Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

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The Heart’s Charge

By

Release week is here!

I’m so excited to share The Heart’s Charge with you. Writing this book stretched me in many ways. First, I wrote two intertwined love stories into one overarching romance novel. All four main characters have their own POVs to allow both stories to share the spotlight equally. It was very important to me that both of these Horseman heroes had full and robust love stories. They deserved nothing less.

Second, two of the main characters in this novel are people of color. I was hesitant, initially, to write from a point of view so different from my own. How could I possibly create authentic voices for my characters when I had no idea what it was like to live inside Black skin? The truth is that I couldn’t. Not on my own, at least. I depended heavily on a pair of sensitivity readers who read my chapters as I wrote them and gave me extremely valuable feedback. I’m sure my character portrayals are imperfect, but my prayer is that they will demonstrate how people from diverse backgrounds and experiences can come together in friendship, mutual respect, and brother/sisterhood.

Character inspiration photos for my main characters.

I love adventure, romance, mystery, and utilizing children as support characters, and this story allowed me to incorporate all of those elements.

Here’s an excerpt of the opening scene to give you a taste:

When Mark Wallace left Gringolet two days ago to deliver a prize gelding to a wealthy rancher west of Llano, he never dreamed he’d be called upon to deliver a baby, too. Or that the mother of said baby would be waving a pistol back and forth between him and Jonah as if trying to decide which fellow to shoot first.

“Get outa here! I don’t want your help.” Her face contorted, and a muffled groan escaped as she wrapped her left arm around her swollen belly.

She might not want their help, but she sure as shootin’ needed it. The woman looked as wrung out as yesterday’s washrag.

Mark, palms out in front of him, took a step forward. “Easy, now, ma’am. I’m not going to hurt y—”

The pistol exploded. Mark flinched. He took note of the barrel pointing toward the sky, but tossed a look over his shoulder, anyway, to make sure his friend wasn’t sporting any new holes. Jonah gave him a nod, his hand curling around the handle of his own revolver, ready to defend them if necessary.

Mark prayed it wouldn’t be necessary. The lady in front of him might be a few cards short of a full deck at the moment, but she was still a woman. And a gentleman never abandoned a woman in need. Even if she shot at him. The sound of the gunshot seemed to startle her as much as it had him. Her eyes widened and her gun arm quivered. Seizing the opportunity, Mark rushed forward, grabbed her wrist, and knocked the pistol from her hand. She shouted, kicked, and pounded his chest and chin with her fists, but Mark ignored the pummeling. Well, until she nearly gouged his left eye from its socket. Couldn’t ignore that. A man needed to be able to see, after all. Especially when dealing with a woman in a delicate condition who seemed to have taken leave of her senses.

Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook

One Horseman drawn to an old flame. Another trapped by his past. Neither can ignore the mystery of missing children nor the women determined to intervene.

To celebrate the release of The Heart’s Charge, I’ll send swag bundles to three people who leave a comment about what you like best about cowboy heroes.

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Karen Witemeyer

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and gospel hymn singer who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.
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Comments

  1. When I was in middle school, I was out of school for a month on two separate years with respiratory issues; during those months, I was home alone a lot (different times then) and watched old Roy Rogers movies to pass the time. Of course, Roy was the hero who always saved the day. Isn’t it odd that the bad guys were cowboys, too, but that doesn’t change the feeling left over from childhood: cowboys are superheroes and they make happy endings. 😉

    • I love that, Colleen. Cowboys do seem like superheroes, always ready to ride in and save the day. There’s a reason that “riding off into the sunset” is synonymous with a a romantic happy ending. 🙂

  2. Cowboys attract me because I have fond memories of watching with my precious papa every time I went to visit. He would hold my hand and sing old cowboy songs. I sure miss him. Blessings!

    • I adore singing cowboys, Lucy, and it sounds like your dear Papa was a singing cowboy at heart. I love that you have those precious memories of him.

  3. I cannot wait to read this book!! I should have it very soon as I had preordered it. Cowboy heroes are so alluring for their strength, competency and caring. They don’t care if they would benefit from helping, they just do it, because they have the ability. Love that take-charge, confident attribute!

  4. I am a cowboy convert. Hahaha! I remember growing up and my dad always wanted to watch the “old” cowboy movies. I was totally not interested – I wanted to watch Star Wars and other science fiction-type shows.

    However, when I started to read books in my adult years, my interests shifted. I think the first book I read about cowboys was Karen’s Short Straw Bride. Oh My Goodness! Who CANNOT fall in love with cowboys after reading about Travis and his brothers. 😉

    I grew up in suburban Ohio (I know, I know) so I was not raised with horses and farms nearby. However, because of my newly acquired interest in cowboys, I decided to find horse farm and learn to ride a horse. Together with my daughter I still take riding lessons – and LOVE it!

    Thank you, Karen Witemeyer, for your books and opening my eyes to a world I have not experienced. I love the Spiritual truths you weave into them.

    By the way, I absolutely LOVED “The Heart’s Charge”. Yep. I have already finished it. Ready for your next book! Hahaha!

    • Wow, Rachel! What a story. I LOVE that you were inspired to take riding lessons and that you and your daughter enjoy that together. How marvelous!

