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    A Worthy Pursuit
    A Worthy Pursuit
    A Worthy Pursuit
    Audiobook11 hours

    A Worthy Pursuit

    Written by Karen Witemeyer

    Narrated by Barbara McCulloh

    4.5/5

    ()

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    About this audiobook

    A teacher on the run. A bounty hunter in pursuit. Can two enemies learn to trust each other before they both lose what they hold most dear? Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts. Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily's mother she'd keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them. When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily's legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he's been led to believe. Is she villain or victim? Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he's ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte's heart.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJun 2, 2015
    ISBN9781490683805
    Author

    Karen Witemeyer

    Voted #1 Reader's Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction magazine, bestselling and Carol and Christy Award-winning author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She and her husband make their home in Abilene, Texas. Learn more about Karen and her books at KarenWitemeyer.com.

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    Reviews for A Worthy Pursuit

    4.5/5

    68 ratings9 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Thoroughly enjoyed this tale. Had some exciting moments and also filled with sweet moments that made me smile. Karen Witemeyer has a great style that combines adventure, charm, and humor. Highly recommend this fun and sweet story.

      The narrator, Barbara McCulloh, is really great. I enjoyed listening to her tell this tale.
    • 5/5
      Title: A Worthy PursuitAuthor: Karen WitemeyerPages: 341Year: 2015Publisher: Bethany HouseStone Hammond is in pursuit of a child kidnapper. He finds his prey, but soon begins to be uncertain as to if his employer is on the up and up. He must be sure of his evidence before he makes a decision as the welfare of a young girl hangs in the balance. She seems well-cared for by the teacher who took her, but Stone can’t trust how things appear. He makes a deal with the teacher to stay around, help with chores and get to know the children under the tutor’s care until he receives the proof he needs. Just as proof arrives, so does trouble. Stone and the teacher must leave immediately with the children to find safety with a friend. Will trouble follow?Charlotte Atherton has just lost her job due to her employer suddenly closing the school where she has worked for ten years. She is not about to lose the young girl who has been put in her care by the girl’s mother. Charlotte just knows that if the girl’s grandfather takes her away, she will suffer. Charlotte decides to take action before it is too late. Two months later her groundskeeper captures a man lurking about her property. She discovers he is after one of her former students and wants to return her to her grandfather. Charlotte knows she is in the right, but can she convince this man of her innocence? Soon she and the children are forced to flee again, but this time they have a strong protector. Will Charlotte allow him to become something more?I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance by Karen Witemeyer! The character of Charlotte was so admirable in her treatment of the children under her authority/tutelage as well as Stone when he first arrived and was a known enemy. She exemplified some great Christian qualities with her advice/instructions as well as with her actions. Stone was also a good, strong, Christian man in the story as well, showing his love through his actions by protection, reassurance and steadfastness. This is a great book to read for a wonderful afternoon of entertainment.My rating is 5 stars.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
    • 3/5
      Former bounty hunter, Stone Hammond is on his last job before he retires from retrieving lost persons and property as a career. But in attempting to track down Lily, the missing granddaughter of a wealthy railroad baron, Stone encounters schoolmarm Charlotte Atherton who turns his easy final job on its head. When Stone learns that Charlotte has not kidnapped Lily but is instead her legal guardian, he must figure out a way to preserve the safety of the woman he's slowly coming to love and the child she's adopted.A decent Christian romance but not my favourite of Witemeyer's bibliography that I've read thus far. It could be that my reading of the novel was disjointed (I read the first 8 chapters over a month ago but then had to return the book to the library before finishing it) and that affected my enjoyment of book. A fine read but not a recommended entry point for those trying Witemeyer for the first time.
    • 5/5
      Bring page one Karen packs her novel with action and emotion. I've read everyone of her books and this one was one of the best.
    • 3/5
      My recent reading journey has included some heavy subjects and complex writing, so I was definitely in the mood for a bit of humor and sweet romance when I picked up Karen Witemeyer’s novel, A Worthy Pursuit. Stealing The Preacher was such a fun read, that I anticipated another chuckle-laden historical. However, I just could not get into this book. Not sure if it was me or what, but this one just wasn’t the book I expected.Charlotte Atherton is an accomplished musician and teacher. Headmistress at a boarding school in Austin, Texas, she is blind-sided when her boss closes the school mid-term. Determined to protect and care for three of her students, she steals away in the night and goes into hiding. Stone Hammond is a retriever not a bounty hunter, thank you very much! But he always gets his man or in this case the 9-year old Lily who Charlotte is protecting. Twists, turns, and some dime novel heroics lead to love and a happily-ever-after.As I said, I am not sure why A Worthy Pursuit didn’t work for me. I do know that I did not find a connection with the characters. I also didn’t laugh very much. The romance was sweet and there was lots of action involving shoot outs and runaway wagons, kidnappings and a unscrupulous grandfather. But I found myself skimming to get to the end. Others found this a great read, and I encourage you to check out the reviews on Amazon. Please note this experience did not influence me away from her books; I will definitely read more by Witemeyer.Audience: older teens and adults.(Thanks to Bethany House for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 5/5
