Chasing Shadows, a Novel

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Written by Lynn Austin For fans of bestselling WWII fiction comes a powerful novel from Lynn Austin about three women whose lives are instantly changed when the Nazis invade the ne utral Netherlands, forcing each into a complicated dance of choice and consequence. Lena is a wife and mother who farms alongside her husband in the tranquil Dutch countryside. Her Christian 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 'illegal' Resistance work, her idealism collides with the dangerous reality that comes with opposing the enemy.Miriam is a young Jewish violinist who immigrated for the safety she thought the Netherlands 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 German 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. Recommendation "Christy Award winner Austin (If I Were You) shines in this excellent tale of three women who struggle to survive WWII in the Netherlands. Lena de Vries and her two young daughters are keeping the family farm going while her husband and son are away at war. In addition to protecting her family, she also cares for the refugees she's hiding from the Nazis. Lena's oldest daughter, Ans, moved to Leiden shortly before the war, eager to leave behind her rural life and her faith. After the fighting begins, she joins the Resistance, putting her on the opposing side of her boyfriend, Erik--a Dutch police officer now working for the Nazis--and leading her to discover she needs her faith more than ever. Miriam Jacobs is a Jewish woman on the run from the Nazis. As a young wife and mother, she leaves everyone she knows behind in hopes of keeping her baby alive. As the three women work to evade and break the Nazi grip on the Netherlands, Austin skillfully portrays the dangers they face as they struggle to survive. This is a must-read for fans of WWII inspirationals." -Publishers Weekly Paperback, 420 pages, discussion questions Show more