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Head in the Clouds
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?
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?
366 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
About the author
Karen Witemeyer
48 books3,953 followersFor those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline.
Karen also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.
Karen also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 742 reviews
May 3, 2018
👏 ALL 👏 THE 👏 FEELS 👏
Towards the end of March I just felt like I needed to re-read something on my shelves. (Crazy, I know! Considering the piles of unread books I own) But sometimes you just need to grab a favorite and revisit that wonderful world. I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted, but I just knew I wanted something. (Sounds like me when I'm hungry 😏)
A few weeks ago I talked about some life changes on my booktube channel. One of those being me becoming a live-in nanny to two crazy, but also adorable toddlers.
So I knew I wanted to re-read, I've been in the mood for a Karen Witemeyer book, and I wanted something with a governess or something in it. BAM! I was home last weekend so I grabbed the PERFECT match for me: Head in the Clouds.
Every time I read this book it. gets. better! I don't even know how it's possible, but I'm so glad it is!
The plot. The characters. The banter. The suspense. The romance.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
A young woman who was so in love with the idea of love she threw cation to the wind, only to be heartbroken when reality hits her upside the head like a fryin' pan!
Somethin' about Addie just made me smile constantly! Maybe it's the fact that she ALWAYS wears yellow. (Didn't know that many shades exist, but I'm very happy they do) Or maybe it was her quirkiness. Or maybe her "daddy didn't raise no hothouse flower" attitude. Whatever it was I adored it, and I want to be her best friend! PLUS she was a bookworm, I mean c'mon if that doesn't seal it I don't know what will!
Though she had so many FANTASTIC attributes ,she had one major downfall. She moved to fast, and on her own terms. She didn't wait for God's timing or will. And honestly this is a downfall I share with her. Sometimes I get so caught up in my day-to-day life, that I forget to slow down and listen. To take time to simply WAIT.
This book, though light and fun and giggly and just all goodness, made me sit up and pay attention. I love how Addie learned to wait upon God, and learned to trust Him no matter His timing, knowing it's ALWAYS perfect. It made me reexamine and want to change how I wait.
I also LOVE Karen's use of the cloud in this story, her small take on the children of Israel in the desert. It was such a great symbol, and was used marvelously!
Gideon. (Be still my ever beating heart)
Here's a quick tid-bit about Alysha...she's not a fan of British accents. I hear the gasps, I know. HOWEVER! If I had a Gideon stumble into my life, I'd learn to love his accent. Okay?! He was SUCH an amazing character, and he shall be my book boyfriend for eternity. (I CALL DIBS! 😉)
He took in a young girl out of the kindness of his own heart, and loved her like a daughter. Though he was born an English gentleman (a baron's son no less) he still wanted to make his way in the world, and knew he'd have to get his hands dirty to do it. He loved God, his English family, his makeshift American family, his land, his horse, and his flock. He was just so full of love, laid back and down to earth. He was a protector, a knight in shining armor. I just love him! And the dimples don't bother me either. 😍
On top of downright loving the main characters, I loved the rest of the cast - save the bad guys -
They were fun & relatable! They just felt like a smorgasbord of a family. It was great!
This book hit ALL the sweet spots, and I'm so glad I picked it up. It was the most perfect thing, thank you Karen! 💕 This will forever be a favorite & I know I will be re-reading this and recommending for YEARS to come!
OF COURSE this was 5/5 star read! Though I think it deserves all the stars.
Towards the end of March I just felt like I needed to re-read something on my shelves. (Crazy, I know! Considering the piles of unread books I own) But sometimes you just need to grab a favorite and revisit that wonderful world. I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted, but I just knew I wanted something. (Sounds like me when I'm hungry 😏)
A few weeks ago I talked about some life changes on my booktube channel. One of those being me becoming a live-in nanny to two crazy, but also adorable toddlers.
So I knew I wanted to re-read, I've been in the mood for a Karen Witemeyer book, and I wanted something with a governess or something in it. BAM! I was home last weekend so I grabbed the PERFECT match for me: Head in the Clouds.
Every time I read this book it. gets. better! I don't even know how it's possible, but I'm so glad it is!
The plot. The characters. The banter. The suspense. The romance.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
A young woman who was so in love with the idea of love she threw cation to the wind, only to be heartbroken when reality hits her upside the head like a fryin' pan!
Somethin' about Addie just made me smile constantly! Maybe it's the fact that she ALWAYS wears yellow. (Didn't know that many shades exist, but I'm very happy they do) Or maybe it was her quirkiness. Or maybe her "daddy didn't raise no hothouse flower" attitude. Whatever it was I adored it, and I want to be her best friend! PLUS she was a bookworm, I mean c'mon if that doesn't seal it I don't know what will!
Though she had so many FANTASTIC attributes ,she had one major downfall. She moved to fast, and on her own terms. She didn't wait for God's timing or will. And honestly this is a downfall I share with her. Sometimes I get so caught up in my day-to-day life, that I forget to slow down and listen. To take time to simply WAIT.
This book, though light and fun and giggly and just all goodness, made me sit up and pay attention. I love how Addie learned to wait upon God, and learned to trust Him no matter His timing, knowing it's ALWAYS perfect. It made me reexamine and want to change how I wait.
I also LOVE Karen's use of the cloud in this story, her small take on the children of Israel in the desert. It was such a great symbol, and was used marvelously!
Gideon. (Be still my ever beating heart)
Here's a quick tid-bit about Alysha...she's not a fan of British accents. I hear the gasps, I know. HOWEVER! If I had a Gideon stumble into my life, I'd learn to love his accent. Okay?! He was SUCH an amazing character, and he shall be my book boyfriend for eternity. (I CALL DIBS! 😉)
He took in a young girl out of the kindness of his own heart, and loved her like a daughter. Though he was born an English gentleman (a baron's son no less) he still wanted to make his way in the world, and knew he'd have to get his hands dirty to do it. He loved God, his English family, his makeshift American family, his land, his horse, and his flock. He was just so full of love, laid back and down to earth. He was a protector, a knight in shining armor. I just love him! And the dimples don't bother me either. 😍
On top of downright loving the main characters, I loved the rest of the cast - save the bad guys -
They were fun & relatable! They just felt like a smorgasbord of a family. It was great!
This book hit ALL the sweet spots, and I'm so glad I picked it up. It was the most perfect thing, thank you Karen! 💕 This will forever be a favorite & I know I will be re-reading this and recommending for YEARS to come!
OF COURSE this was 5/5 star read! Though I think it deserves all the stars.
May 22, 2011
Adelaide is a romantic. A rancher’s daughter, former schoolteacher, and Jane-Eyre-loving daydreamer who only wears yellow and takes her horse, Sheba, wherever she goes.
First to town. Where things DON’T proceed in Jane-Eyre-esque fashion.
And then, on a spur of the moment compulsion . . .
