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A review by anabel_unker
The Mountains Between Us by Imogen Martin
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
The next installment of Grace and Tom's story, THE MOUNTAINS BETWEEN US opens with the couple finally reaching Grace's brother's farmstead in rural Oregon. However, despite the peaceful surroundings and promise of a good farming life, Tom is haunted by his dishonorable dismissal from the US Army and something else he's not sharing with his beloved wife; and for herself, Grace struggles with infertility and her longing for a child. The decision is made to strike out towards California, where whispers of gold-filled mountains have begun luring men to the unsettled valley from around the world.
The promise of financial security and the thrill of adventure spurn the couple onward, but the road is long and paved with blood, sweat, and tears.
While I had not read the first book in their series, it wasn't strictly necessary to enjoy this story. I do believe, however, my enjoyment of the character development of Grace and Tom would have been deeper had I known the beginning of their stories. This book was an approachable fictionalization of the wilds and lawlessness of California during the gold rush, and while it gleaned over some of the harsher realitiessuch as the senseless practice of killing and scalping Native American's for reward money , Martin took care to allude to the practices without discussing the horrors-- which would make this an appropriate choice for a reader with more delicate sensibilities. I was impressed with Martin's attention to detail in depicting life in early San Francisco and the practice of gold mining; and I also enjoyed the characters.
Grace's character especially had a difficult line to walk; Grace was so obviously a fiercely independent and capable woman, but, as per usual during the 1800s, she held deference for her husband (even when he was making bad decisions for the couple). As a member of a more modern audience, I applaud Martin's ability to create and sustain a character than embodied these rather conflicting personality traits. Tom, while not my favorite character in the book, was memorable in the realism in which he was portrayed; a war veteran struggling with not only PTSD (not diagnosed in the book, which is historically accurate), but also the weight of caring for his family and no idea how to do so.
I was pleasantly surprised with THE MOUNTAINS BETWEEN US, and I look forward to exploring some of Martin's other books in the near future!
The next installment of Grace and Tom's story, THE MOUNTAINS BETWEEN US opens with the couple finally reaching Grace's brother's farmstead in rural Oregon. However, despite the peaceful surroundings and promise of a good farming life, Tom is haunted by his dishonorable dismissal from the US Army and something else he's not sharing with his beloved wife; and for herself, Grace struggles with infertility and her longing for a child. The decision is made to strike out towards California, where whispers of gold-filled mountains have begun luring men to the unsettled valley from around the world.
The promise of financial security and the thrill of adventure spurn the couple onward, but the road is long and paved with blood, sweat, and tears.
While I had not read the first book in their series, it wasn't strictly necessary to enjoy this story. I do believe, however, my enjoyment of the character development of Grace and Tom would have been deeper had I known the beginning of their stories. This book was an approachable fictionalization of the wilds and lawlessness of California during the gold rush, and while it gleaned over some of the harsher realities
Grace's character especially had a difficult line to walk; Grace was so obviously a fiercely independent and capable woman, but, as per usual during the 1800s, she held deference for her husband (even when he was making bad decisions for the couple). As a member of a more modern audience, I applaud Martin's ability to create and sustain a character than embodied these rather conflicting personality traits. Tom, while not my favorite character in the book, was memorable in the realism in which he was portrayed; a war veteran struggling with not only PTSD (not diagnosed in the book, which is historically accurate), but also the weight of caring for his family and no idea how to do so.
I was pleasantly surprised with THE MOUNTAINS BETWEEN US, and I look forward to exploring some of Martin's other books in the near future!