This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Head in the Clouds
Bethany House; Original edition (October 1, 2010)
by
Karen Witemeyer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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, go to her website to listen to a podcast of that interview.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Head in the Clouds, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Head in the Clouds meets all my requirements for an ideal novel. Not only is it historical fiction, but it is set in Texas! The blend of history, romance, humor, and suspense makes it an almost perfect ten in my opinion. And let’s not forget the gorgeous cover. I absolutely loved the image on the back – such a perfect example of some of Adelaide’s humorous moments. I was tempted to scan it to include in this review but decided that you just have to see it for yourself. If you ever get this book in your hands, you probably won’t leave the bookstore without it.
Each and every one of the characters in Head in the Clouds was skillfully portrayed. Adelaide is both quirky and feisty with a heart full of love and compassion and a yearning for a family of her own. Gideon is an honorable and sensitive English gentleman but every bit a real man equipped to meet all the challenges of the west. And Mr. Bevin, Gideon’s faithful lawyer and loyal friend, just happens to have a few secret matchmaking plans in mind. The villains of the story are well depicted with realistic motives that drive them.
The story quickly pulled me in and the plot moved along at just the right pace with enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. I didn’t want to put it down until I reached the end but was disappointed when there was nothing left to read. I have truly enjoyed both Head in the Clouds and A Tailor-Made Bride and can only hope that Karen has a new release in the near future. She can’t write fast enough for me.
Be sure and check out the Character Corner and Links pages on Karen’s website for a wealth of interesting facts and resources about both her books.
