Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer is the third book in her Texas Ever After Series, but definitely is a standalone book. Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years hiding from everyone so her uncle will not find her. She has lived in the backwoods with her grandmother. Her mother sends Philip Carmichael, a Pinkerton Agent, to find her and bring her home around her 21st birthday. Letty is kind and beautiful, and Phillip will do anything to keep her safe.

This was a fantastic read. I have enjoyed this series, but Cloaked in Beauty is definitely my favorite. Letty was so endearing, fascinating, and likeable. She is beautiful on inside and outside. Phillip is a great hero who I enjoyed rooting for. The setting of the rural parts of Texas in the late 1880’s was so interesting. I was engaged with the characters and so invested on what would happy to Letty and her family. I enjoyed this fairytale retelling and how the author brought it to life.

I highly recommend Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer. The story will draw you in with the great characters, adventure and sweet romance. Don’t miss this one!

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

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 her quirky characters and we can't forget the wolf (Rusty) is it okay to have a wolf as a favorite character and the fairytale like settings 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 he 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 greatly look forward to more books in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Cloaked in Beauty was a charming retelling of not one but two fairy tales!
Red Riding hood meets Sleeping Beauty in this rollicking adventure in the old west.
I did find the heroine a little "perfect " but it was an enjoyable read.
My favorite character had to have been Rusty. He was fantastic supporting character and added so much to each scene he was in.
The hero was a typical Witemeyer hero. Honorable, heroic and all around good guy.
Filled with faith and a good dose of western adventure.
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I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally and all opinions are honest and completely my own.

I have really been enjoying the Texas Ever After series with its twists on classical fairytales. This novel has hints of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. I really liked Letty from the instant we meet her. She is kind, resilient, and not the helpless female you’d expect from a fairytale novel. Her relationship with Philip develops realistically and in a sweet romantic way that is a joy to read. I also really loved her pet wolf, Rusty! Philip is the perfect match for Letty with his valiant nature; I liked that he did not try to change Letty but let her independent personality flourish. The Christian themes of trusting God with the future were well integrated. I also really liked the history and setting of the story. I had a hard time putting this book down and really enjoyed it! Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Cloaked in Beauty by Karent Witemeyer is a fun, faith-based retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Set in Texas, this romantic adventure with a touch of mystery features characters who are engaging, and a plot that is full of twists and turns. Letty and Phillip’s journey as they try to get Letty safely home to her mother before her birthday provides an engaging and enjoyable story.
This is the second book in the Texas Ever After series that I have read, and I am eager to read the first in the series! Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Thank you to @karen.witemeyer @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose for the #gifted book.

This retelling of Red Riding Hood is truly enchanting! Letty shines as a strong, brave character, despite her sheltered upbringing. Her journey back to Houston to reunite with her mother is both compelling and inspiring. The bond that blossoms between Letty and Philip, the man tasked with finding her, adds a heartfelt layer to the story, all while danger looms around them. The trials they face along the way challenge their faith and courage, making their growth even more impactful. Letty’s loyal pet wolf, Rusty, is a standout character, showcasing unwavering dedication to Letty and Philip.

The story beautifully weaves in themes of faith, reminding us of the comfort and guidance of God as we navigate life's challenges.

This is my first experience with this author's work, and I can’t wait to explore her previous fairy tale retellings.

If you’re looking for a delightful tale filled with warmth and just the right amount of suspense, this book is a must-read.

#BookReview : CLOAKED IN BEAUTY by Karen Witemeyer

Set in Texas in the late 1800s, Scarlett was forced to hide due to her uncle's greed and his desire for her inheritance.

Fast forward 15 years, she went by the name of Letty Hood. Letty grew up with her grandmother somewhere in the woods and had not seen her mother since their separation 15 years prior. She was about to turn 21, and her mother wanted her back in Houston. To ensure Letty's safety, her mother hired Philip, a Pinkerton agent, to bring her home.

