Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer: Book Review

 **ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Trust no one in the shadows of the piney woods . . .

Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother in the backwoods of east Texas to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit.

Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one duty: get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty's resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to her survival grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping Letty out of harm's way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his heart.

The Author

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline. Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Book Review

Cloaked in Beauty is the third book in the Texas Ever After series but can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone as well. 

A historical western retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty? Um, yes please! This was such a fantastic read with just the right blend of romance, a sense of danger and nods to the original fairy tales. One of the things that I loved about the previous books in the series is that while those nods are certainly there and evident, it also felt like it's own unique story too. With this particular story being a mix of both Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, I did personally see more on the first within the story--- the red cloak she wears, a pet wolf, etc. while I think the Sleeping Beauty references might have been more subtle (though admittedly, it could be that I'm just not as familiar with the story to notice them as well). Either way, I loved how those familiar elements were woven so perfectly. If you love historical romance and fairy tale retellings, this is absolutely a series you won't want to miss. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3YUY8gQ