The Fillies are so happy to welcome Misty Beller back with another new book! Scroll down for a giveaway.
Hey, y’all! I’m so excited to visit again! The Petticoats and Pistols reader family is one of my favorite groups to hang out with.
One of the things I love about writing stories set in the 1830s Rocky Mountains is that Eastern civilization hadn’t yet touched the frontier. The only people who lived in or visited the Rockies during that were Native Americans and mountain men (usually trappers, but sometimes just explorers).
One of my favorite stories from that time inspired part of my latest release, Calm in the Mountain Storm. Wanna hear the fun, real-life details?
From their limited experience with white people, two of the native tribes realized they wanted to learn more about the white man’s God and his “Book of Heaven” (the Bible). In 1831, a delegation of four Native Americans—two Nez Perce and two Flathead—showed up in St. Louis, Missouri, asking for someone to come and teach their people about God.
Over the next several years, a number of people went west as missionaries, including Samuel Parker and Marcus Whitman, two well-known missionaries who settled in what would later become Oregon. Their story is fascinating too (and tragic), but is a whole post in itself.
From the first time I heard the story of the Indians showing up in St. Louis to learn about God, my writer mind started What if’s. What if a woman decided went west to share her faith with the natives. She couldn’t travel alone, so who would go with her? How would the tribes respond? Gradually, the characters and storyline of Calm in the Mountain Storm developed in my head. Though the characters in this book are fictional, the events certainly could have happened!
When the heroine, Elise Lane, heard that the Indians wanted to learn about God and simply needed someone to come tell them, she knew she had to answer that call. Of course, her brother Benjamin couldn’t let her go into that danger alone, so together, they set out on an expedition they knew would likely change them forever. Elise doesn’t have any idea exactly how much!
I pray you enjoy reading the story of Elise and Goes Ahead, the Indian brave she meets who’s desperate for help getting his young children across the mountains. As with our hero and heroine in the story, I pray your faith is inspired!
About the Book:
This epic journey will test his ability to protect his children—and they’re all he has left.
Missionary Elise Lane returns with her team to the Rocky Mountain native tribe they serve to discover the entire village—including the children she’s come to love—has been massacred. A fierce brave standing at the edge of the devastation has taken the only surviving child.
Goes Ahead returns home with his son to find his worst fears have come true—his entire village has been slaughtered, including his wife. Only their infant daughter has survived. But there’s no time for grief or vengeance. He must get his children across the mountains to the protection of his family.
The last thing he wants is help from the white people who’ve brought this disaster on his village, but his babe is not yet four moons old. Her hungry cries prove he can’t make this journey without the white woman already nursing a babe of her own. But she refuses to come without the rest of her group, including the opinionated missionary who thinks she knows best for his children. As winter closes in and the mountains prove treacherous beyond anything Goes Ahead can control, only a strength and love greater than his own can save his children—and the woman he’s come to love.
From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and adventure so intense, lives will never be the same.
Today, I’m excited to give away a copy of Book 1 in the series, Freedom in the Mountain Wind.
I’d love to hear from you, what are some of your favorite book settings?
Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.
My favorite book settings are the frontier west.
Mine too! You sound like a kindred spirit. 🙂
I read a lot of books set in the Appalachian Mountains, but I love your Rocky Mountain settings too. I have read Freedom in the Mountain Wind and loved it.
The Appalachians are such a wonderful setting, too, aren’t they! I’m honored you enjoyed Beaver Tail and Susannah’s story. 🙂
I enjoy setting in Montana and Wyoming
There’s something special about those mountain states, right Debra? 🙂
I love mountains and ranches in the West.
I heartily agree, Denise! 🙂
The wild west
Yes! The wild west is such a wonderful setting. 🙂
I just finished reading this book. It was so good! I enjoy books written during the 1800’s the most and especially set in the west. Thank you Misty for coming today.
Yay, Kathy! I’m so glad you enjoyed Calm in the Mountain Storm. 🙂
Hey Misty! Good to see you! I love books set in the West and I love a great variety of time periods.
