All Things New by Lynn Austin

Lynn Austin is one of my all-time favorite Christian fiction (CF) authors.  One of the first CF books I read in my adult life was her novel Hidden Places.  Lynn writes contemporary as well as historical novels.  She has one Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings.  This is a five-book account of the kings of Israel from Hezekiah to Manasseh.  Sounds boring....but she makes it come alive.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find out her new book, All Things New, was just released.  This novel is set in the aftermath of the Civil War on a Virginia plantation (I love books set in or near my home!).  The main character Josephine is torn between wanting the life she had before the war and trying to change everything she's known to make a better way.  Josephine and her family lost their father and one brother in the way, and Josephine's mother, in particular, is deep in grief.  Her mother wants desperately for things to be the way they were before.  Josephine's surviving brother is full of hatred for the Yankees and the now-free slaves.  Josephine is in favor of letting the former slaves work the land in return for food and shelter, but the rest of her family is against it.  Josephine must try to convince her family this is what they must do to survive.

I thought the book gave a great picture of what life was like for Southern women after the Civil War.  In many cases, they were the ones that had to rebuild their lives.  The story is told through the eyes of three women---primarily Josephine, but also her mother and their former house slave, Lizzie.

Once again, Lynn Austin doesn't disappoint!

My Favorites

It's going to take me awhile to get reviews posted of all the books I've read, so I'm going to do a quick list of some of my favorites in case you need a good book!

Historical
Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin (book one of a three-book series)  Civil War, set in Richmond

Biblical
Magdalene by Angela Hunt

Suspense
Last Light by Terri Blackstock (book one in three-book series)
Uncharted by Angela Hunt

Humor
Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley (book one in a series)
Front Porch Princess by Kathryn Springer (she has other books focusing on different characters)

Romance
The Convient Groom by Denise Hunter

Contemporary
One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury TISSUE ALERT
The Road Home by Tommy Tenney and Mark-Andrew Olson (modern story of Ruth and Naomi)