BESIDE STILL WATERS – Review

  Marianna Sommer believes she knows where her life is headed. Nineteen years old and Amish, her plan is to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and live in the only community she’s ever known.

When Marianna’s family moves from Indiana to Montana she discovers life and faith will never be the same. As she builds an easy friendship with local guy, Ben Stone, Ben not only draws her heart, he also gets her thinking about what loving God and living in community is all about.

As Marianna struggles to find “home”, she also encounters God in intimate ways.

  Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-four books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

For more about Tricia please visit www.triciagoyer.com.

MY REVIEW

I’m not sure why I”m drawn to reading “Amish” novels.
I know that I could never truly be happy living their
lifestyle.  But, I find a real sense of calm, when reading
about them and their ways.
Maybe it’s the aspect of the tight knit communities,
or their unwavering commitments to their beliefs?

Beside Still Waters, spoke to me from an even deeper level,
than other “Amish” stories that I’ve read.
I think that I could relate to Marianna, in her strong love of
her family, and the desire to me with them and honor them,
even if it meant starting all over, in a very  new and different, environment.

Honestly, when we moved 4 years ago, I felt totally
turned upside down.  It was more like moving to another
country than another state.  I felt isolated, lonely, sad,
and afraid.  I left behind my comfort zone – family and friends…
a place that had been my home for over 25 years.

I needed to be with my husband, and he needed
desperately to change jobs. He had been working out of state for years.
Being away from home 5 days a week, and the constant traveling,
was truly taking it’s toll on him.  So, we moved.

Beside Still Waters, is a wonderful read… filled with feelings,
 experiences, and vivid descriptions of the Amish
culture, and of the physical surrounds – both in Indiana
and in Montana.

Excellent read – 2 Thumbs and 8 Fingers Up
******

Be sure to stop by Tricia’s Blog It’s Real Life – she’s giving away 10 copies of the book and some (super cool) antique Amish salt & pepper shakers. Also – everyone who enters the contest will receive an Montana Amish calendar (while supplies last)!  

 I have a material connection because I received a review copy (book, CD, software, etc.), 
or an item of nominal value that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content