| Title | : | Stealing the Preacher (Archer Brothers, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0764209663 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780764209666 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 352 |
| Publication | : | First published June 1, 2013 |
For months, Joanna Robbins prayed for a preacher. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. A man to help her discover answers to the questions that have been on her heart for so long. But just when it seems God has answered her prayers, it turns out the person is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett to stay in her little backwoods community? And does the attraction between them have any chance of blossoming when Joanna's outlaw father is dead set against his daughter courting a preacher?
Stealing the Preacher (Archer Brothers, #2) Reviews
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Well, I don't even know what to say. This was so awesome. Where has Karen Witemeyer been all my life again?
I read Short Straw Bride, the first book in this series, not too long ago and I really liked it, but in my opinion this one was even better. They are written in the same wonderful, engaging way, and both feature delightful characters, but my preference for Stealing the Preacher stems from the fact that I preferred the hero and the heroine, and the amount of spiritual depth that flowed nicely throughout. The plot was also better, I thought.
Crockett Archer is the embodiment of my ideal. That is why I loved him so much, because he had all those qualities I look for in a man. He is strong, brave, confident, caring, and God-fearing. He was decidedly not a typical preacher, and I loved the balance between his physical force and his spiritual force. His faith in God was beautiful, and quite frankly, contagious, as it made me feel a lot better and made me want to learn to trust even more in God. And, as Silas remarked, he voiced his thoughts in an understandable way and never spoke in a condescendingly, nor used overly fancy words. Then, having been a rancher all his life, he was not afraid of hard work and his tall, broad-shouldered, six-pack muscled, good-looking, sexy body (calm down Anne) spoke his physical force and manly capabilities (okay, it was not specifically written that he had a six-pack, but I'm sure the only reason it wasn't mentioned was because this is a Christian novel, and the heroine never saw the hero shirtless... ). Moreover, Crockett was blessed with an easy temper and charming teasing ways. It was so cute every time he winked at the heroine.
The heroine!! Joanna Robbins was a wonderful heroine. She was smart, kind, gentle and incredibly pious. Her love and thirst for spirituality was beautiful. I loved the way Crockett was taken with her right away, even though she did not considered herself a beauty with her freckles and crazy red curls, and was a rather shy young lady who preferred to stay cooped up at home with her books and her paintings, rather than go out dancing and partying with friends (just like me!). Her love for her father and the way she ached to make him believe in God was very moving. She was such a strong woman, full of passion and faith beneath her timid exterior.
The Holly Brewster/Joanna Robbins contrast was very well done. Miss Brewster is the beautifuldumb blondewoman who wastes no time setting her cap at Crockett and taking every opportunity to flirt outrageously with him. While he acknowledges her beauty and the fact that she flatters his vanity, his admiration of her never goes beyond her pretty exterior, whereas Joanna inspires feelings of respect and deep admiration with her unshakable beliefs and calm manners. It goes to show that the outward appearance isn't what matters, and that true beauty lays within. Crockett might have not been the most experienced man when it came to women, but he was quick to realize that, and soon dismissed Holly, who became increasingly irritating with each endeavour to get his attention.
This book has been described by many and very "preachy", but I would more qualify it as deep and rich in spirituality. I personally loved that aspect of the book a lot, but I can understand how some people might not have appreciated it as much. But it is a Christian novel, and I like having the characters really act up to their faith. The way Crockett and Joanna teamed up to try and change Silas' heart (Joanna's father - a wonderful, complex character) was just beautiful. They wanted so much to make him believe and trust in God, and never gave up praying for him.
Nevertheless, with all that sermonizing, this book was pretty action packed and had a lot of heart-wrenching, suspenseful moments! I NEVER cry at books or movies, and get teary only on rare occasion, and there was a part in this novel which was one of those rare occasion for me . It was also very romantic, and that scene at the beginning when Crockett is being abducted from the train was very good! Definitely not the kind of beginning I'm used to!
A beautiful novel, strongly recommended for Christian historical fiction fans. It was a delightful read! :D -
About this book:
“A cowboy who wants to be a preacher. An outlaw’s daughter who wants to change his mind.
On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can scarcely believe it when he's forced off the train by a retired outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the minister she requested for her birthday. Worried this unfortunate detour will ruin his chances of finally serving a congregation of his own, Crockett is determined to escape. But when he finally gets away, he's haunted by the memory of the young woman he left behind--a woman whose dreams now hinge on him.
For months, Joanna Robbins prayed for a preacher. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. A man to help her discover answers to the questions that have been on her heart for so long. But just when it seems God has answered her prayers, it turns out the person is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett to stay in her little backwoods community? And does the attraction between them have any chance of blossoming when Joanna's outlaw father is dead set against his daughter courting a preacher?”
Series: Book #2 in the “Archer Brothers” series. (The first book has not been officially reviewed.)
