It’s been awhile since I’ve got lost in the fictional world of a book. While I’m an avid reader, I usually gravitate towards poetry or nonfiction. However, The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin immediately became a book on my “to-read” list. Though my interest in this book began after seeing the movie trailer, I was instantly intrigued after reading the book’s synopsis.

When a blizzard strands them in Salt Lake City, two strangers agree to charter a plane together, hoping to return home; Ben Payne is a gifted surgeon returning from a conference, and Ashley Knox, a magazine writer, is en route to her wedding. But when unthinkable tragedy strikes, the pair find themselves stranded in Utah’s most remote wilderness in the dead of winter, badly injured and miles from civilization. Without food or shelter, and only Ben’s mountain climbing gear to protect themselves, Ashley and Ben’s chances for survival look bleak, but their reliance on each other sparks an immediate connection, which soon evolves into something more. Days in the mountains become weeks, as their hope for rescue dwindles. How will they make it out of the wilderness and if they do, how will this experience change them forever? Heart-wrenching and unputdownable, The Mountain Between Us will reaffirm your belief in the power of love to sustain us.

The moment I picked up this book I knew I was in for an emotional rollercoaster. But, the highs and lows are what made this book so hard to put down. The Mountain Between Us is one of those books where you just HAVE to know what happens next. The chemistry between the characters, the contrast between their fight-and-flight responses, and the reflections on life and love make this book far from your average survival story.

As a sucker for love and romance, my favorite part of this book was its insightful quotes on love.

  “Once a heart breaks…it doesn’t just grow back. It’s not a lizard’s tail. It’s more like a huge stained glass that shattered into a million pieces, and it’s not going back together. Least not the way it was. You can mush it all into one piece, but that doesn’t make it a window. That makes it a pile of broken colored glass. Shattered hearts don’t mend and they don’t heal. They just don’t work that way.”

Out of five stars, I’d give this book a four. It was beautifully written, but some points in the plot were far too predictable and cheesy even for a cheeseball like me. I also wasn’t a fan of the ending. But, overall, the book is an engaging, thrilling, and heartwarming survival story that makes you think about who and what makes life worth fighting for.

You can buy this captivating book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever books are sold!

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review, but all opinions are 100% my own. *