  5. The best thing about cowboy heroes is that they ride gorgeous horses! Oh and they’re also pretty chivalrous. 😀

    • Yes! Those horses have always made my heart flutter, too, Elizabeth. And I’ve always felt like cowboys were medieval knights in denim and Stetsons. 🙂

  6. I love cowboys because they are tough, hardworking guys who usually have a sensitive side. Plus, who doesn’t like a handsome man in a cowboy hat and boots!

    • I agree, Angela! That work ethic and gritty toughness are so attractive when matched with a soft heart. And you are completely right about them looking good in those boots and hat. 🙂

  7. What I love best about a cowboy hero is their Stetson, their faithful horse, and their protective nature, their strong jaw and chiseled face helps, too!

    • Agreed, Linda! That protective nature always makes my heart flutter. And I’d be lying if I said the rugged features didn’t have any effect. 😉

  8. I love the strength, protectiveness, and capabilities of cowboy heroes! Not to mention their swooniness ❤️

  9. Just received my book – hooray!I love the cover, I love the excerpt, and I love the character inspiration pictures!

    I grew up watching cowboy television series – the Lone Ranger, Hoppalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers – all of them enjoyable. I admired their strength, their sense of honor, their desire to do right and work for justice. Your opening scene shows all of this! Excited!

  11. To me when I think of a cowboy I think of someone who is capable. Someone who is able to figure anything out, survive any situation. A lot of times cowboys are portrayed as being morally gray but that doesn’t stop them from doing what’s right and sometimes sacrificing themselves for somebody else. I think my favorite movie where this is a major theme is the 2016 Magnificent Seven where seven men come to the defense of a little town, four of them giving their lives for the people living there. To me a cowboy is not afraid of anything, not even death.

    • I liked that movie, too, Andi. There is a core honor to cowboys. Even if their surface is tarnished and rough, the heart comes through when it counts.

  12. Definitely their strength, integrity, and how hard they work. I gave my daughter first dibs on reading The Heart’s Charge, but if she doesn’t hurry up, I may have to steal it from her. 😛

  13. I grew up watching movies with my Dad, when everyone else was tired and wanted to go to bed me and the only other night owl would stay up and watch a movie, usually falling asleep on the couch afterwords. So, I acquired my Dad’s wonderful taste in movies. That meant Indiana Jones, The Mummy, The Fifth Element, A Knights Tale, Waterworld, Willow. But it also meant Tombstone, 3:10 to Yuma, Hang ‘em High, Quigley Down Under. I absolutely fell in love with these gritty old west films! Where the cowboy stood up against the outlaw, where they chose to be the hero when they could have walked away, where the girl chose him over the cocky rich businessman. Now, a cowboy might not be a hero in the conventional sense, but he is a good man, and a heart of gold. When I watched movies with my mom I began to love romances, and my favorite kind were the ones with cowboys. I loved it because when both my parents and me wanted to stay up and watch a movie we could watch a western, where there was both action and romance. I’ve been looking for a cowboy to love ever since. ❤️

    • I love that story, Allison! And those movies you listed are ones that my hubby and I watched together for much the same reason. Those were ones he enjoyed, and I enjoyed being with him. 🙂

  14. I like cowboys who are hard working, no nonsense guys who have a tough exterior but a heart of gold.

  15. I married one. (Yes, to all the comments above😉) We celebrated our 27th anniversary about a month ago. Still swooning’ ♥️

  16. Honor would sum it up for me. Please don’t enter for the swag. I bought the book yesterday. It was number 1 on at amazon kindle book list in at least one category.

  17. Things I like about cowboy heroes – They are rugged and have to know how to handle themselves outdoors. They know how to ranch. I just think they are wonderful.😊

  18. I like cowboy heroes because they are always so strong, rugged, and dependable. 🙂 I am a little more than halfway through the book and I am loving every minute of it. It is so, so good! I do believe these guys have surpassed the Archers in my favorite heroes list.

  19. Cowboys are swoony because of they are ruggedly handsome, hard working, and chivalrous.

  20. I love cowboy stories because I love how the men are so capable and strong in wanting to take care of their other halves, and how their faith goes so deep too. I think so much of that is missing in people and stories today. Cowboys epitomize the faithful, trustworthy manly man.

  21. My favorite thing about cowboy heroes is their sense of honor, chivalry, and faithfulness. You do a great job blending these qualities (and history and humor) into your heroes and stories!

  22. For me cowboy heroes are usually hard working, honest, willing the lend a hand to a friend or one in need, can be tough but usually have a heart of gold, and I’ll admit handsome in a rugged sort of way. They might not give their heart easily, but when they do it’s completely.

  23. I like cowboy stories. My Dad was a cowboy growing up until he left the family ranch for college. There is still a Kibler ranch in Sand Springs, MT and I believe they use my Grandpa’s old brand. Love spending summer vacation and my grandparent’s ranch outside of Jordan, MT. Got to play with my cousins and eat Grandma’s good cooking. She even made her own bread.

  24. WINNERS!!!
    I had so much fun reading everyone’s cowboy love. So good!

    Our three winners of swag bundles are:
    Angela Bascue
    Linda McFarland
    Vivian Furbay

    I’ll be emailing you ladies to get your addresses.
    Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

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