Beyond Hope's Valley - Tricia Goyer

GENRE: AMISH/ROMANCE 
PUBLISHER: B&H PUBLISHING
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 01, 2012 
RATING: 9 OUT OF 10 STARS – EXCELLENT 

PROS: Satisfyingly wraps up the series; compelling sub-plots about secondary characters; continues the challenging spiritual thread from previous books 

CONS: Novel has much a slower start than previous books in the series; most of the book takes place away from the series’ original setting of Montana 

After living in Montana with her family for some time, Marianna Sommers has finally decided to return to her Amish community in Indiana and marry her childhood sweetheart, Aaron Zook. Ben Stone, the English man that she fell for in Montana, is pursuing his music career, a sure sign that they aren’t meant to be together. But even though Marianna always thought that returning to Indiana and marrying Aaron was the right thing to do, she can’t help but miss Montana and the friends and family that she left behind. Her every move is watched by her Amish neighbours in Indiana, who are convinced that she’s becoming too liberal and worldly in her time away. Worse, none of them understand the new connection she’s made with God. As Marianna helps her brother and his girlfriend prepare for their wedding and the birth of their first child, she wonders whether what is right for Levi might not be what is right for her. Is it really God’s plan for her to join the Amish community and marry Aaron, even if they aren’t as a close as Levi and Naomi? Haunted by her mother’s old romance with an Englisher, Marianna doesn’t want to bring similar hurt to her family by leaving the faith, even if it means having to hide her true beliefs. But is this truly what God wants for her life, or just what she feels obligated to do? Will the reappearance of Ben change her mind? 

I only discovered Amish fiction a couple of years ago, but I quickly became a fan of this rapidly-expanding genre. Plenty of established Christian authors are starting to dip their toes into the waters of Amish fiction, including B. J. Hoff, Lori Copeland, Kathryn Cushman, Mindy Starns Clark and, as you can see, Tricia Goyer. I have to admit, I hadn’t read anything by Tricia Goyer before I picked up Beside Still Waters in 2011, but I was immediately sucked in by her compelling plots and challenging spiritual messages. Beyond Hope’s Valley was on my “must read” list for 2012. I’m pleased with how Tricia decided to end the series, although I’m holding on to the hope that she revisits Marianna in future books. This final instalment was almost impossible to put down in places, and I became quite emotionally invested in the lives of the characters. I got angry at the nosy women in Indiana for their judgemental attitudes, felt spiritually challenged alongside Marianna, cheered Ruth on when she stood up to a man from her past, and felt incredibly proud of Levi for stepping up into the role of husband and father that had been placed before him. 

That said, I didn’t feel quite as wrapped up in the story and characters as I had in the previous two books. Beside Still Waters and Along Wooded Paths had totally blown me away and definitely made my list of top ten reads for 2011, so maybe I was setting myself up for a little disappointment. My qualms with this book are small, but I will voice them: I felt that the plot was a bit slow to get started, and a good twenty-percent of the book seemed to be spent setting up events that were to come. Having now finished the book, I kind of wish that that some of that space could have been shifted to the end of the book, so that we had more time to spend with Marianna and her chosen beau! The ending came quite quickly (and no, I’m not telling you who she chooses!) and as cheesy as I often find epilogues, I really wanted one this time! I also missed the Montana setting, since nearly the entire novel takes place in Indiana, or following Ben around on his tour. Tricia describes Montana so beautifully in the other books in the series and I hope that she chooses to set another series there as it made a great backdrop for these novels. 

