Love's Mountain Quest - Review

Love's Mountain Quest (Hearts of Montana, # 2)

By: Misty M Beller

Expected Publication: June 30th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

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Goodreads description--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, with no lawman in town, 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 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.

I was excited to explore Joanna's story in this book. I felt for her in the previous book, Hope's Highest Mountain. Her husband died leaving her a widow and single mother of a very enthusiastic little boy. The journey to Settler's Fort was difficult and Samuel was lost at one point. So to find out that Samuel was once again involved in a tragic event was a little heartbreaking for me. In this case, he and Joanna's friend, Laura, witnessed a murderer and were kidnapped. Joanna enlisted Isaac Bowen's help in rescuing Laura and Samuel from the kidnappers.

Isaac has had his eye on Joanna since he helped rescue Samuel in the first book. Yet he feels unworthy of her due to his past. He spent a year with the very criminals who kidnapped her son before waking up and changing his life. Isaac sees this as an opportunity to redeem himself once and for all and put an end to the gang that he started.

I loved the build of the relationship between these two characters. They both had regard for the other before this journey. I loved how they slowly exposed themselves to the other through this journey. Every obstacle along the way revealed the character of each. My first reaction to Isaac breaking his leg on the journey was that Misty M Beller was throwing in unnecessary obstacles, but what she really did was provide Isaac (and myself) an opportunity to rely on God instead of Isaac himself. It was something his character needed to grow in and revealed my own faults with assuming Isaac would be the means to rescuing Samuel and Laura rather than having faith that God would provide another way.

Usually I get a little frustrated with additional narrators beyond the two main characters. In this case, Laura provided a perspective we wouldn't be able to witness without her POV. But Laura also provided intrigue for me concerning the next book in the series. I'm assuming she'll be the leading female character. I have some suspicions about who the main male character might be but I'll have to wait to find out. Either way, I'm excited to find out more.

Favorite quote:

-I’m sorry, Father. Sorry for thinking I’m the only one to keep Joanna safe. The only one capable of bringing back her son and Miss Hannon. In truth, there’s no way I can do any of it without you. Go before us, Lord. Make our way straight. Fight the battle before us.

Love's Mountain Quest was so enjoyable. I loved seeing the authentic build of feelings and relationship between Isaac and Joanna. I loved the spiritual battles each had to overcome. I ached for the trauma that Samuel and Laura endured. But I can't wait to see Laura's story. Love's Mountain Quest gets 4 Stars. Have you read Love's Mountain Quest? What did you think? Let me know!