Book Review: Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer (and a GIVEAWAY!)

(Be sure and read at the bottom of this post to see how you can enter to win a copy of Beside Still Waters!)

About the book: 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.

Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer begins with a sad scene of an Amish man and his family who are involved in an accident on the road in which two of the children die and another is born prematurely. This sets the tone for the rest of the book, where the baby has grown up and is the main character of the book.

Marianna has felt pressure from her parents all her life to become like the sisters she never knew. And when her brother decides to leave the community to follow the ways of the "Englisch", Marianna's parents decide that the best thing to do to protect the remaining children is to move to Montana.

Many experiences with the Englisch in her new home help Marianna see the rigid ways of her people and she begins to see the joy they find in knowing God in a deeper and more personal way.

I like how Mrs. Goyer represents the Amish in a way that is not "perfect" and realistically portrays their weaknesses as well as their strengths. I feel as though I understand Amish ways a little more now as a result of reading this book.

I most like the character Ben, who is Marianna's new friend in Montana who demonstrates to her the joy to be found in a meaningful relationship with God. He seems like the kind of friend any of us would love to have.

Beside Still Waters is a fun and entertaining read. I give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from LitFuse for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

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

About Tricia: 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 http://www.triciagoyer.com/ for more info.

About Beside Still Waters 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!