Flying together on a storm-ravaged night is gifted surgeon Dr. Ben Payne, who is facing an agonizing separation from his wife, and Ashley Knox, a young magazine writer en route to her wedding. When their plane crashes in a frigid and remote mountain wilderness, Ashley and Ben are plunged into a life or death struggle. As the days turn to weeks on the unforgiving mountain, the two heal from their physical wounds, even as they are forced to confront surprising and painful truths. These intimate conversations and their dependence on each other create an extraordinary bond.
About Charles Martin (from his website):
I used to put a long list of all my great and varied accomplishments right here in this space (In truth, it was rather short.) hoping it made me look important. Now that I’m forty, I’m not sure I see the value. Yes, I have a few degrees and I worked hard to get here, but saying all that reminds me of the story of the guy who walked barefoot, backwards, through the snow, uphill both ways, carrying his horse…to school. (I’m scratching my head.)
Here’s some of the stuff that matters.
Christy and I married in 1993. If you include dating, I’ve known and loved her for more than half my life. She is and always will be the home for my heart. We have three boys. Charlie, John T. and Rives. They range from 12 to 7. Folks often ask me, which of my books do I like the best. You might as well line up my sons and ask me who I love the most.
My hobbies are bow hunting, working out (a blend of old school stuff and martial arts, called Fight Fit) and Tae Kwon Do. Currently, I’m a blue belt and I’m the least flexible person you’ve ever met. The guy that trains me, laughs everytime I start warming up. My boys are far better at Tae Kwon Do than I but I doubt they have as much fun – I get to do and watch. They just do.
I also like to write, but that’s another story.
My Impressions:
The Mountain Between Us is one of my Roundtable group’s selections this year. I had only read one book before by Charles Martin, Chasing Fireflies, and loved it. All the women in my group rave about Martin, and it is with good reason. The Mountain Between Us is a beautifully written novel that has so much tension and suspense (not the-thrill-a-minute kind, but the what-is-going-to-happen-next kind), that I just could not put it down. It is also told from the heart of one of the main characters in a way that makes you long to know him and to ease his pain, Fortunately for me, I was on a marathon trip to see all three of my children and my husband drove the majority of the time, so I was able to devote long stretches of reading time to this wonderful book.
Ben Payne and Ashley Knox are strangers when they board a small plane in Salt Lake City. Their goals are the same — get ahead of the massive winter storm and get back to their lives. Ashely is getting married in two days and Ben has orthopedic patients waiting. Just hours later their world is turned on its head when their plane crashes into the side of a snow covered mountain in a desolate wilderness. No one knows they boarded the plane and no one knows to look for it. What results is a very credible story of survival. It is not prettied-up — their survival requires tough choices. But as good as the story of their journey back to civilization is, the story of Ben’s decision to let his heart live again is even better.
Grab this book and schedule some serious reading time. You are going to love The Mountain Between Us.
Highly Recommended.
(I did not get this book for review, but the opinions expressed are still mine alone.)
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