To the Westcott ranch.
Where she runs straight into Gideon Westcott.
Who already has one unfathomable girl under his roof (five-year-old Isabella, who hasn’t spoken since her mother’s death).
And now most certainly has two.
Head in the Clouds is in many ways a classic western shootout. With range wars, a dastardly plotting villain, and an orphan heiress. But what I LOVED about this book was Adelaide.
This is my second Karen Witemeyer read. And I foresee many more.
First to town. Where things DON’T proceed in Jane-Eyre-esque fashion.
And then, on a spur of the moment compulsion . . .
To the Westcott ranch.
Where she runs straight into Gideon Westcott.
Who already has one unfathomable girl under his roof (five-year-old Isabella, who hasn’t spoken since her mother’s death).
And now most certainly has two.
Head in the Clouds is in many ways a classic western shootout. With range wars, a dastardly plotting villain, and an orphan heiress. But what I LOVED about this book was Adelaide.
This is my second Karen Witemeyer read. And I foresee many more.
December 31, 2020
Very, very unsure how to rate this one, so I will go with a three-stars-is-good-middle-ground approach, since I liked it enough to finish it...but barely.
I picked this up while I was in the middle of a huge reading block, after I started becoming a little "tired" of reading (THE HORROR!) since I spent entire days at work doing just that. I needed something fun and uplifting and romantic, and remembering my pleasant encounter with To Win Her Heart a few months ago, thought this would be just the thing.
I LOVED the first third or so. It was SO GOOD. Adelaide had me at romantic-daydreamer-looking-for-her-own-Mr. Rochester, wearing sunny yellow dresses, arriving on some guy's ranch unconsciously ready to charm him and his ward.
There was character, there was depth, there was warmth, there was sweet, sweet romance. There was governess and child heart-melting bonding, there were fluffy sheep, horseraces along the river, and evening parties in fancy clothes. It was such a fun, uplifting read that I started reading all the time again.
BUT THEN.
Then the author comes out with this super implausible, in-your-face-cliché-obvious-dastardly-plot about some English guy setting out to kill everyone in the way of guardianship of the ward (for money, of course). And I was absolutely 0/10 interested in it. I skimmed entire chapters because I was so uninvested in this bizarre action plot that absolutely did not have its place in that sweet and sunny story. (Not that sweet and sunny stories need be without any misadventures or anything, but this was *heavily* exaggerated and didn't fit the tone of the book AT ALL.)
I JUST WANTED THE CUTE ROMANCE.
Adelaide and Gideon were SO perfect for each other and SO sweet together, but their biggest obstacles were far-fetched and the ones that really mattered were glossed over. I seriously considered DNFing at 60% when , because at that point the romance very much faded into the background to give full range to The Crazy Plot, and I didn't really feel like reading 40% more of that.
Then out of some weird sense of loyalty to Adelaide and Gideon for having been pretty wonderful in the first chapters of the book, I decided to finally forge on (but also because it's December and I needed ONE more book to finish my 2020 reading challenge, something that hasn't happened IN A LONG TIME!!). I skimmed, skimmed, skimmed, until FINALLY , the villain is vanquished and they all live happily-ever-after.
SUCH A HOPEFUL BEGINNING FOR SUCH AN UNECESSARILY ACTION-DRIVEN PLOT. #bringbacksweetromance #keepitsunny #notoclichédvillains
Am I the only one who thought this book was disjointed??! It started out so well and then took an entirely different direction. I was ready for Jane Eyre on a ranch, and instead I got...decidedly not Jane Eyre.
My hopes are next pinned on A Tailor-Made Bride, it sounds so blissful and there is dressmaking involved, so fingers crossed there are no random mustache-twirly-villains and kidnapping plots!
I picked this up while I was in the middle of a huge reading block, after I started becoming a little "tired" of reading (THE HORROR!) since I spent entire days at work doing just that. I needed something fun and uplifting and romantic, and remembering my pleasant encounter with To Win Her Heart a few months ago, thought this would be just the thing.
I LOVED the first third or so. It was SO GOOD. Adelaide had me at romantic-daydreamer-looking-for-her-own-Mr. Rochester, wearing sunny yellow dresses, arriving on some guy's ranch unconsciously ready to charm him and his ward.
There was character, there was depth, there was warmth, there was sweet, sweet romance. There was governess and child heart-melting bonding, there were fluffy sheep, horseraces along the river, and evening parties in fancy clothes. It was such a fun, uplifting read that I started reading all the time again.
BUT THEN.
Then the author comes out with this super implausible, in-your-face-cliché-obvious-dastardly-plot about some English guy setting out to kill everyone in the way of guardianship of the ward (for money, of course). And I was absolutely 0/10 interested in it. I skimmed entire chapters because I was so uninvested in this bizarre action plot that absolutely did not have its place in that sweet and sunny story. (Not that sweet and sunny stories need be without any misadventures or anything, but this was *heavily* exaggerated and didn't fit the tone of the book AT ALL.)
I JUST WANTED THE CUTE ROMANCE.
Adelaide and Gideon were SO perfect for each other and SO sweet together, but their biggest obstacles were far-fetched and the ones that really mattered were glossed over. I seriously considered DNFing at 60% when , because at that point the romance very much faded into the background to give full range to The Crazy Plot, and I didn't really feel like reading 40% more of that.
Then out of some weird sense of loyalty to Adelaide and Gideon for having been pretty wonderful in the first chapters of the book, I decided to finally forge on (but also because it's December and I needed ONE more book to finish my 2020 reading challenge, something that hasn't happened IN A LONG TIME!!). I skimmed, skimmed, skimmed, until FINALLY , the villain is vanquished and they all live happily-ever-after.
SUCH A HOPEFUL BEGINNING FOR SUCH AN UNECESSARILY ACTION-DRIVEN PLOT. #bringbacksweetromance #keepitsunny #notoclichédvillains
Am I the only one who thought this book was disjointed??! It started out so well and then took an entirely different direction. I was ready for Jane Eyre on a ranch, and instead I got...decidedly not Jane Eyre.
My hopes are next pinned on A Tailor-Made Bride, it sounds so blissful and there is dressmaking involved, so fingers crossed there are no random mustache-twirly-villains and kidnapping plots!
July 18, 2022
This book was so much fun.
Adelaide is such a whimsical character who literally does have her head in the clouds at times. Her bookwormish ways also play a key part in her personality, which was fun and bright and sparkles and sunshine. She loves Jane Eyre, a book I despise, so I didn't connect on that level, but someone who actually likes that classic will understand the connection.
Gideon is a delightful hero and I adored his protectiveness of Bella. We need more main male characters who are like that. I also liked the uniqueness behind his character: his origins, his nationality, and how that shaped him.
