Customer Reviews

Head in the Clouds

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Cisco, Texas-April 1883 Adelaide Proctor was a school teacher and had meet a book salesman and as she had never had a beau before, she was really taken with him, she gave up her job and went to find him after he changed his job. She was so surprised when the first day she met him alone with his wife and child. She had no idea what she was going to do until she saw an ad in the paper where a sheep farmer was needing a Governess for his small daughter. She applied and found out there were three more going for the interview. She got the job and she and the little mute girl bonded so well.

Adelaide always wanted a family as she really loved working here with the little girl and learned to love her as if she was her own child, she also liked the father. But will things work out and get Isabella to talk again and will she finally get the family she had always wanted since her father had died.

This book will catch you from the first page with it humor, love and mystery. This is the first book I have read from Karen Witemeyer but it will not be my last. She keep me so into the book I could not put it down, I read it in two days.

The review copy of this book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers for review.

Tonight is the night. She could feel it.-- The opening line drew me in. Ms. Witemeyer did an excellent job of keeping my attention with her well crafted characters.

Adelaide tried to be respectful, tried to be content, tried to keep her place. She really did. But I loved her outspoken ways. And how she did the right thing because she used her God given brain and thought like a woman. I really liked that part!

As a book worm myself I loved to read about Adelaide and how engrossed she could be with her nose in a book. Just as I was when I read Karen Witemeyer's latest story: Head In The Clouds.

This is the 2nd book I've read by Ms. Witemeyer. I admit I enjoyed this one more than the first. And, it is great when an author can improve their storytelling, as Karen has done. The female lead character, Adelaide, takes matters into her own hands with reliance on God's guidance. She's likeable and plucky. Gideon, the male lead, acts as a true gentleman. The story is historical fiction with a whirlwind romance thrown in. It moves along and is engaging to read, especially with the suspense of the "bad guy" events.

Adelaide Proctor is desperate to find a romance and subsequent family of her own. She spends her days literally with her head in the clouds, day-dreaming of the heroes in the stories she reads by the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen. When a knight-in-shining-armor turns out to be a rake in disguise, Adelaide throws caution to the wind and applies for a job as a governess to new rancher ( and British ex-pat) Gideon Westcott and his mute daughter.

Back story reveals that in true Valjean-Fantine tradition, Gideon is not Isabella's biological father; rather a stranger who promised to take her into his care upon the untimely death of her mother. Adelaide begins to fall madly for both of them and a happy ending can only be secured when dangers from Isabella's past and a hovering uncle bent on securing his niece's massive fortune is halted.


The story is very formulaic and will be very comfortable for those who enjoy this genre. There aren't any real surprises and it follows in the tradition of the Bethany House Historical Romance line. That aspect of the book, I found, to be a little too safe for me. I would love if Witemeyer had shaken and spiced the genre a bit; but I realize that my viewpoint and marketable interest are two very different things. Thus, for an offering in this often-frustrating genre, I found it to be above-average in execution and style.

I enjoyed the constant references into the actual literary world of Jane Eyre and the comparison of Jane's plight to Adelaide's own.

Readers who hanker after a great Romantic hero will be smitten with Gideon. Not only does he have dimples and a roguish sense of humour, Witemeyer does well to make him equal-parts rugged sheep herder and classic British gentleman. By day, he wears work clothes and rustles in the field; brandishing a gun at times, riding a horse and basically appealing to a girl who loves a cowboy. By night, the golden cufflinks are polished, the manners tamed and a starched white handkerchief dabs at his masculine jawline. Gideon's concern for his ward, Isabella, is a charming addition to the romantic plot between he and his governess.


The governess-master plot has seen a real renaissance in recent Christian Historicals and Witemeyer does well in a genre already well-established with a topic that, unfortunately, is becoming a bit too familiar and bordering on the verge of cliche.


I look forward to checking out more of her writing in the future.

I Loved this book..Adelaide was led to believe Henry loved her. So she gives up her job and everything to go to Fort Worth, only to learn that he has a wife and a son. She is devastated but she is only mourning the life she wanted as a wife and mother...she really doesn't love Henry. Looking up to the clouds and praying God sends her a message.

She applies for and gets the job of Governess for Isabella. What a delightful relationship she forms with Izzy...can just picture them as they clean the attic room!

What Adelaide doesn't expect is to fall in Love with Gideon, Izzy's Guardian and new father to her. Love the way things work out for them, but things can't stay perfect...enter the evil Uncle Reginald who will do anything to gain control of the child's fortune.

Once you pick up this wonderful book...you have to keep reading to the end.

The book and the opinions are my own.

This is the second book of Karen Witemeyer's that I have read. Honestly, when I first looked at the cover and the description, I was like "eh...."... Yeah, yeah, I judged a book by it's cover. BUT I read it anyway. AND I LOVED IT.

Adelaide is a heartsick young woman who doesn't know what to do with herself. She needs to make a living somehow so she answer an ad in the local newspaper for a nanny for the adopted daughter of Englishman Gideon Westcott. They are as different as can be, but the love that bloomed between these two on the 366 pages was so beautiful and well written.

I read this book in a little over two days in my spare time and I was disappointed only in one thing: that it ended! I wanted it to keep going! The love between Adelaide and Gideon is timeless and something to be desired.

PLEASE, PLEASE read this book. You will not be disappointed.

