Pretending to be the Mountain Man's Wife

 

About the Book

Book: Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch Book 6)

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre:Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 19, 2024

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Determined to find his missing brother and catch the elusive mastermind behind the theft of his family’s precious sapphires, Gil Coulter embarks on a solo mission to the remote town where the criminal is rumored to reside. As Gil scours the surrounding wilderness for the thief’s hidden lair, he crosses paths with a captivating young woman who harbors secrets of her own.

Jess McPharland has spent her life hidden in the mountains, doing her best to stay separate from her family’s business. Yet the secret she’s just discovered will change her life forever. She offers a silent prayer, pleading for a man to help her conceal the truth she’s only just discovered. As if in answer, Gil Coulter rides through the trees, seeking the very criminal Jess calls Father. Now she must find a way to ask this stranger for the ultimate favor—to pose as her husband and shield her from the consequences of a change she won’t be able to hide much longer.

As Gil and Jess navigate the treacherous landscape and the greater danger from her father and his cronies, they find themselves caught in a web of danger, deception, and unexpected attraction. With each passing moment, the stakes grow higher, and the line between pretense and truth blurs. Will the love growing between them be enough to protect Jess’s secret and lead them to the justice Gil seeks, or will the truth shatter everything they’ve risked their lives to build?

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain saga filled with high-stakes adventure, a pretend marriage, a secret baby, and love that heals wounded hearts.

 My Review: 

Desperately seeking for a way to escape her loathsome father, Jess McPharland proposes an unusual arrangement with Gil Coulter, a virtual stranger. Gil has such a generous and compassionate heart that he is compelled to help Jess find a new life. I loved that he was her protector despite the harm to himself. The eerie atmosphere of living in caves and finding secret passages make this a turn-the-pages-quickly kind of read. There were a couple of times when I thought Jess and Gil were sure to get caught as they try to locate hidden items. The foreman was especially creepy as he seemed to be popping out of nowhere at times. There are some unanswered questions at the end of this book, is I am assuming that these will be addressed in the upcoming story. This is book is part of the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch, but can be read as a standalone. Things to Enjoy: dual POV historical romance danger and suspense fake marriage mystery light faith thread I was given a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit with no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

Click here to get your copy!

 About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author with over 1 million books old. She writes 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.

More from Misty

In Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife, the heroine and her father live in a cave which is part of an intricate catacomb hidden inside Montana mountain.

I LOVED researching cave systems, especially those in Montana, and I was amazed at how many extensive tunnels and caverns have been discovered!

One of the most well-known is Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, located between Butte and Bozeman. This spectacular limestone cave system features a series of caverns adorned with incredible rock formations. These days, visitors can take guided tours to marvel at the intricate stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites that have formed over thousands of years. The cave is also home to several species of bats.

Another notable cave system is the Bighorn Caverns, situated in the Pryor Mountains south of Billings. This complex network of caves extends for over 14 miles, making it one of the most significant cave systems in the state. Experienced cavers can explore winding passages, underground streams, and vast chambers with unique mineral formations.

The Bighorn Caverns are very similar to how I imagine the cave system was that Jess lived in. As amazing as the tunnels are to explore, I’m not sure I’d want to live in such darkness. What about you?

I pray you enjoy Gil and Jess’s story in Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife! J

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 22

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 22

Pause for Tales, November 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 23

Texas Book-aholic, November 24

Blossoms and Blessings, November 24

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 25 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

lakesdielivingsite, November 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 27

For Him and My Family, November 27

Devoted To Hope, November 28

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 29

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 30

Book Looks by Lisa, December 1

Holly’s Book Corner, December 1

Betti Mace, December 2

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 3

Cover Lover Book Review, December 3

Books You Can Feel Good About, December 4

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 5

Mary Hake, December 5

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 extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54105

Catch Yourself a Snowmance

About the Book:

Getting stuck in an old cabin is not my idea of a great winter vacation.

Getting stuck with Carson makes me wonder what I did do end up on Santa’s naughty list.

My friend Noelle talked me into going on a group vacation with our friends. Then she sprung the news that her boyfriend is joinig us ... with his friends.

I’ve met these guys. You know that ape man on the insurance commercials? Gage, Mitch and Carson make that missing link look sophisticated.

I’ll be fine. I brought my Kindle, and we’ll be hitting the slopes. I’ll barely notice Carson and his abs--wait, he has abs?

Carson’s definitely a “man’s man”--all grunts and banging the chest while watching sports games with his bros. He’s not my type. Not at all.

When Carson and I are assigned to run into town to get supplies together, I experience a whole other side of him.

And now I’m completely questioning my first impression.

My Review:

A getaway weekend with a bridal party in the Smokies sounds like so much fun! Alyssa and Carson are a part of the weekend, each not looking for a relationship but are there to support the bride and groom. But, Alyssa and Carson find themselves being able to relax with no work obligations and drawn to each other.

