Love's Mountain Quest

Written by Misty M. Beller

Narrated by Melissa Hurst

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980087045

Misty M. Beller

USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller (MistyMBeller.com) writes romantic mountain stories set on the 1800s frontier and woven through with the truth of God's love. Her Southern roots run deep, and she lives in South Carolina with her husband and children.

Reviews for Love's Mountain Quest

[hes7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After meeting Joanna Watson and Isaac Bowen in Hope’s Highest Mountain, I so enjoyed experiencing their story in Love’s Mountain Quest.When widowed Joanna returns home to find her son kidnapped, she must turn to Isaac for the help she needs to rescue him. Together, they journey through the mountains in desperate pursuit, and to overcome the perilous obstacles before them, they must rely on each other and their faith.Love’s Mountain Quest is not only a fast-paced read, but also one that transports readers to the rugged, yet picturesque mountains of Montana. It is an adventure, for sure, from beginning to end, and just what I needed right now. I am excited to see where Misty M. Beller’s Hearts of Montana series goes next.I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What if a young mother came home from work and found that her young son and his babysitter were missing and a murdered man had been found near the place they were supposed to be? Imagine the frantic phone calls, the police swarming to the scene, and the news reports that would be seen and heard everywhere. A mother's worst nightmare, for sure, but what if this mother was actually a young widow living in Montana in 1867? Now you can call that a nightmare!Love's Mountain Quest is the story of Joanna Watson and her frantic search for her five-year-old son and the young woman who was caring for him. Author Misty M. Beller vividly portrays Joanna's emotions that alter between hope, desperation, and the realization that the longer the search continues, the greater the chance is that they won't be found. All she can do is pray, believe that will God protect them, and trust that she and Isaac Bowen will be able to find Samuel and Laura. As their journey continues in the Rocky Mountains wilderness, their mutual respect blossoms into something more but Isaac has a secret from his past. Can their relationship survive if Joanna learns about his past life? Is is possible to endure the perils of this untamed territory? Will Joanna be reunited with her son and Laura?Beller has created an exciting story with memorable characters and a wonderful faith message and she has filled it with adventure, danger, hope, and forgiveness. She also adds a sweet romance that will leave you wishing for a happy ending. If you enjoy historical Christian romance, you will definitely want to read Love's Mountain Quest. I received a complimentary copy from the author via Celebrate Lit. There was absolutely no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

[anne_rightler-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love's Highest Mountain, the second book in Misty Beller's Hearts of Montana series, is another wonderful historical romance story. Having read several of her other books, I was looking forward to reading this one and found it to be as enjoyable as I'd hoped. It is a beautiful and captivating story of unexpectedly finding love in a very stressful and difficult situation. and of recognizing the importance of learning to trust--trusting God to work things out and trusting one's heart. The writing style is graceful and flows smoothly and the author has beautifully crafted her characters--characters who have to work together, trusting virtual strangers with their lives, to complete a daunting task. The author has infused the story with page-turning, nail-biting action during a treacherous mountain trip to rescue the prisoners and take down gang members. It is a trip that is beset by one trial after another. Realistic situations and wonderfully descriptive scenes of the week-long journey through the mountains all work together for a delightful story. Threaded throughout the book is a faith in God--the God who can be trusted, who gives us strength when we need it the most and the One who alone forgives, mends broken lives and loves to give second chances. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Ms. Beller's books.I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

[stardust_fiddle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book 2 in Misty Beller’s Hearts of Montana series, “Love’s Mountain Quest” can be read as a standalone, but for background into the lives of the main characters, I recommend reading “Hope’s Highest Mountain” first. Both contain the author’s trademark combination of adventure, faith, and romance, and this sequel is my favorite, not only of the two, but of the handful of Beller’s other books that I have read as well. “Love’s Mountain Quest” offers a bit of a twist on the theme of a mountain man rescuing a woman; in this case, widow Joanna Watson receives help from Isaac Bowen to find out what happened to her five-year-old son Samuel and her friend Laura, not realizing how Isaac’s past and future both figure into the situation. As always, Beller delivers an exciting and emotional tale set in the beautiful but treacherous Montana territory. The scenic detail places readers right in the middle of the action, although the characters take precedence, with their complicated pasts shadowing their current circumstances. All of them feel genuine, from the seemingly heartless villains to the hapless victims, and the rawness of emotion tugs at your heartstrings. Isaac comes face to face with a past that he thought he left behind, one that still causes feelings of guilt and holds a lesson about pride. Joanna is so relatable, described as a woman who “did not shirk her responsibilities, no matter how exhausted and worried she was.” Yet part of her drive comes from fear: “She’d been praying, yes, but had she really been trusting that God would answer her prayers? Or were they merely an outlet for her anxiety?” This really causes me to pause, especially amidst the uncertainties of 2020. How often do I pray merely out of worry or fear, rather than with a grateful heart of trust and belief? From the thorough description of nature and scenery to the interplay between characters, “Love’s Mountain Quest” is a novel that brings together romance, trauma, forgiveness, and sincere faith to demonstrate the power of a 1 Corinthians 13 love. After all, love truly is the greatest gift.I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