Spiritual Content- Many Scriptures are mentioned, read, remembered, & quoted; Many Prayers, Thanking God, & Blessings over food; Going to church, singing hymns, & listening to sermons; Seeing a baptism; Crockett is a pastor & we definitely see many elements of his ministry in this book; Silas believes pastors to be hypocrites & has no patience for religion (he believes that those at church can be just as vile as any drunkard or thief—or worse even; ); Joanna has tried hard to get her father to soften towards God; Witnessing & discussions; Many, many talks about God, His plans, missions, & witnessing; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God or Jesus; All about many mentions of preachers/ministers, churches, church going, congregations, services, worship, hymns, & sermons; All about many mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of faiths & passions; Mentions of Bibles & devotions; Mentions of those, places, & events in the Bible; Mentions of eternity, Heaven, & angels; Mentions of forgiveness & justice (& a couple discussion about both); Mentions of church elders; Mentions of missionaries & missions; Mentions of blessings & being Blessed; Mentions of sins, sinful people, & evil; A few mentions of Books of the Bible; A few mentions of believers, godly people, & Christians; A couple mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of religious books; A mention of a godsend;
*Note: A couple mentions of someone being compared to Satan; A mention of someone being called a demon.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘botheration’, a ‘consarn it!’, a ‘dad-burn it’, a ‘what in tarnation’, two ‘bah!’s, two ‘idiot’s, two ‘shoot’s, and five forms of ‘stupid’; Silas bites back an oath (curses, not written); Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Accidentally shooting someone, helping them, getting the bullet out, blood, & their pain (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, Being hit/attacked, Being shot at, Being held at gunpoint, Blood, & Pain (up to semi-detailed); Being on a train that being held up by bandits, being threatened, & abducted; Many mentions of bandits/thieves, criminals/outlaws, gangs, crimes, robbing/stealing, guns being aimed at people in a threatening manner, & shooting; Mentions of a child being beaten to death (by a man who claimed to be god-fearing, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of someone being beaten & almost hanged/lynched (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of the possibility of having to kill someone (who means you harm); Mentions of bullets, those who were shot, injuries, blood/bleeding & pain (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of prisons/jails & arrests; Mentions of threats; Mentions of fighting & injuries; Mentions of drinking, drunks, & saloons; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of hunting & shooting animals for food; A few mentions of fights, fighting, & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of dead creatures (varmints) & the smell (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of cheating; A couple mentions of rumors; A couple mentions of the possibility of injured animals & deaths of farm animals;
*Note: A couple mentions of a mother leaving her drunk husband & young son.
Sexual Content- A blown kiss, two hand kisses, a hair kiss, four semi-detailed kisses, a border-line semi-detailed // detailed kiss, and a detailed kiss; Recalling a kiss (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss someone & Wanting to be kissed (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Nearness, & Flutters (and enjoying them, up to semi-detailed); Recalling touches & embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Winks & Blushes; Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); A flirty young woman bothers Crockett & tries to touch/embrace him often (she thinks she tempts him & brings up the passion found in Song of Solomon; ); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of flirting & flirtatious women; Mentions of reputations; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a man not taking advantage of a woman; A mention of a woman’s attacker (not true); Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of a mother dying in childbirth; A mention of Crockett enjoying being around women after only being around his brothers (their manners, their gentle ways, and their lovely figures); A mention of a young woman’s dress showing off every one of her feminine curves (mentioned from Joanna); A mention of someone’s butt in a saddle.
-Joanna Robbins, age 21
-Crockett Archer, age 28
P.O.V. switches between them & Silas
Set in 1885
347 pages
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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Four Stars
Somehow, I’ve never reviewed this book on here.
And that’s just a crime. Because this book is so fun, so wonderful, and so faith-filled to the brim. I was smiling like a ninny at so many parts (so many parts!) and yet also teared up at others.
I love it when I read a book where both main characters are strong in their faiths, where the spiritually help and uplift the other. That’s the definition to me of a healthy, God-centered relationship. And that’s completely how Crockett and Joanna are, they’re truly so well balanced.
If you removed the faith content from this story, I think it would be under a hundred pages—that’s how much the character’s faiths were shown and I love it.
This is definitely my favorite book by this author and makes me feel so giddy because of the plot-line. I still think it would be best for older teens because of the kisses and a part at the end, but the faiths make the book for me.
Link to review:
Coming soon.
*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. -
Stealing the Preacher , the sequel to Short Straw Bride , by Karen Witemeyer is a Christian western romance. It's set in Texas in the late 1800's.
Crockett Archer is on his way via train to apply for a preacher position when the train is held up by a masked gang. The only thing they steal is Crockett!
Joanna Robbins is the daughter of the gang's ringleader, and is horrified when her father presents her with Crockett as a birthday present!
What I liked :
*The lead characters are easy to admire, and both have a strong relationship with Christ. I found this very refreshing, even though some reviewers feel they are both too perfect.
*All the characters were deliciously authentic!
What I didn't like:
*The closest I can come to a dislike is that the story is improbable. I don't personally find that objectionable since I enjoy an unlikely tale. It is fiction, after all!
I recommend this to readers of Christian romance, ages 14 and up.
Karen Witemeyer is one of my very favorite authors, and I make it a point to read all her books. -
4.60 stars - mild pg13
Another really fun story about one of the Archer Brothers! (I love the fun book covers!) Loved our hero, Crockett! Well, duh, who wouldn't?!? And (surprise! surprise!) I actually liked the heroine, Joanna! (I'm noticing a pattern with myself; it seems I tend to be way more partial to the heroes in these fictional stories, than I am to the heroines, whom I usually refer to as twits. Hmmm? I wonder what deep character flaw of mine this reveals? Jealousy of fictional women?? Oh, I sooo hope not!!)
