Glorious Montana Sky

By: Debra Holland

Narrated by: Natalie Ross

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

After spending nine years as a missionary in Africa and losing his wife to illness, Joshua Norton is exhausted, emotionally and physically. He returns home to the frontier Montana town of Sweetwater Springs with his estranged nine-year-old son in tow, hoping to rebuild his relationship with the boy.

Meanwhile, New Orleans resident Delia Fortier plots to escape the terrible fate her mother has planned for her: becoming the mistress of a cruel, powerful politician. The mixed-race secret daughter of a wealthy Creole businessman, Delia boldly seeks help from her father’s family. Although the rest of the family spurns her, her father is delighted to learn of Delia’s existence and offers her an opportunity: travel west with him, pretending to be his legitimate daughter.

When Joshua and Delia meet, their intense attraction is undeniable. But will Delia’s secret stand in the way of their love? Or will prejudice destroy their future… and their lives?

A stirring, sweeping frontier romance, Glorious Montana Sky is the fourth title in the best-selling series that has enchanted listeners.

©2014 Debra Holland (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Very Touching read

Any additional comments?

This was a very touching read that will pull at your heartstrings. One lonely man and his child come home when his wife dies. He just wants to go be with his family but his dead wife’s family has other plans. He must deal with his loss, his son who he really doesn’t know anymore and his wife’s family who has planned his life. Once he gets home to his family he is never leaving again. A legitimate daughter is trying to get away from her mother who has sold her to the highest bidder as his mistress he is a cruel man who hurts women. She runs to her grandmother who isn’t kind but finds a man who will love her to the end of time her father. They must go out west where no one knows them or where she came from to start a new life. This is a story about their pain and all these 4 have to go through to find happiness and the people who will not let them go.

Delia is such a sweet kind women it would be hard for any man not to love her. She must keep her secret safe and knows she will never find love or have a family. Her father is a sweet wonderful man who fell in love with his daughter at first sight. His mother isn’t too happy. Now they are on the run trying to out run Delia mother and the man she sold Delia to. When Joshua and Delia meet there is a strong pull and the attraction is strong. She falls in love with the father and son almost from the start. Who wouldn’t the son is a wonderful little boy who just needs TLC. Delia cannot let the attraction grow she knows if her secret comes out no man will want her. Delia makes one mistake which could mean she lose everything.

Joshua is heartbroken he has lost his wife and feels he might lose his son. With taking care of his wife when she was so ill his son ran wild. He didn’t want to leave Africa and his friends. Father and son are on the outs which doesn’t help when they get back to his wife family who feel they are better than most. Joshua loved his wife at first but he married without knowing her well. As years went on he found she wasn’t the kind loving women he thought. Their plans for him isn’t his and he doesn’t know how to tell them. Once he gets home his family help bring father and son closer. He meet Delia but is unsure he doesn’t want the same marriage he had before could this women bring love, happiness and fun to his family.

Natalie Ross does an outstanding job of narration with wonderful character voices. She puts emotion in her read giving you a very entertaining listen. There are no background noises there are a few places where he tone changes a little. My guess is this is when she took a break in no way does it takes away from the listen. Her male voices are as delightful as her female ones. Ms. Ross’s performance is always outstanding giving you a highly entertaining read filled with passion, emotions, and energy as she gives you a compelling listen.

I loved these characters their story will break your heart and pull you into their tale as the author spins a compelling story of loss, love, kindness, cruel, pain and sorrow. Ms. Holland is one of my go to authors she always gives you a highly entertaining read putting twist and turns that will make you cry or laugh. Her audios are always a must have she picks wonderful narrators who give more than a story as they both touch your heart. If you haven’t read one of stories you should it won’t be long before she is your favorite author to.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

As always, a perfect story...

I picked this book up on Kindle Unlimited (KU) and listened to it in the audio format via WhisperSync. As always I loved this book. Every book I have read by this author, I have loved! I love old time westerns as it is. This author has a way of making me feel emotions as I read on. I also feel blessed and grateful that technology has helped us so much over the years. The amount of illnesses and diseases that went around back then was overwhelming. I also felt the compassion of the characters in the story. While so many had next to nothing, they were always willing to share. After reading these stories, I always feel grateful and humble.

The author, Debra Holland has such a way of telling stories from the Western days. It was an amazing era in our history and stories like this need to be told and never forgotten. Let us never take life for granted. The narrator, Natalie Ross did an awesome delivery of this story, with her multiple voice and accents! She enhanced the emotions and her narration was very easy on the ears too. Great job ladies!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Loved this book on loss and found love!

If you could sum up Glorious Montana Sky in three words, what would they be?

New Beginnings Happen!

Which character – as performed by Natalie Ross – was your favorite?

I really like Deila and the way that she tried to live even though she had a secret that was not her fault.

Any additional comments?

After being gone for years and losing his wife Joshua returns to America with his son. Life is not easy though since his in-laws want to take over the raising of his son as well as Joshua's future plans. He cannot have either thing happen, so he takes his son and returns to his childhood home, Sweetwater Springs, Montana. On the train home, he runs into a beautiful woman and her father who are both running away to Montana for their own reasons. Sweetwater Springs has become a town where people who need a new begin can sometimes find them there. Can Joshua and Deila find their new beginning or will too many secrets tear apart any hopes and dreams they may have?

