Hope's Highest Mountain is a sweet romantic western tale of adventure, heartache, and faith weaved by Misty M. Beller, a relatively new author to me.  I absolutely enjoyed this work and would definitely read more of Ms. Beller's writings.  The overall themes of this book were excellent, the characters were believable and had relatable struggles; the Christian faith was expressed in a clear, yet not overpowering way, and the challenges faced by the characters were very intense and yet unique.  I appreciated each of the character's individual struggles and challenges, the way they came together to survive and their pulling together of their strengths.

Ingrid Chastain is the main character of the story, a young woman who is traveling the west with her physician father to deliver much needed vaccines to a small town in Montana Territory. Due to a tragic accident, Ingrid is left on her own in a very difficult and dangerous situation. Not only does she have life threatening injuries, but Ingrid is also in the middle of a wilderness with an unlikely chance of running into anyone whom could help her.

Into the scene walks Micah Bradley, a man with deep wounds from his past and a failing grip on his faith in God, yet with just the right skills to help Miss Chastain. Micah Bradley had worked as a doctor for many years, but after family tragedy struck, he abandoned his profession and society at large--deciding to live in the wild.  His decision very well may have saved Miss Ingrid Chastain's life. As Micah uses his doctoring skills to help Ingrid, he discovers that her mission (to help the small town with a smallpox epidemic) is directly opposed to his.
Throughout the dangers of the wilderness, the struggle to stay alive and heal, as well as the dangerous weather conditions, Micah and Ingrid must somehow cooperate despite their vast differences.  Micah is afraid to fail anyone and trusts in his own strength and intelligence in order to provide and protect those in his care.  However, when many dangerous situations arise that test Micah's limits, Ingrid's faith surprises and supports both of them. Will Micah overcome his grief and fear of losing people he cares about in order to draw near to God and to develop a friendship with others, especially Ingrid. What will happen to the village that desperately needs the smallpox vaccines?  Will they make it?  Will Micah and Ingrid survive?     
Overall, I was very impressed with this work, especially the way that each of the characters were developed and faced their individual challenges, griefs, pasts, and futures.  This was a very intriguing, entertaining, wholesome, and romantic adventure. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Ms. Beller's writings.

This story will sweep you into the mountains where a strong woman is determined to complete the task she and her father set out to do. Ingrid may be small in stature, but she's larger than life when it comes to compassion. I liked the evolution of Micah's character as he realizes nothing will stop Ingrid. He's the perfect hero for this story. The book moves along at a clip, as unfathomable circumstances surround the characters. Folks in that time period survived things we can't even ponder as Misty Beller gives readers a glimpse into the days of the smallpox epidemic. If you enjoy historical fiction that challenges the characters, you'll love Hope's Highest Mountain. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Last spring I read a book by Misty Beller and was impressed by the author's ability to make me feel connected to her characters, how she used man versus nature scenarios to create tension, as well as how her characters wrestled with their faith. This last point resonated with me because I feel like mainstream Christian fiction is becoming watered down (more subtle and/or secularized).

All of the elements that initially drew me to this author are present in her new release, Hope's Highest Mountain. I'm particularly pleased with how she stayed true to herself by continuing to write characters who trust in or learn to rely on God. This was a concern I had when I learned Ms. Beller, previously an indie author, had signed with a traditional publishing house.

As for the characters in this story, both Ingrid Chastain and Micah Bradley possess a number of endearing qualities and I enjoyed how their affection for one another grew out of mutual admiration rather than mere physical attraction. Micah stood apart from Ingrid, Joanna, and Samuel chiefly due to his compelling backstory and marked growth. While I liked Ingrid, I feel the overall story would have been stronger if she had been presented with a few flaws of her own.

The reason for the three-star (good) rating is simply because I feel like I have already read this story. It holds a number of similar elements to The Treacherous Journey— a grieving widower, harsh and seemingly insurmountable trek through the mountains, and a willful yet admirable female protagonist. A reader unfamiliar with Beller's earlier novel would likely rate this book more favorably.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley. The views and opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255 Guidelines, concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

