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Beside Still Waters, Review and Giveaway

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Over the past few years, I have enjoyed many of Tricia Goyer’s novels, particularly her historical fiction. In her new series, Tricia is exploring a new genre: Amish fiction. In Beside Still Waters, Tricia tells the story of Marianna Sommer. Marianna lives in an Amish community in Indiana with her family. Because she was born on the same night her sisters died in an accident, Marianna lives with the desire to be the perfect daughter. She appreciates the strict rules of her Amish community, and she is ready to join the church and become a wife and mother. Unfortunately, Marianna’s parents decide to leave Indiana for an Amish community in Montana. They want to escape the sorrow from the past and the pain that their oldest son Levi has caused by leaving the Amish way of life. Marianna agrees to move with the family for a short time before returning to her beloved beau and her familiar community.

Marianna is immediately struck by the beauty of Montana, but she is angered by the differences between the new Amish community and the Indiana Amish. She feels the West Kootenai Amish are too lax and mix with the Englisch entirely too much. As time passes, however, Marianna begins to love her new home and question some of the rules she has followed all her life. When Ben, a young Englischer, provides her family with an English Bible and speaks about God in a personal way, Marianna is both interested and fearful. She must decide whether to return to the comfortable life she knew in Indiana or to face her questions and doubts.

Although this is a fictional tale, Tricia Goyer based the story on the lives of her Montana friends. Since most Amish fiction is set in Pennsylvania, I found the western setting fascinating and a nice change of pace. I didn’t realize there were Amish communities in Montana, and I enjoyed reading about the differences between the West Kootenai Amish and eastern Amish communities. Tricia lives in Montana, and you can sense her appreciation of the beautiful landscape throughout the pages of the story. Beside Still Waters is the first book in the Big Sky Series. I enjoyed this novel, and my only complaint is that I have to wait until book two is released to continue the story.

If you would like to read Beside Still Waters, please leave a comment on this post. We have one copy to giveaway to one of you, and we will announce the winner on May 4th. Author Tricia Goyer is hosting a contest as well. To celebrate the release of the first book in the Big Sky Amish series, Tricia is giving away 10 copies of Beside Still Waters and a pair of antique Amish salt & pepper shakers. You can find the details at Tricia’s blog: It’s Real Life.

Lauren is a wife, mother of two, and an avid reader. She thanks Litfuse and B&H publishing for the review copy of this book. Lauren blogs at Baseballs and Bows.

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Comments

  1. I would like to read this book. I follow Tricia on Twitter and have enjoyed “getting to know” her that way!

    Amy

  2. I would really love to read this book. I haven’t had the chance to read any of Trisha Goyer’s books yet. The story line sounds very interesting.
    I come from Indiana and would be interested in how The Amish Community in Montana is different.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

  5. I really think that I would enjoy this book. I actually think that I have it on my Kindle. Maybe a free copy was offered, or I got in on NetGalley (or I’m totally wrong). I need to hole myself up somewhere and just READ.

  6. I would be very interested in reading this! I am not familiar with this author but she sounds like she’s right up my alley!

  20. sounds like a really interesting book! I also had no idea there were Amish communities in Montana!

  22. I adore everything that Tricia writes…
    Her new Amish Fiction is a book that I would
    really enjoy reading and passing on to my
    family and friends!
    Many thanks to you…
    Cindi

  23. I’d love to win this book and if I don’t, I’ll definitely be buying it. The West Kootenai Amish live just across Lake Koocanusa from us. We love going there to visit and eating the weekend dinners they prepare at the Amish store. Their annual auction they hold to raise funds for their school is a huge event!
    someluckydog at gmail dot com

  32. I have recently read a few Amish based novels from other authors and would be interested in reading this one.
    kimkmc at yahoo.com

  38. I would love reading this. We live in an area with a huge Amish population, so it would be interesting to read more about their way of life.

  40. This sounds like a great book.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    eswright18 at gmail dot com

  42. I need some new summer reading material and would love to add this to my list!

  43. I wasn’t at all interested in this book (and wasn’t going to enter) until I read your entire review. You have me hooked. I have this written down if I don’t win. Thanks so much for the review. I love finding new books, esp new books I might not have otherwise tried. 🙂

  45. Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in 🙂
    kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

  46. I haven’t read any of Goyer’s books yet, but have heard that she is an excellent writer.

  48. This book sounds great. Would love to read it.
    Shaunda.Eppes at gmail dot com

  49. Great Contest, Nice prize, Thanks for the chance to win it, cuz I like winning and winning is FUN!

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