Wow! I don't know what else to say. This was a beautifully done story about a very hard topic. Inspiring read that everyone can enjoy.

I want to thank Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of When the Mountain Crumbled. Going into this, I was aware it was Christian fiction, and while I approached it with an open mind, the heavily religious tone did prove challenging for me as an atheist. That said, I was intrigued by the story itself and found it to be an enjoyable read overall, though I had a few reservations.

The novel combines Christian and historical elements in a setting that feels accurate and immersive, offering a unique portrayal of life in a patriarchal society. Angela Couch makes a somewhat feminist critique of the societal norms of the time, yet the story still ultimately supports many of these conventions, which left me feeling the author could have developed a clearer stance. However, I appreciated the strong writing in her depiction of trauma and healing. Samantha’s pragmatism and resilience, alongside her complex journey of processing past trauma, were highlights for me. Her connection with Nathan had a predictable arc, but their slow warming to each other was endearing.

Nathan’s character, however, was stubborn and uncompromising to the point of frustration, with his religious zeal and judgment toward Samantha pulled a little too far. His transformation seemed too sudden to feel believable, and the romance, while sweet, was a bit rushed toward the end. I liked how the author portrayed the children—realistic, age-appropriate, and reacting authentically to trauma. The side characters were well-rounded, adding warmth and variety to the narrative. (I especially like Mis Thornley and the Morgans)

Though the story is “miracle-heavy,” the emotional depth and resolution, based on actual historical events, kept me invested. The ending had, perhaps, a bit too much of a religious focus for my tastes, but that didn’t take away from the author’s skill in creating a well-rounded, heartfelt narrative.

Overall, When the Mountain Crumbled is a worthwhile read with an interesting look at history and healing, though the heavy Christian messaging may not appeal to everyone.

Things are forever changed in 100 seconds...

Wow... as I'm sitting here after turning that last page just a moment or two ago it's hard to put my thoughts into words. The emotion of When The Mountain Crumbled is as enormous as the mountain that fell. The loss and grief standing in opposition to the miracles of survival simply tugs at the heart.

I had never heard of the Frank Slide prior to reading this fourth A Day To Remember novel but I have found the tragic and inspiring story to be quite fascinating. And to look at photos of before, just after, and now, is still a bit difficult to wrap your head around.

3 decades ago my family lived through disaster that struck our town, losing our home and most of our possessions. Like the people of Frank some were removed before the disaster hit and some, like my family, had to go through it. So that question of why some and not others is one that I understand. Angela K. Couch made her story even better and realistic by the inclusion of that personal struggle for her characters as she acknowledges those unanswered questions.

Anyway, Angela K. Couch has a pretty good story with When The Mountain Crumbled. Her characters are quite human as there are moments when you positively dislike them and others when you just want to give them a hug. So prepare to need a tissue or two and dive into this standalone book in the A Day To Remember historical series that is based on true events across the years....

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

A Day to Remember series continues with this story about a deadly avalanche in the Canadian Rockies. I have to say, that reading this story, especially after all the hurricane disaster news that has affected so many, really made it hard and caused this tragedy to feel so tangible. These day tragedy's that this series highlights is doing a good service of reminding us of the tragedies of the past.

Like I said, this one was a particularly hard one to read through, due to the avalanche, the many souls lost, the miraculous way some were saved, and just the feelings of suffocation and entrapment some of our characters experienced. However, within the horrific accounts of this disaster, there was hope. The author gives us a beautiful romantic story in the midst of such tragedy.

If you can think of a couple more unsuited than uptight, or so it seems schoolteacher and spinster Samantha Ingles and somewhat severe, free as a bird, or so his family thinks, Mounty Nathan Stanford, let me know. These two could hardly stand each other. So there falling in love was a pleasant escape from the horrors that they and Nathan's orphaned nieces faced. I actually had to keep checking to see if this was a romance, because their interactions with one another was something else. But oh boy, when they decide they like each other, so worth the wait.

So, though this is a hard read, there is a shining hope and love that pours out of this story.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

When the Mountain Crumbled tells the unthinkable true story of the Frank, Alberta tragedy. While the tragedy is horrible, the author's choice to focus on the miracles that came from it is inspiring. Using real and fictional characters, Ms. Couch weaves a remarkable story of faith, hope, and love. I loved the theme of looking for the good despite what is going on around you. A wonderful lesson both for the characters and for the readers. I appreciated that although this is the theme, the author showed through the characters that it isn't always easy to do. The characters grew to know how important this can be and as this change occurred, their faith grew.
This is a great read for fans of Christian romances and historical fiction.

A beautiful telling of the tragic story of Frank, Alberta.

I’m always looking for stories set in Canada (as I don’t think there are enough of them!), but especially ones written for the CBA market. This book did not disappoint.

School teacher Samantha Ingles isn’t a likeable character at the start. She’s cold, strict, and people in her story world would say she’s unfeeling. It isn’t until the rock slide that buries a good section of town that readers are exposed to the softening of Samantha’s heart. Hers is a tragic backstory which only endears her to readers as the story unfolds.

David Harty has his own set of issues which causes a lot of friction between him and several characters. It almost seems impossible that David and Samantha would get along at any point in the story. But with David’s recently orphaned nieces, the two have to figure things out.

The narrative pulls readers in from the start, giving just enough detail for readers to imagine the setting. The story moves along well, keeping readers engaged with every page.

A slew of characters – both real and fictional – help readers connect to the intensity of the situation. The author provides a fascinating historical review of what happened in Frank when Turtle Mountain collapsed and killed nearly 100 people.

A great retelling of a piece of Canadian history.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Oh, I just love this series! “When the Mountain Crumbled” is book 4 of 6 in the A Day to Remember series. Each story is written by a different author and features an American historical disaster. I’ve read the previous 3 and have learned about a lot of American history! And don’t even think about asking which is my favorite. They are all so special in their own ways. And oh-my-goodness, I love all the covers!

Set in the Canadian Rockies, this story grabbed me quickly. It took me a bit longer to connect with Samantha than it did with Nathan, but I empathized with them and wanted to console them both. I enjoyed witnessing their growth and change as the story progressed.

It was easy to feel the atmosphere of danger, fear, and tragedy—especially with the southeast US recently experiencing two very powerful hurricanes (Helene and Milton.) But this story shows us that God is with us, and our faith will see us through—even in the darkest days.

First Line: Looming shadows stretched across the schoolroom, but the coldness seeping into Samantha Ingles’ bones had nothing to do with the cool mountain air sweeping through the open window from the snow-crested peaks of Turtle Mountain and its confederates.
Series: A Day to Remember, book 4
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Author: Angela K Couch
Page Count: 256

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.
Opinions are 100% mine.

This story was very well written. I had never heard of the rockslide in Frank and found myself being shocked and hurting for the people involved in this tragedy. I thought the author did a great job of pulling us into the story and helping us experience what these people would have felt. I also loved how she helped us see the miracles and God’s hand even through this tragedy. I liked that she gave us hope. I definitely had my emotions touched and this is a story that will stay with me even after reading. I would highly recommend.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

A gripping story about the destruction of a town where many lives were lost sets the stage for miracles, budding relationships and hope. Oh how hard it was to read how a town is wiped out by a mountain that threatens to destroy everything in its path. You can hear the rumblings as the chaos starts. Homes are destroyed and people are trapped beneath the places they called home.

Samantha is the school teacher for the little town. She is not very well liked and some call her unkind names. She does have a desire to teach but not everyone thinks children should be at school all the time. When tragedy happens she finds herself trapped in the home she shared with a family. She can hear the screams of the children in another part of the house. Her life will never be the same as she is finally rescued. Her heart breaks for the ones who didn’t make it.