The plot is spot-on. In typical Witemeyer style, we are treated to a fantastic blend of faith, romance, and action. I have four words to say to you, Mr. Antagonist: You. Utterly. Despicable. Cretin. Good riddance regarding how your story wrapped up.
The setting, too, is well-written. I have never been to Texas, and never really want to because I'm not fond of heat and tornadoes, but the way it was described in this book made it sound idyllic.
My one complaint is personal and certainly does not detract from the five star rating of this book. I understand many women are short. I understand many are light enough to be twirled and spun around by super-strong heroes. Being a tall girl, I'm just personally not fond of the whole "lightweight petite with a perfect figure". Regardless, that doesn't hinder the story in any way. It is a mere personal preference. (But I would really like to see more tall girls.)
Head in the Clouds is an enjoyable historical romance you need to add to your TBR.
Adelaide is such a whimsical character who literally does have her head in the clouds at times. Her bookwormish ways also play a key part in her personality, which was fun and bright and sparkles and sunshine. She loves Jane Eyre, a book I despise, so I didn't connect on that level, but someone who actually likes that classic will understand the connection.
Gideon is a delightful hero and I adored his protectiveness of Bella. We need more main male characters who are like that. I also liked the uniqueness behind his character: his origins, his nationality, and how that shaped him.
The plot is spot-on. In typical Witemeyer style, we are treated to a fantastic blend of faith, romance, and action. I have four words to say to you, Mr. Antagonist: You. Utterly. Despicable. Cretin. Good riddance regarding how your story wrapped up.
The setting, too, is well-written. I have never been to Texas, and never really want to because I'm not fond of heat and tornadoes, but the way it was described in this book made it sound idyllic.
My one complaint is personal and certainly does not detract from the five star rating of this book. I understand many women are short. I understand many are light enough to be twirled and spun around by super-strong heroes. Being a tall girl, I'm just personally not fond of the whole "lightweight petite with a perfect figure". Regardless, that doesn't hinder the story in any way. It is a mere personal preference. (But I would really like to see more tall girls.)
Head in the Clouds is an enjoyable historical romance you need to add to your TBR.
May 9, 2023
Aww! This story was really good! I liked it quite a bit. It had a cool feel, and the audio narrative wasn't horrible, which was nice. The English accent was actually quite impressive.
Characters:
Adelaide was like me in an extroverted form...lol...bookish, says the wrong things a lot then tries to explain her way out, making it even worse. Yep, been there done that. So I could relate a lot with that.
Gideon was such a cool character! I loved that he was an English man that was super cool. But I also liked how his friend James called him Gid!
Themes:
Trusting God even when the outcome is bleak... realizing that as much as we want to protect the ones we love, ultimately, it's up to the Almighty.
Language:
N/A
Romance:
This is a romance, so there were kisses, some touching, and nearness mentions... I never like the mentions of husbandry duties just because...well, I don't need to know that. But overall, it was a pretty chill romance.
Overall:
I enjoyed the book! I will say for the amount of tension and action in the second half of this book, Head in the Clouds felt like a very...um, not so fitting name...lol...but it was still good.
Oh, and in the final scenes there were a few things I didn't get like why Adelaide threw her rifle to Miguel instead of keeping it to fight with or why when Gid ran out of bullets he just tossed his gun aside. Pistols make pretty decent clubs, so I don't understand why he threw aside something that could have been used as a weapon. I mean, just saying...
I also find it funny when the men tell the women they aren't coming their staying or going back to the ranch where they'll be safe, and then women argues and they get to come... that would never fly with the men in my family...haha...
But again, overall, it was a good story. :)
Characters:
Adelaide was like me in an extroverted form...lol...bookish, says the wrong things a lot then tries to explain her way out, making it even worse. Yep, been there done that. So I could relate a lot with that.
Gideon was such a cool character! I loved that he was an English man that was super cool. But I also liked how his friend James called him Gid!
Themes:
Trusting God even when the outcome is bleak... realizing that as much as we want to protect the ones we love, ultimately, it's up to the Almighty.
Language:
N/A
Romance:
This is a romance, so there were kisses, some touching, and nearness mentions... I never like the mentions of husbandry duties just because...well, I don't need to know that. But overall, it was a pretty chill romance.
Overall:
I enjoyed the book! I will say for the amount of tension and action in the second half of this book, Head in the Clouds felt like a very...um, not so fitting name...lol...but it was still good.
Oh, and in the final scenes there were a few things I didn't get like why Adelaide threw her rifle to Miguel instead of keeping it to fight with or why when Gid ran out of bullets he just tossed his gun aside. Pistols make pretty decent clubs, so I don't understand why he threw aside something that could have been used as a weapon. I mean, just saying...
I also find it funny when the men tell the women they aren't coming their staying or going back to the ranch where they'll be safe, and then women argues and they get to come... that would never fly with the men in my family...haha...
But again, overall, it was a good story. :)
February 20, 2014
This is a story set in Texas in the late 1800s. Miss Adelaide Proctor took a job as a teacher after her father died, and part of the conditions of the contract were that she wasn’t allowed to marry for 2 years. At the end of this time, the potential suitors who she met when she first came into town have moved on. Adelaide has no family and she dreams of starting a family of her own, so she’s been concentrating her efforts on a young man called Henry, whom she doesn’t love, but likes enough to see as a potential husband. Henry works as a travelling salesman, so Adelaide only sees him about once a month, and when he gets a promotion he tells her he won’t be in the area again. Adelaide believes Henry is too shy to propose, so she decides to give him some encouragement, resigning her job and followings him to a new town where she is met with disappointment.
Adelaide needs a new job quickly, and is lucky enough to be given a chance of being a governess to Gideon Westcott’s 5 year old daughter, Isabella. The poor child lost her mother 5 months ago, and has been mute ever since. She is absolutely crushed by her grief, and Gideon isn’t so much looking for a teacher for Isabella, but somebody who will bring her back to a normal childhood. Adelaide is no stranger to grief and she and Isabella immediately bond. Adelaide also feels a strong pull towards Gideon, but she’s getting her head out of the clouds this time; he’s her employer, the son of an English baron, and she’s not exactly marriage material he’s likely to be looking for. In addition to this Adelaide is under the belief that Gideon’s wife has just died, not realising that he adopted the orphaned Isabella.
Adelaide is a great character, she is fun, hard-working, brave, sensible and sweet. Her father used to call her his sunshine, and it’s an apt nickname, she is a very sunny soul! She has a genuine affection for Isabella and is patient with her, trying to draw her out of her shell and come out from the shadow her experiences have cast on her short life. Adelaide and Gideon’s attraction towards each other is almost instant, but it’s still believable, and you are rooting for them to get together when it becomes apparent that there is a very real danger threatening Isabella, and they have to work together to fight it off. There is quite a bit of action going on in this book, and I was riveted to the page!
