Beside Still Waters (The Big Sky Series, #1)

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Beside Still Waters (The Big Sky Series #1)

by Tricia Goyer (Goodreads Author)

4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 · rating details · 365 ratings · 64 reviews

Raised among the Amish of Indiana, 18-year-old Marianna Sommer plans to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and set up life in the only community she has ever known. But when her older brother chooses the world’s path following his rumschpringe, and a younger sibling begins showing interest in Englisch ways, Marianna’s parents move the family to Montana.

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Paperback, 320 pages

Published April 15th 2011 by B&H Books (first published March 4th 2011)

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Apr 11, 2011 Edna Tollison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Marrianne Sommer was born on the day her two sisters were killed in a buggy/eighteen wheeler accident. The parents and children were on their way home when Abe the father kept dozing off and before he knew it the accident happened.

Marrianne was name for the two sisters and her older brother Levi was only three at the time. Now Levi is grown and has left home for an English life style, Marrianne is (sort of) dating Amos Zook, even though he had never dated her, there was just and understanding. H...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Eleanor rated it 5 of 5 stars

***Though the publisher provides the free ebook, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

Marianna Sommer is a young Amish girl who plans to stay in the Amish faith, marry, and be content. Nevertheless, family issues need her to change directions.

After loosing one child to the Englisch ways and realizing another child could be heading in that direction, Marianna's parents decide they need to move from Indiana. Her parents have already suffered enough tragedy, losing two of their girls through in accident...more ***Though the publisher provides the free ebook, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

Marianna Sommer is a young Amish girl who plans to stay in the Amish faith, marry, and be content. Nevertheless, family issues need her to change directions.

After loosing one child to the Englisch ways and realizing another child could be heading in that direction, Marianna's parents decide they need to move from Indiana. Her parents have already suffered enough tragedy, losing two of their girls through in accident on the same day her mother gave birth to Marianna. How could they lose her too?

A whole lifetime she's been striving to help her parents through their losses. However, this is a ruling that Marianna would not have to follow, but her mother is expecting. What should she do now?

To help her family settle in their new home, Marianna goes to Montana temporarily. But Marianna struggles anew with either going back or staying because she's liking this life in Montana. It's so much different here. The rules are less strict, and Marianna even has a job at an Englsher's store! Almost daily here, she marvels at the beauty God creates, and she has grown in her faith too.

However, her cousin's wedding is coming up in Indiana, and she's supposed to attend. Should Marianna go back to an uncertain past, back to Aaron? Alternatively, does she stay in Montana to find out where her friendship with an Englischer man named Ben Stone goes?

My Take:

BESIDE STILL WATERS by Tricia Goyer is a title that I recommend. But be forewarned, this book is unlike other Amish fiction titles that you may have read before. And that's a great thing!

Tricia Goyer's exhaustive research into the Amish community not only shows in how she crafts these characters, but it's seen in how she showcases the Amish culture. She almost does a contrast and compare, without judgements, for us readers to understand the differences and the similarities in everyday life events, and she even gives us taste of the Amish in the back of the book. You'll want to fall in love with this author's characters, their challenges, and their futures in the next THE BIG SKY NOVEL SERIES titled ALONG WOODED PATHS (B & H Books October 2011).(less)

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Dec 06, 2012 Crystal Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am new to both Tricia Goyer's novels and Amish Fiction. It's not that Amish stories don't appeal to me, I just never found one that reached out and begged me to read it, until now. "Beside Still Water's" is the first in her Big Sky Amish series. Tricia is an outstanding author and has captured not only a bit of Amish culture in her newest novel, but also tells the tale of a 19 year old girls life and faith.

Tricia has done a wonderful job showing us the faith behind Amish culture, the anguish o...more

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May 10, 2012 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not a fan of the whole Amish fiction genre. Even so, I took a chance and grabbed the opportunity to review Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer. Goyer had never written an Amish book before, so I was hoping she would bring a fresh outlook to the crowd. And without a doubt, I was intrigued by the unique Montana setting.

Happily, I was not disappointed.
In fact, I was pleasantly surprised!

