Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Author: Joanne Bischof DeWitt
Publisher: Tyndale
Release Date: October 7, 2025
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
An Appalachian farmer’s daughter and a wealthy businessman find a surprising love but must reckon with what divides them in this retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by the award-winning author of The Lady and the Lionheart .
New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family’s farm, securing a future for her and her sisters, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way without giving up treasured pieces of her family’s legacy. But when the mine is put up for sale, it’s clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor.
William Drake arrives focused on business and keeping his distance from the townspeople, especially those living on land entangled with the mine, including a farmer by the name of Bennet. As William digs through legal issues, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters.
Despite an awkward first meeting, Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, and soon Lizbeth questions her first impression of the man she believed to be proud and indifferent. But just as their friendship begins to evolve, a revelation shakes Lizbeth’s tenuous trust, and she learns all may not be as it seems. To determine what is true, and step toward a love she’s barely dared dream of, Lizbeth must confront her own prejudices . . . and decide whether the future she’s always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all.
An inspirational historical romance retelling of Pride and Prejudice for fans of Julie Klassen, Sally Britton, and Sarah E. Ladd. A clever, clean love story. Southern historical fiction in the vein of Michelle Shocklee and Pepper Basham. Includes discussion questions for book clubs.
Special Excerpt:
Lizbeth knew some fine colliers, but something in her heart longed for more than sweeping the porch steps on one of the rowhouses where miners and their families dwelled in the shadow of the coal company. A place where grime and dust tried to coat anything in its sight.
Lizbeth knew some fine colliers, but something in her heart longed for more than sweeping the porch steps on one of the rowhouses where miners and their families dwelled in the shadow of the coal company. A place where grime and dust tried to coat anything in its sight.
Was that the life she was meant for? Who was she to think that there might ever be
more?
Ma had fussed that she was headstrong. Pa dubbed her noble. And all the girls knew
her as well-read. Those weren’t particularly good qualifications for a bride. No. Men
around here needed women who could diaper a baby and store coins beneath the
mattress. Stretching provisions remained the order of the day, not reading books or
caring for her mules or hoping she could have a purpose that she’d been uniquely made
for.
Tilting the basket, Lizbeth searched for more chamomile, unable to believe that a man
might love her and her purpose. That he could need her for such. Especially since she
didn’t yet know what that purpose might be. Best she remain alone and live out a quiet
life right here, surrounded by her sisters and her beloved mules. Perhaps that was her
calling all along. Otherwise, she’d need to nail her dreams to the floor and go the way
that all young women in New River went. To be a miner’s wife, owing every cent her
husband made to the company store just for flour and salt.
Also Available:
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Tyndale Fiction | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub
About the Author
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Heart of Bennet Hollow and a $25 gift card to Amazon, Baker Book House, Christianbook, or Walmart!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 22, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 29, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
