When snows bury trains of people, courage and faith rise from a pit of death.
The day hope seemed swept away…
Lillian Hartwick has been in the small railroad town of Wellington, Washington, caring for her cousin and assisting the postmaster when February snows bring all train traffic to a halt. Slow-witted but kind Griffin Jones, who works odd jobs for the railway while enduring taunts from other workers, has tried his best to gain Lillian’s interest, but she is engaged and waiting her fiancé’s arrival from California. Predawn thunderstorms on Tuesday, March 1, 1910, trigger a devastating avalanche, sweeping two trains down Stevens Pass. Lillian and Griffin work together to help survivors, including Griffin’s tormentors. In the midst of the catastrophe their feelings for each other grow. But is it enough when Lillian’s fiancé finally arrives in the spring, ready to claim her for his own?
REVIEWS:
“In When the Avalanche Roared by Lauralee Bliss, the cold, ruthless nature of the avalanche is more than a day to remember — it’s a fierce reminder that faith is forged in the most brutal of storms.”
“I enjoyed the bond of friendship he established with Lillian when she arrived to help her cousin before the disaster. Watching them grow and develop was like they were part of my community. Great characterization and a slow build had my attention from the get go. This story will stay with me for quite awhile….”
NOTABLE QUOTABLES IN THE BOOK, SHARED BY A READER:
‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.’ When you got Him leading you, you don’t need nothing else.”- Griffin’s mom
“His understanding is a picture much bigger than ours. And we can leave our hurting questions with Him.”
“You can’t pretend before the Lord. He knows your heart, everything about you.”
“Give this to God… He can carry it.”
“He couldn’t give her hope, though with God there was always hope.”