A Light on the Hill Book Review

Cities of Refuge Series

Book One

SUMMARY:  Though Israel has found relative peace, Moriyah has yet to find her own.  Attempting to avoid the scorn of her community, she's spent the last seven years hiding behind the veil she wears.  Underneath her covering, her face is branded with the mark of the Canaanite gods, a shameful reminder of her past captivity in Jericho and an assurance that no man will ever want to marry her.

     When her father finds a widower who needs a mother for his two sons, her hopes rise.  But when their introduction goes horribly wrong, Moriyah is forced to flee for her life.  Seeking safety at one of the newly established Levitical cities of refuge, she is wildly unprepared for the dangers she will face and the enemies - and unexpected allies - she will encounter on her way.

REVIEW:  Connilyn Cossette has written another fabulous book, this time regarding the cities of refuge that were set up in Israel.  As with the books in her first series, OUT FROM EGYPT, this one picks up a few years after Wings of the Wind ends.  Moriyah, who had been rescued from captivity in Jericho and branded on her face, hides from the rest of the world behind her veil.  Even though she loves God, she has a hard time loving herself.  As she runs for her life, I love how she finds strength in accepting herself as she is, and with it, becomes a stronger person.  The author does a great job showing how Moriyah begins to see those around her who love and support her no matter what marks she carries . . .  they love her for her.  

     This story still resonates with me, even though I finished it weeks ago, as does all of her books.  Now, like in the other books the author has written, she refers back to characters and events that has happened previously.  So, to get a much better understanding of Moriyah's background and struggles, it is good to read Wings of the Wind.  That being said, I would suggest just getting the three books of the OUT FROM EGYPT series and read them.  I don't think you will be disappointed.  Connilyn Cossette has become one of my favorite authors, and I'm sure she will be one of yours too.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Connilyn Cossette is the CBA bestselling author of the OUT OF EGYPT series.  Her debut novel, Counted with the Stars, is a Christy Award finalist, INSPY Award finalist, and Christian Retailing's Best Award finalist.  She lives south of Dallas with her husband of twenty years and two awesome kids.  Connect with her at www.ConnilynCossette.com.

A Passionate Hope Book Review

Daughters of the Promised Land

Hannah's Story

Book Four

SUMMARY:  Can one woman's prayers change the world?

     Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, share a deep and abiding love for each other, for their God, and for His tabernacle at Shiloh.  Greatly disturbed by the corruption of the priests, they long for restoration and pray for a deliverer.  But nothing changes as the years pass.  Years that also reveal Hannah to be barren.

     Pressured by his family to take another wife, Elkanah marries Peninnah, who quickly begins to bear children.  Disgraced and taunted by her husband's new wife, Hannah turns again to prayers that seem doomed to go unanswered.  Do her devotions and kindness in the face of Peninnah's cruelty count for nothing?  Will God remain silent and indifferent to her pleas?

     Travel back to the dusty streets of Shiloh with an expert guide as Jill Eileen Smith brings to life a beloved story of hope, patience, and deliverance that shows that even the most broken of relationships can be restored.

REVIEW:  Since Hannah has always been a favorite bible heroine of mine, I was excited to get Jill Eileen Smith's latest novel.  As I turned the pages, I was taken back to the time after the judges when the priests were corrupt and hope seems lost and God distant.  My heart cried with Hannah's struggles of infertility, disappointing her husband, and listening to the taunts of first her in-laws then her sister-wife.  While she puts on a happy face for the world, I could feel Hannah's struggles and the pain of her barrenness.  I like how the author expresses Hannah's turmoil, Peninnah's bitterness and Elkanah's struggle.  She also does a wonderful job showing how the corruption of the priests affects the nation of Israel and the people.  It was interesting to see how Hannah might have dealt with Samuel's birth and then giving him back to God with all the impropriety and turmoil at the tabernacle.  The strength she had and the trust in Yahweh was awe-inspiring!!  One of the most surprising, and enjoyable, parts was the end.

     As usual, Jill Eileen Smith does an excellent job.  If you like biblical fiction, you will love Hannah's story.  Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the Wives of King David, the Wives of the Patriarchs, the Loves of King Solomon, and the Daughters of the Promised Land series.  Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible of Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.  Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.  Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com.

Wings of the Wind Book Review

Out From Egypt series

Book Three

SUMMARY:  Can vengeance give way to forgiveness when one woman's destiny becomes entangled with the very enemies she sought to destroy?

     Motherless and raised alongside her brothers, Alanah, a Canaanite, is no stranger to fighting.  When her father and brothers are killed in battle with the Hebrews, she disguises herself and sneaks onto the battlefield to avenge her family.  The one thing she never contended on was surviving.

     Tobiah, a Hebrew warrior, has spent his share of time on the battlefield and is shocked to find an unconscious woman among the casualties.  Compelled to bring her to a healer back at the Heb

rew camp, he's unprepared for the consequences of what he intended as an act of compassion.