Things to love: dual POV Dorito dust wildlife karaoke snowboarding s-more preferences Wolfgang Puck and Julia Childs humor friends’ relationship advice A Favorite Quote: “No regrets. We all choose our paths, and we can’t choose them all. So embrace the ones you choose and make them ones you’ll never regret because you made the most of them.” I loved this clean romance, kisses only story. I felt a part of the snowy weekend and was sorry to see it draw to a close. I was happy that we got to see a bit into the future with Carson and Alyssa. The Valentine’s Day date was perfect! I was given a complimentary copy with no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

A Calculated Betrothal

 

About the Book

Book: A Calculated Betrothal

Author: Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 12, 2024

A Patriot scout, a Loyalist widow, and a desperate fight to save what matters most.

The death of her titled husband means that not only is Tabitha Gage no longer a lady—but she’s also abandoned on an isolated Southern Georgia plantation on the eve of revolution. With the fine house and fields sold to a neighbor, she’s left with a log cabin on unsettled timber land. Rather than marry the neighbor’s son, Tabitha determines to make her own way—and never again be shackled to a man she doesn’t love.

Sergeant Edmond Lassiter is one assignment away from promotion when he comes to the aid of a red-haired beauty fending off cattle rustlers. Thrown together during an attack at a nearby fort, the Patriot scout and Loyalist widow are surprised by the values they share—including honesty, loyalty, and equality. When Edmond learns the same man who ruined his family is after what little Tabitha has left, he convinces her they should work together to make her land profitable—all while fighting off the British from East Florida and her greedy neighbor, who sabotages their every effort to succeed. Their work together will be a business arrangement…nothing more. But as a British invasion threatens, the truth soon becomes clear—continuing the connection between them will risk far more than their hearts.

My Review: 

Tabitha Gage is a woman who is ahead of her time. She is strong willed, a free thinker, and carves independence. However, she lives in a time where men make all of the decisions and women’s opinions are generally not regarded not wanted. When Tabitha’s domineering, unloving husband dies she has the chance to explore avenues that were never open to her before. But, unforeseen circumstances threaten to put her into a worse situation than she was in before. I loved her grit and determination as she looks for ways to keep her land and defy some very greedy and unscrupulous men. 

Edmund Lassiter was a true hero. Not only did he help with defending the fort, but he also came to Tabitha’s aid. He fought off their common enemy and helped her to make business deals for timber and another venture. He helped Tabitha see she was intelligent, lovely, and a child of God. 

I enjoyed this story of the Revolutionary War and learned quite a bit about the role Georgia and Florida played in it through this story. I would recommend this story for mature readers as it does have a sexual assault scene, although not graphic. I enjoyed the faith thread that was present throughout the story and Edmund realizing that he needed to forgive his enemy. 

*suicide, premarital relations

I was given a complimentary copy of the book. A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 About the Author

North Georgia native Denise Weimer has authored around twenty traditionally published novels and novellas–historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. The mother of two wonderful young adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

 

 

 More from Denise

There were only going to be four books in my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier Series. But have you ever had a character take over a story? That’s what happened for books four and five.

Temperance Scott, the shy but principled heroine of A Conflicted Betrothal who started her own Daughter of Liberty group during Savannah’s 1765 Stamp Act Protests, had a feisty twin sister named Tabitha. Tabitha kept marching all over the page in her bright silk gowns, making Temperance feel pale by comparison, jockeying to maintain her position as Daddy’s favorite, and plotting to steal Temperance’s beau. When that failed, she stole the end of the novel instead, saving her sister from authorities tracking down the spy who wrote the Townsman Letters that accused prominent Loyalists of supporting the Stamp Act. Then she wed her father’s choice for her, the much older Henry Gage, Lord Riley, and sailed away on his sloop to avoid punishment. As the book closed, Temperance got to marry her Royal Ranger-turned-Patriot, Ansel Adams, while Tabitha was left to an unknown fate in swampy South Georgia. I kept wondering whatever became of the Savannah belle down there with the snakes and gators.

When I learned that Fort Barrington on the Altamaha River changed hands several times during the American Revolution, becoming Fort Howe while under Patriot control, I had to write book five, A Calculated Betrothal. Fast forward ten years, and Tabitha is newly a widow. The intervening years have not been kind, as her husband marginalized her when it became clear she would not provide him with the heir he desired. Their finances have dwindled as he continually sent money to his wastrel brother-in-law in England. Upon his death, she discovers the fine rice plantation has been sold to their greedy neighbors, Loyalist father and son Hugh and Julian Jackson. Julian has an alternate plan in mind, but Tabitha has no intention of yoking herself to another man she doesn’t love—particularly a cruel slave owner and womanizer. She takes her maid-slash-best-friend Dulcie and flees to the cabin Dulcie’s husband occupies on the south side of the river. This land, at least, is still hers…even though it offers only undeveloped timberland and swampland, free range for the Spanish cattle Dulcie’s husband herds.

