Helpful Score: 2
I did not want to put this book down. This author writes with depth that could stand up against any secular author, but when I read her books I come away feeling peaceful, which I cannot say about most secular authors. I loved the part where Aunt Batty explains that she could not live w/o books. As a family who have moved across the country a few times, with more boxes of books than most small libraries, Austin hit the heart of at least some of her readers.
Good characters and a few good story lines, branching generations, so suitable for those who like historical and modern fiction, far more than "just" a love story.
Good characters and a few good story lines, branching generations, so suitable for those who like historical and modern fiction, far more than "just" a love story.
Helpful Score: 1
This story is wonderful and a great book to read. I recently saw it on tv as it was also made into a movie with Jason Gedrick playing Gabe. Heartwarming book and movie.
Helpful Score: 1
I absolutely loved this story! You keep thinking you know what's gonna happen and then you think you are not so sure and on and on and on.....
Wonderful characters and simply written, a real easy read.
Wonderful characters and simply written, a real easy read.
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful book! It's full of emotional depth and a bit of mystery about the characters to keep you guessing.
This captivating tale form the best-selling author of Eve's Dauthers has it all- top-notch writing, intrigue, romance, humor, and spiritual truths about the faithfulness of God.
It's 1931 and Eliza Wyatt is a widow with three young children. She faces mounting debts and the survival of her family is all up to her. They have a chance if she can keep the family orchard afloat, but she has no idea how to run it alone. And th ebank is about to foreclose on the mortgage. When Gabe Harper appears at her doorstep Eliza guesses he's no different than teh other men looking for work in exchange for shelter and a hot meal. Her children believe Gabe is an angel sent to help them, but Eliza comes to suspect he may be her brother-in-law who supposedly died in the war and whose name is on the title to the orchard.
Austin elevates Christian historical fiction to new levels, exploring family relationships with integrity and sensitivity.
It's 1931 and Eliza Wyatt is a widow with three young children. She faces mounting debts and the survival of her family is all up to her. They have a chance if she can keep the family orchard afloat, but she has no idea how to run it alone. And th ebank is about to foreclose on the mortgage. When Gabe Harper appears at her doorstep Eliza guesses he's no different than teh other men looking for work in exchange for shelter and a hot meal. Her children believe Gabe is an angel sent to help them, but Eliza comes to suspect he may be her brother-in-law who supposedly died in the war and whose name is on the title to the orchard.
Austin elevates Christian historical fiction to new levels, exploring family relationships with integrity and sensitivity.
Another great story from Lynn Austin. This story has great depth and much inspiration just as her other books do. If you haven't read this or any of the other Lynn Austin books, this is a good one to start with.
Lynn Austin really knows how to draw a reader in to a story. Hidden Places is a great novel and is up to the high standard I've come to expect from Ms. Austin.
I really enjoy Lynn Austin.
I didn't think anything by her would be as good as the "Refiner's Fire" series, but this book is their equal. In fact, in some ways, I like this better than her Civil War trilogy (Refiner's Fire) because she gets her points accross about recovery from childhood abuse and trauma, grief, survival, overcoming, and forgiveness, and, of course, love, without over-preaching it. (This did happen every once in a while in the Refiner's Fire books.)
It seems that in every one of her books that I have read so far, the authors emply a slightly different format or style to get her plot across. In "Hidden Places" the author uses flashbacks to tell the stories about the each character's childhoods to show where their conflicts tie in to the present delima, which is, on the surface, how will a widow, her three children, a injured hobo, and an elderly excentric Christian aunt save the faimily orchard from foreclosure during the early days of the Great Depression.
Often flashbacks confuse things, but, in this book, the stories from the past are well woven into the action of the present.
The characters are well-developed, approachable, and human. The prose is fairly fast paced with good descriptions and detail. The plot is fairly complex. Altogether, I find this a good, thought-provoking read.
I didn't think anything by her would be as good as the "Refiner's Fire" series, but this book is their equal. In fact, in some ways, I like this better than her Civil War trilogy (Refiner's Fire) because she gets her points accross about recovery from childhood abuse and trauma, grief, survival, overcoming, and forgiveness, and, of course, love, without over-preaching it. (This did happen every once in a while in the Refiner's Fire books.)
