The Solace of Water

The Solace of Water
Elizabeth Byler Younts
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-0718075668
June 2018/368 pages/$15.99
In a time of grief and heartache, an unlikely friendship provides strength and solace.

After leaving her son’s grave behind in Montgomery, Alabama, Delilah Evans has little faith that moving to her husband’s hometown in Pennsylvania will bring a fresh start. Enveloped by grief and doubt, the last thing Delilah imagines is becoming friends with her reclusive Amish neighbor, Emma Mullet—yet the secrets that keep Emma isolated from her own community bond her to Delilah in delicate and unexpected ways.

Delilah’s eldest daughter, Sparrow, bears the brunt of her mother’s pain, never allowed for a moment to forget she is responsible for her brother’s death. When tensions at home become unbearable for her, she seeks peace at Emma’s house and becomes the daughter Emma has always wanted. Sparrow, however, is hiding secrets of her own—secrets that could devastate them all.

With the white, black, and Amish communities of Sinking Creek at their most divided, there seems to be little hope for reconciliation. But long-buried hurts have their way of surfacing, and Delilah and Emma find themselves facing their own self-deceptions. Together they must learn how to face the future through the healing power of forgiveness.

Eminently relevant to the beauty and struggle in America today, The Solace of Water offers a glimpse into the turbulent 1950s and reminds us that friendship rises above religion, race, and custom—and has the power to transform a broken heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Byler Younts writes women's fiction for Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She gained a worldwide audience through her first book Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl and is a RITA nominated writer. She is also the author of The Promise of Sunrise series. She has consulted on Amish lifestyle and the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect for two award-winning television shows. Elizabeth lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, two daughters, and a cockapoo named Fable. Learn more at her website and visit her on Facebook and Pinterest.


MY THOUGHTS

Having read each of Elizabeth Byler Younts's previous books, I knew this would be an exceptional novel, but she has exceeded even my high expectations. Few authors mine the depth of character development that Younts does, delving inside to the grief and secrets buried deep within each of these seemingly very different women and proving that hearts are not so different after all. Carefully researched and set in a tumultuous time in our nation's history, The Solace of Water delicately depicts the internal and external struggles, fears, and opposition Delilah, Sparrow, Emma and their families face as they intersect and interact amidst the expectations, prejudices, and rules--both written and unwritten--of their communities. Younts impeccably portrays each woman's anguish, capturing thought and voice with heart-rending authenticity. Their individual and collective journeys toward friendship, grace, and forgiveness are timeless and will resonate with women in all stages and walks of life. Perfect for book clubs, neighborhood groups, and accountability partners, The Solace of Water will linger in your mind and heart long after the final page is turned. Don't miss this literary masterpiece.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”