Title: Mountain Memories
Author: Avery Dawes
Cover Artist: Unknown
Publisher: Torquere Books
Buy LinkAmazon: Publisher Buy Link
Genre: Contemporary/Romance
Length: 71 Pages 21700 words
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
A Guest Review by Zac D
Review Summary: A pleasant if rather mindless read, with likeable characters and a pleasing story arc. Unchallenging, and perfect for a summer vacation.
Blurb: After a painful breakup, Jackson “Jax” Chamberlain, pianist and composer, takes a solo trip to the mountains of Colorado for a refreshing change of scenery. Mason Lake, a ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park, volunteers to staff a secluded patrol cabin through an oncoming snowstorm, partly to escape his sometime lover’s demands for a more serious relationship. An ill-advised hike and an animal attack bring Jax and Mason together, allowing them to wait out the storm and explore a heated passion.
Their bliss ends, however, with the arrival of an unexpected stranger, a bullet, and Mason’s lover. Will the men recover from such devastating wounds to find each other again?
Review: Mountain Memories is a good read. Jax and Mason are both stand up nice men with all the qualities one looks for in a likeable main character. I enjoyed Jax’s musical characteristics very much, and especially appreciated the way they carried through from beginning to end. Too often, such things are tossed into stories as embellishments and not seen through. Not here. It was artfully worked into the book and added some much needed depth.
Mason was a good character too–masculine, caring and warm.
I’m not going to linger on the pace of the story, or the slightly ridiculous insta-love. When I pick up a novella I accept that’s what I’ve signed up for. I’m not one of those who bags on a short story for being…well, short.
The setting is really cool too, the ice and snow, the secluded cabin. Could you ask for a better setting for a short and steamy romance book? Probably not. Not the most original idea, but why should it be? It works for me.
The main issue I have with this book is the general depth and level of excitement. It didn’t really grab me. The style of writing is pretty bland, and sadly, that makes the story rather forgettable. I read the book over a couple of nights and each time I picked it up I struggled to remember what had happened previously.
There are several ‘active’ phases in the book–the animal attack, Jax’s injuries, the sexy fun, the bandit invader–and they all have the potential to be really gripping for the reader, but unfortunately, all of them tail off before they really get going.
Jax comes nowhere close to death in the animal attack, and his injuries in the end amount to just a few cuts. He gets an infection in one of his wounds, but it’s only mentioned once and never threatens his health. Later, Mason is shot, but it’s all over in just a few paragraphs.
It’s a shame, because I really love the concept of this book. It has some big ideas and good writing, but needs more oomph and drive to make it resonate. As it is, it falls rather flat. Perhaps, it may have been better to lose some plot twists and develop some others properly.
I liked the ending. When I first realized where the book was heading, I was a bit like…really? Is that all ya got? But in the end, it works, and works well. It’s all neatly wrapped up with a bow on top and none the worse for it. A short story needs a clear and concise ending and this one is done well.
So, to sum up, Mountain Memories is a pleasant, if rather mindless, read with likeable characters and a mildly entertaining storyline. It is predicable in places and bland in others, but altogether a good read.
A great vacation book for sure, or one of those you can pick up after a long day and face-plant your Kindle to.
Three stars.
