Book Review: Holding Fast

As I mentioned a while back, I joined Thomas Nelson's Book Review Bloggers program to review free books from the publisher. First the book was lost in the mail, then I put it down halfway through as the semester was catching up with me, so it's taken quite a while to get through my first book. Nonetheless, here is my review:


Holding Fast is the story of the three mountain climbers trapped on Mount Hood in December 2006 and those they left behind. When veteran mountaineers Kelly James, Brian Hall, and Jerry "Nikko" Cooke went missing on Oregon's highest peak during the worst winter storm in a decade, the search caught national media attention. In Holding Fast, Kelly's wife Karen tells the moving personal story of her husband's life, the tragedy that claimed him and his climbing partners, and the search for answers and peace.

The book is an interesting read and an emotional rollercoaster. The first section of the book is devoted to Kelly's childhood and his marriage to Karen, setting the stage for the following chapters that describe the tragedy from Karen's personal perspective. She portrays Kelly as an incredible man of God, a loving father and husband, and a skilled and avid mountaineer.

When Kelly and his climbing partners go missing on Mount Hood, Karen and the families are there waiting for their return. After a grueling week of bad weather, dead ends, and failed rescue attempts, Kelly's body is discovered in a snow cave near the summit. Karen's life is torn apart in an instant, and she spends the next several months fighting the grief that threatens to consume her. But she depends on God for her strength and her faithful friends for support, and after a difficult journey she is able to find the answers that she needs, pick up the pieces, and move forward with peace and purpose.

I would recommend this book to anyone. The incredible account of these three men and their families was an encouragement to me. Holding Fast puts more than a face- a life- to the name Kelly James, and tells the untold story of faith, hope, and love behind the headline.

Also, I would recommend Book Review Bloggers to anyone who enjoys reading Christian books! I'm about to start on my second book, The Noticer by Andy Andrews. I was asked to post a review today for a special release day promotion, but since I just finished the first book I don't think that's going to happen.