     In order to survive, Alanah must unite with her enemy.  But will a terrible revelation drive her toward an even greater danger?

REVIEW:  This book was interesting and opened my eyes to how God set the Israelites apart from the Canaanites and other kingdoms.  While it is strictly fiction, I like how the author uses her characters to show us God's bigger plan.  Alanah was a Canaanite who was rescued and taken in by Tobiah, an Israelite.  As she learns about the God of Israel and His laws, she sees how those laws protect everyone in the camp: families, widows, orphans, foreigners and the nation as a whole.  I like how when she faces some major troubles, Alanah remembers God's provision and trusts Him to take care of her and those around her.  Seeing how God took care of His people by doing the unusual and with out of the box thinking to accomplish the impossible made the Old Testament become more real. 

     This book is the third in the series.  Each book stands alone, separated by about twenty years, but does refer to characters and incidences in the others without making the reader seem like they missed something if they didn't read one of the other books.  

     I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading others by this author.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without any compensation.

 

When she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand), Connilyn Cossette is scribbling notes on spare paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends, and reading obscure out-of-print history books.  There is nothing she likes better than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible and uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus.  Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives near Dallas, Texas.  Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.  

Delilah Book Review

Treacherous Beauty
A Dangerous Beauty Novel

SUMMARY:  A Complex and Compelling Glimpse at One of the Bible's Most Notorious Women

     Life is not easy in Philistia, especially not for a woman and child alone.  When beautiful, wounded Delilah finds herself begging for food to survive, she resolves that she will find a way to defeat all the men who have taken advantage of her.  She will overcome the roadblocks life has set before her, and she will find riches and victory for herself.

     When she meets a legendary man called Samson, she senses that in him lies the means for her victory.  By winning, seducing, and betraying the hero of the Hebrews, she will attain a position of national prominence.  After all, she is beautiful, she is charming, and she is smart.  No man, not even a supernaturally gifted strongman, can best her in a war of wits.

REVIEW:  We all have our opinions of Delilah, the beauty who brought down Israel's judge, Samson.  Most, if not all, are not favorable by any standard.  But, have we ever stopped to think about what her life was like and why she betrayed him?  Angela Hunt's novel explores a possible path Delilah's life might have taken.  She suggests her life may have started out as one of privilege then, due to circumstances beyond her control, she is forced to betray someone she loves.  Since there is no extra-biblical sources to pull from, the author does an astounding job developing a plausible background and story, following the account in Judges 13-16 as close as possible.
     The author did a wonderful job drawing me into the story and keeping my attention, even though I knew the Old Testament tale.  Now, while Delilah made some choices I didn't agree with, I found myself developing admiration for her as she fought for herself, her son and the widow she lived with, facing many trials and tribulations.  One part I was not comfortable with was Delilah and Samson living together without the benefit of marriage but, as I stated before, it's based on verses in Judges.
     This is an interesting novel that you might find as thought-provoking as I did.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Angela Hunt has published more than one hundred books, with sales nearing five million copies worldwide.  She's the New York Times bestselling author of The Tales of Three Trees, The Note, and The Nativity Story.  Angela's novels have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the HOLT Medallion Award.  Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.  For a complete list of the author's books, visit angelahuntbooks.com. 

Counted with the Stars Book Review

Out From Egypt Series

Book One

SUMMARY:  Sold into slavery by her father and forsaken by the man she was supposed to marry, young Egyptian Kiya must serve a mistress who takes pleasure in her humiliation.  When terrifying plagues strike Egypt, Kiya is in the middle of it all.

     Choosing to flee with the Hebrews, Kiya finds herself reliant on a strange God and drawn to a man who despises her people.  With everything she's ever known swept away and now facing the trials of the desert, will she turn back toward Egypt or surrender her life and her future to Yahweh?

REVIEW:  This book was intriguing, engrossing and delightful.  It's the first book I've read that spoke of the plagues and the exodus of the Hebrews from the point of view of an Egyptian slave as she experienced them.  Instead of being in the middle of the action in the throne room, Kiya hears the stories of Moses from a distance.  Kiya went from wealth to slavery to experiencing the move of God as He rescued His people from Pharaoh's grip.  Ms. Cossette shows how God saves His people from the Egyptian soldiers and provides food and water for them, even those not of Hebrew birth.  The depth of characters, their relationships, and the troubles they faced kept my attention the whole time and made it difficult to put down, even for a moment.
     This was a most enjoyable novel.  I cannot wait for the next one to be released so see how the rest of the story plays out. Connilyn Cossette is an author I am keeping on my must read list and look forward to anything else she will write.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Connilyn Cossette is scribbling notes on spare paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends and reading obscure, out-of-print history books when she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand).  There is nothing she likes better than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible and uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus.  Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives near Dallas, Texas.  Counted With the Stars is her first novel.  Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.

