Monday, June 17, 2019

How the Light Gets In

GIVEAWAY
PETERSHEIM, JOLINA
HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN

From the highly acclaimed author of The Outcast and The Alliance comes an engrossing novel about marriage and motherhood, loss and moving on.

When Ruth Neufeld's husband and father-in-law are killed working for a relief organization overseas, she travels to Wisconsin with her young daughters and mother-in-law Mabel to bury her husband. She hopes the Mennonite community will be a quiet place to grieve and piece together next steps.

Ruth and her family are welcomed by Elam, her husband's cousin, who invites them to stay at his cranberry farm through the harvest. Sifting through fields of berries and memories of a marriage that was broken long before her husband died, Ruth finds solace in the beauty of the land and healing through hard work and budding friendship. She also encounters the possibility of new love with Elam, whose gentle encouragement awakens hopes and dreams she thought she'd lost forever.

But an unexpected twist threatens to unseat the happy ending Ruth is about to write for herself. On the precipice of a fresh start and a new marriage, Ruth must make an impossible decision: which path to choose if her husband isn't dead after all.
 


My Review:


Well, I'm gobsmacked! Seriously speechless. This book was everything I didn't expect it to be and that ending!!!! I'm still coasting on the shock waves and it's been a week since I reached the end. A week of mulling over plot points and characters, wondering if I'd actually read what I...well, read! lol And how do I possibly compose a review without revealing spoilers? I'm stymied. 


How the Light Gets In is profound and moving. A raw and honest exploration of grief. And Ruth's grieving is all the more difficult because of her broken marriage. The agony of not being able to go back and change things or have the opportunity to go forward and fix things makes for a heart-wrenching read. But it's also a story that embraces the wonder and hope of new beginnings; of learning from the past in order to build a better future. 


But be forewarned -- there are plot twists galore and Petersheim delivers them with  the kind of impeccable pacing that left me reeling. Left hook after left hook until my head was spinning! So many rich layers -- from setting to characters to that wicked pummel-me-senseless storyline. Phew! Prepare to be caffuzled and addlepated by the time you finish!


GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:


If you would like a chance to win a copy of How the Light Gets In, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 22 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

39 comments:

  1. I've heard a great deal about this book, all of it beyond good! It wasn't even on my radar, but now that I've read your compelling review, I'm putting it in my must-read list. It sounds like the kind of emotionally packed story I crave to read!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. P.S. The highlighting behind the words hurts my eyes, just so you know. It may not bother others though.

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    2. P.P.S. I didn't realize she's the same author of "The Divide". I think you read & reviewed that one here one time. :-) Guess I'm adding that book as well!

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    3. Yes -- The Divide and The Alliance, I think is the title? She's an amazing author. And sorry about the highlight thing. Have no idea how it got there since it doesn't indicate anything is highlighted in the draft. Gah. I tried typing the whole thing over but it kept the highlight. Sorry about that :-( Good luck, Trixi!

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    4. Blogger does that highlight thingy sometimes and the only way to get it off is to delete post and do a new one. It used to frustrate me to no end. Anyway, no worries. This spectacular review deserves to be highlighted! This book was amazing and certainly did leave me caffuzled and addlepated!

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    5. Well, that makes me feel a bit better -- at least it's happened to someone else. :-)

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    6. I tried to share your amazing review and giveaway opportunity, but it wouldn't let me post. It didn't say why it just would not post. Grrr

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  2. Ditto on Trixi's comments and your review was the icing on the cake! A must read!

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  3. My must read book list is getting long! This one may need to move to the top!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Oh, yes, it belongs on the top! Good luck, Melanie!

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  4. Very excited to read this. teshawATsbcglobalDOTnet

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  5. This one has been on my to-read list for a while. So glad to see how much you liked it, Kav. Count me in! :)

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  6. I have this on my TBR pile. Book twinning.

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  7. I've heard a lot of good things about this book and your review just seals it: it's on my "must read" list. Thanks for the chance to win.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  8. I’ve been curious about this one, so I’m really glad to read your review. Looks like I have another book to add to my mile long list! Thanks so much for your amazing review!

    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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    1. Oh yes -- add it to your list and start a second mile! lol It's so worth it! Good luck, Pam!

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  9. I have wanted to read a print copy of How the Light Gets In ~ entering, and agree, how do you write a review that skirts the sides when you are smack-dab in the middle of it?! Blessings, Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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    1. Definitely belongs on your keeper shelf, Kathleen. Good luck!

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  10. I haven't read nay of Jolina's books, but have heard great things about this one!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. She's an amazing storyteller! Good luck, Patty!

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  11. Wonderful review, Kav! I've heard so many fantastic things about this book. It's definitely on my wish list. Thanks for the chance to win!
    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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    1. All the fantastic things you've heard about this book are true, Winnie. Good luck!

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  12. I’ve heard great things about this author and this book. Thanks for the chance. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

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  13. We have her first two books in the church library. If I win this book, it will be given to the library so that others may enjoy reading it also.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Great library addition. Good luck, Janet.

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  14. I’ve heard that this is a great book but your review now has me totally intrigued! Thanks for the chance.
    mindyhoung AT msn DOT com

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  15. Oh, I forgot about this one! I remember hearing about it before, but your review has me adding it to my wishlist. I love a good plot twist, and if it has many, all the better!
    LLWALTZ [at] gmail [dot] com

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  16. I have heard excellent things about this one! Intrigued for sure! Melmo2610ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Everything you heard is true! Good luck, Melmo!

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  17. It is always interesting when there are plot twists!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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