To Love a Beast

About the Book

Book: To Love a Beast (One Upon a Time in Texas Book One)

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 10, 2025

Beauty & the Beast in 1800’s Texas.

Once known among New York’s elite as the American Adonis, Everett Griffin now lives as a recluse in the wilds of Texas. The treachery of a former admirer left his face and his spirit riddled with scars, so he hides himself away, his only companions a trio of trusted servants and an oversized dog. Locals whisper of the beastly man who lives in the gloomy manor outside of town and his tendency to attack anyone who dares approach. Everett relishes his fearsome reputation and uses it as a shield to guard his privacy. Until a young woman as stubborn as she is beautiful infiltrates his sanctum and lays siege to his defenses.

When an injury to her father jeopardizes the family’s book binding business, Callista Rosenfeld determines to fulfill the contract herself, and no insufferable client or woman-eating dog will deter her. Finding unlikely allies among Mr. Griffin’s staff, Callista secures her position and sets to work transforming the manor’s remarkable library. Her employer transforms as well, his ill-tempered growls subsiding to reveal a considerate, intellectual nature. Affection blooms as Callista and Everett discover hidden depths in each other, but the evil schemes of a vengeful hunter threaten to leave their love and their lives in tatters.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen’s books have won numerous awards, including the prestigious Christy Award, Carol Award, and National Reader’s Choice Award. Karen is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, Texas with her husband. Learn more about Karen and her books at her website.

 

 

 

More from Karen

Having Fun with Character Names

I was a college student when the Disney animated adaptation of Beauty and the Beast released, and it instantly became my favorite fairy tale of all time. As a bookish young woman myself, I found Belle so relatable, and the rest of the cast delighted me as well. Throughout my Texas Ever After series and continuing with this new Once Upon a Time in Texas series, I’ve enjoyed paying homage to the Disney characters who inspired my western retellings. To Love a Beast is no different.

Let’s start with our beastly hero, Everett Griffin. The name Everett means “wild boar” and a griffin is a mythological beast with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. Quite fitting for our Beast. Next is the lovely Callista Rosenfeld, a book binder and novel lover. Callista means “most beautiful,” perfect for our Beauty. Rosenfeld references the enchanted rose that plays such a key role in the fairy tale plot.

Next, we have our supporting cast. Mrs. Potter is our motherly housekeeper who invites Callista to tea on a regular basis. Our stuffy butler playing the role of Cogsworth is Mr. Timens. Notice the TIME in his name that pays homage to the clock-faced Disney character. Everett’s valet and best friend is Ray Lightfoot, who’s name plays with the candlestick image with both his first and last name.

I love having fun with my character names and giving them additional story meaning. You’ll find more Beauty and the Beast Easter eggs in my story as well. Those elements make the story so fun to write, and I hope you will find it incredibly fun to read as well.

Happy Reading!

~Karen

Blog Stops

Maureen’s Musings, June 27

Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 28

The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate , June 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 29

Inspired by Fiction, June 29

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , June 30

Where Faith and Books Meet, June 30

Devoted Steps, July 1

Sylvan Reads, July 1

She Lives To Read, July 1

Texas Book-aholic, July 2

Blossoms and Blessings, July 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 3

Blogging With Carol, July 3

Stories By Gina, July 4 (Author Interview)

Labor Not in Vain, July 4

For Him and My Family, July 5

Holly’s Book Corner , July 5

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 6

Jodie Wolfe, July 6

The Lit Lady, July 7

Wishful Endings, July 7

Bizwings Book Blog, July 8

Life on Chickadee Lane, July 8

Books You Can Feel Good About, July 9

Mary Hake, July 9

To Everything There Is A Season, July 10

Life Love Writing, July 10

Min Reads and Reviews, July 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of the book and Beauty & the Beast themed goodies!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. 

GIVEAWAY HERE

My Thoughts

 I simply can't pass up a Beauty and the Beast retelling, as it is my all time favorite fairytale. This book is pretty fun. I really liked the first part of the story and how it was all set up. The library is dreamy and the idea for Callista to be a book binder is brilliant! At times I forgot this book is set in Texas but then something very "Texan" would happen and pulled me out of the world slightly. The second half of the book seemed a bit slower for me and some of Callista's choices made me cringe a bit. Everett is delightful and I thoroughly enjoyed him as the leading grumpy man. The staff at his manor are well written and added a lot to this story. The ending seemed to happen so fast and I found myself wanting a tad more at the end. Regardless, this is a fun quick read that makes for an enjoyable escape. 

Three Stars. 

"I received this book from the author for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Books I’d Like to Re-read

 Today's Top Ten Tuesday post is about books I would like to re-read. I am someone who does enjoy reading books multiple times. I have to spread it out over time as I am not one to read a book twice in one year. This is also how I justify buying books-I plan on reading them again! :)  Are you a re-reader? Do you only read extra special books again? Tell me your thoughts, I love to read your comments! 

Thanks for stopping by!

I loved reading this series the first time around and have been wanting to read it again.
 

This was her debut book if I remember and still is one of my favorite reads by this author. 