Constable Nathan comes to town to see if his brother and family survived. To his dismay all that is left is his three nieces. It is hard for him to believe his brother didn’t make it out of the mine. When Nathan sees Samantha caring for his nieces he hopes they can help each other out. It is quickly evident that Samantha isn’t quite the nurturing type but he needs her help with the children.

The story is very emotional and the loss of lives overwhelming. I was heartbroken when those precious girls were left without parents. Nathan is trying so hard to help and Samantha is doing what she can. When a misunderstanding makes Nathan ask Samantha to leave, I knew it was out of hurt. He longs to give his nieces a home yet he doesn’t feel equipped. When Samantha finally opens up and shares her past with Nathan he starts to see the pain in her eyes. Discovering that they both are hurting in similar ways brings them closer. I liked how they learned that they both are looking for a place to belong, a family of their own and love that will last a lifetime.

The ending is so wonderful yet brought me to tears. Through everything they have gone through Samantha says, ‘I’m grateful for the good that God had brought about from something so horrible.” “If not for the bad, how would they recognize or appreciate the good.”

Don’t miss the author notes at the end of the book. It gives historical facts of the deadliest landslide in North American recorded history, claiming the lives of more than seventy people. I had no idea this happened but now after reading the story I understand how God performed miracles that day.

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

This novel focuses on the “Frank Slide”, the deadliest rockslide in recorded North American history, and its aftermath. Spiritually, we see the faith of the fictional characters, many based on real people. One man began to see miracles that took place after the rockslide. Emotions run the full gamut, from devastating grief to joy.

Frank, a mining town in what is now Alberta, Canada, was growing rapidly. Samantha Ingles, the new teacher, was staying at the Stanford home. She had one room in the attic and the older Stanford girls, Abby and Mary, had the other one. During the wee hours of April 29, 1903, millions of tons of rock slid down Turtle Mountain, blocking entrances to the coal mine and destroying almost everything in its path. Samantha was pinned under the roof in her room, as were Mary and Abby in theirs, until they were rescued. The rest of the girls’ family died.

Mounted Police constables from the nearby fort went to help with the rescue. When Constable Nathan Stanford heard where the rockslide was, he volunteered to go. He had not yet accepted his brother Peter’s attempts to reconcile; would he have another chance?

Nathan’s niece, Mary, recognized him from a picture her father, Peter, had. He talked with them briefly before getting to work. He thought that being in the care of their teacher, they would be in good hands. Samantha, however, had no experience with caring for babies, and couldn’t quiet Lucy.

Nathan helped look for survivors, even after learning that his three nieces were the only survivors of Peter’s family. The girls wanted to stay together, with him, but he lived at the fort. He wired his parents and siblings to let them know what happened and asked for one of them to take the three sisters together. Nathan asked Samantha to watch over the girls until his family arrived.

When Nathan saw unusual, unexpected outcomes, he began writing a list of miracles. One of those miracles was his year-old niece, Lucy, who was thrown from her family’s cottage and landed, uninjured, on a hay bale.

Nathan and Samantha did not like each other from the beginning. They each had past wounds and memories that were ripped open after the rockslide. Nathan had faith in the Lord, as did his two older nieces. Samantha did not.

While very informative with interesting elements, this novel was hard for me to get into at first. Several chapters in, I began to appreciate it. Samantha’s and Nathan’s walled-in hearts began to open as they and the girls faced continued trials. Three of Nathan’s brothers arrived to each take one of the girls home with them. The night before they were to get on separate trains to separate cities, the sisters disappeared.

There are memorable times, such as when Samantha realized there were “miracles she could no longer refute, from a God she could no longer ignore”. Abby, who refused to talk with anyone, took Samantha’s hand. The quiet voice telling Samantha what she needed to hear, such as “Be still”.

There are excellent spiritual lessons and fascinating people. What impacted me most was Nathan’s looking for God’s miracles, and their being open to people He put in their lives. The ending was unexpected and extremely satisfying. I highly recommend this to readers who appreciate Christian historical fiction, faith struggles, and romance.

