Book Review: Stealing the Preacher

When Joanna Robbins' mother died, she left Joanna with a special task: pray for her daddy's soul and bring him to Jesus.  Silas Robbins left his outlaw ways years ago, but he's never had any use for God, religion, or preachers.  He loved his wife and daughter wholeheartedly, but never could understand or have any interest in their religious ways.  Burdened for her father's soul, Joanna has only one request for her birthday: a preacher.  If a preacher came to fill the pulpit at their little country church, maybe he could help her with her mission to lead her daddy to the Lord.  In spite of his distaste for preachers or religion, Silas decides to fulfill his daughter's wish, so he gets her a preacher for a present . . . kidnaps him from a train, in fact!  When Joanna discovers how her father fulfilled her wish, she is horrified and mortified . . . this wasn't exactly the way to get a preacher interested in helping her!  But Crockett Archer is no ordinary man, and when God closes the door he thought was open to him in another church, he accepts the new opportunity offered him . . . to bring new life to Joanna's small church and hopefully new life to Silas Robbins, as well.

Stealing the Preacher is the sequel to Short-Straw Bride, which I reviewed last year, and the third Karen Witemeyer book I've read.  It's definitely my favorite of her books so far!  Crockett was a strong character, and Joanna was so sweet that I couldn't help but love her.  Of course I was rooting for a romance between her and Crockett from the beginning, and I wasn't disappointed. :)  Silas was one of my favorite characters, also . . . in spite of his rough edges and distrust of preachers (which is quite understandable when more of his history is explained near the end of the story).  There was a bit of adventure and suspense, a few small tidbits about the rest of the Archer family (which I was pleased to see, having really enjoyed their characters in the first book of the series), and some good spiritual lessons woven throughout the story.  I also appreciated the sweet romance, which was just that.  I felt Short-Straw Bride was a bit heavy on the physical side of things, but Stealing the Preacher was very romantic without being too physical, and I really liked that.  I assume there will be at least one more book in this series (at least I hope so!) and I will be looking forward to it.  Thanks to Karen Witemeyer for another great read!

*I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to give a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

**This post contains Amazon affiliate links.