I think of this book often and would like to pick it up again this year. 

I love this book and I haven't read it for years. 

I just want to re-read all of Laura's books. They are so good. 

It has been so many years since I read this but I loved it at the time! 

I loved this series and really want to read it again!

I want to read many of his books again. 

I enjoy Hedlund's older books and would like to read some of them again. 

I haven't read this for years. 

Red, White, and Blue Covers

 Today is a throw back to a previous Top Ten Tuesday topic. I am going with Red, White, and Blue covers since it the week of 4th of July! While many of these books don't have anything to do with the USA or the holiday, they do have pretty covers. 

Coming soon!

I haven't read this one yet but it looks so interesting!

This one has some neat history included. 

On my TBR. 

A recent cover reveal for her next release. 

Also on my TBR.

Glimpse into the past. 

From a must read series. 

I can't wait to read the next book, this one is good!

This trilogy is a fun adventure on the high seas. 

Secrets of the Revolution

About the Book

Book: Secrets of the Revolution

Author: Megan Soja

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: June 10, 2025

The cause of liberty brought them together. Will it also tear them apart?

Hannah Pierce is determined to keep her father‘s apothecary shop running, despite his failing health, the heavy burden of her mother’s recent death, and the mysterious disappearance of her brother. She’ll do whatever it takes to preserve her family’s legacy, including joining a dangerous ring of patriot spies…and falling for a revolutionary printer with a brave heart.

William Abbott always keeps his promises. He vowed long ago to never abandon those in need like his father did. So when new British acts of Parliament threaten Boston and endanger his family, he throws himself into serving the Patriot cause, using his position at the printing office to gather and spread intelligence. But when his clandestine role in the newly formed spy ring causes him to cross paths with the apothecary’s beautiful daughter, he may find himself fighting for more than the cause.

As tensions in Boston reach a breaking point, Will and Hannah find their bond deepening even as the noose tightens around the spy ring. When promises and determination are not enough to protect the ones they love, they’ll need to trust God if they are to survive what is to come.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Megan Soja is a multi-award-winning author who writes stories with strong faith, rich history, and sweet romance. She lives in western NY with her husband and two daughters and loves having adventures, both big and small, with her family. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and playing French Horn.

 

 

 

 

More from Megan

In Secrets of the Revolution, my hero and heroine, Will and Hannah, are both drawn into participating in a Patriot spy ring in Boston. As I was planning their story, I drew inspiration from a group of famous real-life spies that operated in New York City during the American Revolution – the Culper Ring.

The Culper Ring was established in 1778 and successfully ran for five years without a single spy being discovered. Even today, we do not know the identity of all the members. They used a variety of methods to communicate, including ciphers, codes, and invisible ink, all of which served as inspiration for details in my story. I even used some of the numerical codes from the actual Culper Code Book to encrypt a letter that Will receives.

While researching the Culper Ring, I came across an especially interesting woman – Anna Smith Strong – and I knew she would be the perfect model for the part that Hannah plays in Secrets of the Revolution.

Anna’s role in the spy ring was to relay signals when information had been left at a specific location. Her family farm on Seaton’s Neck in Long Island provided prime location for her work, and she communicated through a brilliantly simple manner that went undetected throughout its operation. When a message was ready to be picked up amongst the coves of Long Island, Anna would hang a black petticoat on her clothesline, followed by a number of white handkerchiefs to indicate which location to use. Her clothing signal was easily spotted by fellow spy Caleb Brewster, who would periodically row out into the Sound, or Abraham Woodhull, whose nearby farm provided a clear view. The Culper Ring accomplished more than any other spy network during the war, thanks in part to Anna’s work.

As you discover Hannah’s role in Secrets of the Revolution, I hope that knowing Anna’s real history makes my story come to life all the more!

Blog Stops

Holly’s Book Corner, June 26

Pens Pages & Pulses, June 26

Devoted Steps, June 27

Books You Can Feel Good About, June 28

Texas Book-aholic, June 29

To Everything There Is A Season, June 29

Inkwell Inspirations, June 30

Simple Harvest Reads, June 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 2

Life on Chickadee Lane, July 3

Blossoms and Blessings, July 3

Babbling Becky L’ Book Impressions, July 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 6

Pause for Tales, July 6

Cover Lover Book Review, July 7

For Him and My Family, July 8

Bizwings Book Blog, July 9

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, July 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Megan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

ENTER HERE

My Thoughts

Having read book one I was curious to see where this story would lead for William. I do recommend reading book one first. This is excellent historical fiction and I was instantly taken to a different time. I really love Hannah's character and the growth of both her and William. There is a bit of suspense that I wasn't expecting and a sweet little bit of romance that adds to but isn't the entire plot. Hannah's father has issues with his memory and the way the author wrote this part of the story makes it very relatable. There were a few times that the story seems a little slow but by the end I was still engaged and I am curious to what happens next!

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from the author for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

The Second Story Bookshop Review

About the Book

 She inherits the bookshop of her dreams . . . But she has to run it with the ex she vowed never to speak with again.