This retelling of Little Red Riding Hood was a truly enjoyable read. I loved the subtle inclusion of faith elements throughout the story through their prayers. Trusting in God's plan and His protection for them was a significant theme. The chemistry between Letty and Philip was undeniably sweet. Their journey together was perilous but filled with exciting adventures. I appreciated Letty's ability to hold her own, even in unfamiliar and dangerous situations. Philip and Rusty proved to be worthy companions. I would probably be scared of Rusty like Philip did at first, but he was a good support for Letty . Their growing affection for each other was endearing, but the uncertainty of the future held them back, particularly for Philip. I liked that he respected Letty's need to discover herself within her new life. The twists and turns in the plot were well worth the read. Everything unfolded at a satisfying pace in this slow-burn and heartwarming tale of love and resilience.


Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Series: Texas Ever After series, Book 3
Pub date: out now

Thank you Bethany House Publishers and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer
Book 3 in the Texas Ever After series

We are in Piney Woods, Texas where Letty Hood has been hidden from her uncle who wants to claim her inheritance from her father before she turns 21. Philip Carmichael is a experienced Pinkerton agent that is hired to find Letty before something bad happens to her. This is a heartwarming story of resilience and trusting in the Lord's plan. I love that Karen was inspired by tales like Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, as it makes a great fairytale retelling.

Letty's character is strong and courageous, which I loved. After years of being in hiding from her uncle, she is thrown into a dangerous journey to claim her inheritance and freedom. Seeing her and Philip together was perfect, as he was a great companion with her. He sees her bravery for what it is up front and you see the mutual admiration they have for one another. I wanted a bit more in the romance personally, but overall enjoyed the book!

A clean historical romance with a fairytale spin - highly recommend! You can also read this as a standalone in the series, as this doesn't specifically have any ties to the previous books in the series.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing a copy to honestly read and review.

Letty Hood has lived in seclusion with her grandmother for 15 years, ever since her uncle tried to orchestrate her death by lighting her family home on fire. And for 15 years, Letty has longed to see her loving mother—a mother who loved her enough to send her away to protect her. But as her 21st birthday approaches, Letty doubts her abilities to reenter Houston society as Scarlett Radcliffe, heiress to the Radcliffe shipping fortune.

Even worse, Letty doubts her mother’s love. Her grandmother, Iris Hood, has spent the intervening years teaching Letty everything she needs to know to enter polite society. She’s also instilled in Letty a deep faith in God—a faith Letty will need when her grandmother falls ill and a mysterious man finds their hideaway and claims he has a letter from her mother for her.

Philip Carmichael loves a good challenge. As a Pinkerton agent, he’s had plenty of them. When his newest client hires him to locate her daughter—a girl she hasn’t seen in 15 years, Philip will have to use all his investigation skills and listen to the nudges of the Holy Spirit to accomplish an almost impossible task.

He doesn’t expect to find that the Radcliffe heiress has matured into a beautiful young woman who shares his values and faith. He certainly doesn’t expect to travel alone with her, with only a wolf for a chaperone. As a man of honor, Philip knows the family can trust him, but his heart has a hard time as their forced proximity and adventures reveal what a gem Letty Hood has become.

Will Letty’s unscrupulous uncle prevail, and will Letty and Philip have a future together after her official return?

What I Loved About This Book

Witemeyer’s imaginative retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story will delight readers who love intrigue, plot twists, and sweet romance. Readers can enjoy this third installment in the Texas Ever After series as a standalone novel. Both characters struggle to understand their calling, making this an excellent book for teen readers and more mature readers who wonder about God’s plan for their lives.

A delightful, faith-filled story with a Red Riding Hood twist.

I really enjoyed Letty and Philip's romance. While it took me a few chapters to fall deeply into the story, I did enjoy the foundations being set for Letty's tragic childhood and subsequent upbringing, and Philip's character being solidified, before their paths verged.

Loved Iris so much. She reminded me of my 93yo grandmother who's as tough as nails. 😍

I also appreciated the natural way Letty and Philip's relationship changed and developed. Nothing seemed forced or rushed... forced proximity has a way of compressing time, so it was a great tool to use.

