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| Full Steam Ahead |
Bethany House Publishers (June 3, 2014)
Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow
5 Stars *****
Karen Witemeyer was the first author I’d ever read
historical romance by, and let me just say – she is still one of the most outstanding Christian Romance writers that I read! ‘Full Steam
Ahead’ ploughs through the stream of historical fiction novels, delivering a
story loaded with fascinating history about the devastating steamboat disasters
in the mid 1800’s due to boiler explosions, and a romance with an intoxicating
love that leaves Mr. Darcy in its wake!
Nicole Renard, daughter of esteemed King Star Shipping’s
owner Anton Renard, is on a mission to fulfill a promise to her ailing father by traveling to New
Orleans to choose a worthy and capable husband, who will become heir to the
family’s shipping enterprise. But Nicole is also on another secret mission. She
has covertly taken her father’s treasured Lafitte Dagger with her, in a plan to
draw the attention of the brutal and dangerous Jenkins brothers away from her
parents. They will do anything to get their hands on this legendary item, so
will this decision of Nicole’s be to her great peril? Her plans take an unexpected detour when she ends up
penniless before she arrives in New Orleans and is forced to look for work. Somehow, she soon finds herself working as a secretary to a madman that seemingly likes
to blow up things!
Darius Thornton, held captive by his past, is on an obsessive quest
to understand why some boilers blew up and others didn't, striving to make
steamboat traveling safer for everyone. This was his passion and only purpose
in life, and having a beautiful and keenly intelligent woman apply for his
position of secretary, was a distraction he didn't need nor want. She may be
skilled with numbers and proves to be an amazing help in his work, but there is
absolutely NO way he was going to allow this beguiling, fascinating,
skirt-swishing woman to divert his focus!
Darius does not qualify for Nicole’s plans nor the promises she made to her father, so what is she to do when
she falls in love with him? And will the nefarious Jenkins brothers ever catch up
with Nicole? This outstanding, page-turning, full-throttled novel, is packed with
suspense, romance, and a reassuring message to remind us that we can never atone
for our failures or mistakes ourselves, but that we can indeed, shed our guilt for God’s
grace. Karen Witemeyer skilfully breathes life into her engaging and amiable characters,
lacing them with humor, spunk, and the ability to love oh so well! Highly
recommended!!
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This book may be purchased from Amazon; CBD; Books A Million; Barnes & Noble; and other good bookstores.
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GIVEAWAY: Choice of any of Karen's books, including this one, your choice of format. Leave a comment, and check back in one week in the upper right-hand corner for winners.
* * * * * * * * * * *
GIVEAWAY: Choice of any of Karen's books, including this one, your choice of format. Leave a comment, and check back in one week in the upper right-hand corner for winners.
You had me at Mr Darcy.
ReplyDeleteKaren has a fantastic way that makes her leading lady have for grit than Jonh Wayne and more zaniness than any Lucille Ball movie, love the way she draws you into that time and place. This novel looks like another stunner!
Oh JODI, trust me, this book truly is a stunner!! Excellent word, lol. And I really appreciate your efforts to leave your comment! Technology can be fun, can't it! ;)
DeleteKind of glad now the "....more plot twists than Chrisley Knows Best " were lost forever!
DeleteThx for the awesome review, NOELA! Karen Witemeyer is such an amazing talent and this sounds like another one I MUST read!
ReplyDeleteThanks DIANA, and yes I promise you this is a MUST-READ! I agree completely, Karen truly is an amazing and very gifted writer!! Absolutely LOVE all of Karen's books, and have read her earlier ones many times over. Course I don't have time to do that anymore... BUT they're all on my book-shelves waiting to be read again in my twilight years! ;)
DeleteLove that -- twilight years. lol I don't know who made up the expression the golden years, b/c so far I don't see anything "golden" about growing old except gkids!
DeleteMmm think I have to agree with you on that one! I'd like to know where the gold is?!! ;)
DeleteSounds like a wonderful read! :)
ReplyDeletewendyshoults(at)gmail(dot)com
It absolutely is WENDY, and thank you for coming by to read about Karen's book. All the best with your entry!!
DeleteI really cannot wait to read this book. I've loved all of Karen's previous works!
ReplyDeleteHi SHANNON, thanks for coming by! I have to say, if you've loved all of Karen's other books, you'll absolutely love this one... I didn't think they could be topped, but I think they just may have been! ;)
DeleteKaren's books are so much fun, and this one seems to be no exception! Great review & thank you for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteBeth
bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
Thank you BETH and I wish you all the best with your entry!! And yes, you are spot on, this one is extremely enjoyable to read! :-)
DeleteKaren is a favorite of mine! Love the humor she infuses in her stories...
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
Me too PATTY! And I also just love the way Karen writes that sigh-worthy, smile-inducing romance too! :)
DeleteThis book has a beautiful cover on it and it sure sounds like It could be a super fun book to read
ReplyDeleteoh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
Isn't the cover just so intriguing too DANIE? And yes, it really is a wonderful story to read! All the best with your entry my friend!
DeleteI really enjoy Karen Witemeyer's books, they are funny, sweet, and sincere. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletegarfsgirl [at] hotmail [dot] com
You're so right LISA! They're really impossible NOT to love, don't you agree? :-) Thanks for coming by!
DeleteThanks for the great review, Noela! You are such a blessing to me. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you KAREN, that's sweet of you! You, and your fabulous stories are such a blessing to me (and so many others) too! Thanks for writing them!!
