This story takes place in Johnstown Philadelphia in 1889, it made me think of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated three states in 2005. The levees surrounding the city of New Orleans had engineering defects that exacerbated the issue. Likewise his tale based on true events, revealed that the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club was aware of the dam's cracks but took no action to stop and /or prevent this tragedy.

Not only was this community trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after a devastating loss of life, loved ones, and mass destruction, but they were also battling typhoid fever.
I enjoyed how the author used the perspectives of Pastor Monty and volunteer nurse Annamae Worthington to tell this story. Annamae is a nurse who is working under Miss Clara Barton, (who founded the American Red Cross.) It was fun to learn that not only was Clara a hospital nurse in the Civil War, but she was a teacher, a patent clerk and mentor to Annamae.

The investigation into why the dam broke, which Monty and Annamae collaborated on, unfortunately points to Monty's uncle, whom Annamae believes is to blame for her father's passing. It's possible that this will be the last straw for their newly discovered love.

Even though the subject matter in this book was difficult to read at times, I couldn't put it down. As the main characters start a new chapter in their lives, the author provides them with hope. Each learns how to let go and deal with life's challenges, allowing God to heal their bodies and wounded hearts.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive 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.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

This has been a powerful story of an historical event I didn’t know much about. The flood that destroyed Johnstown is devastating. I appreciate the historical facts in the story that help readers understand more about this epic event. Can you imagine clinging to a roof as rushing water flows down Main Street? I could hear the screams of people as they begged for someone to save them. The picture I have in my mind is horrifying when I think of how these people suffered.

Monty has been the pastor of the town for several years. He has gotten to know everyone and they have become family to him. Of course there are those in town who may fall by the wayside but Monty wants to reach out to everyone and let them know who Jesus is. When he finds himself holding on for dear life atop a roof, he can’t believe his town is being destroyed. Why would God let this happen?

Annamae has come to help the people during this time and meets up with Clara Barton. What a lesson in history we receive as the author gives us background on The Red Cross and Clara Barton. She takes charge getting food, housing and medical supplies quickly. Working beside her gives Annamae inspiration. There are so many needs that it becomes overwhelming. I like how this team worked tirelessly day after day to help the needs of others. The threat of disease is a big issue as the water supply is contaminated. How tragic it was to survive the flood and then come down with typhoid fever.

When questions start to arise of who is responsible for the dam breaking a mystery starts to unravel. Danger lurks as Monty and Annamae work together to help other as well as try to figure out who was at fault. Secrets start to bridge gaps between friends and cause doubt to surface. Monty tries to keep hope alive but his faith starts to waver. As Monty and Annamae start to grow closer, Clara reminds her to not get close to patients and be professional. But Annamae has grown very fond of Monty and finds herself having feeling for him.

With devastation throughout the story there is also hope. People working together to rebuild, forming new relationships and faith being restored, the author brings a book that captures the human spirit.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

The well-written account immediately drew me in as we witness the impending Johnstown flood from a young pastor’s eyewitness experience. It feels like you are present with those suffering during this horrific devastation. Then the ongoing aftermath unfolds, with its troubles, trials, and trauma, and even a love relationship blossoming amid the devastating tragedy. The compelling plot with its twists and surprises and the authentic characters portrayed bring this fictional retelling of a terrible disaster from US history to life and grab the emotions in the process. The author did a great job presenting a believable and gripping piece that remains in your mind long after reading the story. Could such widespread destruction have been avoided? Actual people are named in the tale, like Nurse Clara Barton of the Red Cross, along with the rich men who refused to consider trying to prevent the impending danger. I received a copy from the publisher to review. All opinions are my own. #WhentheWatersCame #NetGalley

Patterson gives readers a look at the days after the dam breaking, creating several personal stories. The tragedy of the event is shown by the loss of loved ones so many suffered. Many volunteers came to help, including Clara Barton and several medical people, despite the very real threat of typhoid from the contaminated water. In contrast to the volunteers were others who came trying to find trinkets in the mud, souvenirs of the tragedy.

As is often the case after a disaster like this one, people tried to assign blame. Some suggested it was a natural result of the torrential rains, rains that came frequently. Others wanted to blame dam construction and lack of repair diligence by the sporting club that benefited from the dam. Yet others firmly declared the disaster to be a judgmental act of God.

