Review - Stealing the Preacher

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 person 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?

My Take:
Loved it!

First let's get the shallow stuff out of the way and talk about the cover. Karen Witemeyer's books always have such gorgeous dresses on them -- and it was so fun to recognize it as the dress Joanna made to catch Crockett's eye at the picnic.

This is part of a series and I think you will enjoy it even more if you read the other book, but it isn't necessary to follow the story or characters.

I love the quirky and unusual plot. Kidnapping a preacher for your daughter's birthday is a surprising and fun concept. All the buttons were pushed too - funny, touching, scary, tense, romantic . . .

I really enjoyed the way you saw the relationship blooming between Crockett and Silas. Silas started hostile and suspicious and moves to grudging respect and then trust and admiration.

This one makes my favorites list. I want to thank the publisher for my copy. It in no way influenced my review.