This book has a strong Christian theme, but I didn’t feel it was too much; Adelaide in particular has a bit of a spiritual journey in this book, starting off by being almost impatient with God for how her life is, and moving towards the realisation that rather than asking God to give her certain things in life she should instead have been asking for courage to do what needs to be done and patience to wait when needed.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I would definitely read other books by her, I really enjoyed this read.
Adelaide needs a new job quickly, and is lucky enough to be given a chance of being a governess to Gideon Westcott’s 5 year old daughter, Isabella. The poor child lost her mother 5 months ago, and has been mute ever since. She is absolutely crushed by her grief, and Gideon isn’t so much looking for a teacher for Isabella, but somebody who will bring her back to a normal childhood. Adelaide is no stranger to grief and she and Isabella immediately bond. Adelaide also feels a strong pull towards Gideon, but she’s getting her head out of the clouds this time; he’s her employer, the son of an English baron, and she’s not exactly marriage material he’s likely to be looking for. In addition to this Adelaide is under the belief that Gideon’s wife has just died, not realising that he adopted the orphaned Isabella.
Adelaide is a great character, she is fun, hard-working, brave, sensible and sweet. Her father used to call her his sunshine, and it’s an apt nickname, she is a very sunny soul! She has a genuine affection for Isabella and is patient with her, trying to draw her out of her shell and come out from the shadow her experiences have cast on her short life. Adelaide and Gideon’s attraction towards each other is almost instant, but it’s still believable, and you are rooting for them to get together when it becomes apparent that there is a very real danger threatening Isabella, and they have to work together to fight it off. There is quite a bit of action going on in this book, and I was riveted to the page!
This book has a strong Christian theme, but I didn’t feel it was too much; Adelaide in particular has a bit of a spiritual journey in this book, starting off by being almost impatient with God for how her life is, and moving towards the realisation that rather than asking God to give her certain things in life she should instead have been asking for courage to do what needs to be done and patience to wait when needed.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I would definitely read other books by her, I really enjoyed this read.
January 11, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. It is so cheesy and fluffy (maybe even too cheesy?), but sometimes its good to get a little bit of a break from serious stuff
I myself am a romantic, so I could completely relate to Adelaide in her longing for fluffy romantic relationship.
I loved how things that were sort of unclear in the beginning of this book made complete sense later on. The story was so sweet and though it was (obviously) predictable, the sense of danger and suspense sort of propelled you through this "journey" of wondering if the heroine and hero will "finally" be together. I also liked how Adelaide does exactly as the title suggests, spending her mornings and afternoons off with her head in the clouds, reading the love stories of Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre. I also really loved how Karen incorporated the cover into her story. It's something that isn't seen very often that I really loved.
There was really nothing I really disliked about the book, although I did get a little bored reading from Reginald's point of view at times.
Language - Clean
Romance - Clean and sweet, though did mention several times about "husbandly duties".
There is mention of rape, and has quite a bit of violence spotted throughout the book.
I purchased this book myself. All opinions are my own
I myself am a romantic, so I could completely relate to Adelaide in her longing for fluffy romantic relationship.
I loved how things that were sort of unclear in the beginning of this book made complete sense later on. The story was so sweet and though it was (obviously) predictable, the sense of danger and suspense sort of propelled you through this "journey" of wondering if the heroine and hero will "finally" be together. I also liked how Adelaide does exactly as the title suggests, spending her mornings and afternoons off with her head in the clouds, reading the love stories of Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre. I also really loved how Karen incorporated the cover into her story. It's something that isn't seen very often that I really loved.
There was really nothing I really disliked about the book, although I did get a little bored reading from Reginald's point of view at times.
Language - Clean
Romance - Clean and sweet, though did mention several times about "husbandly duties".
There is mention of rape, and has quite a bit of violence spotted throughout the book.
I purchased this book myself. All opinions are my own
March 18, 2011
These characters are the sort of people I might befriend in real life---to watch my plants when I'm out of town, if for no other reason---but they're too perfect to be really interesting as fictional characters. And since God makes all their decisions for them, they can't even really claim some of the virtues I enjoy in my heroes and heroines: courage, intelligence, common sense. Don't get me wrong: I appreciate strong faith in my characters, but if God is going to send them signs and wonders to keep them on the right track, where's the challenge? How do they grow as either characters or Christians? And why aren't they studying their Bible instead of going on what they "feel" God wants them to do? YMMV, of course---especially when it comes to religious novels---but this just isn't my sort of Christian fiction.
March 31, 2016
This was a sit-back-and-enjoy sort of book with a satisfying ending. I'm pretty sure I'd have enjoyed it even more if I could have had a hard copy instead of a library ebook...but it was fun anyway. It's hard to believe I've read nearly all of Karen Witemeyer's books in just a few weeks.
One of my favorite scenes was right after the hero was wounded...I'm sure I'll reread that last third of the book when I get the chance! And I really loved the heroine's love of yellow dresses. It seemed so much a definition of who she was as a person.
One of my favorite scenes was right after the hero was wounded...I'm sure I'll reread that last third of the book when I get the chance! And I really loved the heroine's love of yellow dresses. It seemed so much a definition of who she was as a person.
November 2, 2020
2020 Reread: I’ve read this many times since first reading it as a teenager & I still adore it. Adelaide is one of my favorite Witemeyer heroines. She is so spunky & such a romantic; I can’t help but identify with her & love her as well.💕 I am a sucker for governess-falls-in-love-with-the-Dad trope so this one set in Texas with a British rancher is a sure win. Gideon is an awesome hero who is polished yet still masculine & has a heart of gold. His love for Bella is so sweet.
Rereading it now that I’m older & I’ve read it several times I’m not sure I would give it 5 stars ⭐️ but I’m going to keep it there since it’s a forever on my bookshelf keeper & it was a five star read for me when I first read it as a teen. While reading it this time I wished there was more depth to the romance between Adelaide & Gideon. It felt like it was just missing a little something more... but I’ll always enjoy this one!💕
I love the cover of this book so much! I wish her book covers looked more like her older ones🥺. I’m not a fan of her new covers☹️.
Rereading it now that I’m older & I’ve read it several times I’m not sure I would give it 5 stars ⭐️ but I’m going to keep it there since it’s a forever on my bookshelf keeper & it was a five star read for me when I first read it as a teen. While reading it this time I wished there was more depth to the romance between Adelaide & Gideon. It felt like it was just missing a little something more... but I’ll always enjoy this one!💕
I love the cover of this book so much! I wish her book covers looked more like her older ones🥺. I’m not a fan of her new covers☹️.
August 17, 2016
This book was a quick, light read. Very predictable, with a happy ending. I wish the author had created more depth to the characters to make me want to care about them more. Unfortunately the story just fell "flat"for me. It was a simple read though,with some nice reminders on how we should trust God more and truly seek his will instead of our own desires. It was an ok read, just not great.