Yes, Beside Still Waters is still an Amish novel filled with quilt making, rigid family practices and lots...more I'm not a fan of the whole Amish fiction genre. Even so, I took a chance and grabbed the opportunity to review Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer. Goyer had never written an Amish book before, so I was hoping she would bring a fresh outlook to the crowd. And without a doubt, I was intrigued by the unique Montana setting.

Happily, I was not disappointed.
In fact, I was pleasantly surprised!

Yes, Beside Still Waters is still an Amish novel filled with quilt making, rigid family practices and lots of discussions about Rumspringa. Been there, done that. Snooze.

Two main points set Beside Still Waters apart of the Amish fiction pack: Goyer's fresh voice and the gorgeous Montana setting.

First, Goyer has skillfully created a main character in Marianne that is Amish, but that also behaves in ways that daughters all over the world can relate to. More than being tied to her lifestyle simply because it is her world, Marianne stands by her family seemingly just because it is her family. Throughout the book Marianna questions Amish traditions and wonders about her place in the Amish world, but in the end is still Amish because that is her life. As a character Marianna could have been any number of nationalities that hold family traditions closely and where who you are depends on who your loving family is.

Second, this book is set in one of the most beautiful places in America, Northwestern Montana. To get a visual idea of the setting click here to watch the book trailer and the author interview: http://triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfi... Isn't that place just beautiful beyond belief?

In many ways, the first half of Beside Still Waters was a bit boring to me simply because the first half was set in a typical rolling countryside of America's Midwest. When Marianna and her family boarded the train to Montana is when the book really got interesting. I had no idea the Amish even lived in Montana! It was fascinating to find out how the Amish have adapted to mountain life without large Amish support groups all around them.

Tricia Goyer is already working on a second book in this Montana Amish series and I just might have to check that one out. It is titled Along Wooded Paths and is due out October 2011. Yes, I just might become somewhat of a fan of that Amish fiction IF Tricia Goyer keeps writing her Montana Amish series!

OH! And I almost forgot! Goyer placed a few recipes in the back of Beside Still Waters so of course we just had to try one in order to complete this review. We chose to make Tramp Soup (a.k.a. Potato Soup). When it came to following the recipe, that was not so easy as the directions were vague and a bit misleading. We weren't sure whether to cook and then drain or cook and then add more liquid or whatever. Hopefully these issues have since been resolved since I was reviewing an unedited advance reader copy. As for the final product though, we LOVED it! It was a hearty soup with simple ingredients that would be wonderful on a cold wintry evening, especially in the mountains of Montana.

I received this book complimentary in exchange for an honest review but the opinion is all mine.(less)

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Apr 26, 2012 Allison Duke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Marianna Sommers has always felt that her life is shaped by the tragedy that took the lives of her two sisters on the night she was born. In an attempt to fill that void, she tried to be the perfect daughter, perfect sister, and perfect Amish girl. She also dreams to be the perfect Amish wife to Aaron, the good Amish boy she's adored forever. However, her parents have plans to change all that, moving the family from their established community in Indiana to the wild and sparsely-populated mounta...more Marianna Sommers has always felt that her life is shaped by the tragedy that took the lives of her two sisters on the night she was born. In an attempt to fill that void, she tried to be the perfect daughter, perfect sister, and perfect Amish girl. She also dreams to be the perfect Amish wife to Aaron, the good Amish boy she's adored forever. However, her parents have plans to change all that, moving the family from their established community in Indiana to the wild and sparsely-populated mountains of Montana. Although Marianna dreads leaving everything familiar and comfortable, her parents have grown weary of the way the close-knit community is so involved in - and critical of - the details and problems of their lives. Montana offers an opportunity for a fresh start.

In Montana, Marianna finds that while she must adjust to many changes, they are not all bad. In the remote West Kootenai area, people must help each other, both Amish and Englisch. Marianna finds it suprisingly easy to make friends with the Englisch restaurant owner, Annie, and the very helpful and attractive Ben. It is not long before she finds herself questioning all she has been taught about God and the ways we should relate to Him. In her own special spot beside still waters, and through the midst of unexpected circumstances, Marianna encounters the peace of God in a much more personal way than she ever would have imagined.

