As America rises to meet the challenge of World War II, the call for defense workers unites four women at Seneca Shipyards in Michigan. As their li...
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reviews
Jan 11, 2012
Katherine
rated it: 
Any book that makes me cry so much, as well as giggle quite a bit too must be given 5 stars! (Though perhaps, because of just a couple of issues, I should lower it half a star to 4.5... but I liked it, so 5 stars it is!)
I like Lynn Austin's style, and I think she incorporates Christianity into the stories well - it is FAR less heavy-handed/overt than in many other Christian novels I've read (though will be much too Christiany for those who are 'allergic' to books which have Christian More...
I like Lynn Austin's style, and I think she incorporates Christianity into the stories well - it is FAR less heavy-handed/overt than in many other Christian novels I've read (though will be much too Christiany for those who are 'allergic' to books which have Christian More...
Jun 07, 2011
Pattyrflg
rated it: 
Four very different women come together to work at the Stockton Shipyard during World War II.
Jean is a girl from the farm and a large family. She has come to Stockton to help her sister with her three sons while her brother-in-law is overseas. Jean is the youngest of the group, but she is their crew chief.
Virginia (Ginny) is the ultimate wife and mother. But the disregard of her husband and boys sends her to the shipyard to help in the war effort however she can.
Helen is a sch More...
Jean is a girl from the farm and a large family. She has come to Stockton to help her sister with her three sons while her brother-in-law is overseas. Jean is the youngest of the group, but she is their crew chief.
Virginia (Ginny) is the ultimate wife and mother. But the disregard of her husband and boys sends her to the shipyard to help in the war effort however she can.
Helen is a sch More...
Feb 12, 2011
Debbie
rated it:
"A Woman's Place" is a Christian historical fiction set in December 1941 through October 1944. It follows four women from very different backgrounds who start work in a war factory to help with the WWII war effort.
The characters were varied and had realistic struggles. The book was a quick read, and the suspense was created mainly by relationship tensions and concern about those serving in the war. Vivid details about the time period and setting were woven into the story. H More...
The characters were varied and had realistic struggles. The book was a quick read, and the suspense was created mainly by relationship tensions and concern about those serving in the war. Vivid details about the time period and setting were woven into the story. H More...
Jan 18, 2011
Katy
rated it:
This story follows the lives of four very different women brought together in the early years of World War II in a naval shipyard. Each one has been affected by the attack on Pearl Harbor, and they each go to work for their country for different reasons. They face difficult decisions concerning their families, their hearts, and their faith. In the end each of them find that they have grown and matured in more ways than one.
This book wowed me. It's my second time reading Lynn Austin (I More...
This book wowed me. It's my second time reading Lynn Austin (I More...
Sep 22, 2010
Megan
rated it: 
This novel follows a four-woman team as they work in a shipyard in Michigan during World War II.
Jean, the crew chief, has just graduated from high school and dreams of going to college. She has six brothers fighting in the war.
Helen is a wealthy spinster and takes the job to escape from her empty, lonely house and her past.
Ginny is a housewife whose husband and children don't appreciate her. She impulsively takes the job while her kids are at school.
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Jean, the crew chief, has just graduated from high school and dreams of going to college. She has six brothers fighting in the war.
Helen is a wealthy spinster and takes the job to escape from her empty, lonely house and her past.
Ginny is a housewife whose husband and children don't appreciate her. She impulsively takes the job while her kids are at school.
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Aug 13, 2010
Lee
rated it: 
First, let me say that this was a book club selection and it's not a book that I would typically read. But secondly, _because_ it was a book club selection, I tried to find things to like about it. I don't like to go to book club and slam a book, but I found very little to like about A Woman's Place.
The first stumbling block for me was the rather trite and simple writing style. "Tear stained pages"? Really?
The second stumbling block was the way that Austin use More...
The first stumbling block for me was the rather trite and simple writing style. "Tear stained pages"? Really?
The second stumbling block was the way that Austin use More...
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Dec 05, 2009
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,
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Apr 01, 2011
Susan
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was sad for it to end as I felt I was leaving friends behind. You know an author writes well when you feel this way. Set in the early forties during the war, four women go to work in a shipyard and become good friends. Each has their own very different story and I love how the author has written the book switching back and forth between their lives, yet they are all intermingled with one another. I have come to appreciate even more, the great sacrifice that t
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Sep 06, 2010
Kasi
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They watched their sons, their brothers, and their husbands enlist to fight a growing menace across the seas. And when their nation asked, they answered the call as well. Virginia longs to find a purpose beyond others' expectations. Helen is driven by a loneliness money can't fulfill. Rosa is desperate to flee her in-laws' rules. Jean hopes to prove herself in a man's world. Under the storm clouds of destruction that threaten America during the early 1940s, this unlikely gathering of women will
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Feb 17, 2010
Ebookwormy
rated it:
Once again, Lynn Austin has crafted a novel that works on several levels. For the first half of the book, i thought it was a nice story on why women joined the work force during the Second World War. Featuring women from different walks of life, growing relationship among them, and examining their relationships with men were all expected and combined nicely into a pleasant tale.
