Such a delight to have Karen Witemeyer return to Relz Reviewz and share about her latest novel featuring a heroine with heterochromia, More Than Meets the Eye. Discover Karen’s favourite soft drink (pop or soda to most of my readers!), all about The Posse, and her thoughts on salsa! And of course, thanks to the wonderful Bethany House team, we are giving away a copy of Karen’s novel. Enjoy!
Over to you, Karen…
*****
Cake or Cookies
Cookies. Small and yummy and far too easy to grab for a quick snack. Favorite flavors are oatmeal raisin and peanut butter.
Call or Text
Text. I’m a writer. I much prefer written communication. And yes, I check spelling and grammar and avoid most abbreviations. Though, a bitmoji or two has been known to find a way in. Here’s a conversation I recently had with my daughter while she was at Disney World. Yes, I’ve been known to get a mite silly from time to time.
Coke or Pepsi
I rarely drink soda any more, and when I do, it’s the lemon/lime variety. So, Sprite or 7Up. I’m voting Sprite.
Dogs or Cats
Dogs for their obedience and faithful companionship. Though I must admit that I don’t actually own any pets. Three children are enough to look after. Ha!
Eggs or Pancakes
Eggs. I do love a good blueberry pancake on special occasions, but for a lower calorie, healthy option, I lean toward eggs and turkey bacon.
Facebook or Twitter
Facebook. I don’t even have an account on Twitter. My favorite aspect on Facebook is my fan group called The Posse. We have so much fun over there. We do more than talk books. We exchange handmade ornaments at Christmas, do scripture-themed color sheets in the summer, and laugh over shared grammar puns. If you’re interested in joining us, click here.
First person or Third person
Third person all the way. I write romance and love getting into the hero’s head as much as the heroine’s. I like my point of view deep, so it has the same intimacy as first person, but I crave being in both heads.
Instagram or Pinterest
Pinterest, but not as a platform for my writing. I love it for researching and especially for finding examples of 19th century clothing that my characters might have worn.
Marvel or DC
Marvel. Love the Avengers (mainly because of Thor – who doesn’t love Chris Hemsworth?)
Paperback or EBook
I’m torn over this one. I still love the classic paperback, but I have to admit that the self-lit feature of e-books is very handy when reading in bed. I read in both formats.
Summer or Winter
Summer. Even though Texas is brutally hot, I much prefer the heat to the cold. Besides, the kids are out of school which means more opportunities for family board games. WooHoo!
Sweet or Spicy
Definitely sweet. I love dessert and fruit and honey-glazed ham, and I’m a wimp when it comes to spice. I’m a mild salsa or no salsa gal.
Tattoos or Piercings
Hmm . . . I guess I will say piercings since my ears are pierced.
Tea or Coffee
Tea. I don’t drink coffee. At all. But I love a nice cup of tea. Nothing fancy. Just black tea sweetened with honey. It’s my afternoon pick-me-up as well as my relaxation about an hour before bed.
Thornton or Darcy
That’s a tough one. I’m going for Darcy. Strictly off of the Colin Firth swimming scene.
Yoga Pants or Jeans
I’d pick yoga pants if I owned any. My pajamma pants are probably the closest I come to yoga pants, but for hanging about on a lazy Saturday, they can’t be beat.
Zoo or Aquarium
Aquarium, because my husband loves them so much. Plus they’re air-conditioned. Ha!
Thanks Karen!
Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes–one bright blue, the other dark brown–Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world’s judgments, and Eva has two–Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers.
Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father’s death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach’s sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?
For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Winner of the ACFW Carol Award, National Reader’s Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and a finalist for both the RITA® and Christy Awards, Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. Learn more at www.karenwitemeyer.com or join her private Facebook group-The Posse.
Relz Reviewz Extras
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Buy from Amazon: More Than Meets the Eye or Koorong
July 7, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Marvel all the way!! Just watched Antman and Wasp.
July 8, 2018 at 3:22 am
Ooo – Did you like it? I haven’t seen it yet, but we plan to. I’ve heard it’s funny, which I love. “At least I got the the van.” Our family quotes that line all the time from the first one. Probably because we have an old beat up minivan. 🙂
July 8, 2018 at 4:03 am
Waiting to see the new one, too. We quote that line all the time-and “Daddy don’t get scared.” Just too funny. I love board games and Eva’s sunny, punny disposition. Love it when she is trying to think up a nickname and comes up with “Log”!! You must be laughing when you think those up. Thanks for sharing!