It seems that in every one of her books that I have read so far, the authors emply a slightly different format or style to get her plot across. In "Hidden Places" the author uses flashbacks to tell the stories about the each character's childhoods to show where their conflicts tie in to the present delima, which is, on the surface, how will a widow, her three children, a injured hobo, and an elderly excentric Christian aunt save the faimily orchard from foreclosure during the early days of the Great Depression.
Often flashbacks confuse things, but, in this book, the stories from the past are well woven into the action of the present.
The characters are well-developed, approachable, and human. The prose is fairly fast paced with good descriptions and detail. The plot is fairly complex. Altogether, I find this a good, thought-provoking read.
This was a delightful book! More so than I was expecting. Lots of backstories so you get to know and love (Or hate lol) the characters. I would have given this book 5 stars but I felt it lacked the period language that I like about these kinds of books. The dialog was much too modern and the book didn't have much of the historical novel feel for me. Overall, it was an easy read and a great story!
I really enjoyed this book. Kept my interest right till the end. Hated to see it end. Lynn Austin is one of my favorite authors.
I really enjoyed this book. It was so easy to read and I liked the way the author tied all the characters' pasts to their current situations and how they viewed their lives. I may not be explaining it well, but the book was great! Sharon E
Awesome story! I had a hard time leaving it alone. You start thinking one way and it turns on you. Great book!
Good Christian romance with suspense. I couldn't put it down!
I really loved this book. I received it on Saturday evening and finished it Sunday morning. Would highly recommend the book.
Loved it, great story
An absolutely wonderful novel by Ms. Austin. I love reading her works, and this one was no exception....a bit of mystery and a whole lot of trust...in ourselves, in other people, and in the Lord to help us when we can't help ourselves. A great book that I didn't want to put down!
From the back cover:
A deep yearning for home had led Eliza to Wyatt Orchards ten years ago. Now widowed with three young children, she faces mounting debts and the realization it is all up to her. But she has no idea how she will run an orchard alone.
When a stranger appears at her doorstep, Eliza guesses he is no different than the other out of luck characters searching for work during the depression. But the familiarity with which Gabe tends to the farm raises unanswered questions. With a vulnerable heart, she is unwittingly drawn to his gentle ways. But Eliza also fears that Gabe hides a past and motives that could jeopardize all she has fought to attain for herself and her children
A deep yearning for home had led Eliza to Wyatt Orchards ten years ago. Now widowed with three young children, she faces mounting debts and the realization it is all up to her. But she has no idea how she will run an orchard alone.
When a stranger appears at her doorstep, Eliza guesses he is no different than the other out of luck characters searching for work during the depression. But the familiarity with which Gabe tends to the farm raises unanswered questions. With a vulnerable heart, she is unwittingly drawn to his gentle ways. But Eliza also fears that Gabe hides a past and motives that could jeopardize all she has fought to attain for herself and her children
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have all of Lynn Austin's books.
A sweet love story. Very touching, with a couple of twists in the story.
This is a great book with a spiritual overview. I enjoyed the storyline tremendously. Very good book. Kudos for Lynn Austin.
My sister and I both read it in about 24 hours. Just a great story!
I loved this book. It made me a Lynn Austin fan.
This was, without a doubt, one of the best books I have read in a long time. I didn't want it to end!
I really enjoyed this book. It is filled with humor as well as heartfelt relationships with history sprinkled in. A good lesson in how our choices always have consequences.
Wonderful story! A very enjoyable read!
Wonderful, wonderful story set in 1930 where everyone is battling the great depression. The story is of 3 strangers who help each other get through some very difficult times--a young, widowed mother of 3 children trying to save her deceased husbands orchard, an older aunt full of great Godly wisdom, & a starving hobo who is seen as an answer to the aunt's prayer for an Angel to help them (his name is Gabriel). The characters are very real, the various struggles are also very real & the book is peppered with wonderful little nuggets of Godly wisdom. I have read most of Lynn Austin's books & as of now this is my favorite.
It is one of those books that I had a hard time putting down. I will look for more books by this author.
Excellent reading!