But in the second half of the book, Austin reveals what makes her an excellent author. She takes this solid More...
But in the second half of the book, Austin reveals what makes her an excellent author. She takes this solid More...
Dec 18, 2010
Erin
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Since I love historical fiction, I really enjoyed this book. Especially since I got it at the library w/out knowing anything about this author. I just read her bio on this site and now want to read a historical and biblical books she has written. One was written after taking a trip to Israel w/her son in 1989 so they could participate in an archaeological dig. I would love to do that with Ethan since he has been interested in that subject since he was 3. Anyway, love the different character
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Dec 12, 2010
Melissa
rated it: 
This novel just did not really reach out and grab my attention at all. I finished it quickly and I think because it was almost too easy to read and the storyline was too basic. The times that the author tried to blend in some of the frustrations of that time in the book she brought in drama to the story that was not needed. I don't want to spoil the book but I'll say the relationship between Jean and her boyfriend was really disappointing in how it worked out and the reason why - just found
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Aug 16, 2010
Cortney
rated it:
I love days when I have no plans and the weather is good and I have no plans...so I lucked out the morning I started reading this book because I COULD NOT put it down. This book takes place on Pearl Harbor Day and is set in Stockton, MI. It is about 4 very different ladies at different stages in their life and how they come to be close because they work as electricians building ships for the war while the men are away. I loved this book and totally got wrapped up in the characters, the time peri
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Jan 19, 2011
Jackye
rated it:
Book about 4 woman who grow and change during WWII. They all come from different backgrounds and start work as electricians in a shipyard during the war. Helen was a 2nd grade teacher and wants to help the war effort. Ginny is a married mother of 2 and wants to do something worthwhile in her life. Jean comes from a family of 18 and wants to help the war effort until she goes to college with her twin brother, who is in the army. Rosa marries a marine before he goes overseas and want to get away f
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Apr 10, 2009
Louise
rated it:
I love Lynn Austin's historical novels and this was no exception!
From back cover:
"They watched their sons, their brothers, and their husbands enlist to fight a growing menace across the seas. And when their nation asked, they answered the call as well...
Virginia longs to find a purpose beyond other's expectations.
Helen is driven by a loneliness money can't fulfill.
Rosa is desperate to flee her in-laws' rules.
Jean hopes More...
From back cover:
"They watched their sons, their brothers, and their husbands enlist to fight a growing menace across the seas. And when their nation asked, they answered the call as well...
Virginia longs to find a purpose beyond other's expectations.
Helen is driven by a loneliness money can't fulfill.
Rosa is desperate to flee her in-laws' rules.
Jean hopes More...
Feb 18, 2012
Abbi
rated it:
Review originally posted on my blog Christian Novels
This book was a pleasant surprise for me. I picked it up at my church's library book sale, because I had read another book by this author that I thoroughly enjoyed, but I wasn't too sure about reading it. Then in the process of my goal to read all of my books this year it came up as next on the list. So I figured I just get it done with, but I actually really enjoyed it. The story, set during WWII is about four different women who tak More...
This book was a pleasant surprise for me. I picked it up at my church's library book sale, because I had read another book by this author that I thoroughly enjoyed, but I wasn't too sure about reading it. Then in the process of my goal to read all of my books this year it came up as next on the list. So I figured I just get it done with, but I actually really enjoyed it. The story, set during WWII is about four different women who tak More...
Nov 27, 2010
Tasha
rated it:
I never thought what life was like for women in our own country almost 60 years ago, it's not a era I have anything to do with. It seems as long as I can remember women could do anything they set their minds too, having children and getting married is a choice not what is expected of you. Even though we choose the women we want to be life is still like it was 60 years ago, we still want our husbands to be proud of us, we want to do it all, and have friendships that mean the world to us. This boo
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Dec 22, 2009
Sara
rated it:
I have to give this a three star rating even though I really liked the story because the writing got a little clunky for me in some places. Like a sentence would kind of smack me in the face. And even though toward the end, when some of the more grievous events occurred, I was choked up by the story, I wasn't as involved as I could have been because I felt like Austin had a tough time portraying grief and a feeling of loss.
However, I loved the historical aspect. Brought me back to s More...
However, I loved the historical aspect. Brought me back to s More...
Aug 09, 2008
Beth
rated it:
I’ve read lots of other Lynn Austin books; she’s one of my very favorite authors, writing wholesome Christian fiction with plenty of history behind it. Her characters, nearly always likeable, almost always undergo some true growth rooted in faith in God.
This book had some of that, but somehow not enough. Perhaps this is because the story was split between four characters, four women who join the ranks as factory workers during World War II — somehow I didn’t have that deep emotiona More...
This book had some of that, but somehow not enough. Perhaps this is because the story was split between four characters, four women who join the ranks as factory workers during World War II — somehow I didn’t have that deep emotiona More...
