My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains

My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains was a well written book that has it all. It features romance, action, and suspense. It keeps you engaged throughout the book because the story moves at a good pace.

Carmela lost her parents when she was twelve years old to sickness. Her uncle, Silas, took over her care but when he did he told Carmela she had to work off a "debt" her father owed to him. He came up with a scheme to get Carmela to act as if she had been captured and held captive by Indians. He booked Carmela to speak in front of crowds all over the east for money. That is how they made their living. He even drew tattoos on her face because that mimicked what tribes often did to captives. Carmela is now twenty and is almost of age to be able to break away from her Uncle and stop speaking to crowds of people and telling them something that are lies.

Freeman McKay is a lawman who is transporting a dangerous prisoner by stage. Freeman, Carmela and Uncle Silas are on the same stage when it is hit by outlaws. Freeman is injured, his prisoner gets away, Uncle Silas is shot and taken hostage on the stage the outlaws have stolen. Freeman and Carmela find themselves handcuffed and out in the wilderness alone. After hours of Carmela sitting with Freeman as he remains unconscious, she is brought water by a mysterious Indian warrior. That water saved their lives. Freeman and Carmela have to make their way to the next station and on to Prescott so that she can settle and be safe. Carmela and Freeman develop a relationship of trust and she tells him the secret that she has been lying to crowds for money. Freeman is able to see past the tattoos on her face and see her strong character.

Once they reach Prescott, Freeman leaves Carmela behind in a boarding house. There Carmela forms relationships and is able to come clean about her past and find peace with God.

I enjoyed the ending as well and was so pleased to see Carmela finally find the happiness she deserved.

5 Stars! The story inside this beautiful cover does not disappoint! I loved it!
Carmela's Quandary is a quick moving story filled with tragedy, suspense and many twists and turns.
Carmela becomes the ward of her Uncle Silas at the age of twelve when her parents die on the trail west. Silas forces young Carmela perform in front of large crowds, telling a made up story of captivity. As Carmela ages she longs to stop the lies, but her uncle says she must perform, he says she owes him for her father's debt. A stage coach robbery provides an opportunity like none other. With Uncle Silas injured and taken by the robbers Carmela ends up handcuffed to a handsome deputy.
I will stop here, I don't want to give any spoilers. If you are drawn to the Inspirational Historical western fiction genre, you will love this book, if not, this would be a perfect introduction.
* I requested and received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. A positive review was not required

My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountain : Carmela's Quandary is a great book. It is full of drama, mystery, romance, and action. All that a reader would expect in a historical fiction set in the west. A wonderful story to see the inner beauty.
5 plus stars.

A historical romance with the flair of the old West! Quick paced for the most part, with interesting characters, and a bit of real history mixed in, it kept me turning the page to find out what happened next! Arizona Territory in 1866 was a rough, unsettled place, and made a colorful backdrop to the story.
Carmela is a sincere young woman stuck in a dishonest situation, torn between family loyalty and the need to break free. I loved her stalwart spirit, and the compassion she shows others, often at the risk of her own safety. Stepping out in her fledgling faith, she moves towards righting past wrongs, hoping for a new beginning. I couldn't help but cheer for her!
Freeland is a great western hero, brave and true, recognizing the special young woman he has been paired with in their adventure together. His kindness underneath the tough exterior made him a very likable character.

Recommend to readers who enjoy historical Christian romances in a western setting!

Firstly thanks to netgalley for my review copy.

I have been reading books by Susan paige Davis for many years and have always enjoyed them as she writes many different genres. This book is a historical with a mystery. The book starts with Carmela at around the age of 14 and upset she has to tell the story her uncle forces her to tell. It is here she meets a young boy who says he will get his brother to help only for her uncle to come and take her away before he gets back.

Fast forward to when shes around 20 we see Carmela and her uncle on the stage along with the local Sheriff who is transporting a prisoner to the state capital. As they travel on they encounter both Indians and outlaws. Here uncle is hurt and she ends up handcuffed to the Sheriff in the Arizona heat. This is just the start of the story and from here we see what will happen.

