Historical Fiction Book Review: If I Were You
About the Book
Title: If I Were You
Author: Lynn Austin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Release Date: June 2, 2020
Click here to purchase a copy of this novel for yourself.
Publisher's Description
“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.”
My Review
If I Were You,
by Lynn Austin, is certainly an unforgettable work of historical
fiction. Sweeping across two decades and continents, this epic novel is
engrossing and thoroughly moving as it tells the remarkable story of two
friends bonded together through love and adversity. This book is
skillfully written and filled with heart, hope, and redemption. From the
gripping plot, to the extraordinary characters, to the compelling
themes, this thoughtful novel delighted my imagination and easily held
my attention page after page making it the type of book I long to ponder
and enjoy. If I Were You is a novel that enriched my life with hours of pleasurable reading time.
Within
this novel, the well-researched details and descriptions ensure that
every moment spent reading this book is a thoughtful experience to be
savored. The well-developed characters are simply captivating and abound
with authenticity and credibility. Their questions, their insecurities,
their fears, their needs, and their desires are wholly believable,
heart-wrenching, and inspiring. As they struggle through much loss and
uncertainty, they grapple with their faith and God’s specific purposes
for their lives. Yet through it all, they demonstrate determination and
courage as they bravely endeavor to help each other and save others
during many perilous situations brought on by war and its aftermath. The
opportunities, the choices, and the trials that the characters endure
are intricately developed, and from them there unfolds a story that is
truly surprising, enriching, and ultimately uplifting.
With
elements of adventure, history, and romance, this novel is one of
faith, friendship, family, and new beginnings. With a thematic emphasis
on courage, forgiveness, love, and acceptance, Ms. Austin has crafted a
story that inspires as well as entertains. Ms. Austin is an incredibly
talented author with a real gift for meaningful story-telling. If I Were You is a book I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys terrific historical fiction.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.
My Reflection
If I Were You
offers more than a moving, historical story. It also affirms the power
of forgiveness, faith, and friendship. As the characters search for
redemption and healing from painful experiences in their past, they also
hope for restoration and wholeness. They seek meaning and purpose for
their lives, and their faith grows as they discover that true wealth is
found in the promises of a merciful God and in the love of friends and
family.
When
historical fiction takes ideas and experiences from the past and makes
them accessible and relevant today, it becomes a powerful and
transformative reading experience that touches my heart and mind beyond
mere entertainment. This book, so rich with the themes of love and loss,
rejection and acceptance, fear and courage, and doubt and faith,
emphasizes that we as individuals need others more than we realize in
order to heal, to grow, to be whole, and to thrive. Through the
challenges and hardships experienced by the characters and the profound
nature of their personal and spiritual growth throughout the novel, I am
reminded that each one of us has a story to share, and each one of us
has a purpose to pursue. Like the characters in this book, I hope that I
too am brave enough to turn trials into opportunities to shine God’s
love and grace brightly wherever darkness and despair may linger.
About the Author: Lynn Austin
“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.” --Biography from Lynn Austin's author page on Amazon.com.
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