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    More Than Words Can Say
    More Than Words Can Say
    More Than Words Can Say
    Audiobook12 hours

    More Than Words Can Say

    Written by Karen Witemeyer

    Narrated by Barbara McCulloh

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    An Impossible Situation. An Unlikely Couple. A Recipe for Love?

    After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally freeto live life on his own terms. No opportunities to disappoint those he cares about, just the quiet bachelor existence he’s always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away once again when the baker of his favorite breakfast treat is railroaded by the city council. As hard as he tries to avoid getting involved, he can’t turn a blind eye to her predicament … or her adorable dimples.

    Abigail Kemp needs a man’s name on her bakery’s deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution … if it involves a man she can control. Not the stoic lumberman who oozes confidence without saying a word whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can’t even control her pulse when she’s around him.

    Once vows are spoken, Abigail’s troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. As trust grows between Zach and Abby, she finds she wants more than his rescue. She wants his heart.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJun 4, 2019
    ISBN9781980033974
    More Than Words Can Say
    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 More Than Words Can Say

    4.5/5

    92 ratings20 reviews

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    • 4/5
      the story was nice and showed a demonstration of faith.
    • 5/5
      This was so cute!!! Loved it great christen romance!!! Looking forward to reading more by her!!!
    • 5/5
      This was a great book. Characters Zach and Abbey were well developed.
    • 5/5
      This is an awesome read. Funny and sweet marriage of convenience story.
    • 5/5
      Was a really lovely book. Just enough suspense,intrigue,romance and Christian contents
    • 3/5
      Good story likable characters but the narrator with her whiny voice makes the story long drawn out
    • 5/5
      Absolutely adore this book! I loved the first one in this series and this one is even better!
    • 4/5
      In 1894 Texas, Abigail Kemp is at her wits' end when the town council of Honey Grove informs her they're enforcing an antiquated bylaw prohibiting women from owning a business. All Abby wants to do is keep her family's bakery to support herself and her sister in the wake of her father's death. So she comes up with a desperate plan: find a husband who will be able to put his name on the deed and then let her run the business. Top of her list of potential husbands is Zacharias Hamilton, the quiet but handsome lumberyard man who comes in every morning for breakfast. What astounds Abigail is that Zach is actually interested in her and not just the business arrangement she's proposing.Karen Witemeyer's historical Christian romances are always reliably enjoyable reads for me and this one was extra cozy. I loved that Abigail is a plus-sized heroine that our hero finds physically attractive. Courting after marriage is a fave trope of mine so that was a delight here as well. Recommended for fans of the genre and/or the author.
    • 5/5
      More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer is a wonderful, zany, historical romance that includes faith at its core. While it is helpful to read the preceding book in the series, it is not required to enjoy More Than Words Can Say.Abigail Kemp and Zacharias Hamilton are well-developed, lovable characters that I quickly found myself rooting for. Witemeyer provides likable secondary characters and a villain who, the more I knew, the more I actually hoped for redemption. It was nice to read about a heroine who was somewhat less than thin. Unfortunately, the picture on the front of the book does not accurately portray the Abby presented inside.Secrets and shame, guilt from past hold both Abby and Zach back. I feel shades of Les Mis in my mind when Zach cannot release the past, knowing he would repeat the wrong for its benefits. What a conundrum that causes and a stumbling block in his road to total honesty and a relationship with the Father.Quotables:“...a wise woman never burned a bridge she might need to cross at a future date.””...revenge had a tendency to warp a person’s mind when allowed to fester for a long period of time.”“These stuffy male councilmen might want to hold her down, but like a well-made bread dough, she planned to rise to the occasion.”For a fun, faith-filled romance, all well blended, baked, and deliciously served up; I heartily recommend More than Words Can Say. I was gifted a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley. This in no way influenced my opinions for which I am solely responsible
    • 5/5