Notes made while reading:
~~ "I'm not going home to Palestine, am I, Lord?" --- Love Crockett's faith and complete confidence in the Lord.
~~ He wanted to "taste her lips" --- Not sure why this drives me so batty, but I loathe when authors use that phrase. I mean, seriously, unless they were using flavored lip gloss back then, what's the point? Maybe she had just coated her lips with strawberry jam or honey or something?? Argh! ..... Now, if they were coating their lips with chocolate? That I could totally understand!
~~ Tears in my eyes in chapter 27 when Joanna explains to her father just how much God loves him and is pursuing him. I felt that Karen Witemeyer knocked that explanation out of the park!! Beautiful!
~~ Loved, loved, loved chapters 29-32 where Silas gives in to the Pursuer!!! More tears!! "I'm done running. If you want me... I'm yours."
~~ Chapter 34 --- Oh no!! Please tell me author's not making Crockett do something stupid! (I suppose if he had handled the situation more wisely, the book would have been shorter!!)
~~ Chapter 37 --- I'm 85% through and I'm ready for it to be over. I've enjoyed it so far, but there are almost nine chapters left to go.
~~ Chapter 37 --- Ugh. Why couldn't we just have a nice story without more drama added in??!! There was already enough drama going on at this point in the story.
~~ Chapter 40 --- Oh, good grief! Holly's father Seriously??!! My eyes are rolling. And then miraculously, Gaaah!!
~~ I loved that Silas
~~ OH! My poor eyeballs are going to get stuck up there!!! This is so over-the-top! Karen Witemeyer's books are lovely --- but they just seem to go one step (or two, or three) too far, or too cheesy. (It's like she never got the Southern Momma's memo: "Once you get completely dressed to go out and you think you're lookin' all fine and sparkly, look in the mirror and take off one accessory or piece of jewelry --- less is more!!!)
I've only read two, but so far I find that Karen Witemeyer's books are quite good, but they just go a bit too long and a bit too eye-rollingly far. I loved the first Archer Brothers book, but I remember I wasn't clamoring to immediately read book two; I needed a breather. I think I liked this second book a tad bit more than the first, but the feeling's the same .... I need a little break before I pick up book three. I'm looking forward to Neill's story, as well as others by this author, but I'll just need to pace myself. ~~~ My friend, Anne, sums it up much more nicely than I could when she wrote in her review for book three, "The story was a bit far-fetched by turns, especially at the end, but it was such a fun and delightful story that I didn't really mind."
(Side note to self: For curiosity's sake, check on accuracy of prison description from page 339. It seems to be a bit of a modern take on prisons. I wonder if this is how they were in 1885 Texas? --- Ask Hannah, she'll know.) -
Age Appropriate For: 13 and up (romance, and some situations)
Best for Ages: 18 and up
Karen Witemeyer has been my author find of the year. I have only read three of her books, but she has already proven she has an engaging style, faith-building messages, and godly characters. When I was offered a copy of her latest book to review, I jumped at the chance.
It was good to meet up with one of the Archer brothers again. You might remember Crockett from Short-Straw Bride. Throughout the book, you hear of what Travis is up to, and his younger brother comes for a visit. These brothers are making a great series.
I wasn’t sure any of the Archer brothers could compete with Travis, but Crockett did a good job. He allows the LORD to lead him on a very different path, and he reaches out to those who need him, not only the most likable characters.
This book kept me turning pages. From the intriguing beginning (Kidnapping a preacher for a birthday gift? Brilliant!) to the blissful, happy ending, I was hooked. Karen Witemeyer has an engaging style that I love. There is never a dull sentence.
Finally! A book set in Texas that actually sounds like Texas. So many books sound like Hollywood’s version of Texas, which, if you live here, is far from the truth. Witemeyer is a Texan, so that helps, but she did an excellent job of representing the state I call home.
*Spoiler alert*
The best part for me, however, was when Crockett confronts Holly, a girl who has been flirting with him. I wish more guys today had the guts to stand up for what is right rather than let their egos be stroked when a girl flirts. I wonder if more girls would value themselves if young men stood up and told them what was what.
*End spoiler*
I didn’t think I could love a Karen Witemeyer book more than Short-Straw Bride, but I did. This book takes the cake, it was that good. Perhaps it felt more real, or maybe it was the heroine with the hair that she couldn’t control, or just maybe it was the message that no life is beyond redemption. I loved this book.
I highly recommend this book for those who love romance, westerns, faith-building fiction, and swoon-worthy heroes that have godly character.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own. -
The adventurous opening snagged my attention right away. Stealing a preacher? It’s right in the title, but it still managed to surprise me with how it was written. It was definitely a twist on the sort of incident that was used. Very smart!
Sweet and fun romances are such joys to read, and this one definitely delivered. There was humor throughout, which was delightful, and the characters were all relatable. The twists kept coming, but I shouldn’t be surprised, as the author has always been great at that.