This book is a well-written and enchanting glimpse into the heart of a simple Amish girl who simply wants to live the best life she can, without knowing exactly how. I found my heart aching for Marianna at times, as she dealt with the pain of her family's past and the confusion of trying to live in one world while her heart was drawn to another. Having never experienced the genre before, I can't say whether it's a good Amish book, but I can definitely say that it is a good book, and I am looking forward to reading the sequel ... and learning which man Marianna chooses!(less)

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Sep 24, 2011 Kav rated it 5 of 5 stars

This one has all the markings of a new epic Amish series. Goyer fills each page with emotion and does an amazing job of depicting Marianna's conflict. I could feel the angst! Actually woke up this morning at 3:15 contemplating her dilemma! (I know, I know, I have to get a real life!) This is the kind of book that would work wonderfully well in a book club because there are such rich issues that we all deal with.

I think part of my love of Amish fiction comes from being able to parallel their stru...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Jan Drexler rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Beside Still Waters, author Tricia Goyer takes the reader on a journey into an aspect of Amish life that few people consider: What happens to the people of such a tightly knit community when tragedy strikes?

Born on the same night her two older sisters were killed in a buggy accident, Marianna Sommers has tried to replace them in her parents’ lives. Marianna is caught between her duty to honor and respect her parents and her own desires to enjoy the courtship of the man she loves. If she refus...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Cafelilybookreviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Beside Still Waters is the first Amish fiction novel that Tricia Goyer has written, adding a fresh new flavor to her long list of best selling titles. The idea for this book came from the true story of a family that Tricia met through a friend of her daughter’s.Main character, Marianna, is the namesake of her deceased sisters (Marilyn and Joanna), whose deaths occurred the same night she was born. Carrying the weight of knowing that her parents constantly compare her to the two daughters they lo...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: BESIDE STILL WATERS
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Broadman & Holman
April 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4336-6868-5
Genre: Inspirational/Amish/Women’s fiction

Marianna Sommer was born the night her sister’s died—and she’s always known that part of her history. Just once, she wishes she could have a birthday without being reminded about the sadness that occurred, but that will never happen. Now at nineteen, Marianna plans to marry Aaron Zook, but with one of Marianna’s brothers having jumped the fence...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Holly (2 Kids and Tired) rated it 2 of 5 stars

I normally enjoy Amish fiction, but this one just didn't do it for me. Marianna defined herself and lived her life as if she was a burden to her parents. Her older sisters were killed in a buggy/car accident the same night Marianna was born and she always felt like she could never replace them. Yet, she never spoke with her family about it and her parents never spoke with her about it. When her father explains how much her mother really does love her, the book ends and there is no resolution any...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Sommer family, have been in the 'spotlight' of their Indiania Amish community for years, in fact everyone in their community was in the spotlight for each other. Watching each other to make sure they were living strict, holy lives, following the Ordnung. It could be suffocating sometimes, however. The horrible accident that had cost the Sommer family their two oldest daughters, and brought on the early birth of Marianna, kept them in the eyes of the other members of their community. Marianna...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Courtney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-contemporary-fiction, clean-romance, favorites, for-review

What if your birth marks the day of huge tragedy in your family?! How would it feel to share your birthday with mixed emotions of a day marked with great loss? This is the reality for Marianna. She was born on a day of a massive tragedy in her family and struggles every day to please her parents in hope that she’ll be the joy in their sad lives. Marianna is excited when her crush Aaron finally declares his interest in marrying her but then she is uncertain of her future when her parents decide t...more What if your birth marks the day of huge tragedy in your family?! How would it feel to share your birthday with mixed emotions of a day marked with great loss? This is the reality for Marianna. She was born on a day of a massive tragedy in her family and struggles every day to please her parents in hope that she’ll be the joy in their sad lives. Marianna is excited when her crush Aaron finally declares his interest in marrying her but then she is uncertain of her future when her parents decide they want to move to Montana for a fresh start and new beginning. Marianna is torn between staying and pursuing a life with Aaron or following her family to Montana to help. She decides on a temporary stay in Montana – just long enough for her parents to settle. However, Marianna soon finds amazing things to love about her new home. The people are friendly, the Amish are more conservative, her family is finally smiling again and she struggles with whether or not to stay or go back to Aaron!

