Lynn Austin: Waiting for Christmas

By Kelly Bridgewater

In this hope-filled Gilded Age Christmas novella from bestselling author Lynn Austin, the year is 1901 and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is descending on New York’s Fifth Avenue.

For the first time in her privileged life, Adelaide Forsythe won’t be swept up in it. She couldn’t be happier about the prospect of a quieter Christmas. That’s not to say her transition from Miss to Mrs. has been without challenge. Though she doesn’t regret marrying for love instead of wealth, she can barely light the hearth or cook more than burnt toast. She feels woefully unprepared to run her own household.

Then, on the first Sunday of Advent, winter winds bring change through two unlikely means: a young orphan boy, hiding near Adelaide’s front steps, and a seasoned housekeeper who seems too good to be true.

The boy, Jack, claims he isn’t an orphan at all and is desperate to reunite his family. Adelaide and her husband Howard work tirelessly to solve the riddle of Jack’s story, while Adelaide’s new endeavors open her eyes to a world beyond her past experience―and all the challenge and possibility it holds. As Christmas approaches, small glimmers of wonder light the way toward the answers Adaleide seeks and the most miraculous gift of all.

 

My Thoughts:

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin is a continuing story of All My Secrets. Austin titles the four parts of the story to go along with the Christmas Advent Candles. This is a feel good Christmas story. I love the heart of Adelaide, and how she wants to help Jack. Even so far as to travel to a less-than-desirable places in New York City. At first, Howard wants to give Adelaide a life that she is accustomed too, but as she keeps purchasing slight things, he feels the purse strings tightening a little more and more. Eventually, Howard as a change of heart. Adelaide and Howard are trying to make a better Christmas for "not an orphan" Jack. All the resources Adelaide and Howard use to try to help Jack pursue his Christmas wish is a delight to watch. The plot was nicely handled and made me want to grab a cup of cocoa and turn on the Christmas music while reading the story. This novella will look nice on my shelf with all her other books. I recommend fans of Lynn Austin's stories or anyone who loves a good historical feel-good Christmas story pick up this story. I believe you will not be disappointed.

I received a complimentary copy of Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Waiting for Christmas

Most Anticipated Historical Romance

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Books that I can't wait to read this Fall. 

(All covers come from Goodreads.)

The Clovertone Charade by Sara E. Ladd

A Token of Love by Carrie Turansky

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin

Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer

Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen

Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witmeyer

What about you? Any covers capture your fancy?

Lynn Austin: All My Secrets

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Bestselling author Lynn Austin returns with a luminous work of historical fiction set amid the opulence of Gilded Age New York, where three generations of women in one family must reckon with the choices they have made and their hopes for the future.

New York, 1898. The only thing more shocking than Arthur Stanhope III’s unexpected death is the revelation that his will bestows his company—and most of the vast fortune that goes with it—to the nearest male heir, leaving his mother, wife, and daughter nearly impoverished. His widow, Sylvia, quickly realizes she must set aside her grief to ensure their daughter, Adelaide, is launched into society as soon as the appropriate mourning period passes. If Sylvia can find a wealthy husband for Addy before anyone realizes they’re practically destitute, there will be little disruption to the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.

Sylvia’s mother-in-law, Junietta, believes their life could use a little disruption. She has watched Sylvia play her role as a society wife, as Junietta once did, despite what it cost them both. Junietta vows to give her granddaughter the power to choose a path beyond what society expects.

But for Addy to have that chance, both mother and grandmother must first confront painful truths about their own choices. Only in bringing their secrets to light can they hope to reshape their family inheritance into a legacy more fulfilling than they ever dared dream.

 

My Thoughts:

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin is a reminder of the bad results of holding grudges and allowing God’s forgiveness to come into a family and change each individual lives. Three different women joined together by blood, but three different life’s paths make them realize how close and important they are actually to one another. The plot was organized into three different perspectives from each individual woman. Current time of 1898 and back to the past to hear the older women’s stories. A little bit of romance. A little bit of learning about the harsh realities of life outside their cushy wealthy lives. The heroines were defined, unique, yet Austin did a wonderful job at allowing them to change from the characters at the beginning of the book to the end except for the matriarch of the family. She already had the transformation, but she wanted to share it with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. The story was written well, and the plot captured my attention, and I couldn’t wait to see how the story ended. Overall, All My Secrets by Lynn Austin is a   story that will capture the reader’s attention and make them question any slight grudges they may be holding in their lives. I will own a copy of this novel to put in my library.

