Summer Reading: The Outcast- A review

Happy Thursday everyone!

Instead of doing my regular Guest Scrapper series today wanted take a few minutes to update you on how my summer reading is going and to share one of the books that I just read and LOVE with you as well.  

At the beginning of the year I made the decision to force myself to read more. Reading has always been such a passion of mine, but like many other things it was the first thing to be put on the back burner when life happened.  

It just so happened that it was around the same time that I found out that The Outcast by Jolina Petersheim was going to be released during the summer and I immediately knew that I had to have it!

When I found out that I could pre-order the book and receive it days before its actual release I jumped onto Amazon and snatched it up. Two days later there it was in my mailbox and as soon as I got the girls down for their naps I made my daily cup of Mother's Milk tea and curled up on the couch to dive in.

It's been a while since I have found that kind of book.  You know the one, the book that from the minute you read the first few pages you are so sucked in that you can't put it down.  The book takes place in Tennessee and the main character, Rachel, has found herself in one of the biggest trials of her life. As the mother of an illegitimate child and a member of the Mennonite church, she has been rejected by almost everyone she loves, kicked out of the community, and she finds herself raising her son, who will soon face his own battle, with the help of Ida Mae, an older lady who takes her in and allows her to work in her country store.  Rachel's twin sister Leah and her husband Tobias play integral parts in the story, as well as Tobias' brother who stole Rachel's heart a long time ago.  Jolina does an amazing job of telling Rachel's story through Rachel's eyes as well as through the perspective of Amos, Tobias' father who recently passed away and is overlooking the plot of the story from his place in heaven.  

This book is a beautifully written tale of love, forgiveness, and the grace of God and how it works in our lives.  Through trials and tribulations you see how Rachel and the other characters in the book are changed for the better by allowing God to work in their lives. There were several times while reading this book that I found myself moved to tears and I found myself crying as I closed the book and wishing that the story continued.  

If you are looking for a book to read this summer that will both inspire you and challenge your faith you really need to grab this book off the shelf.  It is all the major bookstores and you can also find it on Amazon.  If you have Prime shipping you can get it in just two days with free shipping! 

So what are you waiting for? GO READ THE BOOK Y'ALL!

*I have received no compensation for reviewing this book. The opinions are completely my own.*