"on this foundation" by lynn austin

Over the past couple years, I've enjoyed reading Lynn Austin's Restoration Chronicles, and I was especially excited for On This Foundation, as it's Nehemiah's story. Nehemiah has been special to me ever since I selected the book of Nehemiah for a project in my Old Testament class at Grace. I really enjoyed reading this fictionalization of Nehemiah's story.

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Stone by Stone, the Wall Will Rise Once More Around God's City

When news reaches him that Jerusalem's wall is shattered and its gates burned with fire, a distraught Nehemiah seeks God's guidance in fasting and prayer. Granted an unexpected leave from his duty as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah sets out for Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall--never anticipating all the dangers that await him on his arrival.

The leaders of the surrounding nations become his fierce enemies, plotting to assassinate him and stop the wall's reconstruction forever. A drought, meanwhile, has left the country impoverished, with many families resorting to selling their children as bondservants just to keep from starving. 

Capturing the rebuilding of the wall through the eyes of a number of characters, On This Foundation is the powerful conclusion to The Restoration Chronicles. This exploration of faith in the midst of oppression offers hope that, in spite of appearances, the gracious hand of God is upon those who believe.

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On This Foundation details Nehemiah's journey from being cupbearer to King Artaxerxes to becoming governor of Judah and rebuilding Jerusalem's wall. But Nehemiah isn't the only focus of the book. Perhaps even more fascinating are the stories of Nava, a young woman who becomes a bondservant to the wealthy Malkijah to help pay off her family's debts, and Chana, the woman Malkijah hopes to marry. Something that I've noticed as I've read this series is that Austin is able to craft very engaging side stories—something that's essential for a tome of more than 400 pages!

I must say that On This Foundation didn't go where I expected (aside from the building of the wall), something I greatly appreciated. In fact, I spent about three quarters of the novel wondering, along with Chana, if Malkijah was someone to be trusted or feared. The way his story turned out (along with the stories of Chana and Nava) was a powerful lesson in trusting God. I always appreciate when authors incorporate biblical lessons without forcing them into the plot!

If you're a fan of biblical fiction—or good historical fiction—then I suggest you pick up this series right away. And now that it's finished, you won't have to wait a year between installments! 5 stars.

Buy the novel.
Read my reviews of the other Restoration Chronicles: Return to Me (4.5 stars) and Keepers of the Covenant (5 stars).

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Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago.

Find Lynn online: website, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"keepers of the covenant" by lynn austin

God's care for his chosen people comes to vibrant life in Keepers of the Covenant, the next installment in Lynn Austin's Restoration Chronicles.

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In one life-changing moment, the lives of the Jewish exiles in Babylon are thrown into confusion and despair when a decree arrives from the king's palace in Susa. It calls for the annihilation of every Jewish man, woman, and child throughout the empire on the thirteenth day of Adar, in less than one year. Ezra, a quiet Jewish scholar and teacher, is suddenly called upon to lead the community as they seek God for a reason for this catastrophe. When a second decree arrives, authorizing them to fight back, Ezra is thrust into the role of military leader as they defend themselves against their enemies.

When the battles come to an end, Ezra's brother Jude is dead and Ezra is required by the Law he so diligently studies to marry Jude's widow, Devorah, and provide an heir. Fatherhood changes Ezra, and he asks God to make a way for him and the other exiles to leave Babylon for good and return to Jerusalem. His prayers are answered and the exiles move to Judea to revitalize worship at the temple---but the fight to keep God's Law is never easy. As more and more of his community are tempted, a new battle emerges . . . this one for the survival of God's covenant and the souls of His chosen faithful.

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Like many 21st century Christians, I don't pay enough attention to the Old Testament, and I'm not quite sure of the timeline of events. I tend to think of the events in the book of Esther in a vacuum, so if you'd asked me who Esther's contemporaries were, I probably would have said, "Um, I think probably Ezra and Nehemiah"--simply because those books are next to one another in the Bible. But I had no idea that the events in Esther took place between chapters 6 and 7 of Ezra. (Austin's Return to Me covers Ezra 1-6.) So I was quite surprised when Keepers of the Covenant opened with Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews on the 13th of Adar.

