Spunky and independent, Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting in her honor is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from her unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother's life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind--his boot--and resolves to find him herself.
But when Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. And although Asher tries to keep his distance from Samantha for reasons of his own, a series of suspicious accidents befall her, and his protective instincts flare, no matter the cost to their future.
This Western reimagining of the classic Cinderella fairy tale is an enchanting story of courage, family, and the power of true love.
Samantha is recently returned home and her father has brought the eligible gentlemen for her daughter to choose from at a ball he's hosting. Eli is also recently returned home and he's determined to learn how Eli Dearing has wrongfully evicted his family from their home.
All of that gets the ball rolling for Samantha to learn a lot of truths about her family that she wasn't exactly prepared for. She's a determined woman who has no problem going toe-to-toe with the men on the ranch. On the flip side, she's kind and generous. She's the friend everyone wants to have!
Asher is devoted to his stepmom and his half-brothers. He's doing everything he can to keep a roof over his family's head, and if he can get them back into their home, even going against Eli. Eli, who happens to be Samantha's father.
While the story started out a bit slow for me, it definitely ramped up in the second half. I loved the sweetness of the story, but we also see how things go when people rely only on themselves and not the Lord. Both Sam and Asher grow to trust the Lord more through the story, which is always a wonderful example. They also learn that they can't pigeonhole someone based on assumptions.
There are some cheesy/silly moments in the story and of course nods to Cinderella. Samantha always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The mystery of who is trying to harm her will keep you guessing! If you're looking for a wholesome story that shares about reliance on the Lord, you don't want to miss this one.
Karen also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.