PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
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

My Thoughts:

I wish I had read the first book before starting this one, though I followed along easily. The backstory of the characters would have been richer for me if started at the beginning. The story is tragic and wonderful at turns--a moving and emotional read.

2.75*

I won When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell on a Facebook Giveaway. I was very hesitant to read the book since it is the 2nd book in the Into the Free Series. However, I read from other reviews that I could read it as a standalone.

WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT TRIGGERS

The book immediately jumps into Millie’s world during World War II. She is getting ready to marry Bump, even though she has a secret. A secret that can destroy their relationship. They head west to Colorado to become ranchers. They meet different people from all walks of life. Millie’s grandmother comes to live with them too. Even still, life becomes harder than anticipated. Can their marriage survive with this growing secret and the hard work they do every day?

Other reviews rave about this book, so I got my hopes up. I was completely let down by this book. First of all, I would not recommend that this book be read as a standalone novel. I found out very quickly that I needed the information from book one. I have a feeling that if I would have read the first book that maybe, my rating would have been a little higher. However, that would not change the fact that the book’s pace extremely slow or the fact that I did not like any of the characters except for Oka and Fortner. Millie could be a fantastic character. She goes through something that is truly awful and despicable. Her assault is horrific and her reactions to the assault really tear at the reader’s heartstrings. But then she spends the whole book thinking about the man she could have chosen instead of Bump. Every hardship that she and Bump go through makes her wonder about River and talks about how much she misses him. It was extremely annoying. Don’t even get me started on Bump. Good Lord, if I could jump into the book and punch him square in the face…I would. He is awful. He is not there for his wife at all. He is selfish and I have no idea what Millie sees in him.

Now, this is a Christian story. There is a little Native American mysticism in it, which is actually one of my favorite parts of the whole book. I love the legends that Oka discusses throughout the story. Anyway, there is also the topic of abortion. This being a Christian book, I knew it would take the pro-life stance. It did. Even in a case of rape. Unfortunately, I disagree with how the author decided to portray this experience and could be hurtful for those who have been in a similar situation and make them feel judged. So if this is a topic that is sensitive for you, best to avoid this book. Between the over-dramatic storyline, slow-pacing, and unlikable characters, I have to rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.

I was disappointed in the faith thread. This is suppose to be a Christian book, published under the Thomas Nelson imprint of Harper Collins, but the Christian faith was lacking. Toward the end it leaned heavily upon Native American mysticism.

I received a copy of this novel as a First Reads giveaway and the publisher also kindly provided a copy of [bc:Into the Free|11880626|Into the Free (Into the Free #1)|Julie Cantrell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1361869744s/11880626.jpg|16838869]. This was a wonderful conclusion to Millie's story. I was left feeling slight bereft when I finished the first book, but Julie Cantrell tied things up with the same heart-wrenching emotion and poignancy in this novel. She will definitely be added to my "must-read" author's list.

Embarking on a new phase in her journey, after living through more hardship and heartache than any one person should endure, you are still drawn into the saga. This novel left me frustrated - not with the story itself, or even the characters - but with the tension and need to see all work out in the end for Bump & Millie. This novel continues with underlying issues of trust (or mistrust), the danger of secrets, and the longing each of us has for a place to be loved and safe, it is a story of hope & redemption, of triumph over suffering and loss. Must read together and give yourself time - you won't want to put it down.

Julie Cantrell has once again written a compelling story about trust and faith. When Mountains Move continues the story of Millie and Bump from where Into the Free left off.
Millie is trying to let go of the past, move on, and embrace her future. When she finds herself facing a decision she never anticipated, she must decide: chose what is easier, or what is right. She struggles with telling Bump the truth and must learn what it means to trust - both her husband and God. She also finds that sometimes the only way to let go of the past is to confront it.
As in the first book, Into the Free, the writing is superb and the descriptions make it seem like you could actually be there with them. And as in the first book, the faith aspect really disappointed me. Millie continues to pray, but it seems only when she needs something, and Bump has no apparent faith to speak of. Neither reads the Bible and Millie seems to find more comfort in her novels and poetry than anything else. They both let misconceptions stand pretty much unchallenged, instead of confronting them and finding out the truth immediately. I also found it very frustrating that it took Millie the whole book to finally trust Bump with her secret.
Ignoring all my complaining and nitpicking, When Mountains Move really is a very good book. The story is engrossing and the characters come alive; they seem like people you might know, had you lived 70 years ago. I also enjoyed seeing Millie grow and learn to see beyond herself.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a clean and compelling read. Though, I do suggest reading Into the Free before When Mountains Move, as it is the first one and has a lot of back-story needed to understand what’s happening.
I received this book through The Book Club Network for my honest review, which I have given.

I really loved this story (beginning with Into The Free). The characters are so real and so are the situations they find themselves in.
I was sad to see it end. I'd love for the story to go on and on.

This novel begins in Mississippi, but is set mostly in Colorado. It is the spring of 1943 and young Millie is about to be married to Bump (Kenneth) Anderson, but has reservations. Not about Bump, but about herself. Something happened to Millie recently that has affected her trust in others and how she reacts when a man touches her.
Millie marries Bump in happiness and the two move forward to a future in Colorado where they will manage a ranch for Cuay Tucker. Millie has a natural affinity with horses and Bump has recently qualified as a veterinarian, and both are hard workers, so they are perfectly suited for their new lives. When they arrive, they find a small welcoming town not that far from the ranch that is their new home. There is an older man, Fortner, who is the son of the original ranch owners and who is looking to work at the ranch again. There is Oka, Millie's newly found grandmother, a Chocktaw woman, who comes to help in the ranch's early days.
As Millie learns the nature of this new landscape, and makes a home for her family, she also finds a way to come to terms with what has come before and move forward in strength and hope for a future.
Millie epitomizes the pioneer spirit, adventurous and hardworking and willing to see the best in others. The life she and Bump lead in Colorado is one that sets them on the path for a better future than either of them grew up with. This is a novel of hope and positive outlook in the face of adversity. I liked the inclusion of positive native culture here as well, respecting the hardships dealt to them and the traditions they observe.