A heartbreaking hunting incident scene had me weeping in pain, but an exquisite salvation scene switched me to tears of joy. I’m so happy that my emotions got tangled up in this book!
Content: referring to God as “big man upstairs” once -
I'm so glad I read this!! It is WAYYY better than the first book in this series. I don't really know what to rate this. I want to give it five stars merely because I was pleasantly surprised by the contrast of this one to Travis' story. But four it is....
What I loved:
-I'll start with the main thing that bothered me in the last book. Romance. This one focused so much more on a true relationship, instead of the physical side. Crockett didn't focus on a woman's body like Travis did and his feelings for....somebody ;)....was sweet, although there were a couple things I'll mention below that I wasn't comfortable with.
-The whole stealing the preacher storyline!! So funny and the first couple chapters are a hoot. It certainly draws you in right away.
-Characters:
*Jackson, because I loved his protectiveness for Joanna even though he was so young.
*Silas, because his story is full of redemption.
*Crockett, because his steadfast to God and his faith is needed in a lot of young men.
*Joanna, because she loves her Father despite his past life.
-The spiritual aspect was huge in this book! There are so many lessons, and I really felt like the main characters had a true, deep relationship with God, not just, "Pray when I need help," kind of characters. I also appreciated how much scripture passages were quoted.
-Crockett confronting a certain girl about her flirtatious attitude was the best! I think that is the first book I've ever read where the guy has done that. He did the right thing, and that raised my liking for him even more.
-I LOVED how the prologue brought in Crockett's brothers. Yay!! I love them. And Neill visiting in the middle of the book was nice. I love their devotion to one another.
What I didn't love:
-As I said above, the romance was better...but, I still wasn't completely gang-ho with the three semi-detailed kisses and some touching. I was thankful the book did not end with a kiss like so many do, and because their relationship was so deep, the kissing didn't throw me off as much as it could have.
-One scene Joanna is getting a bullet out of someone. It was a little gruesome and I was glad to get past that!
I can't really think of anything else that I didn't like. This book was enjoyable and worthwhile to read. It can really be read on its own if one doesn't want to bother with Travis' story ;) Go Crockett!! ;) -
I loved Crockett the most among all the Archer brothers I’ve met in book one, Short-Straw bride and was really looking forward to his book. I enjoyed it, but I liked book one a tiny bit more.
I really liked Crocket and Joanna and their story. They both had a strong faith in God which was evident in their daily lives. I again enjoyed the humour Karen Witemeyer included, especially during the first chapter when Crockett was kidnapped.
I also enjoyed the supporting characters of which Silas and Jackson were my favourite. I did not like Holly at all and her part in the story did take away some of my enjoyment, but that is because I don’t like these type of storylines and characters like Holly. I did appreciate how Crockett put her in her place.
I wished there was more scenes with the Archer brothers. The relationship they have and was seen in book 1 is what made me love them and I would have liked to see more, but understand why we couldn’t.
All the scripture references and the road to redemption for one character was very clear and strong. Even the ending for me was a beautiful picture of how God forgives our sins and not give us the punishment we deserve.
Another great enjoyable story by Karen Witemeyer. -
Haha, that was pretty good. I liked this one a lot Crockett was a fun character and I just really enjoyed reading about him! And Jackson was so great! Silas's part of the story was really good! And I even liked Joanna. My only fault with it this one would be that fact that the injuries sustained toward the end of the book got pushed to the back burner and forgot about, so it seems. But other than that this was a really good read! I quiet enjoyed it!
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I loved this book so much
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The one thing Joanna Robbins truly desires for her twenty-first birthday is a preacher. For months and years Joanna has been praying for a preacher to come to her community. A preacher would be able to bring her father to Christ and help resurrect their now neglected and abandoned church – two missions very important to her. Joanna misses worshiping with her friends and neighbors; and without her mother around, she needs someone to help save her father's soul.
By some underhand, dubious, (and illegal means) Joanna receives a preacher for her birthday – Crockett Archer, a young man on his way to interview for a much hoped for full-time preaching position in a nearby county. Even though Crockett admires Joanna's passion and conviction, he firmly believes that he is not the answer to her prayers. Want to make God laugh, Crockett Archer...tell Him your plans!
Karen Witemeyer is a new author for me – I greatly enjoy novels by authors who write in the Historical Fiction/Christian Fiction genres, and after receiving some recommendations for Karen Witemeyer's novels, I decided to give her a try! I'm so glad I did! Even though I dearly love my time in Regency England, spending a few days in the big, vast country and rustic atmosphere of Texas circa 1885 was a stimulating change!
My favorite aspect of this novel is the well-drawn and extremely likable characters and their heartwarming relationships with each other. I liked that each character had complexity, depth, and a unique blend of attributes and flaws. I loved seeing the father/daughter devotion and regard between Joanna and her father, witnessing the tender and faith-filled romance between Crockett and Joanna, and observing the mistrust and animosity between Crockett and Silas (Joanna's father) turn into begrudging respect, and then admiration. Watching these characters interact and develop relationships with each other was an immense pleasure!
