An insightful and poignant modern-day retelling of the book of Ruth, <em>How the Light Gets In</em> will work its way into readers’ minds and stay there long after the last page. Jolina Petersheim draws the story of widowhood, finding family, and rewriting one’s own life story with great grace and gentle tenderness, once again proving herself to be a standout voice in Christian fiction.
Kristy Woodson Harvey, bestselling author of Slightly South of Simple
Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In chronicles one woman’s experience with motherhood, a fractured marriage, piercing grief, and glimpses of new hope. The setting—a cranberry farm in a Wisconsin Mennonite community—was a new one for me, and I was pulled into its stark and rugged beauty. Petersheim’s gentle retelling of the story of Ruth will both stir and settle the hearts of her readers.
Lauren K. Denton, bestselling author of The Hideaway
I love how Jolina Petersheim translates timeless truths into can’t-put- down fiction. This story’s heart-wrenching conflict had me glued to the page.
Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author of The Masterpiece
Petersheim delivers another intriguing story of love and healing. Add How the Light Gets In to your must-read list.
Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author
Jolina Petersheim writes so vividly that you taste the morning coffee and smell the peat from the cranberry bog. More than this, you will feel the ache deep inside Ruth as she wrestles with the desire for something just out of her grasp. With surprising twists and powerful themes, this story will sink into your soul and give you hope.
Chris Fabry, bestselling author of Under a Cloudless Sky
A page-turning saga, The Outcast is a must read for anyone who has ever been judged by the shallow hearts of man.
Julie Cantrell, New York Times Bestselling Author of Into the Free
Quickly paced, beautifully written, flawlessly executed, I could not put this book down.
SheReads, The Blog Network Recommends
Petersheim sets a retelling of a classic piece of literature against the backdrop of bonnets and buggies…revealing the power of confession and God’s willingness to forgive and restore.
CBA Retailers + Resources
The Outcast is an insightful look at the complexities of living in community while living out one’s faith.
Karen Spears Zacharias, author of Mother of Rain
I have to say I’ve never been a fan of the Amish fiction genre. I’m still not. But Jolina Petersheim’s The Outcast was the only Amish fiction book I’ve ever read from cover to cover.
Ira Wagler, NYT Bestselling Author of Growing Up Amish
In The Midwife, Jolina Petersheim’s thoughtful storytelling illustrates how God’s love can woo us from pain and hiding and into the abundant life He has created.
Denise Hildreth Jones, bestselling author of Secrets Over Sweet Tea
A story of hope and restoration, The Midwife is a tale to be savored
Carla Stewart, award-winning author of Chasing Lilacs and The Hatmaker’s Heart
Masterfully told, The Midwife is a riveting story with enough twists and turns in the plot to surprise any reader — all while exploring the real ethical, moral, and emotional issues surrounding surrogacy.
Saloma Miller Furlong, author of Why I Left the Amish and Bonnet Strings: An Amish Woman’s Ties to Two Worlds
Jolina weaves a brilliant story that lets us absorb the years and grow with her characters. By the time they’re ready to consider the risk of holding out and the cost of letting go, so are we
Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Belle of All Things Southern and author of Heart Wide Open
Jolina’s lyrical storytelling absolutely sings–but it’s her quick-paced plot, complex characters, and insights into the Plain world that made it impossible for me to put The Midwife down.
Leslie Gould, bestselling author of The Amish Midwife
Finally, an apocalyptic novel ablaze with hope. Just the kind of story I champion. A must-read.”
Sarah McCoy, New York Times and international bestselling author of The Mapmaker’s Children and The Baker’s Daughter
Ah, the simple life–that’s what you might think when you pick up a book about an Old Order Mennonite community. And there is a simple beauty to the faith and hope Petersheim weaves through her apocalyptic tale. But the story itself is complex, multi-layered, and all too believable for comfort’s sake. Check your expectations at the door and dive into this parable about what really matters when the dross of the world is burned away.
Sarah Loudin Thomas, author of Miracle in a Dry Season
Captivating. Intriguing. A story that takes us beyond what we believe. This well-written tale marks Jolina Petersheim as a poignant storyteller
Rachel Hauck, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Chapel
Petersheim has written a novel of hope forged in unlikely circumstances and a romance sparked in the cold of despair. Readers of faith who have questioned their place in the world, who wonder what they might become if society’s bounds no longer held them, will be enthralled.
Booklist
This unusual dystopian work mixes hope and faith with fear and cynicism as Leora must determine whether her pacifism is merely adherence to her community’s collective belief or a personal, faith-based conviction as well. How valid is violence in defense of loved ones? Will her community stay true to their convictions and faith? Petersheim (The Outcast) focuses less on the outcome of the destroyed society and more on the internal conflict within the characters in this astute meditation on the intersection between belief systems and the politics of aggression.
Publisher's Weekly
This apocalyptic novel may leave the reader wondering, ‘What would you do?’ [L]ike watching a movie develop[.]
Romantic Times, 4 stars