      It is 1896 in Honey Grove Texas, and Abigail Kemp has just received word that women cannot own business property. Desperate to keep running the bakery she inherited from her father, she sets out to find a husband and decides that Zachariah Hamilton would be perfect for a marriage of convenience. Zach has his doubts at first but eventually agrees. This may be a marriage of convenience but the two soon grow close. However, each has secrets from the past that haunt them – will those secrets tear their growing relationship apart?“More than Words Can Say” by Karen Witemeyer is a delightfully done historical romance. While this is the second book in Witemeyer’s Patchwork Family Series, I did not read the first one (“More than Meets the Eye”) and I had no problem following the characters and events in this book (and I plan on reading “More than Meets the Eye”). I love the main characters. Abigail is strong, determined to hold on to her bakery and willing to do whatever it takes in order to do so. Zach is also real as a character – not a man of many words but his actions certainly speak louder than words. While marriage of convenience romances may seem a little trite Witemeyer makes it seem fresh and even believable in this book. This is helped by the fact that both Abigail and Zach are troubled by past events – their pain over these past events was well done and made them stronger as characters. Reading this book to the inevitable conclusion was a joy.“More than Words Can Say” by Karen Witemeyer is a nicely done historical romance.
    • 5/5
      "More than Words Can Say" relates the story of a woman who makes a "business arrangement" marriage in order to save her business. Both Abby and her new husband Zach find themselves attracted to each other, and their marriage turns into more than "business."The setting in a western town provided interest and insight into developing towns and businesses of the American West. The plot moved along quickly and kept my interest throughout. I especially liked both Abby and Zach, who proved to be quite a match for each other, and each feisty in their own right. The Christian message is overt, yet plays an integral role in the story, and is not overdone.I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy a quick-paced Christian romance in an interesting setting.I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
    • 4/5
      More Than Words Can Say is the second novel A Patchwork Family series. While I have not had the opportunity to read More Than Meets the Eye, I found that I was not lost. The author provided details from the first novel which featured Evangeline, Seth and Zach. I am looking forward to reading More Than Meets the Eye which tells the story of Evangeline Hamilton and Logan Fowler. I thought More Than Words Can Say was well-written with steady pacing. Abigail, Zach and Rosie are delightful characters. There are equally pleasing secondary characters like Reuben Sinclair and his wife. Abigail cannot believe an antiquated law requiring a man’s name on the deed will be her downfall. A marriage of convenience is the most logical solution and Abigail drafts up a contract. Abigail wants to make sure she retains control of her bakery once she marries. There are only three “eligible” men in town which consist of quiet, grumpy Zach, Elmer Beekman who has bad breath, and Clarence Ormandy with a domineering mother. Zach is the best option, but he is not willing to settle for a marriage of convenience. He finds Abigail attractive which she finds hard to believe. But Abigail must admit that when she is with Zach, she finds her heart racing and wonders what it would be like to kiss Zach. The road to happiness, though, is bumpy as they each have issues from their past that holds back from having a happy life together. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story (I laughed so often while reading More Than Words Can Say). Zach and Abigail are cute together and I could not help but root for them. Abigail’s faith is strong, and she works on getting Zach back on speaking terms with God. Rosalind has a problem that she needs assistance with, and Zach is there to help her. I look forward to reading Rosalind’s story. I can tell that the author did her research for this book. Honey Grove is a real town and Karen Witemeyer brought it alive. I felt I was taken back in time with this charming historical novel. More Than Words Can Say mixes one independent baker with one cantankerous man which produces an entertaining and witty story.
    • 5/5
      This book is definitely on my best of 2019 books. I couldn't get enough of the characters and how easy it was to relate to them. The author has charmed me with her attention to details and historical facts scattered throughout the book. It is a book about forgiveness, secrets, pride and humbleness.Abigail was a delight to read about. Being the oldest daughter she took her role of taking care of her younger sister seriously after both parents passed away. I loved reading about the bakery she ran and could smell the delicious aromas filtering out into the street. Abigail is not very confident in her looks and I could understand her insecurity. I think a lot of women, me included have issues with out looks. The author examines this as she gently leads the character to overcome her insecurity and understand that God made her in