It’s finally here! More Than Meets the Eye released on Tuesday. I always find the release of a new book exciting and slightly terrifying. What will readers think? Will they love it, or will it be a disappointment? This one was especially nerve-wracking since it is the first in a new series.
More Than Meets the Eye is filled with secrets, flawed characters fighting for a fresh start, a hero bent on revenge, and a unconventional heroine whose cheerful demeanor holds the power to soften even the hardest of hearts. Oh, and a pet hog named Hezekiah.
Family is such an essential human bond, yet not all families are built on blood. Some are built through shared circumstances, hardship, or adoption. In creating the Hamiltons, I wanted to bring all three of these elements together to show the defining element of family—love. As Evangeline says, “No matter how many people reject or betray you, if you have even one person in your life that you can 
count on—really, truly count on—you can overcome any obstacle.” That’s family.
The premise behind my new Patchwork Family series is a group of orphans who bond to form their own family when their orphan train derails. These youngsters were overlooked, discarded, and unwanted by the families they met along their journey. Zach, because he is a belligerent loner with a giant chip on his shoulder. Seth, because he is sickly, weakened by asthma. And sweet, little Evangeline because she was born with mismatched eyes.
Then there’s Logan, our hero. He’s on a path of vengeance, though in his mind he believes it is justice not revenge that he seeks. Yet when he encounters the sister of the man he wishes to destroy, he finds himself in a bind. Evangeline is innocent of wrongdoing, yet the villain in Logan’s story is the hero in hers. Destroying her brother would devastate her and tear her out of Logan’s life forever.
To celebrate the book’s release, I’ll be giving away 3 autographed copies here on the Inspired by Life and Fiction blog. (US addresses only.) Winners will be announced in the comments on Friday, June 8.
UPDATE (6/8/18): We have our three winners. Lissy Davis, Elizabeth, and Patty. Congrats, ladies! I’ll be emailing you with details about how to claim your prize.
Since this book is all about unconventional family and the bonds that can be stronger than blood, leave a comment about a person not related to you by biology but one you would consider to be family. What binds you together?
Latest posts by Karen Witemeyer (see all)
- Wedding Joy - November 21, 2024
- How Faith Meets Dreams - November 7, 2024
- Giveaways Gallore! - October 17, 2024
Congrats on the new release! That cover is beautiful!
My best friend from high school and I would hangout all the time. When I had run into family problems, her family immediately took me in as one of their own. They took me to church and led me to Jesus. Sadly, they moved a few states away since then. But we all consider each other family.
That’s beautiful, Kailey. It reminds me of that proverb that talks about how a friend is closer than a brother. Love binds people whether blood is involved or not.
Shared faith and shared life experiences.
The book and the series sound fantastic!
Thanks, MJSH. 🙂
My family has a heritage of bringing people into our family circle. Not sure if it’s part of growing up as a farm family or just passed down from generations. Over the years we have supplied a home for many that needed stability, and most remain part of that bond in some way.
I so admire people like you and your family, Dee. So open and welcoming. I wish I had more of that natural hospitality. That is a true spiritual gift.
We have some really good friends that are like family. We have a good time together and even though we are separated by distance every time we get together, it is like nothing has changed. They are definitely family to us!
Those are the best kind of friends! What a blessing, Candice.
I have a close friend who one time told me that she was going to step into the role of being my sister because I didn’t have any. I was so touched by that and she’s still one of my closest friends today! (My book arrived yesterday so I don’t need to be entered in the drawing. I am looking forward to reading it!)
What a lovely gift of sisterhood, Ellie. That’s a beautiful story. I hope you enjoy Logan and Eva’s tale. 🙂
This sounds great, Karen! I love your books! My best friend, Theresa, is like family to me. We met in college, right away actually, in the activities they had for the new students. After college, we didn’t live near each other and we went our separate ways, but God brought us back together. She introduced me to the man who would become my husband, and I ended up moving not even fifteen minutes from her. She’s such a dear friend, and she does so much for me during a hard time of my life. I have no other family that lives near me. My husband, two sons, and I recently had to knock on her door at 1:30 a.m. when we had carbon monoxide in our house, and we were welcomed right in. Now that’s a friend!
