A Christian Historical Romance novelJoseph 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 … 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.
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Danger and romance abound in the rugged wilderness…
I was a bit surprised by This Wilderness Journey because I think I liked it quite a bit more than the first book in the Heart Of The Mountains series from Misty M. Beller. The adventure and romance is good and I liked the characters, especially Monti, whose full first name is quite an unusual mouthful.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book. The sound and production quality were good. The narrator’s voice is one of those that you can listen to for hours, it’s pleasant and fairly soft-spoken which is perfect for a nearly 6 hour audiobook. She also narrated the first book in the series and I appreciate that continuity between productions.
This Wilderness Journey by Misty M. Beller was an enjoyable listen and one I would recommend if you like historical romance in general. The audiobook was easy to listen to and keeps the mind busy while the hands are occupied with the mundane.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
I was tickled to meet the cousin! And I loved the French accent Leonor, the narrator used. I don’t speak French, but it sounded realistic to me. This was definitely an incredible wilderness journey, but the walk of faith was the best part of the book. I can’t wait to listen to another book in this series!! Misty has definitely left a great impression on me!
Great reading injoy this book plan on reading of this writer
Misty M Beller can tell a story that has you holding your breath and wondering just how they are going to get out of this situation! Blizzards, Indians, danger at every turn.. I really enjoyed this story in the Canadian Rockies
Starting up a year after where the first book (This Treacherous Journey) let off, “This Wilderness Journey” centers on Joseph Malcom, Emma’s twin brother, and Monti Bergeron, who is as determined as she is beautiful.
As the two navigate the wilderness of this beautiful mountainous region, they come face to face with both danger and love, and must learn to trust God and each other if they’re to survive.
This book was SOOO good! Intense and adventurous, witty and beautifully descriptive. It pulled me in and kept me turning the page for more until the very end. I loved it!
This author is very talented and has put together here a story that blends adventure, romance, and faith in God beautifully! Bravo!
I loved Joseph in the first book of the series, so I was so excited to read his story! He was such a fun and light-hearted character, but that part of him is not as apparent in this book since he’s weighed down by an injury that makes daily tasks difficult. Over time and with Monti’s influence, his good humor does start to shine through again. Monti was sweet and compassionate, and I admired her determination and independence on her journey and with the Native American tribe her uncle ministered to. The author descriptive writing had me transported to the setting and experiencing the harshness and perils of the wilderness with the characters. The pace of the book was steady, with periods of contemplation that slowed things down a bit, but overall it was an enjoyable story in a great wilderness setting.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Loved this book! Couldn’t put it down…like all Misty Beller books!
Misty takes us on another journey in to the Canadian Rocky Mountains to see how Joseph Malcom is doing. If you remember, Joseph is the twin brother of Emma Malcom. He and Emma were safely guided by Simeon Grant to their aunt and uncles home to escape Emma’s past troubles in book 1 The Treacherous Journey. Joseph endured difficult times on that journey. Emma and Simeon fell in love and married and now have a cabin close to their aunt and uncles ranch. Now we pick up where we left off with Joseph. In the year since they arrived he has wandered these beautiful mountains in search of something. A terrible accident several months back left him with an injury to his left hand so he now feels he has nothing of offer anyone. God has other ideas. Father Antoine Bergeron has a great favor to ask of Joseph. Retrieve his cousin Monti from the fort and get his cousin safely to him. No worries, Joseph can do that but again God has other plans than Joseph realizes. Monti isn’t what Joseph expected. This book is so full of adventures, trusting God’s word even when we don’t understand and finding true love. Misty Beller has the ability to take us back in time to where we can see how the rugged mountain homes were and to feel what the characters must have felt who lived it. We get to experience the fears and heartache but also watch love blossom and yearn for the faith it takes to survive in this Rocky Mountain wilderness. I received an early copy to read and review and give my honest opinion. I love everything about this book. The challenges, the suspense, the hardships and heartaches, the interactions with the Indian tribes and the faith required to learn to love and allow that love to blossom. I highly recommend this book and if you haven’t read the first one I would recommend it as well. You don’t have to read it to enjoy this one but you will love it too.
Ah, I do love Misty Beller’s books. If you’ve enjoyed her previous books, you will definitely love this one. If you haven’t read any of her books but love historical romance (this is set in the 1850s in the Canadian Rocky Mountains), you need to read this book. This is the second book in the Heart of the Mountains series but can be read as a stand-alone. Emma, Joseph’s twin sister, and her husband Simeon play a large role in this story but you don’t necessarily need to know their story to enjoy Joseph’s story.