July 8, 2018 at 4:15 am
Hi, Kathleen. My oldest son is my pun partner. We love to see how many eye rolls we can gather from other family members. Ha! I always hope that the humor comes through my stories and relates to readers. Humor can be a bit subjective, though, so it’s hard to know what will translate and what won’t. I’m glad you enjoyed the Log. 🙂
July 7, 2018 at 12:50 pm
I also prefer cookies and facebook.
July 8, 2018 at 3:23 am
Yum. We would get along well, Carol. 🙂
July 7, 2018 at 5:30 pm
Thanks for this fun interview and giveaway! My preferences that are similar to Karen’s are tea,sweets,and Facebook. Oh,and like Karen I read both paperback and e-books. Thanks again for this chance to get to know one of my favorite authors a little better.
July 8, 2018 at 3:23 am
So glad you dropped by, Lynne!
July 7, 2018 at 9:51 pm
I also prefer to text, love summer, and enjoy my sweets.
July 8, 2018 at 3:24 am
Yay! Summer makes me crave ice cream. not too good for the waist line, but just so yummy. 🙂
July 7, 2018 at 10:24 pm
A few paperbacks, marvel, dogs.
July 8, 2018 at 3:24 am
Glad we have several things in common, Kim!
July 7, 2018 at 10:33 pm
Thank you for the interesting interview. I always greatly enjoy Karen’s books. Many preferences in common – dogs, thoughts on books but helpful lighting on e/readers, cookies, tea, traditional pierced ears, etc.
July 8, 2018 at 3:25 am
Hi, Cathy. I’m so glad that you have enjoyed my books. Hope you have fun with Eva and Logan, too. 🙂
July 7, 2018 at 10:54 pm
We share preferences for summer and aquariums, especially the aquariums on the ocean where visitors get to see under the sea (cue Ariel and Sebastian).
July 8, 2018 at 3:27 am
Ha! Love your Ariel comment, Danielle. 🙂 One of my favorite trips my hubby and I took before kids was to Baltimore, MD. We kind of picked it out of a hat, but they had wonderful crab (my favorite seafood), and a stunning aquarium right off the ocean. That’s the best one I’ve ever visited. Loved it!
July 7, 2018 at 11:18 pm
this is a wonderful interview. thanks for hosting. i seem to have a lot in common with Karen: cookies, texting, eggs, face book, paper back books, summer, piercing (my ears), sweets, tea
July 8, 2018 at 3:28 am
Lori – You and I will have to have to get together for a book-themed tea party. Plenty of sweets and tea and books. 🙂
July 8, 2018 at 8:13 am
wouldn’t that be fun?
July 8, 2018 at 2:49 am
I am a dog person and have 2. I like tea but drink 1 cup of coffee per day. I like 7-Up but occasionally drink Coke. I prefer sweet over spicy. I don’t do Facebook or Twitter. I don’t have an e-reader so I read paper books. I would probably fit in the 19th century except for needing my creature comforts like a/c and indoor plumbing. I read this book and liked it very much. I always like Karen’s books. They have humor as well as action and romance.
July 8, 2018 at 3:30 am
Sue – I’ve often dreamed about visiting the 19th century. Then I think about no air conditioning, no washing machines, and no deodorant, and I decide that visiting the romanticized version in books is just fine and dandy. 🙂
July 8, 2018 at 2:55 am
I don’t text, but I message my daughter on Facebook. I’m so glad to see that someone else checks theirs before sending and uses it the same way as if they were writing.
July 8, 2018 at 3:32 am
There are a few of us out there, Linda. Ha! My daughter uses full sentences in texting, too, so I feel like I’ve successfully passed my grammar love down to the next generation. At least for my oldest. My sons are a little iffy. 😉
July 8, 2018 at 3:43 am
I am strictly a tea drinker! Don’t drink coffee or much soda.
July 8, 2018 at 3:47 am
Tea all the way! 🙂
July 8, 2018 at 3:57 am
Love her books but didn’t have many things in common with except the aquarium….
July 8, 2018 at 4:16 am
If given the choice, I’d much rather have you connect with my characters than with my own preferences, Julie. Though we might have to have an aquarium book party someday. 😉
July 8, 2018 at 4:05 am
I agree with Karen on a lot of things, especially on tea, I enjoy ice tea with lemon. I do like coffee in the morning, but tea the rest of the day.
