The Alliance (The Alliance Book 1)

Booklist's Top 10 Inspirational Fiction2016 Grace Award Winner for Speculative Fiction2017 Christy Award Finalist: Visionary CategoryInc. Magazine's 10 Phenomenal Books for Fall ReadingStraight off the Page's Best of 20162017 Inspy Award Finalist"[An] astute meditation on the intersection between belief systems and the politics of aggression." ~Publishers WeeklyWhen Leora Ebersole sees the small plane crash in her Old Order Mennonite community, she has no idea it's a foreshadowing of things to come. Soon after the young pilot, Moses Hughes, regains consciousness, they realize his instruments were destroyed by the same power outage that killed the electricity at the community store, where Englischers are stranded with dead cell phones and cars that won't start.Moses offers a sobering theory, but no one can know how drastically life is about to change. With the only self-sustaining food supply in the region, the Pacifist community is forced to forge an alliance with the handful of stranded Englischers in an effort to protect not only the food but their very lives.In the weeks that follow, Leora, Moses, and the community will be tested as never before, requiring them to make decisions they never thought possible. Whom will they help and whom will they turn away? When the community receives news of a new threat, everyone must decide how far they're willing to go to protect their beliefs and way of life. Review "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." ~Publishers Weekly"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 apocalyptic novel may leave the reader wondering, 'What would you do?' [L]ike watching a movie develop[.]" ~Romantic Times, 4 stars"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"The Alliance is a gripping story that shows how cultural differences drop away in the face of life-altering circumstance and only the most deeply held truths survive. I raced to the end and wanted more. Can't wait for the conclusion of this series!" ~Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love and A Voice in the Wind "Jolina Petersheim's The Alliance is a cut above. Lovely prose, a fascinating concept, and a great 'what if?' storyline makes this unique novel a sure winner. Petersheim just gets better and better." ~J.T. Ellison, New York Times Bestselling Author of No One Knows"I've just discovered rising star Jolina Petersheim, and I'm hooked! The Alliance was a mesmerizing peek at what might happen if everything we thought we believed was suddenly tested. I can't wait for the next installment!" ~Colleen Coble, author of Mermaid Moon and the Hope Beach series"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"Readers will not want to leave the world portrayed in The Alliance, even as it falls apart around them." ~Erika Robuck, author of The House of Hawthorne"Ah, the simple life--that's wh