USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories set on the 1800s frontier and woven through with the truth of God’s love. Her Southern roots run deep, and she lives in South Carolina with her husband and children.
In this interview, Misty shares some of her thoughts regarding her latest book, Rocky Mountain Journey.
FF: Would you please tell us a little bit about your new novel, Rocky Mountain Journey?
I’d love to! Rocky Mountain Journey is the final book in my Sisters of the Rockies Series, which has been one of my favorite, yet most challenging, series to write. This story picks up with Faith Collins (our heroine) as she goes in search of the Peigan Blackfoot woman who once saved her father’s life. She steps fearlessly into the uncharted Rocky Mountains, and the dangers that come with them, with a secret she must guard at all costs—she’s masquerading as a man!
Grant Allen (our hero) is on a search for his long-lost brother, who went west to the Rockies. He teams up with the same group of trappers as Faith and soon becomes suspicious of the new member among them. As he uncovers Faith’s secret, of course he feels compelled to protect her from the dangers of the unpredictable terrain and the unruly trappers. And this is where the story gets really interesting!
As Faith and Grant navigate the untamed wilderness to fulfill their missions and find what they are truly searching for, they’re tested, and at times, we wonder if they’ll make it through this journey with their hearts intact.
FF: What inspired the idea for your Sisters of the Rockies Series, and what drew you to write historical fiction set on the American frontier?
Christian historical romance is my favorite genre to read and write, especially stories that are adventurous and involve the challenges of life in the Rockies. There’s something amazing about those mountains in particular. They capture my heart anew every time I see them.
I’m always researching new settings and ideas for stories. In my research, I came across stories of the trapper rendezvous, which was an event that happened every summer in the Rocky Mountains, usually in the Wyoming area. When I started plotting this series, I decided it would be fun to write about four sisters going west and finding themselves in the midst of a rendezvous—not the place for four unprotected women! And, boy, was it the perfect place to find unique and adventurous stories using the gorgeous backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. I hope readers are as captivated by this series as I am.
FF: You’re a USA Today bestselling author, and your work has resonated with a wide audience. How do you balance crafting engaging storytelling with historical authenticity?
In short, lots of research! It can be challenging to write about a time I haven’t experienced and cultures that don’t exist in the same form anymore. I love reading firsthand accounts to help me bring a particular time period to life. I often visit historic forts and talk with those who have studied the time period and setting in greater depth. That makes it easy for me to slip into that world as I write. The characters come alive in my mind, and I see the story like a movie in my head. I can only pray readers love the characters as much as I do!
FF: Faith’s decision to hide her female identity adds a unique dimension to the story. What challenges and opportunities did this choice present in terms of character development and plot?
I love a heroine in disguise! It adds so many fun and funny moments to the storyline. And I love that Grant was the only man in the trapper group who looked close enough at the young “man” riding with them to realize things weren’t what they seemed at first glance.
One challenge that arises in a story where the heroine is pretending to be a man is the development of the romance between her and the hero. In this case, Faith was pretending to be her (fictitious) brother, Frank. Grant had met Faith in an earlier chapter before she took on the disguise, and he immediately noticed the resemblance between “Frank” and the woman whose memory still lingered with him, even days later. Every time he looks at “Frank” while they’re traveling with the trappers, he recalls the memory of Faith by the waterfall…and the attraction to that woman grows a little more every time. What a shock when he discovered she was riding just ahead of him on the trail the entire time!
FF: What are you most excited for readers to experience while reading Faith and Grant’s story?
Besides all the feels from the adventure and romance? Readers will see that while Faith is all grown-up now, her fascination with the life of a trapper hasn’t faded since she came west with her sisters three years before. And her adventurous spirit often gets her into trouble. After all, she’s masquerading as a man! I’m excited for readers to go on this journey with Faith—a journey that causes her to put her trust not only in Grant but even more so in God. I want readers to come away from this story with the hope that even when things seem like they will never get better, God is working things for our good.
