Montana: Autumn Love/Contagious Love/Inspired Love/Distant Love

Montana Skies #1-4

by Ann Bell

Montanans are legendary for their courage and willingness to take our challenges as big as the Montana sky. But the heroines in these four inspirational novels are ordinary people facing mountains of trouble. As the comforts of daily routine are threatened, they'll need to dig deep for a sustaining faith.

Edith Harkness is a widowed teacher who quits her job after a shooting at school. Though her children urge her to retire and take life easy, Edith takes on a new job-and meets a new love interest. Can life begin afresh with an "Autumn Love".

Libby Reynolds's marriage has fallen apart and her husband is a threat to both her and her children. Forced to seek refuge, Libby prays for a miracle in the life of the man she still loves. But does she have the emotional strength to wait for a "Contagious Love?"

Beth Slater is no stranger to life's challenges. Raising a four-year-old son alone has tested her strength and molded her into a beautiful young woman. But when her son is kidnapped, her strength suddenly vanishes. Can she grasp onto "Inspired Love" - the love of God and the love of a godly man?

When Rebecca Sutherland retires as the librarian at Rocky Bluff High School she accepts a position in Guam. Before she leaves, the house next door burns down and her home becomes the investigation command center. partnered with the handsome fire chief, she attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding the fire - while ignoring the sparks of romance. Can "Distant Love" survive her two-year contract?

Set in the fictional town of Rocky Bluff, Montana, these four complete contemporary novels by author Ann Bell demonstrate the power of prayer, friendship, and love.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Ann (Anna Mae) Bell combined a career in education with writing and research. One facet of her life strengthened the other. After living in Iowa, Montana, Guam, Hawaii, and Oregon, Mrs. Bell currently makes her home in Georgetown, Texas.

Mrs. Bell started her writing career by authoring a series of nine books for Heartsong Presents (Autumn Love, Contagious Love,Inspired Love, Distant Love, Healing Love, Compassionate Love, Love Remembered, Love Abounds, and Mended Wheels). Barbour Press republished the first four books into one volume "Montana" and the second four into "Montana Skies." Those eight books were reprinted in large print by Thorndike Press.

In recent years, she went on to publish three educational technology books "Creating Digital Video in Your School," "Handheld Computers in Schools and Media Center," and "Exploring Web 2.0 - Second Generation Interactive Tools" along with one children's book "The Adventures of Scampy Churchmouse," an historical novel "Rebekah's Journey" and an biographical novel "The Sister of Mary Dyer: The High Price of Freedom."

A native of Adel, Iowa, Mrs. Bell received a B.A. degree from the University of Northern Iowa, a Library Media Endorsement from the University of Montana, and a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Hawaii.

A complete biography is available in Thomson Gale's 2007 "Contemporary Authors" Series, Volume 259.

Reviews

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is a positive book that has suspense n showing community how it can be done to support one another. Covering a range of age group of possibilities in retirement that love can happen second time round. decisions students make that affect their lives n families. Mistakes given to God n he rights the paths when life is given over to him to work. I know I went to a refuge with 2 kids but there wasn't the support like this story depicts. that would be the dream ideal.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christian based. Mild romance, mostly friendship based. I was captivated by the characters - one of those where they become your "friends."

[Katie O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great break - in a rather saccharine-sweet way - from the harsher themes and realities of some of my recent reads. Based on a real person with an impressive ministry, it was nice to see hope and better choices based in faith prevail. What most likely were compressed timelines (from actual events) sometimes made it seem that major problems were too readily/quickly resolved, but the ever-present message of forgiveness was never mistimed.

[Sadiepu1 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truthfully wasn't that impressed with this book. Too many characters with several different plots and though Edith and Roy seemed to be through plot line, there just was a lot going on in each chapter with different characters and subplots.

The title says 4 complete novels but the characters overlapped novel by novel, ie chapter by chapter, so it didn't appear to be separated at all.

[Margaret Boehm · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was wonderful to read a series in one book. Excellent novel and it flowed excellent.

[Bill Weekley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging stories.

Faith in God’s helping those who trust him. Stories that show trusting in him is always the way to deal with any hardship.

[Marti Woods · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not get very far, it was a poor read.