Into the Fire

Author Stacy Monson has written a gem of a family drama story – is it Women's Fiction? – I don't know. When Mountains Sing captures the outdoors with near perfect detail, reminding the reader of the smell of pine and detailing the incredible beauty of the mountains.

Mikayla Gordon is an outdoor photo-journalist working for a magazine, respected by her boss, and pointing toward a career. After presenting a proposal that would center on women and the outdoor experience, she faces an unexpected health crisis that shortly afterward is resolved. Except it isn't, not even a little bit in the big picture. The real crisis comes in a shocking revelation concerning her family history, and it's more than she can take. Her idyllic family perception leaves her no room to tolerate the personal trauma the knowledge presents.

Her twin sister's wedding is coming soon and she's promised to do her part in helping plan it and to be a bridesmaid in it, but now the planning part will have to be done long distance because Mikayla's leaving Minnesota with a fierce anger and a close to irrational determination to spread the shock around.

When this journey takes her to the Colorado Rockies, she meets people who might be able to help her find the information she needs. While she waits for the return of a man who could have the answers to her questions, she has the wonderful chance to work at a youth adventure camp for a great guy, leading kids on mountain trails and teaching them how to truly camp and to appreciate the magnificent beauty of the outdoors.

Enclosed in the tangled web of pursuing answers she wonders if she'll ever find, she discovers who she really is and ultimately what she really needs and eventually what she really wants. This is where the faith element intervenes.

This is a well-written novel with a good story. If I had to fault it, I would say Mikayla drove me nuts. Her over-the-top reaction smacked of immaturity and arrogance, and it didn't sit well with me. Am I being too hard on her? Perhaps, but that was my reaction to her. Dawson, the youth camp owner/instructor is a good character, one who easily gains the attention and respect of the reader. Again, Mikayla is over-sensitive about her abilities, resentful when others assume because she's female, she might have less experience. Since she sometimes reminds me too much of the feminist model with her attitude, I had a hard time with her most of the way through the story. She recovers nicely at the end.

When Mountains Sing is Contemporary Christian Fiction with traits of Women's Fiction and/or Family Drama. Therefore, not my favorite genre(s) but well done.

Father, you've blessed Stacy with all the tools and gifts. Keep the supply coming for those stories you have just for her to write. Please continue to bless her in your abundance and keep her safe. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.