July 25, 2015
This book has been on my to-read shelf since 2011 so when I finally spotted it at the library, I jumped at the chance to knock another book off that shelf. I definitely had higher expectations for it. A governess story written Jane Eyre-esque? Mmm, mmm, mmm...possibility.
Head in the Clouds is one of the most obtuse, self-aware books I have ever read. It would be an incredibly satirical novel if it didn't take itself so seriously.
Plot
Adelaide Proctor (I admit, I loved her name from the start) seeks the perfect story-book husband and family. She head is full of Mr. Rochester and Mr. Darcy. After a humiliating "husband hunting debacle", she moves to middle over nowhere Texas to be the governess for a 5 year old girl named Isabella. The girl's guardian is the hawt, British, noble-blooded, very unattached Gideon Westcott, a sheep rancher.
I assume I don't have to tell you how that goes.
However, to add some substance (if not believability) to this plot, Isabella's super evil, biological uncle shows up to claim her and her inheritance. *cue bad guy song*
Thoughts
Basically, the author decided to combine the hero from a British classic novel with the old West. Which actually isn't such a bad idea. In fact, my snarky irritation aside, this was kind of a cute read.
I really did like Adelaide and her dreamy outlook on the world. She's always constructing new daydreams and it was fun to see her interaction with Isabella.
However, she's just so...perfect. Oh, she has your typical Christian romance heroine flaws. She's "impetuous" (which everyone apparently loves) and "stubborn" and gets herself in trouble because she "cares so much for those around her."
And she can ride a horse really well.
And she can sew like a boss.
And she loves to read.
And she loves kids/kids love her.
Adelaide was just too perfect. While she could be adorable in that perfection, anything deeper rang false. It was hard to connect with any of her emotions towards God because none of them fit her.
Gideon...*eye roll* Insert typical dreamy love interest, give him a British accent, and you have Gideon.
Also, while I'm talking characters, Isabella did not sound or act much like a 5 year old. I suppose all the trauma in her life would make her act more mature but still. She was hard to believe.
Overall it was cutesy except that the themes running through the story were so irrelevant.
Like Adelaide's continual effort to leave behind her dream for a fantasy-like prince. She says she is going to drop it and then she picks it back up again. And Gideon IS a fantasy like prince so she gets all she could ever want. What are we supposed to get from this? That you shouldn't stop dreaming for Mr. Darcy because he is probably on a ranch somewhere? On the one hand, the story says no one is perfect yet on the other hand it presents the perfect, flawless love interest for the heroine. Well, which is it?!
Also, all the Jane Eyre references IN the story made it hard to appreciate this as a Jane Eyre-esque novel in general. When the main character keeps comparing herself to Jane Eyre, the theme goes from subtle to wack-you-upside-the-head.
Overall I might have liked it better if our Princess Heroine had actually learned from her previous flights of fantasy and actually learned that men are human too. But instead we leave her just as flighty and fawning over the hero as we found her, almost worse in fact. She contrasts her life to stories and fairy tales, chides herself for being silly, yet exists in a fairy tale herself.
Head in the Clouds is one of the most obtuse, self-aware books I have ever read. It would be an incredibly satirical novel if it didn't take itself so seriously.
Plot
Adelaide Proctor (I admit, I loved her name from the start) seeks the perfect story-book husband and family. She head is full of Mr. Rochester and Mr. Darcy. After a humiliating "husband hunting debacle", she moves to middle over nowhere Texas to be the governess for a 5 year old girl named Isabella. The girl's guardian is the hawt, British, noble-blooded, very unattached Gideon Westcott, a sheep rancher.
I assume I don't have to tell you how that goes.
However, to add some substance (if not believability) to this plot, Isabella's super evil, biological uncle shows up to claim her and her inheritance. *cue bad guy song*
Thoughts
Basically, the author decided to combine the hero from a British classic novel with the old West. Which actually isn't such a bad idea. In fact, my snarky irritation aside, this was kind of a cute read.
I really did like Adelaide and her dreamy outlook on the world. She's always constructing new daydreams and it was fun to see her interaction with Isabella.
However, she's just so...perfect. Oh, she has your typical Christian romance heroine flaws. She's "impetuous" (which everyone apparently loves) and "stubborn" and gets herself in trouble because she "cares so much for those around her."
And she can ride a horse really well.
And she can sew like a boss.
And she loves to read.
And she loves kids/kids love her.
Adelaide was just too perfect. While she could be adorable in that perfection, anything deeper rang false. It was hard to connect with any of her emotions towards God because none of them fit her.
Gideon...*eye roll* Insert typical dreamy love interest, give him a British accent, and you have Gideon.
Also, while I'm talking characters, Isabella did not sound or act much like a 5 year old. I suppose all the trauma in her life would make her act more mature but still. She was hard to believe.
Overall it was cutesy except that the themes running through the story were so irrelevant.
Like Adelaide's continual effort to leave behind her dream for a fantasy-like prince. She says she is going to drop it and then she picks it back up again. And Gideon IS a fantasy like prince so she gets all she could ever want. What are we supposed to get from this? That you shouldn't stop dreaming for Mr. Darcy because he is probably on a ranch somewhere? On the one hand, the story says no one is perfect yet on the other hand it presents the perfect, flawless love interest for the heroine. Well, which is it?!
Also, all the Jane Eyre references IN the story made it hard to appreciate this as a Jane Eyre-esque novel in general. When the main character keeps comparing herself to Jane Eyre, the theme goes from subtle to wack-you-upside-the-head.
Overall I might have liked it better if our Princess Heroine had actually learned from her previous flights of fantasy and actually learned that men are human too. But instead we leave her just as flighty and fawning over the hero as we found her, almost worse in fact. She contrasts her life to stories and fairy tales, chides herself for being silly, yet exists in a fairy tale herself.
June 20, 2015
{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?
{My Review}
After finishing "Head in the Clouds" I only have one more Karen Witemeyer book to read and then I will have read all her books. I found this ebook on my Kindle Fire last night and I had no clue I owned it, so I decided to read it last night. I started on the first page and didn't stop until I reached the last page at around two o'clock in the morning.
"Head in the Clouds" tells Gideon and Adelaide's love story. The story begins as Adelaide is hoping this guy Henry is going to propose to her but he in fact has to tell her he has a promotion and will no longer be riding the rails back to her town and therefore will not see her again. But a month later Adelaide decides to go to the town Henry is in to find him and she does. But she finds out something that Henry neglected to tell her. She then discovers a job ad in the newspaper looking for a governess. She answers the ad and gets the opportunity for an interview. She's chosen for the job and then ensues the adventure. She a governess for a mute child, she's falling in love with Gideon, the child's father, and she goes through a horrific ordeal.
I absolutely loved this story!It was cute, witty, and romantic. And anybody who knows me knows my thing for cowboys, but this time we have a *gasp* BRITISH COWBOY!!! Ya'll this was amazing! I love cowboys, but then add in a British accent it gets even better. Buy this 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?
