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Gathered Waters
They want to worship as their hearts demand... but can they sacrifice everything for it?
Brianna has only ever been what her life demanded. A wife, a hostess, a mother. But when a stand her husband takes ostracizes them from the Lutheran church that controls so much of life in Sweden, Brianna finds herself needing to find a strength beyond her station...a strength that will see her through prejudice and persecution and to a home she never dreamed she would find.
Based on the true story of the author's family's journey from Sweden to America, this sweeping saga paints the brilliance of new faith, the bravery of a new land...and the beauty of plunging beneath the waters and emerging a new person, capable of what one never thought one could do.
Brianna has only ever been what her life demanded. A wife, a hostess, a mother. But when a stand her husband takes ostracizes them from the Lutheran church that controls so much of life in Sweden, Brianna finds herself needing to find a strength beyond her station...a strength that will see her through prejudice and persecution and to a home she never dreamed she would find.
Based on the true story of the author's family's journey from Sweden to America, this sweeping saga paints the brilliance of new faith, the bravery of a new land...and the beauty of plunging beneath the waters and emerging a new person, capable of what one never thought one could do.
- GenresHistoricalChristian
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2015
13 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
About the author
Cara Luecht
9 books92 followersAward winning author, Cara Luecht, lives in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin with her husband, David, and their children. In addition to freelance writing and marketing, Cara works as an English Instructor for a local college. Cara graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Currently, Cara is studying for her Masters in Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 27, 2015
My Review:
Brianna enjoyed her life, as a wife and mother, continuously following her everyday routine. But everything changes when Brianna's husband, Anders fires a man, who has a wife and many kids. The bishop of their Lutheran church isn't in anyway pleased with Anders, so he begins seeking ways to punish both Brianna and Anders. Brianna begins noticing that things have become quite strang. She starts seeing dark figures looming around her home, along with ominous boot prints.
Soon Anders and Brianna become tired of all the worrying and deception that, both surround them and fill them. Brianna and Anders decide they should move, but if they move to anywhere in Sweden the bishop will be sure to find them. They believe it is time to venture out into the unknown lands of America. But as they catch a ship over to America, they learn that this will cost them many things. Along with teaching them things they never knew.
Gathered Waters is an amazing book. Having been based on the Authors family, you learn a lot about Cara Luecht's family and all they went through. This book is another great read just like the authors other book the Soul Painter. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from CFBA.
Brianna enjoyed her life, as a wife and mother, continuously following her everyday routine. But everything changes when Brianna's husband, Anders fires a man, who has a wife and many kids. The bishop of their Lutheran church isn't in anyway pleased with Anders, so he begins seeking ways to punish both Brianna and Anders. Brianna begins noticing that things have become quite strang. She starts seeing dark figures looming around her home, along with ominous boot prints.
Soon Anders and Brianna become tired of all the worrying and deception that, both surround them and fill them. Brianna and Anders decide they should move, but if they move to anywhere in Sweden the bishop will be sure to find them. They believe it is time to venture out into the unknown lands of America. But as they catch a ship over to America, they learn that this will cost them many things. Along with teaching them things they never knew.
Gathered Waters is an amazing book. Having been based on the Authors family, you learn a lot about Cara Luecht's family and all they went through. This book is another great read just like the authors other book the Soul Painter. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from CFBA.
April 19, 2015
Gathered Waters is based on the true story of the author’s family’s journey from Sweden to America. I always enjoy good historical fiction—I love learning details of daily life in a time or place I'm not familiar with, and this book provided that. But it also tells the story of a spiritual awakening. Brianna and her husband take a stand and ostracize themselves from the Lutheran Church, and this chronicles the resulting events. On its own, the story is good. But what makes it great is that it really made me think.
In modern-day Christianity, many of us find our faith by watching others. It's easy to forget that not everyone has had that advantage. This book isn't about persecution—well, not in the way I think of the word. Instead, it's about that moment, that one shining moment when God reveals Himself and you can't help but be changed. It's about knowing, deep within your core, with a certainty no one else understands. Having that experience transforms you. You can't go back. You can't forget. Even when things fall apart—and from personal experience, I'll say even when you find yourself desperate to hang on to the few flimsy shreds of faith you still have—even then, you can't deny Him. You can't let go. Because you know deep, deep down that God is real. And that you want more.
I've had those moments, but I've also been lucky enough to see others have the same. But in Gathered Waters, when Brianna and Anders turn their back on the powerful, formal Church-with-a-capital-C, they hadn't really seen this kind of spiritual relationship. They were stepping out in faith, feeling their way along, not sure where it would lead. And yet, what they experienced with God was too powerful to ignore.
That's what had me fascinated and made me think. Would I have found God in that way if I'd lived then and there? Would I have had the courage they did? Because it wasn't easy. I loved following along with them as they found their way.
In modern-day Christianity, many of us find our faith by watching others. It's easy to forget that not everyone has had that advantage. This book isn't about persecution—well, not in the way I think of the word. Instead, it's about that moment, that one shining moment when God reveals Himself and you can't help but be changed. It's about knowing, deep within your core, with a certainty no one else understands. Having that experience transforms you. You can't go back. You can't forget. Even when things fall apart—and from personal experience, I'll say even when you find yourself desperate to hang on to the few flimsy shreds of faith you still have—even then, you can't deny Him. You can't let go. Because you know deep, deep down that God is real. And that you want more.
