Where We Belong

I have been a fan of Lynn Austin's books for several years. I had the opportunity to join a launch team to receive a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. So, here goes my very honest review. Lynn has managed, yet again, to bring historical fiction to life in a fun (and educational) way! This time her book follows sisters Rebecca and Flora Hawes on, not one, but many adventures. The book begins in the Sinai Desert in 1890, as the sisters are on a quest to find ancient and original documents verifying the Gospels of the Bible. They are joined on their quest by their butler and lady's maid. Each of the individuals has the opportunity to reflect back on moments from their lives, which takes us back to Chicago in the 1860's. We get to experience many historical moments in time including the Civil War and the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Now, I was a bit leery of the description of the book because, while I love the Bible, I can lose interest very quickly when reading about ancient copies and where they were found. But, Lynn has a God-given talent to make even those historical moments that I can't quite grasp, engaging and interesting. The characters in this book are feisty, fun, and I quickly came to love them! Lynn has a knack of intertwining Jesus and the Bible into her books without being pushy or preachy, and I think a lot of people appreciate that in an author. There were a couple of tear-jerker moments, at least for me, so I believe this book has everything a good Christian novel should. Oh, and I should mention that this book is inspired by the true story of Agnes and Margaret Smith, twin sisters born in Scotland in 1843. I found that to be a bonus to this book. I highly recommend that you add this to your reading list, and be sure to check out Lynn Austin's other novels, as well. Happy Reading!

Two prominent, aspiring sisters. Two hopeless, poor orphans. All wondering what is their place in this world. Who are they to be? What is the point of their life? Some of their dreams are as grand as finding the hidden Scriptures within the hot sands of the Mideastern sands, while others' dreams are simply to survive the day. In her beautiful writing style, Lynn Austin intertwines these individuals' stories into a beautiful account of different people with different backgrounds all discovering the truth of the Scriptures—that it is God who calls us to live for Him and to trust that He “knows when the ends of our days will be. We have nothing to fear.” Different people. Different time. Same God. Lynn Austin beautifully explores these themes with characters that seem to come to life, even though their story is set in the late 1800's. Her writing style is captivating, as it must be to hold your attention for over four hundred pages! Anyone who has read an Austin book, however, will not need much encouragement to read this new, thrilling historical novel. She consistently delivers powerful, well-written, fascinating stories. For those who are unfamiliar with her writing, however, I would encourage you to grab a copy of this book and prepare yourself for an unforgettable adventure that will leave you laughing and, at times, hanging on the edge of your seat…or camel. The laundry can truly wait! I received a free