But what Beyond Hope’s Valley was lacking in terms of setting, it made up for in the development of secondary characters. I really felt that Tricia delved further into the emotions of Ruth, Marianna’s mother, and her brother, Levi. Whole passages of this novel are told from Ruth’s perspective, and while I was initially sceptical about what her point of view was going to add to the novel, the inclusion of Ruth’s experiences heightened my sense of the family dynamics and cleared up some underlying issues that I’d been mulling over throughout the series. Ever wondered what difficulties Marianna’s parents had before they moved to Montana? Or why Ruth wasn’t keen on Marianna’s friendship with Ben? Now you’ll find out. While Tricia doesn’t dwell on Levi’s perspective so much as she does with Ruth, it was encouraging to see how much he’d grown since the first book in the series, and the scenes between him, Naomi and their child were really touching. We’d been given a teaser that included Levi at the end of Along Wooded Paths and I can tell you that this scene was just as good this time around, and made Levi even more endearing to the reader. Maybe it’s been too long since I read the previous books in the series, but I honestly felt that Tricia had developed her secondary characters a lot more in this book. I’m looking forward to her next Amish series, and even if she doesn’t revisit these characters (although I kind of wish that Levi and Naomi would get their own book), the strength of her character development makes me hopeful for what’s to come. 

Beyond Hope’s Valley is a satisfying conclusion to the Big Sky saga, and has the kind of ending that makes you sigh with relief and let out the breath you’ve been holding for the last couple of pages. Unlike some romantic series, I honestly didn’t know who Marianna was going to choose until I was almost at the end of the last book. I think that’s what makes this series so appealing; the characters change and develop so much over the course of the books that you can’t predict how the series will end. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed following Marianna on her journey to come closer to God and ultimately discover the man that she’s destined to be with. I’d like to think that I’ve grown along with her. The Big Sky series sticks out from the plethora of Amish novels in that it not challenges the readers’ perceptions of the Amish way of life, but it also challenges their own faith. Although Tricia likes to shake things up a bit by addressing certain conflicts within Amish theology, I can honestly say that I come out of these books not wondering whether the Amish are living their lives in a way that is pleasing to God, but whether I’m living my life appropriately. These aren’t books about pleasant young Amish women who like to bake and go on buggy rides with their beaus, but stories of real people struggling with the issues that we Englishers also have to deal with. There’s still romance in this book, but I’d be hard pressed to call this book predictable. If you’ve been intrigued by Amish fiction but you’ve been put off by the pastel coloured covers, this series would be a good place to start – but do begin with Beside Still Waters. This is not a series that can be read out of order, but Beyond Hope’s Valley is well worth the wait in getting there. 

Review title provided by B&H Publishing. 

Along Wooded Paths - Tricia Goyer

GENRE: AMISH

PUBLISHER: B & H PUBLISHING

PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 1, 2011

RATING: 10 OUT OF 10

Following directly on from Marianna’s decision to remain in Montana at the end of Beside Still Waters, the second in the Big Sky trilogy explores the difficulties Marianna is having not only in deciding between Englisher Ben and her beau back in Indiana, but also in her spiritual journey. Two men show her two paths she can take in her life – should she remain with her family’s Amish faith and cut herself off from the rest of the world, or is it worth joining the English world to be with Ben and experiment with reading an English Bible, playing instruments and attending prayer meetings? As she and her family get to know their English neighbours better, it is not just Marianna who is forced to answer difficult questions about the way they have chosen to live and whether this is the only way to please God. Matters are complicated further when an old friend from back home pays a visit and ends up staying longer than planned, forcing Marianna to speed up her decision making and figure out whether staying in Montana is best for her, spiritually and emotionally, or if she should finally return to Indiana.

It’s not often that I read a series of books in the Amish genre where each book picks up where the last one finished. In fact, Tricia’s Big Sky trilogy reminds me of Beverly Lewis more than anyone else who writes Amish novels, and that’s a big compliment for an author who is a newcomer to the genre! But I don’t think that Marianna’s story could have been condensed into one single book. After finishing Beside Still Waters I was itching to read the next instalment to find out what turns Marianna’s life would take next. The first book in the series rather ended on a cliff-hanger, so if you haven’t started this series at the beginning I’d recommend going back to Beside Still Waters to avoid any conclusion. While some series can be read out of order, I wouldn’t recommend this for the Big Sky trilogy.