A true friend, indeed! I love that God brought the two of you back together, Courtney. Not to mention her brilliant matchmaking skills. Ha! 🙂
My friend and I met at a church when we were younger. At first we couldn’t stand each other but now we are super close. Even though we only live an hour away from each other now, we write letters every week.
I love that you write letters, Hannah. That is a lost art in today’s world. Yet what a keepsake a letter is, something that can be brought out and savored.
My best friend from high school is still my best friend. We’re now in our late fifties. We were roommates in college and afterward. We’re not as close now as we once were but I still consider her family.
40 years of friendship – how beautiful, Sherri!
I have a few like that. There is a couple from the first church my husband and I attended that “adopted” us and so they are like “second parents.” There’s also a couple that attended the church we did when my husband was in Bible College. They would have students from the college over for lunch every Sunday. They insisted that every student call them Ma & Pa. They were kind of like your Ma & Pa away from home. Now my husband and I are missionaries traveling around on deputation raising our support to get to our mission field and one of the Pastor’s and his wife that we’ve met has “adopted” us into their family. So we have a few folks like that. 😊
I love that story, Karie. We have a few couple out at our church that do the same thing – open their homes, take college students to lunch, get involved in their lives. What a blessing they are! How wonderful that you have been “adopted” by so many nurturing people along your path.
I still consider my best friend from college to essentially be my sister. A lot of classes together started the bond, but ten years of doing life together has kept it strong. My moving 600 miles away 5 years ago has thankfully not weakened our friendship. I still talk to her multiple times a week.
That’s wonderful, Christine. Distance can be so hard on relationships, but the two of you have obviously found a way to make it work. Relationships need regular feeding and watering to thrive. Too many of mine have faded over time because distance and a lack of regular interaction. I admire your commitment to each other.
Wow. This book is going to pack a punch! I can hardly wait to read this!
Thanks, Debbie. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
My mother-in-law is my family! She fully accepted me and has been the best, defying normal mother-in-law stereotypes. She’s in hospice now, and I know I am going to miss her so much!
I have a moth-in-law that has been like that, too. She lives next door and is an active part of my family’s life. I’m so thankful you enjoyed so many wonderful years with your mother-in-law, and I pray for comfort as you say goodbye.
My best friend, Janice, is my sister by choice. We have been extremely close since we first meet years ago through our mutual love for clown – Emmett Kelly Jr in particular who we had both traveled to meet. However, that bond intensified when my hubby and I became full time caregivers to my Mom. Mom came to live with us after a nasty cancer surgery and with Alzheimer. It very quickly became a 24/7 thing but something we took on with love. We had always promised my folks that if any way possible we would never put them in a nursing home.
It is kind of strange but the saying out of sight out of mind really is true. Once you aren’t able to do the social things you once did and aren’t around, most people seem to disappear from your life. Janice although she lived several states away was always there.
I know some talk highly of hospice but in our country area it only meant a nurse visit of 15 minutes once a week and a helper for one hour twice a week. After 14 months of being inside the walls of my home not able to go any where with any one like to the store or out to eat because either hubby or I had to stay with Mom or she got so agitated and upset, Janice said our phone calls weren’t enough. It was she would plotted and planned saying that if I didn’t take care of myself that I couldn’t properly take care of Mom and came up with a plan for hubby to take some vacation time and for us to meet half way for a weekend girls time. I call it my sanity trip. It was rough on hubby but it was very much needed for me. It was then that we started working things out to where hubby and I each took a weekend every other month to get away. Several of my trips were to meet up with Janice. She would fly in at her expense just for or girls weekends.
In between our meet ups, she was always there for me to sound off to or the one to keep me upbeat with either phone calls, Skype or messages on Facebook. I will always be grateful and love her for all she has done. We have been through the death each of our four parents together with love and support. When I think about who I want to travel to meet up with or who I hope is coming to see me, Janice is the one that always comes to mind. I have no blood relatives that I consider any closer than she is to me and I thank God for her every day.
