Review of Sunlight Burning at Midnight

I woke up feeling worse than blah. Defeated, like a wannabe who’ll never make it.

Then I discovered my external hard drive, which had rescued my business when my computer started to crash, was in the death throes itself. Waves of discouragement rolled over me as it hit me that my book was on there…and my graphic design stuff…and all those pictures since the twins were born. All John’s baby pictures. So much work. Gone. Years of it.

I know there are worse things. Of course. But when you’re already down, a thing like that can make it mighty hard to get up again.

Misery Loves Company


I’d recently gotten a book in the mail from a new friend on Instagram. She wrote it and was looking for reviewers.

So in my dejected condition I flopped on the couch to read this true story. I could easily identify with Jessica, the author. Her first child was born about the time I was grieving over our first baby we lost. I remember being at a baby shower around that time and fleeing to the restroom to sob, the pain was so great. The baby celebrated at that shower has always been special to me. He’s now a freshman.

Anyway, her story gripped me as she told about being brokenhearted at a baby shower two years later, even though she was pregnant again. Why cry when you’re pregnant at a baby shower? Because her baby had been diagnosed with a condition that doctors were sure warranted an abortion. Her baby no.2 was still living, but she had no idea for how long.

As I read her incredible story of wave upon wave of unspeakable pain, my own heartaches settled into perspective. I have eight healthy children. Why was I sad?

Then I read as her stressed husband began having unexplained symptoms. The story took an even darker turn. I began to feel ashamed of my whining. My husband is alive and well.

Then, at her darkest moments, a widow with four littles, one severely handicapped, sunlight broke through the midnight.

If you go far enough north, you’ll come to the land of the midnight sun. A painful place to live, but incredibly beautiful.

I read on and on as the pain of her previous years set the stage for a love story so beautiful, so blessed, it could only be real. No novelist would dare to spin a yarn so incredible.


I’m so thankful to Jessica Ronne for writing this book and for sharing it with me. Her faith, honored by God’s breathtaking faithfulness, helped me get through a hard week. Sure enough, God allowed the sunlight to break through my midnight so brilliantly I’m also glad for the pain.

Jess gave me a free copy to share as a giveaway. To win, just leave a comment here or on Facebook sharing a verse that’s helped you get through your darkest moments. Here’s mine:


Isaiah 63:9

Here’s a link to Jess’s blog. Enjoy!



6 thoughts on “Review of Sunlight Burning at Midnight

  1. Rebekah, this books sounds amazing, but I feel like crying just thinking about all the heartache you both have endured! May God continue to sustain our faith through the midnights. Thank you so much for your review. One of the verses I cling to is 2 Cor 5:21.


  2. Well, it’s not a specific verse so I don’t know if I will qualify but when my nephew was born at 21 weeks and only lived a little over an hour, the song that has been so SO powerful is, Sovereign Over Us. Just reminds me to look at the big picture and God has it so under control even if all we can see is what is directly in front of our faces.
    He is with Jesus!!!

    Thanks so much!

    Liked by 1 person

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