Review: HEAD IN THE CLOUDS by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House, 2010)

From Bethany House: Adelaide Proctor longs to find a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a governess position on a remote Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her silly romantic yearnings behind.

Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, never expecting to end up with a child. To his dismay, 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.When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the girl—and her inheritance—Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. 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?

Audience: Adult (Clean)
Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational Romance
Length: 370 pgs

Rating: **** (Love it)

Review: I'm not sure which of Ms. Witemeyer's books I read first, but I know that I like her stuff. I loved the originality in this one: an English sheep rancher in Texas! A mute young girl! And, though it seems as if it would be common place, a girl wishing for a husband. (It's not really in historical romances these days. Authors try so hard not to be cliche, that they've created the new one: an independent woman struggling in a society where women were dependent.) The romance between them grows at a perfect pace, and everything about it moved me. Great book.

Source: Bought on Amazon via Cheap Reads (Free promotion)

Content:
Sex - 1/5 (Them becoming man and wife in the true sense is discussed; Addy sleeps in Gideon's bed after they are married.)
Language - 0/5
Violence - 3/5 (People are shot; Murder is discussed; an attempted rape)
Preaching - 1/5 (Flows well into the plot.)