Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin

Keepers of the Covenant is the second book in Lynn Austin's Biblical fiction series, The Restoration Chronicles. It covers events in the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah, in which the Jews in exile in Babylon are allowed to return to Jerusalem.

The story starts with the events described in the Book of Esther. The king, influenced by Haman, had decreed that the Jews would all be massacred on a set date. Later, he ruled that the Jews would be allowed to defend themselves. The ensuing battle was the basis for the Jewish festival of Purim, which is celebrated to this day.

The priest Ezra is a main character. A Torah scholar, he is chosen to be the spiritual leader of the Jews as they plan and execute their return. He petitions the king to allow the return and receives special favors and an appointment as governor of Jerusalem. Those who travel to Jerusalem with Ezra experience the challenges of being accepted by the Jews who returned from Babylon a few years earlier. Conflict also arises between the Jews and the other inhabitants who do not believe in the God of the Torah.

There's something of interest for everyone. There's action and excitement, a couple of love stories, conflict between characters---and between them and God. This dramatization of the events described in the Bible helped me to better understand the context and meaning. Austin is a master of historical fiction. She has a gift for making you feel like you're part of the story. She uses modern language in conversations so that dialog is not stilted. I have read Return to Me, the first book in this series, but I don't think you'd need to read it first to enjoy and benefit from this story. The characters and story lines are different.

I recommend reading this book (and the entire series) to anyone seeking to learn more about Old Testament history. Author Lynn Austin was a history teacher before she became a writer, so her research is impeccable. I can't wait until the final book comes out next year.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Photo source and to purchase the book: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/keepers-of-the-covenant/328880. 

Return to Me by Lynn Austin

Return to Me is Biblical fiction, and nobody does it better than Lynn Austin.  Based on events of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, it's the story of Jewish exiles returning to Jerusalem from Babylon after 70 years in exile. Ezra and Nehemiah are often skipped over because people think they are just history books without any relevance for today. But, in these histories, God's people face challenges similar to the ones we face today. They try to rebuild the temple despite conflicting messages from the government and interference from pagan neighbors. They try to stay true to their faith, surrounded by idol-worshipers.

The story gets off to an exciting start with Belshazzar's feast where Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall for the Babylonian king. Soon, Babylon is overrun by the Medes and Persians. The conquerors allow the Jews to return to their homeland, and they're given permission to rebuild the temple. Iddo is a priest who, as a child in Jerusalem, remembered the destruction of Jerusalem and being taken to Babylon. His grandson, Zechariah, is studying for the priesthood. Other characters include Iddo's wife, Dinah, and Yael, a girl who is being raised by her father with help from Dinah. Familiar Bible characters, like Haggai, make appearances as the story progresses.

This is the first in a new series, The Restoration Chronicles, by Austin, a Christy Award winner. I always enjoy her books because she has a gift for making you feel like you are part of the story. The setting comes alive for me, a tribute to Austin's diligent research of the Bible and commentaries. Although the story moves a bit slow at times, I recommend this book for anyone who wants to know more about Old Testament history. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Photo source and to purchase the book: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/return-to-me/328871

All Things New by Lynn Austin

The American Civil War has recently ended, and the South is in a shambles. Soldiers have returned home injured both physically and emotionally. Freed slaves have no place to go, unsure of what to do with their new-found freedom. Landowners have lost all their resources for running their farms. The former enemy is now trying to help people rebuild and work together.

In Virginia, Josephine Weatherly, her mother (Eugenia), and their former slave, Lizzie, all struggle to define their futures. Josephine, raised as a Southern lady, realizes that she cannot live the life that was planned for her. Although it bothers her mother, she embraces the prospect of doing her own work and teaching former slave children to read. Eugenia is in denial. She tries to keep up appearances thinking that she can put her life back together and rebuild her plantation, White Oak, to its former glory. Lizzie wants to stay at White Oak and work for the family. She doesn't really trust her the white people in her life, but she feels she has no choice for the time being. Josephine and Lizzie have one thing in common. They both are having a crisis of faith. They are both influenced by the men in their lives whose faith has not been shaken by the turbulent times.

Lynn Austin does a masterful job of weaving the three women's stories together. There's plenty of conflict, and a surprise or two at the end. As with all her historical fiction, she provides details that help you feel that you are living the story along with the characters. Josephine, the rebel, becomes interested in a Yankee, of all things. Lizzie has a secret that comes out at the end. And, Eugenia finally accepts that her new life must be different from the old. The male characters provide interesting insights into the social problems of the time, but this is a story of the women.

The title is based on Revelation 21:5 where Jesus says, "I will make all things new." Read the book and see how this happens! This would be a great Christmas gift for historical fiction lovers.

