Author: Iola Goulton

16 December 2019

Book Review | Falling for the Foe by Milla Holt

Nia Asaba is an Ugandan health worker with strong opinions about the ethics of big pharmaceutical companies, opinions which often get her in trouble. But she thinks it’s more important to ensure the people of her country have access to affordable and reliable HIV/AIDS medication and care.

Magnus Klassen is the CEO of Nordic Wind Pharmaceuticals, developers of a revolutionary new HIV treatment. But their stock prices are falling, due to bad publicity following a post from a random blogger named Nia Asaba.

So it’s up to Marcus to visit Uganda and try and reverse the effects of the bad publicity by offering the Ugandan government some of their new vaccine.

Of course, Nia and Marcus are thrown together, and sparks fly as they’re united by their combined passion for good healthcare and all things Jane Austen (I have to love a hero who reads and loves Jane Austen, and who finds Emma Woodhouse as annoying as I do).

Falling for the Foe is an excellent first novel.

It has a unique plot and setting, which places a fascinating spin on what could have been a mundane repetition of the falling-for-the-billionaire trope (no, it’s not my favourite). But I do love intelligent and strong-minded heroines, which is why liked Nia from the get-go and wanted only good things to happen to her (but this is a romance novel, and we know a good romance never runs smoothly).

I especially liked the way Marcus’s backstory was introduced. Our first impulse was to not like him for the way he’d ignored Nia at university, then didn’t even remember her. But, as we got to know him, we found there were good reasons why Marcus didn’t remember Nia, and that brought us back to wanting him to succeed.

But the price of Marcus’s success might be Nia’s failure, which gives the novel plenty of conflict, and a great I-told-you-so ending.

This is the first book in a series, and the second will deal with Marcus’s widowed brother, Ragnar. I’m already looking forward to it!

About Milla Holt

I’m thrilled that you stopped by, and hope you’ll enjoy your visit at my online home!

I write inspirational romance with an international twist, with stories that uplift and encourage. Heroes with honor and integrity and strong, can-do heroines are my thing. And the good guys always get their happy ending. My fiction reflects my Christian faith.

I’m not a fan of writing about myself, but here goes. I used to be a lot of things: a journalist, a communications manager for a health activist group, and a freelance copywriter.

Before all that, I was a diplomatic brat, trailing along as my mother’s job took us to various diverse locations around the world.

Now, I’m homeschooling my children in the east of England and devoting every spare moment to writing.

Find Milla Holt online at:

Website | Facebook

About Falling for the Foe

She can’t stand him. He blames her for his company’s woes. Now, they have to work together.

Nia has devoted her career to fighting for life-saving medicines for Ugandans with HIV. But when first-line treatments begin to fail, she must find a new source of affordable drugs before patients start to die. Too bad she just publicly bashed the head of a pharma company that owns a powerful new anti-HIV drug.

Magnus is poised to market a game-changing HIV drug, but an avalanche of bad PR threatens to destroy his company’s reputation and kill his bottom line. When he travels to Uganda to boost his social justice credentials, he’s not expecting to feel such a deep attraction to the woman whose viral blog post led to all his troubles.

To get what they want they must work together. He’s out to rescue his company and she’s trying to save lives. Neither dreamed their hearts would be on the line.

Find Falling for the Foe online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Read the introduction to Falling for the Foe below:

13 December 2019

First Line Friday | Week 115 | Bitter Pill by Richard Mabry

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Bitter Pill from Dr. Richard Mabry. Here’s the first line of Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Bitter Pill

Things were going along just fine. Until the miracle fouled them up.

“Brother” Bob Bannister is content with his life and his itinerant healing ministry, until one night he finds that the woman who walks off the stage under her own power isn’t one of his shills. At that point, doubts begin to intrude on his previously untroubled existence.

Dr. Abby Davis is tired of her family practice and at odds with God. Dealing with critically ill and dying patients has crushed her spirit to the point she’s ready to quit. But she soon realizes that there’s more to healing than ministering to the physical body.

Scott Anderson was the oldest graduate of his seminary class. Then again, most of them hadn’t turned away from a medical practice, hoping to atone for past mistakes (including his wife’s death) by ministering to men’s souls. Now he hopes he hasn’t made a colossal mistake in switching careers.

Each of these individuals becomes linked to the other, and each finds that God has a purpose for them—but, as it often does, the lesson comes with discomfort.

