Sweet retelling of “Little Red Riding hood” but with a Texas twist. Highlights the importance of faith.

Western retellings of some of your favorite fairy tales, these books pack a punch with some serious villains and chemistry between the leads! I also loved how the faith element are handled in these. I love when Christian books portray a faith that feels genuine and not overwrought or over spiritualized. Plus, the theology isn't watered down.

I am continually impressed with the high stakes in these books and the villains being worth fearing. This one was more tongue in cheek about acknowledging it's fairytale inspiration and I liked that it towed that line. The chemistry between Lettie and Philip was so sweet and I like how comfortable they made each other.

I also loved the strong female characters in Lettie and her mother and grandmother. They don't buck their roles as women but rather embrace them and use them to wield their power and influence to make the world better.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House. No review required. All opinions are my own.

This book is part of a thematic series, but the storylines are not connected. It can be read as a standalone.

Content Note: Fire, Injury, Murder, Kidnapping, Death of a Parent

4 of 5 Stars

A cute historical romance. Letty Hood and Philip Carmichael made an interesting pair as they traveled back to her mother’s hope. I absolutely loved Letty’s wolf companion. While it wasn’t the fairytale retelling I expected, it was an excellent book.

I received the ARC version of this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this re-telling/mash up of fairy tales! The characters are sweet and I appreciated the message of living honorably and doing what is right, no matter the sacrifice.

TITLE: CLOAKED IN BEAUTY: A Christian Western Historical Romance Fairy Tale Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty
AUTHOR: Karen Witemeyer
PUB DATE: 12.17.2024

THOUGHTS:

I really enjoyed reading a wonderful retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty by a new author to me, Karen Witemeyer. I found the story engaging and really grabbed my attention turning those pages for Phillip and Letty’s story.

I really enjoyed this cozy fantasy and sweet romance. I was immersed fully into the story and loved the integration of the fairy tale with a lively twist.

This is a unique story. I enjoyed it, but it does need a little more editing. There were a few, not horrible, grammatical and spelling errors.
The story itself was a fun, clean read. It fits well in the Christian genre without being preachy, and the two main characters are quite well-developed. The story flowed fairly well, but it did get overly wordy in some places. For this reason, I deducted one star.
I was given an advanced copy to read and review. The review is totally my own and not required. This was done through LibraryThing

Cute and fun. I enjoyed this fairytale retelling. A little predictable but that is to be expected. I think the target audience should be young adult. I have heard the rest of the series is not as sweet & clean (I am looking at you first book in the series) but this is my first book by this author. It reads as a stand alone and I thought it was cute.

The opening scene made me want to know what was going on but then it felt like the tone changed and it took me a while to to get invested in the characters and the situation. However by the 60% mark I was fully invested and connected with the characters and needed to know what was going to happen, both with the situation and would they pursue a relationship. I loved Philip and the way he looked out for and treated Letty. Letty has not had much interaction with people over the years, but you wouldn't know that from the way she interacted with those she came across. There were some scenes that made me laugh out loud while others had me holding my breath. There is one scene in particular that was so well detailed that I felt like I was right there in the middle of the evilness happening. I am not well versed in fairytales, but I picked up the various nods to Little Red Riding Hood.

Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer brings readers such a sweet, adventurous, and classicly beautiful tale to life, captivating readers far and wide. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet treat of a book and the whimsical way Ms. Witemeyer brought themes from the classic Little Red Riding Hood into the novel adventure. This is the third novel in Ms. Witemeyer's Texas Ever After series. At the start of the series, I was unsure how the combination of beloved fairytales and the well-loved Texas adventures of Ms. Witemeyer would turn out. In my opinion, this series is a huge success!
I personally appreciate the balance Ms. Witemeyer brings nodding to the fairytale with the red cloak, the title of the book, the wolf-dog, the characters, as well as the dangerous plot and the heroism of the protective family members and strong lead male character. The book was full of fun similarities to the Little Red Riding Hood tale while also being a unique and intriguing story. This is a stand-alone adventure that you will not want to miss!
I appreciated the integrity and strength of character portrayed particularly well by both Phillip and Letty throughout the book. It might seem old-fashioned to some, but having wholesome, faith-filled, courageous characters makes the themes and lessons of the book more meaningful and heartwarming. Whether looking for an adventurous tale or a sweet romance with a twist of a fairytale in it, you will not be disappointed by Cloaked in Beauty. The fast-paced adventuresome nature of the book is well-interspersed with softer scenes of family reconciliation, desperate faith-filled prayers, sacrifice, and sweet friendship and family scenes.
The suspense and mystery of the plot made the book impossible to put down. I enjoyed the twists and turns along the way, the completely unexpected troubles and choices faced by the main characters, and the wonderful resolution at the end of the story. I highly recommend Cloaked in Beauty and I sincerely hope you have the opportunity to read and enjoy it as much as I have! Happy reading!
Disclaimer: Bethany House Publishers graciously provided me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

I am a big sucker for a retelling story – they are some of my favorite reads. Karen Witemeyer has put my love for them on a whole new level. My favorite story of all time is Beauty and the Beast – I mean Belle’s love for reading says it all. BUT……. Cloaked in Beauty is my new favorite retelling (sorry Belle!). The way she brought Little Red Riding Hood to life in this story was simply stunning. The cape, the wolf, grandma, the Pinkerton…..it all was just so wonderfully written and put together.

Phillip and Letty shared so many swoon worthy moments – and I truly enjoyed them together on the page rather than apart. They had amazing chemistry. Like uh-mazing lol. But as much as I enjoyed their chemistry, I really enjoyed seeing their character growth throughout the story. I won’t say much about that – you need to experience it for yourself – but it was encouraging to me. I appreciate that Witemeyer doesn’t shy away from a faith thread. It’s not preachy by any stretch of the imagination – it’s just effortlessly weaved into the story.

I’ve been a fan of Witemeyer’s for a long time now, so I’m not surprised I loved this book so much. I am surprised it has easily climbed it’s way to the top of my favorites list. I recently heard her interviewed in a podcast where she mentioned making more of these stories and let me tell you – I am here for it! But while I’m waiting, I will probably reread this one a time or two!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cloaked in Beauty is a stand alone story by Karen Witemeyer. This is a well written, easy to read and imagine story that has wonderful characters. After the death of Letty’s father, someone tries to get rid of her. Her mother sends her away to live with her grandmother until she turns of age. Now that the time is near, the mother hires Pinkerton Agent, Philip, to bring Letty home to claim her birthright.

This is such a good story. It caught my attention at the very beginning and held it to the very end. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Letty and her family. I also enjoy how devoted Philip is to fulfilling his duties and keeping her safe. I enjoyed how the two work together for the good of both of them and to accomplish their goal. I especially enjoyed the suspense in the story, which kept me reading to find out what would happen.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

When reading this, I was hooked from the beginning. Between the drama and romance, the author did a great job at creating a story that was tough to put down. I also appreciated how elements throughout the book pointed to God. The book flowed seamlessly.

The main characters themselves were great. Letty was a fun protagonist. Not afraid to be herself, and friends with a wolf! And watching her own personal growth was another element added! And Philip was just a great guy throughout. A solid character, who was true to himself. Both characters, by themselves, added so much to the novel.

Overall, it was a great novel. First the I’ve read from the series, so it looks like I have some catching up to do!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from @karen.witemeyer @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose . However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

Another fun instalment in Karen Witemeyer's fairytale series!

This book weaved "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Sleeping Beauty" together so well! I've been guessing the fairytales right off the bat, but this book had me wondering for a while which one she used until I figured out she did both. While it makes for a, dare I say, fairytale-esque story that's somewhat unrealistic, it is entertaining and I did love the characters.

Compared to the last two books in this series, Cloaked in Beauty is one I'd recommend for a younger historical + fairytale-loving audience!