Another element I greatly enjoyed were all the meaningful and inspiring messages filtered throughout the pages of this novel. This is a Christian Fiction novel, but it is NOT preachy or filled with “sermonizing.” Through the events and exchanges in this novel, readers are reminded that all sinners can be forgiven, God cares about everyone, and that even though you may run from God, He does catch up with you eventually! I admire how many of the characters exhibited inspiring faith, strong work ethics, and fierce loyalty. And I especially appreciated how the author accentuated that Crockett fell in love with Joanna's inner light, maturity, and heart – not her beauty and charm.
Do you fancy a visit to the great state of Texas during the late 1800s? Would you like to meet some ranchers, outlaws, and a cowboy preacher? Does a tale about relationships, God's forgiveness, and finding love sound like a good read to you? If so, I recommend you try Karen Witemeyer's Stealing the Preacher!
Note: Stealing the Preacher is Book Two in a series about the Archer brothers. Book One is The Short Straw Bride. While it doesn't seem necessary to read that one first, you may want to. -
Loved this book so much! I can't say this about many books, but it had me teary-eyed more than a few times... in happy parts as well as a couple sad ones. It also had me laughing quite a bit. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Another great book by Karen Witemeyer! I can't wait to read her next one! -
Oh my word, I absolutely loved this book 😍😍
I went into this with high expectations and was not disappointed.
It was such a sweet story and just so much fun to read.
I absolutely love Crockett and his brothers so much🥰
I would totally recommend this book.
I loved it so much and maybe stayed up to late to finish it, but it was worth it😆 -
Crockett Archer is on his way to interview for a pastor position in Brenham when he is kidnapped from the train and taken to a ranch in the middle of no where to be a birthday present for the outlaw's daughter. Joanna Robbins has been praying for a preacher to come and bring new life into the small country church near her father's ranch in the hopes that maybe her outlaw father will finally answer God's call on his life. She certainly didn't expect her prayers to be answered by a handsome preacher who isn't too happy to be there. Yet as Crockett seeks what it is that God would have for him, he and Joanna both unite to pray for her father and the other members of the small congregation. But will they listen to the call of their own hearts as well?
I've discovered since I read my first Karen Witemeyer book A Tailor Made Bride two years ago, that any of Karen's books will have that same feel-good, happy feeling I get when I read a Lori Wick book. Last year's Short Straw Bride quickly became my favorite one of Karen's but Stealing the Preacher is right up there with it. I loved Crockett when I met him in Short Straw Bride and to see his character grow and become more in depth was a delight. I found myself laughing and rooting for all of the characters - not just the romance between Crockett and Joanna. I loved the brother-sister style relationship between Joanna and the young neighbor boy Jackson. I also loved how genuine Crockett was with his faith. He lived his faith out loud. It was such an integral part of him that when he spent time around Joanna's father, he wasn't pushy or anything like that. He was real and Silas respected that.
I could go on an on about this book. But I won't. One of my status updates on goodreads had me saying how Crockett has now moved onto my favorite heroes list. I will say, and to borrow the phrases from Mary Kay National Sales Director Lisa Allison, on June 1, run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore, online website, or wherever you need to go to buy a copy of this book. It is highly recommended!
I received this book for free from the author to help with the promotion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommend to fans of Karen Witemeyer, Julie Lessman, Becky Wade, Amanda Cabot, Lori Wick, Janelle Mowery, Regina Jennings, Mary Connealy, historical fiction
Rating - 5 stars - I absolutely loved it! -
Crockett Archer is on his way to Brenham, TX when his train is held up by bandits. The passengers prepare to be robbed but the bandits do not want their jewelry or money. There is only one thing they want…the preacher!
Joanna Robbins made a promise to her mother before she died. She promised to carry on her mother’s mission of praying for her father Silas to make his peace with God. Joanna’s one wish for her birthday is to see a preacher in the abandoned church by their home. Little did she know that her father would go out and steal a preacher for her!
Crockett agrees to listen to why Joanna needs a pastor, but he still has every intention of continuing on to Brenham. Because of his delay the church in Brenham choose another pastor. Crockett feels that the Lord is leading him back to Joanna and her father to help Jo in her efforts to get Silas’ heart to soften.
Crockett confuses Silas. Everything Silas has ever known about religious people has been negative. Silas has no use for church-goers. But Silas can’t help but be impressed with Crockett. He works longer and harder than any of Silas’ other hands and Crockett isn’t intimidated by Silas.
From the moment Crockett meets Joanna he sees something special in her. Her love for the Lord and her care of the people draws Crockett to her from the very beginning. One spoiled church member could ruin everything for Crockett and Joanna.
We read about Travis the oldest Archer brother in Short-Straw Bride. Now we have Crockett Archer the brother that took care of all of the spiritual and health issues for the family. Stealing the Preacher is a fun sequel to Short-Straw Bride. Karen Witemeyer has a sense of humor that comes through in her novels. As with all of Karen’s novels there is also an element of suspense that always seems to get me biting my nails. I enjoyed Stealing the Preacher and I hope that we will be able to read more of the Archer brothers in the future. -
I am so happy I reread this book. I was worried that I would reread it and not like it as much as I used to. I really did love it.
