Welcome to my tour stop! Read my review and enter the tour giveaway below...
Love's Mountain Quest
(Hearts of Montana #2)
By Misty M. Beller
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 304 Pages
June 30, 2020 by Bethany House Publishers
Summary
After losing her husband in the Rocky Mountain wilderness, young widow Joanna Watson is struggling to make a new home for her five-year-old son, Samuel, in the little mountain town of Settler’s Fort. When she returns home from work to find Samuel and the woman watching him missing–and the sheriff dead–she enlists a man she prays has enough experience in this rugged country to help.
Isaac Bowen wants nothing more than a quiet, invisible life in these mountains, far away from the bad decisions of his past. But he has a strong suspicion of who’s behind the kidnapping and murder, and if he’s right, he knows all too well the evil they’re chasing.
As they press on against the elements, Joanna fights to hold on to hope, while Isaac knows a reckoning is coming. They find encouragement in the tentative trust that grows between them, but whether it can withstand the danger and coming confrontation is far from certain in this wild, unpredictable land.
My Review
LOVE'S MOUNTAIN QUEST is a story about a man's and woman's journey as they try to save her young son and friend from the hands of a ruthless gang. Both parties are fraught with danger as they travel, but find unexpected help and possible love as the story unfolds. Elements of faith are weaved throughout. Beller gives fans another trademark adventure through a harsh and untamed but beautiful wilderness, with characters readers can't help but cheer on.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was looking forward to reading Isaac's and Joanna's story. The beginning set things in motion quite well, as I could feel Isaac's yearning for something more, and Joanna's love for her son, but also her exhaustion as she tries to provide for their life. Then things change when Joanna finds her son, and her friend who was caring for him, missing. Isaac gets to be her hero as he travels with her to bring them home.
I enjoyed the journey and learning more about these characters. These characters faced some really difficult things and weren't immune to the pains of travelling fast, injuries and danger. The story did feel a bit slow to me in parts and the romance came on a bit strong in places (plus some of the wording was weird, like labeling a guy's muscles as having a richness to them). I would have liked the romance aspect to come a bit later in the story and feel more realistic to the situation. I also felt parts were unrealistic when dealing with the gang and in a little boy's recovery. The faith aspects I thought were done well—nothing felt too preachy or forced. The end was particularly sweet and was probably my favorite part of the story.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I wanted more from it, but I have learned with this author that some of her characters I connect with better than others, and some of her stories work better for me than others. I'm looking forward to the next adventure in book three of this series!
Content: Some innuendo and violence, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I wanted more from it, but I have learned with this author that some of her characters I connect with better than others, and some of her stories work better for me than others. I'm looking forward to the next adventure in book three of this series!
Content: Some innuendo and violence, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
Hope's Highest Mountain
(Hearts of Montana #1)
By Misty M. Beller
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 320 Pages
October 1, 2019 by Bethany House Publishers
Summary
When Ingrid Chastain agreed to accompany her father to deliver vaccines to a mining town in the Montana Territory, she never could have anticipated a terrible accident would leave her alone and badly injured in the wilderness. Rescue comes in the form of a mysterious mountain man who tends her injuries, but she’s hesitant to put her trust in this man who seems to have wounds of his own.
After tragedy struck his family, Micah Bradley left his work as a doctor and escaped to the wilds of Montana. But his self-imposed solitude is broken when he finds Ingrid in desperate need of medical attention, and he’s forced to call on his doctoring skills once again.
Micah can’t help but admire Ingrid’s tenacity despite the severity of her injuries, until he learns the crate she brought contains smallpox vaccines to help quell a nearby outbreak. With Ingrid dead set on delivering the medicine–with or without his help–he has no choice but to accompany her. As they set off through the treacherous, snow-covered Rocky Mountains against all odds, the journey ahead will change their lives more than they could have known.
Read my review HERE.
After working for 13 years in the corporate world, Misty M. Beller (mistymbeller.com) is now the author of fourteen independently published Christian historical romance novels. Raised on a farm in South Carolina, she combines her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life by writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. She lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina, is an active member of ACFW, and teaches regularly at conferences and writing groups on effective book marketing.