What an amazing story!! Beside Still Waters made my list of favorite Amish books of all time! I loved this story and it was so unique and different to all the other Amish books I’ve read. One of the most common things you read in Amish stories is the young person struggling with wanting to leave the Amish ways and seek the worldly ways but this was not the case for young Marianna. She loves her Amish beliefs but it’s when she moves to Montana that she begins to see God in a new and exciting light!

I loved the amazing descriptions and details about the Amish faith in comparison to the English ways. There was a lot I didn’t understand about why the Amish believed the way they believed and Trica Goyer really goes in depth with explaining the reasoning behind their beliefs; for example Marianna sees a guitar and listens to Ben singing for the first time is intrigued with learning to play music and understanding why Amish can’t learn to play instruments, then she explains why they believe that! It is all very enlightening and I really felt like I understand the Amish ways a whole lot better after reading Beside Still Waters!

I was fascinated with Marianna and her story. She lives with feeling the tragedy of her family yet she strives to perfect in every way. I loved the way she grew closer to God and understanding His love her and how she only has to seek 1 person’s approval! The last 100 pages of the book were amazing!! The ending was heart-breaking and then filled with Joy, perfect conclusion and left me desiring more!! I was completely invested in this story and I will be continuing to read the series!!

DISCLOSURE: I was graciously provided a free digital version of this book from B&H Publishing Group in partnership with Net Galley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.
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Apr 11, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am not ordinarily a fan of Amish fiction, whether it’s because I can’t relate or the style of writing I can’t be sure. But I AM a fan of Tricia Goyer, so I starting reading this book with very high hopes. And I was not disappointed.

This book not only gives us a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of the Amish, but also the sharing of what an intimate relationship with God can be.

“In all the years she’d gone to church and lived in her community she’d never met someone who talked about God like He...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Julie Graves rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, christian

On the night her 2 sisters died in a horrible accident Marianna Sommers was born. Raised in an Amish community in Indiana Marianna has tried her entire life to make up for the loss of her sisters.

Marianna is almost 20 and starting to think about having a home of her own. Aaron Zook has been taking an interest in her. He is building his own cabin and has dreams of one day living in it with Marianna.

Marianna’s brother Levi has left the community. He has caused embarrassment and heartache for his p...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is christian fiction - don't expect anything juicy. But with that, I found it an nice afternoon read. What hooked me was the Amish, descriptions of their lifestyle and customs. Also a somewhat positive account of why they adhere to those beliefs.

The plot involves an amish girl's desire to be married, but her family moves away from her intended to escape their own sad past -the loss of two daughters to a wreck and a son who decides to leave the Amish ways. The family moves to Montana and fi...more

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Apr 22, 2011 Andi Newberry ~Tubbs rated it 5 of 5 stars

A family's life is torn apart when their father falls asleep behind the buggy, and their hit by a semi truck coming home. Two children are killed and the family has not really healed from the deaths of these precious children. As Rumspringa approaches for Marianna it becomes quite clear that her Dat is not willing to allow her to have the same experiences the other children have. There is one young man, Aaron who has expressed interest in her and she has cared for him since she was little, and w...more

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Apr 03, 2011 Charlene Amsden rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is not your typical Amish romance novel. Hooray! In Beside Still Waters, Tricia Goyer looks beyond the usual Amish-story stereotypes. Rather than contrasting the Amish and Englischer differences, with the Amish being “good” and the Englischers being “bad”, it shows the likenesses shared by the two Christian communities. I found the positive contrasts quite refreshing.