I enjoyed the pass of this story and how Carmela has to deal with all her uncle had forced her to do and what she would do. I also really liked Freeland he had integrity and the strength to help her with some of her decisions. There are also secondary characters that are very endearing and pivotal for the story. The story deals with forgiveness both from others and forgiving yourself. If you enjoy historical fiction I would recommend this book.

This book will be released on March 1st.

Carmela's Quandary...a great title for this story. Carmela was a little girl when her wagon train was attacked by Indians, her parents killed and she was taken captive. She lived five years with the Indians and was marked as their own by a series of tattoos that cover her lower face. Now she goes around speaking and sharing her story. Her uncle manages all her events and controls the money. Now Carmela is 20 years old and has a problem...a big problem. Everything she has said has been a lie!!!!

Carmela finds herself finishing a speaking engagement in Tucson, the second one in five years, and then heading out on a stagecoach to the next town for another engagement. There are also several other passengers onboard, one of whom looks like a grown version of a young boy she meet years ago on her first visit to Tucson. That young boy told her that he could help her, more importantly, his brother who is a deputy could help her. Well that deputy brother, Freeland McKay, is on the stagecoach escorting a prisoner. Carmela can't believe the chances of meeting him in this way. Could he possibly be the answer to her prayers? Could he be the one to help her right the wrongs and lies she told for years under her uncle's direction?

This was a sweet western romance with peril and soul searching. There were a few moments where it seemed slower paced and I found myself skimming. I enjoyed the struggle that Carmela had to go through. I liked watching her figure out how to go about becoming the person she truly wanted to be and not the person she was told she was by her uncle as well as all those who had heard her "story". She truly sought to do good and be a good person. Even with how she was used by her uncle she still had compassion towards him. She was definitely a good example for the many people she encountered. I liked the way the author wrote Carmela's character as being able to help others. Also that Carmela never lied in her personal interactions when asked questions, she did her best to be honest and not lie.

As the stagecoach they are riding on is attacked Carmela finds herself in several perilous moments. Her uncle is shot, she is handcuffed, the stage is stolen, her uncle gone, and she is left in the desert with an unconscious deputy. With many encounters with Indians, bandits, townspeople and others who were captured by Indians, Carmela has much to learn and much to offer.

The story alternates between Carmela and Freeland's POV. Sometimes they are together and other times they are separated by his duties as a deputy. I enjoyed reading their different perspectives and thoughts.

Content: Sweet clean romance, some shootouts and a couple battle wounds but nothing graphic. This is a Christian fiction so there is talk of God and the characters occasionally offer prayers asking for help. It flowed very well with the storyline and with the growth Carmela went through.

I received an ARC from Barbour publishing via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Carmela is tired of living a lie. She travels the country with her uncle across the country telling "her account" of being a survivor of an Indian kidnapping and making a profit from telling the falsehood.

But when their stagecoach is attacked, freedom from the lies might finally be in reach even if it means being handcuffed to an unconscious man.

Carmela was never taken by the Indians but her uncle is her sole guardian after her parents died, and they owed him a lot of money, so she agrees to do what he says. She has stayed true to her faith, and feels terrible for the life that she has been living. She perseveres without complaint, is willing to work hard and speaks up for the sake of others.

Freeland McKay is the deputy marshal from Tucsan and he is escorting a prisoner, when things go horribly wrong on the stagecoach. When Freeland wakes up he finds himself handcuffed to Carmela, together they decide to walk to the next station, getting to know each other well along the way. I like that when Carmela tells the truth that he doesn't judge her and is understanding to her plight. He is a good man devoted to his duty, faithful , courageous, and strong.

I like that Freeland can see past Carmela's past and her lies, he encourages her to continue to break free and find her strength. The dialog between them is good, and I liked them together. A very enjoyable read.

