About the BookThe Shadows Over This Olive Grove Hide More Than Just the Truth
Lillian Porter has always wanted to fulfill her mother’s dream of going west, so when she hears about a nanny position in Angels Camp, California, she defies her grandfather and takes a chance on a new future. But she quickly wonders if she made the right choice. Murky rumors swirl around Woodward Colton, her new employer, but the gossip doesn’t match the man Lillian comes to know.
Still, something dark did happen in the family’s past. Lillian’s seven-year-old charge hasn’t spoken in over a year. Gently, Lillian tries to coax him out of his shell, hoping he’ll one day feel safe enough to share what scared him. But the Colton olive farm is no longer a safe place. Lillian encounters suspicious characters on their land and mysterious damage done to the farm. When the housekeeper is brutally attacked, the town once again suspects the worst. Will discovering the truth help Lillian clear the name of the man she has come to love–or will it endanger her even more?
I wasn’t so sure what I would think of “Beyond the Silence” when I first got into it. After all, Lillian left her grandfather’s home against his wishes. That little part, I’m still not sure about. But beyond that, wow! I laughed out loud for several parts in the book and, if I were the crying type, it would have made me cry too.
Woody is a man ostracized by his town because of rumors that he murdered his wife. Lillian is the nanny who felt God leading her to California to help a little boy who hadn’t spoken since his mother’s death. Jimmy is the boy who witnessed his mother’s murder. And Darwin is the murderer–on the loose because everyone blamed Woody. All were believable characters whose lives I could easily envision. Plus there were Carla (who made me laugh in the first chapter–I could have seen more of Carla in the book), Mrs. Goodman (Woody’s housekeeper and grandmotherly woman), and Harry. Oh Harry. I loved that character! But I’ll let you meet him on your own.
I found the “Christian” part of the book to be solid and strong. The characters openly prayed to God, fell into faults, made things right, and were portrayed as genuine Christians. There was also a very open message about gossip and tale-bearing and the ways it can ruin a person.
There was a lot about this book I liked. I liked the Western feel (yes, even the brutal wickedness of Darwin–only because it was realistic), the family feel, that the romance was NOT ultra “feely emotional,0 and I liked Harry. (Or did I mention that already?) Having not read a book by Tracie Peterson (and Kimberly Woodhouse) before, I was happily pleased.
Younger readers probably won’t want to read this because of murders, scare tactics, and cruelty. Like I said, there was also some romance, but it was mainly towards the end and no scene more than kissing referred to.
*I received this book for my honest review from Bethany House Publishers*
Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana. Learn more at www.traciepeterson.com.
Kimberley Woodhouse is a multipublished author of fiction and nonfiction. A popular speaker/teacher, she’s shared her theme of Joy Through Trials with over 150,000 people at more than a thousand venues across the country. She lives, writes, and homeschools with her husband of twenty-plus years and their two awesome teens live in Colorado. Connect with Kim at www.kimberleywoodhouse.com.
Amanda Tero Books 