The resilience of people is shown by the determination to live on, focusing on what could be done each day to rise above the tragedy. There is also an emphasis placed on romance. This new series of novels highlighting natural disasters is off to a good start and I'll be watching for the next one.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Confession time – I felt strangely compelled to read When the Waters Came, but at the same time, didn’t expect to enjoy it. Weird, right? Especially as I have enjoyed every other book by this author that I’ve read. And thankfully, I couldn’t have been more wrong. This book is a masterpiece of weaving a fictional narrative with real life events. Bravo.

The story centers around the real life tragedy of the Johnstown Flood in Pennsylvania. Pastor Monty Childs sees his home destroyed and life turned upside down when the waters from the nearby dam course through the area, flattening everything in their path.

Nurse Annamae Worthington trained with Clara Barton to render aid in disaster situation and arrives in Johnstown five days after the dam was breached. She is horrified at the depth of loss and suffering. A past loss has made her sensitive to big business and the cutthroat way its leaders can operate. As the two work together, Annamae’s difficult past collides with a huge secret Monty hasn’t shared with anyone.

As I said at the beginning, I was’t sure how I’d enjoy this story, but the truth is that I was gripped. For the three days this book took, I found myself excited to get into bed and open the pages. This is a masterpiece of threading fiction through history to make reality come alive.

When the Waters Came is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. The views are my own.

Tragedy… Disaster… Heartbreak…

Annamae and Monty have things they each have to work through. Their conflicts are real and their faith is strong. I’ve always felt books like this can help us heal and I’m thankful for writers who allow God to work through them.

I’ve only read a couple books by Candice Sue Patterson. I will look forward to her next.

Audiobook: Read by Natasha Soudek
Natasha read it with light changes in voices for characters. It was enjoyable to listen to and interesting. I love being able to speed it up to my reading speed.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

“Sometimes it takes tragedy to open our eyes to what the Almight has for us. Getting through the tragedy and onto the other side is the hard part.”
Candice Sue Patterson transported me back to May 31, 1889 to the flood in Johnstown, PA. She did such an amazing job describing the events of the flood itself along with the rebuilding necessary that I cried as I read. When the Waters came is filled with quotes from the survivors. It also has some familiar names such as Clara Barton from the Red Cross. This was such a tragedy especially considering the flooding could have been avoided. It was a difficult book to read and yet at the same time, I couldn’t put it down. Immersed throughout the book are lessons to be learned from those who had to cope after losing everything including family members. I highly recommend When the Waters Came for those who appreciate historical fiction.

When The Waters Came by Candice Sue Patterson is the first book I’ve read from her. This story, taken from true events of a catastrophic flood in 1889, was so moving, so heartbreaking, so inspiring. God came through momentously for the survivors of this horrifying ordeal and Candice captured that so beautifully. This is the first of six books based from true event tragedies coming from Barbour Fiction. I hope to read each one of them!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

There are some books that tell a story that sticks with you and you think about throughout your day. Ones that surprise you and encourage you. That make you think. “When the Waters Came” by Candice Sue Patterson was exactly that for me. It was an impulse request on NetGalley. I thought it sounded interesting. Then I read it and from page one, I was swept away to a town in a valley in Pennsylvania.

Patterson writes a story from an event from history that was horrible and unimaginable and tells how beauty can come from it. She has a talent for bringing the reader into the story. I could vividly picture the rain falling, characters climbing for safety, and the aftermath of the flood. And then to feel the joy of families being reunited, a community coming together, and love overcoming hate. I could imagine the healing that came as they found strength and healing in the Lord. It was an absolutely beautiful read and one that will stay with me.

“When the Waters Came” is now available. It is the perfect read for anyone who loves Christian romance fiction, triumph over tragedy and stories based on true events.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. These thoughts are my own.

When the Waters Came kicks off a new historical fiction series from Christian publishing house, Barbour. If the rest of the series is anything like this first installment, readers are in for a treat!

This book recounts the tragedy of the Johnstown flood in the 1800s. While I had heard of this event, I didn’t know much about it, so I was immediately engaged in the historical facts of the book. I also greatly enjoyed the character development of Annamae and Monty. Each had his/her own well-developed storyline and their interactions with each other felt natural, not forced. The faith element in this book was just right--naturally occurring and realistic, not forced or preachy.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I immensely enjoyed reading through this book based off of the historical flooding in Johnstown, PA in the late 1800s. This story has some interesting characters and has Christian views shared throughout the book. Don't let that scare you from finding out the true accounts of what happened when the South Fork Dam failed for it's residents that tragic day. Between the rich history of this story and the tragedies the people of this town went through has me wanting to learn more about that fateful day. I'm looking forward to reading some more books by this author!


