The Debutante Queen

Montana Beginnings, Book 1

By: Angela Breidenbach

Narrated by: Forrest Leder, Tristan Leder

Length: 4 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

It's 1889 (Helena, MT): Calista Blythe enters the first Miss Snowflake Pageant celebrating Montana statehood to expose the plight of street urchins. But hiding an indentured orphan could unravel Calista's reputation and her budding romance with pageant organizer Albert Shanahan, if her secret is revealed. Will love or law prevail?

This book is the first in the Montana Beginnings series. The sequel is Eleven Pipers Piping. Each book can be heard as a single story, but if you love historicals and series set in the same locale, then Helena, MT, is your place to live in a story world among the Montana Beginnings series by Angela Breidenbach.

©2015 Angela Breidenbach (P)2015 Angela Breidenbach

Just who will be Miss Snowflake?

The Debutante Queen, first in the Montana Beginnings, series by Angela Breidenbach, is historical romance at its finest. Set during the time of Montana's entry into statehood, readers meet Calista, a big-hearted young woman and Albert, a young businessman who is anxious to see Helena become a booming town of the West. Each of them has plans for the future but will those plans include each other. The characters are realistic, likable and developed well. With good descriptions and historical information, the story line moves quickly and keeps the reader engaged. The author brings out the societal issue of orphans. With Helena being one of the last stops for the Orphan Trains on the late 1800s, there were a number children fending for themselves on the streets with no one to care. Can Calista make a difference in their lives? Can she influence others to help? The Debutante Queen is a charming story with just enough action and romance to make for a good historical fiction read. The audiobook was narrated well by Forest Leder and Tristan Leder, giving a great perspective to each of the male and female characters.
I was given an audio copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Great read!

I really enjoyed the story. Historical details fascinate me.

Then there is the moral dilemma. I don't want to spoil the plot, but the story line makes you really think. "What would I have done if I found myself in this circumstance?"

The performance was well done. The only small thing I noticed was toward the beginning. A character would say something and then it was described in what tone it should be said. It wasn't off much, but a few lines didn't fit the description as well as they did later in the book.

the orphan train

This was a good story about the children that rode on the orphan train and what happened to them. They were either ending up living on the streets or became indentured servants. One woman tried to find a way to help the boys on the streets along with hiding a little girl to protect her from becoming abused by some bad men.

Great historical fiction story

If you could sum up The Debutante Queen in three words, what would they be?

Delightful. Fun. Memorable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Debutante Queen?

When they named the kitten Jesus. That still makes me smile.

What about Forrest Leder and Tristan Leder ’s performance did you like?

I loved how their voices brought the characters to life and added even more to the personality of of each character.

Any additional comments?

I look forward to more from this author and the voice actors.

Great Performance

Very compelling performance by the readers. It was easy to get caught up in the story because each voice was distinct and expressive.

Cute Book

Very sweet story. I love the historical aspect, and the characters are all very likeable. The performance was well done and engaging. I would surely read more from this author.

Very entertaining audio!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this audiobook as an entertaining listen that moves along at a great pace with likable characters, just enough twists and turns, and a solid faith element threaded throughout.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Calista is a spirited heroine whose good heart has more than just superficial levels. I believed her motivation and actions, and was cheering her on throughout!

What does Forrest Leder and Tristan Leder bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed Forrest and Tristan Leder's performances, and they handled the alternating voices very naturally.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book has a gentle, flowing voice to it that made me smile quite often.

Any additional comments?

The setting (Montana) and time period (late 19th century) were especially well-handled, and I could "see" the scenes vividly.

Interesting slice of history

Would you consider the audio edition of The Debutante Queen to be better than the print version?

The audio version is narrated by relatives of the author. For the most part the two did an outstanding job narrating, though there were one or two moments that seemed "off" to me.

What did you like best about this story?

The gentle love story set in the old west.

Pleasantly Surprised

This book isn't what I would typically read, but I found myself pleasantly surprised. The story was very sweet and I imagine it would be well liked by any fans of the genre. Tristan and Forrest Leder did a phenomenal job reading the book. In my opinion it's read much better then most audiobooks! I would recommend it to anyone interested in Christian Romance, Christmas Stories, Historical Fiction, or Hallmark Movies!

A Compelling Story!

What made the experience of listening to The Debutante Queen the most enjoyable?

This a fun listen that kept me engaged with likable characters. The storyline was interesting and it had a strong faith thread as well. 


Which character – as performed by Forrest Leder and Tristan Leder – was your favorite?

Calista’s big heart and strong character was definitely my favorite.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I cheered for Calista and rooted for the little girl, although she sounded too babyish in the audio.
 Calista’s connection to and care for the street kids. Precious.

Any additional comments?

I got involved in the story quickly and stayed engaged. But the child’s voice was fake and too babyish.