Shelby Thatcher adores working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Since high school she's helped Gram turn the shop into a community hub for book lovers in the lakeside town of Granville, NC. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby's heart years ago.

Granville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school he couldn't skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he'd fallen deeply in love with and alienating her family once and for all. Now he's back, the beneficiary of his elderly friend's will. Facing the town's animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.

As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram's beyond-the-grave scheme is working--Shelby's old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. But the problems that destroyed their relationship before still remain, and a new one surfaces--one that threatens Gram's beloved bookshop. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around? (Goodreads)

Pre-Order HERE.

My Thoughts

This is an enjoyable read that is delightfully set in a quaint bookshop. I enjoyed both Gray and Shelby and there a good bit of character growth that added a lot to this story. It is a second chance romance, so as you can imagine there is baggage and things that were left unsaid. I could easily see this as a Hallmark movie due to it's sweet and predictable plot. It did get a little slow for me in the middle but held my attention to the end. Gram knew what she was doing when she wrote her will and it is always fun to see how life plays out when upended. This is a great quick and sweet read.

Four stars. 

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review."

Shadowed Witness Review

About the Book

Murder--that's what photographer Allye Jessup knows she witnessed as she departed her studio one evening. Waking with bruises on her neck and a foggy memory, she believes she survived an attack, but everyone seems to think she simply sustained a head injury from falling down the stairs of her studio. Plagued by an undiagnosed health condition, she is torn between the haunting reality of what she may have seen and the possibility that her mind is playing tricks on her.

Without proof the other victim ever existed, Detective Eric Thornton can hardly declare the area a murder scene. Still, he adds Allye's report to his already full caseload. But when new evidence surfaces to support her claims, Eric must stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer and uncover the truth before the suspect closes in on Allye again.

Angela Carlisle once again presents cutting-edge romantic suspense laced with danger, deception, and justice. (Goodreads) 

Purchase here!!

My Thoughts

This story starts with a bang and captured my attention from the first page. This is my first book to read by this author and it did not disappoint! There is an interesting twist to this plot that has to do with the main character that I was not expecting. But the mystery side of it was pretty predictable, as the clues made things fairly obvious. BUT it was still fun to see how it all played out and I really enjoyed reading how Eric and Allye solved the mystery. Allye is a photographer and the author did a great job portraying that point of view. It added to the story and helped me visualize the setting in a better way. Overall I really enjoyed this story. 

Four Stars. 

"I received a complimentary copy from the publisher for free. I was not required to write a positive review." 

Books I Am Eager to Read That Are Releasing Later This Year

 Top Ten Tuesday! 

Today is all about books releasing the second part of this year (I can't even believe we can say that already!) What is time!? Anyway, here are just a few that I am excited to read. Thanks for stopping by! 

I am curious on this one. 

The first book in this series is superb! 

I really enjoyed Summerhaven by this author. 

This series. Read it. 

Auto buy author. I LOVE all of her books. I can't say that about every author. 

Excited for this suspense. 

I just love her books. 

New to me author. 

 A must read author. 

The author is hoping for a September release date! 

Whispers of Shadowbrook House

 

About the Book

In the crumbling Shadowbrook House, governess Pearl Ellicott and heir Oliver Waverly unravel a haunting mystery while confronting their growing forbidden love.

London, 1880

Pearl Ellicott dreams of falling in love and having a family of her own. Until then, she is content working as a governess for young Maxwell, tending to his education and fragile health. Together, they explore the mansion’s empty rooms and secret passageways in search of the haunting violin music that seems to come from nowhere.

Oliver Waverly is young and independent, with plans to sell the run-down mansion once he inherits. But his strained relationship with his reclusive uncle, Arthur Ravenscroft, complicates matters when Ravenscroft refuses to relinquish Shadowbrook House without explanation.

As they spend more time together, Oliver slowly becomes enchanted by Pearl’s wit and love for Maxwell, and Pearl finds herself irresistibly drawn to Oliver’s passion and resolve. However, the social gap between the heir and the governess makes pursuing a relationship difficult.

Oliver must decide whether to follow his heart or adhere to his family’s expectations, while Pearl grapples with her fear that if Shadowbrook House is sold, she will lose her job, her found family, and her chance for long-lasting love. Will the lovers part ways or choose to be together despite the odds? The answer lies within the walls of Shadowbrook House and the echoes of its haunting past. (Goodreads)

Order HERE.

My Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed this gothic type story. The house itself, Shadowbrook, completely captivated me and I wanted to explore it myself. There are so many twists and turns, along with hidden door ways and mysteries, that my imagination ran wild. Pearl is a dear character who is steadfast and determined to protect those she loves. As a strong heroine, her exchanges with the sweetest little boy, Maxwell, make this story complete. Oliver I didn't come to fully love, and the romance side of things fell a little flat for me. There is also a medium that shows up in the plot that I was not a fan of reading. I don't think it was necessary and it took me out of the story a bit. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the overall plot and mystery gothic vibe. The ending took a small twist that I wasn't expecting and that is always a delight! 

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."