Fairest of Heart. Karen Witemeyer. 2023. [June] 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]
First sentence: "Keep your eyes down and head bowed," Edith instructed. "Do nothing to draw attention. A woman like Narcissa LaBelle lives for the spotlight, so you must make yourself dim in comparison. I won't be able to help you once her troupe leaves town."
Historical romance. Christian fiction. Spin on Snow White.
Karen Witemeyer is one of my all-time favorite, favorite, favorite authors. I wasn't sure, at first, how I felt about this being a spin on Snow White. But I ended up loving this spin. I shouldn't have doubted that she was capable of such a feat.
Penelope Snow is an orphan working as an assistant/servant to Narcissa LaBelle, an actress with a traveling troupe. The troupe has come to Texas and is performing around the state. Travis Kingsley is a Texas Ranger. He's just off one job and mid-rescue of an injured dog when these two meet. Their first meeting is oh-so-brief and seemingly inconsequential. And perhaps it might have stayed that way....if....
Penelope is trying on her mistress's corset and gown...as a favor to the seamstress. Narcissa was very angry with the last fitting of the dress. She has made several heated threats. Penelope and the seamstress want to calm the situation down. But when someone interrupts this fitting and jumps to conclusions...that Penelope wants to become an actress on the stage, a rival to Madame LaBelle, well, Narcissa decides to send Mr. Cecil Hunt to take care of her....permanently.
Fortunately, Penelope is found by seven old cowhands--who live together at the Diamond D ranch. (There is a "Doc" who is grandpa to Travis.) Penny finds her people, if you will, and truly feels like she belongs with these seven! (And Travis does come by to visit now and then.)
As for Travis, well, he's on a new case...a string of burglaries/robbery. Men are reporting missing jewelry and the theatre troupe is soon suspect since their route links up to these robberies.
Is Penny safe in her new life? Will Narcissa (and Hunt) hunt her down again?
I loved this one so much. I loved all the characters. I think it being a spin on Snow White worked really well.
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