Find Bitter Pill online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

12 December 2019

#ThrowbackThursday | Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today I’m resharing my review of Lizzy and Jane, Katharine Reay’s excellent second novel. Recommended for all foodies!

About Lizzy and Jane

Lizzy and Jane couldn’t be further from Jane Austen’s famous sisters for whom they are named.

Elizabeth left her family’s home in Seattle fifteen years ago to pursue her lifelong dream—chefing her own restaurant in New York City. Jane stayed behind to raise a family. Estranged since their mother’s death many years ago, the circumstances of their lives are about to bring them together once again.

Known for her absolute command of her culinary domain, Elizabeth’s gifts in the kitchen have begun to elude her. And patrons and reviewers are noticing. In need of some rest and an opportunity to recover her passion for cooking, Elizabeth jumps at the excuse to rush to her sister’s bedside when Jane is diagnosed with cancer. After all, Elizabeth did the same for their mother. Perhaps this time, it will make a difference.

As Elizabeth pours her renewed energy into her sister’s care and into her burgeoning interest in Nick, Jane’s handsome coworker, her life begins to evolve from the singular pursuit of her own dream into the beautiful world of family, food, literature, and love that was shattered when she and Jane lost their mother. Will she stay and become Lizzy to her sister’s Jane—and Elizabeth to Nick’s Mr. Darcy—or will she return to the life she has worked so hard to create?

My Review

Elizabeth is the head chef at Feast, a chic New York restaurant. But she’s losing her touch, and when her boss brings in a celebrity chef/marketing expert to restore Feast’s reputation, Elizabeth decides it’s time for a break. She heads to Seattle, Washington, to a home and a father she’s barely seen since she left sixteen years ago. And she heads to an older sister who’s undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the same cancer that killed their mother during Lizzie’s senior year in high school.

Lizzy & Jane has links to Austen, in that sisters Jane and Elizabeth are named for the heroines of their mother’s favourite novel.

It had all the strong writing and characterisation of Dear Mr. Knightley, with the added bonus of an original and compelling plot. Elizabeth has some deep-seated resentment towards Jane, who was never around while their mother was dying. While Elizabeth is in Seattle helping Jane face her health crisis, Elizabeth is also facing her own personal crisis, a crisis of identity and self-belief around her cooking. It’s the one thing she’s always excelled at, yet even that talent seems to be failing her.

There are touches of romance and an underlying Christian theme, but Lizzy & Jane is very much women’s fiction, Lizzy’s story of personal, professional (and spiritual) rediscovery. Recommended.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Katharine Reay

About Katherine Reay

Katherine Reay has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries—who provide constant inspiration both for writing and for life. She is the author of three previous novels, and her debut, Dear Mr. Knightley, was a 2014 Christy Award Finalist, winner of the 2014 INSPY Award for Best Debut, and winner of two Carol Awards for Best Debut and Best Contemporary.

Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University and is a wife, mother, runner, and tae kwon do black belt. After living all across the country and a few stops in Europe, Katherine and her family recently moved back to Chicago.

Find Katherine Reay online at:

Website | Facebook | Pinterest| Twitter | Goodreads

You can find Lizzy and Jane online at:

You can read the opening to Lizzy and Jane below:

10 December 2019

Bookish Question #133 | Who is your favourite Christian speculative fiction author?

And what do you like most about his/her books?

I’m not a big speculative fiction reader, which makes this question both easy and hard to answer. Hard, because I haven’t read a lot of Christian speculative fiction (and some of what I have read I don’t necessarily class as speculative), so I don’t have a lot of authors to choose from. But not having a lot of authors to choose from also makes the decision easy. Well, easier.

First I’m going to discuss an author I haven’t chosen as my favourite speculative fiction author: Adam Collings.

Now, I will admit to some bias here because I’m lucky enough to be Adam’s editor (which means I get to read the books first). Adam writes science fiction, which is technically included in speculative fiction, but which I consider a separate genre.

I read a lot of sci fi as a teenager, and I’m a big fan of TV science fiction, especially Stargate, Star Trek (especially The Next Generation), and Battlestar Galactica (proof that the remake can be better than the original).

Adam’s Jewel of the Star series combines elements of Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica, in that it’s set on a cruise ship (a spaceship cruise ship) that appears to harbour the only survivors of an alien attack on earth. The second episode, A New Reality, has just released, and you can click here to check out Adam’s books on Amazon.

But what about true speculative fiction?