I received a complimentary copy of All My Secrets by Lynn Austin from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Purchase All My Secrets

Most Anticipated Historical Romance Spring 2024

By Kelly Bridgewater

The title says it all.

Here are the Most Anticipated Historical Romances for Spring 2024: (All Images come from Goodreads.)

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin

While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden

If the Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer

Set in Stone by Kimberely Woodhouse (From Amazon)

Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano

The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep (From Amazon)

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin

What about you? Know of any other books that I should add to this list.

Lynn Austin: Long Way Home

 By Kelly Bridgewater

In this gripping portrait of war and its aftermath from bestselling author Lynn Austin, a young woman searches for the truth her childhood friend won’t discuss after returning from World War II, revealing a story of courage, friendship, and faith.

Peggy Serrano couldn’t wait for her best friend to come home from the war. But the Jimmy Barnett who returns is much different from the Jimmy who left, changed so drastically by his experience as a medic in Europe that he can barely function. When he attempts the unthinkable, his parents check him into the VA hospital. Peggy determines to help the Barnetts unravel what might have happened to send their son over the edge. She starts by contacting Jimmy’s war buddies, trying to identify the mysterious woman in the photo they find in Jimmy’s belongings.

Seven years earlier, sensing the rising tide against her people, Gisela Wolff and her family flee Germany aboard the passenger ship St. Louis, bound for Havana, Cuba. Gisela meets Sam Shapiro on board and the two fall quickly in love. But the ship is denied safe harbor and sent back to Europe. Thus begins Gisela’s perilous journey of exile and survival, made possible only by the kindness and courage of a series of strangers she meets along the way, including one man who will change the course of her life.

 

My Thoughts:

Long Way Home by Lynn Austin is a historical look into PTSD after World War II. From the first pages, I was captured at the storyline. The story follows two characters chronological through World War II as they struggled to survive and one character as she tries to bring her friend out of PTSD. The characters are crafted with deep hurting and deep pain for the struggles through World War II. It was unique and different to see how the war affected the Jews as they tried to escape. I have never heard of the ship that actually came to Havana and was told to return to Europe with all its Jewish passengers. Why American and South America would not take these passengers makes me scratch my head in wonder. There is romance, but nothing really overarching the hurt on the pages. The story does have a young love from couple, but they try to stay together through all the hurt and damage to their daily lives. I'm still amazed by how much research goes into a World War II novel and what makes it shine on the pages as if I am struggling alongside the characters as they try to survive the horrors done to them by the Nazi's. Austin does a fabulous job at digging deep into their fear as the Nazi's try to take over. Overall, Long Way Home is a unique look at PTSD before it was actually called that. I enjoyed this novel and want to add it to my forever shelf.

I received a complimentary copy of Long Way Home by Lynn Austin from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Long Way Home

Favorite Books of 2021

 By Kelly Bridgewater

I review A LOT. I read tons of books. Some good. Some okay. Some not so good. 

But some are some wonderful that I can not wait to toot their horn. 

Below are my favorite books of 2021:

(All images come from Goodreads.)

Secrets in the Mist by Morgan L. Busee

Dead Fall by Nancy Mehl

Silence the Siren by Michele Israel Harper

Curator's Daughter by Melanie Dobson

Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turansky

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano

Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden

Lost in Darkness by Michelle Griep

What about you? Have you read these books? If so, did you like them too? If you have not read them, please add them to your To Be Read Pile, you won't regret it. 

Lynn Austin: The Wish Book Christmas

 By Kelly Bridgewater

From the bestselling author of If I Were You comes a nostalgic and endearing holiday story that reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones we least expect and don't deserve.

Best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson are looking forward to celebrating Christmas in postwar America, thrilled at the prospect of starting new traditions with their five-year-old sons. But when the 1951 Sears Christmas Wish Book arrives and the boys start obsessing over every toy in it, Audrey and Eve realize they must first teach them the true significance of the holiday. They begin by helping Bobby and Harry plan gifts of encouragement and service for those in their community, starting by walking an elderly neighbor's yellow Lab--since a dog topped the boys' wish list for Santa. In the charming tale that follows, Audrey and Eve are surprised to find their own hearts healing from the tragedies of war and opening to the possibility of forgiveness and new love. 