I will however say the narrator was horrible for the story. She had an odd voice and she mispronounced several locations in Texas. Brazos being the biggest and most annoying. -
Crockett Archer’s life is about to change. On his way to interview for a job as a preacher, some bandits (led by Silas Robbins, a former outlaw) kidnap him without any explanation. What do they want from him? Shock hits Crockett when he finds out he is supposed to be a birthday present for Silas’ daughter!
Archer brothers won my heart when I read
Short-Straw Bride and this second book of the series just confirmed my feelings. These brothers are wonderful men! Not only they love their family no matter what, but they are loyal and ready to help anyone in need. Crockett Archer is maybe the most comfortable with people, he has a gift, he can speak to every soul, even the lost one. He knows Joanna Robbins and her father need him and he accepts his task, he never regrets his choice and he is always confident God has a plan for everyone. I loved this aspect of Crockett. His words and actions make me believe anything is possible if you have faith, if you really believe in something greater than yourself. Crockett Archer gives me hope. I am not telling this is a religious book, it is not a preachy novel. It is a story of faith, hope and forgiveness. And since Crockett is a preacher there are some parts where the Scripture is mentioned. Nevertheless, you do not need to love Christian fiction to read and love it, because the plot is so much enthralling you just need to sit and dive into it. You will not be disappointed.
Joanna is one of the best heroines I have ever met. I say “met” because it was really as if I met her in person. She does not hide behind a mask, she is just herself with everybody. She is so insecure and yet so powerful I think she was the only woman who could face that reality and be at the side of a man like Crockett. Her strength helps her father and everyone around her, and I loved reading about her fears and desires. I could actually relate to her a lot, not because I experienced what she did but in her way of thinking. That is probably the reason why I loved her so much. I saw a little bit of me in her personality.
Ms. Witemeyer’s writing is powerful and engaging like her characters. She makes you live an enchanting journey every time you pick one of her books up, and it is very hard to live your daily routine knowing there is a book by her waiting for you. Once you start one of her stories, you simply need more. There was a moment when I thought this story was going to a very bad direction, but then I remembered some words written in her description as author: “Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance fiction believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters”, and I knew everything would be fine. Somehow this is reassuring, and that is exactly what I want to feel when I read a book.
If you are looking for a good book with beautiful characters, captivating plot and breath-taking moments you must read “Stealing the preacher”.
Note: Despite this is the second instalment of “Archer Brothers” series it can be read as a standalone, but if you are like me you might like to read them in order. -
Overall it was a fun/enjoyable read!
Their was one thing about Stealing the Preacher that I did not like. Which was how the kidnapping, "stealing," of Crockett took place. I feel like it was not thought out well and that it was not believable. Whose gonna steal a Preacher? Not to mention how he is kidnapped... That's for you to find out;) Other than that however the book was great!
In a Short-Straw Bride I thought Crockett was somewhat boring and was kinda just there. In this book though I learned that he is actually the light-hearted one, the one good at breaking tension and making someone smile. He was pretty funny and good with all ages. I liked how even though he may be attracted to women around him the most important thing to him was their spiritual relationship with God.
I like the romance in Karen's stories. They have enough to satisfy, but not to much to overwhelm. It's sweet and steamy but not lustful.
This was a good story about forgiveness and trusting in God to take care of us. This book used my favorite verse at one point: Isaiah 41:10. The verse is about trusting in God and not fearing the world, because God is in charge and if we believe in him he will ,"uphold us with his righteous right hand."
Like I said, the plot in the beginning was not my favorite. However, the conflict at the end was really good. It all made sense and was well done. I can't say much about this without giving it away though;)
Please visit my blog for more reviews at:
http://kissedbooks.blogspot.com/ -
I truly love this book so much! This book has been my favorite book since the first time I read it six or seven years ago! This was the first Karen Witemeyer book I read, and also one of the first Christian historical romances I read outside of the Love Finds You series. I actually came across this book by accident. Back when I first started reading this genre in high school, I liked to search a book I liked on iBooks or Barnes and Nobles and scroll through the “readers also bought” section. And it seemed every book had this one in common. After seeing it multiple times, I finally decided I had to read the overview. It had to be interesting with a title like that! So I read the overview and I immediately knew I had to get this book. And when I did get my hands on it, it did not disappoint me! I have loved this book from day one! I have also loved Crockett Archer from day one, if I’m being completely honest…😳😅 This book is just always such a pleasure to read! It makes me laugh, it makes me cry…it’s just SO. GOOD!!!! If there were a mini series just following Crockett and Joanna during every day of their lives, I’d read it. I loved them, and really every character in this book! Well, except for maybe Holly….😬😅 I actually just purchased a newer copy of this book as mine is getting pretty worn, but I also refuse to get rid of it because it’s the first copy I ever had of my favorite book….I guess that’s how you know you’re a book hoarder!🤷🏼♀️😂
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Such an enjoyable, solid book! I really enjoyed reading about who Crockett had become and getting to know the delightful Joanna Robbins. Plenty of twists and turns in this one! And each resolution was so satisfying.