The author, as always, combines fluid and easy-to-read writing with beautiful breath-taking descriptions of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in 1852. The wilderness is majestic and haunting and the incorporation of relationships with the natives into the plot is delightful. The characters are memorable and lovable. Joseph, in particular, tugged at my heartstrings from page one. He is emotionally and spiritually broken from an accident and doesn’t know how to find his way back to who he was before the injury. He is intelligent, capable, and full of love but doesn’t think he’s worthy of Monti. Monti comes to that part of Canada to help her cousin with his missionary work and takes her calling quite seriously. It takes Monti’s patient love and a few scary events for Joseph to find his way back to a loving and gracious God and to fully accept Monti’s love. Monti, on the other hand, has to slowly learn to let others into her heart and to depend on others for help, even in her very independent and feisty state of being.
I was happy to see Emma and Simeon in this story (for I fell in love with them in the first book) and am holding my breath for the next book……who would it be about?
I received a copy of this book from the author. A favorable review was not required. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
This is the second book in the series and just as good as the first if not better. Misty makes you feel like you are part of the story as she describes the harsh conditions the people have to endure living in the wilderness. There is humor, faith, suspense, Indians, page turning plot, loveable characters and the only complaint is that the book ended too soon. Would love to have had another 100+ pages to read.
When our hero agrees to pick up and escort the preacher’s cousin to his cabin there is a huge mix up. Things start to get worse. The preacher and his cousin are to minister and act as missionaries to the Indian tribes in the area. Some of the tribes aren’t friendly or accepting.
I received this book as an ARC from the author and publisher and was asked to leave a honest review. All opinions are my own and I can honestly say that I’m loving this series. I read her Mountain Men series and loved it. This one is even better. Misty brings faith into the plot without preaching to you and you will think of the characters as friends (or wish they were) before you finish the book. I highly recommend this author and all her books. She hasn’t disappointed me in any of them. Great read.
I knew from the first few pages that this would be a great adventure. Joseph has been assigned to escort Monti Bergerson safely. I laughed when they meet and Joseph is shocked to find out Monti is a woman. Their journey will take them into dangerous territories and Joseph isn’t sure Monti will survive. He tries everything to talk her out of going, but to no avail.
Monti is one tough woman. After losing her mother she decides to take a trip to minister to the Indians. I loved her faith and how determined she was to do what God had called her to do. I can’t imagine being in the wilderness having to depend on a stranger to keep me safe. I loved the description of the area and how protective Joseph was of Monti. When it became obvious that Monti knew nothing about cooking, I had to laugh. Monti and I have something in common when it comes to cooking. Many disasters later, my husband is the official cook in the family.
It was nice to read about Monti meeting Joseph’s sister. Emma is a gentle person and made Monti feel right at home. There is a part in the story where the two main characters share a moment that was written so eloquently that I found it to be one of the best parts of the story. The author does a good job of talking about Monti being with the Indians. It shows how gentle her heart is and how brave she is to tend to their needs. It is a good story that has adventure, faith and romance. I enjoyed getting to know Monti and Joseph. Will they find what they are looking for to be happy?
“The things that happened to you don’t have the power to make you more or less than that. It’s up to you to decide whether you’ll live up to His plan for you.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
I enjoyed this read, the second book in this series, and yes it does read alone, but we are reunited with past characters.
I loved how these characters lived their faith, and then shared their love of God with others.
The setting is the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and the author’s word pictures are beautiful. We are with Joseph when he picks up Monti to lead her to her uncle, and finds out Monti is not a guy.
I loved how Monti shares her knowledge with the Indians and seems to have a lot of compassion for others, including Joseph. Can these two hurting individuals forge a relationship. Watch as this journey continues and we are let into their lives.
I received this book through Celebrate Lit Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
Loved book 1 in this series also!
This Wilderness Journey is my first read of a Misty M. Beller book, but it will not be my last. This book has it all — a beautiful and sad heroine, a dashing but damaged hero, rugged and beautiful landscapes, adventures, dangers, kidnapping, and a friendship that quickly blossoms into a very sweet romance. I found myself tearing through the pages of this book. When I had to put the book down, I was so frustrated because I just wanted to know what was coming next…and next…and next!
It is a common practice to think that bad things happening to us means that God is mad or disappointed in us. This could not be further from the truth, but it certainly does feel this way. When life gets tough, God expects us to go to Him. He isn’t allowing circumstances into our lives so that we will give up, stay stagnant, and play the blame game. But, that is what a lot of people do. I admit I’ve done it in my lifetime. Joseph Malcom, the hero of This Wilderness Journey, plays the blame game. He believes that if God had loved him, God wouldn’t have allowed him to get hurt. Joseph closes off his relationship with Jesus, and with anyone who could be a lifelong partner. It takes a very strong woman, Monti Bergeron, to step up to Joseph and force him to see that having a flaw doesn’t mean that God thinks he is useless. Joseph realizes that he needs to man up, put things right between himself and God, and live the life God meant for him to live. For me, the lesson Joseph learns in this book is a great reminder that when God allows bad to happen in my life, I need to go to God first so He can show me how to navigate my path and still be the woman He wants me to be — flaws and all.