~Kari
Kari! So fun to see you here. 🙂
My favorites are the American west. I never knew about American natives asking for someone to teach them about God, although it didn’t surprise me that one of them would be the Nez Perce tribe.
Yes, the Nez Perce tribe really was special. 🙂 The more I research about them, the more I respect them!
The rugged western frontier country and I love western town settings also.
Oh, me too, Connie! 🙂 Frontier settings are so intriguing.
I have read so many of your books set in the Rockies. I was looking at my library and must have close to 40 or more. They are enjoyable and inspiring.
Oh, Elaine, I’m so honored you’ve enjoyed my stories! 🙂
My favorite would be the south after the civil war or the west in Montana or around the Teton mountains. I have visited all these regions and love their beauty. Books from those areas bring back fond memories. Seeing a woman grow to love the west after being from the east is quite interesting and sometimes quite funny. Thanks for visiting today, Misty.
Oh you’re so right, Judy! It is really neat to read books set in areas we visit. 🙂
It depends on my mood
Variety is such a blessing!
Welcome, Misty! It’s great to have you back. Like someone else mentioned, I too love the Appalachian Mountains. But really any mountains in general suits me. That’s because I live in the very dry West Texas. No trees, it’s hot, and kinda boring. I love history and any time an author works that into her story is a win, win for me. I love the cover of your new book. That woman standing all alone is powerful and beautiful. Wishing you much success.
It’s so wonderful to get to travel through books, isn’t it, Linda? 🙂 Thank you for the kind words about the cover. I really loved this cover too. 🙂
I love the Old West, probably because I WRITE the Old West. There’s so much variety there — mountain men, gold mining, the Oklahoma land rush, stagecoaches, the first trains West, the Continental Divide, and my favorite, the Oregon (or California) trail. EVERYONE who set out on the journey west with a wagon train had a story.
Thank you, Misty, please enter me in the drawing.
Kathy Bailey
You’re so right, Kathy! So much variety and such a host of intriguing stories!
This is a wonderful series. I’ve read the first 5 books and loved them all. I need to get caught up on the rest.
Oh, Christy, I’m so glad! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these characters too. 🙂
My favorite settings: 1960s and 1970s, Old West, current day Amish communities, and Victorian England/America!
So many different worlds in that list! I love that we can experience so much through books!
Hello and welcome, your book sounds like a great read and your book cover is beautiful! I love settings on the mountains with a cabin. Have a great weekend and stay safe .
I pray you enjoy it, Alica! Blessings!
I enjoy books set in mountains, small towns, and rural areas. I had not read or heard of Nez Perce and Flatheads going to St.Louis but I had heard the Couer d’Alenes accepted Father DeSemet because one of their leaders had had a vision of a man in black robes coming to help them.
Oh, yes, Alice! I’d forgotten that story. I love God’s creativity in preparing hearts for Him. 🙂
any setting
A great story trumps all, right? 🙂
I enjoy a good frontier or wagon train story, so the central and western territories would be my favorite settings.
Wagon train stories are so much fun, too!
welcome today and thanks for this wonderful post. I do love learning about how the Indians found God and why. I love to read about wagon trains and mail order brides and how it all comes together.
Yes, Lori! Those stories are so intriguing, aren’t they?
Hi Misty! I cannot narrow it down since I love all settings. I have to say that it all depends on the story as to the setting. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
A great story does make all the difference! It’s great to meet you here, Debbie. 🙂
Hi Misty, Your new book sounds Awesome. I enjoy reading about the Old West in the 1800’s. The Indians & white people conflicts as our country grew. Also, the cowboys who helped shape our lands & lent a hand to those in need in these lawless times.
I feel the same way, Lois 🙂 Praying you enjoy this new book!
My favorite settings are the American West of the 1800’s and the Scottish Highlands. The character of the land and the people is very similar. Especially early on, it took a rugged strength and cooperation to survive and prosper.