See details on the Baker Publishing Group site.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

Alice Grace Ripley is a bookworm. She works in a library in the year 1936 during the Great Depression. Could anything be more boring than Alice's life? But, wait, she is also a do-gooder, and she collects books for the library in the underprivileged town of Acorn, Kentucky, in the heart of coal country. When she decides to deliver the books herself, Alice's life becomes an adventure with mystery and romance mixed in.

Alice, the city girl used to all the modern conveniences, finds herself in a mountain town with no indoor plumbing, no washing machines, or electricity. She's supposed to stay two weeks, but she ends up staying much longer. She learns to ride a horse so that she can deliver library materials to patrons in the backwoods as part of a Depression-era government program. She gets very involved in the lives of the locals---their peculiarities, their secrets, and an on-going feud.

I have been a fan of Lynn Austin's writing for a long time. She has the gift of taking you back to the historical period she's writing about. Wonderland Creek is written in the first person. I found myself smiling as Alice familiarized herself with the rustic facilities like outhouses and wringer washing machines. Her experience in Acorn makes her realize how spoiled she had been back home, and she discovers that she can make a difference. The story has everything---a great setting, romance, humor, suspense, mystery.

Read a sample and/or buy Wonderland Creek on Amazon.

Check out my other reviews of Austin's books here.

While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin

July 12, 2011: Just announced. While We're Far Apart is 2011 Christy Award winner in historical fiction category.

During World War II, families around the world were fractured by the cruelty of war. In the United States, soldiers left their families to fight in faraway places while family members and sometimes strangers helped care for spouses and children. The horror of persecution put Jewish families in unbelievable situations, separation by exile---or death. And, the hardest part was not knowing what was happening with loved ones during the separation.

While We're Far Apart is set in New York City during the war. Penny Goodrich has a full-time job and still volunteers to keep the children of the widower she'd like to marry when he decides to enlist. Penny's parents resent her for moving out of their home, and the children resent her for trying to take their mother's place. Living in the same building is Jewish man who came to America to escape persecution. But, he now worries about his son's family who is still in Hungary as well as the prejudices of some of his neighbors.

Family secrets emerge in Penny's family and in that of the children. Prejudice against Jews shows its face in the neighborhood, too. A rich mix of characters, conflicts, and a little romance makes this the most interesting historical fiction I've read lately.

I must admit that Lynn Austin is one my favorite historical fiction authors. Rich in historical detail, her stories draw you in and make you feel like you are really there. I'll be ready to read the next one she turns out. See her website here.

Buy it on Amazon.com. It's available in paperback and Kindle editions.

Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin

Austins' latest novel is a real page-turner. Set during the Prohibition era, the story begins with heroine Harriet Sherwood in jail. As she considers her situation, she recalls that other women in her heritage have run afoul of the law. Her great-grandmother participated in the Underground Railroad, guiding escaped slaves to Canada. Grandmother Bebe was a lifelong member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, having a hand in the closing of a number of saloons and in the passage of the Prohibition amendment. And Harriet's mother, Lucy, was active in the women's suffrage movement.

Harriet spends her time in jail revisiting the lives of her female ancestors, wondering what they would think of her current plight. She worries especially about Grandma Bebe, because Harriet is in jail for transporting illegal liquor! At first, I found it hard to follow the flashbacks, but they were not distracting once I became accustomed to them.

Austin was a history teacher before she became a full-time writer. All of her novels are classified as Christian historical fiction. She is a master of the genre. Not only are readers rewarded with a great story, they get a history lesson at the same time. And it's pretty much painless. Austin artfully weaves the historical facts into the story without being pedantic. In this story, Austin carries us from the Civil War era through the Prohibition era, showing the reader the changes in attitudes toward women as time passes.

This book would make a great Mother's Day gift since it deals with mother-daughter relationships as well as cultural issues. If I had a rating system on this blog, I would give this one the highest marks.

See Lynn's other books on her site.

See my previous reviews on Austin novels.

Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin

-->This book won the 2009 Christy Award for historical fiction. The entire list is here.

I am a fan of Lynn Austin, and I have read all of her books, some of them twice. See her other work on her site here. This one got off to a slow start. Maybe it was because I was reading it in the large-print edition. However, after a couple of chapters, I really got involved in the story of the three orphaned Swedish sisters on their journey to a new life in America.

Austin is a history teacher, so she really gets into the details of life in whatever time period she chooses for her stories. The girls travel on a ship from Sweden to Chicago and encounter plenty of problems on the way. In a way, it’s a coming of age story, because each girl grows mentally and spiritually by the end of the story. Each also finds a love interest, so I guess it’s technically a historical romance.

It’s a great read, and an award winner. What more could you want.