Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: This Homeward Journey by Misty M. Beller

About the Book

Title: This Homeward Journey  
Author: Misty M. Beller  
Genre: Christian historical romance  
Release date: January 1, 2019

After her husband’s death, Rachel Gray is finally free from the turmoil his addictions caused. She wants nothing more than a new life with her twelve-year-old son. If she can reach her brother in the wilderness of the Canadian territories, they’ll have help to start over in peace. She knows better than to put her life in the hands of another man, but she never expected the Montana mountains to be so treacherous. When two brothers invite her to join their small group traveling to the same area, she refuses. After she and her son narrowly escape a bear attack, she’s forced to admit they need the safety of numbers in this untamed land. If the men prove dangerous, she can always leave with her son and strike out alone again. 

Seth Grant has made some bad choices in his life, but God healed him from the addiction that mired him in his sins. Now, he’s determined to live the life God called him to, starting with a journey northward to see the Canadian mountain both his brother and sister have fallen in love with. When he discovers the woman and boy who plan to travel the same mountain trail, he can’t fathom why she refuses to join in the safety of their larger group. Though her decision seems unwise, he has no other choice but to pray God provides her protection. 

Despite Rachel’s best efforts, she can’t seem to fight her attraction to the Seth—until a secret from his past proves he’s not at all the man she thought. When a new peril threatens her son’s life, she must choose between trusting in what she can control, or the man who her heart says is trustworthy, no matter his previous sins. The path she chooses just may determine whether she can step into the new life God has in store for them all.

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Thoughts

With her ability to intricately blend character, setting and plot, Misty Beller ranks among my favorite authors of historical fiction. Each book that I’ve read has rich character depth, a world that you can literally feel, and great chemistry between the lead characters. This Homeward Journey, #5 in the Heart of the Mountain series, introduces us to two more Grant siblings, twin brothers Seth and Samuel.

Released from an abusive marriage by the death of her husband, Rachel’s driving goal is to start afresh, making a new home for herself and her twelve-year-old son close to her brother in Canada. But Rachel’s sense of freedom is merely physical, not emotional or spiritual. She is determined not to feel or be enveloped in what was happening around her, and I would probably have felt the same in her situation.

In my imagination, I could literally see the rugged beauty of the Montana and Canadian territories of Rachel’s journey and smell the fresh mountain air. Yet a depth of courage that I can hardly comprehend comes to mind, for the awesome beauty is also fraught with danger from terrain, weather, and wildlife. Forced to seek protection by joining up with twin brothers, Seth and Samuel Grant, I loved watching Rachel gradually respond to the goodness and kindness of Seth.

Seth is my kind of hero – tender, thoughtful, and caring – and grateful to God for personal redemption. I loved how we see not only God’s forgiveness and grace through Seth’s addictive struggles, but spiritual transformation. Seth’s easy conversation with God through prayer is also something that resonated with me.

One of the best things about this story is that, upon reaching their destination, we are reunited with beloved characters from previous books – Simeon and Emma, Joseph and Monti, Noelle and Daniel. This Homeward Journey ends with Samuel riding out in search of Rachel’s brother, so I anticipate much more to come in this exciting series.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. 

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.  
God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Guest Post from Misty

Why Christian Historical Romance? 

I don’t know about you, but my life can get crazy…busy…chaotic. Historical fiction gives me a haven, allowing me to immerse in a simpler time and place. Add in remote mountain settings—log cabins and horses and snow…what could be better? Sometimes I wish God had let me live a couple centuries ago, but then I remind myself He knew exactly what He was doing. I don’t do well without a shower every day. 😊 And He even lets me go back to that simpler time through stories! 

If you’re reading this, you probably enjoy immersing yourself in a good book, too. Story can be such a powerful thing! Becoming an intimate part of the characters’ lives, feeling their struggles—the desperation, the elation, the emotions, the love. 

I enjoy reading and writing Christian fiction because it provides a place where I don’t always have to be concerned about inappropriate language or too-graphic love scenes. It’s a “safe zone” where my imagination can escape, living out exciting times and experiencing God-orchestrated happily-ever-afters—without having to clean-up at the end of the day. Can you relate? 

I’m excited to share my latest Christian Historical Romance story with you, and hope you enjoy it as much as I loved writing it!

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the image above or the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/d9bc/this-homeward-journey-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, December 29

Through the Fire Blogs, December 29

Carpe Diem, December 30

Splashes of Joy, December 30

A Baker’s Perspective, December 31

Mary Hake, December 31

Pause for Tales, January 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 1

Simple Harvest Reads, January 2 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Connie’s History Classroom, January 2

Among the Reads, January 3

For The Love of Books, January 3

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 4

Jeanette’s Thoughts, January 4

Connect in Fiction, January 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 5

Christian Author, J.E. Grace. January 6

Bibliophile Reviews, January 6

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, January 7

Inspiration Clothesline, January 7

Creating Romance, January 8

Texas Book-aholic, January 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 9

Janices book reviews, January 9

Wishful Endings, January 10

Cafinated Reads, January 10

Bigreadersite, January 11

Blossoms and Blessings, January 11