“How was a girl supposed to guard her heart against such a man? Handsome, protective, honorable to the core.”

A red cloaked heroine, trusty wolf, dashing Pinkerton agent hero, a dragon & much more! I loved this reimagining of Sleeping Beauty & Little Red Riding Hood. In Cloaked in Beauty, Karen Witemeyer delivers another favorite, delightful fairytale twist with Western flair.

After her father’s death, Scarlett Radcliffe becomes a target when her greedy uncle Draco wants to prevent her from inheriting her father’s company on her 21st birthday. To protect her until she comes of age, Scarlett’s grandmother takes her far into the woods & changes her name to Letty Hood. As her birthday approaches, a handsome Pinkerton agent sets out to find her to help her travel safely back to Houston to claim her inheritance. But, the woods are fraught with dangers & her uncle’s determined to find her first. With her loyal wolf Rusty, honorable protector Philip Carmichael, & faith in God, she sets out on a perilous journey home.

I adored this story! It was so fun finding all the clever nods to both fairytales & the creative way they were spun throughout. Letty is such a darling heroine. She’s strong, kind, & quick witted. Philip is her equal in every way. He’s the embodiment of Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauty with more depth & honor. I also loved Rusty, Letty’s wolf. He has a personality all his own & I enjoyed his fierce protectiveness of Letty. Letty’s mother makes the ultimate sacrifice when she has Letty go with her mother at the age of five. I admired her desire to protect her daughter & selfless love. Letty’s grandmother is a lovely hybrid of the good fairies & Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother. Her wonderful advice to Letty had me constantly underlining.

The romance was so good! Ahh, all the swoony situations close proximity brings. I enjoyed every moment where they grow closer while evading all sorts of dangers. Letty’s affectionate, & I loved how her automatic response is to kiss Philip when he does something heroic. This causes all sorts of worry for Letty who thinks she’s being too forward. And I’m sure you can guess how Philip really feels…

This heartwarming story is filled with sweet romance, exciting action, overcoming all odds, & faith. I’ve adored this fairytale Texas Ever After series & hope there might be more in store. Highly recommend! Though part of a series, each book is easily read as a standalone. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author & publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

Letty Hood lived life free from obligations and societal rules. She had no one but her grandmother and her trusty friend, Rusty. Letty loved Rusty with all her heart. What was strange was that Rusty was a wolf. She was hidden away from others because she was in danger. Her mother went to great lengths to protect her. Her grandmother gave up everything to keep her safe.

Philip was hired by Letty's mother to bring her home and to keep her safe. But was she even safe from Philip and his affections?

The story was quite similar to Red Riding Hood. But in this story the Big Bad Wolf wasn't bad. The red cloak was her protection. She wasn't in danger when she was with grandma but when she left her.

The woodsman, Philip, was still the one who saved her. He was there to protect her and bring her home.

It was an exciting book. I loved it. You never knew what to expect from one page to another. Letty's grandmother often quoted Bible verses that gave Letty wonderful advice. It gave her strength and courage to go forward.

I loved her grandmother the most. She made sure that Letty knew that GOD had plans for her and was by her side at all times.

This cover of this book is absolutely beautiful! And the story inside is so beautiful, too.

The main characters in Cloaked in Beauty were such genuinely nice people, who both loved God. They were honorable and kind and it was fun to see romantic feelings bloom between them on their journey to return Letty to her mother.

I loved the way this story captured the essence of Sleeping Beauty, with nods to Red Riding Hood in it, as well. It was similar enough to facets of both fairy tales, while retaining its own personality, too.

Cloaked in Beauty pretty much had it all! There was budding romance, a solid faith thread, some danger and adventure, an historical western setting, a canine companion in the form of a wolf, all wrapped up within a fairy tale theme. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A fantastic addition to the series, and my personal favorite, is a wild west mash-up of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, full of heart, courage, faith and love.