But there’s an enemy more dangerous than the snakes and gators, and maybe even than the Jacksons…the British-allied East Florida Rangers that raid into South Georgia—burning, stealing, and rustling cattle. A confrontation with their vengeful colonel puts Tabitha at the top of their list. With enemies all around, how will Tabitha establish her independence? Enter Fort Howe’s Sergeant Edmond Lassiter, a man determined to settle his own score with the Jacksons. He offers the help Tabitha needs, but with their hidden wounds and differing backgrounds, can they learn to trust each other enough to defeat their common enemies?

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 16

Pause for Tales, November 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 17

lakesidelivingsite, November 18

Allyson Jamison, November 18

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 19

Texas Book-aholic, November 20

Connie’s History Classroom, November 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 22

Simple Harvest Reads, November 23 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, November 24

Book Looks by Lisa, November 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 26

For Him and My Family, November 27

Holly’s Book Corner, November 28

Blossoms and Blessings, November 28

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5498

Lethal Kings

 

About the Book

Book: Lethal Kings (The Fae Dynasty Book Two)

Author: Victoria McCombs

Genre: YA Fae Fantasy

Release date: November 12, 2024

You’ve been warned many times, you cannot trust the kings . . . The old queen is dead, a new queen is in play, and the realm has descended into darkness. For the first time in history, a queen has rejected the game. Eliza will start her reign with no alliances while Althea must fight to save her tenuous bond with the king who cannot love. Her relationship threatens to break, but Althea’s attention becomes divided after receiving a few harrowing clues connecting her past and the game at hand.

Before she can find answers, a mysterious fae appears promising the power of the seventh king to whoever can solve a series of riddles, leaving the fae realm in shambles as they race to come out on top. Althea has one year left. New alliances are forged. Old stories come to life. She must make her move, or the fate of the queens will consume her.

 My Review: 

Lethal Kings, book two in The Fae Dynasty series is one you will definitely want to read if you like fantasy books. It draws you in with the addition of Eliza, the new mortal queen, who just so happens to be in love with Thea’s brother. There is an undercurrent of mistrust and secrets that you’re never quite sure who Thea should trust. 

This story kept me engrossed from page one to the final sentence. I was surprised by the resolution, but it was perfect! I highly recommend reading, even if you do not typically read fantasy. The complex plot, flawed characters, and twists and turns make this an excellent book.  You will want to read Mortal Queens first in order to understand this story.

Things to love:

amazing world building

the game

love stories

treacherous villain

Thea’s family

redemption

I was given a complimentary copy of the book. A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

Click here to get your copy!

 About the Author

Victoria McCombs is the author of The Storyteller Series, The Royal Rose Chronicles, and The Fae Dynasty duology, with hopefully many more to come. She survives on hazelnut coffee, 20-minute naps, and a healthy fear of her deadlines, all while raising four wildlings with her husband in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

 

 

 

 More from Victoria

This book came differently to me than my other ones.

It was less plot and structure, and more—what kind of book do I want to write?

I wanted riddles for them to solve, which created the Gamemaster character. I wanted a healthy family aspect, which began the process of repairing the relationships I’d burned in book one. And I wanted a character who knew exactly what she wanted and never waivered from that. Other scenes came from these wishes, like the chess game where the players are the chess pieces, and the War of Hearts played in the labyrinth.

Together, I think it blended nicely, and I can’t wait for readers to get ahold of it!

Blog Stops

Inspired by Fiction, November 16

The Lofty Pages, November 16

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 17

Texas Book-aholic, November 18

Inklingsandnotions , November 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 20

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 21

Book Looks by Lisa, November 21

Wishful Endings, November 22

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 23

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, November 24

Blogging With Carol, November 25

Simple Harvest Reads, November 26 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, November 27

Fiction Book Lover, November 28 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, November 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Victoria is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a hardback copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5499

Perfectly Wedded

About the Book:

Who gets married out of convenience? Apparently, I do. My best friend was only supposed to be my fake date to a high-stakes Vegas event. But when my ex showed up with another woman on his arm, my friend suggested the ultimate pretending we were engaged.

When I accidentally mention my medical insurance issues due to a car accident, he proposes taking our charade to the next level—a temporary marriage until I'm better.

I nearly spit out my drink.

Yeah, right. Like that won't completely ruin our friendship.

But we can’t go back now. Our charade worked so well that everyone bought it—even my ex who leaked our Vegas wedding all over the internet.

Now we have to go through with this farce…at least until I'm better and the media storm dies down for my hockey star husband.

