This story will for surely tug on your heartstrings as you journey with Peggy as she tries to help her friend Jimmy as he returns from WWII a different man. She looks in his rucksack and begins to contact the people he interacted with during the war.



In this dual timeline, you meet Gisela who is a young lady from Germany who is also a Jew. Her story takes place 7 years earlier than Jimmy's but will draw you in and leave you wondering how Jimmy and Gisela are going to interact.



I want to be like Peggy, advocating for my friends and family even when it hurts! This at times is a hard story to read but there is so much good in it.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I've read all of Lynn Austin's books, and they are so good. But Long Way Home is the best one so far, and I've said that about her last three! I keep thinking how she could come up with an even better book, but she does! Long Way Home is a gripping, can't-put-it-down story from page 1. I love the way each of her characters' stories move towards one another in a suspense-filled, powerful path of redemption. I've read a lot of WW2 fiction, and this is the best by far. Her research about the period and events is amazing. I've learned things I never knew before. Long Way Home is not just for female readers.

Lynn Austin's Long Way Home is exactly what I would expect from her. I thought it was a great read and am giving it five stars.

This Was a Very Emotional Read!

Following the lives of Giselle, Sam, Jimmy and Peggy was a journey… An emotional journey. I was so moved by different parts of this story. I learned some historical things that I did not know and I will be looking up. This is one of those books that you will continue to process after putting it down.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

Lynn Austin has done it again in Long Way Home! It is the heart-wrenching story of Jimmy who returns from serving as a medic during WWII with battle fatigue, today called PTSD. He is not alone in this second battle as many of his comrades in arms are also struggling. His story is intertwined with one of a young Jewish girl, Gisela, who struggles to find safety and a home during and after the war. It is a story of friendship, love, family, faith, and hope overcoming the darkness. It illustrates the impact the kindness of one person can have in the life of another.

Lynn wanted to bring to light the sacrifice our service men and women made to overthrow the Nazis and the second front they faced when they came home. She also makes the readers aware of the aid given to the Jews by many and the long journey the surviving Jews had in finding a home after the war.

The book is rich with scripture that is as applicable today in our current fight against evil as it was to Jimmy and his friends. It is scheduled for release June 21, and you can preorder it at https://www.tyndale.com/fiction/historical?sort=featured&tab=all&zed=tab-all. I give it five stars! .

I was very impressed with the research that went into this book. Lynn’s retelling of historical events was incredibly accurate. I appreciate that she didn’t gloss over events that showed countries like the United States and Canada in a bad light. She also showed characters going through real crisis of Faith and allowed them to do so without becoming preachy and giving the reader simplistic answers to difficult questions. Most importantly, I felt Lynn’s depiction of her Jewish characters was done with great respect and true compassion.

The one challenge I had with the book was the writing style. It seemed a bit simplistic. However, I think that simpler way of writing will make the story more approachable for a wider range of readers.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#LongWayHome #NetGalley

As someone who has lived and worked within the Jewish community for over 25 years and knowing people who still carry the tattoos, I’m always a bit hesitant with Christian fiction’s depiction of certain events during WWII. Lynn Austin’s compassionate and sensitive latest release, Long Way Home was so well done. Not only was it beautifully written with characters I’m still thinking about days later, but she gave the reader “real” people to depict one of the most shocking acts of mistreatment and negligence of the Jewish people—the true story of the ship the St. Louis.

I had known about this tragedy, but Austin gave me a more vivid understanding of how we as a nation and as people of faith failed profoundly. That said, this not a “preachy” story, just a story that holds up a mirror with a compelling story.

Written as a dual timeline with two protagonists—young Peggy fighting for the survival of her friend upon his return from the war, and Gisela fighting for her life as the Nazis seek their annihilation and humiliation. The timelines merge organically and in a creatively bittersweet way.

Austin tells the stories of the true heroes of the war—soldiers, victims, and those who love them. Brutally realistic as it depicts before, during, and after the war. Bravo!

The strong faith thread was so well done. How does one believe in a loving God, when such atrocities were committed against men, women, and children? Austin takes the reader on a believable journey that includes no pat answers, but instead explores truth.

With as much emphasis on post-war as wartime plots, I learned so much from this book.

Highly recommended for historical, WWII, and romance fans.

I was given an eBook arc from Tyndale via #NetGalley for my honest review.

I had never read a Lynn Austin book before, and was excited to read this one. I don't know how the writing in this book compares to her others, but this isn't my favorite book.

I had a hard time forming any sort of emotional attachments to the characters. I could put myself in the story-her descriptions are great. I could hear the planes and feel the bombs, but just didn't care what happened to the characters, and in fact, I found Peggy to be irritating. I didn't understand why she was letting her dad and Donna run her life in such a way. She just seemed weak to me.

