 Author: Karen Witemeyer Genre: Historical Romance Series: Texas Ever After #3 Pages: 352 Release Date: December 17, 2024 Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 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.
 Reviewer: Deanne Patterson Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer is the author’s retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story. I’ll admit I liked her version much better, with the author’s usual laugh-out-loud humor added to her quirky characters. And we can’t forget the wolf (Rusty). Is it okay to have a wolf as a favorite character? Add in the fairytale-like settings and the story is magical. From the mansion to going into hiding and the magical forest to roam in with her wolf, I was totally captivated. I think we all need a Philip Carmichael in our lives, a Pinkerton agent who is tasked with finding Letty after she has been in hiding for many years and escorting her home safely. Though he tries not to show it, he is captivated by Letty and will do everything in his power to keep her safe. As the danger unfolds mile after mile with their perilous journey, the only one who can keep them safe is letting God take control of this situation. Will Phillip be free to admit his feelings for Letty, or will his formal training keep them apart? I loved this retelling and look forward to more books in the series. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Joy Hannabass Cloaked in Beauty is the third book in the Texas Ever After series. And since Karen Witemeyer is one of my favorite authors, I had to read this one. I'm not always a fan of storybook fairy tales retelling, but Witemeyer nailed this one. I absolutely loved this third historical read, with its touches of two well known fairy tales. Author Karen Witemeyer does a phenomenal job with writing this series and especially in Cloaked in Beauty. I was hooked from the very first page, and I didn't put this book down unless I absolutely had to. My mind was still filled with this story, even when I wasn't reading. Letty has spent fifteen years of living a hidden life with her grandmother, away from everything and everyone. The reason, you asked? I think you need to read the book for this and lots more fun and interesting information. Letty is on her way back to the mother she hasn't seen for so long, along with the Pinkerton agent her mother hired. It wasn't an easy journey, there were many scary obstacles along the way. Can the Pinkerton agent, Phillip bring Letty home safely, or will her uncle get to her first? Will Letty really be able to see her mother again after all these years? Will her grandmother be able to join them? This story is so chunked full of suspense, fun, adventure, sacrifice, love, subtle romance, family and so much more, it is difficult for me to say anything more without giving away spoilers. You will enjoy the book much more reading it all for yourself! The ending, I was a little surprised as the story played out, but it was wonderful. If you love historical, a little suspense, love, family oriented, fairtales, just to name a little bit of this story, you will love Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer. And if you haven't read the first two books in this series, no need to worry, this is easily read as a stand alone. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews, for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Amy Smelser This is the third in the Texas Ever After series that has well-known fairy-tale elements within them. This one is of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, and I enjoyed seeing all the nods to the original tales, while still making this story all its own. This started out with a bang, and then, for me, anyway, slowed down a bit. This one, more so than the other two, really felt like it had more of the fairy tale vibe going on. About halfway through, I began to really be pulled into this tale of a missing heiress and the Pinkerton agent sent to find her. When Letty and Philip begin their journey back to her mother and for Letty to take her place in society, the adventure really picks up speed and keeps going till the end. My favorite part was watching their love story play out. Even their reluctance to act on their feelings did not keep them from being true friends. There are strong themes of family, sacrifice, and love, familial and romantic. Again, I enjoyed seeing all the nods to the original tales play out in this story while still feeling for these characters and their trials. Especially the sacrifice of Letty’s mother, the steadfastness of her grandmother, and the unwavering faith of Letty. I was provided a copy of this novel from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own. Reviewer: Emily Stephens I loved everything about Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer. First, it's a fairytale retelling, which I always love. This one goes one step further by combining the stories of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. I enjoyed trying to pick out aspects of both fairy tales as I read the book. I also appreciated the historical setting (1800s Texas). The author included a lot of historical details that helped me learn a few things while also enjoying a great story. The story itself is about Letty, a young woman who has grown up in hiding with her grandmother to stay safe from a scheming relative who wants to kill her. This book picks up when Letty has to go home to claim a huge inheritance. She's escorted by Phillip, who is supposed to keep her safe. What follows is an exciting tale of their journey combined with a beautiful, sweet, slow-burn romance. I liked the way the author forced her characters to spend a lot of time together, gradually getting to know one another. This made the romance more realistic. There's some great dialog along the way as Letty and Phillip travel and have little else to do but talk. The ending is perfect, combining suspense with sweet character moments. While this is the third book in the Texas Ever After stories, the series doesn't need to be read in order. Each book has an entirely new cast of characters and incorporates a different fairy tale(s). 