Before, when I thought of Esther, of course I acknowledged how great it was that God saved His people, but I've always seen it through Esther's eyes. Seeing how the Lord saved his people through Esther from the perspective of the Jewish people scattered throughout the Persian Empire brought tears to my eyes. And really, the 13th of Adar is just the beginning of the story told in Keepers of the Covenant.

While there are a host of characters in this novel, Austin wisely focuses on just four: Ezra, Devorah (Ezra's sister-in-law/wife), Reuben (a Levite whose father was killed on the 13th of Adar), and Amina (an Edomite girl). As their stories progress and intertwine, Austin is able to clearly show God's care both for his chosen people and for the Gentiles.

In the Restoration Chronicles, Lynn Austin isn't just retelling Jewish history--she is bringing it to life on the page. While the books look a bit daunting (Keepers of the Covenant clocks in at 473 pages), the story they tell is fascinating. I couldn't put this book down, and I bet you won't be able to, either. 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of book one, Return to Me.

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Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago.

Find Lynn online: website, Facebook
Lynn Austin is back with the next book in The Restoration Chronicles series, Keepers of the Covenant. Austin weaves together the struggles and stories of both Jews and Gentiles, creating a tapestry of faith and doubt, love and loss. Here, the Old Testament comes to life, demonstrating the everlasting hope displayed in God's unwavering love for His people.

Lynn is celebrating with a Kindle HDX giveaway and a live author chat webcast on October 21st.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 21st. Winner will be announced at the Keepers of the Covenant LIVE webcast event on October 21st. Connect with Lynn for a fascinating evening centered around God's unwavering love for His people. She'll be hosting a Biblical fiction book club discussion, giving away prizes, answering your questions, offering an exclusive peek at the next book in The Restoration Chronicles, and much more!

So grab your copy of Keepers of the Covenant and join Lynn and friends on the evening of October 21st for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 21st!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"return to me" by lynn austin + book giveaway

About the book (from Litfuse): From the Acclaimed Author of Chronicles of the Kings

After decades of exile, the prophesies are coming true—King Cyrus has declared the Jews may return to Jerusalem. Iddo, a priest, is sure this is a sign of God's renewed favor. For too long they've remained in Babylon, and many, including Iddo's sons, are losing the faith that sets them apart. And so only a few choose to leave everything to return—return to their home and their God.

Nothing about their journey to the Promised Land is easy. As hardships mount, even the faithful, like Iddo's beloved wife, Dinah, question the sacrifice of following God's leading. Zechariah, Iddo's oldest grandson, feels torn between his grandfather's ancient beliefs and the family they left behind. But one life-changing encounter with the Holy One gives him insight that will change Zechariah—and history—forever.

Bringing the Old Testament to vibrant life, Return to Me tells the compelling story of two men living by faith in the midst of doubt, the women who love them, and the faithful remnant struggling to rebuild their lives in obedience to the God who beckons them home.

My take: Like many people, I tend to skip over large sections of the Old Testament—sections I deem too "boring" to spend my time on. So I'm very thankful for Return to Me, which brings the book of Ezra to life. At first, I was afraid I would have a hard time finishing this book (after all, it is 455 pages), and I did struggle to get into it at the beginning. But once the Jews began their journey to Jerusalem, I was hooked. After I finished the book, I even continued reading Ezra (Return to Me deals with events through Ezra 6) and looked up a timeline of Old Testament events. (Yes, I should have learned all of this in my 16 years of Christian schooling, but apparently it didn't stick.) I appreciate that Return to Me gave me a bit of a kick in the pants—it reminded me that all of God's Word is important and rekindled my interest in the Old Testament!

Return to Me is completely captivating, and I look forward to reading the next book in "The Restoration Chronicles." This is a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone—it's not just a "girly" book!

My rating: 4-1/2 stars

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.

My giveaway: I received an extra copy of the book from the publisher, so I'm giving it away! Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author: Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago.
You can find out more about Lynn at http://www.lynnaustin.org/.

About the giveaway: Lynn Austin is celebrating the release of Return to Me, the first book in her new Biblical fiction series, The Restoration Chronicles, with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat party.

 
  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Return to Me by Lynn Austin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "Return To Me" Facebook Author Chat Party on October 22nd. Connect with Lynn and friends for an evening of book chat, biblical trivia, prizes, and get an exclusive look at the next book in Lynn's Restoration Chronicles series!

So grab your copy of Return to Me and join Lynn on the evening of October 22nd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 22nd!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."