Book Review: Head in The Clouds

7 Feb

When a recovering romantic goes to work for a handsome ranch owner, her heart’s not the only thing in danger.

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America’s wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn’t uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon–and intrigues him at the same time. But he can’t afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.

When Isabella’s uncle comes to claim the child–and her inheritance–Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man’s evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

Excerpt


Karen Witemeyer is a deacon’s wife and mother of three who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.

After growing up in California, Karen moved to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University where she earned bachelor and master’s degrees in Psychology. It was also there that she met and married her own Texas hero. He roped her in good, for she has lived in Texas ever since. In fact, she fell so in love with this rugged land of sweeping sunsets and enduring pioneer spirit, that she incorporates it into the pages of her novels, setting her stories in the small towns of a state that burgeoned into greatness in the mid- to late 1800s.

Karen is living her dream by writing Christian historical romance novels for Bethany House. When she visited her publisher back in January of 2010, she was interviewed by the staff. If you’d like a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how she develops her story ideas and a description of her bumpy journey to publication, click here to listen to a podcast of that interview.

 

My Impressions:

Adelaide Proctor is a teacher filled with hopes and dreams and the promise of romance as depicted in Jane Eyre. Setting out to get her man, Adelaide soon learns that real life is rarely like her favorite novels.  So determined to follow God’s leading instead of her own whims, Adelaide takes a job as governess for the ward of Gideon Westcott, English gentleman turned sheep rancher.  Will following God get a happily-ever-after result?

Head in The Clouds is a sweet historical romance set in the Texas of 1883.  I found this book to be a light, fun read, perfect for fans of this genre.  I really enjoyed the character of Adelaide Proctor. She might have her head in the clouds but her feet are firmly planted in good sense and God’s truth. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a little history, a little romance and a big helping of God’s truth.

(I received Head inThe Clouds as part of Library Things Early Reviewer program.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.)


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