Review of "When Mountains Move"

Rating: 5 Stars

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Review: Julie Cantrell's debut novel, "Into the Free," left a lasting impression on me and created an enduring connection to Millie's story.  "When Mountains Move" begins where "Into the Free" ends, and Millie's pain and questions about her future are immediately refreshed.  Both novels have an weightiness that make them powerful and meaningful reads that I will revisit. Cantrell does not shy away from heavy subjects that will grab the hearts and attention of readers. "When Mountains Move" focuses primarily on the emotional and physical wounds inflicted on Millie by one man's evil deed.

After reading the story of Millie's childhood and teenage struggles, I wanted Millie's future to be smooth and bright - gently rolling hills rather than rocky mountains.  It is clear from the beginning of the novel that Millie's path to happiness will not be easy.  It is hard to believe that Millie is just seventeen and bearing such heavy burdens that quickly transition her from girlhood to womanhood.  Cantrell portrays Millie's thoughts and feelings in rich detail, making her character even more gripping. The pain and doubt that weigh Millie down are raw and tangible.  Told from first person perspective, it is easy to share Millie's questions about her marriage, her past, and her future.  The questions pulled me deep into the plot and kept drawing me back until all was resolved.  But still, the emotion of the novel lingers; and I am glad that Cantrell did not choose to give Millie a predictable and gentle journey to peace because the message would be lost.

"When Mountains Move"  takes Millie out of the cultured south and into the untamed wilds of the Rockies. Cantrell uses the mountains symbolically to compliment the course of the plot.  The imagery of two mountain peaks mentioned at the beginning and end of the novel is particularly memorable and brings Millie's journey full circle from bleak and desolate to strong and shining with promise.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from David C. Cook through Net Galley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above 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.”

Summary from David C. Cook: It is the spring of 1943. With a wedding and a cross-country move, Millie's world is about to change forever. 

If only her past could change with it. 

Soon after the break of day, Bump will become Millie's husband. And then, if all goes as planned, they will leave the rain-soaked fields of Mississippi and head for the wilds of the Colorado Rockies. As Millie tries to forget a dark secret, she hasn't yet realized how drastically those past experiences will impact the coming days. 

For most of Millie's life, being free felt about as unlikely as the mountains moving. But she's about to discover that sometimes in life, we are given second chances, and that the only thing bigger than her past is her future.

Review of "Into the Free" by Julie Cantrell

Rating: 5 Stars

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Synopsis from David C. Cook: Young Millie Reynolds must confront the past and overcome her family’s long history of destructive choices before finding her own path to freedom.

Millie Reynolds knows firsthand the shame of family secrets. With an abusive father and a “nothing mama,” she craves a place of true belonging. Over time, the Gypsies that travel through town each spring offer acceptance. Then tragedy strikes and Millie leaves her world of poverty to join a prominent family on the other side of town. There, with the help of unlikely sources, Millie uncovers painful truths about her family’s past as she struggles to face a God she believes has abandoned her. When unconditional love is offered, Millie learns the power of forgiveness and finally discovers where she belongs.

Review: Into the Free is a southern coming-of-age tale of pain and freedom.  Julie Cantrell drew me into Millie Reynold's story from the very first page.  The depth and symbolism woven into the pages give Into the Free a literary quality unmatched by more lighthearted books. Cantrell tackles many heavy subjects in her latest novel, including death, physical and emotional abuse, and addiction.  Reading each event from Millie's perspective, makes her pain more tangible.  I truly doubt that any reader will not be impacted by the obstacles that Millie faces in her quest for freedom.

The story begins in 1936 when Millie is just 10 years old, but shouldering the burdens of an adult. Seven chapters later, it is 1942, and Millie is a teenager still battling the same scars of a turbulent childhood and facing new struggles, but also the dawn of new dreams. Cantrell creates a unique cast of gypsies, cowboys, poor farmers, and proper southern families, that all merge to create a cohesive and powerful plot.  Each group offers new experiences and insights into life, making the plot more intriguing and unpredictable. The migrating gypsies with their magnetic charm and colorful scarves add whimsy and romance.  Meanwhile, Millie finds unexpected comfort and acceptance in the rodeo, but where does she truly belong?  That question kept me turning the pages.  Millie's story is a narrative of harsh realities, but ultimate freedom and hope.  I cannot wait to read Julie Cantrell's sequel and see where Millie's journey leads.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley, courtesy of David C. Cook.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above 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.”