While I felt that this story was a little more slow-moving than Beside Still Waters, and Marianna dallied over her decisions and could be quite indecisive in places, it was wonderful to read a book that was so driven and motivated by a character’s internal emotions and dilemmas, rather than the characters themselves being moved along by dramatic events in the plot. Tricia addresses many issues that are often skimmed over and avoided in other Amish novels, such as whether a prayer covering is really necessary for prayer, or whether those who are not Amish can still receive salvation through Christ. Although Marianna’s mother remains mostly stuck in her ways, hoping her daughter won’t be too influenced by her new English friends, her father finds himself querying some of the Amish teachings as he begins to read an English Bible and is given insight into some scriptures from Ben, an Englisher. We “Englishers” often enjoy reading novels in which the Amish and English get on perfectly well without ever addressing these issues, so it was interesting to read a book in which the Amish and English are forced to interact daily because of the practicalities of living in such a remote location, and in which such a situation causes them to question the lives they have been living. In particular, it was wonderful to see Marianna’s faith in God grow and change over the course of this series. I can sometimes be picky about the Christian fiction that I read, and despite being a Christian I still find some books to be verging on preaching in their attempts to display a Christian message. I had no such issues with Along Wooded Paths, and found myself becoming thoroughly engaged in Marianna’s spiritual journey, finding it far more real than many I’d encountered previously in Christian fiction. I hope that Marianna’s situation can speak to others who are having difficulties in their faith lives and encourage them to make the changes necessary to draw them closer to God.

But of course, where would an Amish novel be without a pinch of romance? Having left Aaron behind in Indiana in the first book in the series, Marianna finds herself falling for Ben, an Englisher and therefore entirely forbidden. Her father in particular is concerned about their closeness and it is in Along Wooded Paths that Marianna had to consider whether their friendship is entirely suitable. Friends and colleagues begin speculating about their relationship, particularly when Aaron comes to Montana for a visit, forcing Marianna to decide between the two lifestyles and two men, once and for all. I’m still not sure whether I was entirely surprised by Marianna’s ultimate decision, but there’s always the chance that she may change her mind in the third and final book in the trilogy, Beyond Hope’s Valley.

I’ve become entirely addicted to the Big Sky series, and like many other Amish fans, I’m wishing that time would go faster so that I could read Beyond Hope’s Valley and discover where Marianna’s life takes her next. Tricia Goyer has brought something new and refreshing to the Amish genre and I hope that novels like Along Wooded Paths will encourage new readers, particularly those who have been wary of the romance-orientated novels that the genre is often concentrated on. The spiritual and emotional depths of Tricia’s characters are something that I’m particularly fond of, and I have high hopes for Beyond Hope’s Valley in April 2012.

Review title provided courtesy of B & H Publishing.

Beside Still Waters - Tricia Goyer

GENRE: AMISH
PUBLISHER: B & H PUBLISHING
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 15, 2011
RATING: 10 OUT OF 10 

Born on the day of the buggy accident that took the lives of her two older sisters, Marianna Sommers has always felt that she never measured up to her lost siblings in the eyes of her parents. She has consigned herself to the fact that once she leaves her family home and marries the man God has intended for her, she can start her life anew, a life in which she isn’t constantly being compared to her deceased sisters. Hopefully this life will be with Aaron Zook, who has recently asked her to take a buggy ride home from a singing with him. But before they get the chance to start courting, Marianna’s father announces that the whole family will be moving to Montana, in an attempt to avoid losing any more of their children. With two daughters gone to be with the Lord and a son left to join the English world, her parents are desperate to hang on to their remaining children. A trial period living in Montana appears to be a viable solution, no matter how much Marianna objects. And although she is given the option of remaining in Indiana with her extended family, Marianna knows that her mother is expecting another child and decides to move to Montana, at least until her new sibling is born. But after an argument with Aaron over her choice to leave, and his failure to reply to any of her letters, Marianna starts to settle into her new life in Montana. Despite initial reservations about the lack of discipline in the Bishop-less community and the close relationships her family begin to forge with English neighbours, Marianna finds herself drawing closer to God in Montana. When the opportunity arises for her to return to Indiana and Aaron, will she take it, or choose to remain in the new life she has made for herself in Montana?

