"In Honor's Defense" by Karen Witemeyer - Hanger's Horsemen, book 3

Luke Davenport has been fighting all his life--for respect, for country, and most recently, for those unable to fight for themselves. But now that his Horsemen brothers are domesticated, he's left alone to battle the wildness within. When an opportunity arises to take a job on his own, he jumps at the chance. Damaris Baxter has mastered the art of invisibility. Plain and quiet, she hides in books and needlework, content to be overlooked. Until her brother dies suddenly, leaving her custody of her nephew. She moves to Texas to care for Nate, determined to create the family for herself that she never thought she'd have. When Nate stumbles into the path of the rustlers Luke is tracking, Luke acts to protect him and winds up gravely injured. Feeling indebted, Damaris nurses Luke back to health. But suspicions grow regarding the death of her brother. And the more questions they ask, the more danger appears, threatening the family Luke may be unable to live without.

This was an excellent book. Not as funny as some of the others by Witemeyer, but I really enjoyed the depth to the characters and the journeys they go through. Damaris is one of the most relatable heroines I've seen; not terribly pretty, not outstanding in any field, out of her depth in violence and danger--mostly just normal. But she's also tenacious and smart, and she doesn't give in to evil. Luke is a bit of a paradox, but in a very realistic way (a lot like some people I've known); he can quote bible verses from sunup to sundown, and he has no trouble relying on the Lord, but he still struggles with feelings of unworthiness. Finally--and most impressively--Nate is a believable kid; he's not cute and precocious, he's not easy to fix. He's just an angry young teen who's rebelling out of grief and anger. Having known kids with similar attitude problems, I can sympathize with Damaris's helplessness in his situation. It's hard to wield authority when the person you're trying to guide won't allow you to have any. 

It was fun to see the Horsemen back together in the end. I enjoyed the series, but this book especially!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Hanger's Horsemen
1. At Love's Command
2. The Heart's Charge
3. In Honor's Defense