Head in the Clouds

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.


Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer is a gem in the historical romance genre. Adelaide Proctor so wants to be married and have a family that she follows her traveling salesman beau to his hometown, only to meet his wife and son. Crushed by his deception and left without anywhere to go after quitting her job to chase him, she finds an advertisement in the newspaper to be governess for a young girl on a Texas ranch. Gideon Westcott needs a governess for his adopted five-year-old daughter Isabella who hasn't spoken a word since the death of her mother several months ago. The governess he hires must be more than just a teacher, he needs someone who will break through Bella's shell and bring her out into the world again. Although Addie doesn't have the same education as the other applicants, Gideon hires her for the job when she immediately makes a connection with the girl. Soon Addie and Bella are fast friends and Gideon is fighting his attraction for her charm and loving nature. But when Addie discovers the truth about Bella's parents' death and that the little girl's life may be in danger, the couple must put aside their growing attraction to protect the girl who has stolen both of their hearts. Addie is a delightful heroine who quickly charms readers with her occasional clumsiness and ready smile. She has immediate chemistry with Gideon, but it's her relationship with Bella that brings the most heart-warming and humorous scenes. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it, and the pages simply flew by. Witemeyer has a light touch in her writing that will win her many fans.