THIS TREACHEROUS JOURNEY - Misty M Beller - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Misty is one of my favorite authors of western historical fiction. I’ve read all her books and loved them. This Treacherous Journey is my all-time favorite. When I read the short story of the time this hero gave his newborn twins to another couple when his wife died in childbirth, I knew he had to have his own story somehow. As you’ll read in this interview, Misty felt that way, too. The journey in the story is long and hard. He characters grabbed my heart right away and dragged me along on that journey. I had a hard time putting the book down when I needed to do something else. I think you will, too. Don’t miss this one.

Bio: Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty's heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God's abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. 

Welcome back, Misty. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

I’m SO excited about this book! I think it’s definitely my favorite so far. I’ve had so many readers ask me if I was going to write another book in the Mountain Dreams Series. I wanted to, but couldn’t seem to find the right storyline or characters.

I kept coming back to Simeon Grant, who was the birth father of the hero in book 5 of that series. Simeon wasn’t actually part of book 5, but I wrote a short story later that talked about how he gave up his twins for another family to raise when his wife died in childbirth. It was the only way he knew to keep them alive and give them a decent life out in the wild Montana mountains. I cried like a baby as I was writing that short story, and it stuck with me for a long time after.

So I decided to write this book about Simeon, five years later. He regretted his choices, still mourning the loss of his wife and babies, and had become bitter and hardened. I could imagine the kind of pain he must have endured, and it was quite a journey as I wrote the novel. A journey to find peace with himself, peace with God, and to accept that fact that he was worthy of a second chance for love and a family. I pray your readers will love the story as much as I do!

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Oh, that’s a fun question! It’s hard to choose just six, though! I’m torn between choosing the author friends that I’ve become so close to during our writing journeys, and some of my favorite superstar authors. I guess I would choose a mix of both groups. Let’s say Janet W. Ferguson, Jackie Layton, LeAnne Bristow, Robin Patchen, Susan May Warren, and Lisa Wingate. 

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Well…Definitely you, Lena! And I’d want to add Cynthia Roemer, Laura Frantz, Karen Witemeyer, Roseanna M. White, MaryLu Tyndall, and a bunch more!

Thanks for inviting me. Both the parties look like fun. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Honestly, telling a good story. I desperately want each book I write to be better than the last, and sometimes it feels like the pressure is strong even when the ideas or words don’t feel strong that day. Recently, I’ve adjusted my devotion time so that I’m spending time with the Lord just before I write. It seems like the words are coming easier most days!

I understand. Sometimes, I just have to keep writing, even when I don’t feel it’s as good as it should be. Funny how when I come back to that chapter, it’s much better than I thought. Tell us about the featured book. I’d love to!

Widowed and with child, Emma Malcom is fleeing from the reward offered for her arrest. She’s innocent of the dirty dealings her deceased husband orchestrated, but the angry townspeople didn’t stop to listen to her defense before she narrowly escaped with her life. Now, she and her twin brother, Joseph, must battle the mountain wilderness of the Rockies to reach Canada and the clean start she craves. But when a fall from the rocky cliff leaves Joseph wounded and weak, could the strange mountain man they encounter be God’s gift to see them to safety?

Simeon Grant makes bad choices. His deceased wife and twin babies are lost to him now because of his reckless decisions, and the penance he pays by living alone in this mountain wilderness is only a small piece of what he thinks he deserves. When a city woman, heavy with child, appears on his doorstep with her injured brother, her presence resurrects the memories he’s worked so hard to forget. And when she asks for his help to travel deeper into the mountain country, he can’t help wonder why God would force him to relive the same mistakes he’s already suffered through. Or maybe taking these two to safety could be the way to redeem himself.

But when their travels prove more treacherous than he imagined, Simeon finds himself pressing the limits of his ability to keep Emma and her brother safe. Can he overcome the past that haunts him to be the man she needs? Will Emma break through the walls around Simeon’s heart before it’s too late, or will the dangers of these mountains be the end of them all?

Please give us the first page of the book for my blog readers.

Prologue ~ Part 1

August, 1851

Rocky Mountains, Montana Territory

Simeon Grant glanced at his wife as another moan slipped from her lips.

Nora clutched her swollen belly, bent over from the pain. She’d turned in the saddle so she almost rode sideways. It must’ve hurt too much to straddle the horse.

Should he stop and set-up camp here? Or press on until they reached shelter? Surely it couldn’t be much farther to the smoke he’d seen curling up through a break in the trees. Lord, let it be a home, and let there be a woman there who can help us.

His wife straightened in the saddle and offered him a weak smile. “That pain is gone.”

He tried to offer an encouraging smile. Nora was always so strong, always taking on the burdens for those around her. If only he could take this burden from her now. He had to get help soon— for both her and the wee one inside.

He glanced around, a scent touching his nostrils. Wood smoke. Thank you, Lord. “I think we’re not far now.” He glanced at his wife. “Do you think you can make it a few minutes longer?”

She gave a weak nod, which turned to a grimace as she pressed her eyes shut and curled into another pain in her midsection.

How had he let this happen? He’d brought the love of his life into this mountain wilderness to chase his dream. She’d never once dashed his enthusiasm, just willingly sold off their meager home, loaded what possessions they now carried on the pack horses, and headed out to settle the wild Montana territory.

Never had he imagined Nora might be with child so soon after their marriage. Never had he thought the journey would take so long. And now the remote, unsettled freedom of these mountains that had drawn him was the very thing that jeopardized his wife’s life.

But even with the length of their journey, wasn’t it still too soon for Nora’s time? They’d only be married eight months. Not that he doubted her faithfulness. No, the thought struck a deeper fear in him. Would coming early put the baby at risk? And Nora, too? If only he knew how to stop this.

He would give everything he had to find a doctor right now.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love to connect at:

my website

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

Bookbub

Pinterest

Thank you, Misty, for letting me introduce my readers to your new book.

Readers, here are links to the book.

This Treacherous Journey (Heart of the Mountains) - Paperback
This Treacherous Journey (Heart of the Mountains Book 1) - Kindle
This Treacherous Journey: Heart of the Mountains, Book 1 - Audio

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