“She didn’t want goat feet. She didn’t want to scale mountains. She wanted a lush valley with tall grass and a pretty, meandering stream where she and her children would be safe. Was that too much to ask?”

What a soul-challenging book! A Mountain Too Steep by Robin Patchen is classified as Christian Women’s contemporary fiction with a side of mystery. Hmmm… How about romantic suspense, even though a marriage is involved?! From the opening paragraph, you know you’d better buckle your seat belt and hang on for dear life- because you’re in for the ride of your life!

Camilla Wright and her two children have suffered the loss of her husband and their father four years ago after he testified in a gang-related killing. Then, Jeremy, the 17-yr-old son and his cousin, are in a life-threatening car accident in the desert. When they were supposed to be in the mountains. Rev up for non-stop emotions, plus plenty of action!

I loved the realism. Many times Camilla realizes that this horrible new reality she’s been catapulted into, is too much for her. She’d like to curl up and give up, but then realizes that is not the choice she will make. She will continue the hard, tortuous journey, step by step, with God strengthening her as she goes. “Lord, help me go from strength to strength until I reach the end of this battle.”
Indeed, she finds hope in the fact that one day she will look out and see that she has crested the mountain. She knows where her power has to come from. “Scriptures she’d memorized over the years came back to her. She recited them silently, hanging onto God’s Word, the only solid thing in her life.”

I really couldn’t envision as I read how this terrifying mystery-light romance would end. Kudos for the way Patchen ties it together.

I also loved the way we learn about Daniel, the absent husband. Bit by bit we read his letters penned to his wife just before his death.

I also loved that though the viewpoint originally seems to place the failure of the marriage squarely on Daniel, slowly
Camilla surmises she contributed greatly to her marriage’s decline.

The ultimate underlying theme is doing the right thing, then trusting God with the results. So hard! We don’t always get the results we want.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Anybody who tells you sin isn’t fun is lying. It is. At least at first.”

“In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength.”

“You, Miss Camilla, are a strong woman, not because you wield your own strength but because you know the One who strengthens you.”

“I was valued at work. I made a difference there. You didn’t need me. You managed our home with ease.”

“Jesus had carried her sins to the cross. She was meant to leave them there.”

“Justice matters. When we choose selfishness over justice, we’re lost as a community, as a society. Ultimately, I know my God is a God of justice. To deny justice is to deny Him.” ( )

A Mountain Too Steep by Robin Patchen is a work of Women’s Fiction and Suspense. Camilla Wright lost her soulmate several years ago in what appears to be a murder. She struggles to get along without him. But her son and daughter give her a reason to go on with life. She relies on God and her family to support her.

When her son and his cousin are in what appears to be a tragic accident, she has to reach out to the FBI agent who walked through the past incident with her. With twists and turns, this book captured my attention. I absolutely could not put it down.

What appears to be chance encounters prove to be God-ordained. I loved getting to know Camilla, her son, her daughter, and almost all of the other characters in this book. Robin Patchen has a way of writing books with characters you want to keep reading about them and their lives.

So if you enjoy works of Women’s Fiction and Suspense, check out A Mountain Too Steep by Robin Patchen for yourself. I definitely recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Camilla Wright's life was drastically changed by the tragic death of her husband. When she learns that her son and cousin were involved in a horrific accident, her attention is immediately drawn back to the phone call she had received regarding her husband. Camilla hears even worse news as she rushes to her son's side. Maybe this wasn't an accident after all. This couldn’t be happening.
I appreciated how this story featured letters from Camilla's belated husband. They were composed just in case he didn't come home. He wanted to tell her about these things in person but was unable or reluctant to do so when he was with Camilla.

I adored how the author laced this story with a hint of romance, mystery, and spirituality as the family and friends in this narrative deal with sorrow and try to figure out who would want to hurt them. This is a fascinating summer escape that your book club would enjoy.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog ( )

This is a heart pounding story that destroys a family when the husband witnesses a murder. Daniel is an ER doctor and saves lives everyday. When he is called to testify against a dangerous man, everything comes unglued. He has now been missing for several years and his wife and children are trying to move on. When Camilla gets a call late at night that her nephew and son are involved in a terrible car accident everything changes. Their lives hang in the balance and it is a wrenching scene when Camilla first sees them.

I loved how the author used her own personal experience with her son and nephew. The car accident is very similar to the one in the story and I could sense the pain the author went through. I have always heard, “write what you know.” The author delivers a very realistic look at the inside of the ICU and the struggles patients face each day. It is definitely a rollercoaster ride.

Camilla is taking each day one at a time until someone from her past shows up. The agent who helped her when her husband testified has shown up at the hospital. His news is devastating and tells Camilla that she may have to think about The Witness Protection Program. Her son’s accident may have been retaliation. How can she uproot her children and start over? Is the danger real and who is behind this?

What an intense story this is when Camilla finds herself facing her biggest fear. I loved how she called on God to protect her and her family. The question I kept thinking was, “ Is Daniel really alive? ” Will Camilla be able to trust God and allow Him to keep her safe? She comes to realize that no matter what, she would “worship Him.”

I noticed a very important message in the story. Even though Daniel testified and put himself and his family in danger, he did it to save others from the man who murdered someone. The letters we read throughout the book from Daniel shares his deep thoughts and how much he loved his family. He had regrets but wanted to be forgiven and hopefully start fresh. As Camilla races to her destination, she realizes the sacrifice her husband made. He chose to speak up so justice could be served.

Get ready for a story that will have many twists and secrets that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I think this is one of the best suspense stories I have ever read. The author gives a hint of the next book coming up and I can’t wait to read it.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

Robin Patchen is an author whose books I have reviewed many times. Yet, I have so many thoughts floating around in my head about A Mountain Too Steep that it is difficult to organize them. The book is very personal for the author and fans who follow her because the accident the leading character's son is involved in and the injuries incurred exactly mirror the author's own son's. I cannot imagine reliving that time as those scenes were written. Fortunately, the mystery and other life events surrounding the family in this story are purely fictional.

Much about the writing style in this book feels different than the author's typical style. Readers get to know Camilla, her son, and her daughter largely during hospital scenes. They get to know Daniel, Camilla's husband, and his perspective as she rereads letters he wrote to her before his death. I enjoyed this different style and it fit the mood and events of the story. Then midway into chapter forty I recognized Robin's usual style emerging, this too fit the mood and events as there was a shift in the story with increased intrigue and a rise in the element of danger. A Mountain Too Steep showcases the author's versatility.

As always Robin Patchen provides a wonderful reading experience. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from the author without obligation. It was a treat to learn at the end of the book that this is the first book in a new series, The Wright Brothers of Maine. I am looking forward to the next book focusing on Daniel's bother, Sam. ( )