My choice is Nadine Brandes, on the basis of reading Fawkes (a 2019 Carol Award winner), and Romanov. Fawkes is an alternate retelling of the story of Guy Fawkes and his attempt to destroy the English Houses of Parliament in 1605, told from the viewpoint of Thomas Fawkes, Guy’s son. It’s an intriguing reimagination of a well-known story, one we hear every November at Guy Fawkes’s night aka Bonfire Night … or when we Kiwis let off our fireworks each year.

Click here to read my review of Fawkes.

Romanov is a reimagination of an equally intriguing tale: the last days of the Romanovs, the Russian Imperial Family, told from the point of view of Anastasia, the youngest daughter who rumour once said survived the slaughter of her family at the hands of the Bolsheveks.

Click here to read my review of Romanov.

If you’re interested in speculative fiction, then check out Nadine Brandes and her books. And if you’re an author wanting ideas around how to build an author platform, check out Nadine Brandes. She has a brilliant Instagram account, and her newsletter is excellent.

What about you? Who is your favourite Christian speculative fiction author?

9 December 2019

Book Review | An Agent for Phoebe by Nerys Leigh

I’ve reviewed Nerys Leigh’s previous contributions to The Pinkerton Matchmaker series, and have enjoyed them all (An Agent for Belle, An Agent for Clara, and An Agent for Kitty). I enjoyed An Agent for Phoebe as much, if not more.

Phoebe has already survived twelve unpleasant years of marriage, and has no intention of repeating the experience. As such, she is less than impressed when she arrives at the Pinkerton Detective Agency to be trained as a detective and finds the first requirement is that she marry the male agent who will train her. Jonah Hays is equally unimpressed. He has no desire to chain himself to a female.

(As an aside, I do wonder when the owners of the Pinkerton Detective Agency are going to realise the flaws in their clever plan: should their matched agents decide to stay married, the female will need to leave when she starts the inevitable family. And what happens if they don’t remain married? Will the agency owners allow the women to investigate alone? No matter. Thinking about such questions undermines the entire premise of this excellent series.)

It was refreshing to read about an older couple—Phoebe is forty-one, and Jonah is thirty-nine. As such, they are both intelligent adults who know their own minds. I’m getting too old to be interested in characters who behave like immature teens, and that’s one thing I appreciate about Nerys Leigh’s heroes and heroines.

The story itself was excellent.

It’s set in the real-life Black Hawk, Colorado, and the book emphasised the working conditions in and around the mines, especially the smell. I’ve visited old mine sites here in New Zealand, so could well imagine the conditions, but had never thought of how noisy or smelly it would be.

The case itself ran about as smoothly as expected, and I was impressed with some of the small details in the plot (which I won’t mention, because #spoilers). But my favourite aspect was the fast-paced and witty dialogue. It was a pleasure to read, and I recommend An Agent for Phoebe.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Nerys Leigh

Nerys Leigh writes thoroughly romantic Christian historical love stories. She loves heroes who are strong but sweet and heroines who are willing to fight for the life they want.

She’s from the UK, which you would think puts her in a unique position to not write about mail order brides in the American west, but the old adage of writing what you know has never appealed to her. She has an actual American read each book before publishing to make sure she hasn’t gone all English on it.

No One’s Bride is the first in the Escape to the West series which tells the stories of a group of women willing to travel across America to find happiness, and the men determined to win their hearts.

You can find Nerys Leigh online relaxing and generally enjoying the view at:

Website | Facebook

About An Agent for Phoebe

She’ll risk her life, but can she risk her heart?

At forty-one, Phoebe finally knows what she wants in life, and it isn’t another husband. Her first marriage was enough to convince her that she’s done with men.

Becoming a Pinkerton agent seems like the perfect way to true independence, until she discovers she must temporarily marry her training agent. Of course, some women might find Jonah Hays’ good looks and kind nature attractive.

But not Phoebe.

She’s done with men.

When the search for a missing accountant amongst the mountains and gold mines of Colorado becomes a desperate struggle for survival, she and Jonah grow closer. And the walls around her heart begin to crumble.

Although she’s still done with men.

Maybe.

Find An Agent for Phoebe online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Read the introduction to An Agent for Phoebe below:

6 December 2019

First Line Friday | Week 114 | Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson. Here’s the first line of Chapter One:

(Does that graphic look blurry to you? I create my graphics in Canva, and they’ve “upgraded” me to Canva 2.0. I’m not sold. Or do I need new glasses for Christmas?)