I've had those moments, but I've also been lucky enough to see others have the same. But in Gathered Waters, when Brianna and Anders turn their back on the powerful, formal Church-with-a-capital-C, they hadn't really seen this kind of spiritual relationship. They were stepping out in faith, feeling their way along, not sure where it would lead. And yet, what they experienced with God was too powerful to ignore.
That's what had me fascinated and made me think. Would I have found God in that way if I'd lived then and there? Would I have had the courage they did? Because it wasn't easy. I loved following along with them as they found their way.
January 9, 2019
In her debut novel, Author Cara Luecht shows a natural talent for painting detailed landscapes and portraits with her written words. Drawing from her ancestor’s personal diary, Luecht shares the struggle of living a life within the constraints of family, social and religious expectations. And she celebrates the freedom found living a life based on faith in a loving God.
Set in 1880 Sweden and told in first person narrative, I immediately connected with the story’s heroine, Brianna Modig and her newfound struggle to find direction away from her family and the strict religious rule that has governed her life.
Having embraced a new faith, Brianna and her husband, Anders, find themselves ostracized by their families, friends and church. As they search for a new balance in their lives and seek God’s will for their next steps, they come face to face with the world around them and the reality of hardships found there.
With the turn of each page I found myself soaring on wings of hope and sinking in the depths of despair right along with Brianna as she leaves behind her sheltered life of ease and steps into the freedom of humility and acceptance. Along the way I was transported across the ocean from Sweden to America and experienced life as an immigrant entering not only a new country, but a brand new life.
Luecht has written a story for anyone looking to find freedom, no matter what is holding them captive. This is a beautiful story and worth reading a few times to grasp all the morsels of wisdom found within its pages.
Set in 1880 Sweden and told in first person narrative, I immediately connected with the story’s heroine, Brianna Modig and her newfound struggle to find direction away from her family and the strict religious rule that has governed her life.
Having embraced a new faith, Brianna and her husband, Anders, find themselves ostracized by their families, friends and church. As they search for a new balance in their lives and seek God’s will for their next steps, they come face to face with the world around them and the reality of hardships found there.
With the turn of each page I found myself soaring on wings of hope and sinking in the depths of despair right along with Brianna as she leaves behind her sheltered life of ease and steps into the freedom of humility and acceptance. Along the way I was transported across the ocean from Sweden to America and experienced life as an immigrant entering not only a new country, but a brand new life.
Luecht has written a story for anyone looking to find freedom, no matter what is holding them captive. This is a beautiful story and worth reading a few times to grasp all the morsels of wisdom found within its pages.
February 18, 2019
Excellent story of one family's emigration journey from Sweden to America. The author, who also wrote Devil in the Dust, is a master storyteller who definitely drew me in.
August 10, 2016
This is one of the better books I've read in a long time. Though it is technically fiction, it is much more than that. It is a fascinating and inspiring story based on memoirs left by the author's grandmother.
The story begins in the 1870s - '80s in Sweden when the state church (Lutheran) basically ruled peoples' lives. The characters in the story dissented from this control and some of the church's teachings, including sprinkling of infants was necessary for their salvation. Dissenters began home Bible studies, and the oppression and intrusion in their lives became constant.
Finally, many of the Swedes left for America. The author's ancestral family gave away or sold everything they had and endured a horrible ocean voyage on a cargo ship for freedom in America.
They landed in Philadelphia and headed for Wisconsin where land was available. The first years were tough but they endured and eventually prospered.
This story was real special to me because several of my Swedish ancestors were in the same situation. They too dissented from the state church and were basically forced to leave through similar intimidation. They fled about the same time and settled among other Swedes in central Minnesota. I have a large wooden box one relative built to carry his only possessions to America.
The story begins in the 1870s - '80s in Sweden when the state church (Lutheran) basically ruled peoples' lives. The characters in the story dissented from this control and some of the church's teachings, including sprinkling of infants was necessary for their salvation. Dissenters began home Bible studies, and the oppression and intrusion in their lives became constant.
Finally, many of the Swedes left for America. The author's ancestral family gave away or sold everything they had and endured a horrible ocean voyage on a cargo ship for freedom in America.
They landed in Philadelphia and headed for Wisconsin where land was available. The first years were tough but they endured and eventually prospered.
This story was real special to me because several of my Swedish ancestors were in the same situation. They too dissented from the state church and were basically forced to leave through similar intimidation. They fled about the same time and settled among other Swedes in central Minnesota. I have a large wooden box one relative built to carry his only possessions to America.
August 10, 2015
a fantastic story based on true events. A story of sacrifice and redemption. While I had to restart the book a couple of times at the beginning, as the beginning of the book seems a little bit slow in some ways, the information at the beginning of the book is vital to the importance of the overall story and explaining the sacrifice that went into the decisions that the family made! if you have a hard time getting into the book at the beginning, stick it out because I promise you it is worth it!
October 12, 2015
A very touching book - but I cannot give it 5 starts because, for me, it was VERY slow reading, especially at first. But then it really picked up about midway through. I loved the fact that this was all inspired by the author's own heritage - by something one of her ancestors wrote.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews