The book is set around the Johnstown flood of 1889, something I had not previously heard about. The book started out a little disorienting for me as you are immediately thrust into the flood itself and events that surrounded it. The storyline was unique and yet comfortably familiar…an odd but beautiful companionship that is hard to describe. The main character is a bit of a pistol that I related to deeply. The story of forgiveness that is woven throughout the book was a fresh and gentle reminder of Christ’s love and forgiveness for ALL of us, even those who seem the most unredeemable. This book stuck with me for days after finishing it, which for me deems it a true success.

I received an ARC via NetGalley for my honest review of the book.

"To the hills for your lives!"
This is such a well written fiction novel solidly based on the true, horrific flood that nearly destroyed Johnstown, Pennsylvania on Friday, May 31, 1899. Candice Sue Patterson delves into historical records, researching the terrible tragedy and bringing information in a riveting fictional account of the flood and aftermath.
Pastor Montgomery "Monty" Childs has come to Johnstown to start a congregation and follow what he believes is God's call on his life to serve the Lord. He is physically swept up in the nightmare of the devastating flood, it's destruction of human life, property and business. He hears the screams, sees the loss of life. If anyone could lose faith, this could do it. The reader can understand the question, why would God allow bad things to happen to good people, especially children?
Red Cross nurse Annamae Worthington gears up and travels from Washington, D.C. with Clara Barton to help set up emergency care for the surviving victims. There is great depiction of the fledgling service which at the time was in its seventh year. Annamae is a stoic young woman who understands the horror of loss and pain.
I want to thank the author, Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of this book. I have read about the Johnstown flood and how horrible that day was. This book takes the possible life activities of survivors and Red Cross workers along with the true impact of days and months of the continuing disaster. My unsolicited opinion is that this is a meaningful story about faith, the struggle of forgiveness, heroics and the twisted souls of those who violate other human beings. This is a book with lives dedicated to God with a good message of hope, even in the worst of times. We are after all, human.
I look forward to the next book in this new series.

** “The beauty of being set free from bondage is that we don’t have to let the anger and bitterness of our pasts holds us back anymore. We can drop the chains and walk away.” **

Candice Sue Patterson offers an incredible and inspiring first installment of the Day to Remember series with “When the Waters Came,” a telling of the 1889 Johnstown, Pa., floods.

When the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club dam bursts after torrential rains, the town of Johnstown is left in utter devastation. Buildings are destroyed. Lives lost. Families separated. Pastor Monty Childs soon realizes he must find the strength to lead his people through the horror after his own frightening experience.

When Annamae Worthington arrives in town as a nurse working with the Red Cross and its leader, Clara Barton, the two are drawn together to aid the town suffering with injuries and the spread of typhoid. As they grow closer to each other, they realize they must each overcome their pasts to find a path toward acceptance and forgiveness.

“When the Waters Came” is a fictionalized telling of the historic happenings, filled with drama, intrigue, secrets and romance. Patterson does a great job of creating characters that are plucky and inspiring, yet flawed and relatable. She fills the story with some great themes, too, like overcoming bitterness; the need for revenge; the impact of secrets; God has a purpose and a plan, but sometimes it is hard to see; we will always find healing with God (“Never take your eyes off the cross. No matter what happens in your life, you’ll always find healing at the cross”); truth and justice; and the need for healing (“Healing didn’t only consist of the right combination of medicine and methods but of human touch. Kindness. Encouragement. Patience and prayer.”)

Fans of historical fiction will love “When the Waters Came,” which is due out Jan. 1.

Five stars out of five.

Barbour Fiction provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

A series of novels recounting American disasters is off to a wonderful start with Candice Sue Patterson's "When the Waters Came". This harrowing tale depicts the tragedy of the 1889 Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood. If the reader is looking for unicorns and rainbows, he or she will not find them here.

With vivid imagery, Patterson inserts the reader into the story. It is grim, and at times gruesome, with floating bodies and whatnot. Amid the death and destruction, people work together to help others, and romance eventually blooms between Pastor Monty Childs and nurse Annamae Worthington. However, he struggles with his faith, while Annamae wants retribution for victims of the rich and powerful.

While this a work of fiction, Patterson has done impeccable research. Many characters, such as Henry Frick and Clara Barton, actually existed and play important roles. Each chapter opens with a quote, most of which were culled from then-contemporary sources.

