Confronting the Impossible- And Surviving: "Beside Still Waters" by Tricia Goyer (review)

When you are confronted with unimaginable horror, you can either brace yourself under the burden, or burrow deep into the hurt and clothe yourself in sorrow.

The beginning of BESIDE STILL WATERS grabbed my attention right off the bat with a deadly accident involving a young Amish family and a reckless driver. I instantly sympathized with the characters in their struggles. There was good tension between Marianna and her parents. I could feel the cords of their relationship being pulled to the snapping point. Where she would turn on her journey was well portrayed. I understood her misgivings and doubt, hoping it would be resolved in the end.

The story really didn’t start for me until about 100 pages into it when the family moved to Indiana and a sequence of events started taking place. From there I felt that the story became stronger in purpose. I think if the first 100 pages had been condensed the story would have held more interest for me and moved at a more accelerated pace.

I thought the ending was well done, leaving just enough open in case a sequel follows.

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers from my copy to review through Litfuse publicity.

More About Beside Still Waters

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. Click here to watch the book trailers. http://triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#BesideStillWaters

Link to buy the book: http://triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#BesideStillWaters  

About the Author:

Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-six 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. Visit www.triciagoyer.com for more info.

Tricia's Giveaway!!

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 super cute antique Amish salt & pepper shakers.

Details at Tricia’s blog, It’s Real Life: http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/beside-still-waters-giveaway.html

BONUS! Each person who enters the giveaway will receive a FABULOUS Montana Amish Calendar. Hurry, it’s only available while supplies last!