More from Misty
The Story Behind the Story: Love’s Mountain Quest
Love’s Mountain Quest was one of the hardest books I’ve ever written, even though I LOVE Isaac and Joanna and their story. What made this book so hard was the fact that I wrote most of the story during my third trimester of pregnancy with our son!
Our little Matthew is our fourth baby (and first boy), so I was VERY heavy with child during the last three months I carried him, and that was the time that I’d scheduled to write Love’s Mountain Quest. Needless to say, the words were not flowing very well. My creativity was as exhausted as the rest of me! I could see Isaac and Joanna’s story in my mind, but showing it for readers using real words was the hard part.
Thankfully, I have an amazing editor at Bethany House (waving at Jen Veilleux!) who helped me massage the first draft, pushing both me and the story to be the very best we could be. Unfortunately for her, the edits for this book were the first bit of writing I did after taking a short maternity leave after the birth, so my brain was still a bit mushy from all the post-partum hormones and lack of sleep a newborn always brings. Jen’s patience through the process was remarkable, yet I so appreciate her determination not to stop until we had the very best book possible.
Our little Matthew just turned one, and Love’s Mountain Quest is finally making its way out into the world. Because of Jen, I’m so excited to share it with you! I can’t wait for you to meet the characters and story I love so much.
To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize package of Love’s Mountain Quest, Hope’s Highest Mountain, and a bath bomb!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
(Affiliate links included.)
About the Author
More from Misty
The Story Behind the Story: Love’s Mountain Quest
Love’s Mountain Quest was one of the hardest books I’ve ever written, even though I LOVE Isaac and Joanna and their story. What made this book so hard was the fact that I wrote most of the story during my third trimester of pregnancy with our son!
Our little Matthew is our fourth baby (and first boy), so I was VERY heavy with child during the last three months I carried him, and that was the time that I’d scheduled to write Love’s Mountain Quest. Needless to say, the words were not flowing very well. My creativity was as exhausted as the rest of me! I could see Isaac and Joanna’s story in my mind, but showing it for readers using real words was the hard part.
Thankfully, I have an amazing editor at Bethany House (waving at Jen Veilleux!) who helped me massage the first draft, pushing both me and the story to be the very best we could be. Unfortunately for her, the edits for this book were the first bit of writing I did after taking a short maternity leave after the birth, so my brain was still a bit mushy from all the post-partum hormones and lack of sleep a newborn always brings. Jen’s patience through the process was remarkable, yet I so appreciate her determination not to stop until we had the very best book possible.
Our little Matthew just turned one, and Love’s Mountain Quest is finally making its way out into the world. Because of Jen, I’m so excited to share it with you! I can’t wait for you to meet the characters and story I love so much.
Tour Schedule
Splashes of Joy, July 30
deb’s Book Review, July 30
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, July 30
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 31
Connect in Fiction, July 31
lakesidelivingsite, July 31
Emily Yager, August 1
Reviewingbooksplusmore, August 1
Simple Harvest Reads, August 1 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Inklings and notions, August 2
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 2
She Lives To Read, August 3
Genesis 5020, August 3
For Him and My Family, August 3
Texas Book-aholic, August 4
Read Review Rejoice, August 4
April Hayman, Author, August 4
Betti Mace, August 5
Blossoms and Blessings, August 5
Life of Literature, August 5
For the Love of Literature, August 6
Adventures of A Travelers Wife, August 6
Daysong Reflections, August 7
Labor Not in Vain, August 7
Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 7
Older & Smarter?, August 8
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 8
Mary Hake, August 8
Through the Fire Blogs, August 9
Pause for Tales, August 9
Just Your Average reviews, August 9
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 10
Blessed & Bookish, August 10
Hallie Reads, August 10
Wishful Endings, August 11
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 11
Lighthouse Academy, August 11 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
Artistic Nobody, August 12 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Bizwings Blog, August 12
To Everything There Is A Season, August 12
Tour-Wide Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize package of Love’s Mountain Quest, Hope’s Highest Mountain, and a bath bomb!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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