Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer: Book Review

Details

• Genre: Historical fiction
• Series: No
• Length: 320 pages (Kindle edition)
• Publication Date: October 1, 2010

Tropes

• Forced proximity
• Single father

My Rating

Book Description

“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?”

— from Goodreads

My Review

When Adelaide Proctor gets hired as a governess, she manages to charm not only her new charge but the girl’s adoptive father, as well.

I sympathized with Adelaide from the beginning. While her decision was impulsive, discovering Henry’s deception must have hurt.

And even though she tried to leave her dreams of romance behind, she couldn’t help but fall for British gentleman Gideon. But she also proved that she was willing to put in the work required for love to last. 

Her vibrant optimism and tendency to dream remind me a bit of Anne Shirley.

Addie’s adventures with Isabella, as she tried to teach her how to be a child again, were absolutely adorable ☺️ 

I really admire Gideon’s willingness to trade his upper class lifestyle for life as a Texas sheep rancher. He also did everything in his power to protect those in his care, especially Addie and Bella.

Clouds were a running theme in the story (specifically how God used a cloud to guide the Israelites). And I think the symbolism worked well.

A few minor nitpicks:
* Addie deserved to know that José was back, and Gideon hiding it felt unnecessary
* Gideon was a little brusque with Addie toward the end (he was stressed and in pain, but still)
* we never found out what happened to José (whether he got re-captured or not)

Favorite Moments

⛅️ nearly falling down the stairs
⛅️ Gideon protecting Adelaide from José
⛅️ telling Gideon about Henry
⛅️ Bella’s party

Favorite Quotes

“Willing herself not to panic, she took a deep breath and dug out the logic that had always served her well when handling problems in the classroom. Granted, solving the mystery of where Beth Hansen’s lunch bucket disappeared to every day after recess wasn’t quite on the same level as her current dilemma, but maybe a similar thought process would produce at least a modicum of insight.“

Karen Witemeyer

“The fiasco in the barn flashed through her mind. Yesterday she’d showered him with oats and today she”d pummeled him with a broom. At this rate, he’d be dead by the end of the week.“

Karen Witemeyer

“It was a good feeling — the feeling of productivity, of knowing at the end of the day that what you chose to occupy yourself with had merit and value. His old school chums no doubt scoffed at him from across the ocean for trading his pampered, idle life for sore muscles and dirt-encrusted skin. Yet he couldn’t imagine going back. He felt more alive and authentic here than he ever had in the drawing rooms of London.“

Karen Witemeyer

“He reeked of confidence and strength, towering above her atop his horse. But he was just a Goliath, and Goliaths had a tendency to fall when confronted with tiny people armed with stones and God’s power. She was fresh out of stones, but she figured God could improvise.“

Karen Witemeyer

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