Patterson's prose is lovely, and her characters are well-crafted. "The Keys to Gramercy Park" was a solid 5-star read for me. Rating "When the Waters Came" is a bit difficult. There's a lovely HEA, but by necessity things are not tied up in a neat little bow. This is true to history, however. The resilience of the human spirit is a wonderful thing, though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC of this thought-provoking novel.

This book is a great start to a new series. I loved how the author wove fact with fiction to make a story that I couldn't put down. When the Waters Came is full of emotions, a heartbreaking event and forgiveness. If you are a fan of well written historical fiction, you will love this book. 5 stars all the way!
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

“Life is fleeting, as we’ve all learned. We mustn’t live the days granted to us with regrets.”

Creating a fictional story using original source documents incorporated into the book I think would be difficult to do, but the author did an excellent job with the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood. The scene when the waters catch the town by surprise and tragedy strikes make it seem as though you really are a part of the event too.

I liked the dual POV of Monty, the pastor, and Annamae, the Red Cross nurse. I thought this provided a well rounded plot and character development for both Monty and Annamae. They each had past hurts they had to work through and forgive those that had wronged them. Speaking the truth in love is not easy, but how Monty and Annamae challenged each to take a closer look at what was hindering them from moving forward showed that they truly cared. As Annamae told Monty, "Keep your gaze fixed upon the One who created those stars, Monty. He’ll guide you home."

If you enjoy historical fiction with a love story, you’ll want to read this book. It does have an assault that takes place, so I would advise readers to be at least a young adult. It is not graphic, but does tell the extent of the injuries. Be sure to read the author's notes for more information about the event. It was so interesting to read about what was fiction and what was fact.

I was given a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley and Celebrate Lit. I wasn’t expected to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This novel is a fictionalization of the Johnstown Flood. You can tell the author has done her research. The story conveys the shocking greed of the power hungry men in charge.

I especially enjoyed reading about Clara Barton and her contributions to the recovery effort.

Monty is a compelling character as the town pastor with a secret past. Annamae, a new nurse, is also a fascinating point of view character. with her heart set on justice/revenge. The author does a good job weaving their experiences together.

I admired how the author treats Monty's struggle with his faith in the wake of the catastrophic event.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary e-galley; all opinions in this review are my own.

This was a memorable start to a new series and I'll be interested in reading the next book.

It's set during the famous Johnstown flood - I'd read previous books, but this one has an interesting point of view - it's set mainly through the eyes of the local pastor, who also is related to the rich and famous. He hasn't told his congregation about his past, until it all comes out after the flood. Annamae is a nurse in NYC that comes to serve the area with the Red Cross, working directly with Clara Barton. She has an interesting back story, too that comes to light when she meets up with Monty, the pastor. Great history read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This talented author has written a book of historical fiction that is a page turner. I didn’t want to stop. The floods…the people…the images…memorable and real…starting over…the losses…Clara Barton…this novel is like reading a nonfiction personal account of the floods…don’t miss this book…I am eager to read more in this series. I am eager to read more by this author. Thanks Netgalley.

This book was good and explained a lot of good information regarding the Johnston flood . Overall it was a good book .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review the book

When the Waters Came is the first in Barbour Publishing’s A Day to Remember series. Before reading this book I knew facts about the Johnstown Flood of 1889 but as is true of many historical events I hadn’t given a lot of thought to the personal side of this disaster. Seeing this heartbreaking disaster from the perspective of both survivor and someone who came to give aid in the aftermath was interesting. This story also had lots of interesting history about Clara Barton and the Red Cross. The relationship between these characters gave rise to many inevitable questions surrounding heartache and loss and how lives are rebuilt. I am looking forward to more books in this new series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

A Gripping Tale of Resilience and Redemption!

I recently had the pleasure of discovering the writing talent of Candice Sue Patterson through her most recent novel, "When the Waters Came."

Patterson takes the reader on a journey leading up to the Johnstown Flood of 1889 and into the heart of the disaster, immersing them in the harrowing aftermath of a dam break.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of two compelling characters: Monty, the resilient town pastor who miraculously survives the flood, and Annamae, a dedicated nurse with the newly formed Red Cross. The intricate weaving of their experiences adds depth to the narrative and keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Monty's struggle with wavering faith in the wake of the catastrophic event is both poignant and relatable. His efforts to conceal his connection to wealthy figures held responsible for the dam's neglect add a layer of suspense and intrigue.

