1. All Things New
    Lynn Austin
    Bethany House / 2012 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$16.99 Retail Price$20.00 Save 15% ($3.01)
    4.5 out of 5 stars for All Things New. View reviews of this product. 31 Reviews
    Availability: Expected to ship on or about 04/12/24.
    Stock No: WW208970
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  1. alwaysreading
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Impressive
    July 19, 2014
    alwaysreading
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 5
    All things new is set in post -civil war Virginia and is the story of how God's grace and forgiveness can heal the deepest of wounds.

    Josephine Weatherly, is oldest daughter and has survived the toughest four years of her young life. With the loss of her father and oldest brother Samuel, she knows that it will take all of her family working together if they are to survive and she is willing to break all the rules and traditions of her mother's to make that happen. In an unforeseen event her world is turned upside down when she meets an ex-yankee soldier on her property and as their friendship develops, he begins to challenge her entire way of thinking, from the traditions of the south to her belief in God.

    Eugenia Weatherly is stuck in the past. She longs for her family and the days of where there was only parties and a life of ease. She has almost convinced herself that things could be that way again. But soon she realizes that her son Daniel does not understand what it takes to run a plantation and she begin to understand that she must take control if her family is to survive.

    Lizzy is an ex-slave who while continuing to work at the White Oak plantation, begins to explore her new freedom. Encouraged by her husband to take baby steps, Lizzy enjoys watching her children being able to go to school and to take a break from her work when she decides. In many ways Lizzy was my favorite character in this book.

    I found it interesting that all three of these women found freedom and eventually the courage to discover the life that God wants for them.

    While the biggest part of the story revolves around these three women, there is a great number of secondary characters that where just as interesting. Otis, Lizzy's husband, is such a man of faith. He believes and trust in the Lord to do what's in the best interest of his family even when things do not seem to be going well. Daniel Weatherly and Harrison Blake, two confederate soldiers who return home, but not the same men as when they left. While injured in different ways both men carry deep hatred and bitterness. Alexander Chandler a Yankee soldier who at the Holy Spirits prompting comes to Virginia to try to help its people rebuild. As his friendship with Josephine grows, Alexander begins to find a peace in his spirit, something that he has not felt in four years.

    It is a rare thing that I can find a book that involves such a huge cast of characters that keep me interested throughout an entire book. I thought it was very interesting the way the author ended the book. In some ways it left it open for additional stories, and in other ways it closed the pages. Overall a truly impressive book.
  2. Thistle
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    The Former Things Are Passed Away .. All Things New: learning to let go
    February 17, 2016
    Thistle
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Lynn Austin is one of my favorite authors. I have read many of her books, and enjoyed most of them. All Things New is a work of historical fiction set near Richmond, Virginia at the end of the Civil War. It is very well written. The author doesn't tell what, if any, of the story is based on fact or actual characters.

    I struggled with several characters in the book to the point where I'd like to strangle them. The characters are fro the most part believable, but few are likable. My favorite is Otis. I also like Jo and Alexander.

    The details in the book were fantastic, both in character description and the physical surroundings. The author does a great job of painting the scene. And there's plenty of plot and antagonism in the story (no spoilers). It kept this reader turning pages. It was hard to put down!

    The best part of the story is the parallel rekindling of faith in God and a willingness to take one's burdens to God in prayer, by two of the main characters. The dialogue which encouraged this spiritual growth, both verbal and written, and internal thoughts, was cleverly woven into the story, not tacked on.

    There's a great deal of depth in the issues of this book, which are related to the issues of the Civil War. There's much food for thought, and discussion, if the reader is so inclined. This would be an excellent read for anyone studying philosophy of race or sociology of social status.

    My rating: five stars

    I highly recommend this squeaky clean historical story with a bit of romance woven throughout to any reader who enjoys a good read about courage and faith in difficult circumstances, real or fictionalized.

    I borrowed this book from my local library.
  3. Moonpie
    PRYOR
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A MASTERPIECE!
    January 9, 2013
    Moonpie
    PRYOR
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Lynn Austin is at the top of my favorite authors! I couldn't wait to read this book!

    The Civil War is over and the lives of the wealthy northerners and their slaves are changed forever. Those from the North don't want to accept it and the slaves don't know how to accept it.

    The Weatherly family returns to what is left of their once grand home in Virginia. Eugenia, the matriarch of the family and widowed by the war, plans to continue life as before. She purposes, through sheer strength and determination, to rebuild the life they once had. She has lost one son in the war and looks to her surviving son to return and take his father's place. Daniel comes home angry and shattered by his experiences in the war. He too cannot accept the defeat and seeks revenge on anyone associated with that loss. He could care less about leading the family.

    Her 16 year old daughter, Olivia, is spoiled and selfish and is more than happy to comply with her mother's plans. Twenty-two year old Josephine realizes that their focus must be on surviving the reality of their life now, not reconstructing the past. Although practical in her outlook, she is angry with God for not rewarding her "goodness" and answering her prayers during the war. She has turned away from Him.

    The only slaves that remain on their plantation are Lizze and Otis and their 3 children. They have no clue how to handle their new found freedom and realize they have no place to go. For the first time, Josephine begins to see them as flesh and blood people with feelings and attempts to treat them as equals. This only enrages her mother more.

    Josephine and her family face hardships they have never experienced: lack of food, clothing, and money. She begins to understand that this a small taste of the lives their slaves have always lived. The only difference in Lizze and Otis's life is that they know their children will never be sold or face mistreatment as they did.

    I was astonished at this historical novel. Ms. Austin was a genius not only in how she presented the historical facts about the Post Civil War era, but also in capturing the personal details and emotions that so many different groups of people faced in its aftermath. I never dreamed of what these people actually dealt with.

    In many ways the wealthy families coming back were almost as poor as the slaves, but their situations were made worse because they had no skills or knowledge to care for their daily needs and homes. A culture shock confronted them as they were stripped of their money and lavish, snobbish lifestyles. They were broken people with only their self-righteous pride left.

    The soldiers left as strong, courageous young men only to return shattered emotionally, mentally and some physically. Handicapped individuals then did not have all the medical help and devices to make life easier. Many wished they had died rather than live as a cripple. Some carried the guilt of being alive because their friends died.

    Then there were the slaves who finally had freedom but had no means or knowledge to embrace it. Their fear of their master's abuse was replaced with fear being killed by angry ex-slave owners. If they went away, they had no means to support themselves nor any place to go. In staying they are treated with the same disrespect and left with the workload of a household of slaves. This was a very confusing time for them too.

    Also there were the southerners who fought for the slave's freedom and wanted to help them in making a new life. They found themselves in danger and hated by the bitter white men of the north for whom they blamed for their losses. On the other hand the slaves feared trusting them because they were white.

    As if

    If all this wasn't remarkable enough, Ms. Austin includes one more very important aspect. In a crisis God is always at work whether we realize it or not. We are either drawn closer to Him or turn away. Not only was I a part of the character's thoughts and emotions, but she also enabled me to experience their spiritual journey in such a tumultuous time.

    I will never look at this era the same again. She brought history and the characters alive! This book is a masterpiece you WILL want to read!

    I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
  4. Ron Furgerson
    Fairfax, VA
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: male
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    March 1, 2013
    Ron Furgerson
    Fairfax, VA
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: male
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Nice read according to my wife. I bought it for her.
  5. sunhappygirl
    Taneytown, MD
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    This author is great
    January 13, 2013
    sunhappygirl
    Taneytown, MD
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Lynn Austin writes a book you cannot put down. Her characters are so real that you cry with them. I have read ALL her books & they are fabulous!
Displaying items 1-5 of 31
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