Book Spotlight (and a Giveaway!): A Healer’s Promise by Misty M. Beller

I’m delighted today to give you a peek inside A Healer’s Promise by Misty M. Beller, the new book in her Brides of Laurent series! Misty’s books are always must-reads for me, and they’re always new faves, too.

A HEALER’S PROMISE by Misty M. Beller
SERIES: Brides of Laurent #2
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: May 3, 2022
PAGES: 300

She was called to be a healer, but her skills–and heart–have never been so challenged.

Levi Masters’s time as a British spy hasn’t ended, though his country’s war with America has. After overhearing a scout reveal a discovery that could give America the upper hand in future conflicts, Levi is sent on one last mission. While trekking through the Canadian Rockies in pursuit of his former enemy, he is taken captive by warriors from a hidden mountain village.Village healer Audrey Moreau is more curious than afraid of the outsider, and she’s drawn to his commitment to honesty even at his own expense. Despite her arguments for his release, the council remains at an impasse. Compelled to help him escape, she sneaks him out of the village. But when Levi faces a life-threatening injury and the fierce mountain winter closes in, Levi and Audrey are forced to discover just how far they’ll go to ensure the safety of the other and the love growing between them.

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From the author: Here’s an excerpt I love from the end of chapter 11 and the beginning of chapter 12. For context, our heroine (Audrey) has just sneaked our hero (Levi) out of her village so he’s not unjustly punished for being a spy. They’re hiding in a cave in the mountains…

Levi settled himself and positioned the candle, then did his best to gather his thoughts. Better to ask about her first. “What do you intend to do next?”

Her face appeared paler than before, though that might be an effect of the candlelight. She didn’t speak for a long moment, then her shoulders dipped as she released the spent air she’d been holding. “I had planned to go back tonight. I’m sure once I explain why I released you, they’ll understand.”

Despite her words, her voice sounded like she most certainly didn’t think they would understand.

He dipped his chin to meet her gaze. “Are you certain of that? That they’ll understand?”

A sea of worry clouded her eyes. “I pray they will. They know my heart is to help people, not inflict pain. I hope they’ll be lenient.” She must hear how unlikely her line of reasoning was.

He leaned forward and propped his arms on his legs. “What can I do to make it easier for you? If I go back with you, would they pardon you?”

She jerked upright, her eyes widening and chin lifting. “I’m not taking you back to Laurent. That would defeat all our efforts so far. All of our risks would be for naught.”

He inhaled a steadying breath, then released it. She spoke the truth there. He couldn’t cast aside everything she’d done to help him, as if her sacrifices meant nothing.

But he also couldn’t leave her to face the wrath of her people alone.

He leaned forward again as a new thought took hold. “Come with me, then. I have to go back to Washington to retrieve my belongings, then I’m going home to England. My family would welcome you. My sister would be overjoyed. Her dearest friend moved away last year, and she’s been pining for neighbors who aren’t in their dotage.”

She tipped her chin, concern and hesitation marking her expression. “Travel with you? To England?”

As she said the words, the problem with his plan rose up like a mountain between them. She, an unmarried woman, could never travel with him, an unmarried man. The time they’d spent alone today was enough to ruin her. Anything more would be beyond recovery.

There was one way he could resolve the concern, though. “I’ll marry you, if that would help.”

Chapter Twelve

The moment Levi spoke the words, Audrey jerked back, as though his offer had scalded her. In his mind, he scrambled back through his comments. Could he have found a clumsier way to offer for her hand?

His proposal hadn’t been preplanned, but as the possibility took shape in his thoughts, desire slipped through him. She had shown herself to be kind beyond words and a woman who took action for what she believed to be right. A woman of faith . . . and her beauty spoke for itself.

What would she think of his little village if he took her home with him? Mum would love her, and so would Libby. Dad? He’d had never approved of anything Levi did. Would bringing Audrey be the first?

Yet she knew little about him. That, combined with his less-than-tactful proposal, would send her skittering away.

He did his best to apologize with his gaze as much as his words. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out as I meant it. You’ve done so much for me, and through it all I’ve seen what a fine woman you are. You’ve risked your standing, and even your life, to free me. If at all possible, I would like to do what I can for you. It would be my honor to take you as my wife. To provide for your needs and protection for the rest of our days.”

There. Hopefully that came through a little better. He’d never planned how he would propose to a woman—had always thought he’d have a little time to consider it. But at least her eyes were no longer round as saucers.

She studied him, but her face gave no sign of her thoughts. No inkling of what her response would be.

At last, her shoulders eased as she released a breath. “Thank you for the offer. It proves once more that you’re as good a man as I first believed. I need to return to my people, though. My father depends on me. And I can’t disappear without even a farewell. My place is here.”

The ache tightening his chest was probably from the rejection, though her reasons made sense. Had he really expected her to marry a man she’d only known two days, and run away with him to a land she’d never been to? She seemed to prefer to face the wrath of her people.

Perhaps he really had no say in her actions. This was her life. She’d chosen to sneak him out. He’d offered what he could to help her, but she’d made her decision.

Her expression shifted, turning determined. “I can’t go back now, though, not until I know you’ve left here. Brielle will make me bring her to this cave to look for you. If I beg for the council’s mercy, I’ll have to tell them everything. I can’t do that unless I know for certain you’re far away.”

His throat tightened at the thought of leaving this place completely. Of leaving her behind to become only a memory. A story he would tell Mum and Libby at the dinner table.

In these two very long days, Audrey Moreau had become a friend. They may not know a great deal about each other, at least from a factual perspective. But they’d bonded through trial. Through shared fears and struggles. He would trust her with his life—indeed, he had done so several times already.

Only this one thing she asked of him. Surely he could do this single act. Even if it required leaving her behind.

He forced himself to nod. “I’ll leave at first light.”

“I will, too, then.” But the relief that should sound in her voice wasn’t there. Only a sadness that tightened the knot inside him.

Misty M. Beller, A Healer’s Promise
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2022. Used by permission.

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.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

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Misty M. Beller is offering a signed, print copy of A Warrior’s Heart – the first book in the series – to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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What about you? What makes you want to read A Healer’s Promise by Misty M. Beller?