Annamae's journey is equally compelling, as she grapples with forgiveness amid her personal vendetta against the wealthy responsible for her father's demise. The interplay between her determination for justice and the developing romantic involvement with Monty adds a great dynamic to the narrative.

The novel skillfully explores themes of faith, resilience, and redemption. Patterson masterfully navigates Monty's internal struggles and Annamae's quest for justice, creating a narrative that is uplifting.

"When the Waters Came" is not just a historical drama—it's a testament to the human spirit's capacity to overcome adversity. Patterson's storytelling prowess and the depth of the characters make this book a standout in its genre. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a riveting tale of faith, forgiveness, and the enduring power of the human soul. A true five-star masterpiece!

Historical novel about the Johnstown flood in the late 1800s. I appreciated the historical accuracy, and I did learn a lot, but the story itself was hard to get into. I think more attention to character development would have helped.

This was such an enthralling story about the flooding of Johnstown. I had never heard of this tragedy and the awful circumstances behind it. I loved the way the author weaved in the story of Clara Barton and the Red Cross. Monty and Annamae were such fascinating characters and I enjoyed how they wrestled with their own past throughout the story.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

When the Waters Came is from (new to me) author Candice sue Patterson. it is the first book in a series focused on great natural disaster events in american history. This book focuses on the Johnstown Flood of 1887.

Unlike many other books, this book begins moments before the dam breaks and focuses on what happens during the flood and in the days and weeks after the flood. This is a different take from most books I've read.

the reader experiences the flood from two perspectives:

Monty--the town pastor who survives the flood only because his house got stuck next to the church and he was able to climb to the roof and then into the church attic.

Annamae--a nurse with the newly formed Red Cross who arrives with Clara Barton 5 days after the flood to take care of the people

Annamae finds Monty wandering and brings him to get help at the tent and thus begins their friendship.

Thru the book, Monty deals with wavering faith in God after such a horrific disaster as well as trying to hide his connection to the wealthy men the towns holds at fault for not taking care of the dam. What would they do to learn he was one of the men's nephews and grew up in wealth? But he's also determined to follow the investigation. His past life is revealed just in moments he shares with Annamae or inward reflection.

Annamae's journey through teh book is one of learning to forgive in order to release her bitterness. She lost her father due to the greed of a wealthy businessman and she wants them to pay. And this disaster just fuels her hatred and bitterness--they just CAN'T get off scott free again from taking responsibility. She will do whatever it takes to get them to pay...even if it means telling Monty's secret to the press.

MOnty has to learn how to put aside his love for Annamae in order to help her spiritual journey--and at the same time he has to learn to find strength in his own faith to be able to help others again. How can He share that God is still good after a disaster of godly proportion?

If you have never read anything about the Johnstown flood, I think this book will whet your whistle for more. I have read a lot about it after I first encountered it in the book by Catherine Marshall "Julie". And I love learning more and more about it. Even though it makes you get angry at the Robber Barons of the age.

I will be following this series because it's the type that I enjoy reading.

4 Stars. Very detailed and had a good plot that wasn't always predictable.

**I received this as an ARC copy from the publishers and NetGalley. I wasn't required to write a positive review and all my opinions are my own.

When the Waters Came is a novel based on the Johnstown PA flood of 1889. Many of the characters are real people who were in the town or otherwise involved at the time. Clara Barton and her Red Cross team arrived within days and set up tents to help survivors with food, clothing, housing and medical needs. Having heard of the flood though not knowing all the history and causes for it I found this story fascinating. So many people lost their whole family as well as their livelihood almost instantly as the water ravaged the town. Along with the sadness are real stories of miracles that happened also. The devastation brought them home country together in positive as well
as negative ways. People donated money and supplies to help with the rebuilding of
lives while others descended on the town and stole anything they of value they could get their hands on whether for keepsakes or to sell later. I suppose that hasn’t changed much in our society today. I found this to ge an eye opening read and while very sad at
Ltimes I’m very glad I read it and recommend it highly.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I found myself enraptured by a narrative, from the first page, that transcends conventional storytelling, reaching profound depths that elevate it beyond the ordinary. Deserving more than a mere five stars, this novel masterfully weaves a spellbinding tapestry of faith, resilience, and societal reflection against the haunting backdrop of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. For aficionados of Christian historical fiction and romance, this book is an absolute gem that I wholeheartedly recommend.