      Karen Witemeyer is an author with a unique voice which I thoroughly enjoy, (and i have read most of her earlier novels, if not all of them) and this latest novel by her is no exception. Laced with humor in the face of danger, the characters grow from the first page to the end. Entwined with vivid imagery of both landscape and community, the fast paced story keeps the reader turning pages. Surprises abound. That Karen surrounded the main characters with children of exceptional interests does not hurt. Who can Lottie trust is a question we as readers can answer with her together. Obviously, trust is a big issue in this story, as deception is rampant. Set in Texas in the late 1800s, we learn of the history of the state as well.Thank you to Ellen and her team at Graf-Martin Publicity Group and BethanyHouse, a division of Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book. I was given a free book in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      Title: A Worthy PursuitAuthor: Karen WitemeyerPages: 341Year: 2015Publisher: Bethany HouseStone Hammond is in pursuit of a child kidnapper. He finds his prey, but soon begins to be uncertain as to if his employer is on the up and up. He must be sure of his evidence before he makes a decision as the welfare of a young girl hangs in the balance. She seems well-cared for by the teacher who took her, but Stone can’t trust how things appear. He makes a deal with the teacher to stay around, help with chores and get to know the children under the tutor’s care until he receives the proof he needs. Just as proof arrives, so does trouble. Stone and the teacher must leave immediately with the children to find safety with a friend. Will trouble follow?Charlotte Atherton has just lost her job due to her employer suddenly closing the school where she has worked for ten years. She is not about to lose the young girl who has been put in her care by the girl’s mother. Charlotte just knows that if the girl’s grandfather takes her away, she will suffer. Charlotte decides to take action before it is too late. Two months later her groundskeeper captures a man lurking about her property. She discovers he is after one of her former students and wants to return her to her grandfather. Charlotte knows she is in the right, but can she convince this man of her innocence? Soon she and the children are forced to flee again, but this time they have a strong protector. Will Charlotte allow him to become something more?I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance by Karen Witemeyer! The character of Charlotte was so admirable in her treatment of the children under her authority/tutelage as well as Stone when he first arrived and was a known enemy. She exemplified some great Christian qualities with her advice/instructions as well as with her actions. Stone was also a good, strong, Christian man in the story as well, showing his love through his actions by protection, reassurance and steadfastness. This is a great book to read for a wonderful afternoon of entertainment.My rating is 5 stars.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
    • 4/5
      A Worthy PursuitKaren WitemeyerBook Summary: Historical Romance to Fall in Love With Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts. Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the little girl entrusted to her care after her mother's death. Charlotte promised Lily's mother she'd keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them. When the teacher he's after produces documentation that shows she's the little girl's legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he's been led to believe. Is Miss Atherton villain or victim? She acts more like a loving mother than an abductress, and the children in her care clearly adore her. Should Stone break his perfect record? Then a new danger threatens, and Charlotte is forced to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone becomes determined to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he's ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte's heart.Review: I really liked the story overall. There were some slow parts where I wanted to stop reading, but didn't because I really wanted to know all the details. The characters were interesting and complex. I liked Stone the most because he was a good solid and loyal man despite the odds ahead of him. Charlotte was good and likable although did not see the things in front of her sometimes. She was honest and caring. I loved Dobson, the Ashes, Lily, Stephen & John, Marietta and Dan. They contributed to much to the story - humor, balance, security and loyalty. It really helps a story along when the secondary characters are so well written. The mystery was mostly how would things be resolved and the secret Lily had about her grandfather. The villains were shifty and shady - perfect for creating a fear that they will do anything it takes to win. This is the first book I have read by Karen and I am certain it will not be my last. I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House Publishers for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
    • 5/5
      I really didn’t want to close the covers on this book; I loved how the main characters placed their life in the hands of God. At times Charlotte Atherton had to dig deep to trust, but what a heart this woman had. She risks it all for her love of the young ones in her care, the children are all very gifted, but I felt she would have been there for any child.Enter a man who is on the side of the law, and feeling he is doing the right thing, and who wouldn’t, returning a stolen child to her Grandfather. He might be a top of his game bounty hunter, but he does have a good heart, and when the young girl tells him about her Mother and her Mother’s wishes, he has second thoughts.There is a lot of drama in this fast read, and you wonder if all are going to come out alive. Yes there is a lot of evil out there, and greed, but there are a lot of people of faith in here, and you will love how God shows his hand here. A really great, fast read, and sometimes your heart will be in your throat. Enjoy!