What an exciting read Beller has created in this book. I love all of Beller’s writings and this one especially. It is October 1866, in the Montana Territory, and winter has descended on the mountainous land. Ingrid Chastain, her father with two others are bringing vaccines to Settler’s Fort, a small mining town that is experiencing an outbreak of smallpox. In this treacherous weather their wagon overturns, and Ingrid is injured and unconscious, her father and the others are dead…..Five years ago Micah Bradley lost his wife and child to smallpox. He became very bitter toward God and gave up his practice as a doctor and moved to the Rocky Mountains to get away from everyone to suffer in his grief alone. Hearing a noise and searching to see where that noise came from, he finds the wreckage of the wagon. Finding Ingrid barely alive, he was forced to go back to doctoring against his will after he pulls her from the wreckage…….Thus begins a harrowing experience for Micah and Ingrid. Fighting against the cruel elements of the mountains and the desires of their hearts, pulling against, while working together makes a most interesting read. This book is filled with adventure, romance, near death experiences, an avalanche and the unfailing truth of God’s promise to never leave nor forsake us…… Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Misty M. Beller's newest series (Heirs of Montana) - book #1 "Hope's Highest Mountain" is a number one hit! Love the adventure and romance.

After a tragic accident, Ingrid Chastain is discovered by Micah, a rugged mountain man. Getting her to safety and delivering the vaccine that is meant for a mining camp is all that Micah is willing to do. They encounter much danger in the mountains, the weather is hazardous with snow and freezing temperatures. But along the way they make discoveries about themselves and each other. Through letters from the past we also learn about Rachael and her family and how they connect to other characters.

I have loved all of Ms. Beller's books and am excited to start this new series. I received this book from the publisher and all opinions are my own.

Hope's Highest Mountain is an inspirational story of grief, faith, and perseverance. The characters grab your heart, and the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Micah's spiritual arc is amazing. If you're looking for a lightning-bolt epiphany, you won't find one here. Instead, Beller gives Micah more of a quiet growth. This gradual strengthening of his faith fits Micah's quiet nature. It's more realistic because Micah had struggled for five years, so it would need to take more than a day. And the letters to Rachel gave me all the feels.
I also liked the subplot with Joanna and Samuel. I really hope we see Joanna again somewhere in the series. Actually, I hope we see all the secondary characters. Beller did a great job of giving us enough of a glimpse to love them but still keeping enough secrets that leave the reader wanting more. Isaac, for example, is someone I hope is a main character in a future book. He and his father were a great addition the novel's cast, even if they don't appear until about the last third of the novel. Then again, I think that just shows Beller's genius. Isaac and his father come in right when Ingrid and Micah need them, endearing you to them even more.
Some parts of the book did feel a bit slow. For the most part, the character arcs kept the story from dragging too much, but there were times when the novel felt a bit sluggish. Then there was the fact that sometimes Ingrid seems too perfect. She does have a few flaws that stuck out to me, but I kept waiting for there to be some major conflict between the two where they have to resolve some issue. Instead, it's almost like Micah sets her on a pedestal.
Despite that, I still liked the book. While not one of the my favorite Misty M. Beller releases, it still deserves a place on the shelf.

I can always count on a fantastic historical book from this author. This book takes one on a journey to the Montana territory. Exceptional details let you feel as though you are experiencing what is happening as well as enjoying all the beautiful scenery. Very well written. I loved the story of Micah and Ingrid. Highly recommend. I received an advance reader copy from the author. Opinions are my own.

Hope's Highest Mountain is not only a story of hope midst pain and sadness, it is a story of strength, an inner strength forged through reliance on God. While most of us will never face the challenges faced by Ingrid Chastain as she traveled through the wilderness of Montana seeking to deliver vials of life-saving medicine, we will each encounter times when we need the sustaining strength that comes through trusting and relying on God. This story will inspire those seeking such strength.

Hope's Highest Mountain is well written. Beller paints beautiful mental images of Montana's mountain grandeur that invite feelings of fear and awe. She engages all of the reader's senses: the taste of simple trail fare, the iciness of wading through deep snow, the warmth of snuggling beneath heavy furs, the sounds of the forest, and the smell of sickness. I highly recommend this book and am grateful to have received a copy from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

An intriguing and heartfelt story about frontier medicine and some of the challenges and heartaches that went with that. There is a lot going on in this story, it does a good job of bringing together two emotionally wounded people to find new hope and love. A lovely written story set with the backdrop of wild Montana mountains.

My first immediate thought for Hope's Highest Mountain is AWWWWW.
I've always been a huge fan of Beller's huge-hearted heros and endearing heroines.
This book was no different; plus there was a cute little dog thrown in. :)

Ingrid Chastain had this immense amount of strength and trust for her God. It made me question my own amount and realize that maybe I put too much trust in my own limited abilities, and not enough in my limitless God.
I loved the faith content and this undying trust in God.
My heart ached for Micah Bradley who still struggled so much with his past and fear.

