Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer

Stealing the Preacher cover

Isn't that a playful cover?

 

Let’s begin with the summary:

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 parson 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?

And now, my review:

An abduction! What a great way to start the adventure! An original idea for bringing the hero and heroine into each other’s worlds. Karen’s writing voice is fun, light, and her prose flows smoothly. She throws in humor that made me laugh aloud at times. I liked the warmth of the relationship between these two characters as it grew. The secondary characters added quirkiness. 

The author’s adept at male POV and painted the heroine’s father very believably—a well-meaning oaf who can’t quite get it right. Excellent characterization throughout.

Unfortunately, I didn’t finish this story as it seemed to lose momentum and lacked sufficient conflict to keep me reading. The heroine’s doting on the preacher while he preached seemed a little too starry-eyed for me.

I think readers who enjoy light reads and romantic comedies will enjoy this story.