Marianna, the story’s main character, went from upholding the tradition of her faith simply for tradition’s sake, to scrutini...more

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Jun 28, 2011 SallyHP rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mother-talk-blog-tours

Beside Still Waters starts out like many of the other Amish-centered books that I've read, particularly two series that I really like by Beverly Lewis. In addition to the standard internal conflict brought upon children in the Amish community who are in the thick of their Rumspringe, nineteen year-old Marianna Sommer also has a family tragedy to content with. The day of her birth also marks the day her older sisters were lost in a buggy accident caused by her father falling asleep while driving...more Beside Still Waters starts out like many of the other Amish-centered books that I've read, particularly two series that I really like by Beverly Lewis. In addition to the standard internal conflict brought upon children in the Amish community who are in the thick of their Rumspringe, nineteen year-old Marianna Sommer also has a family tragedy to content with. The day of her birth also marks the day her older sisters were lost in a buggy accident caused by her father falling asleep while driving the buggy home one evening. Feeling like she'll never be enough to replace two sisters, Marianna has always strived to be an exceptional daughter and member of the Amish community. With two daughters gone and a son who's chosen to live outside the faith, her parents decide that a cross-country move will be just the fresh start their family needs.

Marianna is devastated, because she feels that a proposal from Aaron is just around the corner and is afraid they won't be able to survive the distance. As a nineteen year-old, she could technically stay behind, but doesn't feel that's a choice as she's a big source of support for her parents in tending to the younger siblings and helping around the house.

For me, there's always been something fascinating about the Amish and conservative Mennonite traditions and way of life, so I am usually drawn to books about them. This book was no exception in being a 'nice' story. There is no real conflict that makes your guts wrench (other than the narrative about the family's tragedy) and the author is clearly of a conservative Christian bent, as is demonstrated when the family settles in Montana and marvel at the 'friendship' that the local Christian church members seem to have with God, as opposed to their strict reverence of Him.

It bothered me a little bit that she insinuated that the relationship that the Amish had with God was less personal or less impactful than that which the members of the local Christian church (it wasn't ever specified, so I'm thinking it was a non-denominational gathering?) have with Him. That presumed bias, while evident, didn't change my enjoyment of the story, which is not anything spectacular, but is certainly a quick read and kept me company over a few days in the backyard watching my kids play, and soaking up the sun.

It did seem strange to me that her parents, once they arrived in Montana, were fairly quick to start 'coming around' to the ways of the local church: Her father ordered an English Bible, and started making other small changes that they were worried would happen before they moved because it was rumored that the Montana Amish community was much more lax than that which they left in the Midwest. Maybe the lack of prying eyes from the neighbors finally allowed them to take the time to be introspective and figure out what really works for them. If that's the case, I hope they invite their oldest son back into their lives at some point, as it would seem hypocritical otherwise.

Although the writing style was fairly simplistic, it held my attention enough that I would read the upcoming installments. I'd love to see if Marianna and Aaron end up together, as she seemed so firm in her faith that she'd join the church in the Fall, or if she starts to question their compatibility and instead falls for the local boy with a relationship with God that is so foreign to her.

Having an easy Summer read is never a bad thing in my opinion.

Note: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Beside Still Waters Campaign and received a copy of the book and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.
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Jun 30, 2011 Cindi rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm usually not a fan of Amish fiction, but Tricia Goyer may have just accomplished what other writers of Amish fiction have been unable to do. Marianna is an authentic and relevant character, whether one is familiar with Amish ways or not. She has some of the same emotions and experiences many young women just becoming adults experience; giggling with friends over hansome young men, struggling to understand her parents' and her older brother's decisions. It isn't until she moves to Montana and...more

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Apr 25, 2011 April Suter rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this new series "A Big Sky" the author addresses how Amish communities view the following verse Romans 12:2--"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the newnewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptale, and perfect, will of God."
Marianna is born during a tramatic situation and the sad events seem to hover over her and her family. But will moving to Montana finaly help them move on in location and time? There is so much change for the family to deal...more

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Jun 12, 2011 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read

What a great book, couldn't put it down. Marianna Sommer's world is turned upside down when her Dat decides to move the family to Montana. Marianna has been hoping Aaron Zook would start courting her, and wants to join the church. She is torn about what to do!
Loved the descriptions of the beautiful Montana countryside. Sounds like a beautiful place to live. All of the people there seem to be so kind, and now Marianna has started to develop a personal relationship with God. One that seems to surp...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Mandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-reviews

MOM'S REVIEW:

I loved the different perspective that Tricia brought to this book about the Amish. She takes you to a newer Amish settlement in western Montanna where the Amish and "Englisch" intermingle on a daily basis. That is very different and frightening for the family in this story as they come from an Indianna settlement that is very closed and rigid. They have known God as a judge and not as a God who truly loves them and is interested in a personal relationship with them.

