From the moment I picked up A Tailor-Made Bride, I was thoroughly captivated. In fact, I had a hard time believing that this book was Karen Witemeyer's debut novel! It seems that only a seasoned writer could have penned a work so beautifully knit together.

Jericho Tucker (or "J.T." as he's known in his small Texas town) likes things simple. This roguishly handsome, yet unsmiling, stoic liveryman condemns anything having to do with the slightest hint of vanity. Anyone who places a priority on outward beauty must be shallow-- or so he thinks. His world gets riled up something fierce when Hannah Richards, a talented and very beautiful seamstress, sets up a dress shop a little too close for comfort.

Hannah Richards sees nothing wrong with having a profession devoted to helping women add beauty to their lives. Though highly independent and fashionably tailored, she proves herself time and time again to be a woman of integrity. Determined to succeed in Coventry, Texas, she tries her best to fit in despite the tension between Mr. Tucker and herself.

Things really heat up when Hannah befriends J.T.'s younger sister and starts changing the way she looks--for the better of course--but Jericho isn't so sure. When tragedy strikes will J.T. change his tune, or will he let bitterness from the past keep him from showing his true feelings?

This novel is a must-read for anyone (mature teens and up) who loves a great historical romance with a Christian emphasis. Also, it is set in the 1800s, which is one of my favorite time periods in history. I liked A Tailor-Made Bride so much that I promptly checked out some of the other recommended reading material listed in the back of the book.

Reading A Tailor-Made Bride has renewed my passion for sweet love stories, and you can be sure that I will be keeping an eye out for Witemeyer's next book, Head in the Clouds, due to come out this October.

Product review by Brandi Tesreau, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, August 2010