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Forced to give speeches by her uncle, since she was 12 about a supposed Indian abduction that happened to her,Carmela is miserable. When her parents and brother died on the trail she is alone in the world until her uncle swoops in and takes her under his wing . He says her father owes him a large amount of money that she must repay the debt. He forces her to speak about a fictitious Indian abduction happening to her. These speeches happen in many towns and he makes a large amount of money . On the way to the next town their stagecoach is robbed and her uncle is wounded. Not knowing if he is dead or alive she is rescued from the stagecoach by the deputy US marshal. She longs to end the deception and this way of life. This book was very interesting and kept my attention. I am really enjoying the, My Heart Belongs series from Barbour books. It's fascinating to read historical stories about different states. This takes place in Arizona and I used to live in Yuma, Arizona where part of this story took place. I could definitely see this taking place in the wilds of the Arizona desert.
Looking forward to reading more from this series.
Pub Date 01 Mar 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Books for providing me with a review copy for my honest opinion.

Carmela finds herself living a lie. Being an orphan she is raised by her uncle. Her life with her uncle brings him his income. And she begins to have feelings of guilt and doesn't want her past to also be her future.

I found this to be a really sweet read and I am glad that I was able to read it. I enjoyed the character of Carmela and she matures, learns about life and about herself and how to make choices and decisions. I think if you like western historicals, that you will enjoy this book, the people in it, the good and the not-so-good ones. It's a good Christian read and have enjoyed this and other books from this author.

I received an ebook copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review which I have given. All thoughts are my own..

What an extraordinary and refreshing romance. I was intrigued by the premise that starts with the protag as a little girl being forced to misrepresent herself and her family's wild west adventures. This story takes a unique view of how the people of the East were intrigued by and hoodwinked by some of the nefarious characters who went West and came back. More stories should delve into these kinds of experiences.

The characters are wonderful. You care about them, and even want to help them, especially Carmela. I think I would have picked a different name for the U.S. Marshall, but each to his own, I guess. I especially like the way the characters and the situations fit together believably. If you need confirmation that some of the situations depicted in this novel could and did happen, read history books like "I Buried My Heart at Wounded Knee" and others that I can't recall at the moment. The interactions between native Americans and the white Europeans were quite extraordinary. This novel will give you a peek into the waning of that era.

I liked Susan Page Davis' new book, My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains. It was an enjoyable read with memorable characters. I really felt for the main character, Carmela.
She has been with her horrible guardian for seven years. Uncle Silas has forced her to give speeches about being captured by Indians and her six months with them. She is forced to tell of her mistreatment and her face bears the tattoos the Indians branded on her face. Only it is all lies. Uncle Silas is using her to make money and now Carmela wants out of the deception. Enter her knight in shining armor, Freeland McKay. The two of them are thrown together in some dangerous and some romantic situations.
I think my favorite part of the book, is when other young women who have actually been kidnapped by Indians and escaped, come to Carmela for help. I think her reactions and advice show Carmela's true character.
I give this book four out of five stars.

My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains
By Susan Page Davis
Carmela Wade is a young orphan who has been raised by her uncle since the age of twelve. She is now twenty and for the last eight years, her uncle has forced her to travel the states and entertain people with a made up story about being an Indian captive as a child. She longs to be free of the life she lives, but is afraid of her uncle and unsure how she will support herself if she breaks free from him. When the two of them are traveling by stage to yet another show, she finds herself in the company of Deputy Freeland McKay and his prisoner. As they travel, they discover that Indians have raided and burned some of the stage stops and they are afraid of what they may find as they continue traveling. When a band of outlaws attacks, both of the stage coach employees are killed and her uncle is shot and dragged off by the outlaws. She is left alone with the Deputy and his prisoner, who tricks her into setting him free. Her and Freeland must now travel on foot to the next stop and try to find help so they can rescue her uncle. As they spend time together, feelings develop and Carmela is hopeful that she can have a normal life after all of this. She is hindered by the secrets of her past and her own fears. Can she find her way to the truth, and in so doing, find her way to love? This book was quite enjoyable and I really liked the different twists and the layers to the characters. I would recommend it anyone who enjoys reading historical romance. I received a free copy of this book for my honest review from NetGalley.