Karen Witemeyer is proving herself to be an excellent writer! I thoroughly enjoyed her first book, A Tailor-Maid Bride, and her second book Head in the Clouds is certainly no exception. I loved all of the characters, and even loved to hate one in particular (Reginald Petchey). Karen beautifully crafted all of her characters; I couldn't help but fall in love with Adelaide, Gideon, Bella, and the supporting cast of characters. But boy, that Reginald Petchey! Wasn't he something? Karen created him to be a perfect villain.

I enjoyed everything about the book! Head in the Clouds is a wonderful combination of all of the elements I admire most in a novel; faith, romance, suspense, and a story that keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. The suspense scenes were so well written, that I actually felt myself tensing up, and my heart pounding a little faster. And the tender love scenes were done perfectly, just enough to leave you swooning.

If you like well written Christian Historical fiction, this one is for you! I highly recommend it! And remember to be on the look out for Karen's new novel, To Win Her Heart, due out May 1, 2011.

What an amazing book by Karen Witemeyer! Head in the Clouds is about a young girl who loves to read romance novels and is always dreaming of her happily ever after! However, she soon realizes God has other plans for her life. I loved the characters and felt their emotions all the way through the book. I really connected with the character Adelaide and how she struggled with trusting in God fully! The story involving the little girl Isabella was just so touching! Head in the Clouds is filled with action, emotion, love, healing, and most of all how God needs to be the center of your life! Amazing story!

I first fell in love with the charming, romantic prose of Karen Witemeyer in her debut novel, "A Tailor-Made Bride", which came out earlier this year. I was so excited to discover that this new author had a SECOND book releasing this year, as well! I knew I was going to love "Head in the Clouds", I just had no idea how much! Swoon-worthy romance, charming wit, and heart-pounding suspense are the order of the day when Karen Witemeyer is behind the pen. I laughed. I cried. And, more often than not, found myself clinging to the pages for dear life. This woman knows how to write romance, let me tell you, but she takes it one step further- to the soul. Not often do you see God's Word incorporated so well and so naturally within romantic fiction. There is substance to what you read within the pages of this book. She effortlessly shows Scripture applied to everyday life, and how we, like her characters, need to trust the Lord in ALL things.

Adelaide Proctor is a dreamer, with a heart that longs for fairy tales to come true. Karen writes such genuine, relatable heroines, who become instant friends to the reader. Adelaide is certainly unconventional, but she has a sweet spirit, a servants heart, and a strength of character that quietly demands respect. She possesses beauty, yes, but more of the inner, lasting kind than of the outward, fleeting variety. With refreshing humbleness and honesty she readily admits her faults and seeks the Lord for guidance and ultimately His will above her own. And, it appears the Lord`s will is to send her to Texas as a governess for a little girl on sheep farm. An unlikely place to find prince charming, right?

Gideon Westcott is quite a hero. Strong, compassionate, with a kind heart and an easy smile (oh, that smile!). Willingly and loving accepting an awesome responsibility, no questions asked, he is a man of integrity who protects all those in his care. The new governess intrigues him, challenges him, and is much needed sunshine wrapped in yellow calico to him and his daughter. She strikes an instant connection with the young, emotionally scarred girl, while capturing Gideon's heart in the process. Their love will be tested and tried when a horrific attack, with an uncertain outcome, find its way to the Wesctott Cottage. The Lord has led Adelaide to Texas, to this wonderful man and his precious daughter- does He intend for her to stay? And, if so, does Gideon have the strength to fight for his sunshine girl and their happily ever after?

All of Karen's characters are loveable, endearing, and will remain in your heart long after the book is closed. There is a real bond of love between them that reads like a big, warm, mixed matched family. The supporting characters are all so unique, adding many layers to this story, and they are also great friends and allies to our hero and heroine when danger comes calling. Gideon's sweet little daughter, Isabella, will pull every single heartstring you have, her emotional pain and journey to healing made me teary-eyed quite often. And, I think the villain, Reginald Petchey, whose name alone sounds sinister, was so well written- almost with a dark sort of comedy at times.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Head in the Clouds" and am greatly looking forward to Karen Witemeyer's next book, "To Win Her Heart", releasing April 2011!

I was wrinkled like a raisin by the time this book was finished. Okay, so maybe that's not a great selling point but once you know the brief backstory, I think you'll get it. I took the book with me to a warm sudsy bath. I was three-quarters of the way through and figured I'd endulge in a chapter or two as I steamed like a jar of tomatos in a canner. Ages later, the water was cold, the bubbles evaporated, my skin wrinkled like a foretaste of old age, and the book was finished.

Yes, it's that good. On books I review, I don't dole out 5 Stars because I happen to think the author is nice and I want to be all political. Nope. I'm not the PC type, so yes, this book is all that and more. *Jaime snaps fingers and kicks up heels*. Karen Witemeyer stabbed me once with her first book, Tailor-Made Bride - stabbed me with sheer enjoyment so it wasn't painful at all. This time she killed me. I keeled over. Dead. With heavenly pleasure. Of course, considering my Mom always told me to get my head out of the clouds when it came to dreaming up hero, I could totally relate to Adelaide. Totally. Except my hero wasn't British. He was Norwegian. 'Nuf said.

Buy the book, okay? Skip the waiting list at the rinky-dink library (God bless all libraries, but seriously, support a budding new author and buy the book! It IS Christmas after all. Treat yourself) BUY IT HERE!