The Prophetess Book Review

Daughters of the Promised Land Series

Book Two

Deborah's Story

SUMMARY:  Canaan has ravaged Israel.  The people are in hiding.  All that stands between surrender and hope is one untested woman.

     Deborah will never forget the day her father and brothers left to worship at the Lord's tabernacle - or the wails of her mother after finding their bodies at the city gates.  The memories of Canaan's cruelty haunt her and all of Israel.  Now in this dark time, the Lord calls on Deborah to lead His people away from the idols of other nations and back to Him.

     Deborah never asked to be a prophetess or a judge over God's people.  Still, she cannot deny His voice or the visions that accompany it.  Can her family ever understand?  Will her people believe God's calling on her life?  And can the Canaanite menace be stopped?

     With her trademark impeccable research and imaginative storytelling, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the story of Israel's most powerful woman in this intriguing and inspiring novel.

REVIEW:  As always, Jill Eileen Smith brings the story of Deborah to light with wonderful detail and vision.  The story of the judge Deborah is only two chapters long in the book of Judges, with one chapter being the song that she sang after Barak's defeat of Sisera and the Canaanite army.  Using the little information provided and her masterful imagination, the author does an excellent job creating characters that her readers can relate to and understand.  Deborah is reluctant to act as a judge, being that she is only a woman, but is quickly admired and sought out for her godly wisdom.   Barak still grieves for his wife that was killed years earlier by the Canaanites and is determined to fight to free Israel from their grasp.  There are many other characters that come to life and really help fuel the story. Heber the Kenite, Jael his wife, their daughter Daniyah, Deborah's husband Lappidoth, their daughter Talya all make this biblical story seem like it happened exactly this way.  It also helped me better understand this period of judges ruling the province and the idol worship that kept God's blessings at bay and the cruelness of terrorism on their doorsteps.

      As always, if you've never read a book by Jill Eileen Smith, you need to pick this one up, along with all of her others.  Even though this is the second book in the Daughters of the Promised Land series, it is a complete stand alone.  Make sure you check it and her others out.

 

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 

Jill Eileen Smith is the author of the bestselling Wives of King David series and The Crimson Cord, as well as the Wives of the Patriarchs and the loves of King Solomon series.  Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.  She lives with her family in southeast Michigan.  She loves to hear from her readers.  Contact her at www.jilleileensmith.com, or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith or Twitter @JillEileenSmith. 

On This Foundation Book Review

The Restoration Chronicles

Book Three

SUMMARY:  Stone by Stone, the Wall Will Rise Once More Around God's City

     When news reaches him that Jerusalem's wall is shattered and its gates burned with fire, a distraught Nehemiah seeks God's guidance in fasting and prayer.  Granted an unexpected leave from his duty as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah sets out for Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall - never anticipating all the dangers that await him on his arrival.

     The leaders of the surrounding nations become his fierce enemies, plotting to assassinate him and stop the wall's reconstruction forever.  A drought, meanwhile, has left the country impoverished, with many families resorting to selling their children as bondservants just to keep from starving.

     Capturing the rebuilding of the wall through the eyes of a number of characters, On This Foundation is the powerful conclusion to The Restoration Chronicles.  This exploration of faith in the midst of oppression offers hope that, in spite of appearances, the gracious hand of God is upon those who believe.

REVIEW:  Trusting God to follow through and trusting Him to be there during difficult times is the crux of this novel, even when it seems like He isn't listening and has turned His back.  Nehemiah has to trust the Lord is leading him to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem against opposition by Israel's enemies and those inside Jerusalem determined to stop him from upsetting the new normal.  Nava has stopped trusting God after she is forced to work as a bondservant to protect her family farm after years of drought and leave her childhood boyfriend, whom she was to marry. Chana doesn't know if she can trust Yahweh after her fiance' is killed by robbers just before their marriage.  When she is pledged to another in marriage, she has to decide if God is with her after all or if she will turn her back on Him.
     This novel is a wonderful wrap-up to the series about the Jewish nation's return to Israel after the Diaspora.  The author shows how difficult life was in Jerusalem.  But, when the people obeyed God's law, His provisions and blessing came in abundance.  I like how the author showed Nehemiah's humanity and didn't put him on a pedestal.  He wanted to become king, like some of the "prophets" claimed but knew it wasn't God's plan for him.  Not everything was tied up in a neat little bow but the twists and turns the author placed kept me turning pages to see how situations would play out. 
     This book is wonderful.  It ties the books of Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah together in a seamless way that is interesting and never dull.  Check it out for yourself.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Lynn Austin is a bestselling author who has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide.  She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions.  Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live in Michigan.  Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org. 