If that wasn't complicated enough, my sister is married to his brother, which means this fake marriage just took things from ‘mildly complicated’ to ‘full-blown family soap opera.’

We'll have to sell this to our friends and family by fake kissing and sharing a bedroom, all while sticking to our friend zone rules behind closed doors.

But there’s just one tiny secret he doesn’t

I’ve been in love with my best friend since I met him.

When he pulls me close and says, “my wife,” I know I won’t ever forget that.

My Review:

Do you like hockey romances? How about a marriage of convenience story? You’ll want to read this book. Sloan and Vale have been friends for quite some time and have been through thick and thin together. But, how far will their friendship take them when Sloane needs medicine she cannot afford? I loved the friends to more story with well meaning family and friends to help Sloan and Vale navigate their relationship.

Things to love:

dual POV

amnesia incidents

childhood crush

Las Vegas

Carolina Crushers

cereal pet names

one bed

clean romance

This is the first book in the Perfect Crush Hockey Romance series, but it does have characters from the Love on Thin Ice series that are in the story. I enjoyed seeing them again. 

I was given a complimentary copy of the book. A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

The Queen's Cook

 

About the Book: 

In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire's Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of a once-privileged but now impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news. Her father sees this edict as a stroke of good fortune, an opportunity to settle his mounting debts by killing the Jewish physician, Adin, and seizing his belongings, but instead he meets his own untimely end, leaving Roxannah destitute and adrift. Desperate and determined to support her mother while settling the debt, Roxannah approaches Adin--the man whose kind eyes still haunt her--to help her find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens.

In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah strives to overcome prejudice and adversity as she ascends through the ranks in the royal kitchen. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther herself, a woman of grace and wisdom, who is navigating treacherous palace politics and whispers of her inability to produce an heir after six years of marriage. Amid this unfolding connection, Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Amestris and Esther's reign hang in the balance.

My Review: 

I never really thought about what happened to Esther after reading her story in the Bible. But, author Tessa Afshar creates an intriguing story and charged atmosphere of the complexities of royal court life. I loved the story of Roxannah as she discovers she is precious to God. Adin, and to many others, including royalty!

Read for:
cooking
mystery
fact woven into the story
monarch rivalry
political intrigue
murder
romance
forgiveness
faith of characters

I highly recommend this book to readers of Biblical fiction that has a wonderful male main character. This is the first book in the Queen Esther’s Court series. I am looking forward to reading the other books too!

I was given a complimentary copy of the book. A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

Across the Ages

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Caroline holds a deep secret. Living in 1727 and 1927 simultaneously, each night she goes to sleep in one life and wakes up in the other. In search of answers to her unique existence, Caroline stumbles upon a letter from her mother hinting at her own experiences as a time-crosser, sending Caroline on a daring quest to uncover the truth. In 1727, Caroline disguises herself as a cabin boy and joins a ship sailing for the Bahamas, her mother's last known location, where she crosses paths with a ruthless but handsome pirate and is caught in a web of secrets, deception, and unexpected alliances.

In 1927 St. Paul, Minnesota, Caroline grapples with her other life as the daughter of a renowned preacher. Her two older brothers have fallen prey to the corruption rampant during Prohibition, and Caroline struggles to keep their involvement hidden to save her father's career. As her search for answers about her time-crossing leads her to the dangerous yet exciting world of speakeasies, Caroline enlists the help of a childhood friend who is now a police officer. But with her family's future at risk and their loyalties tested, Caroline faces a life-altering decision that could reshape her destiny.

My Review:

Have you tried a time-crossing book before? If not, you should read this book, and for that matter, the whole series! Author Gabrielle Meyer has an amazing ability to create such believable stories that when I read these stories I think this actually happens. The way she weaves historical facts in with fiction is remarkable. 

Caroline lives two very different lives, one in 1727 and one in 1027. I loved that they couldn’t be more opposite from each other, but at the same time had similarities. Seeking to find answers to why she experiences a different life every other day causes her to do things that are contrary to what she would choose. Caroline’s love, selflessness,  and compassion for those in need made her such a sweet and endearing character. I loved that she chose to see the good in others, forgive, and help when she could. I found it extremely interesting what Caroline’s mother chose to do with her time-crossing ability. 

I highly recommend this book and the others in the Timeless series. Each book is well written and engaging. This is the fourth book, and while it can be read as a standalone, there are characters from past stories that are mentioned or Caroline meets. 

* adultery, miscarriage on page

I was given a complimentary copy of the book. A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

AUTHOR BIO

Gabrielle Meyer (GabrielleMeyer.com) is an ECPA bestselling author. She has worked for state and local historical societies and loves writing fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She currently resides along the banks of the Mississippi River in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. By day, she's a busy homeschool mom, and by night she pens fiction and nonfiction filled with hope.