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Christmas in Winter Hill:

Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages.

As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn’t always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, “Where’s the snow?” Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista’s Christmas spirit before the big day?

You can find Christmas in Winter Hill online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

5 December 2019

Throwback Thursday | True to You by Becky Wade

Nora Bradford is one of my favourite-ever fictional heroines.

She’s a bookish librarian-researcher-genealogist who is a devotee of a certain British period drama, and one of the minor actors (the way she describes him, I see him as a slightly more foppish version of Benedict Cumberbatch).

Nora also happens to own a historic village (as you do). She meets the handsome John Lawson when her sister volunteers her as a hostage for a training exercise run by John’s company, and the attraction would have been immediate if it wasn’t for the existence of Allie, John’s perfect girlfriend.

John is adopted and wants to find his birth parents.

Nora seems the perfect person to help him. Only she’s too perfect … and he’s too much of a Christian and a gentleman to be able to do anything with that perfection when he already has the perfect girlfriend in Allie. Allie, who knows his secret and still wants him.

The plot was excellent, with the perfect (!) combination of predictable and surprising.

There were several plot points that I didn’t see coming, but which made perfect sense. The characters were excellent—intelligent, funny, and quirky, and I’m already looking forward to the next two books in the series, to find out how Willow and Britt get their happy-ever-afters (the who has been pretty well identified already. The how … that’s going to be fun to watch. And I don’t know which I want to read more—the story of the ex who’s back in town, or the story of the boy next door who’s been in love with her forever).

The writing was outstanding. There were so many great lines, but I can’t quote most of them because *spoilers*. I especially loved the faith thread. Both Nora and John are Christians, and while the plot never makes a big deal about it, it is central to both their characters and both their stories. It comes across as entirely natural, and that’s tough to pull off.

I think you’ve figured by now that I loved this book. Recommended for all contemporary Christian romance fans.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Becky Wade

Becky is the Carol and Christy award winning author of heartwarming, humorous, and swoon-worthy contemporary inspirational romances.

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

These days, you’ll find Becky in Dallas, Texas failing to keep up with her housework, trying her best in yoga class, carting her three kids around town, watching TV with her Cavalier spaniel on her lap, hunched over her computer writing, or eating chocolate.

You can find Becky Wade online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About True to You

After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.

Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he’s diagnosed with an inherited condition, he’s forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother.

The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John’s already dating someone and Nora’s not sure she’s ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they’re seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.

Find True to You online at:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | ChristianBook | Koorong

Read the introduction to True to You below:

4 December 2019

New Releases in Christian Fiction | December 2019

It’s December!

And if you didn’t know Christmas was coming, these new releases would remind you 🙂

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Contemporary Romance:

Stranded for the Holidays by Lisa Carter — Running away led her right where she belonged. A new mom for Christmas? She’s everything they’ve wished for. Runaway bride AnnaBeth Cummings needs shelter for the holidays when a blizzard leaves her stranded, and rancher Jonas Stone’s happy to help. But his son’s been wishing for a mommy for Christmas, and town matchmakers are convinced AnnaBeth and Jonas are perfect for each other. As the storm clears, city girl AnnaBeth will have to decide: does her heart now belong in the country? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson — After a knockout first date where Cassie Everson and Jett Bentley claim to not want kids, both come home to find three children dropped in their laps. . . each. While struggling to keep their heads above the parental waters, and without wanting to break up their relationship, they decide to do the mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong? (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Click here to read my review of The Dating Charade.

Home for Christmas by Candee Fick — After an embarrassing failure, a prodigal retreats to a secluded cabin in backwoods Missouri where he encounters an intriguing young woman and an old guitar. When the message in the music touches his heart, will he make it home in time for Christmas? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Getting Out of the Comfort Zone: Ayanna by Barbara James — While interning as a hospital chaplain, a young military officer falls for an EMT who is an antiwar activist. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Children’s:

Battle In The Valley by Susanne Blumer — The church bell tower transports Chip, Caroline and Billy back thousands of years to an ancient battlefield. There they meet a young shepherd destined to be king and a giant warrior bent on his destruction. Will the children survive the upcoming fight and make it back to Palmetto Island in one piece? (Middle-grade from Sutton Avenue Press)

Historical:

Hope Unchained by Carol Ashby — When a former legionary and a gladiator are hired to escort a young woman on her quest to rescue her brother and sister from slavery, more chains are broken by forgiveness and love than any of them thought possible. (Historical from Cerrillo Press)