This book captured the emotions of fear, grief,disappointment, hope, joy, and love very well. Debra does it again! It was wonderful to read about a missionary returning to America since I have done the same thing. The book captured return culture shock very well and how difficult it is to live with a heart that is divided between two cultures. I loved the way that each character complimented and challenged each other. I cannot wait for the next book!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

perhaps you can go home again

I have always heard the saying you can never go home again. Reverend Joshua Norton proved this to be untrue. Even while he struggles to adjust to what used to be so familiar when he was young, but now seems so foreign for he and his son, he still manages to recognize the need in the hearts and lives of those around him and respond with kindness and generosity. This is a beautifully written tale of homecoming, self forgiveness and the embracing of what others deem unacceptable. Thank you Ms. Holland. I loved it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoy a refreshing novel.

Absolutely loved it. If you are looking for a good book without profanity then this one's for you. Narration was faultless and novel was never boring. Hope you enjoy it as I did.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another great book

This was another great book by Debra! Joshua returns home to Sweetwater Springs after being a missionary in Africa and losing his wife. When Joshua returns home the entire town is there to meet the train. I felt like I was apart of the town and the celebration. This is one of the reasons that I love this series. The reader gets to know the entire town.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Loved it!

This is a great story. It was so very well written and the Narriator was wonderful.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Beautiful, Touching Story

After the death of his wife, missionary Joshua Norton leaves Uganda with his 9-year-old son, Micah, to return home to Sweetwater Springs, Montana. Stopping first in Cambridge for a visit with his wife's' parents, Joshua is disheartened to learn that his in-laws have made plans for him to teach missionary studies at the University and for Micah to enroll in school. Already physically and emotionally exhausted, Joshua only wants to return home to Montana, his son with him. Having lost his mother, his home, his best friend, and all he has ever known, Micah doesn't want to go anywhere except back to Uganda.

Delia Fortier, a woman of mixed racial heritage, is desperate to leave home because her mother is attempting to sell her to a powerful but villainous politician. Believing her father to be in New York, she locates his mother and begs for her help, but her grandmother snubs her because of her background and illegitimacy. Just as she was preparing to leave her grandmother's home, her father and uncle arrive. Overjoyed to learn he has a daughter, Andre Bellaire offers Delia the chance to accompany him out west to start a new life together.

The first time Joshua sees Delia he is drawn to her beauty and gentle spirit like a magnet. The loss of his wife had taken so much out of him, as had the difficult years before her illness. His wife was not the wife and mother he'd thought she'd be, rather, she was harsh and judgmental, leaving emotional scars on Joshua and damaging his relationship with his son. Chastising himself for imagining what kind of minister's wife Delia would be, he reminded himself of his purpose in returning home. Reminding herself of her father's intent that she marry well, Delia catches herself imagining what it would be like to be married to a man as kind as Joshua, and having a son such as Micah for her own.

Divine intervention comes when Andre becomes gravely ill on the train and Joshua is pressed into service to comfort the man's daughter until a doctor can be found. Too ill to travel further, Andre is carried from the train and the doctor is summoned, who treats the man and advises that he remain in Sweetwater Springs to recover.

Throughout the story, Joshua is drawn to Delia and he finds himself hoping that she is growing to feel the same about him. Delia is actually quite drawn to Joshua but is fearful of what his reaction will be once he learns her 'secret.' I don't want to give away the rest of the story, but I kept thinking how much Joshua and Micah needed Delia, and she needed them just as much.

I loved the detail in this story: the prospects for women of mixed heritage in that time period, the selflessness of those called to the ministry and to missionary work, and the difficulties such a life imposes on the children of those families. One particularly touching scene was when Joshua's mother explained how she reworked the donated clothing into suitable garments for parishioners in need.

I really like the way Debra Holland writes about subjects not often touched upon, and the motivations and hearts of the characters. In seeing the sketches of the various families and situations in life, it is obvious that things are seldom as they appear. Although I know I would have enjoyed reading the book, I'm so glad to have heard the audio version. Natalie Ross is an incredibly talented narrator! She sounds as convincing as an old man as she does a small child, and her many voices are delightful! She switches back and forth from character to character smoothly, without losing any of the quality of characters' voices. There were a couple of times where I could have sworn there was another actor reading with her!!

I really enjoyed listening to 'Glorious Montana Sky' and was sorry to see it end. As usual, I wanted more of the story. My fingers are crossed for more of books in the series, and for glimpses of these endearing characters.

**I was given the promo code for an honest review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The stories in this series have hooked

I heard all 4 books in 2 days I just couldn't stop! I love the history and the beautiful love stories and no sex!! I found myself yearning for quality a true story teller and found it here I have become a huge fan of Debra Holland I'm starting a new story tonight

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Love this story

Where does Glorious Montana Sky rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

At the top!

What other book might you compare Glorious Montana Sky to and why?

All of the Montana Sky Series and The Brides of the West because a lot of the characters from those books are in this one.

What does Natalie Ross bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love listening to Natalie Ross, her voice is so smooth and easy to understand. She is my favorite!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it was hard to put this book down.

Any additional comments?

Debra, This is an awesome book. I loved the story and the characters. I very much enjoy the audible version.. I have read all of your books and I'm looking forward to Healing Montana Sky. Thank you for this wonderful story!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful