Welcome to my tour stop! Read my review and enter the tour giveaway below...
A Warrior's Heart
(Brides of Laurent #1)
By Misty M. Beller
Christian Historical Romance
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 320 Pages
August 31, 2021 by Bethany House Publishers
Summary
Her heart longs for peace, but peace won't keep them safe.
Brielle Durand still feels haunted by the massacre that killed her mother a dozen years before. Vowing to never let it happen again, she’s risen to be the key defender for her people’s peace-loving French settlement living in hidden caves in the Canadian Rockies. When a foreigner wanders too near to their secret homes, she has no choice but to disarm and capture him. But now, what to do with this man who looks at her in a strange way and insists he can be trusted?
Hoping to escape past regrets, Evan MacManus ventured into the unknown, assigned to discover if the northern mountains contain an explosive mineral 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 is leading him down? Either choice will cause harm to someone.
Brielle and Evan must reconcile the warring in their hearts, if they’ve any hope to find the peace the seek.
Hoping to escape past regrets, Evan MacManus ventured into the unknown, assigned to discover if the northern mountains contain an explosive mineral 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 is leading him down? Either choice will cause harm to someone.
Brielle and Evan must reconcile the warring in their hearts, if they’ve any hope to find the peace the seek.
My Review
A WARRIOR'S HEART is a good representation of this author's writing where readers find themselves engaged in a story set in a rugged land with likable characters who face challenges and danger while trying not to fall in love. Fans of the author and genre will enjoy this newest for Beller!
I felt like this story read slightly different from this author's other books and this was a good thing. Some of the others started to feel too similar after reading quite a few of them. This one includes characters who are easy to love, a rugged landscape, danger, family dynamics, a spiritual message and romance as I've come to expect from this author. However, this story also felt fresh. Maybe because Brielle isn't from an Native American tribe or a white woman trying to reach a destination or fend for herself. No, Brielle is a fierce warrior trying to protect her people who have a little French settlement in the mountains. The hero, Evan, is also a strong man and a soldier in his own right. They are very well matched each with things in their past that they must work through in order to find their happily-ever-after. I also really enjoyed the touch of humor and contrast between Brielle and other characters. And, of course, the author gives these two plenty of challenges and a bit of danger to make things interesting. The ending is a bit predictable, but I expected it would be and it's why I enjoy stories like this as I get the sweet ending I'm looking for.
In the end, was it what I wished for? An overall enjoyable story with all the things I expect from this author and genre. Definitely a good book to escape into and be left in the end inspired and content from the happily-ever-after conclusion. I'm looking forward to the next book with characters from this settlement.
Content: Some violence, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
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 children 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.
More from Misty
A secret village living in hidden caves for a century…
One of the fun things about being a writer is letting your imagine run away with itself at times. In general, I’ve never considered myself a creative person. Not like my grandmother, who’s an amazing artist and decorator. She can look at something plain and normal and, with a little paint, create something truly beautiful.
But little by little, I’ve finally learned that just because I don’t feel creative like she is, I still have an imagination that can come up with intriguing ideas.
For example, I was listening to a historical podcast a few years ago that talked about the Vikings and the female warriors who would sometimes gain fame among them. As the hosts talked about the first Viking raids to North America, I started thinking… “What if one of those groups went farther west than any of us thought? What if they found the Rocky Mountains and lived there in a hidden community for centuries?” The thought took hold, and little by little, the idea for the Brides of Laurent series came to life.
I eventually changed the village to be a French settlement named Laurent. The village’s primary warrior was a woman named Brielle Durand, who’d worked hard to win her place as Le Commandant, leader of the Guards and Hunters. I love Brielle’s strength and wit, but also how real her personal struggles became as I wrote her character.
Add in a mountain man spy working for the United States government, and you have the secret for a romance with sparks to light up the mountain sky!
I pray you love A Warrior’s Heart, the first book in this new series. And keep an eye on some of the other characters in the book who might get their own stories soon!
Blessings!
Misty
One of the fun things about being a writer is letting your imagine run away with itself at times. In general, I’ve never considered myself a creative person. Not like my grandmother, who’s an amazing artist and decorator. She can look at something plain and normal and, with a little paint, create something truly beautiful.
But little by little, I’ve finally learned that just because I don’t feel creative like she is, I still have an imagination that can come up with intriguing ideas.
For example, I was listening to a historical podcast a few years ago that talked about the Vikings and the female warriors who would sometimes gain fame among them. As the hosts talked about the first Viking raids to North America, I started thinking… “What if one of those groups went farther west than any of us thought? What if they found the Rocky Mountains and lived there in a hidden community for centuries?” The thought took hold, and little by little, the idea for the Brides of Laurent series came to life.
I eventually changed the village to be a French settlement named Laurent. The village’s primary warrior was a woman named Brielle Durand, who’d worked hard to win her place as Le Commandant, leader of the Guards and Hunters. I love Brielle’s strength and wit, but also how real her personal struggles became as I wrote her character.
Add in a mountain man spy working for the United States government, and you have the secret for a romance with sparks to light up the mountain sky!
I pray you love A Warrior’s Heart, the first book in this new series. And keep an eye on some of the other characters in the book who might get their own stories soon!
Blessings!
Misty
Tour Schedule
Texas Book-aholic, September 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 29
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 30
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 30
An Author’s Take, September 30
Remembrancy, October 1
Bigreadersite, October 1
lakesidelivingsite, October 2
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, October 2
Joanna Bair, October 2
Inklings and notions, October 3
To Everything There Is A Season, October 3
Reviewingbooksplusmore, October 3
Wishful Endings, October 4
For Him and My Family, October 4
Mary Hake, October 4
deb’s Book Review, October 5
Life of Literature, October 5
Betti Mace, October 6
Blossoms and Blessings, October 6
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 6
Blessed & Bookish, October 7
Connie’s History Classroom, October 7
For the Love of Literature, October 8
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 8
Connect in Fiction, October 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 9
Locks, Hooks and Books, October 9
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 10
Through the Fire Blogs, October 10
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 10
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, October 11
Simple Harvest Reads, October 11 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, October 12
Pause for Tales, October 12
Live. Love. Read., October 12
Tour-Wide Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the 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 link below to enter.
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