His perfect image. Zach is my favorite character. He is strong, independent and fiercely protective of his siblings. It was interesting to hear about his childhood and how responsible he has become. I could picture him as a tall and strong man who may intimidate people, but was really a big teddy bear. How him and Abigail become married is funny but necessary. There is no way that Abigail is going to lose her bakery and Zach is the answer to saving it.The story has several lessons in it that I didn't overlook. Each character had a secret from their past that prevented them from forgiving themselves . This hindrance has caused them to stray away from relationships and more importantly, forgive themselves. As I read the book, I thought about the title. It reminds me of the saying, "Actions speak louder than words." In this book that saying is perfect as Zach and Abigail learn to trust each other by their actions rather than words. A simple act of bringing coffee to her husband, brought a deep sense of love to Zach. His commitment to always stand beside Abigail brings her to realize just how much he cares. There is one character I can't forget to mention which is Rosalind. Being the pretty sister as Abigail sees her, also brings with it danger of being taken advantage of by others. What I love about Rosalind is how little she thinks of her looks and how encouraging she is to see her sister happy. She is always there to lend a hand to her sister and only wants the best for her. It is a tug of war between love, respect and forgiveness in this wonderful story. I liked how the author took the relationship of Abigail and Zach slowly and peeled away the scabs that had never healed from their past. The author fills the story with God's wisdom and as I finished the book, I immediately took a look at my life. How many times have I been discouraged by my looks? Have I really allowed God to be first in my life? Am I thankful for a husband who loves me unconditionally? I am thankful for an author that writes stories that not only entertain but gives us words of compassion and love through stories that highlight God and His infinite love.I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
    • 5/5
      ‘If I am the cornerstone, whatever you build on it will stand firm.’It’s 1896 in the sweet little town of Honey Grove, TX. Abigail Kemp owns and runs the local bakery after inheriting it from her father. Unfortunately there is a law in this small town, that states a woman cannot own a business without a man as partner. Following is a simply lovely story of how a marriage of convenience leads to a husband and family that should hopefully result in love — but will it or is her need for independence more important? Between unfortunate choices made, long buried hurts brought to light and payback that affects more people than expected I didn’t stop reading until the book was finished. While this book is obviously part of a series of books, I had no trouble following the story without having read the first one, something I certainly want to do. I highly recommend this book and look forward to learning more about these wonderful characters.An ARC of this book was given by Baker Publishing Group, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      More Than Meets the Eye introduces the stoic, protective Zacharias Hamilton, and More Than Words Can Say delves further into his character with Karen Witemeyer’s trademark charm and humor. It’s a delightful novel that will not leave fans disappointed. In the small town of Honey Grove, Texas, Zach thinks he is finally free to live the life he wants—until an archaic ordinance brings baker Abigail Kemp to his door. She needs a man’s name on her bakery’s deed and proposes a marriage of convenience. Still, there is plenty of trouble in store, and together, Zach and Abby must overcome the obstacles and perhaps, find love in the process.I always love a good marriage-of-convenience story, and Witemeyer writes this one so well. Equally awkward and adorable, the relationship between Zach and Abby grows naturally (with plenty of chemistry) as they deal with secrets, longings for independence, and forgiveness, and I so enjoyed seeing their story unfold. A pleasure to read, More Than Words Can Say is a historical-romance must-read.I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
    • 5/5
      I always love Karen Witemeyer books and this one is one of my favorite. I could not put this book down. I loved the characters of Abby, Zach and Rosalind. They had an interesting start to the beginning of their family. Both Abigail and Zach needed to let some past transgressions go so they could start their own lives. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
    • 5/5