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

“My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains: Carmela’s Quandary” by Susan page Davis is a selection in the My Heart Belongs series which is a series of Christian romance novels set in different cities/areas in the US by different authors.

The book begins with an unwilling 14-year-old Carmela being forced by her uncle to “perform” at various venues by telling her story of being kidnapped and held hostage by Indians in the American Southwest. After her “performance” she runs crying from the saloon and is befriended by a young boy, Will, whos brother is a deputy marshall. Will attempts to get his brother, Freeland, to assist Carmela. However, Freeland is quite busy with a prisoner and cannot assist until Carmela and her uncle have left town.

Fast forward five years. Freeland is riding with a prisoner on a coach that just happens to be carrying Carmela and her uncle who is still forcing her to tell the untrue story of her parents’ murder and following life with the Indians by telling her that she still owes him money that her father borrowed and that he has paid for her “upkeep”. Her uncle even repeatedly tattoos her face so that she will appear credible.

While traveling, they find the next stage coach station has been burned and are subsequently attacked by renegades. The story continues with how they escape and run into Indians and outlaws along the way.

The author tackles several biblical truths: confession, forgiveness, being judgmental and true love.

Gave this one four stars. It is a good solid read, nice ending with a funny twist. Very clean… you won’t be embarrassed if your Mom or child looks over your shoulder.

"My Heart Belongs in Superstition Mountain," was yet another thrilling escapade from Barbour Books's, "My Heart Belongs Series." This time, I was transported via stagecoach to Yuma, Arizona which just happens to be one of my favorite locations for a western novel and I was introduced to the heroine, Carmela who had quite the story to tell.

Carmela was not as self-willed as the previous heroine in the first book of this stand alone series, but I still liked her character. Since a tender age, Carmela is had to deal with the sad fact that she is an orphan and therefore has been raised by her Uncle. A true madman and a complete disgust of a man after he forces Carmela to make money by telling a false story about a supposed Indian abduction in her youth. I felt bad for Carmela. She had little options in escaping her Uncle, until the day she meets the hero, Freeland who happens to be a US Marshal.

After getting stranded with Freeland, Carmela's story starts to unfold. As she and Freeland struggle to survive in the wilderness of the dangerous western backdrops, Carmela begins to learn more about the person that she wants to be and begins to form a very low-profile romance with Freeland.

I do have to point out that the romance in this book was an improvement in comparison to the last. Again, this is inspiring fiction so the romance is very clean and refreshing, but I did enjoy the romance far more in this novel.

Lastly, I will be continuing this series. I have to. I'm hooked on this series as I feel like I am falling in love with inspiring fiction all over again.

4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this Western adventure. Engaging characters with Camela and Freeland, and a delightful lack of overly descriptive romance! I could comfortably recommend this book even to young teens.

Carmela is a young woman of twenty whose uncle has been exploiting her for years. Her parents died on the trail to California, and she was cared for by kind friends for some months before her closest living relative, her uncle, could arrive to claim her. He, citing unpaid debts her parents owed, and guilting/punishing her into submission, invents a story of her having been a victim of an Indian attack and forces her to tour the country telling the story he invented.

Freeland's a marshal from Tucson and is riding along with a prisoner he is transporting when the stagecoach they are on is robbed. The bad guys leave Carmela and Freeland handcuffed together in the desert and ride off with their loot.

First there's the fight to survive the desert; then, the choice Carmela faces: for the first time in her recent life, she is away from her uncle and able to speak for herself. But how can she break through the habitual lies of years? How can she admit she's been telling an untrue story all this time?

Also: I loved Mrs. Finney!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for my honest review.

This is the first book by the author I've read. It was enjoyable. The premise of a girl on a speaking tour, lying about captivity by Indians to make a dishonest living for her uncle, was an interesting and uncommonly used plot line.