DeleteGreat review & I love the way her hair looks on the cover. It shows the character as having a lot of spunk. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book. Vmarney at hot mail.
ReplyDeleteVicki
Thanks VICKI! She does look spunky doesn't she, and she looks a little stunned there by Darius and his boiler machines too don't you think?! ;) A perfect picture for this brilliant story!
DeleteI love Karen's books, thank you for the chance to win her new one!
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
You're welcome WENDY, and thanks for stopping by! Hope you get to enjoy Karen's new book soon!
DeleteFantastic review! I have an interest in all ships/shipwrecks of the great lakes and one particular book is all about the shipwrecks caused by boiler explosions. They are crazy stories and so interesting to learn about how common that was back then! So glad that doesn't happen today.
ReplyDeleteThus another reason I want to read this book. ;)
lattebooks at hotmail dot com
Oh SUSAN, you will certainly have to read this book then!! I was surprised to learn from 'Full Steam Ahead' just how frequent those devastating boiler explosions were! Thank you also for your kind words. Wishing you all the best with your entry Susan!
DeleteThe cover alone makes me want to read this book. The look on her face! Priceless! Please, do enter me to win this book.
ReplyDeletedebsbunch777[at]gmail[dot]com
You're entered DEBBIE! The cover sure does draw your eye doesn't it Deb... And you just know that there's a great story behind that picture! :-)
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this book! the only thing that threw me off was that I kept picturing Darius as Richard Armitage from BBC's North and South (because his last name is Thornton and they are both obsessed with their work), but in the book he is described with lighter hair. I was pleasantly surprised that Nicole was not your average spoiled socialite, but rather an intelligent, adventurous, and compassionate woman. Thanks so much for the giveaway- I'd love to get a print copy of To Win Her Heart, my favorite book by Karen!
ReplyDeletecolorvibrant at gmail dot com
Haha that's quite funny, HEIDI! What great characters they were though, right?! :-) I just loved this story so much, but I say that about all of Karen's books lol... I find it too difficult to pick a favourite!
DeleteWonderful review, Noela. You made me want to read it right away!! ;-) Thankfully, I have this wonderful book waiting for me on my Kindle!
ReplyDeleteLol, thanks MARIAN... So does that mean I should apologize to Kok, or have you been able to barely restrain yourself? ;) I'm so glad you have this book already, you'll really enjoy it Dutchy!!
DeleteNo apologies needed. :) I have managed to keep 'work reading'...but it's hard. lol
DeleteThank you so much for a wonderful review. Books bring such pleasure. Thank you for doing what you do.
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
MELANIE, that's a really lovely and encouraging thing to say, thank you! Books do indeed bring so much pleasure, and Karen's do that in spades I have to say! ;)
DeleteI'm a big fan of Karen's books. They are such fun to read. I'd love to win Full Steam Ahead. Thanks for your great reviews and giveaways.
ReplyDeletepmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
I completely agree with you on that PAM! You just know when you pick up a 'Karen Witemeyer' book, you're going to enjoy it immensely. I love having that confidence in an author! Thank you for your kind words too!
DeleteI love Karen's writing. Please throw my name in the hat for the drawing.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
cindialtman(at)gmail(dot)com
Your name is in the big 'ol OWG hat, CINDI! ;-) Thanks for coming by!
DeleteHey Noela. Great review. I'm thinking Karen will love it. I would love to be Karen's winner. Love that dress on the cover. another time when women couldn't inherit, no matter how smart they were. Bad! How sad to just pick someone to marry so there would be an heir. Was thinking, if he should die, she still wouldn't be the one to heir. Thanks. Hello to all of my OWG gals. <3 Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
ReplyDeleteThanks MAXIE, love you right back!! Yes I agree Maxie, history sure was tough on women. They had to work so hard, and then could just as easily lose everything. Thankfully this story has a very happy ending! :-)
DeleteI enjoyed the Archer Brothers stories and would like to be added for an opportunity to win this new one by Karen. Thanks! I'll be checking back! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
ReplyDeleteThose Archer Brothers were quite memorable weren't they KATHLEEN? ;) I reckon you'll find this one just as memorable too!! :-)
DeleteThanks for the opportunity! I absolutely love Karen's books!! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat to know like-minded fans of Karen's books!! All the best with your entry too AERYKAH!
DeleteSounds like a wonderful book...
ReplyDeleteGod bless you
ChrisG
Thanks for coming by to read about Karen's new book CHRIS! It really is a wonderful book and I hope you get to read it soon. God bless!
DeleteLove the cover. This sounds like such a wonderful read.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
MARY, it really is a fabulous read and I do hope you get to enjoy it soon!!
DeleteI live Karen's books and this one sounds really good !
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely one of my favorite's TONJA... But then again, they all are lol! I think it really says something though, when you finish a book and feel like reading it again almost immediately!
DeleteThank you for the post about Karen and her book Full Steam Ahead. I am looking forward to reading it I love her books !
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
JACKIE, you'll really love this one!! :-) Great to have you come by! God bless you!!
DeleteThanks for that beautiful review, Noela!!
ReplyDelete"Full Steam Ahead" sounds like such an exciting romance!! Love that it has an unusual subject which I have the opportunity to learn more about - steamboat explosions, had never given any thought to them - while enjoying the romance, mystery, humor and charm of the characters!!
Such a beautiful cover, also!! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of "Full Steam Ahead"!!
Bonnie, it is available in audibook now, too! I just got a copy!
Delete