jagears

Ever since Charlotte Andrews bested four-eyed Harrison Gray in a shooting competition when they were teenagers, he decided a tough, show-off girl like Charlie didn’t need him to look after her. Now a teacher at the local school, Harrison learns Charlie intends to marry a neighbor who comes from a long line of no-good troublemakers and, for some inexplicable reason, it falls to him to talk some sense into her…if she has any under that tomboy exterior.
Their heated confrontation unfortunately takes place right as a bad storm is coming on and, in the melee of arguing and taking shelter, Harrison’s glasses are knocked off his face and broken when Charlie’s horse crushes them under a hoof. Harrison and Charlie may have their differences, but she can see from his panic that the loss of his glasses is a blow to him. She volunteers to help him at school until his new pair of special order glasses arrive despite knowing the one place she can’t best Harrison is in the classroom.

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~ QUOTES ~

 

-The Husband Maneuver-

Jonah Hawkins: “I don’t cotton to the idea of handing my little girl over to a man who ain’t willin’ to stand up for her.  Even against her old man.”

Jonah Hawkins: “I ain’t as blind as I pretend to be, boy.”

-Her Dearly Unintended-

The cow wasn’t nearly as dangerous as tangling with Katie Ellen.  Being with her was more exciting than tracking a catamount, and he was just as likely to get clawed to ribbons.  Still, he couldn’t stay away, and someday soon he was going to make it clear why.  Until then he hung around pestering her, making sure that no matter how angry she got, she couldn’t forget about him.

Josiah: “Katie Ellen, you’re going to be fine.  You can do this.”
Katie Ellen: “Shut up!  You’re just saying that because you think I’m fixing to die.”

Katie Ellen: “Are you proposing to me, Josiah Huckabee?”
Josiah: “No, I’m not.  I’ve got a parson that you done clocked in the head with a hammer to attend to.  You wait your turn.”

-Runaway Bride-

This was what he got for saying yes when his friend Luke’s, sister Callie’s, husband Seth’s, brother Ethan’s, wife Audra needed a favor.

John: “I don’t mind you givin’ me orders, miss, just so long as you don’t mind me not takin’ them.”

He was a good-looking man, all right.  Too bad she wanted to conk him over the head.

-Engaging the Competition-

Beatrice: “You should find something you enjoy reading, Miss Andrews.  One of my cousins loathed reading until he found ‘Gulliver’s Travels’.  Then he couldn’t stop.  Sometimes you just have to find something to spark your fancy.”

Harrison: “She’s more infatuated with my library than me, but considering I only have about four or five more books for her to borrow, her infatuation will soon be over.”
Charlie (aka Charlotte): “You underestimate your book-worthy hero qualities.  To start with, you’re rather handsome.”

Harrison: “What’s got you addlepated, besides me and my good looks?”