Historical fiction that will grab you from the first line

Beyond the Silence opens with six year old Jimmy hearing the screams of his mother and going in the house to find a strange man hitting and yelling at his mother. When the encounter ends with he and his mother falling down the staircase, all she can say to him is that she loves him and to RUN!

Lillian Porter grew up in a loving home with her grandparents.  When her Grandmother died, her Grandfather and only living relative became a hard, bitter man so it was no big surprise that, when she shared her commitment to go west to nanny a mute boy, her grandfather forbade it and, seeing that she intended to follow through with her commitment, fairly disowned her. Lillian is certain she is following God's plan and is convinced by doing so that all will turn out as it should.

Ostracized by this neighbors, Woody Colton, Jimmy's father, has little business with those he once called friends.  The judge may have found him innocent but they towns people still have their doubts.  His olive farm isn't safe for anyone when things begin to happen around the farm.  Rumors rise up quite heavily when their housekeeper is attacked but those rumors and suspicions aren't consistent with the man Lillian has come to know. Will the strength of those rumors and gossip win out?

I have read other books by Tracie Peterson and enjoyed them thoroughly so was anxious to see what she produced the co-author Kimberly Woodhouse.  I wasn't disappointed.  A little bit of love, a little of mystery, and a lot of historical fiction.  Set in the 1880's, Beyond the Silence won't disappoint, especially if you love historical fiction.  The story will grab you from the first page and the characters are ones that you will love and will stick with you after this story comes to a close. 

This is the author's second book written together, the first being All Things Hidden. There is nothing on the book to indicate that this is a sequel to the first and I certainly didn't feel as if I was missing anything so am going to assume this is a stand alone book.  How refreshing!--at least from my point of view. 

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive one. I am looking forward to other joint efforts by Peterson and Woodhouse.