From a thankful heart: I received a pre-published copy of this novel from the publisher and Celebrate Lit through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

As a lover of historical fiction, I was intrigued by the idea of a story based on an actual historical event. The end notes about this tragic landslide made this aspect of the story even more interesting to me, as many of the characters in the story were based on real people.

I initially found it hard to connect with the two main characters, a schoolmarm who was anything but warm and fuzzy and a Canadian Mountie with a sharp edge. The plot seemed to drag a bit until about halfway through the book, but the momentum picked up after that, That was also the point at which I began to feel some level of affection for the main characters and felt a little more invested in what happened to them.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read about a little-known historical event.

I received an ARC of this book. The opinion expressed here is my own.

When the Mountains Crumbled is the fourth installment from the multi author series, A Day to Remember, and Angela K Couch's contribution. This story goes back in time to the early twentieth century deadliest landslide called the Frank slide. The author gives the reader a tale of tragedy and loss, as well as, finding hope, inspiring, and faith. I found the book to be an emotional one that brought me to tears at times.



I am giving When the Mountains Crumbled five stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical fiction based on true events. I would to continue A Day to Remember series with book 5, Lauralee Bliss' When the Avalanche Roared.


I received a paperback copy of Angela K Couch's When the Mountains Crumbled from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

I have been enjoying the "A Day to Remember" series. This is book 4; each is a stand-alone.

We all know about days to remember; days when massive numbers of lives were lost: Pearl Harbor; 9/11. But there are lesser known or remembered days. This series bring them to our attention.

When the Mountain Crumbled is well researched and well written. Instead of focusing so much on the actual event, it focuses on the aftermath, and the miraculous, and a sweet slow-burn story of love and faith.

If you enjoy a story of history, faith, and a little romance, you won't want to miss this story. Be sure to grab your own copy.

This is another good novel in the historical series drawing attention to little known disasters in the past. This novel brings a human element to the reality of the deadliest landslide in North American recorded history. While the main emphasis of the plot is a romance, there are several other issues highlighted in the book. One is keeping relationships healthy. It is certainly too late after a deadly disaster to try and repair a relationship. Another issue explored is reconciling belief in God with the results of tragedy.

The character development of Samantha is itself an issue explored. When young and at a boarding school, she lost her parents. She was overwhelmed with grief but was told by the adult in charge that she needed to get control of her emotions. That experience impacted her entire life. It was good to see how getting to know Nathan was instrumental in breaking through the emotional and spiritual walls she had set around herself.

And the final lesson from this novel is that what starts out as a tragedy will end up for good. I have liked the novels in this series and this latest is another good one.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

“‘Our story doesn’t have to be a tragedy,’ he tried. ‘Yes, there has been a lot of tragedy—I have felt it as keenly as anyone who has lost family and friends. But there is a place for faith and hope as well.’”

This quote, as spoken by Constable Nathan Stanford in When the Mountain Crumbled, by Angela K. Couch, is as valid in real life as in the novel. Truly, coming closer recently to a real-life tragedy than I would like, this story was another reminder of the uncertainty of life. Yet God’s sovereign Hand is providing care and blessings in the midst of a storm.

The “storm” in the book takes place as a rockslide on a mountain, destroying much of a small Canadian mining town in 1903. The town’s uptight, rigid, and uncaring teacher (Samantha Ingles)survives, as do three girls of the large family Samantha is boarding with. One of the Mounties to help in the town’s rescue is the estranged brother of the girls’ father.

At first, there was no love lost between Samantha and Nathan. Each was well-set in their own ways and not interested in the well-being of others. I was hardly interested in their well-being, either! But, slowly, the girls’ needs begin to thaw out hearts that have been closed off to love and hope.

Mary is quite the mature young lady, though only a young girl. Somehow, she takes a shine to both her uncle and Samantha, even as Samantha hands out homework in their time of loss. Mary’s ability to put her emotions into words far exceeds that of the two adults she now must rely on. “To lose so much—to be left alone, And yet somehow, I survive. Now how to live when all is gone, I don’t know how to try.” Oh, my aching heart! Your heart will ache as well, at the tragedy of the town, the future of the Stanford girls, and the ups and downs of the relationship between Nathan and Samantha.