5 stars! I received a review copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.  Reviewer: Raechel Helwig This is the third book in the Texas Ever After Series, a loose retelling of the fairytales Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. While I don’t read a lot of Westerns, I do enjoy fairytale retellings, and this series has been creatively done. I’m excited for my sister to read them, in particular, because it combines three of her favorite things (Westerns, fairytales, and the author Karen Witemeyer!). The main characters, Letty and Philip, were easily likeable, and both strong characters in their own right. They complemented each other, and I enjoyed seeing how their relationship developed across the pages. I especially liked Letty’s pet wolf Rusty. He was a character all on his own, and his protectiveness and loyalty to Letty were certainly endearing. A large portion of this story is spent traveling, and yet it didn’t come across as dull or boring, which can sometimes happen when traveling is involved for a plot point. I appreciated the faith message that was included in Cloaked in Beauty. Like the other books in the series, God is an important part of the book which I do very much like finding in books, especially books labeled as Christian Fiction. Cloaked In Beauty was a sweet, clean, Christian story, one I would feel safe recommending to teens. This book was provided courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts expressed were entirely my own. Reviewer: Billi Varela This is the third book in the series, and it was just as good as the first two. Though this one can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the others as well. I love how Karen Whitemeyer incorporated fairy tales into her books, and this one, spoiler, is Red Riding Hood. It is not a spoiler if you have seen the cover, which, by the way, is beautiful! There is also another fairy tale intertwined in it, but that would be a spoiler if I said it. I liked the characters and also how they relied on faith. Philip is a Pinkerton agent and his character is just *swoon.* I always look forward to the main male characters from a Karen Whitemeyer book. This is a sweet romance full of adventure and suspense. This is a clean book, free from language and sexual content. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. Reviewer: Trixi Oberembt Karen Witemeyer is one of my all-time favorite historical Christian fiction writers. So with this in mind and knowing I was in for a treat, I jumped at the chance to read Cloaked in Beauty. If you are a fan of Little Red Riding Hood, I think you will get a kick out of Witemeyer’s take on this Fairy Tale. The nods to the original tale and the author’s twists on the story were a lot of fun to read! I think I have to say my favorite character is Rusty, Letty Hood’s red wolf. His personality certainly added a great mix to the story & his devotion to Letty was admirable. Of course, the human characters are just as great! Philip & Letty grew quite close as danger surrounded them while traveling for many days to get back to her mother’s after being in hiding for fifteen years. I enjoyed watching them work together and greatly anticipated the moment they fell in love. Of course, there are many obstacles along the way to keep the reader turning pages and anticipating that fairy tale ending of living happily ever after! What a great story to get lost in and characters to cheer for! The strong faith thread ties this all up in a neat bow for me. I’m definitely putting the other two novels in the Texas Ever After series on my must-read pile…they are not to be missed in my book (pun intended)! I received a complimentary copy through Bethany House via NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to leave a favorable review; all opinions are my own. Reviewer: Laura J. Davis Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer is an engaging new narrative on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. And it is one you will not be able to put down. While the story is loosely based on Red Riding Hood with our main character, Letty Hood, wearing a red cape, the twist is Rusty—her trusted and faithful companion, a wolf she raised as a pup. Letty has been in hiding with her grandmother since she was a child because her uncle (who is the actual wolf) has been trying to find her so he can kill her and grab her inheritance. But now she is turning 21, and she needs to return to society to claim her inheritance and be done with her uncle forever. And it is Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael’s job to get her home safely. I loved everything about this book. Philip is a charismatic hero, trying desperately to keep Letty and her reputation safe as they travel alone from the backwoods of East Texas to Houston. His attraction to Letty and hers to him is a sweet romance that made this book hard to put down. I also loved the faith element Witemeyer has expertly included. I also appreciated that she didn’t make Letty someone who was timid and afraid of everything. She is a wonderful heroine who is intelligent and brave enough to face whatever obstacles come her way. If you like historical romance, you will love Cloaked in Beauty. I highly recommend it! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley for my honest review. Reviewer: Demetria Head
