[Review] - More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

It might seem odd for a heterosexual male to like romance novels, but the truth is many men enjoy reading romantic tales, and I happen to be one of them. My preferred romance setting is in the nineteenth century. Don't ask me why because I cannot give you a specific reason. There's just something about the 1800s that resonates with me. I used to read many, and I mean way too many, of these books. Eventually, I became burnt out with romances and switched to other genres. Now, I'm back reading (and reviewing) several romantic novels that have been sitting on my desk for way too long.

More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer happens to be one of those titles. I have no idea why I wanted to read it. The cover is a bore, and the blurb isn't a bit interesting. I read Stealing the Preacher by the same author in 2013 and rated it five out of five. So, I must've recognized her name when More Than Meets the Eye came out in 2018.

The novel begins in Texas in 1879, where we are introduced to a four-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Pearson on a Children's Aid Society orphan train. She's a unique girl with two different colored eyes - one bright blue, the other dark brown. After a horrible accident, Evie bands together with two other orphans, Seth and Zach. The three become a family and take the last name Hamilton in honor of Evie's late brother.

Fast-forward to 1894, where Logan Flower returns to Pecan Cap, Texas, to confront the man who stole his birthright and took his father's life. However, instead of revenge, he finds Evie - a society-shunned woman with a heart of gold. Remember, this is a love story. Logan lets his guard down and falls in love with Evie. To have a future with her, he must find a way to heal his past.

Final Thoughts

This book has one of the worst generic covers ever created for a Bethany House romance novel. Besides the woman with two different colored eyes, it has little else to do with the actual plot. Yes, this is what many would prefer as nitpicking, but the cover doesn't give this book justice. I, for one, don't normally pick up a book if the cover isn't intriguing. If I like the cover, then I will read the blurb. If I like the blurb, most likely I'll want to buy the book.

Before reading the prologue, I thought I might not like this book, but that wasn't the case at all. The characters are fleshed out well, and there wasn't a single one that I didn't like. While on paper, the plot feels cliched. But, thanks to the author's writing chops, there are plenty of twists and turns that helped me overlook the flaws. The descriptions weren't pitch-perfect but good enough to push the story along.

Overall, I enjoyed reading More Than Meets the Eye. It's a nicely written faith-based western romance that doesn't attempt to 'preach' to the reader.