The main character of Freeland is such a trustworthy, lovable, solid and dependable deputy of a newly formed Western town. Carmela, though mostly docile and obdient, grows a backbone during the trials she faces in the story and shows herself to be resourceful, compassionate, faithful, and righteous. The weaving of faith and power of prayer throughout the story was well-done and the characters of the noble Reverend and his loving wife and the kind Mrs. Finney brought faith to life.

I was given an advanced reader copy of the book from Barbour via NetGalley. I was not required to give a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

The book is set in the 1860's. It begins before the war with Miss Wade and her Uncle Silas traveling the southwest as she shares her expeiences while being captured by Indians. We soon learn that all may not be as it seems. During the war they are forced to move north but have returned to the Arizona territory once again. Through many trials and follies Miss Wade learns to lean more and more on God. Willher faith save her physically and redeem her? How will she be able to separate from her uncle or will she convince him to change his ways?
This is areal page turner! It kept me captivated from page one. Due to circumstances of life in those times, there is some violence but it is handled well and not a major focus of the story.

My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains: Carmela’s Quandry is the second book I’ve read in this series. (I read My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla’s Reveille earlier this year.) One thing I love about these books is they are fast reads with plenty of oomph and twists.

This story took me to the Superstition Mountains in Tucson, Arizona during the mid 1800s. The author does a nice job of description (without overdoing it) where the reader can sink into the scene, travel the desert trail, smell the arid scent, and experience times past in the Old West.

Carmela’s Quandry is a sweet romantic western, written in Carmela Wade’s point of view as well as her romantic interest’s, U.S. Marshall Freeland McKay. It felt more like a women’s fiction story (my favorite genre) taking place in the west, to me, because I was mainly invested in her dilemmas and internal growth. I also love the vein of faith that flows throughout this book, and theme of overcoming and conquering the past.



4 Stars

Cover: Like
Title: Like
Pages: 304
Publisher: Barbour Books
ISBN: 978-1683220077
First Lines: “You get out there, and I mean now.” Uncle Silas glared at Carmela, his white eyebrows nearly meeting over his thin nose.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

Carmela Wade has prayed for the day she could stop the lies she was forced to perpetrate by her Uncle Silas. Not only did he force her to tell lies, but he also forced her to give him all the money the two of them accrued because he said her father owed him money. Carmela’s opportunity arrives when their stagecoach is robbed, and the robbers take it with her uncle inside.

US Marshal Freeland McKay never dreamed he’d be the victim of a stagecoach robbery, and to add insult to injury, he’s handcuffed to a woman. They have no water, horse or any way to survive except through tenacity and lots of walking.

Susan Page Davis does a well-thought out job of showing the dilemma Carmela faces. She pulls you into the story and makes you feel the torment and agony Carmela faces after reaching adulthood.

Carmela’s story is one of courage in the face of extreme adversity, forgiving yourself and others and learning to trust the Lord.

Susan Page Davis has written a unique and different type of historical novel. It is a story that readers of historical romance are sure to enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

(A review was also posted to my Facebook page and twitter)

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Gail Hollingsworth's review May 26, 2017 · edit
really liked it

This was a different type western from any I've read before, but in a good way. I had recently read a book about the Superstition Mountains so this book caught my eye. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the main character, Carmela, and all she'd suffered in her young life. Losing her parents on a wagon train headed to California when she was twelve, being taken over by a devious uncle who only saw dollar signs in his niece and having ugly tattoos marked on her face by him to fool audiences into thinking she had been abducted by an Indian tribe and made a slave.
All comes to an end when their stagecoach is robbed by outlaws and her uncle is shot and carried off in the stolen coach. She and a deputy are handcuffed together by a criminal that escaped and they are left to die in the desert.
This novel includes Indian attacks, outlaw ambushes, fights for survival and abducted children. Lots of action among the pages. But a deep reliance on God through prayer and a strong moral obligation of truthfulness is standouts in the story. You'll be turning the pages into the night to find out what happens next, especially if you like early westerns.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley and was under no obligation to write a review.