Raised away from the typical trappings of wealth, Letty Hood isn't your typical heiress. Now the time has come for her to claim her rightful place as heir of her father's companies, but the road is far from easy with danger at every turn. Pinkerton Agent Philip Carmichael has been entrusted with ensuring her safety, he is a man of noble character, protective of her and impressed by her capability. I liked how he always wanted the best for her, fighting for her to have options, and protecting her at every turn.

I liked how Letty was confident and competent, despite her sheltered life, she knew what she believed and how to stand up for herself. Her grandmother and mother are both strong women of faith who have instilled values in Letty and are brilliant at whatever they put their mind to.

A captivating read that swept me away into a western fairy tale adventure romance that I never wanted to end! An engaging and original take on classic inspirations, along with strong likeable protagonists who are pure perfection together. Truly one of my very favorite reads this year, and a stand out in the series. Highly recommend!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a lovely retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Sleeping Beauty” with a Texas twist. I loved it!

I was immediately drawn to Philip Carmichael a man of faith, conviction, and honor who is dedicated to the job. He’s the Pinkerton agent tasked with finding the hidden heiress Scarlett Radcliffe, keeping her out of the hands of her dastardly uncle, and returning her home to her mother.

Little does he know he will find a beautiful spirited woman with a pet wolf who is sheltered and comfortable in a small cabin in the woods with her grandmother. She’s known as Letty Hood and the longer he’s acquainted with her the more he’s drawn to not just her beauty, but her character.

I jumped right into their journey with them as the author wove a tale of trials, fortitude, growth, love, and finding your purpose. This was a well written tale, that touched my heart and painted a different picture of the Pinkerton agency. An excellent book that I recommend.

I received a copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked both main characters equally and I was invested in their narrative from the beginning. Even the creative inclusion of a wolf and the spin on the traditional fairy tale felt delightful. However, toward the end of the book the plot seemed to get more and more dramatic so that by the time they are actually facing the villain of the story I was rolling my eyes a little about the sheer incredulity of it. I reminded myself it was a fairy tale retelling and remembered the melodrama theater engagements that we went to as a family when I was a child. This definitely fit the boo-hiss audience participation and over-the top drama of one of those long ago performances. It fit well with the western “Texas” theme and it didn’t diminish the enjoyment that I had in the story itself. It did feel like a significant shift in the tone of the tale that I wasn’t expecting though so I’ll mention it to you.

I recommend the book to you. I received a free digital copy and offered in exchange to give my honest opinion.

This was like Sleeping Beauty met Little Red Riding Hood! I adored this story and really liked how Letty came to grow in her true identity in Christ. Alongside Philip, who came around to being naturally protective of her, the romance aspect was cute too. This was such a fun journey with a splash of thrill and I loved the setting where it all went down!

Ms. Witemeyer artfully weaves both "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Sleeping Beauty" into a brilliant fairy tale retelling set in Texas in 1896. With a swoony prince-like hero named Philip and the mysterious red cloaked Letty Hood, readers will find themselves smiling as they spot the many nods to both fairy tales. Expertly plotted, fast-paced and full of adventure, this multi-layered story grabbed my attention from the very first page.

Phillip's mission is to safely deliver "Letty" back home alive. After living in hiding for 15 years, Letty has grown into a woman full of grit. Without giving away the plot, I found the blend of the two fairy tales quite clever. As Phillip and Letty face one challenge after another, the attraction between the two is undeniable. I found the inner monologue and romantic angst between the two quite amusing.

Witemeyer has penned a delightful cast of characters that fit the expected tropes with a few delightful twists. Readers will love Rusty the wolf and will love to hate the villain, the evil uncle. Everything leads up to Letty's 21st birthday. Will love conquer all as in the fairy tales of old, or will evil prevail?