{My Review}
After finishing "Head in the Clouds" I only have one more Karen Witemeyer book to read and then I will have read all her books. I found this ebook on my Kindle Fire last night and I had no clue I owned it, so I decided to read it last night. I started on the first page and didn't stop until I reached the last page at around two o'clock in the morning.
"Head in the Clouds" tells Gideon and Adelaide's love story. The story begins as Adelaide is hoping this guy Henry is going to propose to her but he in fact has to tell her he has a promotion and will no longer be riding the rails back to her town and therefore will not see her again. But a month later Adelaide decides to go to the town Henry is in to find him and she does. But she finds out something that Henry neglected to tell her. She then discovers a job ad in the newspaper looking for a governess. She answers the ad and gets the opportunity for an interview. She's chosen for the job and then ensues the adventure. She a governess for a mute child, she's falling in love with Gideon, the child's father, and she goes through a horrific ordeal.
I absolutely loved this story!It was cute, witty, and romantic. And anybody who knows me knows my thing for cowboys, but this time we have a *gasp* BRITISH COWBOY!!! Ya'll this was amazing! I love cowboys, but then add in a British accent it gets even better. Buy this book!
December 2, 2014
When Adelaide Proctor finds herself in a new town, jobless and heartbroken, she decides to apply for a position as a governess. After spending many years reading enchanting novels and dreaming about her perfect hero, she realizes that it is time to stop dreaming and start living a real life. She does not imagine that sometimes real life may be more fascinating and breathtaking than her books.
The thing I always like when I read a Karen Witemeyer book is that I feel exactly all the emotions the characters are feeling. I find myself smiling when the hero tells something sweet to his beloved one, I am scared when something bad happens, and I am upset when the villains do something that let me think they are going to win. Every time I read one of Ms. Witemeyer’s stories, I know that I will enjoy it. And it happened this time around as well! I think she has a special way of conveying what she has in her mind and heart, and she is great at it.
I really loved the sweetness in the relationship between Gideon and Adelaide. They were a lovely couple! Every time he smiled at her or simply looked at her, Adelaide’s heart fluttered, and it was wonderful to read those pages and witness their friendship turning in something more. Gideon was the perfect English gentleman who could also fight to save his beloved damsel in distress, and that was just exciting! Plus, his little daughter, Isabella, added something so lovely to the story that it was a real pleasure to see how her life changed as soon as Adelaide arrived in her house.
Then why did I not give it five stars? Actually, I wanted to. But there was a scene that was quite distressing and, sadly, influenced my rating. A man tried to abuse the heroine and I know that I am probably overreacting, but I did not expect that kind of scene in a book like this one. Nothing bad happened in the end and the scene was not particularly descriptive, but I did not like how I felt while reading it and afterwards. It left me sad, upset and a little disappointed.
Overall, “Head in the Clouds” is a novel I highly recommend to everyone. Not only to all those readers who enjoy love stories mixed with a little action, but also to all the people who like to read sweet, touching books. Karen Witemeyer’s books have a special power: they lead you through a fantastic journey!
The thing I always like when I read a Karen Witemeyer book is that I feel exactly all the emotions the characters are feeling. I find myself smiling when the hero tells something sweet to his beloved one, I am scared when something bad happens, and I am upset when the villains do something that let me think they are going to win. Every time I read one of Ms. Witemeyer’s stories, I know that I will enjoy it. And it happened this time around as well! I think she has a special way of conveying what she has in her mind and heart, and she is great at it.
I really loved the sweetness in the relationship between Gideon and Adelaide. They were a lovely couple! Every time he smiled at her or simply looked at her, Adelaide’s heart fluttered, and it was wonderful to read those pages and witness their friendship turning in something more. Gideon was the perfect English gentleman who could also fight to save his beloved damsel in distress, and that was just exciting! Plus, his little daughter, Isabella, added something so lovely to the story that it was a real pleasure to see how her life changed as soon as Adelaide arrived in her house.
Then why did I not give it five stars? Actually, I wanted to. But there was a scene that was quite distressing and, sadly, influenced my rating. A man tried to abuse the heroine and I know that I am probably overreacting, but I did not expect that kind of scene in a book like this one. Nothing bad happened in the end and the scene was not particularly descriptive, but I did not like how I felt while reading it and afterwards. It left me sad, upset and a little disappointed.
Overall, “Head in the Clouds” is a novel I highly recommend to everyone. Not only to all those readers who enjoy love stories mixed with a little action, but also to all the people who like to read sweet, touching books. Karen Witemeyer’s books have a special power: they lead you through a fantastic journey!
February 21, 2018
This was a great story! I have really enjoyed all of the books that I have read by this author and am trying to read those that I hadn't ever gotten to. This story had a great blend of action, danger, family, and romance. I loved it!
July 22, 2012
So, I liked this one and liked the characters, but I think I enjoyed the other two books I read by Witemeyer a little bit more. This one felt like a mix between Regency and the Wild West. Gideon is actually an English gentleman who has come to America to try and make his own way. On his way to America he ends up as a guardian to five-year-old Isabella when her mother dies on the ship coming over. I admired Gideon for taking over Isabella so easily and truly treating her like his own daughter. It was rather touching to see him embrace fatherhood so diligently. Isabella is pretty shaken up by her mother’s passing and hasn’t spoken in months. Gideon decides to hire a governess.
Adelaide ends up in Texas under unusual circumstances. Without a job and nowhere to go she decides to answer an ad for a governess position. Needless to say the two hit it off. They have a rather sweet relationship and fall for each other pretty much instantly. I also liked the relationship between Adelaide and Isabella, who also bond quickly. There is a lot of excitement in the story and it will keep you wanting to read to see what will happen next.
The Christian elements were handled well. I appreciate that there isn’t praying and scriptures on every page, the story is the main focus, not preaching. There is still some preaching, but I thought it was pretty well done and not over the top.
Content: Clean, one attempted rape and some violence, but not too descriptive.
Adelaide ends up in Texas under unusual circumstances. Without a job and nowhere to go she decides to answer an ad for a governess position. Needless to say the two hit it off. They have a rather sweet relationship and fall for each other pretty much instantly. I also liked the relationship between Adelaide and Isabella, who also bond quickly. There is a lot of excitement in the story and it will keep you wanting to read to see what will happen next.
The Christian elements were handled well. I appreciate that there isn’t praying and scriptures on every page, the story is the main focus, not preaching. There is still some preaching, but I thought it was pretty well done and not over the top.
Content: Clean, one attempted rape and some violence, but not too descriptive.
November 3, 2010
HEAD IN THE CLOUDS is a charming story filled with believable characters, a page turning story line all complete in a lovely little package that I loved!
