Lynn Austin is an auto-read for me, and The Lumber Baron’s Wife reminded me why. I cared equally about both timelines, which is rare for split-time fiction.

In 1870s Michigan, Hannah Wagner’s grief and self-imposed isolation intersect with Kate Abernathy, a young woman with a troubled past who doesn’t fit in. In the present, Ashley Gilbert moves to Michigan for her husband David’s conservationist job and uncovers Kate’s mysterious disappearance while restoring a historic home. Each woman has a relatable struggle, whether it’s their ache for a stable home, need for acceptance, or the right words to share their faith. Hannah is the character who showed the most growth, and I admired her honest self-reflection toward the end of the book. David, though? His selfishness, like Henry Abernathy’s, grated on me, proving Austin’s skill for crafting flawed, believable characters.

The Christian threads are strong. The story promotes the sanctity of life, serving your neighbor, and witnessing to unbelievers. One of the most memorable scenes is when Ruth, the chaplain’s wife, explains salvation through a courtroom picture: Kate pleads guilty, but Jesus steps in, saying, “Father, I’ll take her guilt. Let me take her place,” and the judge declares, “Justice has been served. You’re free to go” (Romans 8:1, ESV). In doctrinal terms, the act itself illustrates substitutionary atonement—Christ taking the sinner’s penalty—while the verdict captures justification, God’s legal declaration that the sinner is free and righteous in Christ. ❤️

I also value how much I learned through the story. The narrative traces Michigan’s white pine era and the human costs of the lumber boom, the rhythms of Great Lakes life, and how national events like the Great Chicago Fire drove demand for lumber and reshaped communities.

I recommend this to readers of Christian historical fiction, to longtime Lynn Austin fans, and to book clubs. It would pair nicely with Jocelyn Green’s Veiled in Smoke, which mentions the Great Chicago Fire.

Content notes: emotional and physical abuse, drinking, prostitution, abortion.

Disclosure: I received a copy from the publisher and was not required to leave a review. The opinions are my own.