[harley0326 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story is a look at 1867 as Joanna and her son are trying to overcome their grief. Losing her husband has been hard but she is doing the best she can. I can’t imagine the shock she faced when she came home to find both her son and friend gone. The mountain life isn’t easy for a woman on her own and this tragedy will have a lasting impact on her life. I loved her faithfulness and her determination to find her son and friend. Isaac is a man who has redeemed himself from a life of crime. It was interesting to follow him and Joanna as they search for the men who kidnapped Samuel and Laura. I did like the interaction between Joanna and Isaac and how they slowly began to trust each other. The journey through the mountains were dangerous and several times they faced unforeseen danger. Joanna is not one to shy away from using a rifle if necessary. The encounter she has with coyotes made me cringe as she stood her ground against the pack. The part of the story I found most intriguing was when Laura and Samuel were with the kidnappers. The men were brutal at times and was pretty rough on Laura especially. Poor Samuel was so scared and hungry that I wanted to give him a big hug. The author writes a great story of survival and faith as we are taken far into the mountains. The characters were very realistic and at times I felt like I was watching a western on television. Laura was very brave and her survival instincts and faith kept her and Samuel alive. For those who like historical books with danger, a bit of romance and an emphasis on faith will be pleased with this story. It was one I didn’t want to end and loved how Joanna and Isaac were able to have an emotional talk. Isaac confesses something that he fears will push Joanna away. Oh how I loved this moment when Isaac faces his past and prays that Joanna will be able to see how he has changed. For me that was a pivotal moment in the story. It was a great example of trust and looking past imperfections. The ending is good and I hope there will be another book with perhaps Laura as the main character.I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[eccl-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loves Mountain Quest, by Misty M. Beller, is book two in the series. It takes place in 1867 in the Montana territory. This book is so well written with background information and well introduced character that it also is a great stand alone story. The main characters are from the first book in the series to it is best to read them in order to get the whole story.The things that stand out most for me in this story is the concern Isaac has for Joanna and her son and the care Joanna gives to others. The two have so many things that come up during the rescue mission, yet they force themselves to continue on. Issues with the horses and injury slow them down, but force them to rely more on God to help them get Joanna's son and friend before they come to great harm. I especially like how Isaac has turned his life around and how Joanna's focus is on providing for her family.I have thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is full of adventure and suspense with many twists and turns. The romance is very mild. It is a good clean story.I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

[eamace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The old is gone - the new has begun. 2 Corinthians 5:17bIn the rough world of 1867, life at Settler’s Fort in the Montana Territory means hard work with little playtime for widowed Joanna Watson. Spending an afternoon at the local swimming hole with Laura, a neighbor, is all she can offer her young son Samuel on a hot summer day. When they are not found there, and a murder has obviously occurred, fear settles deep into Joann’s heart. Will they be found alive?Isaac Bowen was one of the men that rescued Joanna and Samuel from the mountain wilderness after her husband died. Believing he can help find her son and friend, they set out to follow the trail left by the outlaws. The author has done an incredible job of detailing what the search and rescue would have entailed. The pain and panic experienced by Joanna could almost be felt - I wonder if I would have been as strong under such overwhelming odds. Life with the outlaws was very dangerous causing fear and discouragement for Laura as she tried to care for Samuel. There is constant action, danger and suspense as the characters learn what it really means to trust and rely on God, in spite of the circumstances. You will not put this aside until you know how this ends. Will help come in time?An ARC of this book was received through Bethany House Publishers, Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley. The comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.