Why did the ancient Israelites end up wandering in a desert for 40 years after the Exodus? Bottom line — the generation that left Egypt didn’t trust God. As punishment for their sin of distrust, the ancient Israelites wandered for 40 years. What I love about that story is that God NEVER abandons these clearly damaged people. He understood their limitations as a community with an enslavement mentality. Sure it frustrated Him (and Moses) often, but God knew His people. If you can take a step back from the details — the Israelites didn’t trust, they were pretty cowardly, they were quite selfish at times, etc. — you can actually see the wilderness wanderings as a sort of love story. In essence, God spent 40 years caring for His damaged kids. He gave them food, water, forgiveness (so much forgiveness), and love. God could have easily killed all the distrusting Israelites and started over with this damaged generation’s children, but He didn’t do that. We always see the desert wandering as a negative thing, but I’m not so sure that desert wanderings are totally bad.
Joseph is reminiscent of a wandering Israelite. Instead of a desert, Joseph wanders the Canadian Rockies attempting to distance himself from God and from new, lasting attachments. He lives in a cave, wanders amongst the Native American tribes helping a local missionary bring supplies to the Natives, and he sometimes visits his twin sister, Emma. But mostly, Joseph just wanders around the mountains. He is angry. He is distrustful. He is damaged. Just like the ancient Israelites, and just like me when I’ve gone through some serious valleys. I am reminded of Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” When we are in a wandering place in our lives, we are so convinced it is of our choosing. We are choosing to escape others and God. We just want to be alone, but I am not sure that is actually the case. I think God puts us in these wandering moments so He can get us alone in order to take care of us, heal us, and love us. We just need to see, as Joseph eventually sees, that God is ordering our steps the entire time.
This Wilderness Journey is a really good read. It’s engaging and fast paced. It has a sweet romance that builds well over the course of the story. And, it has some pretty timely lessons that I found I needed to hear again. If you are looking for a good read, check out This Wilderness Journey today!
I received a review copy of this novel in paperback form from the author via Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This Wilderness Journey by Misty Beller
The overall tone of the story is quiet, peaceful, and restful, yet with a touch of adventure. I thought the way the author used the term “Indians” for the natives of the area was quite appropriate because in the mid-19th century, that is how they were known. That is just one example of the way she gave the sense of time and place through the story.
There is a strong Christian message; however, I wish there was a more obvious point where Joseph realized that God’s love extended to him as well as to Monti. The allusion to his shame over something in his past wasn’t explained more. Perhaps it was explained in the first book of this series but as this book is about him, it seems like it should have been described here as well.
Overall, the story was very good and enjoyable. This is a great option for readers of historical fiction that takes place in the “Old West”.
This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net.
Be sure to read Misty’s Guest Post and get a preview of This Wilderness Journey at AmongTheReads.net
I would like to thank Celebrate Lit for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
This was another excellent book by Misty. The story was very down to earth and very entertaining. If you do not get the message in the story than you are missing the whole story.
Misty Beller has written another five star adventurous book!! She wrote such vivid descriptions I could see and feel the cold snowy mountain Joseph and Monti had to cross, hear the sounds of an Indian Village as Monti walked in for the first time. Felt fear when an enemy tribe was nearby. Laughed and felt good deep inside in some parts of the book. I felt so bad for Joseph and loved how Monti tried to help him. Most of all God’s love, forgiveness, salvation and redemption is woven throughout this beautiful book.
I’m anxiously waiting for book three!!!!!
I received this book from the author and was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.
Another beautiful & inspirational Misty Beller book telling Joseph & Monti’s story. I loved this second in series book, focusing on the life & struggles of Joseph from ” This Treacherous Journey “, while including more about Simeon & Emma. It was a page-turner from beginning to end & had me reading into the early morning to finish it. I love everything written by this author!
Joseph Malcom agrees to escort the priest’s cousin to the wilderness cabin having no idea the “cousin” is a female! Joseph is a strong character from the first book in the Heart of the Mountains series. Monti is a French princess to Joseph’s mind and heart! Monti is a strong female protagonist who has never ridden a horse before and must adapt to wilderness living and ministering to the Indian tribes. Joseph lost the use of all the fingers on one hand in an accident and feels useless. This Wilderness Journey was a great book set in the Canadian west. Although it is part of a series, it is good as a stand alone book. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary e-book from the author. This is my honest opinion.
This was the second book from this author I have read, and they are both full of adventure and great reads. I enjoyed the fast pace and the characters were very likeable.
Joseph Malcom, who feels he is not good enough anymore because of an accident while caused damage to his hand helps Monti Bergeron arrive at her destination to help her cousin in caring for the needs of the friendly Indians. Their journey is fraught with adventure and as they continue to come in contact together after their trip, they begin to have feelings towards one another.
It’s an interesting and well written book, and you will not want to miss it.
I received an ebook copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own.