In Honor's Defense by Karen Witemeyer Book Blog Tour

 

IN HONOR'S DEFENSE

Hanger's Horsemen, #3
by
KAREN WITEMEYER

Fiction / Christian / Historical / Inspirational
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Date of Publication: June 7, 2022
Number of Pages: 384 pages 

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He's Faced Countless Perils on the Battlefield, but Nothing so Dangerous as Falling in Love.

Luke Davenport has been fighting all his life--for respect, for country, and 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, tracking down a group of rustlers, 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 Nathaniel, determined to create the family for herself that she never thought she'd have and to give him the family he desperately needs.

When Nate finds himself knee-deep in trouble, Luke's attempt to protect him leaves Damaris feeling indebted to the Horseman. But suspicions grow regarding the mysterious death of Damaris's brother. And the more questions they ask, the more danger appears, threatening the family Luke may be unable to live without.

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The Making of a Cover

Guest Post

By Karen Witemeyer

The final installment in the Hanger's Horsemen trilogy has arrived! As an artist who paints pictures with words, I never fail to be in awe of the artists who take my words and use them to paint an actual picture.

Covers are so important to a book. It's the first impression the story makes on the reader. It needs to convey genre, time period, and hint at the plot all while grabbing the reader's attention with something fresh and intriguing. Such a challenge!

Authors working with a traditional publisher have much less say in the cover design process than authors who indie publish. The publisher's marketing, sales, and editorial teams work together with the design team to craft a compelling cover. I'm more than grateful to have the help.

At the beginning of the process, my project manager asks me for story details, physical descriptions of the characters and setting, and any ideas I have for cover design. Yet that is where my input ends until the very last stages of the design process. Here is the final product we arrived at for Luke Davenport's story.


I love the end result. However, this cover went through several revisions during its journey to perfection. Below on the left is the original cover my publisher sent me. I liked the model and the background was gorgeous, but it didn't really tell a story. It was a little too static. And having the hero's back turned didn't feel terribly inviting. So I asked if there was a way to create more of a sense of movement and story. They came back with Version 2. Seeing more of the hunky model was a plus, but what really got my attention was the addition of the three cowboys in the distance. Such a small thing, but it was genius. Exactly what this cover needed. Are they the other three Horsemen racing to join Luke in his fight for justice? Or are they the gang of rustlers causing havoc in Madisonville, Texas? Could be either one. You decide!

The last change I asked for was in the color of his vest and hat. In the current version, the brown vest and light tan hat are nearly identical to the ones worn by the model for the first book in the series. I wanted the men to feel distinct and carry their own personalities. So in the final version, you will see that the vest is blue and the hat is a darker shade of brown. Just the type of change I was looking for! They also added a bit more vegetation in the foreground for an extra pop of color. I'm so pleased with the final product!

Can you tell that I took inspiration for my hero from a pair of football players? I modeled Luke's physical appearance on a cross between Howie Long and JJ Watt—one from my generation and one who is actively playing. I think the model they found pairs well with the image I was envisioning.

Now that the series is complete, I thought you would enjoy seeing all the covers side by side.


They look good together, don't you think?
Which cover is your favorite of the series?
 


Voted #1 Reader's Favorite Christian Romance Author of 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
 ONE WINNER! 
All three books in the HANGER’S HORSEMEN SERIES
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 7/8/2022)

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:

6/28/22

Notable Quotables

Chapter Break Book Blog

6/28/22

BONUS Promo

Hall Ways Blog

6/28/22

Review

It's Not All Gravy

6/29/22

Guest Post

KayBee's Book Shelf

6/29/22

Review

The Plain-Spoken Pen

6/29/22

BONUS Promo

LSBBT Blog

6/30/22

Author Interview

The Adventures of a Travelers Wife

7/1/22

Scrapbook Page

The Page Unbound

7/1/22

Review

Shelf Life Blog

7/2/22

Excerpt

All the Ups and Downs

7/3/22

Excerpt

Reading by Moonlight

7/4/22

Review

StoreyBook Reviews

7/5/22

Series Spotlight

Writing and Music

7/6/22

Review

The Clueless Gent

7/6/22

Excerpt

Forgotten Winds

7/7/22

Review

Book Fidelity

7/7/22

Review

Rox Burkey Blog


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