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc through Netgalley for review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

From beginning to end, I enjoyed Cloaked in Beauty. Although a third book in the Texas Ever After series by Karen Witemeyer, it is easily a stand-alone story. The characters are engaging and readers will love them (or with the scoundrel uncle, dislike!) With lots of edge-of-the-seat action, the pages almost turn themselves. I liked the faith element in the story. It was relatable, authentic, and natural to the story as readers are reminded that there are no problems bigger than God. And the author knows how to write a romance. I loved watching the relationship between Lettie and Philip grow and blossom despite differences and difficulties. Readers who enjoy a charming historical romance story will not want to miss Cloaked in Beauty. I was given a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

Cloaked in Beauty by the extraordinary author Karen Witemeyer is a Christian Western Historical mash up of the two fairy tales, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. This romantic retelling is captivating beginning with the beautiful cover. I was immediately invested in the story and eager to see how the author would mix these two tales.

The writing is exquisite in Cloaked in Beauty. This novel is filled with adventure, danger, and excitement. There are twists and turns that will surprise readers The characters are expertly crafted and appear real. They are relatable and endearing.

This western romance is a page turning delight. It has a Pinkerton agent, family drama, Christian messages, danger, and love. I highly recommend it. It receives a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided but these are my honest words.

I loved this mashup retelling of Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood. I enjoyed all the nods to those stories without it being too much. The pacing was perfect and the romance super sweet. It was a little heavy on the Christian themes but it didn't bother me as it didn't come off as too preachy. I highly recommend Cloaked in Beauty!

The Skinny: As a young child, Letty is whisked away by her grandmother to escape her evil uncle. A Pinkerton agent is chosen to find her and bring her safely back. If only Philip can keep his heart from being lost.

The Fat: Ok. This is my favorite of the series so far. It’s part Sleeping Beauty and part Little Red Riding Hood. Trust me. They both twist together perfectly and I loved every little nod to the original stories. Letty is determined and her grandmother is a boss. Philip will remind you of the fighting Disney dude and is so endearing. Loved his integrity.

And there’s a red cape. It doesn’t just hide her physical traits, but also her inner strength and it just became this symbol of love to me as it flowed through the story. Another western retelling by @karen.witemeyer that is sure to be a classic. Highly recommend. Cape optional.

The Rhyme: Philip wants to keep his charge safe, but who will guard his own heart? Letty has a beloved companion in Rusty, but will she ever get a chance for love to start?

Cloaked in Beauty
by Karen Witemeyer
Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the third in the series of retellings. I really liked this one~
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.
I loved Letty as a strong and courageous character.
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.
5 stars

This is the third book in the Texas Ever After series. They are all standalones though, so they can be read in any order. This story combines two fairy tales in one, and I was very curious how the author was going to do Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood together. It worked so well together! I really loved it! Letty also known as Letty Hood gets sent to her “Grandmother’s house” to escape the “Dragon”, her uncle, she even has a pet wolf. She has to stay hidden until her 21st birthday. Phillip who is a Pinkerton agent, gets sent by Letty’s mother to go and retrieve Letty. Phillip and Letty and the wolf, Rusty, go on their journey back to her mother but they must be careful so her uncle won’t catch her. Like I said, brilliant on combining the stories. I really loved watching these characters relationship develop. I did have a couple minor things I didn’t prefer but overall it was a great read and had some good Christian content.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Content: just kisses, only one bed scene, they also have to share a cabin after getting drenched but it’s survival, he is shirtless and she checks him out a little

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

5 Amazing Stars!
Texas, late 1800s

Scarlett Radcliff aka Letty Hood, is such a strong, independent young woman, with a tender heart. Her faithful pet was a great addition to the story.

Phillip Carmichael is the trusty Pinkerton detective tasked with her safe transportation.

Letty's mother, grandmother and uncle all play key roles in her future.

Quotable: “We both have to be brave. And smart. Doing what we want isn’t always what is best. Doing what is best, even when it hurts, is what God calls us to do.”

"A chapter must end before a new one could begin, and whether she was ready for it or not, her page was turning."

Sooo so good. I absolutely loved this book. It really is a wonderful fairytale reimagined in a Western setting with the bonus of strong faith throughout. I am sad to see this series end, but happy to highly recommend it!

I received an eVersion from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