Title: Beside Still Waters
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: BH Publishing Group
Pages: 258
Pub Date: April 2011
Source: I received this book from Litfuse on behalf of BH Publishing for my honest review.
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.
One of my favorite genres of books is the Amish Fiction. I have always been fascinated with the Amish and their way of life. Reading this book it makes you realize that even though we are different in many ways be still feel the same way and care about people the same way.
Growing up Marianna knows that no matter what she does she will never replace her two dead sisters that died in a tragic buggy accident but she tries her best to remain on the right path.
Marianna and her family live in a strict Amish community in Indiana. Marianna has always thought that her life would be in that community married to Aaron Zook and raising her family. When Marianna’s brother Levi decides that he doesn’t want to lead the Amish life he leaves his family and decides to live with the English.
Marianna’s father fears that his other children will follow the lead of their big brother so he decides to move the family to Montana. Thinking that if they are away they will remain faithful to the Amish way of life. This news upsets Marianna because she fears that if she leaves Aaron will choose another to marry. Of course Marianna doesn’t have to leave she can live with family but feels as though she is obligated to go with the family.
Will Marianna be able to remain true to her Amish up bringing when an English boy catches her eye? When given the chance will Marianna return to her old Amish community to be with Aaron or is it too late?
I really enjoyed the book and honestly I managed to read this in one sitting. before I started the book I went to the author’s site and realized that there would be a book two and after reading this one I am super excited to read the next one because I have so many questions that I hope will get answered.
Another thing I loved about the book was the few recipes that were included in the back of the book such as: haystacks, oatmeal butter crisps, and a few others.
Link to buy the book: http://triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#BesideStillWaters
Give Away
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! I just checked and the calendars are no longer available.
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 Tricia Goyer for more info.
The next book in the series scheduled to be released in October 2011 is:
Here is where the book will be stopping by today:
Sheri at The Shades of Pink
JHS at Colloquium
Carol at Books Before Food
Kat at Reviews From The Heart
Lynetta at Open Book
Melissa at Book Reviews
Alexia at The Mommy Rambles
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