Chasing Shadows

GIVEAWAY

AUSTIN, LYNN

CHASING SHADOWS

For fans of bestselling WW!! fiction comes a powerful novel from Lynn Austin about three women whose lives are instantly changed when the Nazis invade the neutral Netherlands, forcing each into a complicated dance of choice and consequences.

Lena is a wife and mother who farms alongside her husband in the tranquil countryside. Her faith has always been her compass, but can she remain steadfast when the questions grow increasingly complex and the answers could mean the difference between life and death?

Lena's daughter Ans has recently moved to the bustling city of Leiden, filled with romantic notions of a new job and a young Dutch police officer. But when she is drawn into Resistance work, her idealism collides with the dangerous reality that comes with fighting the enemy.

Miriam is a young Jewish violinist who immigrated for the safety she though Holland would offer. She finds love in her new country, but as her family settles in Leiden, the events that follow will test them in ways she could never have imagined. 

The Nazi invasion propels these women onto paths that cross in unexpected, sometimes heartbreaking ways. Yet the story that unfolds illuminates the surprising endurance of the human spirit and the power of faith and love to carry us through.

My Review:

What an emotional read! Austin takes her readers into the lives of three Dutch women during World War II and delivers a memorable story full of heartache and hope. 

I feel like my eyes were opened as I embraced Lena, Ans and Miriam and lived their stories along side them. I mean, I thought I knew about the Holocaust and the resistance movement but Austin's stirring storytelling turned those facts into deeply emotional impressions. I was reeling by the end. Burst into gut-wrenching sobs of release -- sad, happy, hurting, hopeful tears to match my jumbled emotions.

There are incredibly moving inspirational threads woven throughout this story and i appreciate that the author includes both Christian and Jewish faith arcs. Lena, in her forties, a farm wife and mother, has always relied on her pastor father for spiritual guidance. Her daughter, Ans, rebels against her parents' religion as she makes a new life in the city. And Miriam has never given her Jewish roots much thought other than on the occasional holiday. Over the course of the war, each woman learns to derive comfort and courage from a renewed faith in God. 

I'm struggling to find the right words to describe the impact Chasing Shadows had on me. (Incredible title, by the way, which aptly fits the novel.)  I spotted so many parallels to our tumultuous 21st century times. Particularly in the way some people need a scapegoat to blame when things get tough. And feel the need to lash out at anyone with different ideas, politics or cultural backgrounds. It seems like humanity is destined to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Which is why I think books like this one are so important to read. 

I listened to the audible edtion and was completely transfixed by Stina Nielsen's narration. I hung on her every word as she guided me through the intricacies of war torn Holland. She brought vibrancy and colour to Austin's incredible storytelling. 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is available in paperback or ebook format -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Chasing Shadows, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday June 19 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!