My heart belongs in the Superstition Mountains is a story of abundant deceit, overwhelming fear, parental figure rejection of love, steadfast faith, and reclamation of trust in CHRIST. Camela became an orphan then sent to her Uncle Silas who was a manipulative lying, cheating, abusive, selfish shell of a man (if you can call him that, and I do) he turns Camela into a money machine. He dresses her up as with Indian markings on her, has her tell people that she was captured by Indians. She had to give the spiel exact or she would get it by Silas and when people questioned her, if her answers were not his answers word for word, she was in for it, but in all this there are 2 things that helped her. The most important one is JESUS (and so should we all - Amen?) Although she doesn't understand why HE is allowing what all she is going through. The other thing is - will Freeland(the town Marshall) be able to see and get Camela help before she leaves town. does he get to her in time? does she get away from Silas or is she stuck selling her stories and being beaten if one word is left out or told wrong?

My Heart Belongs in the Superstitions Mountains by Susan Page Davis, is an entertaining western romance set in Arizona of the 1860s. As a result of her guardian's dishonesty, Carmela's been living a lie for the past few years and she is sick of it. But she has no way to get out of the duplicitous mess she's in. She really just wants a man to love, a man who will love her for the rest of her life. A US Marshall on a mission of taking a murderer to Prescott for trial, Freeland ends up on a hijacked stagecoach with Carmela. Characters are realistic and well-rounded and draw the reader easily into the story. Action packed scenes keep the pages turning. The descriptions of life surrounded by Indians and outlaws are realistic and the historical details add good interest to the story. My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains is a captivating story of faith and the healing virtue of friendship and love, and whether the wrongs of the past can ever be made right. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Netgalley and was not expected to write a review. The opinions are my own.

You know those books that just catch you a bit off guard? The ones that exceed expectations or are just unlike what you thought you would get, and you love every moment of it? That is what I discovered in Susan Page Davis’s My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains: Carmela’s Quandry.

From early on in this book, I was drawn into Carmela’s story. A girl who was forced to lie on stage to grow her Uncle’s wealth. As those lies contradicted with what she thought was right, the tensions in the story grew. Add in a cast of wonderful characters, some good western fun, and a well-timed romance story and it just made for an enjoyable read.

So far in the My Heart Belongs series of books, Davis’s novel has by far been my favorite and I think it will take another great one to even come close to knocking this one off that pedestal.


**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**

There are times when you just need a little romance and a good dose of adventure in your reading, and those are times when I know I can turn to certain authors. Susan Page Davis is one of them, and Carmela's Quandary affirms her standing as one of my favorites.

Set in 1860's Arizona Territory, this story immediately brought back how much I loved the first book I ever read by this author about a young woman returning to white "civilization" after being stolen away and living with an Indian tribe. Carmela Wade, however, has been forced by her uncle to recount a sensationalized story of captivity for audiences since she was twelve.

Freeland McKay is a deputy whose younger brother asked him to help Carmela, but he misses his chance when the Civil War is declared. He encounters her years later when, escorting a prisoner to trial after the war, they are on the same stage. After a hold up, Carmela and Freeland are left, handcuffed together to walk across the desert. And isn't that just the perfect way to develop a romantic relationship...

This is a well-written and fascinating story with details that will stick in the readers mind. The adventure portions are exciting and it is Carmela and Wade's experiences that are the primary focus of the story. I found Carmela's experiences once she is back in a town to be just as interesting as the peril and adventure in the desert, in particular her efforts to help two young women having trouble adjusting after their returns from captivity and to stop lying about her own supposed captivity.

Carmela's Quandary is the second entry published in the My Heart Belongs series from Barbour Books, with various authors, and the first I have read. This was an excellent starting point for me and I'm looking forward to seeing what else is in store, though writing this review has me wanting to just reread Carmela's Quandary, in part to meet secondary characters like Mrs. Finney and Two Pony again.

Recommended for lovers of Historical Fiction set in the American West with faith, adventure, fading tattoos and a bit of (eventually) sweet romance.

This review refers to an e-galley read courtesy of the publisher, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.