Stacy Monson
When Mountains Sing
My Father's House series, Book 1
Mikayla Gordon loves nothing more than sleeping under the stars, reeling in the "big one," and long hikes in the wilderness. A medical crisis reveals a 30-year-old secret that turns everything she's known and believed upside down, unraveling her dreams and her identity. In search of answers, she follows a trail from Minnesota to Colorado and discovers more unwelcome secrets even as she falls in love with the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains, and a wilderness camp leader who shares the greatest secret of all. Knowing her life can never go back to what it was, she must make decisions that will impact far more than just her future.
Find it at
Book Trailer
from Stacy
Behind the Story
I started the My Father's House series a lifetime ago (or so it seems) to follow the Gordon family sisters: Maggie (a pediatric surgeon now practicing on the East Coast) and her younger twin sisters Mikayla (an outdoor enthusiast and trail guide), and Lindy (a fashion designer). They were about to discover that all that they'd believed about themselves and being a Gordon was smoke and mirrors.
The series starts with When Mountains Sing. When an unexpected health issue arises, Mikayla Gordon discovers a long-held secret of her parents – Dad is not the biological dad of any of the three sisters! The man Mikayla adored, who taught her everything she knew about herself and outdoor life, is not her birth father. She and her twin Lindy are not biologically related in anyway, and both Lindy and Maggie were adopted. Confusing? Definitely! The discovery sends the Gordon family into a tailspin as Mikayla sets out to find her biological father just months before Lindy's high society wedding.
When I started writing the series, I'd decided it would be Women's Fiction, told only through the heroine's point of view. And that was fine and dandy…until Dawson Dunne inserted himself as a main character. At first, I kept writing him out. Over and over. But as he persisted (and developed), I thought he would be fine as a secondary character to help Mikayla locate her biological father. But he didn't seem to like being relegated to a supporting role. Despite my best attempts to keep him in the background, he grew on me. And suddenly he was the hero to my heroine, not just someone to help her in her search, but to guide her toward the absolute truth – the only Father Mikayla truly needed. Dawson has become one of my favorite heroes!
Sadly, because I was well into the story before Dawson appeared, I opted to stay in the single point of view perspective which means we only get to experience him through Mikayla's eyes during her story. Once When Mountains Sing released, it turned out he was a favorite for the readers too! And so, "A Summer of Reckoning" began to take shape – a novella-sized story of the life experiences that shaped Dawson Dunne into the man of God he eventually became ("eventually" because he sure didn't start out that way!).
I hope you enjoy When Mountains Sing! It's an award-winner with a still-growing fan club!
What Readers Are Saying
"This emotionally raw story is filled with relatable characters, including Mikayla's beloved adventurous father, her adorable guard dog, Lula, and many gracious people who bring hope to her hurting heart. Set in the majestic Rocky Mountains, Monson captures the beauty of God's creation and the peace found only in Him."
"How she is able to flesh out her characters with such depth and put the reader on that mountain with stunning imagery is a pure talent."
"I have followed many Christian fiction novelists over the years but admit that this is one is in my top ten. Weaving romance as well as revealing Christ in the middle of a successful relationship is all that matters. I highly recommend taking the time to read and enjoy."
My Father's House reading order
Here's the best way to read the My Father's House series in chronological order:
1. A Summer of Reckoning (a novella that introduces Dawson Dunne) – prequel to When Mountains Sing
2. When Mountains Sing (the start of the Gordon sisters' journeys to piece their lives back together)
3. Whispered Miracle (a novella that explores Mikayla Gordon's first winter at Outlook Adventure Camp) – When Mountains Sing sequel #1
4. Mountaintop Christmas (a novella that concludes Dawson and Mikayla's original story) – When Mountains Sing sequel #2
5. The Sweetest Sound (a novella that introduces us to the very beginning of Lindy Gordon's story) – prequel to When Valleys Mourn
6. When Valleys Mourn (Lindy Gordon Spencer's journey to find her birth parents in the midst of her crumbling marriage)
7. When Oceans Roar - Releases June 2027 (Maggie Gordon's involvement in the search for a missing woman sparks an unexpected romance and an interest to also look for her birth mother)