Being more famil...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Laurie Carlson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-novel, amish, amish-food, amish-history, amish-life, amish-men, amish-recipes, amish-women, amish-woman, an-outsider, anabaptists, applique-quilts, character-female, character-male, christian-fiction, daughter, brothers, ebook, families, family, farming, hand-quilting, handcrafting, montana, indiana, new-first-in-a-series, quilt-making, quilt-patterns, quilting, quilts, sisters, spiritual

“Beside Still Waters, A Big Sky Novel” by Tricia Goyer

Tricia Goyer takes us on her wonderful ‘first’ Amish journey in this first book of the, ‘A Big Sky Novel’ series, with “Beside Still Waters”, being Book One in the series. It feels as if she has been writing Amish fiction all along in her writing career, with this, her first attempt at Amish Fiction. I enjoyed it much more than some of the other Amish Fiction writers, and I think she should write a lot more Amish Fiction from this point on.
S...more “Beside Still Waters, A Big Sky Novel” by Tricia Goyer

Tricia Goyer takes us on her wonderful ‘first’ Amish journey in this first book of the, ‘A Big Sky Novel’ series, with “Beside Still Waters”, being Book One in the series. It feels as if she has been writing Amish fiction all along in her writing career, with this, her first attempt at Amish Fiction. I enjoyed it much more than some of the other Amish Fiction writers, and I think she should write a lot more Amish Fiction from this point on.
She truly keeps us glued to the page, as the characters are so life-like, even when the storyline is ever changing. In her new writing of Amish Fiction, these characters are so life-like, you feel like you are a part of them as you read this story. She makes us feel what the characters’ feel and experience in this story. Goyer makes things happen you would never expect. Being Amish or not, you feel exactly what they feel.
This first book in this series starts with Marianna, 20, and her family, including both of her parents and the rest of her brothers and sisters moving to go to settle from the plains of Indiana to the new mountainous regions of Montana where a newly developing Amish community is forming. One of the reasons for this huge move is to try to get away from a terrible tragedy that occurs in the beginning of this book. Goyer’s characters come to life and jump off the pages at us as she pens this story. We feel a part of them.
As we meet our main character in this book, Marianna, 20, is ready to marry and settle down in this book, as long as Aaron, whom she has her heart set on, has his heart set on hers. Aaron does want to wait until the fall, after Harvest to start to courting her, and Marianna becomes heart broken as she learns her parents have decided to move to Montana long before this fall. Marianna has set her sights set on possibly marrying this young man, which may be ruined if they are to move. Would he wait for her to return to Indiana for her cousins wedding and then she would stay in Indiana? Or would he decide to court someone else since she would not be there? Being completely heart broken, she has been forbidden by her father to even tell a soul of their possible move because this type of gossip even seems to travel ‘by the geese who fly north overhead he thinks!’ He doesn’t want his relatives in Ontario to find out of his plans, and says the geese who fly north overhead must be the ones who tell his relatives! So Marianna does not know how to tell Aaron about the move her parents have planned, yet she finds out from Aaron that everyone already does know! The time comes and they do pack up into a truck, hire a driver, and move.
So now we start on a wonderful new Amish journey.
As Marianna adjusts to the new life in Montana, makes new friends, and gets along, she is finding she really enjoys Montana. She meets a nice young man who is Englisch, Ben, and he shows her a different, deeper type of faith than the Amish faith alone like back in Indiana. She is really enjoying this. Now Marianna is toying with the idea of whether or not she should go back to Indiana, yet she must for her cousin’s wedding. Does she really want to go back to the people in Indiana?
This story is different in that the Englischers' and the Amish are not enemies, yet get along like all people should, whereas most other authors who write Amish Fiction tend to make it sound as if the Englischers' are more like a threat to the Amish community than possible friends. Tricia Goyer does definitely have quite a knack for writing this new genre of hers. I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to reading Book Two in this series, Along Wooded Paths.
I received this book for “FREE” from B & H Publishing Group through NetGalley, through their Book Reviewer’s Program in exchange to read and write a review about this book. It is NOT required for my review I write to be either positive or negative, but, “of my own opinion.” I was NOT provided with “ANY” monies to accept this book, “NOR” to read it, NOR were “ANY” monies given to me to write the review for this book. All that was ‘expected’ of me was to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. Again, the opinions expressed for and about this book are ‘of my own opinion’. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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Aug 29, 2012 Judith Mullett rated it 5 of 5 stars

