All My Secrets by Lynn Austin

1898 – New York

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.

3 Comments

“The Almighty has a way of bringing good things from our sorrows, if we let Him.”
The world comes crashing down for grandmother Junietta, daughter-in-law Sylvia and granddaughter Adelaide when A.B. Stanhope dies and all their wealth goes to a nephew as the closest male heir. The women have lived so long in the rich and privileged atmosphere that they need to find their way in their new circumstances. “…the memories don’t live in the house. They’re in your heart. You carry them with you no matter where you live.” “…beautiful houses filled with possessions mean nothing if a home lacks love.”
In their struggle, each of the women evaluate what really counts in life. Told from three points of view, we see secrets revealed, lessons learned and priorities reexamined.
Forgiveness and hope are big themes as well as finding what God wants for Junietta, Sylvia and Adelaide.
This was a challenging, insightful, beautifully written story with romance, regrets and redemption.
*I received an ecopy of this book from Tyndale through NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

It’s been a while since I read a book by this author but this story has made Lynn Austin a must-read author for me! All My Secrets is the tale of three generations of Stanhope women who’ve known joy, grief, and heartache. Sylvia, the daughter-in-law, was a little harder for me to love but I adored the matriarch, Junietta Stanhope. Mimi Juni proved that wealth and power must never take precedence over love and family, and it was such a joy to witness her wisdom. As the story developed, I was thrilled to see that her granddaughter, Addy, showed great promise in becoming just as special as her grandmother!

All My Secrets is set in New York during the last years of the 19th century and Austin gives readers an excellent view into the lives of the wealthy and affluent families who lived during the Gilded Age. This was a time when women were dependent on their wealthy husbands, and most were content to allow this to happen! Most, that is, until Junietta Stanhope arrived on the scene!

This is a stunning story that I won’t forget, and I’d love to see it made into a movie. If you enjoy historical fiction and Christian romance, please grab a copy of this book. I believe that you’ll be as entranced as I was!!

I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.

A Great Choice for Book Club!

This book is a brilliant meshing of three POVs and three generations. A gilded age tale of three women left to ponder their past, present and future when the son/husband/father dies and their inheritance is reverted from their household.

Quotes that speak to the themes—

“The important thing isn’t what we do, but whether we’re willing to obey God when we do it.”

“I’ve learned that with every choice we make, we’re saying no to other paths.”

“…we shouldn’t do our work because we pity the poor, or because we feel guilty for being privileged, and certainly not because we want to feel good about ourselves when we go to sleep at night. We must do it because our heart overflows with love for God. And because He asks us to love our neighbors.”

I read both the ebook and audiobook and, for the most part, the narrated voices were distinct, easy to understand and maintained vocal inflections that differentiated characters.

Questions for book discussion are included with this stand alone novel and additional resources are available on the author’s website.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language.

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All My Secrets by Lynn Austin