A Daughter's Courage - Review

A Daughter's Courage (Brides of Laurent, # 3)

By: Misty M Beller

Publication: November 1st 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

? pages

Genre: Adult, Christian, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--After accidentally destroying the intricate chalice her people have treasured for over a hundred years, Charlotte Durand sets out on an expedition in search of a skilled artisan who can repair the damage. What she expected to be a two-day hike becomes much more daunting when a treacherous snowstorm sets in.

The last thing Damien Levette needs in the middle of a mountain blizzard is to tend to another person, but he can't leave behind the mysterious woman he found half-frozen at the edge of a mountain lake. As they battle both the elements and each other, Charlotte and Damien must work together to survive the peril of the mountains--or it could be the downfall of them both.

I'm not exactly sure what I want to say about A Daughter's Courage. Misty M Beller is sometimes hit or miss for me. I didn't love the first book in this series, but I enjoyed book 2 much better than the first. I decided to go ahead and check out book 3, and I landed somewhere in the middle with my feelings on it.

Charlotte is quiet, yet stubborn. And proud too. Admitting when we've made a mistake is quite difficult sometimes. Yet so much could have been avoided if only she'd talked to her father from the beginning. Of course, that wouldn't have been much of a story, would it? Damien wants to be alone. He's still grieving his twin sister's death. And yet he can't stop himself from helping Charlotte when he sees her out in a snow storm on her own.

One of my issues with A Daughter's Courage is how similar it is to other stories both in this series and in Beller's Hearts of Montana series. Two people on a journey in the mountain wilderness surviving by themselves and dependent upon each other.

My other and perhaps biggest issue was the lack of dialogue within the first half of the book between the two main characters. Yes Charlotte is quiet and Damien appreciates this quality about her, but two people need to talk in order to develop more than just an attraction to each other. Beller tells us that the two talked about this subject or that subject at one point, but the actual dialogue was lacking for a large portion of the story.

I enjoyed A Daughter's Courage. I didn't speed through it, but it didn't seem to drag on either. The only problems I had revolved around the lack of dialogue in the first portion of the book which led to a tell vs show issue and that the story was very similar to what I've read of Beller's work in the past. I rooted for the characters, and I enjoyed their growth. In the end, A Daughter's Courage gets 3 Stars. Have you read A Daughter's Courage? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Daughter's Courage

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Daughter's Courage (Brides of Laurent, # 3)

By: Misty M Beller

Expected Publication: November 1st 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

? pages

Genre: Adult, Christian, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--After accidentally destroying the intricate chalice her people have treasured for over a hundred years, Charlotte Durand sets out on an expedition in search of a skilled artisan who can repair the damage. What she expected to be a two-day hike becomes much more daunting when a treacherous snowstorm sets in.

The last thing Damien Levette needs in the middle of a mountain blizzard is to tend to another person, but he can't leave behind the mysterious woman he found half-frozen at the edge of a mountain lake. As they battle both the elements and each other, Charlotte and Damien must work together to survive the peril of the mountains--or it could be the downfall of them both.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

A Healer's Promise - Review

A Healer's Promise (Brides of Laurent, # 2)

By: Misty M Bellery

Publication: May 1st 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

304 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Levi Masters's time as a British spy hasn't ended, though his country's war with America has. Overhearing a scout reveal a discovery that could give America an upper hand in future conflicts, Levi is sent to investigate. While trekking through the Canadian Rockies, he is convicted about his life of lies and half-truths. But just as he decides to embrace truth at any cost, warriors from a hidden mountain village take him captive.

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. But despite her arguments, the council decides he's too great a risk. 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.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to read Book 2 in the Brides of Laurent series. I enjoyed Misty M Beller's Hearts of Montana series, but A Warrior's Heart wasn't as smooth as I wanted. I think my issue is because of the whole hidden society angle. But I did like Audrey as a character in the first book, so ultimately I decided to check this book out. I was worried it would follow too similar of a pattern to book 1 and in some ways it did and in others it didn't.

Basically Levi worked as a spy for the Brittish army. The war is now over, but he overheard Evan telling his superiors about something he found that could win the Americans any war they fought against England. And so Levi felt it his duty to follow Evan. And thus he stumbles upon Laurent. Audrey sees him in the woods before he's captured, and of course, Levi is taken to the same storage room that Evan was kept in. Because of Levi and Evan's history as spies for opposite sides of the war, Evan doesn't trust Levi. Personally, I always appreciate stories that reflect how there are good people on both sides of a conflict, not just the moral right and moral wrong.

Audrey visits Levi shortly after his capture to bring him food the same way she did for Evan. In her brief encounter with him, she feels so strongly a call from God that this man isn't their enemy. That he is a good man. But not only does Evan have history with Levi personally, but Laurent has history with the British. And Audrey isn't sure the people of Laurent will be unbiased towards Levi due to his heritage. Because Audrey felt the message from God so clearly but others don't seem to be listening to her, she acts rashly and lets Levi escape. Of course, he's injured in the process and in need of a healer. Audrey can't stand for others to suffer when she can help and so she risks nearly everything in order to help Levi heal.

Audrey's story is easy to relate to if you've ever strongly felt God leading you. Yet like many of us often do, Audrey kind of took the reins out of God's hands once He revealed part of His path to her. It reminds me of Sarah in the Bible. When God told her she was going to have a son and first she laughed and then she basically gave her servant to her husband in order to bring God's promise to fruition. She took God's promise into her own hands the way Audrey tried to take Levi's salvation into her own hands.