We came together through a clown but our deep friendship and love is definitely nothing to clown about. It is definitely lots of fun though and makes me smile. <3
Wow! I’m so touched my your story, Kay. Janice sounds amazing. That is the kind of friend I want to be.
I have a friend who is neighbor and fellow church member. She is like a sister to me. My children call her aunt and her children do the same with me. She’s one of those friends that you can call in the middle of the night and know that she will help you no matter what.
She was the one who watched my older children when we traveled to meet my youngest son that we are in the process of adopting. We have strong bonds with him and he is definitely our child even though he came by way of adoption and not birth.
Two wonderful examples, Myra! How blessed you are.
Her name is Pepita. She was my dad’s nanny, he took care of him since he was born, along with his six siblings. She has been like a second grandmother to me and all my cousins. Every Sunday we went to lunch to our grandparents house. She always made me my favorite food (rice and potatoes) even if the menu was different. She constantly pampered us in so many ways. She always lived at my grandparents house, she had two boys (one who was always sick) and she was a single mother. I always loved her so much. She loves Jesus and was always praying. She was always asking me for things that she could pray for. Now I don’t have my grandparents anymore but we still have her. She’s 99 yrs old and with many health issues but she is always smiling, she mostly prays. She will always be family to me. I love her so so much!!
What a remarkable, giving woman! Your Pepita sounds like the grandmother everyone wants to have. What an example of prayer, kindness, and love.
Karen, I love your books! This one sounds so special – I like the mix of ‘different as night and day’ characters that form such a strong bond. Thanks for the give-away!
You’re welcome, Kathy. I hope you get a chance to enjoy Logan and Eva’s story.
I’m blessed with wonderful church friends who have become more like family. Having shared faith is what truly binds us together, and thankfully a bound that’s never broken.
Amen! I love my church family. They are who I call on when trouble comes and who I rejoice with in good times. As the old hymn says – “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.”
I have many people in my church who have become parts of my family. There is this one couple who have become my adopted grandparents, since I hardly know my real ones because the live so far away, this couple has stepped in and truly been there for me whenever I need them. 😉 on another note…I am sooo excited about this new book!! I’ve been waiting for it to come out, I love all your books and I’m sure I will love this one too! Can’t wait to read it!!! Thanks for the opportunity to win! God bless.
I’m so glad you have adopted grandparents, Lissy. We all need that kind of love and support. And thank you for your kind words about my book. I hope you enjoy Logan and Eva’s story. 🙂
My best friend for 28 years is more than a best friend. She’s my sister from another mister. She’s been there with me through everything. She was there through high school and has been there through adulthood stuff. What a friend that’ll sit with you in the emergency room for hours when I had a collapsed lung due to a port put in during breast cancer treatments. She has been by my side through deaths of family members. She always brightens my day and makes me feel stronger when she’s around. Grateful to have her as my “sister”. We both got matching sisters tattoos on our ankles. Thank God for her! I could go on and on about her and our love for each other, and donuts lol, but I’ll stop right there and just praise God for her love and friendship!
What a blessing! And I love that phrase – sister from another mister. Too cute! I’d never heard that before.
So excited for this book release! You’re truly one of my favorite authors!! My best friend since high school is more like a sister. Her family “adopted” me when my family split & all went their separate ways. I always had a place to go & celebrate any kind if special occasion. Still close to this day…eveN though I’m in a different state now. <3 <3
How special, Becky! We all need family, whether biology plays a role or not. I’m so glad you found that with your friend.
My next door neighbors have become family to us. Sarah is a dear friend to me, James is a good friend to my husband, and our kids just love being together. My kids have even asked if Sarah is their aunt–and Sarah’s kids have called my kids their little siblings. I think the thing that transitioned us from friends to family was when Sarah had to have brain surgery and I got to use my organizational skills/natural bossiness to organize a massive yard sale to raise funds for her medical expenses. It just really helped draw us together and in the course of organizing that, I also was communicating a lot with Sarah’s mom and her sisters, and they just sort of adopted me into the family.