*Thank you to NetGalley & Barbour Fiction for an eBook copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion/review of this book!

Wowowow!! This book was _soooo_ good.

I was really glad to have a mostly free Sunday this past weekend; it meant I could spend the bulk of it reading this book! It's action packed (notably so, for covering a fairly short span of time) and asks a lot of tough questions that could just as easily be asked today as 100+ years ago.

The focal point of the book is a true event, a flood that wiped out Johnstown, PA, in 1889. I'd never imagined what it would be like to be in a flood (and in fact recently read about the Noahic flood of biblical times during my quiet time, so that hit home in a new way). Not that I wanted to be in a flood before reading this, but even less so afterwards--yikes. Patterson vividly brings to life the fear, terror, aftereffects, and heartbreak; though it felt hard to read sometimes, the details never felt gratuitous or over the top--simply necessary and powerful. I could tell she'd done her research while writing the book, and not just by the historical quotations at the beginning of each chapter.

The story is multilayered and powerful, taking a hard look at corporate responsibility, natural "acts of God," faith in the midst of incredibly difficult times, and more. Patterson is at the top of her game with this book, and I definitely recommend it (just maybe not at night).

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

It's hard to say that you enjoyed a story about a tragedy, but what I enjoyed was the resilience of the people that was depicted. I wasn't a huge fan of the characters, and the story was okay, but the ending was fantastic. The theme of forgiveness was beautifully done.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Patterson's book is the first installment of a series focused on natural disasters in American history. In this case, the story focuses on The Johnstown (PA) Flood. I was familiar with the Johnstown flood, so I was interested in reading this. I loved the inclusion of Clara Barton, in addition to details on the flood and devastation. I enjoyed the multiple POVs (Monty, the local pastor, and Annamae, a nurse with Clara Barton and the Red Cross who are in town to help). There is a Christian angle, but it's woven throughout the story and is not overpowering. Monty and Annamae are well developed and realistic. I look forward to other books in the series.

This Historical book reveals the Johnstown Pennsylvania flood of 1889. Yet another event I don't remember ever hearing about. As the story unfolds we follow Monty Childs, a pastor in this town. He finds himself questioning his faith and grieving over the loss of so many. As the flood rips through killing many and leaving many children orphaned, it is heartbreaking to learn the facts that led up to this flood. The possibility that something could have been done to prevent it and the lengths to which the wealthy will go to not be held accountable.
The Red Cross is called in to help in the aftermath of the flood as Typhoid fever is breaking out among the survivors, among other health issues. In comes a feisty nurse named Annamae Worthington. She is a dedicated nurse but she also has a burning hatred for the wealthy men that left her an orphan when she was sixteen. As she learns more about the men behind this disaster she seeks justice. In her fight she also finds Monty, a man of faith who compels her to forgive.
Together we see a budding romance develop between Monty and Annamae but we also see them fighting for faith.

I loved the theme of faith that runs through this story. I felt it was very well written and I am excited to read more of the books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-arc of this book as well as the publisher.