*I was given this ebook by NetGalley to review. Opinions are my own*

Long Way Home was a very moving story with some sad moments, as well as joyous ones. I felt for the characters deeply. I couldn't imagine living Gisela's life and experiencing what she did. It was heartbreaking to read certain parts of this story... even more so because I knew that it wasn't entirely fiction.

The characters were great. It felt like they were real people and they all had different journeys to go through.

All in all, Long Way Home was a great read and one that I recommend. I just wish that the ending wouldn't have come so quickly and we would have had a bit more time with the characters. I look forward to seeing what Austin's next book is going to be about.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

Absolutely fantastic book! I love the way Austin weaved the stories together, and she wrote about some important aspects of the war. Thank you for allowing me to read and review this!

Lynn Austin has gifted us with another wonderful read. This is a WWII novel and we follow a Jewish girl Gisela Wolff, we meet as a teen, but follow to adulthood, amid the madness and evil that took hold in Germany and spread its tentacles. The Holocaust, which we must never forget, the hate for a group of people, that soon included more and more groups of people, and the atrocities that were committed.
I loved how the title resonates all the way through this read, and it becomes more and more poigent all the way to the end.
We also walk in Peggy Serano's shoes, and young woman who wears her heart on her sleeve, and will go to any length to help those she loves. What do these two women have in common, besides residing in a world full of hate, well, a young man named Jimmy Barnett, and we live his time in this madness through the eyes of these women.
With tough subjects and horrible decisions, condemning some to death, and then the aftermath as most of the atrocities come to light and how to deal with them. Not a lighthearted story, but one we should never forget!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale, and was not required to give a positive review.

Lynn Austin has written another WWII historical novel, this one dealing with theodicy and PTSD. Jimmy Barnett, a young man of faith and son of the local veterinarian, attempted suicide on Decoration Day 1946. Now he is in a VA Hospital undergoing insulin shock and electroshock treatments. Neighbor Peggy Serrano looked to Jimmy as a surrogate older brother. She is determined to figure out why Jimmy has lost both his faith and the will to live.

Peggy contacts Jimmy’s Army buddies in hopes of learning what may have triggered his despair. She found a photo of a nurse among Jimmy’s things bearing the name Gisela. The novel alternates between 1946 upstate New York and Gisela’s backstory in Europe, beginning with Kristallnacht through the end of the war. The author depicts how being an eye witness to evil and suffering eroded the faith of this caring young medic. The road back for Jimmy and Jewish refugee, Gisela, is not easy. Congrats to Austin for portraying PTSD and the confusion faced by the well-meaning families of these soldiers.

Many readers have experienced stress and loss over the past few years. Perhaps the journeys of Jimmy and Gisela will resonant with those contemplating how a good God would allow so much suffering.

I absolutely loved this book with two compelling heroines, dual timelines, and a lot of other characters who came to life and shared their stories with me. This novel carries with it an important lesson about the everlasting power of God's love. He will not desert us even when the world beats us down.

The story starts in 1946 with Peggy in Hudson Valley, New York. She's a very young adult who loves her dog, all animals, and her childhood friend, Jimmy, who returned from World War II in an extremely depressed state of mind. Peggy wants to help Jimmy just like he helped her when she was a young child oppressed by bullies.

The next chapter gives us the start of Gisele's story in 1938. She's a Jewish teenager living in Berlin, Germany where Jews are being oppressed. In fact, her father has already been arrested. What will this family do to try to survive the terrors of the war?

I liked how the chapters alternated between these two main characters, and how the novel is told in first person POV by these two women. I also liked how they worked to help others - Peggy is focused on helping Jimmy while Gisele wants to become a nurse.

Most of the characters in this book are respectable and loving, while a few are in need of redemption. I liked how this author weaves into the story an important lesson from the Bible, and the quotation in the epilogue had me in tears. Never doubt the power of God's love!

Peggety, Gisela, Jimmy, Joe, and a host of supporting characters are all affected in their own unique way by the war and trying to cope now that the war is over. Some of them are continuing the battle inside their heads, while others try their best to love and support them. One thing I found interesting was how PTSD was handled at the time. We glossed over learning many of these things when I was a Psych major, so it was interesting to see that history of treating mental illness applied in a real-world application. Fortunately, there are happier times ahead for all of our characters...it just takes a while.

4.5 stars for this historical WWII novel from Lynn Austin. This book follows Peggy in 1946 as she strives to help her friend Jimmy who came back from the War completely altered. It also follows Gisela, a young Jewish German girl starting in 1938 and follows her journey through the war and how she meets Jimmy. Since Jimmy has PTSD, this book was a bit heavier than many of the author's other books, but it was a realistic portrayal of the war and the effect on the soldiers. I enjoyed the story-lines and how they eventually came together, and I really enjoyed the characters and the character development. I was really able to relate to Peggy and appreciated how and why she sought to help Jimmy and his family. This book had a solid faith thread and the question of where God is when evil prevails was addressed and done well. The mental health aspect was treated with grace and was well represented. I also enjoyed learning more about this time in history and seeing a bit more in depth of certain aspects. This book was definitely a tear-jerker but had all of the right things going for it. And there was some positive closure for all of the characters at the end, which also helped ease some of the heaviness towards the end. All in all, one I would recommend to fans of historical fiction with some heavier elements. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Lynn Austin is one of my go-to authors as a church librarian and book club member, so I of course was looking forward to reading this book!