So many bonds are formed through hardship and suffering. No one wants to go through dark times, but isn’t it amazing what good God can bring from them? This friendship is the perfect example. Love that!
My best friend and her husband and kids treat me like a part of their family. Trust, love and showing up for the little and big moments bind us all together.
Amen, Brittaney. Showing up in the little and big moments – that’s it. That’s what creates the bond. Beautiful!
I have a couple I’ve know since I was a baby. They have played the part of my grandparents forever it seems. My real grandparents live several hours away, so I really don’t know them very well. But I have not been without such a relationship because of my self proclaimed adopted grandparents. ♡
So thankful you have those “extra” grandparents in your live, Tabitha. What a rich blessing!
Congrats on the new release. I just love the cover!! At this point in my life, I would say I have a couple of co-workers who are closer than family.
That’s rare to find that kind of closeness in the work place, but what a beautiful gift to work with people every day who you know have your back. 🙂
My best friend and I look alike enough to pass for sisters, and her son calls me his Aunt Elizabeth. I couldn’t love them more if we were related by blood!
How fun, Elizabeth! Sisters of the heart for sure.
My dearest friend is one of these not-related-but-definitely-family relationships; since we met nearly 10 years ago in a writers group, our personalities absolutely clicked, and we’ve since done all kinds of things and had loads of adventures together — from hikes and concerts, to road trips and stargazing nights. What stands out to me the most, though, is first that we can and want to share about our lives and dreams and struggles, encouraging each other in them, but also hearing where the other person might gently point out a blind spot or a flaw in our thinking. And second, that silence isn’t uncomfortable between us (though it is rare, since we usually talk nonstop when we’re together 😉 ). It really is something special when a friendship reaches a level of relaxed contentment that doesn’t require keeping a conversation or activity going.
A friendship like this something I really treasure; something found in extra special friends, few and far between.
You are so right, Bree. Friendship that is so deep that it can be comfortable in any situation is rare, indeed. But, oh, what a blessing!
I have an extra grandma. When my mom graduated college and got a job far away from family, someone introduced her to an older couple who basically adopted her. I barely remember Hap, but he was a poacher and a trapper and had so many crazy tales you couldn’t be sure if they were true or not (but if they could happen to anyone, it would be him). And his wife Dorothy is a devout Jehovah’s Witness, but I’ve always known her as a spunky, fun old lady who can cook any (and I mean ANY) animal under the sun, and who has basically adopted us as hers, having had no children or grandchildren of her own.
For 20 years I had no clue of their somewhat scandalous and unconventional pasts/beliefs (other than their unique culinary prowess), but Mom and Dad loved them, so we grew up loving them as a third set of grandparents.
What a colorful couple! They sound like they should be in a book. 🙂
They could be. Mom has been transcribing Hap’s stories that he’d recorded on cassette tapes, and they are something else.
I have a friend who lives in Ohio, but we’ve always had a close, sister-like relationship. We have a special bond between us and when we see each other on our annual visit, it feels as though no time has passed since the last time. She just spent two weeks with me and my family after graduating from college this May. During those weeks she slipped seamlessly into our family and routines, as though she’d always been with us. All my family (the four brothers included) remarked several times how easily she became “one of the family.” She’s moving to Montana in July to be missionary teacher at a Native American school and I’ll miss her terribly!
What a wonderful friendship you’ve shared! I’m sure you’ll find a way to keep the relationship strong even with her move to Montana.
Wow! I have so many friends I consider family. I mentored women in S. E. Asia when we were full time missionaries there and all those girls are like my own daughters. I can’t just pick one!
How wonderful, Faith. What a special bond you must share with those girls.
Congratulations on your book release!!!
I can’t wait to read “More than Meets the Eye.”
Thanks for the giveaway!
You’re welcome, Anna!
My mom’s best friend used to watch me when I was little. I always called her Aunt and it wasn’t until I was older that I found out/realized she wasn’t actually related to me. Still to this day, I still refer to her as Aunt 🙂
I love that, Jordann!
time and shared experiences
My oldest niece is adopted. I have never considered her anything but family. We were so glad when she arrived to bless us with her presence.
