Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer

I’m not a “Buggy” (Amish) genre fan, but this book has caught my attention and heart. The birth of the main character is based a true incident. Marianna came to the world after a terrible accident while her two older sisters left for heaven. She works hard to make up for the loss and to obey all the rules of her Amish community. However, her parents decide they need a change and move the family to another Amish group in Montana. This community, woven into the lives of the Englisch, has very different ways than the one Marianna is accustomed to in her childhood Indiana home.

Marianna discovers that Montana not only holds a new way of life, but also a new relationship with God. The mountains, trees, and still waters draw Marianna closer to God in ways she never experienced before.
I’m amazed at how much Tricia packed into this storyline without making me feel overstuffed. I now have a deeper understanding for the Amish in general, their struggles, their ways, their differences among groups. The story is full of twists and turns and delightful surprises. I was disappointed when it ended and cannot wait for the next edition of Big Sky Novel series.

I met Tricia many years ago at a writer’s conference and have been enchanted with her ever since. She is an amazing woman who never stops. She writes fiction and nonfiction and loves to address issues that moms, especially teen and young moms face. Once you read one of her books you will want more.

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.