Karen Witemeyer’s Cloaked in Beauty is a captivating historical romance set in the rugged landscapes of 19th-century Texas. With a blend of suspense, romance, and rich character development, Witemeyer takes readers on a journey that’s as much about survival as it is about discovering the depth of the human heart. The story centers around Letty Hood, a young woman who’s spent the last 15 years in hiding with her grandmother to escape the dangerous machinations of an uncle who wants her dead. Letty’s life has been one of secrecy, fear, and isolation, but as her 21st birthday approaches, she is thrust into a perilous situation: she must leave her hidden existence behind, journeying to Houston with a stranger to claim a vast inheritance that could make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. But the threat to her life still looms, and time is running out. Enter Philip Carmichael, a Pinkerton agent hired to escort Letty safely through treacherous terrain. Philip expects to meet a pampered, spoiled heiress, but instead, he encounters a woman of intelligence, courage, and emotional depth. Throughout their journey, Letty’s resilience and kindness challenge Philip’s cynicism and hardened heart, and he finds himself torn between his duty to protect her and his growing feelings for her. But with danger at every turn, their path forward is fraught with tension, uncertainty, and peril. At the heart of Cloaked in Beauty is the slow-burn romance between Letty and Philip. The story carefully weaves their relationship, balancing moments of tension and affection with the ever-present danger that shadows their every move. Witemeyer excels in portraying their emotional growth and personal struggles. Letty, despite the trauma she’s faced, remains strong, compassionate, and resourceful. She’s not just a damsel in distress, but a woman who’s fought for survival her entire life and is determined to protect herself and those she loves. Philip, on the other hand, is a man who has been hardened by years of dangerous work as a Pinkerton agent. He’s wary of becoming emotionally involved, particularly with a woman like Letty, who represents everything he’s never allowed himself to care about. His transformation over the course of the novel is powerful to watch—he learns to see Letty not just as a job to be done, but as someone worthy of his heart. Witemeyer masterfully builds suspense throughout the book. As Letty and Philip journey through Texas, the stakes grow higher, and the threats against Letty’s life become more dire. This constant undercurrent of danger keeps the reader on edge, wondering what will happen next. The book blends action with emotional depth, ensuring that even when the characters are in the midst of peril, their personal growth and evolving feelings never take a backseat. One of the most compelling aspects of Cloaked in Beauty is its exploration of inner strength and redemption. Letty’s journey is not just physical, but emotional. She’s had to carry the weight of her past, but she emerges as a heroine who finds beauty in the world, despite the darkness she’s known. Philip’s arc is similarly redemptive, as he learns to let go of his cynicism and open himself up to love, a lesson that feels as much about personal healing as it is about trusting in someone else. Fans of historical romance will find much to love in Cloaked in Beauty. Witemeyer’s writing is lush with detail, painting a vivid picture of 19th-century Texas while allowing the emotional stakes of the story to be highlighted. The romance between Letty and Philip is tender yet fiery, building slowly but surely until it begins to feel natural. Witemeyer creates characters that feel real—flawed but relatable—and their emotional journeys resonate with readers on a deep level. The book is also perfect for those who enjoy a strong sense of adventure and suspense. The perilous journey that Letty and Philip embark on is thrilling, and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing. At the same time, the novel balances action with reflection, allowing readers to connect with the characters on an emotional level. It’s a book that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, romantic suspense, and anyone who enjoys a story with deeply developed characters and a satisfying, emotional payoff. Letty Hood is a heroine you’ll root for, and Philip Carmichael is the kind of hero readers won’t forget. This novel will warm your heart, making it a must-read for anyone looking for an engaging and emotionally resonant historical romance. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley. Leave a Reply. |
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