Congratulations on this new release! Looking forward to reading their story. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love your sentiment, Betti. We are all adopted into God’s family, so adopting into our own families is following a divine example.
When my husband was still in the military, travelling to numerous duty stations (something totally new to my life) showed me you had to make friends fast because they were the “family” you depended on when you were away from your biological family and when your spouse was sent on a deployment. Military families stick together, take care of each other, welcome singles into their home for holidays, and serve as sponsors when sent out of the USA. Once when my husband headed a Marine detachment aboard a Navy ship, I was contacted by a chaplain and asked to assist a distraught wife who had sent a telegram for her husband to be sent home while the ship was on a Northern Europe cruise. Another wife and I found she had no food in the house for herself and her baby. We shopped for her and gave her support during the rest of the cruise, showing her how to budget her money until her next allotment came.
Also, we have a most precious adopted child in our family. I wish it was not so difficult and expensive to adopt.
What a wonderful example, Betty. I imagine there is much shared hardship among military families and incredible strength to be found in those “family” relationships.
My husband and I worked in a children’s home for eight years. We were “Uncle” and “Aunt” to over fifty kids during that time. We recently got a “Save the Date” card from one of our boys. We are still “Uncle and “Aunt” to him. We are very proud of the man he has become and so grateful to still be part of his life.
That’s fabulous, Rosie! What a meaningful ministry and what an impact you had in so many lives by being their “Aunt” and “Uncle.”
I have several friends I consider family, more so than members of my own family. I am looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
You’re welcome, Linda!
I have a good friend that I have known for some time. We both are Christians and part of our church family. Though not related by blood we are good friends . Recent we sold our long time home and moved to a senior citizens community where my Good friend lives. We enjoy living closer to each other and still are very good friends.
What a joy to move closer to your friend and be able to see her more often and spend more time together! I used to tease my best friend in high school that some days we’d be two little old ladies sitting in rocking chairs on the same porch. We haven’t quite made it there, but who knows what the future holds?
Our dog sitter is “Auntie Jo Ann.” She’s someone we can call on whenever needed and vice versa. We look after her dogs, she looks after ours. In an emergency, I think we’d call on her before calling on any relatives. Plus, she lives about 5 minutes away, while the relatives are an hour’s drive (on a good day, forget about it in winter!)
Having friends you can count on to step in at a moment’s notice is such a blessing. Thanks, Sally!
My mentor and best friend, Lauren!
Nice!
We have an adopted grandson, an adopted nephew and niece, and one of my nephews adopted twin boys. We are so blessed to have these precious people in our family. We love them so much!
I love how open your heart is, Winnie! Just like Christ who said “Let the little children come to me.” Lovely!
Harriet is my Sister in Christ.
What binds us together is our love of books.
We work together in the church library and between us we have almost 100 years of volunteering in the library.
I love that books are what brought the two of you together. I can just imagine the wonderful conversations you must have as you shelve books in the library. How wonderful!
I’m excited to read this new book! It is even more exciting to me because my sweet baby girl, to be born in a couple months, will have the middle name of Evangeline. 😍 My husband has loved the name for a while and I’ve never seen it in a book before!
On another note, I find that a couple of my very close friends that I met through church are more my family than some of my blood family. There is a special connection we have with others in the body of Christ that even a blood relation cannot surpass. I’m so grateful for these friends and, mostly, for Christ that brought us together!
How fabulous that you will have your own little Evangeline! You certainly don’t see that name very often anymore. I’m delighted! And you are so right about the bond of faith bringing people together. Christ knew what he was doing when he established the church.
Living in NY with my family in MI, we have been blessed to have many who have become like family to us. We have shared meals, child care, joys and tears and are connected by life together.
Friends like that make the loads of life much lighter to carry. I’m so glad you’ve had people like that in your life, Kerri.
My best friend since Kindergarten. No matter how long we go between phone calls, it is like we were never apart. Other than my sister, there is no one I laugh harder with. It doesn’t hurt that our moms are best friends too. 🙂
A friend who makes you laugh is a true treasure, Gena. As you can tell by my writing style, I love to laugh. It’s a gift worth sharing.
