Jeanie Dannheim
I was happy to read this fourth novel in its series, set in 1831 in what would one day become Idaho Territory. The friends traveling together throughout the series have added to their number. The “group had become a tight family, knitted together by the bonds of friendship…where each man’s life lay in the protection of the others.” Characters are defined primarily through their actions and comfortable dialog. The setting is ruggedly gorgeous and potentially deadly. The faith of each person grows over time, some coming to faith in the Lord because of being with the group. I suggest reading the series in order, to see as each person joins the group and the relationships. Caleb, French, Adam, and Joel had traveled together for over 2 years, then added Susanna and Beaver Tail, Meksem, planning to marry Adam, and Elan, now married to Joel. They are at the Nez Perce camp where Meksem and Elan are from. Not long ago, Meksem had traded the only thing she had from her father, his tomahawk, to the chief of the camp for the most amazing Palouse horse to gift to Adam. Before he will marry her, Adam wants to get the tomahawk back. The monetary value of inlaid gems is nothing compared to the sentimental value to Meksem. The chief will return the tomahawk in exchange for only one thing: Adam and his friends bringing back the chief’s daughter, Wakuese, who left with a group of Shoshone a couple years ago. He suggests they take Otskai, his niece, with them. After the death of her parents, he and his wife raised her with Wakuese as their own, and the girls were close until Wakuese left. Otskai has a two-year-old son whose father was killed before River Boy was born. River Boy is an active, adventurous lad who they rescued from the river, when frozen, a few months ago. Caleb has just rescued the boy again when he toddled to the river to play. The group of friends, plus Otskai and River Boy, set out to find the Shoshone camp. Caleb is happy to help with River Boy, as is Susanna, pregnant with her first child. Caleb is captivated by Otskai, but she is not interested in marrying again, and does not believe in Jesus. This trip is fraught with many dangers, including a bear attack. Whether they can find Wakuese and talk her into coming back to see her parents is another challenge, as she left to make her own way and her own choices. The author’s descriptives are excellent! I could almost taste Otskai’s terror when being pulled by the river current, and her yearning when wishing she had the white man’s God who would answer her prayers. The mountains are ruggedly beautiful yet at times brutal, providing a true challenge to anyone traveling through. I can’t imagine how folks found any place they were looking for when they meet few people on the way and trails have no markings. Some things remain the same through the centuries, one being man’s seeking the Lord and trying to believe in all circumstances, another is the need for friendship and working together. The outcome of this novel is unpredictable at any given time. Despite the severe challenges, I was very satisfied with the resolutions, and am looking forward to the next one! I highly recommend this to women of all ages who appreciate Christian historical fiction in the early 1800’s west where both men and women work together for friendship, faith, and survival. From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from the author and Celebrate Lit, and this is my honest review.
Kristina Barnes
Courage in the Mountain Wilderness is the fourth book in the Call of the Rockies series by Misty M. Beller. I have read every book in the series, and this one may be my favorite. (But that’s hard to commit to because I love each story!) This is Caleb and Otskai story as the regular gang (Beaver Tail, Susanna, Joel, Elan, Adam, Meksem, and French) go in search of Otskai’s cousin as a way for Joel to earn Meksem’s tomahawk back from the Nez Perce chief. Like all of Misty M. Beller’s books, this story takes you through breath-taking mountain country while following the characters on their quest. I always enjoy the landscapes in her books, and how realistic she makes them for the readers. In this book, the rivers and waterfalls play important roles in the story, and I could definitely hear the roaring of the water as I read her words. Caleb was always a bit quiet in the other books, but always solid, reliable, and godly in his manner. So, I was delighted to get to know him better in this story. His big physical size is proportional to his heart. It amazed me how he could see people through Jesus’ eyes and would step in to help them or pray for them. It was inspiring. I wish we could have gotten a little more information about his backstory, but I can’t complain. I loved his story. Otskai and her son, River Boy were an excellent addition to the original traveling party. I could totally relate to her wanting a few moments to herself while feeling guilty about not taking care of her son every minute. (A mom’s life!) But it was heartwarming to see everyone in the party step up to help with River Boy--it really does take a village sometimes. And the scenes between Caleb and River Boy were too cute--all the sighs and warm fuzzies. Overall, I loved Caleb and Otskai’s story. Their slow, tentative romance was perfect for Caleb’s personality and only highlighted what an amazing man he is. Fans of Christian historical fiction, like Tracie Peterson, would enjoy this story. But start at the beginning! You won’t want to miss a single installment of this epic journey! I was given a copy of this book by Celebrate Lit with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