Ms. Witemeyer's trademark attention to historical detail makes this story full of western charm and humor impossible to put down!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another beautiful fairy tale retelling from Karen Witemeyer! Though this is the 3rd book in the Texas Ever After series, each book is a stand-alone, so you don't need to read the others in this series before reading this one. This book has a mash-up of Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood, and I enjoyed the nod to each one. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those stories, this is still an enjoyable tale, however. This one follows Scarlett Radcliffe (aka Letty Hood), who has spent the last 15 years in hiding from one who wants her inheritance. When Pinkerton detective Philip Carmichael accepts the assignment to find her and bring her home to her mother, he accepts this as just another job. Until he meets Letty. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book, the journey that Letty and Philip undertook, both physically and emotionally, as well as spiritually. The faith thread in this story was solid as both of them depended on their faith and also grew in their faith throughout the story. The romance was sweet as well, and the character development was solid. There was also a bit of suspense along the way as we watched and waited to see if those after Letty would catch up to them. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and all of its elements, and would definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction, inspirational fiction and fairy tale re-tellings. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

“There is no problem bigger than God. Remember that.”
A wonderfully creative retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a Texas twist.
Letty Hood/ Scarlet Radcliff, with her grandmother, is in hiding from her Uncle Drake aka The Dragon. But in this story, the wolf is a pet and protcts her. Enter our hero, Philip Carmichael, a Pinkerton Agent, tracking Letty who is very well hidden. As her birthday grows closer-so does danger. Uncle Drake does not want her to reach her 21st birthday when she gains controlling interest in the company her father left to her. Drake wants it all!
Clever, exciting, complicated story with a solid faith message that showcases honorable Philip championing Letty. “She need not fear the evil stalking her, for her Shepherd was with her. Along with her Pinkerton. She would trust them both to see her through whatever came.”
I am really enjoying these fairytale re-imaginings from a talented author.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author as well as a digital copy via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*
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I loved it. 💛

Letty and Phillip have a special place in my heart. I know I said the last book in this series was my favorite so far, but I believe this one is officially my favorite of the series. It pulls on the heartstrings in all of the right ways! I loved Letty's journey of growth as she discovered her identity in the Lord. What a kind reminder to all readers that God has the final say when it comes to our identity, worth, and value.

I always love Witemeyer's trademark humor and her romantic moments between her main characters are absolutely precious. Sprinkle in some spiritual truths, a good old-fashioned villain, and side characters that steal the show (I'm looking at you, Rusty), and you have the perfect Karen Witemeyer experience in this novel. I highly encourage fans of historical Christian romance to read this one! You won't regret it.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. All expressed opinions are my own.

Cloaked in Beauty is a heartwarming retelling of Little Riding Hood by Karen Witemeyer. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure set in the late 1800s in Texas. Letty Hood has been raised in seclusion by her grandmother in order to stay safe and alive while hiding from her wicked uncle. Philip Carmichael, a Pinkerton agent hired to protect Letty is assigned to bring her home to Houston on her twenty-first birthday to claim her inheritance. There is adventure, suspense, dangererous calamities, and of course love. Witemeyer is a wonderful author who writes westerns with loving inspirational messages. Don't miss this one.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, and this is my honest opinion.

I loved this retelling of Red Riding Hood. Charming Letty Hood, a humble, kind, and strong young woman, is thrown into a battle over her inheritance. Astute and handsome Pinkerton Detective, Philip Carmichael, must keep Letty safe. Witemeyer has done a fabulous job taking a well known story and creating a lovely tale of faith and hope. I found the story endearing and satisfying. I received a free copy and opinions are my own. #BethanyHouse #bookreview

This is a wonderful fairy tale-ish story with nods to Little Red Riding Hood. This is the third story in this series and I have enjoyed them all.
I think you could read each one independent of the others without any problem. And this one may be my favorite of all of them.
This one definitely had more suspense and more romantic feelings were evident.
This story seemed a bit more fantastical in parts than the others in the series.
The story was both exciting and humorous in turns And the faith element came so naturally.
The relationship grew between Letty and Philip so easily. They each were so caring and strong.
I loved Rusty the pet wolf, he was such a wonderful addition to the story.
All in all it was such a sweet story with a great ending. I recommend it highly.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

