The year is 2117, and Lydia Klein has lived a sheltered life in New Augsburg, a small town established as an oasis in an increasingly secular world. In the face of a government that heavily regulates publishing of explicitly Christian materials, Lydia's family operates a privately owned press dedicated to printing books that proclaim the timeless Word of God.
Faced with the loss of their parents, her brother's unwillingness to carry on the family business leaves Lydia uncertain of the future.
When the charming and polished Zachary Barrett, a wealthy son of the town, expresses interest in marrying her and buying her family's press, she imagines that her problems may soon be solved. But as disagreements and new acquaintances threaten to come between them, will Lydia learn to act out of trust or be trapped in fear?
"It was a delight to journey to New Augsburg, a town a century in the future that has the feel of a century in the past. Through this unique setting and a cast of well-developed characters wrestling with hard choices and heartbreaking losses, Christa Petzold showcases God's unchanging nature and that His truth and His Church will always prevail, no matter what evil is happening in the world. I loved the gentle love story between two characters who were looking to serve the Lord and find their place in His kingdom. Petzold's strong theological background, already familiar to readers of her nonfiction, shines authentically in this debut novel, enhancing the story naturally and adding depth to characters you will long remember."
-Jennifer Q. Hunt, author of the Sorrow & Song Trilogy and the Wisteria House Trilogy"In Christa Petzold's newest book, a novel set almost 100 years into the future, the fears many Christians hold in 2023 have come true. With new laws and policy threatening the Christian worldview, a few hundred Lutherans have withdrawn from the world to a safe-haven in Wisconsin. New Augsburg is named for the setting-a town kept nearly unchanged in a bubble while the streams of time rush around it. The people of New Augsburg are committed to keeping their town's bubble from popping. However, no bubble lasts forever-whether that pointed attack or pressure comes from without or within."
-Sarah Baughman, author of A Flame in the Dark: A Novel about Luther's Reformation"New Augsburg is a page-turner! You won't be disappointed by all the twists and turns along the way."
-Candice Yamnitz, author of Unbetrothed