Loved Letty's innocence, yet her wisdom... and kindness. She was a heroine worth emulating.

Beautiful story, even with the horrible uncle. 🤣

This was a lovely 19th century romantic fantasy based on Little Red Riding Hood and set mostly in the woodlands of Texas. The prologue swept me into the family drama immediately and I was invested in seeing how it would play out at the end for everyone involved. I admired the strength and courage Letty possessed and can sympathize with the loneliness and separation she had to endure, having lived a hidden life apart from family.

The story had a nice balance of action and adventure with plenty of romantic tension between Scarlet and Phillip. Although there was a one bed situation, I truly appreciated the clean and wholesome interaction between the two main characters. It was a sweet slow burn and heartwarming read. I also got a kick every time Rusty was mentioned or had made an appearance, he made it a perfect trio in my opinion.

Do you enjoy reading fairy tales? I have enjoyed them since I was a child. I love reading different takes on fairy tale stories. Cloaked in Beauty is a new take on Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty that weaves together the essence of both stories into a new unique story.

Scarlett woke up to her home being burned down. Her mother has a plan for just such a case and sends Scarlett off with her Grandmother to remain hidden until her twenty-first birthday. Her father has passed away, and her Uncle will inherit her fortune if she dies before the age of 21. Now known as Lettie, she has grown up in the woods in Texas with her grandmother and pet wolf. As she nears twenty-one, her mother has sent a Pinkerton agent, Philip, to escort her back to Houston. Will Scarlett/Letty make it back alive and allude her Uncle’s nefarious schemes? Will she find love?

My thoughts on this novel:
• I loved the start of this novel. It really pulled me into the story and made me excited to read it. This novel had a very engaging plot that kept me reading until the last page as Philip and Letty try to make their way back to Houston. The ending was perfect.

• The novel is set in Texas in the late 1800s.

• I always enjoy animals in a novel and loved Rusty the trusty wolf.

• The characters were all interesting and well written. I especially loved Letty and Philip. Letty is a strong character. Although she lived a sheltered life, she is self-assured and is always trying to do what is right. Philip has a fun sense of humor and is a good-hearted person.

• The romance was sweet. This is a clean read.

• Letty and Philip’s Christian faith was important to them both and it woven in throughout the novel. I also liked that Letty wanted to use her fortune to do good in the world.

• As a mother, I especially was touched by the reunion of Letty and her mother.

• Karen Witemeyer has written other fairy tale inspired historical romance novels including Fairest of the Heart and If the Boot Fits. I need to read these novels.

Favorite Quote: “Worrying about tomorrow only served to steal the joy from today. And this day was far too fine to squander.”

Overall, Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer is a riveting fairy tale inspired historical romance novel with great action and characters. I highly recommend it.

Book Source: Review copy from Bethany House as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story is a Red Riding Hood retelling set in Texas! To avoid the wrath of her uncle, Letty Hood has been hidden away by her mother and grandmother until she becomes of age to receive her inheritance. Not the time has come for Letty to return home, and luckily for her she gets to travel with her wolf and a handsome Pinkerton!

I absolutely loved retellings so I had to pick this one up! Very unique twist on the retelling and I liked the Christian vibes. The wolf was one of my favorite parts!

Brief thoughts- I love a good forced proximity "road trip" but I felt the chemistry was a little lack luster and I found myself a little bored. I adore sweet romance but the execution seemed a little lacking in the chemistry. When a big plot comes to an end, I expected a little more lengthy of a conclusion scene and it felt rushed.

I do love Karen's books so I will continue to read hers in the future. I think a lot of sweet romance readers will love this but it wasn't a favorite.

Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy. All thoughts were my own.