Of course, I loved their relationship. Things weren't much more than a nice woman trying to help a nice, misunderstood, and innocent man. The progression was slow enough to be natural while fast enough to keep me intrigued. The romance was definitely my favorite part, and I'm glad I decided not to skip A Healer's Promise.

Favorite quote:

-I'm sorry if I ran ahead of you, Lord. But perhaps God's plan all along had been to use her to free Levi Masters. Why else would she have felt such a strong certainty that he was innocent.

I liked this quote because I've found myself wanting to follow God's leading in a particular area of my life but was unsure if He was leading me in X direction or Y. Sometimes we pray for His will to be revealed and He does give us direction. And sometimes we just have to do the best we can with the information we have at the time.

A Healer's Promise was better than I expected. I wasn't sure if I was going to pursue this series after A Warrior's Heart, but I'm glad that I did. Audrey has a story that no one else would be able to replicate yet many of us can relate to trying to work out the details for God. I look forward to reading the next in the series now. A Healer's Promise gets 4 Stars. Have you read A Healer's Promise? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Healer's Promise

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Healer's Promise (Brides of Laurent, # 2)

By: Misty M Bellery

Expected Publication: May 1st 2022 by Bethany House Publishers

304 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Levi Masters's time as a British spy hasn't ended, though his country's war with America has. Overhearing a scout reveal a discovery that could give America an upper hand in future conflicts, Levi is sent to investigate. While trekking through the Canadian Rockies, he is convicted about his life of lies and half-truths. But just as he decides to embrace truth at any cost, warriors from a hidden mountain village take him captive.

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. But despite her arguments, the council decides he's too great a risk. 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.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

A Warrior's Heart - Review

A Warrior's Heart (Brides of Laurent, # 1)

By: Misty M Beller

Publication: August 31st 2021 by Bethany House Publishers

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Brielle Durand is a key defender and hunter for her people's peace-loving French settlement in the Canadian mountains. When a foreigner wanders too near to their secret homes, she has no choice but to disarm and capture him. She won't allow another massacre like the one that killed her mother a dozen years before. But now, what to do with this man who looks at her in a strange way?

Evan MacManus was on assignment to find among the caves the mineral pitchblende that might help America win the War of 1812. Despite being taken prisoner, Evan is determined to complete his mission. But when that assignment becomes at odds with his growing appreciation of the villagers and Brielle, does he follow through on the promise he's made to his government or take a risk on the path his heart tells him is right? Either choice will spell death for someone.

I read Misty M Beller's Hearts of Montana series and really enjoyed it. So I decided to read her next release which is the start of a new series. A Warrior's Heart is book 1 of the Brides of Laurent series. And I was a little disappointed.

The characters were fine. Brielle is the head of the guard of this secret village in the mountains. She's worked hard to achieve this position. And it seems that for the most part, her job has actually involved hunting for the tribe. She finds a man getting much too close to the village entrance and shoots him with a sleep potion tipped arrow. Evan is brought into the village and guarded in a storage room until the Brielle can find out what he is doing in the area and if the council deems him safe enough to release. Of course, the two spend time together and eventually open up to each other. In the process of getting to know each other, both find qualities about the other they admire and begin to develop feelings.

Now the romance is always what drives a story in my opinion. And I enjoyed Brielle and Evan's journey. The side characters were interesting and mostly likable when they were supposed to be and despicable when those were supposed to be. But I guess where I struggled most was the whole secret village piece. I've previously read a story with a family that was sequestered high on a mountain alone for a long period of time until they were stumbled upon, and I struggled with that too. I guess for me it's kind of like mermaid stories. I like the sound of the concept, but the execution has fallen flat for me both times. Maybe, I find it a little too unbelievable. That doesn't even feel like the right word. But something I can't put my finger on doesn't appeal to me.

I imagine Audrey will be the next character in the series to take center stage because she was the next most present female character in this book. I liked Audrey. She was sweet and all things good. But I also feel like my overall enjoyment of the concept of the hidden village might prevent me from enjoying her story as much as I would like. So that leaves me wondering if I will attempt to read more of this series when the time comes or not. I'm unsure at this point.

A Warrior's Heart gets 3 Stars from me. I liked Brielle and her strong female character. And I enjoyed the build between her and Evan. But I wasn't blown away by many of the side characters. And the secret village part of the concept left me wanting...but not in a good way. I'm unsure whether I will continue the series at this point. Have you read A Warrior's Heart? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Warrior's Heart

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Warrior's Heart (Brides of Laurent, # 1)

By: Misty M Beller

Expected Publication: August 31st 2021 by Bethany House Publishers

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Brielle Durand is a key defender and hunter for her people's peace-loving French settlement in the Canadian mountains. When a foreigner wanders too near to their secret homes, she has no choice but to disarm and capture him. She won't allow another massacre like the one that killed her mother a dozen years before. But now, what to do with this man who looks at her in a strange way?

Evan MacManus was on assignment to find among the caves the mineral pitchblende that might help America win the War of 1812. Despite being taken prisoner, Evan is determined to complete his mission. But when that assignment becomes at odds with his growing appreciation of the villagers and Brielle, does he follow through on the promise he's made to his government or take a risk on the path his heart tells him is right? Either choice will spell death for someone.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!