July 8, 2018 at 4:17 am
Tea lovers unite! My husband loves lemon in his tea – hot or cold. I like my ice tea plain – no sugar or lemon. However, I like my hot tea sweetened with honey.
July 8, 2018 at 4:05 am
I’m afraid I didn’t agree with very many of her choices! But I still like her books!
July 8, 2018 at 4:18 am
Well, that’s what’s important, Joan. 😀
July 8, 2018 at 4:07 am
I love that we are all different in our choices. I can relate to Karen’s preference of dogs over cats due to their loyalty and obedience.
Also, I’m with her in not having a twitter account. I try to keep life a bit more simplistic. FB is the only social media besides Pinterest that I belong to. Is Pinterest a form of social media?
July 8, 2018 at 4:19 am
Hooray for the simple life, Cindi. Though, I have to admit that I have so much going on outside of social media, that I can’t really call mine simple. Maybe once the nest is empty.
July 8, 2018 at 4:12 am
I agree with Karen on some stuff. I am a fan of tea, especially ice tea with lemon. However, I do drink coffee in the morning
July 8, 2018 at 4:36 am
I don’t drink coffee, either! I don’t even like the smell of it. But a good cup of tea every now and then does hit the spot!
July 8, 2018 at 4:45 am
Another non-coffee drinker. Hooray! You’re a woman of fine taste, Erin. 😉
July 8, 2018 at 4:39 am
Dogs, paperbacks. Love reading this, it was very interesting and fun.
July 8, 2018 at 4:45 am
Thanks, Emily!
July 8, 2018 at 4:44 am
Cookies, yes!! That goes right along with liking sweet things over spicy! I also text more than call people and always use proper punctuation, spelling, etc. I cannot stand using typical “texting language.” 🙂
July 8, 2018 at 4:47 am
Good for you, Elizabeth! The English language won’t be deteriorating on our watch. 🙂
July 8, 2018 at 4:55 am
What a fun interview! Thank you both for taking the time to do this. Karen’s books are a lot of fun and just bring a smile to your face, not to mention all the fun we have in The Posse. Thank you for what you do.
July 8, 2018 at 5:02 am
Thanks, Perrianne! I’m so glad you’re having fun in the Posse. It’s been such a blessing to me as well.
July 8, 2018 at 6:03 am
So fun! There is nothing better than learning about the people behind the books!
July 8, 2018 at 10:41 am
Glad you enjoyed the interview, Thea. 😀
July 8, 2018 at 8:06 am
Oh, I agree. Colin is the BEST!
What board games do you like to play?
July 8, 2018 at 10:37 am
Hi, Arletta. We have a whole closet full of games. I enjoy a wide variety from Settlers if Catan to Ticket to Ride to d eck-building games like the Hobbit and Legendary. We also really enjoy Seven Wonders.
July 8, 2018 at 8:36 am
This was a fun way to learn some behind the scenes facts about one of my favorite authors! Can’t wait for this new book!
July 8, 2018 at 10:38 am
Thanks, Julie! Hope you enjoy Logan and Evie’s story.
July 8, 2018 at 9:00 am
I can relate to summer or winter.
Since I live in Florida, it is summer for me.
We do have winters but they are short lived, thank goodness.
July 8, 2018 at 10:40 am
I grew up in California, Janet, and I miss those mild winters. I bet Florida is nice as long as there are no hurricanes.
July 8, 2018 at 9:32 am
Tea and cookies all the way. Especially together.
July 8, 2018 at 10:40 am
Yes! Especially those butter cookies. Perfect with tea.
July 8, 2018 at 11:02 am
I do relate to some of them-like yoga pants all the way, and sweet food!!
July 8, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Definitely with you Karen on sweets, Facebook, and Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth!) When we were in England, we visited Lyme Park which was used as a backdrop for Pemberley. We had a picnic on the lawn at the spot where Mr. Darcy meets Elizabeth as he emerges from his swim in the pond! Such fun!
More than meets the eye is on my wish list! It looks and sounds fantastic!
July 9, 2018 at 5:19 am
What a wonderful treat to picnic on Darcy’s lawn, Winnie! I’d love to do that!
July 9, 2018 at 6:10 am
It was great fun. Unfortunately, Mr. Darcy didn’t make an appearance. 😞
July 9, 2018 at 7:02 am
Bummer. We’ll just have to make a return trip!
