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New Historical Novel from 7-Time Christy Award Winner!In the aftermath of the Civil War, Josephine Weatherly and her mother, Eugenia, struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives when they return to their Virginia plantation. But the bitter realities of life after the war cannot be denied: their home and land are but shells of their previous grandeur; death has claimed her father and brother; and her remaining brother, Daniel, has returned home bitter and broken. The privileged childhood Josephine enjoyed now seems like a long-ago dream. And the God who failed to answer any of her prayers during the war is lost to her as well.
Josephine soon realizes that life is now a matter of daily survival--and recognizes that Lizzie, as one of the few remaining servants, is the one she must rely on to teach her all she needs to know. Josephine's mother, too, vows to rebuild White Oak...but a bitter hatred fuels her.
With skill and emotion, Lynn Austin brings to life the difficult years of the Reconstruction era by interweaving the stories of three women--daughter, mother, and freed slave--in a riveting tale.
My Review:
Once again, Lynn Austin has captured my attention with a compelling story! I must admit that I get an extra jolt of excitement when I hold a new Lynn Austin title in my hands. I've never been disappointed in any of her novels. I want to immediately begin reading; yet, I want to go about it slowly so as to better lengthen the pleasure. When I turn the final page, I sigh with contentment. This is a book that I can easily recommend!
What wonderful complex characters! Three women try to adjust at the end of the Civil War. One, Eugenia Weatherly, the lady of a once-grand plantation, determined to regain her former lifestyle; two, her daughter, Josephine, a practical woman, caught between the rules of the South and present day trials; and three, Lizzie, a former slave, who struggles to understand how to help her family survive with this new freedom. As I read, I found myself sympathetic to each.
Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Bethany House Publishers for my copy.
If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.
If you would like to buy a copy, click here.
4 comments:
I love Lynn Austin as well as this era. I will look for this book.
Oh yes, you do know a good book when you find it! Max Lucado is a favorite of my co-worker, Lynn Austin is very popular at the library, and I must get a copy of that book,"The Reunion" by Can Walsh for the library. Thanks for sharing!
~Dorothy~
(Dan Walsh, sorry)
I love Lynn Austin and have only been mildly disappointed once. That was Wonderland Creek, which I'd had high hopes for. This one sounds terrific. I can't wait to find a copy.
2 Kids and Tired Books
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