Historical Romance:

The Major’s Daughter by Regina Jennings — In a western land run, an adventurous socialite stakes a claim on an orphaned outlaw’s chosen land, so he decides to stake a claim on her heart. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

Sew In Love by Debby Lee, Jacquolyn McMurray, Darlene Panzera, and Kimberley Woodhouse — When four women put needle and thread to fabric, will their sewing lead to love? In Hearts Sewn with Love, during the California gold rush, a beautiful seamstress finds her heart torn between the men who want to marry her and the one fortune hunter who won’t. In Woven Hearts, a shirtwaist factory fire survivor struggles to provide for her family despite the disastrous misguided intentions of the handsome union organizer who tries to help. In A Language of Love, a milliner with thick Irish accent and a renowned baseball player with speech impediment meet at the office of a language teacher. But the issues with their backgrounds that first brought them together will also drive them apart. In Tailored Sweethearts, a parachute seamstress struggles with her faith in desperate circumstances. A fighter pilot teaches her to hope in her darkest hours. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear — During the clash between Union and Confederacy, quiet Tennessean Pearl MacFarlane is compelled to nurse both Rebel and Yankee wounded who seek refuge at her family’s farm. She is determined to remain unmoved by the Yankee cause—until she faces the silent struggle of Union soldier Joshua Wheeler, a recent amputee. The MacFarlane family fits no stereotype Joshua believed in; still he is desperate to regain his footing—as a soldier, as a man, as a Christian—in the aftermath of his debilitating injury. He will use his time behind enemy lines to gather useful intelligence for the Union—if the courageous Rebel woman will stay out of the line of danger. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:

Silent Night Suspect by Sharee Stover — Suspected of a crime she knows she didn’t commit… All she wants for Christmas is to remember. Blood on her blouse. A gun in her hand. A cartel leader’s dead body in front of her. Widow Asia Stratton can’t remember what happened—just that she’s been framed. The only way to prove her innocence is to work with her ex-sweetheart, Nebraska state trooper Slade Jackson. But can they clear her name before this Christmas turns even deadlier? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Speculative:

Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig — After a catastrophic explosion, Kersei Dragoumis awakens in a derelict shuttle, alone, injured, and ignorant of the forbidden technology that has swept her into a nightmare. The brand she’s borne since childhood burns mysteriously, but the pain is nothing to that when she learns her family is dead and she is accused of their murders. Across the quadrants, Marco Dusan responds to the call of a holy order-not to join them, but to seek a bounty. Gifted-or cursed-with abilities that mark him a Kynigos, a tracker sworn to bring interplanetary fugitives to justice, Marco discovers this particular bounty has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with prophecy. One that involves the hunter as much as the hunted. (Speculative from Enclave Publishing)

Thriller/Suspense:

Laynie Portland, Renegade Spy by Vikki Kestell — Laynie must fight to earn her place on the task force—even as unfolding events expose a looming danger. Wolfe’s task force has a leak . . . one that threatens them all. (Suspense, Independently Published)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Promise for Tomorrow by Michelle De Bruin, Historical Romance
Call to Love by Mary A. Felkins, Contemporary Romance
Joy’s Song by Ruth Kyser, Contemporary Romance
Hope Between Us by Christy LaShea, Contemporary Romance
The Trouble in Willow Falls by Pat Nichols, Contemporary
Off the Ground by Catherine Richmond, Historical Romance
Crinoline Cowboys by Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Marilyn Turk, Kathleen Y’Barbo, Historical Romance
A High-Country Christmas by Davalynn Spencer, Historical Romance
The Christmas Gazebo by Marilyn Turk, Lenora Worth, Historical Romance

What’s on your to-read pile for December?

3 December 2019

Bookish Question #132 | Who is your favourite Christian women’s fiction author?

Who is your favourite Christian women’s fiction author? What do you like most about his/her books?

This is a tough question to answer, as I swing between loving romance and loving women’s fiction the most. I love romance—especially Christian romance—because romance is the literature of hope (so says Damon Suede) and as Christians, our hope is in Jesus.

And whether general market romance readers and writers believe it or not, genuine romance is an allegory of our Christian faith, with us as Jesus’s bride.

But I also love women’s fiction, perhaps because a lot of the romances I read (even those from Christian publishers) have plenty of romance but don’t explicitly mention God … which seems like they’re missing a big chunk of that threefold cord Ecclesiastes speaks of.

