More Than Words Can Say: A Patchwork Family Novel by Karen Witemeyer #BookReview and #Giveaways

After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he’s always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get 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. That person definitely isn’t the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can’t even control her pulse when she’s around him.

When vows are spoken, Abigail’s troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. Can she put ever more trust in Zach without losing her dreams of independence?

My Thoughts:

More Than Words Can Say is the second book in Ms. Witemeyer’s Patchwork Family series, and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first book. As usual with Ms. Witemeyer’s books, my reading of it was filled with chuckles and happy sighs as well as a few moments of frustration on behalf of the characters that all led to sweet satisfaction at the end.

I have been waiting since I read More Than Meets the Eye, to find out more about Zacharias Hamilton, Evie’s adopted big brother. More Than Words Can Say did not disappoint in its revealing of Zach’s heart and inner workings. I found Zach’s gruffness to be intriguing in the first book and loved getting to know the man behind that gruffness in this second book. Zach is wiser than he knows and I loved that about his character. He may be the silent type, but when he does speak, it makes what he says all the more precious. He’s far from perfect, but willing to be led and changed by the Lord. I adored how he made a fierce commitment to his marriage and to Abigail even when it wasn’t what he would have expected to have in a marriage. And he made choices to fight for them when outside sources tried to come between them. There’s not much I didn’t love about Zach.

Abigail Kemp, the lovely heroine, is introduced at the beginning of More Than Words Can Say, and in such a way that had me ready to go to battle with her. In spite of Abigail’s take charge, independent kind of personality, she has some insecurities that need dealing with, and I loved how the Lord used Zach to help her see that she is valued and loved just as she is. Both Abigail and Zach have a few things to realize about themselves. Some hurts from their childhoods and lies they believed as a result that, together, they are able to overcome.

I loved Zach and Abigail’s journey throughout the book as they went from acquaintances to finding a rich relationship with each other. Both characters start off with an idea of what they think they need. Zach believes freedom, including that from any family entanglements, is what he most desires and needs. Abigail thinks she needs a husband that will stay out of her bakery business and let her do her own thing. She’s determined that she doesn’t want anything to get in the way of pursuing her baking career and plans. Only God knows what they both really need, the things that will help answer the deeper cries of their hearts. They don’t know what they’re in store for as they embark on this unconventional solution to Abigail’s problems. Little do they know or see just how much growth and blessing God has in store for them. Problems, insecurities, and failings must be faced, but they only grow stronger as they deal with and walk through those things. Things the enemy means for evil, God works for good. 

Zach and Abigail make each other better. They help each other grow. They make intentional choices to make their marriage work. There’s nothing I find more satisfying in a book like this. Solid intentionality to work together, to stand together, to fight for each other is what I find to be more romantic than fancy declarations of love. This is real. This is what makes real love in real life work and I love finding that firm foundation in the books I read. It makes for a deeply satisfying read.

Before I go, I must make a quick mention of the supporting characters introduced in this book from the Sinclairs to Lydia Putnam and the other widows to Rosalind, Abigail’s younger sister. Ms. Witemeyer always does an excellent job of writing supporting characters that make me want to know them more. I love the wisdom and encouragement they display and the humor they often add to the story. It wouldn’t be a Karen Witemeyer book without those! Nor would it be a Karen Witemeyer book without witty and wise quotes filling it. I always have a horribly hard time deciding what quotes I want to make graphics for. I finally narrowed it down to twenty this time! 🙂 For the rest of my favorite quotes from More Than Words Can Say, check out the end of this post!

There are two giveaways below. Mine for one Kindle version of More Than Meets the Eye, the first Patchwork Family novel, just in case you haven’t read it yet. Then there’s the giveaway happening with the Celebrate Lit tour for More Than Words Can Say. I encourage you to check out the tour launch page here and find out what others are saying about More Than Words Can Say!

**I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and have chosen to review it. All opinions are my own.

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