      Abigail Kemp is an excellent baker but she can't have her own business because of a city council ruling that says that only a man can own a business in Honey Grove, Texas in 1896. She realizes that the only solution is to find a husband and she finds the perfect candidate. Marriage is the farthest thing from her perfect candidate's mind but suddenly, Zacharias Hamilton finds himself married to Abigail Kemp! As we read Abby and Zach's story we see how their initial liking of each other turns to something more and we see how their individual faith offers them an amazing chance to share a Christian walk together. Zach is such a special person and I loved how he continually encourages Abby. She doesn't believe that she is attractive but Zach convinces her that she is very attractive indeed. Abby truly loves running a business and as she thinks about being married she doesn't see why she can't do both. It is after reading the story of Mary and Martha in the New Testament that Abigail realizes that she is "a Martha" and that she has allowed her work to take precedence over family matters. In a tender and poignant moment Zach reassures her with his advice. "We can't change the past," he said, stroking the side of her face. "All we can do is strive not to make the same mistakes in the future." And, by the way, did I mention the incredible chemistry between the two of them? You can just feel Abigail's struggle as she considers if this marriage could be so much more than just a marriage of convenience and you can imagine Zach's frustration as he shares a platonic relationship with such a beautiful woman!I appreciate it when an author can subtly share the message of God's love and mercy in an enjoyable story and this is exactly what happens in More Than Words Can Say. Abby's tells Zach that "None of us deserve absolution, Zach. It is a gift freely given. A gift that is waiting for you. All you have to do is accept it." Her comment is a reminder that forgiveness is a key factor in any successful relationship and that we all must be willing to extend forgiveness to others just as God has extended forgiveness to each of us. Author Karen Witemeyer has written a historical romance story filled with humor and faith and she has succeeded in making me want to read the next book in the Patchwork Family series.I received a complimentary copy of this book and I have chosen to share my own opinions in this review.
    • 5/5
      More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer is the second book in her Patchwork Family series. “Then a gentle whisper echoed above the storm. If I am the cornerstone, whatever you build will stand firm.” This is the kind of faith that Abigail Kemp has. Even when threatened with the closure of her bakery she clings to God. T save her bakery she has to have a man’s name on the deed. So, settling for a marriage of convenience; she asks Zach Hamilton, a daily customer, if he will marry her. As their hearts grow closer to each other the threats to the bakery escalate. Will Zach be able to protect his new family from this unseen danger? What an awesome story! Zach was such a sweetheart and Abby always had just the right words to say in any situation. I love how she encouraged Zach and how patient he was with her. Sometimes the right thing to say is nothing at all. Zach knew this from experience. If only we could do the same.I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
    • 5/5
      An archaic law makes this story, but they did really exist, and the author has used this one with in a very clever way!Now this is the second book in this series, but there are some updates, so you won’t be totally lost, but the first is equally as good!There are few chuckles here, and some serious sad moments, that lead to a lifelong grudge, but you have to wonder if the evil is about to prevail.I enjoyed this read, and the pages flew, there was a sense of loss as the last page was turned, I wanted to continue with the lives of these characters!You don’t want to miss this one!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 4/5
      If you are looking for a spark-filled, sweet romance, then More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer is a sure bet. Set in the late 1800s in small town Texas, this novel is a fun and fast read that will delight. Hunky hero Zach Hamilton (last seen in More Than Meets The Eye) is a man of few words, but what he does say he means. And, especially in his case, actions speak louder than words. Abigail Kemp, a determined businesswoman who whips up treats in her Taste of Heaven Bakery, wants to keep their relationship strictly professional, but Zach is as tempting as the sticky buns he loves. I loved this marriage of convenience story. There is chemistry right from the start with the characters — it was only a matter of time before they both recognized it. ? Honey Grove, the setting for the story, was perfect — small town people with big hearts and down-home celebrations. There is also conflict introduced that kept Zach and Abigail committed to their arrangement, while keeping the pages turning for the reader. Guilt and unworthiness are explored in the novel, and the characters supported each other in their faith journeys. Reminiscent of the story of Joseph in Genesis, circumstances and the machinations of others did not keep God from working out His plan for their lives.Fun and funny, sweet and sizzling with some great kissing scenes, More Than Words Can Say checks all the boxes for fans of historical romances.Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)