This was a fun fairy-tale retelling!
I loved the characters! Letty was such a sweet heroine, a perfect little red riding hood. And her Pinkerton protector, Philip, was also a great hero.
I loved seeing how it all played out, and I really enjoyed the nods to the familiar fairy tales.
Sweet, historical fiction, set in Texas, in those good ole days.
Danger, action, adventure, and more make this an all around fun read.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

a story of overcoming evil. A story of the unconditional love and sacrifice of a mother. It reminds me of the daily commitments and sacrifices mothers do without thought for thier family. Mothers are true unsung heroes. You emphasize the love of the lord is filtered in the actions and people surrounded by these strong women.

This was a fun, sweet story! I loved the mix of red riding hood and sleeping beauty! I liked how strong Letty was, though I would have liked a few more specifics of what/how her grandmother taught her (outdoor skills, knife, etc.). But the rest was developed well, and I liked her journey with Philip. Their relationship developed well, and there were a good amount of exciting surprises along the way. I also loved Rusty, even if he was overly anthropomorphic at times. It felt right, with the fairy tale vibes! I also liked the ending, where Letty spent time figuring out her new life before making big decisions, since she'd been sheltered from the real world for so long. And everything wrapped up nicely!

I have loved this series by Karen Witemeyer. If you love fairytale retellings then this is a great series to check out. Although I loved the other books, I think this one was my favorite. I haven’t read a lot of Red Riding Hood retellings so I thought this was very well done and unique. I loved the characters and how the story was full of adventure. I also liked the romance between Scarlett and Phillip. I’m sad to see this series end because these books have been so fun to read. They are definitely ones that I will read again. I highly recommend all these books.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Cloaked in Beauty, a historical romance, is set in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Witemeyer’s knack for “history, humor, and heart” conjured Letty Hood, a resourceful, dedicated, take control kind of gal, as the main character in this nod to Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. No damsels in distress here! I enjoyed all the references and analogies to the fairy tales; the red cloak, a prince like detective to protect Letty, a feisty grandmother, and a red wolf named Rusty! Of course, no fairy tale is complete without a villain so Drake Radcliff and his determination to “do away with” Letty before her twenty-first birthday fills that role perfectly. Letty has been hiding in the Piney Woods with her grandmother for 15 years and now must return to Houston to claim her inheritance.
Cloaked in Beauty is laced with romantic tension, plot twists with action, and clues to create suspense. Witemeyer fills Letty’s treacherous journey to Houston with vivid descriptions of East Texas terrain, rivers to cross, and towns to skirt. Throughout the trek Philip and Letty rely on God for provision and protection. Cloaked in Beauty, Christian fiction with a “Texas Ever After” ending, carries a strong theme of protecting and stewarding the family legacy.

Little Red Riding Hood was always one of my favorite stories as a kid and this variation of it in a regency setting was fascinating! Letty Hood, which is her alias, is actually an heiress in hiding since childhood. Her mother sent her away to hide from her dangerous uncle until she was old enough to take possession of her inheritance. Now, Philip has been sent to collect her and bring her home to claim her inheritance.

The most fascinating part of most of this book was how much time just the two of them, and Letty's pet wolf Rusty, were on their own traveling. Their growing friendship and developing companionship was heartwarming and comforting. Considering the heaviness of Letty's situation and what she was on her way to confront, after having lived with only her grandmother for so long, I was grateful for her moments with Philip. Plus they had a perfect chaperone in Letty's wolf. Rusty the wolf was a pivotal character as well. He is written as a very intelligent and caring companion of Letty's and also serves to protect her propriety.

As Letty and Philip's feelings grow stronger for one another, so does the looming danger of the threat on Letty's life. It was a perfect mix of danger and romance!

Gahhhh another AMAZING read!!!! This series has been so fun, and I have loved every minute spent in these fairy tale retells. They bring the perfect amount of suspense- not so much it brings me anxiety but enough to keep me eagerly reading. The romance is soooooo good and I love the historical western setting.

I absolutely loved the combo of Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. It was so much fun to see all the tie ins between the two, and I never would have thought to tie them together but it was woven perfectly.

100% recommend this book, as well as the other two in the series. I’m so sad it’s over, but look forward to more from this author.

Thank you for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.