 

My Thoughts:

The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin welcomes readers back to the familiar characters of If I Were You. Even if you had not read that story, you will still enjoy this novel, but I think to understand and fully embrace the forgiveness story, you need to read If I Were You.  I love reading Christmas stories when it is 93 degrees outside. It makes me smile and bring a warmth to Christmas. Austin crafted a story that a lot of children need to read and understand. Our family does not spend a lot on our boys for Christmas. We plan a trip with each individual child during the year instead. Much better than gifts. I do like the idea of giving three gifts to help others like the Wise Men did to Jesus. I love the Happy Birthday Jesus Party too. We do that in our house too. I love the snow. It was everywhere. Something I want more of. I really enjoyed this story. It shares a wonderful Christmas and life lessons about gifts. Plus, it was a delight to spend time with. I definitely want a paperback copy of this novel to put on my shelf. I highly recommend this book to others.

I received a complimentary copy of The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Wish Book Christmas

Lynn Austin: Chasing Shadows

 By Kelly Bridgewater

For fans of bestselling WWII fiction comes a powerful novel from Lynn Austin about three women whose lives are instantly changed when the Nazis invade the neutral Netherlands, forcing each into a complicated dance of choice and consequence.
Lena is a wife and mother who farms alongside her husband in the tranquil countryside. Her faith has always been her compass, but can she remain steadfast when the questions grow increasingly complex and the answers could mean the difference between life and death?

Lena’s daughter Ans has recently moved to the bustling city of Leiden, filled with romantic notions of a new job and a young Dutch police officer. But when she is drawn into Resistance work, her idealism collides with the dangerous reality that comes with fighting the enemy.

Miriam is a young Jewish violinist who immigrated for the safety she thought Holland would offer. She finds love in her new country, but as her family settles in Leiden, the events that follow will test them in ways she could never have imagined.

The Nazi invasion propels these women onto paths that cross in unexpected, sometimes-heartbreaking ways. Yet the story that unfolds illuminates the surprising endurance of the human spirit and the power of faith and love to carry us through.

 

My Thoughts:

Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin is a World War II delight to ponder and think about. This plot stuck with me long after I was reading and while I was reading, I kept thinking of what America is slowly walking into. With practically every World War II novel that I read, I can't stop flipping through the pages to see how the story would end. I have read so many stories in this era that I know the Nazi's were defeated in April 1945, so when the story starts with a countdown, I now that the characters are coming to the end of their story. This story stuck a little closer to home because of the political lies and propaganda that is floating through America's culture. Overall, I adored this novel. I can't wait to purchase a copy and place it on my shelf with all my other World War II novels. I highly recommend this story for anyone who is marveled about the heroics of this generation OR to anyone who is frightened by the path that America is taking.

I received a complimentary copy of Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Chasing Shadows

Lynn Austin: If I Were You

By Kelly Bridgewater

From bestselling and eight-time Christy Award-winning author Lynn Austin comes a remarkable novel of sisterhood and self-discovery set against the backdrop of WWII.

1950. In the wake of the war, Audrey Clarkson leaves her manor house in England for a fresh start in America with her young son. As a widowed war bride, Audrey needs the support of her American in-laws, whom she has never met. But she arrives to find that her longtime friend Eve Dawson has been impersonating her for the past four years. Unraveling this deception will force Audrey and Eve's secrets--and the complicated history of their friendship--to the surface.

1940. Eve and Audrey have been as different as two friends can be since the day they met at Wellingford Hall, where Eve's mother served as a lady's maid for Audrey's mother. As young women, those differences become a polarizing force . . . until a greater threat--Nazi invasion--reunites them. With London facing relentless bombardment, Audrey and Eve join the fight as ambulance drivers, battling constant danger together. An American stationed in England brings dreams of a brighter future for Audrey, and the collapse of the class system gives Eve hope for a future with Audrey's brother. But in the wake of devastating loss, both women must make life-altering decisions that will set in motion a web of lies and push them both to the breaking point long after the last bomb has fallen.

