Teresa Mathews Reviews Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Short-Straw Bride

Short-Straw Bride
by Karen Witemeyer
(Bethany House 2012)

Reviewed by Teresa Mathews
5 stars~*****

In this heart-warming tale, Karen Witemeyer weaves a beautiful story of love and trust. Since the death of their Pa fourteen years ago, as per his dying request, not one of the Archer brothers have set foot off their land. Except for the day Travis rescues a sweet little blonde that had become ensnared in one of his coyote traps. The pretty ten year old with the vivid beautiful blue eyes was very brave, hardly whimpering at all, while Travis freed her leg.

Since that day twelve years ago Meredith has never forgotten the sight of Travis Archer and how tender he treated her when she had gotten her leg caught in a trap on his land. Travis was always the hero of her thoughts and dreams as a child and even now that she is a grown woman she still finds no one seems to measure up to him. Not even Roy Mitchell, the man whom her aunt and uncle wish her to marry, the man she is sure is only wanting to marry her for the land her Pa left her when he passed away.

Spoiler alert:
After praying that the Lord would show her what she should do about marrying Roy, she gets her answer when she overhears him talking to one of his hired hands and she hears him call her a “cripple”. But worst than that she hears him sanction a plot that will burn the Archers barn that night so they will finally give up and sell him their land.

Meredith Hayes once again displays her bravery when she shows up on Archer land uninvited, and ends up at the wrong end of a rifle. Meredith is greeted by all four brothers and she has a hard time making them believe she is telling the truth about who she is and about Roy’s plot. When she finally raises her skirt a tad and shows Travis her leg, and he sees where the trap left a permanent mark on Meredith’s leg and he sees the limp that she is left with, he remembers the beautiful brave ten year old. Even after being told to stay in the house, Meredith jumps in to help prepare for the coming attack even at the risk of her own safety. When someone cuts the fence and slips in to set fire to the barn, Meredith find she is all alone, since all the Archer men are at different places guarding the land. So Meredith jumps in to put out the fire and is hurt in the process.

When Meredith’s uncle shows up to check on her, the only thing he is worried about is that she has been alone in the company of four men, so he demands that one of them marry her. Will Meredith really get her heart’s desire? Or will the Archer brothers leave her fate to chance by drawing straws? Will Travis really leave it to chance or does he already know he will be the one to take responsibility for Meredith, just like he has done with his brothers and their land?

Summary:

I have read three other books by Karen and thoroughly enjoyed all of them and this one was no different. It was such a sweet read I didn’t want to put it down. I promise this one should be placed at the top of that TBR list, you won’t want to miss it!

Thanks Karen, great job!

Karen Witemeyer's books can be purchased at Amazon, CBD, B & N, Lifeway and other Christian book stores. 

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week's contest. Drawing will be late Saturday. Your choice of Karen's books and choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format, not as a paperback.

Additional giveaway: Karen has a signed copy of Short-Straw Bride for an American winner.