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

Notable Quotables:

“You were not alone. Be still, and know that I am God.”

“Love is a choice.”

“The truth of it? I don’t think she ever wanted me.” Had anyone ever? He’d always been just one more mouth to feed, one more child to discipline. Even now, he was just another constable on the force—one more uniform to order around.”

“Life was a risk, with no guarantee of how much of it you’d get. Don’t waste it.”

“The question was, would she bury her feelings back behind her walls of emotionless candor, or allow herself to heal and help the girls in the process.”

Life has to continue…..

April 28, 1903 found teacher Samantha Ingles working with her beloved students in the town of Frank, just below Turtle Mountain. The views in this gateway to the Canadian Rockies were spectacular and she loves her job. Living in a room at Stanford’s residence, where a number of her students live, she feels at least a little less like an outsider. Tonight, however, she feels very alone. A totally unexpected occurrence changes her whole life. A day no one would ever forget as a side of the mountain comes down with no warning, burying a portion of the town. Who could possibly survive?

After a great deal of research, the author tells the story of those that did, with the help of fictional license. Some felt great guilt, for words left unsaid. For others, the past held very bitter memories and this disaster just brought them back. How could they possibly learn to be still and know that God loved them and had a plan for their lives?

An early copy of this book was received through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

My Thoughts

When the Mountain CrumbledIs written by Angela K. Couch. This is book four in the A day to remember series that is written by multiple authors but focus on real life events. I’ve enjoyed this series so much. This story is set in April of 1903. It focuses on a rockslide that crashes down on a mining community.

The author did a wonderful job in writing a story to showcase this small mining town that dealt with a devastating loss. Samantha is a spinster school teacher. She’s built her life and it all comes crashing down (literally).

Constable David Harty is desperate to find his brother. He’s not a fan of Samantha but he does not have a choice when he needs someone to look after his nieces. Their world has fallen apart yet they see the power of faith. I loved the author reminder that even when things are bleak, God’s love is there.

The story is well written. You can feel the characters emotions coming off the pages. I love when authors bring historical events to life. I’ve not heard of this rock slide.

Thank you to the author, publisher and JustRead Publicity Tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Attention all When Calls the Heart fans:
this is the book for you!
Check the back cover (slide 4) for a synopsis, but here’s what you need to know:
This book is an excellent example of the experience of wrestling faith in the aftermath of real tragedy. In fact, the historical event in this story was real.
Samantha has used seriousness and practicality to protect her heart. Nathan has assumed that his value to others is inconsequential.
When God uses a tragedy to call each of them to life and teach them the value of their lives to others, it’s nothing short of beautiful.
My favorite scenes included unintentional hide and seek, that first baby snuggle, and the recollection of miracles.
Heartfelt and lovely.

When the Mountain Crumbled was an emotionally stirring novel about a tragic landslide that destroyed an entire town. The focus is on the loss of human life and faith in spite of tragedy. In the midst of the grief there was hope, faith, and often miracles that shown thru the loss.
Couch did a great job of intertwining fictional characters with some people who really did experience this disaster. She moved the timeline for one of the events to fit her plot. This would normally have dropped my review rating to see history rewritten. However, it was astounding how many historical facts she managed to place into When the Mountain Crumbled . I was really impressed by that and would gladly read any additional historical fiction books by this author.
I really disliked the main character in the novel to the point of almost not finishing the book. But once again , Couch’s writing style gripped me from the start and the need to hear more about this landslide kept me reading. By the end of the book, while I still was not overly impressed by Samantha, I understood her a lot better and her behavior. It was definitely worth reading to the end.
I received a copy of When the Mountain Crumbled from NetGalley. There were no requirements or expectations in exchange for this copy. And all the opinions expressed are my own.

Such a good series! The historical details are done well.
All the books have been really good, but this one is one of my favorites so far!