Grant has truly become one of my favorite heroes. When he first set out for the West to find his brother, he was broken and grieving and had little hope of ever doing more than surviving. Yet when he meets Faith, he can’t help but step in every time she needs him—whether she knows she’s in trouble or not!
FF: The Rocky Mountains and the American frontier play a significant role in this series. How did you go about researching and recreating the rugged and untamed wilderness for your readers?
Three years ago, I went on an epic 28-day road trip with my family out west, where we explored the rugged wilderness and pretended to live in the 1800s. As I wrote this series, the images of all the sights and sounds played in my head and brought these stories to life. Readers can watch the videos from that road trip on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MistyBeller/videos.
FF: Could you share any key messages or themes that you hope readers will take away from Rocky Mountain Journey and the Sisters of the Rockies Series as a whole?
The main themes in this book are trust and second chances. No matter how difficult the past has been, God can create beauty from ashes. When we place our will and our lives and our future in His hands, the future He creates is far better than anything we would have tried to accomplish through our own limited vision and abilities. I pray that all the books in this series draw readers closer to God. I pray they seek His will for their lives each step of the way and aren’t afraid to accept God’s grace and the fresh slate He offers when we turn to Him fully.
FF: Rocky Mountain Journey is the conclusion to your Sisters of the Rockies Series. Could you discuss the overarching themes and character arcs that tie the series together?
The entire series follows the Collins sisters’ search for Steps Right, the Peigan woman who saved their father’s life two decades before. It was so much fun to finally uncover answers we’ve been searching for through all three books!
This whole series deals with forgiveness, letting go of expectations that others have set for you, learning how to trust after having trust broken, and bravely stepping out in faith to become all that you were created to be.
Another underlining theme throughout the series is the importance of family. Each sister has her own story, but the connection between the women adds a vital piece to each one’s growth. And “family” doesn’t always have to share a blood connection. The sisters become so close to White Horse as they work with him on the ranch and search for his mother, he becomes the brother they never had, no matter the difference in background or race. God gave us all the gift of family—whether we share the same DNA or not—and I pray this series helps readers discover new appreciation for their own loved ones.
FF: Can you share what you’re working on next?
I’m currently writing book four in my Brothers of Sapphire Ranch Series, and I’m loving it! This is a second-chance romance with a bit of a love triangle too, and it’s set on a remote mountain ranch in the wild and majestic Montana Territory. Naomi Wyatt has finally given up on the man who once promised to love her for the rest of his life—then disappeared with no way to contact him. She’s now a single mother with a beautiful baby girl to provide for, a daughter whose red hair reminds her daily of the man she gave her heart to. She has to move on, though, so when Jonah Coulter asks for her hand in marriage, she knows she would be hard-pressed to find a better husband for herself and father for her sweet daughter. He’s a Coulter, after all, and he’s proven to be a good friend during her darkest hours. But when her first love rides onto the ranch property saying he’d been searching for her for months, her heart is shredded once again. Before she has time to catch her breath, though, a new threat appears on the horizon. This time she has far more at stake than her heart, and only a Divine hand can turn this disaster for their good.
Rocky Mountain Journey
Sisters of the Rockies Series #3
Misty M. Beller
Bethany House
Genres: Historical Romance
Release Date: June 18, 2024
ISBN-10: 0764241559
ISBN-13: 978-0764241550
Book Summary:
Faith Collins embarks on a perilous journey through the untamed wilderness of the Rocky Mountains in search of the Peigan Blackfoot woman who once saved her father’s life. Masquerading as a man, she follows a group of trappers who may be able to lead her to the place the woman is hiding, but keeping Faith’s identity a secret proves more difficult than she imagined.
Grant Allen is searching for his younger brother who was separated from him when their parents died many years ago. After receiving word that his brother went west to the Rockies, he joins a band of trappers, hoping they can lead him to his brother’s location. Soon Grant realizes there’s a woman hiding among the men, and he’s determined to find out her identity, what she’s hiding, and how he can keep her safe in this country of wild animals and even wilder men.
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