My husband was not raised in a great family/home situation as a child. His mom is in an assisted living home and while he has two brothers he always seems to be the one left out. I am so glad that when we got married my family took him right into the fold and that he feels comfortable calling my parents Mom and Dad!
Many people complain about in-laws, but they can be a huge blessing. I’m so glad your husband has found family bonds with your family, Patty. I know that has to be a huge blessing in his life. I get along great with my in-laws. In fact, they live right next door!
As I grew up, the mom next door was like a second mom to me. She and my mother were close friends, and the children in their family and ours as well as the parents did a lot together. We all went to the same church and participated in church, school, and neighborhood activities together. Growing up, I often spent the night with the daughter in the family. After my parents moved to another state during my college years, this mom often invited me over for meals. While she’s now deceased, as is my mother, I wonder if they are up in heaven visiting with one another. She was an extremely special person to me!
What a lovely image – the two friends chatting it up together in heaven. I love that, Suzanne! And what a blessing to have such dear friends so close physically. We like to think that distance wouldn’t matter, but I’ve found that it’s much harder to maintain relationships when physical distance creeps in.
My best friend, Joni. She is a rock and has been with me through all the years. I can count on her.
How wonderful to have a friend like that, that you can always count on. Beautiful, April!
A friend from church who has been my friend for more than 25 years. She is alone and usually attends our family dinners at holidays.
That’s wonderful that you’ve adopted your friend into your family. It’s so hard for people to be alone, especially on holidays, so I know you are blessing her life as much as she is blessing yours.
Best friends are like family.
Amen, Ola.
My aunt and her daughter, as they are always there for me and encouraging me to do my best in everything I do. I have been participating in Special Olympics(Oregon) for several years and they are there to cheer me on and root for me in my events and sports that I participate in.
We are bound together by our interests in different things. we enjoy reading, movies, and hanging out together.
How wonderful to have your own cheering section, Andrea! That’s fabulous.
My sister in law is my best friend. We married brothers, but already knew each other before either of us dated our future husbands. She has been there for me through a lot!
How wonderful that your friendship turned into an actual family relationship! I love that story, Diana. 🙂
There are several I could think of that would fit in this category, but since I must choose one, I choose my friend Bec. We met online 2 years ago through a fan group of Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart, got placed in the same group for an activity, and somehow discovered we were sisters in every way. We got the pleasure of meeting in person 6 months later, and still talk nearly every day. We share pieces of our daily lives, attend kids functions (via Skype) and support each other through sad, funny, crazy, & scared. Did I mention that we live 9,000 miles apart? Even living in different continents doesn’t keep us from being family!
Wow! I had just commented about how much harder it is to maintain close relationships when distance creeps in, but you are living proof that not only can it be done, but it can be done exceptionally well. I love that God brought the two of you together. That’s a wonderful story, Teri!
Would love to win a copy of your book.
Thanks, Vivian.
My husband and I have several young men and women who call us mom and dad because we have mentored them over the years, friends of our own children. Several of them have even lived with us for periods of time during problems with their families. But my favorite non-blood tie is our 2-year-old grandson, Cooper. He is the son of my ex daughter-in-law and her new husband, but we have remained close and we claim him as our own. He calls us Mom-Mom and Poppy and is the light of our lives. He is fully counted as our sixth grandchild.
How rare to find a love that spans the pain of heartbreak to flourish in such a wonderful way. I love that you and your husband are still involved in Cooper’s life. What a blessing you must be to him!
AND THE WINNERS ARE …
Lissy Davis
Elizabeth
and Patty.
Congratulations, ladies. I will email you with instructions on how to claim your prizes.
Thank you to all who left comments. I was so inspired to read about the people who have had such an impact on your lives. Blessings!
I have become good friends with a family at Church. They are close to my age and have two sweet boys. They feel like part of my family.
My good friend from sixth grade is more like a sister. Her own family is very mixed up. Both her parents have passed on.
My former boss that I am still in contact with said I felt more like a daughter to her.
Those are wonderful examples, Erika! How blessed you are to have such wonderful relationships.