I believe Beller's relatable characters could inspire many people with similar experiences and heartache.
Plus there was an amazing story in there with Beller's usual incredible writing abilities.
The way she describes the rugged land of Montana so beautifully, you'll never lack a picture in your mind of the scene.

I'm a huge fan of her descriptions and lovable characters.

This book gave me some much needed encouragement and I believe it will for you too!

Hope’s Highest Mountain is a romantic and adventurous historical Christian novel, about two people brought together by tragedy who face the worst of accidents and the elements to bring healing to a community. Touching moments and breath-taking scenery provide the perfect backdrop for this story.

Ingrid Chastain knew God was calling her and her father to deliver vital smallpox vaccines to a struggling community in rugged Montana Territory. She just didn’t realise it would cost the ultimate sacrifice. When Micah Bradley discovers a wrecked wagon, with three dead and one badly injured woman, he knows he must do what he can to save her - even if it means drawing upon the doctoring skills he left behind him after the death of his wife and daughter. As Ingrid recovers under Micah’s dutiful care, she presses him to continue her purpose to deliver the vaccines - but the journey will test their faith, their health and their fledging relationship.

Misty M. Beller has done a wonderful job of creating a beautiful story in Hope’s Highest Mountain. From the glorious scenery and rugged weather to the characters, who each speaks of a great love and strength. Micah is physically strong. He can wrestle carts up hills, survive the wilderness, carry Ingrid, fix her wounds and doggedly continue on. But his heart is hurting from the guilt and grief he carries from his wife and daughter’s deaths. Ingrid is spiritually strong. Despite the deaths of her beloved father and maid, despite the horrific injuries she has sustained and the pain, despite everything she has faced, she trusts God and sees that he has a plan for her even in such terrible conditions. But she is physically weak and injured and must rely on Micah to help her complete her journey.

As Micah and Ingrid make their journey, they encounter two other characters, both who are hurting from grief and who need physical assistance. They join Micah and Ingrid and together the four continue their journey toward healing - both by bringing the vaccine and through finding God’s love and mercy.

Hope’s Highest Mountain is a touching story and the start of what promises to be a wonderful series.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Wow! What a great historical fiction book! Hope's Highest Mountain tells the story of Ingrid and Micah in the wilds of Montana territory. As Ingrid learns to trust a stranger, Micah is forced to return to his doctoring skills. As they learn to trust one another, they embark upon a journey neither could have ever imagined. Great read!

This was an epic Christian romance read! There was so much packed into this one book, I'm not sure I can pick one chapter that was my favorite - it was all good. There are many lessons to learn here, and I think I fully understood each one. Unconditional healing, quiet forgiveness, perseverance in the face of adversity, belief that God will provide. Each lesson was packaged neatly through Misty Beller's writing to give the reader something to think about long after they're done reading. Very well done.

It's October 1866, in the Montana Territory, and winter has descended on the land. Ingrid Chastain, her father, and two others are bringing vaccines to Settler's Fort, a small mining town that is experiencing an outbreak of smallpox. In their struggle, their wagon overturns, and Ingrid is left alone with a broken leg and broken ribs in the middle of the wilderness. Mountain man Micah Bradley finds her and takes her back to his camp to keep her safe while she's healing. Micah is devastated from the loss of his family five years ago, and he has forsaken his relationship with God. However, Ingrid's determination and kindness pushes him to reconsider all that he has believed for many years. As they continue the journey Ingrid's father began together, along the way they find that God has never been far away at all.

Ingrid and Micah were very relatable and inspiring characters. They were written in such a way to represent two populations of Christians - the believers and the doubters. Ingrid is the believer, firmly putting her trust and faith in God, despite her recent loss. She focuses on the mission He gave her and less on what has been taken away. Micah is the doubter, believing that God allowed his family to die and so is not capable of generosity or compassion. He is stuck in the past and is unable to to move forward in his faith. While Micah heals Ingrid physically, it's Ingrid who winds up healing Micah spiritually. She bring his attention to the good things and brings his way of thinking more to the positive. I loved reading the transformation of their characters and it was easy to see why they made a good couple.

This is the first book I have read by Misty Beller, and it certainly won't be the last! I look forward to more in the future.

