In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Determined to find his missing brother and stop the elusive mastermind behind the theft of his family’s sapphires, Gil Coulter embarks on a solo mission to the remote town near where the criminal is rumored to reside. As Gil scours the surrounding wilderness for the thief’s hidden lair, the last thing he expects to find is a captivating and vulnerable young woman.

Confined to a remote catacomb of caves and the mountain wilderness around it, Jess McPharland is surrounded by brutal men employed in her father’s illicit mining operation. Her last attempt to escape only made things worse and confirmed a secret she can’t hide much longer. She’ll soon be forced into a life more horrific than what she’s known. Jess will do anything to break free before her fears come true.

When she encounters Gil on the hidden mountain trail—and he’s seeking the very criminal she calls Father—she must convince this stranger to pose as her husband and help her escape. And she has one card to play—she knows where his brother is.

As Gil and Jess navigate the treacherous landscape—and people—they find themselves caught in a web of danger, deception, and unexpected attraction. With each passing moment, the stakes grow higher, and the line between pretense and truth blurs. Will the love growing between them be enough to survive Jess’s secret and lead them to the justice Gil seeks, or will her father’s greed destroy everything they’ve risked their lives to protect?

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain saga filled with high-stakes adventure, a pretend marriage, a secret baby, and love that heals wounded hearts.

Montana’s Caves are a Wellspring of Inspiration!

In Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife, the heroine and her father live in a cave which is part of an intricate catacomb hidden inside Montana mountain. 

I LOVED researching cave systems, especially those in Montana, and I was amazed at how many extensive tunnels and caverns have been discovered!

One of the most well-known is Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, located between Butte and Bozeman. This spectacular limestone cave system features a series of caverns adorned with incredible rock formations. These days, visitors can take guided tours to marvel at the intricate stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites that have formed over thousands of years. The cave is also home to several species of bats.

Another notable cave system is the Bighorn Caverns, situated in the Pryor Mountains south of Billings. This complex network of caves extends for over 14 miles, making it one of the most significant cave systems in the state. Experienced cavers can explore winding passages, underground streams, and vast chambers with unique mineral formations.

The Bighorn Caverns are very similar to how I imagine the cave system was that Jess lived in. As amazing as the tunnels are to explore, I’m not sure I’d want to live in such darkness. What about you?

I pray you enjoy Gil and Jess’s story in Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife! ?

Blessings!

Misty

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author with over 1 million books old. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.