First, have you seen the cover of this book?? The most ingenious one ever! The story that fills the space between the cover is filled with adventure and romance. That pace in the tense moments is fast paced and filled with to the point descriptions that kept me turning pages. The romance made my heart sigh. And as I neared the end of the novel, the only thing I wanted to do was read.
They say every book is predicable, and they are, but it is the getting there that is unpredictable. And this book fits that word to a “t”. Each twist and turn left me turning pages faster to see what in the world was going on. The dialogue is realistic, the prose lends a wonderful descriptive quality and the hero and heroine are charming characters. How they act and move across the page is visible to the reader and quickly become real. Even the villain, who was all too real!
This wonderful piece of historical fiction is everything it should be. Flavorful in setting and overflowing with the stuff that makes great stories. It well earned my five stars!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.
First, have you seen the cover of this book?? The most ingenious one ever! The story that fills the space between the cover is filled with adventure and romance. That pace in the tense moments is fast paced and filled with to the point descriptions that kept me turning pages. The romance made my heart sigh. And as I neared the end of the novel, the only thing I wanted to do was read.
They say every book is predicable, and they are, but it is the getting there that is unpredictable. And this book fits that word to a “t”. Each twist and turn left me turning pages faster to see what in the world was going on. The dialogue is realistic, the prose lends a wonderful descriptive quality and the hero and heroine are charming characters. How they act and move across the page is visible to the reader and quickly become real. Even the villain, who was all too real!
This wonderful piece of historical fiction is everything it should be. Flavorful in setting and overflowing with the stuff that makes great stories. It well earned my five stars!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.
May 14, 2022
Perfection from beginning to ending!
This book is definitely a 5 star ⭐ read. The Faith content is very strong and encouraging because of the many mentions of God, His Word, Prayer, and of Faith. I'm so glad I ended up reading (Head in the clouds) because I surely enjoyed each turn of the page! I just could not put this book down. Adelaide, Gideon, and Isabella were worth staying up late for lol 😂
This book is definitely a 5 star ⭐ read. The Faith content is very strong and encouraging because of the many mentions of God, His Word, Prayer, and of Faith. I'm so glad I ended up reading (Head in the clouds) because I surely enjoyed each turn of the page! I just could not put this book down. Adelaide, Gideon, and Isabella were worth staying up late for lol 😂
November 17, 2020
Such a charming story, I loved it. There is mystery, suspense, adventure, an unlikely courtship and a child who does not speak...the beginning was a little predictable, but after that the story really exploded. A great read for anyone who likes a cozy, clean romance story, historical fiction, a book with all the feels, truly loved it.
September 29, 2020
However many years later and this book is still just soooo good!! It’s just plain SOLID.
December 17, 2015
Really enjoyed this book! Karen Witemeyer has quickly become a favorite of mine. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.
April 19, 2019
Possibly going to review this later...
August 23, 2018
This is by far the best historical fiction I have ever read! Yes, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. It is clean; free of stupidity and vulgarity. (Thumbs Up for that). A good piece of Christian fiction with loads of inspiration.
It is a perfect recipe with the spice of action and adventure, sugar of love and faith, aroma of tears and laughter, and most important, caffeine of lunatic villains.
This book is an exceptional, where both Hero and Heroine won my heart with their strong stances. The way they expressed "respect and care" for each other, just touched my heart. They were mature enough to handle difficulties by expressing great trust in each other abilities.
I adore the lessons, importance of prayers, connection with the Almighty, and most important to believe in the blessings and gifts of future. Some chapters made me cry, some made me laugh.
"Walk by faith, not by sight" was the deepest line.
Let me confess, I loved the cover-image after all, she is looking perfect with a book in her hands. Exactly, that is how a a strong female lead should look, like a dreamer with the alert of realities.
After "To win Her Heart" by Karen Witemeyer, I wasn't expecting a good exciting read from her. But, I picked this book only because the female lead is in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte's reads. Frankly, both are my favorite Authors, I adore them like a mad one.
Adelaide, is what you call a complete vision of every color. Color of love, courage, strength, tactics and above all, her action strategies. She is the perfect blend of "spice and sugar." I loved the way she came to fight for her people, just like a tigress. I adore a strong lady with wit and excitements. Above all, she is expert in riding a horse and brave enough to handle a weapon. Bravo!
Gideon, a man of his promises. He is brave enough to do anything for the protection of his people. He is quick, intelligent, alert and most important, the one who respects a lady. He is one of the finest male leads, exhibiting both courtesy and chivalry. He is brave enough to compromise his own life for his loved ones. I enjoyed his action stunts very much.
I loved every character, and of course, Isabella also. Sweet little kid is indeed the strongest chain between the leads. I loved her prayers and innocence.
The tunnels of twists and turns of the plot, made me almost faint with excitement.
I highly recommend all to read this book once and you will never be able to forget its strong taste. Guarantee!
I will definitely going to keep it on my shelf as my favorite reads. And Karen Witemeyer, is all set to be on my favorite Authors List.
Note: I have re-read some scenes to absorb more strong flavors. I will keep doing that until, I have enough of it.
It is a perfect recipe with the spice of action and adventure, sugar of love and faith, aroma of tears and laughter, and most important, caffeine of lunatic villains.
This book is an exceptional, where both Hero and Heroine won my heart with their strong stances. The way they expressed "respect and care" for each other, just touched my heart. They were mature enough to handle difficulties by expressing great trust in each other abilities.
I adore the lessons, importance of prayers, connection with the Almighty, and most important to believe in the blessings and gifts of future. Some chapters made me cry, some made me laugh.
"Walk by faith, not by sight" was the deepest line.
Let me confess, I loved the cover-image after all, she is looking perfect with a book in her hands. Exactly, that is how a a strong female lead should look, like a dreamer with the alert of realities.
After "To win Her Heart" by Karen Witemeyer, I wasn't expecting a good exciting read from her. But, I picked this book only because the female lead is in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte's reads. Frankly, both are my favorite Authors, I adore them like a mad one.
Adelaide, is what you call a complete vision of every color. Color of love, courage, strength, tactics and above all, her action strategies. She is the perfect blend of "spice and sugar." I loved the way she came to fight for her people, just like a tigress. I adore a strong lady with wit and excitements. Above all, she is expert in riding a horse and brave enough to handle a weapon. Bravo!
Gideon, a man of his promises. He is brave enough to do anything for the protection of his people. He is quick, intelligent, alert and most important, the one who respects a lady. He is one of the finest male leads, exhibiting both courtesy and chivalry. He is brave enough to compromise his own life for his loved ones. I enjoyed his action stunts very much.
I loved every character, and of course, Isabella also. Sweet little kid is indeed the strongest chain between the leads. I loved her prayers and innocence.
The tunnels of twists and turns of the plot, made me almost faint with excitement.
I highly recommend all to read this book once and you will never be able to forget its strong taste. Guarantee!