This sweeping story transports readers to one of the most challenging eras of history to explore the deep, abiding power of faith and friendship to overcome more than we ever thought possible.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

World War II is a fascinating genre to dive into. I honestly believe it is the last generation full of heroes who would die for this country. So when I read the synopsis for Lynn Austin's latest novel, If I Were You, I couldn't wait to read it. I was nice to see a story that takes place during the Blitz in London. Most stories enjoy sharing about Hilter's regime in lower Europe. Not that England wasn't thrown for a huge disaster too; it was just nice to read something a little different. I loved seeing Eve and Audrey as they struggled with crossing the lines of money and kept their friendship going strong. This story was a delightful way to spend a couple of days. I got lost in the story and enjoyed the ending. It fit well for the whole purpose of the story. Overall, If I Were You by Lynn Austin takes readers for a ride through the horrors of World War II but allow the friendship of two women to hang on the balance. A delightful story. A must read for fans of Sarah Sundin, Melanie Dobson, and Cathy Gohlke.

I received a complimentary copy of If I Were You by Lynn Austin from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase If I Were You

About the Author:

From Amazon

For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Hope College and Southern Connecticut State University to work as a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.

Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother, and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.

Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.

Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels have won Christy Awards for excellence in Christian Fiction: Hidden Places (2001), Candle in the Darkness (2002), Fire by Night (2003), A Proper Pursuit (2007), Until We Reach Home (2008), Though Waters Roar (2009) While We're Far Apart (2010), and Wonderland Creek (2011). She was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame in 2013. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film. (Taken from Amazon.)

Lynn Austin: Legacy of Mercy

By Kelly Bridgewater

Having returned to Chicago, young socialite Anna Nicholson can't seem to focus on her upcoming marriage. The new information she's learned about her birth mother continues to pull at her, and she hires Pinkerton detectives to help her find the truth. But as she meets people who once knew her mother and hears stories about the past, Anna soon discovers that some secrets are better left hidden.

At the same time, unflattering stories about Anna are leaked by someone who would love to see her disgraced and her engagement broken. And as Anna tries to share her faith with her society friends, she understands that her choice to seek God's purpose for her life isn't as simple as she had hoped.

When things are at their darkest, Anna knows she can turn to her grandmother, Geesje de Jonge, back in Holland, Michigan. Geesje's been helping new Dutch immigrants, including a teen with a haunted past, adjust to America. She only hopes that her wisdom can help all these young people through the turmoil they face.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

I'm not that familiar with Lynn Austin's writing, but I know a couple of writer friends who believe Austin is the greatest writer out there. The synopsis and the cover for Legacy of Mercy grabbed my attention, and I decided to give her a try. Being a historical romance, I had a pretty good idea what I was in for. A story set in the past filled with characters who tried to solve a conflict and learn to fall in love with a member of the opposite sex. The story kept my attention.

Austin does a wonderful job at inviting me into the world of the late nineteenth century in Chicago, Illinois. The society and the social clubs sprang from the page as well as my imagination. I enjoyed spending time here and loved following Anneke as she traveled to find out about her real birth parents. I love a story with a good treasure hunt, either from the present or the past. Legacy of Mercy does exactly that.

The hunt for Anneke's biological's parents kept me riveted to the page. I wanted to find out who her parents were and if her mother was actually married when she gave birth to Anneke. I flew through the pages and couldn't wait to see the end result. The story was nicely woven together, and Austin really tells a wonderful story. The story is told from Anneke's perspective and her grandmother in Holland, Michigan. Austin tells the story but doesn't confuse me. She puts subheadings, which helps makes it easier for me to follow whose perspective I'm in.

I liked how Anneke wanted more out of her life than attending society clubs and parties to be seen. She wanted to do what God suggested and help the poor, orphaned, and widowed. I liked her character the most. She was a woman after God's own heart. Something we should all strive to be.

Overall, Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin is an enduring tale of God's love and is populated with interesting characters who are on a treasure hunt for what is true. I believe fans of historical romance like Jen Turano, Judith Miller, and Lorena Seilstad would enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

About the Author:

From Amazon

For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.

Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother, and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.

Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.

Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels have won Christy Awards for excellence in Christian Fiction: Hidden Places (2001), Candle in the Darkness (2002), Fire by Night (2003), A Proper Pursuit (2007), Until We Reach Home (2008), Though Waters Roar (2009) While We're Far Apart (2010), and Wonderland Creek (2011). Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film. (Taken from Amazon.)