While women’s fiction can and often does have romantic elements, the focus is more on the main character’s growth as a person.

That growth is often their spiritual growth, or their observations about the spiritual growth of those around them. As a result, women’s fiction often has more obvious Christian themes, and more direct observations about faith and Christian life.

My favourite Christian women’s fiction author is Elizabeth Musser, author of titles such as The Long Highway Home (click here to read my review) and When I Close My Eyes (which I’ve just finished—my review will post soon).

But she’s only my current favourite.

Last week, my favourite was Catherine West (who is a 2019 Carol Award winner and Christy Award finalist for Where Hope Begins). Last month, my favourite was Christine Dillon, author of the Grace series (and book two in the series, Grace in the Shadows, won the 2019 CALEB Award from Omega Writers).

Why do I like these authors?

I think the main reason is that they are not afraid to shy away from the hard questions in life and faith. When I Close My Eyes by Elizabeth Musser deals with mental illness, and with how far a parent will go to save their child. Where Hope Begins by Catherine West covered marital infidelity and the death of a child. Grace in Strange Disguise by Christine Dillon challenges readers to have full faith and trust in Jesus, not just a Sunday faith.

I enjoy their stories because they are good stories that are well-written and encouraging, but they are also stories which challenge me to think. In a world where so much entertainment is surface-level only, it’s important to think.

What about you? Who is your favourite Christian women’s fiction author?

2 December 2019

Book Review | Hope’s Highest Mountain by Misty M Beller

It’s 1866, and Ingrid Chastain has accompanied her father to Montana Territory to deliver a case of smallpox vaccine to an old colleague, a doctor in a tiny town facing an outbreak. But they are about to become victims of a treacherous road they shouldn’t be travelling in October …

Micah Bradley gave up being a doctor after his wife and daughter died in a smallpox outbreak five years ago. Now he’s satisfied with his life as a trapper, keeping away from people and relationships. That is, until he finds the unconscious Ingrid, and knows he can’t leave her to the elements.

So begins what could be a run-of-the-mill Western romance. It’s anything but.

Despite her privileged upbringing in the best part of Boston, Ingrid is a strong and intelligent woman with a deep compassion for the sick and hurting—including the people suffering from smallpox in rural Montana. She doesn’t whine or complain even when anyone else would. She has a strong faith in God, knowing Him as her protector. She believes and trusts that despite the death of her father, God is leading her to His best plan for her.

We could learn a lot from Ingrid’s strength and faith.

Micah gave up on God after the death of his family, and can’t understand Ingrid’s stubborn faith. But Micah is stubborn in his own way, especially his determination to save the life of a complete stranger without complaining the personal cost. He even agrees to help Ingrid deliver the vaccines, even though it’s a journey that will take weeks in the winter snow.

Hope’s Highest Mountain is Christian Western romance at its finest.

Rugged men and brave women learning to depend on God to get them through life’s battles, using strong writing to show an even stronger God. Recommended.

Hope's Highest Mountain by @MistyMBeller is Christian Western romance at its finest—rugged men and brave women learning to depend on God to get them through life's battles. Recommended. #ChristianRomance #MustRead Share on X

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Misty M Beller

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.

Writing is a dream come true for Misty. Her family—both immediate and extended—is the foundation that holds her secure in that dream.

You can find Misty Beller online at:

About Hope’s Highest Mountain

Ingrid Chastain readily agreed to accompany her father to deliver vaccines to a mining town in the Montana Territory. She never could have anticipated a terrible accident would leave her alone and badly injured in the wilderness. When rescue comes in the form of a mysterious mountain man who tends her injuries, she’s hesitant to put her trust in this quiet man who seems to have his own wounds.

Micah Bradley left his work as a doctor after unintentionally bringing home the smallpox disease that killed his wife and daughter. But his self-imposed solitude in the wilds of Montana is broken when he finds Ingrid in desperate need of medical attention, and he’s forced to face his regret and call on his doctoring skills once again.

Micah can’t help but admire Ingrid’s tenacious determination despite the severity of her injuries, until he learns the crate she brought contains smallpox vaccines to help quell a nearby outbreak. With Ingrid dead set on trekking through the mountains to deliver the medicine–with or without his help–he has no choice but to accompany her. As they set off through the treacherous, snow-covered Rocky Mountains against all odds, the journey ahead will change their lives more than they could have known.

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