Journey Through Words: Book Review: By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer

From the publisher: Remember the Titanic 100 years after its doomed voyage with Tricia Goyer’s fictional portrayal of one woman’s journey. To Amelia Gladstone, this ship means promise of seeing family again. To Quentin Walpole, the Titanic represents a new start in America…if he can get onboard. All seems lost until Amelia offers him a ticket, securing his passage—and bringing him face-to-face with his railroad tycoon father and older brother, Damian. As Amelia works to reconcile father and son, she finds herself the object of both brothers’ affection. Can she choose between two brothers? Or will she lose everything to the icy waters of the Atlantic?

Amelia sets off with her aunt on Titanic's maiden voyage. Her sister lives in the US and has a marriage prospect with whom Amelia has been corresponding with. Her aunt's son, Henry, found himself in some legal trouble and thus missed the voyage. An extra ticket in hand, they're ready to board the ship when Amelia notices an unkempt man being forcefully removed from the ship. Having compassion, Amelia offers him the ticket.

Quentin is rather taken aback by Amelia's generosity. Ever since he spent his inheritance, he's lived a life on the streets in a foreign country. He has seen how people love you when you have money and do away with you when you don't.

From there, it is easily understood that Goyer is retelling the parable of the Prodigal Son. We learn that Quentin's father was in England on his never ending quest to find his lost son. His older brother Damian, who stayed by his father's side, has grown bitter over the entire situation. All of this while romantic interest develops between Quentin and Amelia AND Dominic and Amelia.

Goyer pens a wonderful, heartfelt novel that kept me reading. I had to know how it ended. While this is Christian fiction, we know how it will end. Or do we? I must say, I was seriously questioning how it all was going to unfold and eventually end.

And to be honest, at first, I didn't like Amelia. She seemed too . . . perfect. Then I realised that it wasn't her that I disliked, but parts of myself. I want to be full of compassion and not turn my eye on someone because they may not appear a certain way or be someone that I deem worthy of help. Sometimes I succeed; other times I fail. It wasn't Amelia that I didn't like, but that part of me. Amelia turned into a character that I cheered on, wanting her to survive and have the one man she truly loved. (I found reading about the ship sinking, Goyer's portrayal of her characters had my heart going and it really went out to the poor souls who went through that ordeal.) Ultimately, Amelia is the person that I strive to be.

This was the first Christian fiction book in a long time that kept me reading, turning the pages as fast as I could. I was sneaking in a few sentences whenever I could because I was eager to see how it all ended.

As I stated, this is Christian fiction, so obviously expect Christian overtones. However, I think most mainstream reader who enjoy romantic fiction will enjoy this one.