Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer - Texas Ever After, book 1

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters--and her jealous mistress plotting her demise. After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young woman found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather's ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her. With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope's acting troupe. The evidence points to her guilt, but Titus's heart divines a different truth--one that might just get Penelope killed.

I've read a lot of fairy tale retellings, including various versions of Snow White, which, admittedly, is not my favorite fairy tale. For all that there is no magic or supernatural element in this version, it is definitely the best retelling of Snow White that I've read. It pays homage to the Disney version more so than the Grimm original, but the Snow White elements mesh surprisingly well with the very western thievery case, spearheaded by our kingly (as it were) Texas Ranger hero (who gets a lot more character development than the prince in either Disney or Grimm's stories. As does their relationship and romance).

It's plain cute, and highly satisfying--a faith-filled, fairy tale, western, historical romance.

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.

Texas Ever After
1. Fairest of Heart
2. If the Boot Fits
3. Cloaked in Beauty