Several years ago, I read a book with the children about the Johnstown flood. That was an intense story that kept us on the edge of our seats with suspense. I think it was the only book I had ever seen on that topic, though—until When the Waters Came. I would still have to say that I like The Terrible Wave better, although I liked seeing the cleanup and reconstruction, and learning about the cause of the catastrophe.
Monty had been living in Johnstown for two years, acting as the pastor of one of the churches in that crowded mill town. He was very careful not to let anyone find out about his past, but secretly he wanted, more than anything, to see the power of the industrial kings who vacationed on the lake behind the dam above Johnstown broken. Only when he saw justice meted out on them by God, he believed, would he find peace and healing from the scars of his childhood.
The spring of 1889 was the wettest anyone could remember. As it rained on the Memorial Day celebrations, the rain showed no signs of letting up. Then came the catastrophe everyone have been afraid of. The dam broke. In no time, Johnstown was wiped out and Monty found himself fighting for his life and the lives of everyone he could reach, while he was forced to watch many more being swept past him. 
Five days after the flood, the Red Cross, headed by Clara Barton herself, arrived in Johnstown to help with relief. Annamae was one of the nurses. She had been well trained to help people, but the scale of devastation was more than she could handle. Then, she found herself dealing with suppressed emotions from her father‘s tragic death that insisted on coming to the surface. As she and Monty worked together to care for cholera victims and orphaned children, they found themselves drawn to each other. Both wanted to see justice done to the men. As investigations into the cause of the flood appeared to show that it had not been a natural disaster but man-made, both wanted to see justice dealt out to those who caused it.
I appreciate this author’s careful research, as detailed in the historical notes in the back of the book. When the Waters Came is a vivid story of one of the worst disasters in American history. I enjoyed glimpses of Clara Barton, as well; I don’t think I have ever read historical fiction about her before. I really appreciated the way the author portrayed Monty and Annamae working through grief and anger and learning to let go and let God deal with criminals, rather than trying to see justice done by themselves. I liked what Monty told Annamae at one point: “Everyone’s sins nailed Jesus to the cross. He wrote each of our names in His wounds. Even the ones of those He knew would never ask for forgiveness. That way, everyone would have a fair chance at Heaven if they chose to accept Him.” The one thing I didn’t appreciate so much was that the romance was such a central part of the book; I prefer books without romance, or that have it as a very small factor in the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: Chapter 3: Flood carrying people away, baby nearly drowns. Chapter 4: fire, people burned. Chapter 13: Memory of man dying an awful death. Chapter 19: Fight, man injured badly. Chapter 32: Kiss.

When the Waters Came by Candice sue Patterson is the story of a horrible flood shortly after the Civil War in a small Pennsylvania town. Severe rain brings flooding and when the nearby dam breaks, thousands will lose their lives in a horrible American tragedy. Amidst the ensuing wreckage, two people will discover love and see the power of God at work in their lives, as He brings joy from chaos. Very well written and very inspiring, I really enjoyed this book. It hurts to imagine the pain caused when this happened, but it’s so encouraging to read about the resilience and promise that comes from working together.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher.

Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The year: 1889. The South Fork dam breaks resulting in the whole city being wiped out. It’s a devastating day for the town and its inhabitants. Men, women, children, animals — all helpless to escape the rushing waters. Over 2,000 people including hundreds of children are killed.

Pastor Monty Childs and Red Cross nurse Annamae Worthington meet as they work together after the Johnstown flooding that obliterated the city. As Monty ministers to the survivors that have lost family members and their homes, Annamae cares for their physical wounds and needs. There is a spark between the two that neither have experienced before but between the floods devastation and an outbreak of typhoid fever, both are extremely busy caring for others. As Annamae cares for the wounded, she discovers the flood may not be “an act of God” after all, but the result of negligence from the Hunting & Fishing Club’s wealthy and powerful men that owned the dam. This sparks her desire to see these men held responsible and justice served. Surely Pastor Monty can help her but he’s holding something back- what and why?

Wow, Candice Sue Patterson has done it again. What’s amazing about this story is that so much of it is true. The author weaves real people such as Clara Barton from the Red Cross and real quotes, events and real survivors stories into the mix which make for an emotionally charged, faith filled story. The devastation these innocent people faced was unimaginable and their stories live on throughout these pages. We see so many relatable scenarios presented such as the strong, faith-filled pastor struggling with why has God allowed this tragedy to happen? Or Annamae struggling with anger and forgiveness. These struggles were genuine and it was delicately written and presented in a way that gave God the glory, beauty from the ashes, light from darkness!

The authors note must not be missed at the end of the book. There you will read how much time and effort was put into the study for this book which as you read from start to finish is very evident. I really commend the author for doing an amazing job with the research.

Content: no language, closed door. Death and suffering are themes throughout.

This tragic story based on true historical events was delivered in a way which made me feel the loss and heartache and struggle of the survivors to start fresh.

The story was rich with historical facts between the fictional story developing between Monty and Annamae.

The lesson of forgiveness and how you can only truly moved on when you let go of anger and bitterness came across strong.

I listened to the first part of McCullogh’s story of the Johnstown flood but never finished it. It was such a disastrous happening and possibly could have been prevented.

This story of the event made me feel like I was there, experiencing the horrors as the residents of Johnstown and nearby communities did. Told through the eyes of Monty, a local pastor who survives and Annamae, a Red Cross nurse who comes from Washington, D.C.to help. I felt I could see and hear the trauma of it all.

An interesting historical note is that Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was present in the recovery effort.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. Four stars!