I will definitely going to keep it on my shelf as my favorite reads. And Karen Witemeyer, is all set to be on my favorite Authors List.
Note: I have re-read some scenes to absorb more strong flavors. I will keep doing that until, I have enough of it.
May 17, 2016
I choose this book because I needed a fun read to go with a long, serious book and I'd read and enjoyed To Win Her Heart earlier. I thought this one was about a widower in the Old West who needed a governess, but the hero is actually an English Earl-turned-sheep-farmer and the girl is his ward, not his daughter. I've read the "nobleman in the Old West" trope before; I have no idea if it's based on fact, but I decided to go along for the ride. :) His background plus the fact that the little girl is (voluntarily) mute made the story a bit different from the usual. The heroine was stock - shy, bookish, clumsy, a daydreamer, and the British bad guy was an evil stereotype, just as the bad sheriff was in the first book.
As the book developed it fell apart. I felt the author was manipulating events, not allowing them to arise naturally, plus she threw in everything plot-wise you could ever consider in a book like this. The action felt melodramatic and some of it was impossible. In addition, I never believed in these people or their lives. I ended up finishing it because I was too stubborn to quit, not because I liked it or really cared about anyone, except maybe Juan. lol Very disappointing, though it had some nice scenes early on.
As the book developed it fell apart. I felt the author was manipulating events, not allowing them to arise naturally, plus she threw in everything plot-wise you could ever consider in a book like this. The action felt melodramatic and some of it was impossible. In addition, I never believed in these people or their lives. I ended up finishing it because I was too stubborn to quit, not because I liked it or really cared about anyone, except maybe Juan. lol Very disappointing, though it had some nice scenes early on.
July 9, 2021
This was the book that hooked me on Mrs. Witemeyer’s stories. It was the first I ever read of hers, and it was a treat to reread it now.
There was one or two expletives as well as one profane word. These were, of course, unnecessary and inappropriate for the genre (Christian fiction). They are what held it back from being five stars.
The story itself was action packed and a fantastic ride. I adored the leading lady, found the little girl to be charming and entertaining, and the leading guy to be considerate and chivalrous. They each had faults and flaws, and this humanized them and made them easy to root for. I was hooked on their journeys from the very beginning and remained so until the final page was finished up.
This book has a twisty plot. Unpredictability was its calling card, and that made it an entertaining romp worth revisiting.
Content: one profane word, one or two expletives, attempted rape
There was one or two expletives as well as one profane word. These were, of course, unnecessary and inappropriate for the genre (Christian fiction). They are what held it back from being five stars.
The story itself was action packed and a fantastic ride. I adored the leading lady, found the little girl to be charming and entertaining, and the leading guy to be considerate and chivalrous. They each had faults and flaws, and this humanized them and made them easy to root for. I was hooked on their journeys from the very beginning and remained so until the final page was finished up.
This book has a twisty plot. Unpredictability was its calling card, and that made it an entertaining romp worth revisiting.
Content: one profane word, one or two expletives, attempted rape
October 18, 2017
An engaging story about a character whose storybook dreams come to life when she takes the position as governess on the Westcott ranch, and who finds herself and the rest of the ranch in many dangers along the way. Not my favourite Witemeyer story, but it still had all the trademark charm and a standout storyline that made me like it a whole lot! :)
December 14, 2018
Cute story, entertaining and a light fast read. If you like clean romance, Head in the Clouds is a good choice.
March 5, 2013
I was unable to care for Adelaide, she is way too fanciful, romantic, and more than naive. She immediately falls for any good-looking man who crosses her path. She moves from one to another quickly without seeming to process deep emotions other than infatuation. When she claims to be moving on from her romantic notions, she is not in the presence of Gideon a moment before she starts spinning yarns again. Because of this, it is hard to believe that her romantic feelings are true.
While Gideon was a good man on paper, he did not jump off the page. In fact, very little jumped off the page to me. It was a quick, simple, light read that if you are a fan of the genre/author, you may like despite the flaws, but I did not enjoy it.
I liked the possibility of the mute Isabella and the man that introduced Adelaide to the family, but there wasn't enough substance to make the story worth reading. The hero/heroine were too perfect while the villains were almost blundering, especially the Jose character who couldn't pull of the second attack. The drama never felt 100% real or immediate. The parts (hero/villain) lacked depth or dimension that would have made the audience get invested in the story.
While Gideon was a good man on paper, he did not jump off the page. In fact, very little jumped off the page to me. It was a quick, simple, light read that if you are a fan of the genre/author, you may like despite the flaws, but I did not enjoy it.
I liked the possibility of the mute Isabella and the man that introduced Adelaide to the family, but there wasn't enough substance to make the story worth reading. The hero/heroine were too perfect while the villains were almost blundering, especially the Jose character who couldn't pull of the second attack. The drama never felt 100% real or immediate. The parts (hero/villain) lacked depth or dimension that would have made the audience get invested in the story.
August 3, 2019
I love Karen's writing style so much! It just flows so smoothly and she has great flow to her story and plotline.
I just wish I could highly recommend her books. She is hit and miss with how her romance content is. With this one, there was an attempted rape scene where the attack and intent was pretty detailed (though the act never took place). Also, there is a scene where a husband is very much admiring his wife's form. There is nothing wrong with that, but it just seems out of place in a novel--something that should be reserved for the privacy of marriage itself. So, the romance content was a little sketchy.
Spiritual content was great. There were quite a few discussions where the characters were completely unashamed of mentioning God, the Bible, and what they were learning.
I loved all of the characters, the suspense of the uncle's intent, and the ranch life. Honestly, if it wasn't for the iffy romance content, I'd give this one five stars hands down.
I just wish I could highly recommend her books. She is hit and miss with how her romance content is. With this one, there was an attempted rape scene where the attack and intent was pretty detailed (though the act never took place). Also, there is a scene where a husband is very much admiring his wife's form. There is nothing wrong with that, but it just seems out of place in a novel--something that should be reserved for the privacy of marriage itself. So, the romance content was a little sketchy.
Spiritual content was great. There were quite a few discussions where the characters were completely unashamed of mentioning God, the Bible, and what they were learning.
I loved all of the characters, the suspense of the uncle's intent, and the ranch life. Honestly, if it wasn't for the iffy romance content, I'd give this one five stars hands down.
January 11, 2012
What a great read! I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I just love Karen Witemeyer's writing style. So clear and fresh. One of my favorite things about her books is that she weaves the Bible into her story and every day life so well. Adelaide and Gideon constantly revert back to the Bible and the Lord for strength and guidance. That's just awesome and inspiring!
I like this one just as much as her first...if not more! Karen Witemeyer is one talented author. Can't wait to read more by her!
I like this one just as much as her first...if not more! Karen Witemeyer is one talented author. Can't wait to read more by her!
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