A BOOK REVIEW OF THE KISSING BRIDGE BY TRICIA GOYER

Sweet romance and fascinating adventure are intertwined with God’s good word in The Kissing Bridge by Tricia Goyer (Zondervan).  This is the third book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors Series.  The Kissing Bridge book stands alone but Tricia Goyer’s writing is so engaging readers will want to get their eyes on everything she writes.

Caleb is a young Amish man from Ohio who promised his dying grandfather he would explore the world before settling down.  He finds his way to West Kootenai, Montana for a six month stint of working and hunting.  Caleb dreams of finding an Amish girl who shares his love of adventure; he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life living a normal routine.

Rebecca Troyer, an Amish girl from Shipshewana, Indiana, is leaving her family to go to Oregon for nursing school.  Ever since her sister died in childbirth, Rebecca has been determined to get a nursing education.  Rebecca’s family has no idea that she has been sneaking off and getting her GED and taking on-line college classes.  She boards the train for Oregon without telling her family goodbye, knowing they would try to stop her because the Amish do not believe in education beyond the eighth grade.

On the train trip to Oregon, Rebecca decides to stop to visit her ex-Amish friend, Marianna, in West Kootenai, Montana.  In Montana, the Amish and Englischers forge deep and meaningful relationships and consider each other friends.  Caleb and Rebecca meet through her visit with Marianna.  Caleb is attracted to Rebecca’s spirit and willingness to travel.  He wants to see more of her but she is hesitant since she is ultimately moving to Oregon and leaving the Amish.

Since Rebecca has three weeks before classes begin in Oregon, she agrees to go on a wagon trail trip through the mountains with Caleb and several other Amish and Englischers from the area.  Romance is in the air as Caleb and Rebecca share a wagon in the gorgeous backwoods of Montana.  Rebecca is torn between giving into the desires of her heart and still holding on to her dreams of nursing school.  All she knows is she wants to live a life that matters.

Rebecca realizes that God has a plan for each of us.  She decides to write her prayers, worries, and needs down on paper and visualizes herself lifting those prayers up to God to relieve the stress and worry she feels.

Tricia Goyer has authored an exquisitely romantic novel.  She has carefully and skillfully crafted scenes between Rebecca and Caleb which will leave readers starry-eyed.  Additionally, Tricia’s stunningly vivid descriptions of the Montana vistas and countryside will dramatically increase the enjoyment of A Kissing Bridge.  The book was published April 1, 2014.