Ingrid Chastain is accompanying her father to Settler's Fort to deliver small pox vaccines to a doctor who needs them because of an outbreak. While traversing the mountainous territory, the mules pulling the wagon lose their footing when the wagon slips off the side of the trail. Her father, her maid, the driver of the wagon all have lost their lives, but Ingrid has only broken her leg.

She is found because a trapper finds the wagon and one of the mules. Micah is a man who is hiding from his past and the last thing he thinks he needs is a woman on his hands who has broken her leg, needing weeks of care. He once practiced medicine but quit when he couldn't save his wife and daughter from their bouts of small pox.

The story line of this book is a great plot idea, but the characters who populate the book tend to be preachy instead of quietly giving witness of God's grace. Every time Ingrid turns around, she's telling Micah about relying on God. That detracts from the story line and made the book less enjoyable for me. Three Stars.

This was my first Misty M Beller book, and while it was not all that engaging for me, I will try her writings again.

My thanks goes to Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Hope’s Highest Mountain
By Misty M. Beller

Ingrid Chastain decides to travel with her father to deliver vaccines to a small town in the Montana Territory. Winter is approaching and as the weather changes travel becomes riskier. The people who are suffering drives Ingrid and her father on however until a horrible accident upends their plans.
It has been years that Micah has been on the move. When he comes upon a wagon accident in the snow, he immediately switches into doctor mode. He thought he left doctoring in the past when his wife and daughter passed away from smallpox but his swift actions save the life of Ingrid Chastain.
Broken and alone Ingrid and Micah fight the elements to survive and get the vaccines to where they are needed.
My son started school a few weeks ago and is already sick. I know it is just a common cold but after reading this story I am grateful for the advances in not only medicine but travel. This story takes place in the wilds of Montana. Painstakingly hiking mountains and ravines Micah and Ingrid show the grit required to survive. It was ironic that I was snuggled warmly on my couch as I read this. I enjoyed the journey this book took and the few characters introduced along the way.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a story that will easily capture the reader's heart as one can picture Ingrid's journey. The characters' thoughts and emotions speak loudly The author paints a vivid picture in such detail that readers will feel that they are on the journey themselves. Micah's struggles with his own faith is real and relatable. Ingrid's faith and courage to complete her mission is admirable. Readers will love this amazing story! Highly recommended!

Misty Beller has turned me into a reader of descriptions with her mountain stories. She has wonderful strong characters and a compelling story but her descriptions pull you in. I feel like I’ve experienced the cold, the tired and the worry with the characters. Don’t miss this story of hope and determination.


Book isn't out yet so I can't post review

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.  

Ingrid is left alone with a broken leg and rib in the mountains of Montana after an accident that killed her father. They were on there way to deliver small pox vaccines to a settlement. Micah is running from life and God. He finds her and takes her to his hut. She begs him to help her take the vaccines to the settlement. After finally agreeing, he rigs up a sled to pull her on since she can't walk. They go through all kinds of difficulties getting to the their destination. I encourage you to read the book.

I was given this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

'I learned long ago trusting God to help never makes things better. It only makes me weaker.'

Micah Bradley has lived alone in the Montana wilderness for 5 years now, ever since smallpox took his wife and daughter. He couldn't save them although he was a doctor. He comes across a wagon accident and finds all dead but one woman, who has a broken femur. He does all he can to save her, but when she asks him to transport the smallpox vaccines her doctor father was taking to a nearby fort, he balks. How could God want him to do such a thing after the loss he's suffered from this disease? He's willing to take the woman to the fort a few weeks' journey away, but this favor she's asked? He is not willing to even think about it. Ingrid Chastain endures horrible pain after Micah sets her leg but can't seem to get him to see the importance of getting the vaccine to the fort, even if it will save many lives. Can she trust God to work on Micah's heart?

Misty Beller begins this book in a powerful way. Her imagery is very strong and evocative to the reader. I was pulled in immediately and my attention never wavered at all during the book. These people endured much during this time of heartache and pain. Prominent in this book is the importance of surrender to God, even when it might mean great pain and even greater heartache. Her characterizations are vivid and her descriptions of the setting are wonderfully done. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Recommended.

*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a complimentary copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Wow! The attention to detail in the descriptions in this book is amazing. The author has a way of creating the scene that just pulls you in. Loved seeing Micah and Ingrid’s growth as individuals and as a couple. I especially appreciated the spiritual walk Micah went on. Very sweet, well written, historical romance.