I liked the dual timelines in the book, as well as the characters. Felt so sorry for Jimmy as a patient in a psychiatric hospital, where he seemed to be a “Guinea pig” as far as treatments for his severe depression. I’m thankful for the progress made in that branch of medicine! Peggy was the sort of friend everyone needs, one who sees needs and tries her best to meet them.

Gisela and her story were hard to read but I know very true to the time. I’d never heard of the ship the “St. Louis” and its sad voyage, though I do like to learn of such lost stories from history.

I liked the wrap up of everyone’s story, and there were some surprises! Good for those who enjoy historical fiction. Four and 1/2 stars!

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars - A beautiful must read Christian Historical Fiction this summer with all the truths and struggles of war, friendship, family and faith.

This story is set in WWII and is a dual timeline novel. The dual timeline portion of this story was wonderfully tied together with fully fleshed out characters. We follow Peggy Serrano who can’t wait for her best friend Jimmy to return from the war. However, Jimmy is suffering from severe PTSD from his time in the war as a WWII medic and has returned a completely changed man.

Unfortunately, Jimmy is so distraught he attempts to take his own life and his parents check him into the VA hospital where he is forced to go through horrible psychiatric treatments to “bring him back” or “end his depression”.

Peggy is so devastated by this she is determined to do everything in her power to help Jimmy recover and to figure out what exactly happened during Jimmy’s war experience.

Peggy is such a wonderful character. She is the ultimate friend. She starts piecing everything together for Jimmy and contacts his old war friends to come visit him to help and one friend, Joe decides to stick around for a while. She soon starts to help him as well. Peggy helped everyone she interacted with who needed it and always put others before herself. She is a true hero friend we all need and could use. She has went through so much, being bullied and losing her mother at a young age. Her life story is impactful. She is a beautiful character and I loved her.

The other part of this story follows Gisela Wolff and her family and life during WWII as they try to flee from Germany to safety on the St. Louis passenger ship to Cuba. Peggy finds a picture of Gisela in Jimmy’s things and they’re trying to piece together who she is during the back and forth of the story timeline.

Gisela’s story was my favorite to read of the 2 timelines. It was so impactful and heartbreaking. A very important read.

What the Jewish people had to endure during WWII was absolutely horrifying. This story honors veterans and the Jewish people for what they had to endure. We learn about concentration camp brutality, the Jewish people’s journeys to a better life and being turned away by so many and the War itself, including the aftermath. Gisela was a strong character and someone to look up to.

Both characters have strong faith in God but struggle throughout the story because of all of the horrifying things that happened during WWII, as to be expected during that time.

I truly appreciate all of the details by Lynn Austin regarding WWII. I learned a lot about what happened during the war and I think this i a very important read and reminder about these events that occurred in our history.

The Christian Faith content in this story was very important as well. I love how she has completely centered God in her story and His word. Some of the themes/scriptures referenced include Romans 8:38-39 (Nothing can separate us from God’s love), Job’s story regarding suffering and Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice on the Christ for us.

Thank you to Tyndale Publishing House for providing this free complementary advanced reader copy on NetGalley for me to read and review. All opinions are my own. I will be discussing this book on my YouTube channel BookLoverAmanda when I review all the books I read in May. This book releases in June 2022.

Long Way Home by Lynn Austin was my first book by this author and I’m so glad that I found her. This is a great book with two compelling and compulsively readable story lines that connect. I especially enjoyed the historical fiction elements – the voyage of the St. Louis, a ship taking Jews from Germany to find new homes and the plight of US soldiers returning from WWII with PTSD. The only thing that kept this from being 5 stars instead of 4 was I felt the pacing was sometimes not what I expected, a couple times the story slowed down then others a big chunk of time would pass with a few words. I am looking forward to reading more by Lynn Austin and already have two books of hers lined up to read soon. Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for an early copy to read and review; this book comes out June 21, 2022.

This was my first book by Lynn Austin, and the writing was beautiful and I would definitely give another one of her books a chance, but Long Way Home was just way too heavy for me at the moment. That’s not the authors fault and it’s not even the books fault, but if you need a light read, this is not it.

In this riveting tale with two different heroines, one is seeking to help her neighbor as he struggles with depression after returning home from fighting in the Second World War. The other is a brave German nurse who is hiding her Jewish identity as she works to save lives in Belgium, then is sent to a concentration camp when a coworker betrays her. When suddenly the two lives of these women intersect, readers are offered a satisfying conclusion along with valuable insights into the worlds of displaced refugees and soldiers returning home. An informative and thought-provoking work of historical fiction!