Although I’ve been long aware of Tricia Goyer’s presence in the Christian fiction market, Beside Still Waters was the first of her novel’s that I’d personally read. I was intrigued to see that she was straying from her usual historical writing and making a foray into the world of Amish fiction, and I’m pleased to report that this venture has been a definite success! Beside Still Waters has to be one of the most original Amish novels that I’ve read this year, in a location that has previously been unexplored in this genre. In observing the Sommer family moving from Indiana to Montana, readers are able to understand the nuances and differences that are present in Amish communities. While one community may shun all non-business relationships with Englishers, another may be open to friendships with their non-Amish neighbours. It was fascinating to see how the small, rural community in Montana differed from those often featured in popular Amish fiction set in Pennsylvania or Ohio. Even Marianna’s home community in Indiana had distinct differences. In a genre that is already becoming saturated, new Amish authors need to make their work stand out from the crowd, which Tricia has succeeded in doing through placing her characters in a new setting and a more liberal community.

One of Marianna’s main problems with life in Montana is the closeness to the English, particularly young Ben Stone, whose relationship with his Lord and Saviour challenges her pre-existing views of Englishers. Back in Indiana, she would never have been allowed to work and live so closely with outsiders who might cause her drift away from her Amish beliefs, but Ben actually ends up helping Marianna to develop her personal relationship with God. Although her friendship with Ben sometimes confuses Marianna and causes her to reconsider some of the rules she has always followed in her stricter community back home in Indiana, a connection begins to blossom between them. Her family and friends are cautious about her spending too much time with a young English man, but since the community is in such close, daily contact with local Englishers, their relationship does not seem too strange. Tricia’s observations on the ways that the Amish treat outsiders were particularly interesting. While some books focus purely relationships within Amish communities, and others show Englishers who come to “find themselves” in Amish country and end up converting to the faith, I felt that Beside Still Waters showed something completely different. Because their community is so small and rural, the Sommers’ nearest neighbours are Englishers and they often have to call on Ben for help in a crisis, rather than their Amish friends, because he lives closer and has transport. But it is also acknowledged that their home community in Indiana is much stricter, and Marianna’s friendship with Ben would never have been allowed to develop there.

In discussing this novel with my book group, my friends and I found ourselves considering which male protagonist we hoped Marianna would end up with – were we Team Aaron or Team Ben? While Aaron is your typical young Amish man, building a house for his future wife and family and attending singings, he fails to understand Marianna’s need to be with her family in Montana, and the two of them end up parting not on the best terms. I found his behaviour rather immature, and some of the events that transpired later in the book made me even more wary of him and his commitment to Marianna. On the other hand, Ben isn’t Amish but displays many of the qualities often displayed in Amish men. I personally found him to be a much more appealing character than Aaron, even if he lived a different lifestyle from Marianna. But considering that there are two more books in this series, will Marianna and her potential beaus come to mature in future instalments? I’m looking forward to discovering whether Aaron will grow up a bit, and whether Ben’s closeness to the Amish will make him consider becoming one of the community.

I’m pleased that Tricia Goyer has decided to begin penning novels for the Amish genre. If Beside Still Waters is a good example of her work then I believe that readers of this genre will quickly be adding her to their list of favourite authors. Tricia will be revisiting Montana in October 2011 with Along Wooded Paths, and I’m sure that many readers are eagerly awaiting this instalment in order to find out where the wooded path takes Marianna next in her life.

Review title provided by B&H Publishing.