A Book Review for If the Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer

About If the Boot Fits

One fateful night will change their destinies forever. . . .

Convinced that his stepmother and half brothers have been wrongfully evicted by cattle king Eli Dearing, Asher Ellis uses the cover of an extravagant ball to break into the Three Cedars’ ranch house to search for proof. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy’s cry compels him to make a daring rescue.

Spunky and independent Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother’s life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind–his boot–and resolves to find him herself.

When Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. Asher values family above wealth, a rare trait that opens her heart. Afraid she will discover his past misconduct, Asher tries to keep his distance, but when a series of suspicious accidents befall her, he vows to protect her, even though saving her life could mean losing her love.

My Thoughts

A Cinderella tale with a western twist? What could be more perfect than that!

(Not to mention, Karen Witemeyer has been my favorite author for years. I’ll read any snippet of her work that I can get ahold of.)

If the Boot Fits holds many twists to keep readers guessing while including plenty of nods to the original fairytale. And the cover is absolutely fantastic. It gives the perfect elegant/western feel of the story.

Asher was a delightful hero, one whose commitment to his family made him even more appealing. His brothers were so much fun and I loved the idea of a redeemed stepmother. Samantha and her hunt for the man with the missing boot added plenty of humor. On the flip side, the scenes between her and her father touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes at moments. It was a good reminder of how deeply communication can impact a relationship.

I have to mention the plot. It kept me guessing, yet made perfect sense in hindsight. Karen handled some difficult subjects with grace. I always appreciate the way she can present sin, yet show redemption to cover it.

And at the end of the book, there was a scene from the next book that had me wishing for its release day. Why does waiting have to be so hard?

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book, but was not required to leave a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Grab a copy of If the Boot Fits!

Excerpt from If the Boot Fits

“Mama says if a fella is humming, it’s likely he’s got a gal on his mind. You got a gal on your mind, Ash?”

Why the good Lord thought giving little brothers an extra helping of curiosity was a good idea, Asher would never understand. Didn’t big brothers have enough to do protecting and providing to deserve a break when it came to provoking personal questions?

Fergus tugged on Asher’s trouser leg. “Do ya? Have a gal on your mind?”

Instead of answering, Asher scooped a handful of water from the basin and tossed it at Fergus’s head.

About the Author

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.

More From Karen

Character Names and Word Games

One of my favorite parts of writing any book is finding the perfect names for my characters. Names are so important. They carry meaning and expectation. They add historical flavor and help create a picture in the reader’s mind about who that character is. They can also add hidden joy to a story for me as the author that may or may not be realized by the reader.

If the Boot Fits was inspired by the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. I give it a fresh western twist and mixed up the plot a bit, but it was important to me to fill this tale with subtle nods to the version I loved as a child. One of the main ways I did this was through the naming of my characters.

I worked hard to create names that would harken back to the original while still carrying meaning of their own. Instead of Cinderella, we have a hero named Asher Ellis—Ash being a synonym of Cinder, and Ellis playing off of Ella. For our heroine, I wanted something to play on the “charming” motif without being too on-the-nose. I ended up selecting Samantha Dearing—Dearing like endearing or charming. Samantha is the feminine version of Samuel which comes into play in the story since her father’s name is Eli. The three key older ladies of the story all of names inspired by royalty, as befits a fairy tale—Regina, Elizabeth, and Victoria. Asher’s step brothers are named Jonathan and Fergus. However, Jonathan goes by Jack, giving a nod to the mice from Disney’s Cinderella, Jaq and Gus. Asher’s horse is named Bruno in honor of the dog who saved Cinderella from the tower room. We have a cattle king with a foreman named Duke as well. Whether readers catch all of these nods or not, they made me as the author smile while writing the story.

Here’s another way to have fun with names and other key story elements. I’ve created a word search for you to enjoy. Have fun!

Click here to play.