Book Recommendation - All My Secrets

 

Lynn Austin has long been a favorite of mine in the world of Christian fiction. With genre-versatility, she writes beautiful prose in many different styles and excels at each one. Her upcoming release, All My Secrets, mimics the feel of a dual timeline, but not in the traditional sense. The story itself all takes place in the present, but to learn from the mistakes of the past generations, Adelaide must learn the secrets of her mother and grandmother's stories in order to make her own decisions about her life going forward. Here's a bit about the book:

Bestselling author Lynn Austin returns with a luminous work of historical fiction set amid the opulence of Gilded Age New York, where three generations of women in one family must reckon with the choices they have made and their hopes for the future.

New York, 1898. The only thing more shocking than Arthur Stanhope III’s unexpected death is the revelation that his will bestows his company―and most of the vast fortune that goes with it―to the nearest male heir, leaving his mother, wife, and daughter nearly impoverished. His widow, Sylvia, quickly realizes she must set aside her grief to ensure their daughter, Adelaide, is launched into society as soon as the appropriate mourning period passes. If Sylvia can find a wealthy husband for Addy before anyone realizes they’re practically destitute, there will be little disruption to the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.

Sylvia’s mother-in-law, Junietta, believes their life could use a little disruption. She has watched Sylvia play her role as a society wife, as Junietta once did, despite what it cost them both. Junietta vows to give her granddaughter the power to choose a path beyond what society expects.

But for Addy to have that chance, both mother and grandmother must first confront painful truths about their own choices. Only in bringing their secrets to light can they hope to reshape their family inheritance into a legacy more fulfilling than they ever dared dream.

Here is a note from the author's newsletter about the book:

As you can guess from the title, this novel is about family secrets. It tells the stories of three women—grandmother Junietta, mother Sylvia, and daughter Adelaide—and spans history from the American Revolution, to the Gold Rush, the Civil War, and to the Gilded Age. Life in each of those eras had its unique challenges (and secrets!).
I’m hoping this novel will inspire readers of all ages. Younger readers like Adelaide often feel the burden of others’ expectations, along with the pull of culture, telling them what they should do and be. I want to encourage them to discover how remarkably different they are, and to pursue God’s purpose for their life.
Readers who are Sylvia’s age may be facing unwanted changes, such as an empty nest. It’s my prayer that they will look at their gifts and life experiences in new ways and see that God is always ready to use them if they’re willing to embrace change.
I’m closest in age to Junietta, but I’ve discovered that God is still willing to use us if we say yes to Him. I believe it’s important to consider the legacy we’d like to leave for our grandchildren. How might our life stories inspire them? What might they learn from our mistakes? 

“All My Secrets” explores the theme of God’s forgiveness and shows the destructive consequences of hanging onto bitterness and nursing grudges. Those consequences not only affect us, but they have a ripple effect that disrupts the lives of the generations that follow us. Without realizing it, we often repeat the same patterns of those who came before us. That’s why it’s so important to share our stories with the people we love, so they can learn from our mistakes and benefit from our testimonies of faith.
It’s also why it’s important to read the Bible regularly. We see the generations of God’s people at their worst and their best, making mistakes, walking in faith, saved by God’s grace. We read how Israel strayed from God, were oppressed by their enemies, then repented, and turned to God, and were delivered by Him—only to repeat the process all over again within a few generations. Jeremiah wrote this scripture verse during one of the Israelites’ darkest hours, after their temple was destroyed and they were exiled for their sins.
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
I pray that “All My Secrets” will convince readers that God’s forgiveness through Christ is available to anyone who realizes they have “missed the mark.” And in turn, they will be able to forgive others out of gratitude for God’s amazing grace.

This book releases February 6, 2024, wherever books are sold. Be sure to check it out! For more information, check the following links:

Lynn Austin's website: https://lynnaustin.org/

Lynn Austin's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LynnAustinBooks

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6154755954