Pastor Monty, tending to his flock, harbors a fervent desire for divine intervention amidst the luxury of Lake Conemaugh. The haunting specter of his own privileged past in Pittsburgh society adds complexity to his journey. A flood of historical significance serves as the backdrop for a story that unfolds with a compelling mix of urgency and grace.

The story shifts seamlessly to Annamae Worthington, whose prompt response to the aftermath of the Johnstown flood contrasts with the delayed arrival of the Red Cross. Intertwined with the resurgence of typhoid fever, her journey introduces layers of tragedy and emotional complexity. Amid receding waters, Monty's faltering faith experiences renewal through collaborative efforts with Annamae, fostering a profound connection.

Candice Sue Patterson’s craftsmanship shines as the story explores the aftermath of calamity, encompassing the distribution of supplies, care for orphans, and the collective efforts to rebuild shattered lives. The burgeoning kinship between Monty and Annamae serves as a poignant focal point, a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

As the story continues to develop, readers are swept into the heart of life-changing turmoil. The narrative skillfully navigates the shadows of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, revealing a tapestry of secrets that loom ominously, jeopardizing the delicate connection between Monty and Annamae.

The gifted author skillfully weaves historical events with authentic Christian faith, drawing readers into a realm where faith is tested, resilience takes root, and the subtle intricacies of the human spirit are explored with a tapestry woven with love, compassion, and forgiveness.

I was blessed to receive an eARC of When the Waters Came from Barbour Fiction publishers through NetGalley. It's important to note that I neither had an obligation to craft a favorable review nor received any compensation for my words. These sentiments genuinely reflect my heartfelt assessment and the profound impact this exceptional novel has had on me.

Within 30 days of the release date, I will post this review everywhere including major retailers, Goodreads, BookBub, and my book review blog.

Candice Sue Patterson has written an intriguing read in her newest release, When the Waters Came. I enjoyed reading it and am giving it five stars. I highly recommend it.

3.5 - I enjoyed learning some of the history of an event that I had never heard of before. It was neat to see some of the early workings of the Red Cross and the aftermath and rebuilding process of a natural disaster. The thing that kept me from rating the book higher is that some of the drama between the main characters seemed forced and became annoying to get through. Overall, I liked the book and the history it contained.

When the Waters Came
by Candice Sue Patterson
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Series: A Day to Remember, Book 1
Rated: 5
Obtain: Borrow or buy
Back of the Book: “An act of greed or an act of God?
Introducing a new series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic American disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.
Pastor Montgomery Childs has tended his flock in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for two years. While his pews are full every Sunday, he most desires to see a reckoning between God and the kings of industry who recreate on Lake Conemaugh. The pleasure grounds, flowing alcohol, and business dealings of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club taunts Monty as he works to heal the wounds inflicted from his own privileged childhood among Pittsburgh society. Like Noah, Monty prays against the evil surrounding him, but he never expects God to send a flood.
It takes five days for the Red Cross to respond to the Johnstown flood disaster, but when it does, Annamae Worthington is ready to help. Apprenticing under Clara Barton has prepared her for the job, but nothing can prepare her for the death and destruction that awaits. As if the survivors haven’t suffered enough, typhoid fever ravages the town, resurfacing suppressed emotions regarding her father’s death.
Narrowly surviving the flood and the horrifying things he’s witnessed, Monty’s faith is floundering. Then a Red Cross nurse puts him to work helping with the typhoid fever victims arriving at the hospital tents every hour. Monty and Annamae work together distributing disinfectants and supplies, housing orphans, and serving those left behind. Slowly, his faith resurfaces. A kinship forms between them neither can ignore. But when an investigation into the collapsed dam points to the South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club, secrets emerge that may tear them apart.”

Impressions: I loved this book. On a personal note, I was born in Conemaugh Hospital and have family that have lived in Johnstown since the flood, making this story special to me. I think the history of the flood is so interesting. The author incorporated so many details, bringing this story to life. It was without question an emotionally sobering time for the people of Johnstown and the surrounding area, and I feel like the author did a wonderful job exploring the response of all involved. The main characters were perfectly suited to the fictional aspects of this story. I appreciated the different perspectives of people who were part of Johnstown during this time of history. A little history and a little love made this engaging story a must-read.

Quotes: “All a body can do is focus on what can be accomplished each day. Take care physically and spiritually so one can be of service to others. And most importantly, remember who holds the entire world in His hands.’”

“‘The beauty of being set free from bondage is that we don’t have to let the anger and bitterness of our pasts hold us back anymore. We can drop the chains and walk away.’”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.