One little thing got on my nerves a bit; the mention of "stings like a fire ant" is a bit before its time, as my mom still remembers when fire ants invaded the area in the 1950s and 1960s, much later than this story. And the phrase "for crying out loud" felt very modern. But otherwise it was quite perfect! -
Great follow-up to Short Straw Bride. This is certainly a stand-alone book but once I read one in the series I wanted more. The characters are strong, believable and downright hysterical at times. I love this series.
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4.5 stars.
definitely one of my favorites from Ms. Witemeyer. it was sweet, fun and had a whole lotta heart. I almost wish it were longer because everything happened so fast haha. it even works well as a standalone book so definitely don't let the fact that it's the second book in the series stop you! -
This book! Loved it! I was not prepared to cry! 😭😭
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Crockett Archer is on his way to being a preacher to a new town when the train is attacked by bandits. And the bandits don’t want jewelry or money but the preacher. Such a fun and unique plot. Against his will, Crockett is taken to a ranch as a gift for Silas’ daughter.
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Joanna is living life on a ranch, painting and try to take care of her father. She desperately misses her mother who’s passed on, and she’s trying to do her best to fulfill her mother’s dying words, to have her father come to God. But how can Joanna do that without a preacher in their town?
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Crockett and Joanna are thrust together and neither know what to make of it. Themes of love, redemption, forgiveness and scripture are tangled throughout. I would say it’s almost too much on the side of almost preachy but since the hero is a preacher - it works. Swoony too 😉 -
This was a fun and entertaining Christian historical romance novel with a well written plot and a fair amount of action. I liked the characters, and I loved learning more about the second Archer brother, Crockett, and seeing the unique way he met his match.
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Crockett Archer is on his way to a job opportunity, his first as a preacher. He’ll be orating, as will another candidate, but Crockett is confident of his chances. However, he never makes it to his job interview – the train gets held up by some surprisingly old bandits, are not looking for valuables, they are looking for the preacher. Crockett finds out to his astonishment that he has been kidnapped... as a birthday present!
Joanna Robbins, daughter of Silas Robbins, ranch owner (and some years previously, a train robber) is struggling spiritually. The area they live in lost their preacher some time ago and a replacement has never been found, meaning that many people in the area can’t go to church as the nearest one is too far away. She worries greatly for her father’s spiritual wellbeing – he has always been anti-church, deeming the clergy as hypocrites. Both Joanna and Silas are still mourning the loss of Martha, Silas’s wife and Joanna’s mother, who was a woman of deep faith. Martha always hoped that Silas would find his way back to God, and Joanna has now taken on this worrying, and doesn’t feel up to the task.
Joanna is horrified at what her father has done, although she appreciates that his motivation was her happiness. She confides her worries to Crockett and arranges for him to reach the next town, in order to try and save his job prospects, but the job has already been given to the other candidate, as the townsfolk took it as a sign from God when Crockett didn’t show up. Although disappointed, Crockett begins to wonder whether it was in fact a sign from God, that he should help Joanna try and bring her father closer to God, and provide spiritual guidance for the area.
This is the second story about the Archer brothers. I haven’t read the first, but I didn’t feel lost, I think it reads well as a stand-alone. Crockett and his brothers basically had to bring themselves up and as a result he is very resourceful and hardworking. Rather than being the type of preacher that Silas is used to, who says all the right things, but doesn’t follow his own teachings, Crockett genuinely believes in his message, and is admirably trying to live his life accordingly:
‘He might be preaching on Sundays, but the rest of the week he’d be living out the message on a more practical level.’
Joanna has a similar spiritual depth and works hard to live up to her Christian values, although she struggles with her self-esteem. She is a very good and lovable character, and you are completely in her corner from the very beginning.
This is a Christian romance, and while it isn’t so evident in other Karen Witemeyer books the Christian theme is very strong indeed within this story, due to its subject matter of trying to bring a man back to his faith. There are some dark moments within this book, and plenty of action. Luckily, I started reading it pretty early in the day, as I am not sure if I could have put the book down at some points until I was sure everything would turn out alright! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it, as long as you don’t mind a strong Christian theme. -
I don't think it will shock anyone who knows me to hear that I am emphatically not the audience for this book. I read it in a professional capacity, to prepare for a booktalking program I'm doing at my library. So, I'll do my best to follow up my personal reaction with a more detached explanation of who I think this book would speak to.
Meagan the reader speaks:
Holy hell there was a lot of preachiness in this book. I mean, I know it's Christian Fiction and all, but I don't think the hero and heroine had more than one or two thoughts in the book that weren't overtly religious. I'm not a particularly religious person, so I have to wonder - is this how really religious people really think and talk? Because that must be exhausting.
But I think the core problem I had with this book, and with this genre in general, springs directly from its religious nature. There's no real question of anything bad happening to the main characters, because in this genre my least favorite plot device ever, Deus ex Machina, is the entire point. Hell, even the villains are redeemed. It doesn't make for a very exciting or challenging read.
Meagan the librarian speaks:
For those people who count faith as one of the most important facets of their life, I'm sure this book has an element of familiarity, warmth, and comfort that would be appealing. (It's kind of like hard-core liberals reading books about why republicans deny science, or hard-core republicans reading books about why liberals hate Christmas. It reinforces what you believe and lets you know you're not alone in that belief.)
