Book Review: Full Steam Ahead

ISBN#978076420973

From the Back:

When love simmers between a reclusive scientist and a wealthy debutante, will they abandon ship or is it full steam ahead?

Nicole Renard returns home to Galveston, Texas, to find her father deathly ill. Though she loves him, Nicole's father has always focused on what she's not. Not male. Not married. Not able to run Renard Shipping.

Vowing to find a suitable husband to give her father the heir he desires before it's too late, Nicole sets out with the Renard family's greatest treasure as her dowry: the highly coveted Lafitte Dagger. But her father's rivals come after the dagger, forcing a change in Nicole's plans.

After a boiler explosion aboard the Louisiana nearly took his life, Darius Thornton has been a man obsessed. He will do anything to stop even one more steamship disaster. Even if it means letting a female secretary into his secluded world.

Nicole is determined not to let her odd employer scare her off with his explosive experiments, yet when respect and mutual attraction grow between them, a new fear arises. How can she acquire an heir for her father when her heart belongs to another? And when her father's rivals discover her hiding place, will she have to choose between that love and her family's legacy?

My Reflections: 

Full Steam Ahead is not Short Straw Bride, one of my favorites from this author. 
What this book does have is Witemeyer's trademark of weaving history, romance, humor and comical characters together to produce a story with non stop drama and no nonsense romance, that will surly keep you entertained and guessing all at the same time.

I was not overly interested in the history of steam ships and boilers, but having read just about every Karen Witemeyer book out there I knew if I stuck with the story I would not regret it. I was not mistaken.

Nicole seeks to please her father, she is not the boy he so desired but she is definitely brave enough and clever enough to outwit any man who dares to get in the way of her mission; to find a husband and heir to pass the shipping business onto. This heroin is not like any you have read about before. She is smart with numbers and science able to fend off the bad guys and does all this with flair and a spunky determination, not often seen in the time period of the 1800's.

Darius is also a determined, quirky character, although he is batting an entirely different set of challenges; to rid the world of dangerous, and often deadly boilers on steam ships. He uses unconventional means to experiment with his outlandish inventions, which causes a few sparks to fly. Can Nicole soften his heart, can Darius learn to forgive himself and find his faith once more? And what to do about the precious heirloom, and her promise to her ill father?

Full Steam Ahead is a delightful read, with a satisfying conclusion. If you can get past the logistics of steam ship boilers, and dagger throwing Southerners, I am certain you will enjoy Witemeyer's newest edition. 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group"

About the author:

Karen Witemeyer is a confirmed bookaholic who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.
After growing up in California, Karen moved to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University where she earned bachelor and master's degrees in Psychology. It was also there that she met and married her own Texas hero. He roped her in good, for she has lived in Texas ever since. In fact, she fell so in love with this rugged land of sweeping sunsets and enduring pioneer spirit, that she incorporates it into the pages of her novels, setting her stories in the small towns of a state that burgeoned into greatness in the mid- to late1800s.
Karen is living her dream by writing Christian historical romance novels for Bethany House. Her books have consistently hit bestseller lists and have garnered awards such as the ACFW Carol Award, the Holt Medallion, and the Christian Manifesto's Lime Award for Excellence in Fiction. In addition, she is a multiple RITA and National Reader's Choice finalist. Karen is also a sought-after speaker for national writing conferences and regional workshops.