Title: When the Avalanche Roared
Author: Lauralee Bliss
Series: A Day to Remember, book 5
Major Themes: Washington, Mountains, Trains, Avalanche, Disaster
Synopsis: Lillian went to a village high in the mountains to help her cousin with a new baby—but never dreamed she would find herself in the midst of a terrible tragedy.
I have read every one of the Day to Remember books. They are all fictional accounts of real events, disasters that shook the United States and affected hundreds or thousands of people. I had heard of one of the disasters, the Johnstown Flood, which is the topic of book one, but I’ve never before heard of any of the others. Again, When the Avalanche Roared is about a disaster I never heard of before reading this book—but I won’t forget it. Lauralee Bliss has written an unforgettable story.
Publisher’s description:
Lillian Hartwick is in Wellington, Washington, caring for her cousin and assisting the postmaster when February snows bring all train traffic to a halt. Slow-witted but kind Griffin Jones, who works odd jobs while enduring taunts from rail workers, tries to gain Lillian’s interest, but she is awaiting her fiancé’s arrival from California. Predawn thunderstorms on Tuesday, March 1, 1910, trigger a devasting avalanche, sweeping two trains down Stevens Pass. Lillian and Griffin work together to help survivors, including Griffin’s tormentors, and their feelings for each other grow. But is it enough when Lillian’s fiancé finally arrives in the spring, ready to claim her as his own?
My thoughts:
In the other four books I’ve read so far in this series, the disaster happened in the first few chapters, and the rest of the book depicted the aftermath. In this one, I was halfway through the book and starting to wonder if I had read the back cover copy correctly before anything major happened! There was a lot of buildup, showing what led to the avalanche.
Not only does When the Avalanche Roared describe the tragedy and the results in people’s lives, but it also portrays Lillian’s spiritual struggles. She had never thought about God in a personal way; He was a distant, remote idea. Griffin (though the publisher’s description calls him slow-witted, I didn’t see him that way—he made me think of my dyslexic husband and sons, who are extremely intelligent but struggle academically) showed her another view of God as a Person interested in her daily life. I really liked one thing he told her: “You can’t pretend before the Lord. He knows your heart, everything about you. He knows, and He understands. You don’t have to be anyone else but Lilian Hartwick.” I also appreciated a quote from another character after his reformation: “I sure was an angry old man then. Even if he and I are the same age. Hate makes you old.”
This book is great for people who like to learn about obscure historical events, and about how God works through catastrophe. It’s also for people who like clean historical romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: As mentioned in the publisher’s description, the trains were swept down the mountain, and many people were injured badly or killed—there are several mentions of bodies or limbs. Chapter 15: What in tarnation.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
