Book Review: The Lady and The Mountain Man by Misty M. Beller

THE LADY AND THE MOUNTAIN MAN
SERIES: The Mountain Series #1
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance
PUBLISHER: Misty M. Beller Books, Inc.
RELEASE DATE: February 2020 (re-release)
PAGES: 316

When a murder plot forces a Southern belle onto a ranch in the wild Montana mountains, love is the last thing she expects to find.

Leah Townsend, a recently orphaned heiress, flees Richmond after discovering her fiancé’s plot to kill her after their wedding. She needs a safe place to hide, and finds herself accepting a newspaper marriage proposal from a God-fearing young rancher in the Montana Territory. But when Leah arrives at the mountain ranch, she learns her intended husband was killed by a grizzly, leaving behind a bitter older brother and a spunky younger sister.

When Gideon Bryant finds an eastern lady standing in his log cabin, his first thought is to send her back where she came from. He’s lost too many people to the wild elements of these mountains––his parents, his wife, and now his brother. His love for this untamed land lives on, but he’s determined not to open his heart to another person.

But when an accident forces Leah to stay at the ranch for seven more months, can Gideon protect his heart from a love he doesn’t want? Has Leah really escaped the men who seek her life?

Other Books In This Series

Any time I pick up a book by Misty M. Beller, I know I will not be able to put it down until I’m finished. Such was the case again with The Lady and the Mountain Man. It held my attention from the very beginning and kept my heart in my throat for much of the story.

The Montana mountain wilderness in which Leah finds herself is stunning both in its beauty and its harshness. Yet in spite of the ever-present dangers in these untamed mountains, they still provide a safer haven than what she left behind. I loved that juxtaposition and I loved watching Leah adapt to her new environment. What an admirable heroine! To go from a life of leisure to one of hard work and relative austerity … and maintain her sweet spirit amid it all … wanting to help in spite of her injuries… that is a sign of true strength and great character.

And I can’t neglect Gideon. Swoony, rugged, good-hearted but gruff in grief (yes I’m proud of all those g’s I worked in haha) mountain man Gideon. He’s been through a lot of loss. More than should be one person’s share in so short a time, and he’s understandably wary of Leah and her background. Doesn’t want to get attached because, of course, she’ll leave somehow like everyone else has. Yet, in spite of himself he starts to fall in love and I adored getting his perspective too, not only for his changing feelings toward Leah but also for the shift in his relationship with God. Both Leah and Gideon have journeys, whether literal or spiritual, that will transform them during this story – and watching those transformations is truly touching.

Bottom Line: The Lady and the Mountain Man by Misty M. Beller is a fabulous read from beginning to end, as I’ve come to expect from this author. She excels at setting the scene in the rugged Montana mountains, taking you on the same rigorous journeys as her characters, albeit safely from the comfort of your fave reading spot. Gideon, Leah, and Gideon’s little sister Miriam are vividly drawn and multi-layered, and I haven’t even touched on Ol’ Mose yet!! (Hint: he’s my favorite character across the series… in very similar ways as Charley from Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor lol) The faith thread is never overpowering but remains an ever-present part of these characters and their life in the wilderness, and it elevates the story beyond ‘simply’ a romance. Highly recommended!

(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I purchased for my own collection. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / love it!

KissingBook Level: 3+ / will forget to breathe on occasion

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Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of 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 children 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.

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