White Out

by Vella Munn

Four people gather to close their remote mountain cabins around Wolf Lake. For the brother and sister, these days offer them an opportunity to come to terms with their nightmarish upbringing and become true siblings. For the professional athlete, nothing matters beyond facing the end to his career and trying to find a purpose for the future. He brings with him a woman who shields her wounded heart beneath her perfect body. All see the late fall wilderness as a place of silence and serenity.
Then the ferocious storm hits, trapping them far from civilization. Whiteout is a battle for survival, of man against nature It also lays bare the complexity of human vulnerability, strength, and weakness. Who will survive the unrelenting storm and who will fall victim to forces beyond any human's ability to control?
And as they fight for life, they're watched by the restless, lonely spirit that knows what it means to battle and lose. Four humans reach Wolf Lake. Not all will live to leave it.

In The Library "Whiteout is one of those rare novels you can't put down until it's finished. While at first glance, Whiteout seems like a classic Man vs. Nature tale, Munn takes this concept and makes it her own. Nature is depicted as just being, not as some malicious creature out to get man. The characters don't underestimate nature; they fully understand its danger, power and beauty. They retain their humanity, ranting when they can't continue, find inner strength and courage and do their best not to give up."

Romantic Times "In this gripping novel Munn successfully captures the stark power of nature and contrasts it against the strengths and weaknesses of the human mind. She details what can be accomplished by sheer determination of spirit."

Fallen Angels "Whiteout presents readers with a very involved plot that is a testament to human strength."

292 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2005

About the author

I had to edit my biography, changing my status from married to widow. Since I'm often asked how I'm doing, I'll put the answer here. For the most part I'm doing all right thanks to loving family and understanding friends.

I have two sons and four grandchildren. Two rescue dogs allow me to hug, walk, and feed them. In exchange they give me unconditional love and the occasional need for the carpet shampooer.

As the product of a rural upbringing, the wilderness, particularly mountains and evergreens are in my blood. I live in a small southern Oregon town which boasts four distinct seasons, an awesome river, and the ocean within a short drive. Ditto with Crater Lake.

Setting plays a big role in most of my writing as witness by two recent contemporary romance series set in Montana's awesome mountains.

Also writes as Dawn Flindt and Heather Williams.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two couples from the city head to cabins near Oregon’s Crater Lake. A storm is coming. A massive storm. Before they realize it, it’s too late to get out. Wind, snow, falling trees. Soon they are all involved in a life and death struggle with the weather. Each has come to the area for complications with demons to fight. Joining them in that fight is ranger Jace Penix, whose friend Cherokee disappeared in the snow last winter and was never found. He blames himself. This is one of those books you start and can’t stop reading. Each character winds up alone, not sure he or she is going to survive. Will they make it out alive and if so, how will the experience have changed them?The ending is a bit abrupt and the characters’ names are a little too strange for me, but Munn has nailed the experience of being lost in the snow with no way out.

[Lisbeth Eng · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a mystery (that's what it says on the spine) this isn't one. I've been trying to pinpoint the genre -- suspense, action/adventure, general fiction -- but can't quite put my finger on it. It's a story of survival -- which of the main characters will make it out of the blizzard alive? -- but it's really about relationships and people dealing with the past and learning to open up to others. I really cared about the characters, not only wondering who survives but whether they will be able to care about each other as human beings. I also liked how the author successfully shifted between the points of view of five different characters. She even gives a POV to a pair of mating deer and the storm itself takes on a fundamental persona. It's a well-written page turner.