July 9, 2018 at 7:13 am
I’m in for that! I’d love to go back!
July 8, 2018 at 2:38 pm
I prefer Facebook, cookies and anything else sweet, lemonade and hot and cold teas. This book looks like a wonderful read.
July 9, 2018 at 5:20 am
Thanks, Andrea. I hope you get a chance to enjoy Logan and Eva’s story. It’s a sweet one. 😉
July 8, 2018 at 3:07 pm
So I totally love Darcy, my favorite Marvel is THOR, and I prefer eggs over pancakes.
July 9, 2018 at 5:20 am
You and I would get along swimmingly, Leslie. 🙂
July 8, 2018 at 9:37 pm
Cookies all the way baby! They are my weakness!
Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂
July 9, 2018 at 5:22 am
Oh, yeah! Nothing better than cookies fresh from the oven. Well, except maybe cookies fresh from oven in one hand and a good book in the other. 🙂
July 8, 2018 at 11:18 pm
I can not wait for this book! So excited.
Thank you for the fun interview and chance to win!!
🙂
July 9, 2018 at 5:22 am
Thanks, Shay. The book is out, so hopefully you’ll get a chance to read it soon. 🙂
July 9, 2018 at 1:40 am
I agree with lots of these things–I’ll take Sprite over Coke or Pepsi any day, totally prefer texting, like dogs, piercings, summer, Facebook, and Pinterest, and Idon’t drink coffee (although I don’t drink tea, either). Loved the interview, love Karen’s books even more 🙂
July 9, 2018 at 5:23 am
Thanks, Adrienne. How fun to learn that we have so many things in common!
July 9, 2018 at 2:03 am
While cake is great and really I love sweets in general, I’d pick cake over cookies too. Peanut butter and oatmeal raisin are favorites for me too. And chocolate chip and snickerdoodle too.
I hear Karen on Twitter. I have an account, but prefer Facebook by far.
July 9, 2018 at 5:25 am
Oh, yes. Chocolate chip and snickerdoodles are yummy, too. Shortbread is another favorite of mine. I also love some that are store bought – like double-stuffed oreos and fig newtons. The list could go on and on.
July 9, 2018 at 4:35 am
I have seven preferences in common with Karen – tea, dogs, eggs,summer,Facebook, sweet things and aquariums. I would love to read her new book!
July 9, 2018 at 5:26 am
Seven is a great percentage, Merry. Love it! Hope you get to enjoy Logan and Eva’s story soon. Blessings!
July 9, 2018 at 5:32 am
This was fun to read through. I relate on so many levels although I’m a coffee drinker who enjoys a good cup of tea now and then especially when unwinding at night. i’m looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
July 9, 2018 at 11:38 am
I also prefer dogs (mostly because my loved ones are allergic to cats). I have two dogs: Jaxson and Evie. They are Shih Tzu mixes. I think they are the cutest dogs ever. I’m also a fan of cookies, Pinterest, yoga pants, and Darcy (although I like both Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen’s portrayal of the character). I also don’t understand the debate of paperback vs ebook, is there really a wrong way to read? As long as you’re reading, it shouldn’t matter how.
July 9, 2018 at 12:59 pm
I’m a tea drinking,cat loving avid Christian fiction reader
July 9, 2018 at 3:08 pm
I would have to say dogs awell. Cats and I don’t get along at all. And Facebook its where I can keep up with my family and books.Winter for me, Summers are way too hot for me.Sweet, Paperback if I have the money or Kindle if I don’t. Haven’t drunk tea or coffee in 30odd yrs. But there is a hot drink that you can make it taste tea or coffee but haven’t drunk that in yrs either.
Your book sounds amazing. Thanks for this Giveaway.
July 10, 2018 at 2:45 am
Very few of my preferences match up with Karen’s. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the preferences so one-sided before. There were a small few, but my favorite is third person vs. first. I love third person and have a hard time connecting with first unless the writing is EXCEPTIONAL
July 12, 2018 at 10:04 am
I’m a tea drinker! Thank you for the fun interview!
July 13, 2018 at 9:34 pm
I definitely relate to the tea preference. Coffee, no way but bring on the tea. It’s my relaxation I drink all day 🙂
July 15, 2018 at 2:43 am
I agree with most of these although I have to pick winter over summer. This Alabama summer has been seriously humid and oppressive and I can not wait to feel cool again!