May 04, 2008
Alaina
rated it:
I would give this book 3.5 stars if I could. I obviously really liked it, as I read the entire thing yesterday (my kids took really long naps and I read all evening). It started out so strong and I was LOVING it; while the characters seemed a bit stock and one-dimensional at first, they quickly fleshed out and I began to care about them. I was thinking of all the people I could recommend this to, such as teachers of U.S. History and Women's Studies, etc. The reason I am not rating it higher was
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Jan 11, 2009
Jenn
rated it:
I was really leery of reading this book. I thought it'd be a typical, Christian novel...women stay at home...BUT, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author really actually develped the characters, and I think dealt with the issue of asserting yourself and keeping peace at home. It was a little more women's lib than I expected, and I enjoyed it. There were definitely some scenes that were unbelievable and some character development that was a little cheesy...but overall, pretty good.
Feb 22, 2011
Cheryl
rated it:
Good historical look at women's changing roles during WWII. I am not usually a Christian inspirational reader but this books content was good. Despite the injected sentiments the history was right on and made me think about a lot of different issues that had only been vague in my mind before, ie women returning home after working in factories during the war, German P0W's on American soil, blacks roles during the war, etc. A few too many issues packed in but overall a good quick read.
Dec 02, 2011
Natasha
rated it:
Four women during second world war in Stockton Michigan
Ex teacher Helen, doesn't like being close to others, lost someone in the first world war, 40-50
Rosa, outgoing and loud Italian from NY, recently married, hubby overseas
Ginnie, housewife of two boys, constantly worried her hubby will leave her
Jean, farmgirl staying with her sister to help while sister's hubby is overseas. Wants to go to college with her twin brother Johnny once the war is over
All working at Stockton More...
Ex teacher Helen, doesn't like being close to others, lost someone in the first world war, 40-50
Rosa, outgoing and loud Italian from NY, recently married, hubby overseas
Ginnie, housewife of two boys, constantly worried her hubby will leave her
Jean, farmgirl staying with her sister to help while sister's hubby is overseas. Wants to go to college with her twin brother Johnny once the war is over
All working at Stockton More...
Mar 30, 2009
Katie
rated it:
It's probably not your English teacher's idea of "fine literature" but I loved it. It made me think twice about how I view my own role as a woman, and I could relate to the characters as well as some of the challenges they faced. It was a Christian book, but I didn't think that issue felt forced as it does in some books. I love historical fiction as well, so the storyline of WWII was interesting.
Oct 03, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
I really liked this book. I enjoy historical fiction, so that’s my first selling point. Secondly, I enjoy the development of separate characters and how their lives intertwine. This story follows the lives of 4 women during WW2. Each woman, for a different reason, begins working in the shipyard, replacing men who have gone to war. Ostensibly dissimilar in their personalities, they soon find much in common.
The book touches on so many struggles: religious beliefs, faith, relationshi More...
The book touches on so many struggles: religious beliefs, faith, relationshi More...
Jan 19, 2011
Susan
rated it:
Another one of Lynn Austin's fantastic books. Just enough history. I enjoyed living in 4 different women's lives during the 1040's. They each have very different lives and end up working in a factory as electricians. I have to admit that the ending did take me by surprise a bit. A very diverse span of characters and growth throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Feb 26, 2009
Skye
rated it:
At first the story bothered me. THe characters all seemed the same. The women were all distraught in some way and working at a factory was going to save that. and all the men were shown as opressive and shovenistic. It really got me thinking about the view women have on their role as a woman and how that has affected different generations. Although I think Austin would have been better having a little more variety in the women characters stances, she did better at the end in making them seem mor
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Jan 17, 2012
Amber
rated it:
I love Lynn Austin's books. I have read 3 or 4 now, but this was my favorite so far. It's the story of 4 women during World War II in America. I realized that while I have read tons of books involving WWII, very few of them have focused on what it was like in America, especially from this angle. These women went to work while the men were off at ward. It's each of their stories woven together. But it also throws in racial tension in America during that time too. Opened my eyes to a few things I
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Jun 17, 2008
Holly (2 Kids and Tired)
rated it:
I loved this book! I'd never read Lynn Austin before, but I will check out the rest of her books now. The story follows the lives of 4 women during WW2. Each woman, for a different reason, begins working in the shipyards, replacing men who have gone to war. Seemingly diverse in their personalities, they soon find much in common.
The story weaves in and out of each of their lives as they touch each other and grow together. Th book touches on so many struggles: religious beliefs, More...
The story weaves in and out of each of their lives as they touch each other and grow together. Th book touches on so many struggles: religious beliefs, More...
Aug 20, 2010
Gabrielle
rated it:
Simply put: I love this book! It is a new favorite of mine. At first I wasn't sure that I would enjoy reading about 4 characters who ranged from ages 50 to 18. But, I loved it. The way Lynn Austin brought them all together, the growth they went through, the struggles with their faith...amazing. The 50-year-old woman surprised me the most! But there were other surprises in the story as well. :) In my opinion you know a book is great when you laugh and smile with the characters, when you worry wit
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