My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
As the fifth daughter in a family of nine, Noelle Grant spent her life striving to be unique. Her love of telling stories helps define her goal—to be known around the country as one of the top news correspondents of her time. And what better way to uncover sensational tales than to travel through the mountain wilderness to visit her brother? The trip comes together perfectly as she journeys with family friends who will be settling in the same area. Her first inkling that things may not be as perfect as she’d imagined shows up in the form of the mountain man hired as their guide for the final leg of the journey.
When Daniel Abrams agrees to guide the small group of easterners along his usual route northward to the Canadian mountains, his gut tells him he’s making a terrible decision. But if he doesn’t take them, who will? The crew’s leader refuses to consider turning back. As they start out, Daniel can’t help but notice the woman traveling under the care of her friends. Though she appears too genteel to last long in these mountains, she soon reveals a strength that draws him more than he should allow.
When the dangers of this wilderness become more than the group bargained for, Noelle must choose to delay her trip northward or proceed alone with the man she’s come to trust against all reason. She never dreams her decision will place her—and the man she loves—in a situation more hazardous than any story her imagination could conjure.
My Review
I can always count on this author to take me on an adventure in the wilderness! The harsh circumstances bring out the true qualities of the characters, and it's rewarding when they learn that they are stronger than they ever imagined. Noelle is a woman of determination, and she takes it in stride when the plans for her journey go awry. I appreciated that she took the time to pray and feel guidance from the Lord for her decision to keep going and trust Daniel. This is when the story really picks up, and the seemingly never-ending series of dangerous obstacles facing them draws them closer together where they must rely on each other for survival against the looming winter storms as they struggle through the mountains toward their destination. Even though this is a series and the characters in each book are loosely connected, they can be read as stand-alones.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Check out the previous books in the Heart of the Mountains series . . .
Book One
Book Two
Book Three
Check out the previous books in the Heart of the Mountains series . . .
Book One
Synopsis
Widowed and with child,
Emma Malcom is fleeing from the reward offered for her arrest. She’s
innocent of the dirty dealings her deceased husband orchestrated, but
the angry townspeople didn’t stop to listen to her defense before she
narrowly escaped with her life. Now, she and her twin brother, Joseph,
must battle the mountain wilderness of the Rockies to reach Canada and
the clean start she craves. But when a fall from the rocky cliff leaves
Joseph wounded and weak, could the strange mountain man they encounter
be God’s gift to see them to safety?
Simeon Grant makes bad choices. His deceased wife and twin babies are lost to him now because of his reckless decisions, and the penance he pays by living alone in this mountain wilderness is only a small piece of what he thinks he deserves. When a city woman, heavy with child, appears on his doorstep with her injured brother, her presence resurrects the memories he’s worked so hard to forget. And when she asks for his help to travel deeper into the mountain country, he can’t help wonder why God would force him to relive the same mistakes he’s already suffered through. Or maybe taking these two to safety could be the way to redeem himself.
But when their travels prove more treacherous than he imagined, Simeon finds himself pressing the limits of his ability to keep Emma and her brother safe. Can he overcome the past that haunts him to be the man she needs? Will Emma break through the walls around Simeon’s heart before it’s too late, or will the dangers of these mountains be the end of them all?
Simeon Grant makes bad choices. His deceased wife and twin babies are lost to him now because of his reckless decisions, and the penance he pays by living alone in this mountain wilderness is only a small piece of what he thinks he deserves. When a city woman, heavy with child, appears on his doorstep with her injured brother, her presence resurrects the memories he’s worked so hard to forget. And when she asks for his help to travel deeper into the mountain country, he can’t help wonder why God would force him to relive the same mistakes he’s already suffered through. Or maybe taking these two to safety could be the way to redeem himself.
But when their travels prove more treacherous than he imagined, Simeon finds himself pressing the limits of his ability to keep Emma and her brother safe. Can he overcome the past that haunts him to be the man she needs? Will Emma break through the walls around Simeon’s heart before it’s too late, or will the dangers of these mountains be the end of them all?
Book Two
Synopsis
Joseph Malcom has spent
his life protecting those in need, but now that his sister is safely
settled with her new family in the Canadian Rockies, his help is no
longer required. That is, until he’s asked to safely retrieve the
priest’s cousin to help minister to the local Indian tribe. But his
passenger is not at all who he expects.
After the death of her mother, Monti Bergeron has nothing to keep her in Montreal. While the prospect of ministering to the Indians out West is daunting, she looks forward to assisting her beloved cousin in his mission work. The life of a nun may be just what she needs to heal her grief, serving her Heavenly Father and fellow mankind, especially if no more pesky suitors are around to ask for her hand in marriage. But the man who’s been sent to guide her through the mountains might make her second-guess her plans before she even begins.
As Monti settles into her ministry, Joseph finds his wandering feet drawn back to the Indian camp. Monti’s focus on God is more unsettling than he’d like to admit. Add to that her beauty which tests his willpower at every turn, and she’s made it crystal clear she doesn’t want a husband. But when his determination to keep distance between them puts Monti in danger, protecting her might require something Joseph might not be able to give.
After the death of her mother, Monti Bergeron has nothing to keep her in Montreal. While the prospect of ministering to the Indians out West is daunting, she looks forward to assisting her beloved cousin in his mission work. The life of a nun may be just what she needs to heal her grief, serving her Heavenly Father and fellow mankind, especially if no more pesky suitors are around to ask for her hand in marriage. But the man who’s been sent to guide her through the mountains might make her second-guess her plans before she even begins.
As Monti settles into her ministry, Joseph finds his wandering feet drawn back to the Indian camp. Monti’s focus on God is more unsettling than he’d like to admit. Add to that her beauty which tests his willpower at every turn, and she’s made it crystal clear she doesn’t want a husband. But when his determination to keep distance between them puts Monti in danger, protecting her might require something Joseph might not be able to give.
Book Three
Synopsis
Adrien Lockman is
through with the political unrest and bloodshed in his home country of
France, so he sets off to the Canadian territory's mountain frontier, in
search of a place where a man can live his own life in peace. The last
thing he expects to find is a woman, half-starved and half-frozen in a
shack nestled among the towering peaks of the great Rocky Mountains.
Mary Standish thought she'd finally found a place where she was accepted, trapping with her husband for the Hudson Bay Company. But when he dies after a gruesome grizzly fight, she determines to carry on their work. After all, life in these remote mountains is better than enduring the scorn and snubs of "civilized" folk. When she's forced to face a winter harder than any she's endured yet, her stubbornness may just be the death of her. Until a stranger appears at her ramshackle door.
Adrien had planned to explore the mountain country all winter before he settles down to build a farm in the spring, but he can't leave this woman to die in the elements. Even though she seems desperate for him to go. As Mary regains strength, she's torn between wanting to save her dignity, and craving the respect of this man who's slipped past her defenses. As the winter worsens, the truth becomes all too real--the only way they'll survive is together.
Mary Standish thought she'd finally found a place where she was accepted, trapping with her husband for the Hudson Bay Company. But when he dies after a gruesome grizzly fight, she determines to carry on their work. After all, life in these remote mountains is better than enduring the scorn and snubs of "civilized" folk. When she's forced to face a winter harder than any she's endured yet, her stubbornness may just be the death of her. Until a stranger appears at her ramshackle door.
Adrien had planned to explore the mountain country all winter before he settles down to build a farm in the spring, but he can't leave this woman to die in the elements. Even though she seems desperate for him to go. As Mary regains strength, she's torn between wanting to save her dignity, and craving the respect of this man who's slipped past her defenses. As the winter worsens, the truth becomes all too real--the only way they'll survive is together.
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