First book I have read by Tricia Goyer and I cannot wait to read the next in this series. Marianna, the main character was born the night her two sisters died. She tried all her life to be a good daughter and follow the Amish way. Her love for her child hood friend Aaron Zook is shaken when her family moves her to a small Amish community in Montana. She is torn between the love she thought she had for Aaron and what she has found in Montana. Just ordered the next book in this series and cannot w...more

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Apr 22, 2011 Paula Schuck added it

I have only started this one, but am extremely impressed with the quality of the writing so far.

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Dec 23, 2011 Martha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tricia Goyer is a wonderful writer. This is the first novel that I have read by her and I found the novel to be a page turner. I love the spiritual message, the characters (major and minor) and the story line. Upon finishing "Besides Still Waters", I immediately rushed to the Christian Book Store to buy the second novel ("Along Wooded Paths") because I was so caught up in the characters and the story that I had to find out how things were going to transpire. Needless to say, I highly recommend t...more

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May 03, 2012 Abbie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-borrowed, 2011, amish-fiction, blog-reviewed

3.5 Stars

Marianna was born the night her two older sisters where tragically killed in a buggy accident. She has grown up always feeling like she can’t measure up to her dead sisters. Now as a young woman she is excited to hopefully marry Aaron and start a family of her own and get out from under the shadow of her sisters memory. Before she can though her parents decide to move to Montana for a year. Marianna’s mother is expecting a baby so Marianna agrees to go alone for 6 months to help. While...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Christy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love being able to have a new experience every time I read a book, and when it comes to reading Amish fiction...well, that's a tad bit of a rarity. Most of the time, their culture is seen as difficult, closed off, and rigorous. But in Tricia Goyer's first Amish novel, those cultural boundaries are pushed to the edge, and seriously...it makes for an incredibly entertaining, yet beautiful, story that I won't soon forget.

What surprised me most about this story was the increased interaction betwee...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Patricia Kemp Blackmon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This story begins when the Sommer family are on there way home from a church meeting. They are an Amish family traveling by way of horse and buggy. They cross a busy road and are in a terrible accident that will change their lives forever. Two of their little girls are killed in this accident and a baby girl is forced to come into this world under harsh circumstance. Their young son also survives.

Marianne was that baby and she has been trying walk in the shoes of her two sister ever since day o...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 100-books-in-2012, 2012-rrrc-s-books-i-read-for-a-chal, amish, christian-fiction, read-in-2012, review-books, the-challenge-factory-s-120-books-i, tlc-2012-series-r-us-challenge

Beside Still Waters was a refreshingly new take on Amish fiction. I was hooked after only reading the first two pages. The prologue was so moving and heartbreaking, even though I knew it was going to happened!

Marianna has always lived with being the replacement daughter, because the night she was born her family was in a tragic buggy/car accident in which her two older sisters perished. Shortly thereafter her mother went into labor with her and when she was born. Her father named her Marianna in...more

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About Tricia Goyer

Books:

Gen Xers:
Generation NeXt Parenting (Multnomah, 2006)
Generation NeXt Marriage (Multnomah, Jan. 2008)

Children:
Meal Time Moments (Focus on the Family, 2000)
10 Minutes to Showtime (Thomas Nelson, 2004)

Fiction from Moody Publishing:
From Dust and Ashes (2003)
Night Song (2004)
Dawn of a Thousand Nights (2005)
and Arms of Deliverance (2006)
A Valley of Betrayal (2007)
A Shadow of Treason (2007)
A Whis...more

More about Tricia Goyer...

Books by Tricia Goyer

From Dust and Ashes: A Story of Liberation

Along Wooded Paths (The Big Sky Series, #2)

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Beside Still Waters (The Big Sky Series #1)

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