As far as the romance is concerned, it gives you two ideal Christians that you can like unreservedly, and their relationship comes together with surprisingly little drama. All the drama and conflict is external, and faith overcomes all. Although there are a couple of characters that it could be very difficult to like, at all, a little religious instruction and the occasional dose of consequences brings everyone around to the side of right. It's relaxed, has moments of humor, light drama, and a gentle story of a strong love.
(How'd I do?) -
Review on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ZRW2JD...
Review on my blog:
http://www.christianbookshelfreviews....
After reading my first Karen Witemeyer book (Short-Straw Bride) last year, I could hardly wait to read this next Archer book. Stealing the Preacher was such a wonderful read that I had a hard time putting down.
I absolutely loved the characters in Stealing the Preacher! I was already familiar with the Archer brothers (Travis, Jim, Crockett, and Neill) and knew I liked them from Short-Straw Bride, but I was a little surprised by how much I loved Crockett in this book - he definitely was my favorite character. In addition to the brothers, I also really liked Joanna, Silas, and Jackson.
The story was very good and I liked the action/danger in Stealing the Preacher - it made me want to just keep flipping the pages. :) The romance was sweet and brought a smile to my face. I loved the ending, but some things seemed a little too perfectly wrapped-up - that is one of the only negatives I had with Stealing the Preacher.
While I loved Short-Straw Bride, I enjoyed Stealing the Preacher even more and it's now on my "Favorites" shelf. The book had me grinning, smiling, and laughing. I kind of wish Crockett's brothers would have been in this book a bit more, but I'm really happy with the updates/appearances that were included.
Overall, Stealing the Preacher was such a good read and I completely recommend it to fans of historical romance novels. I am eagerly awaiting Karen Witemeyer's next book! :)
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review as a part of the author's influencer team. 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.* -
When I saw the cover reveal for the 1st cover of Stealing the Preacher, I almost cried. Seriously! I didn't like it at all, and I hated that it didn't match the other lovely Witemeyer books on my shelf. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who felt that way, because it wasn't too much longer later that this beauty made it's appearance and made my day! A sigh of relief may have escaped me when I saw it. ;)
Although Witemeyer doesn't typically write sequels, I'm thrilled that Stealing the Preacher is the sequel to Short-Straw Bride. Crockett gets the spotlight in this story. As he's on his way to try out for a preacher position, a group of bandits jump on his train and kidnap him as a present for the leader's daughter. Joanna has been praying for a preacher and even asks for one for her birthday. Little did she know that one would show up just in time.
Witemeyer has yet to disappoint me! I know when I'm in the mood for a sweet Western romance, I have to look no further than her books. I'm always guaranteed a smile. As always, her leading man, Crockett, is a gentleman through and through. Joanna is about as sweet and gentle as they come, too. I connected with her more than any of Witemeyer's books, probably due to her shy nature.
I adored the ending! I won't say too much to give it away, but it's not too often you get to read about things like that even in Christian fiction. Every time one of those events happen and I hear the songs along with it(included in this book), it brings tears to my eyes. I've admitted how emotional I am, but I assure you there is NO better reason to cry tears of joy!
Overall, Stealing the Preacher was a joy to read, and I highly recommend ALL of Witemeyer's novels!
*I was provided a review copy from Bethany House through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest opinion. -
Stealing the Preacher is the sequel to Short-Straw Bride. I learned this piece of information halfway through the book because one of my friends mentioned it. If I hadn’t known it was a sequel I had never figured that out by reading this book—so the book can easily be read as stand-alone.
Abducted from a train by an ex-outlaw, Crockett Archer is presented to the man’s daughter as a birthday present for her 21st birthday.
Joanna Robbins can’t believe that her father forced a preacher off the train and brought him to her. Yes, she asked for a preacher, but never in her wildest dreams could she imagine her father providing one. Silas Robbins is against everything that has to do with religion. Joanna’s mother was a believer and so is Joanna. When her mother died she promised to keep praying for her father’s soul, but without her mother she feels lonely and lost. There’s no preacher in town, so Joanna started praying for one to come. Now she has her preacher, but he’s here against his will. He has dreams of his own—to preach in another town. After she told him why she needs a preacher, she let him go.
Crockett is impressed by Joanna’s faith. When he resumes his travels to the interview for a position in another church, he can’t get the beautiful redhead out of his thoughts. Will he ever see her again?
Before I had seen the beautiful cover for this book I heard the title of Karen’s next book would be Stealing the Preacher. As a preacher’s wife I knew I had to read that book. When I saw the cover I was completely in love! Reading the book brought even more pleasure than I imagined.
This book is definitely a must-read—worthy of 5 stars. Karen’s writing is captivating, the characters are enjoyable and fun, and the story line is nicely done. Highly recommended!
*Thanks to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley.* -
This is a little preachier than Karen Witemeyer's other books because Crockett is, well, a preacher but I. LOVED. IT.
I opened up Stealing the Preacher thinking I'd just read a few pages and ended up reading the whole book in one sitting. Fans of Short-Straw Bride will delight in seeing the predicament this Archer brother finds himself in...and how love awaits in the most unexpected places.
