Woman's Place: A Novel

Christian Retailing

A Woman's Place is not to be confused with a simple read, heartwarming though it is. Readers will be drawn immediately into the setting by Austin's keep ability to weave story with fact, but it is the deep questions each woman must ask that will keep the pages turning.

Cindy Crosby

.... readers will find A Woman's Place a lovely window into the WWII time period, and a nice book club read with its conversation starters about racism, gender roles, overcoming a difficult past, and forgiveness.
— faithfulreader.com

Debra Kiefat

This was a very satisfying book. Lynn Austin captured the call to arms through the lives of these women who wanted to participate in the war effort. Each of their stories reflects how they faced discrimination and conflict in a time when the roles of men and women were changing.
—armchairinterviews.com

Violet Nesdoly

A Woman's Place is a thought-provoking, eye-opening and worthwhile piece of World War II Americana.
— blogcritics.org

Cindy Mealer

Filled with exciting, relevant conflicts, and rich historical detail, this story will teach and uplift through the lives of four very unique women, who take a stand for their beliefs, forge lasting friendships and discover lasting love.

Women will find solace and understanding between the pages of Ms. Austin's A Woman's Place, as each of these fictional women speak to different parts of a woman's heart. Inspirational, nostalgic, and captivating, A Woman's Place is a must read.
—ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

RomanceDesigns.com

A very compelling story, A Woman's Place has found a place on my 'keeper' shelves. The author captures the essence of each woman with astounding insight; their preconceived notions and their newfound strengths and challenges will have readers cheering them on as they each reach their potential. I was readily able to step into the time of America of the 1940's, with the country at war, and the role-reversal of men and women. The historical details were vivid and deeply researched, while the emotional upheaval of the time was graphically portrayed.

Holly Bowers

I found this book extremely well-written and it draws you into the lives of these four women. I found myself sympathizing with their sorrow and celebrating with their victories. Pick this book up and find out what happens when these ladies question their 'place in life.
— 1340Mag.com

Publishers Weekly

In an engrossing read, three-time Christy Award-winner Austin (All She Ever Wanted; Hidden Places) explores the lives of four women in smalltown Michigan during WWII. The unlikely quartet of heroines a mouthy Italian, a farm girl desperate to go to college, a spinster schoolteacher who's inherited a fortune, and a bored housewife meet and become fast friends when they take Rosie the Riveter jobs at a local factory. On one level, the novel is simply about the bonds that form among the principals, recalling Whitney Otto's How to Make an American Quilt and Lynne Hinton's Friendship Cake. But the subtext, as the title suggests, is about gender roles. Can and should women defy their husbands? What does the Bible say about wifely obedience? Such questions present themselves urgently to each of the four protagonists (and, one imagines, to many of Austin's female evangelical readers). Austin sprinkles some lovely images throughout a newborn's fingernails "like drops of candle wax" and a humorous depiction of inadvertently tipsy church ladies will have readers in stitches. All in all, Austin offers a very enjoyable journey to an earlier wartime America. (Nov.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.