This was a Christian historical romance set in the late 1800s. It has tones of red riding hood with a red cloak and a wolf pet. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it is the third book in a series. I could tell that other books came before it because the detective agency did not have as much explanation behind it in this book as I would’ve expected if it was the first book they were mentioned in. Our heroine is an heiress in hiding and our hero is a private investigator who endeavors to find her bring her back safely as there have been attempts on her life. This was a good read. The first half of the book I got bogged down a little bit in some of the details and it didn’t move as quickly as I wanted but the second half moved faster and I enjoyed it. Our heroine was very atypical as she grew up in the outdoors and not the city life of a socialite. I enjoy these two and they are getting to know each other, the slow burn of romance, the mystery and suspense, and the family and faith. I would try another by this author.

"Cloaked in Beauty" by Karen Witemeyer is a beautiful retelling of Little Red Riding Hood but set in Texas. Our heroine Letty is hiding with her grandmother from her uncle who is the big bad wolf. Her best friend is her wolf Rusty. As she reaches her 21st birthday, her mother sends Philip to fetch her back home and keep her safe from her uncle.

This book caught my attention right at the beginning and held it until the very end. This is a great fairytale retelling, reimagined into it's own intriguing story with a faith-filled characters who rely on God to guide their lives.

There is action, adventure, a true evil villain and a hero who is definitely swoon-worthy in his actions. Letty was a very likeable character and had depth to her which is nice to see in a rich heroine's story. I truly enjoyed this book and it's one I can see re-reading in the future.

I would recommend this book to high schoolers on up. It is a clean, sweet Christian historical fiction romance. There are some dangerous scenes in the book but ones that would be fine for most readers, unless they are very sensitive. This is definitely a book I will recommend again and again.

Thank you to Bethany House and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A clean historical romance with adventure, faith and hope.

This creative and inspiring western take on a few fairytales is set in 1896, Texas, featuring a young woman in danger and a Pinkerton agent sent to escort her safely back home. It is an epic road trip with peril and some personal struggles along the way. There are touching moments and romantic tension between the pair as they journey along.

"There's no problem bigger than our God. Remember that."
Scarlett, or Letty as she prefers, is a kind-hearted, courageous young woman. She was easy to root for in her difficult situation. Her grandmother is full of wisdom and encouragement. The nods to Red Riding Hood are fun, complete with a sweet (but tough) grandmother and a wolf as a pet. A bit of Sleeping Beauty is seen too in Phillip, who is a prince of a man. Their romance is indeed charming and he is a terrific hero.

A satisfying read for those who enjoy romantic historical adventures. Should be fine for older teens and up. 4.5 stars

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Letty Hood was sent to live in hiding in the woods with her grandmother at a young age. Now that she is almost old enough to receive her inheritance, her mother has sent Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael to bring her safely home to claim her vast wealth. But their journey is fraught with perils of all kinds, and the two find themselves growing closer together until they are both in danger of losing their hearts to each other.

This was a sweet, closed-door/chaste romance with conservative Christian values. The setting interested me as east Texas of the late 19th Century was not an era or an area that I'm familiar with. This was a true "over the river and through the woods" adventure with characters you want to root for and themes of finding out who you are and if you can live in more than one world and still be true to yourself.

Triggers: past death of parent, arson

I loved this sweet, exciting story from Karen Witemeyer! Cloaked in Beauty combines elements of the Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood fairy tales, plus plenty of surprises and Western charm. Philip and Letty were both relatable in their own ways, and Rusty the wolf was such a cute and fun “sidekick.” I know Karen has at least one more book coming in this series, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Definitely add this one to your TBR! 4.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Overall another sweet Witemeyer western. Of the 3 in the Trilogy I still think I enjoy book one best for the fairy tale retelling. Though this one had some of the sweetest romance overall. The pet wolf was a really fun aspect and happy to report he loved for whole book no animal deaths which is always a relief.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC this is my honest review.