Head in the Clouds Review

Head in the Clouds

by Karen Witemeyer 

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: 2/10
 
I tend to like books less when I listen to the audio version (something about the annoying voices they always give the characters, ESPECIALLY Isabella's voice and ohmygosh the sleazy Jose, gah) so maybe this is unfair. But I really didn't like this book. I'm used to Ms. Witemeyer's style, but this was just way too melodramatic, even for her. Adelaide was too back and forth for me. I hate that she accepted Giddeon's proposal. Isabella was not at all lifelike to me. I have a six year old and this child was too babyish and too perfect for much of the time. Actually, I think that's the issue I have with these books- the characters do not seem to be given any flaws. They don't change, they don't grow. The villain's were too over the top. Nothing in the book was subtle or slow building, and therefore none of it felt lasting.

I really enjoyed the first book of Witemeyer's that I read, Short Straw Bride, and though I have not read them in chronological order, it seems that they are getting more and more desperate with the violence, threats, declarations of love, and obstabcles, and so I'm liking them increasingly less (if that makes sense).