A Warrior's Heart

 Back Cover

Brielle Durand is still haunted by the massacre that killed her mother a dozen years before. Vowing to never let it happen again, she's risen to be the key defender for her people's peace-loving French settlement living in hidden caves in the Canadian Rockies. When a foreigner wanders too near to their secret home, she has no choice but to disarm and capture him. But now, what to do with this man who insists he can be trusted?

Hoping to escape past regrets, Evan MacManus ventured into the unknown, assigned to discover if the northern mountains contain an explosive material that might help America win the War of 1812. Despite being taken prisoner, Evan is determined to complete his mission. But when that assignment becomes at odds with his growing appreciation of the villagers and Brielle, does he follow through on his promise to his government or take a risk on where his heart is leaving him? Either choice will cause harm to someone.

Brielle and Evan must reconcile the warring in their hearts to have any hope of finding peace for their peoples.

Review

Misty M. Beller has created a fascinating and unique premise for her new series, "Brides of Laurent" - a secret colony hidden away in the mountains with it's inhabitants living nearly undetected for many years. (In fact, there are times in this crazy world that the idea of living off-grid with all your friends and family sounds rather appealing!)

One of my favourite aspects about this novel is the bright cord of faith woven through the pages. Brielle and Evan are both strong believers, and it is evident in their story. There isn't just a passing reference to their beliefs - their faith is part of who they are and how they respond to new situations. I really appreciated this as I find more and more, even in "Christian" novels, sometimes it feels like you have to squint really hard and tilt your head at a funny angle in order to see any remote connection to Christianity. Bravo to the author for being bold in this regard!

I found the story very interesting and the characters compelling. I would have liked to see some more climatic elements to help carry along the pacing of the novel at a good clip as it lagged a little in some points, but overall, A Warrior's Heart is a satisfying historical read. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.