Israel's Mission DVD and Discovery Guide Review

Becoming a Kingdom of Priests

in a Prodigal World

SUMMARY:  WHAT'S YOUR MISSION?  God gave an assignment to His people thousands of years ago:  Bring "lost sheep" back into the love and safety of His kingdom.  It's still our task today.  In this 13th volume of That the World May Know, you'll glimpse the urgency and rewards of welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace.  Discover the mission that can give your life - and the lives of those around you - greater meaning that you ever imagined.

Five Episodes filmed on location in the Middle East

1. Abraham and Sarah and Three Strangers (Negev, Israel)
2. Israel at Sinai: The First Great Commission (Timnah, Israel)
3. Jesus Renews His Mission:  Seeking the Lost (Qatzrin, Israel)
4. The Lost Son:  In a Far Country (Jerash, Jordan)
5. The Seeking Father:  The Lost Son Returns (Qatzrin, Israel)

      This Discovery Guide will take you on an interactive journey.  Each session . . . 

• Focuses on passages of Scripture explored in the film.
• Includes sidebars, maps, photos and other study tools.
• Features questions that facilitate discussion and inspire personal reflection.

That the World May Know
     Join renowned teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan as he guides you through the land of the Bible.  In each lesson, Vander Laan illuminates the historical, geographical and cultural context of the sacred Scriptures.  Filmed on location in the Middle East and elsewhere, the That the World May Know film series will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus.

REVIEW:  Having seen some of Ray Vander Laan's  That the World May Know videos in the past, I was excited to see this opportunity come across my desk.  The author and teacher of this video series gives you details based on cultural views, historical context and geography that has gotten lost in our modern day Western culture to help you understand what the biblical writers meant in a deeper, most eye-opening way.  In this series, Mr. Vander Laan focuses on our mission - bringing others back into the family fold - and how this assignment was given to the Israelites in the desert and again to the followers of Jesus.  The details given about how the patriarchal society the Hebrews were familiar with is a representation of the family of God.  The parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son are seen in a different light when you look at the context of the patriarchal family - the beth ab - and shows us just how God keeps pursuing us, even when we don't want to be found.  The Discovery Guide gives you more details and focuses on other stories in the bible in greater detail that also support this idea of redemption.  Maps, side bar notes and "Did You Know" sections help bring the reader to a deeper understanding of the passages covered.
     This is a wonderful series and lives up to the memory of the ones I've seen previously.  This series is great for a small group, Sunday school class, Bible Study group or even an individual who wants to dig deeper into the bible.  You will not be disappointed.

This DVD and Discovery Guide was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and Zondervan 

for review without compensation.

Ray Vander Laan is the founder of That the World May Know Ministries and creator of the That the World May Know video series with Focus on the Family.  An ordained minister, he holds the chair of biblical cultural studies as a religion instructor at Holland Christian Schools in Holland, Michigan.  He and his wife, Esther, have four children and 16 grandchildren.  ThatTheWorldMayKnow.com

Steven and Amanda Sorenson are founders of Sorenson Communications and have cowritten many small group curriculum guidebooks, including the entire That the World May Know film series.

Until My Name Is Known Book Review

Tell of My Kingdom's Glory Series

Book One

SUMMARY:  The Time: 2450 BC         The Place:  Old Kingdom of Egypt

     Pharaoh is god.  His people worship him.  Israel's God arrives.  He challenges Pharaoh.  His power touches all.  They must change.  Some don't concede.  They suffer.  Others yield.  They find freedom.  Until My Name Is Known brings all to see the one true God.  Read it to see Him.

     Today's historians and archaeologists puzzle over the fall of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.  But the world at that time heard of God.  The world knew that He is the Lord.  His Name was proclaimed in all the earth.

REVIEW:  If you went to church as a child, you heard the stories about the Israelites' time as slaves in Egypt, Moses and his attempts to get Pharaoh to release them, and the ten plagues.  I always wondered why Pharaoh was being so difficult, why God sent those particular plagues, and what  the Israelites and Egyptians thought about everything going on.  This book answers these questions and more in a fictionalize manner that grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it to the end.  The author really did her research and presents a story of "what could have happened."  She covers a lot of material and time in ways I felt kept me from getting bogged down in the details.  She covers Moses' life after he escaped to the desert until his return in a very concise but very informative way.  She shows what may have been going through the minds and thoughts of the Egyptian people during the plagues and the suffering that may have occurred.  Ms. Contreras also tells stories of Israelites who loves Yahweh and are willing to do what He asks and others who are angry at Him and how some find freedom from that anger.  There are those caught between two worlds - those who were born and raised by slaves but are more Egyptian due to work stations and influences - and how they handle the plagues and finally the exodus.

     The story also shows how each plague was focused in defeating one or more Egyptian gods and showing Yahweh God's power. One by one, the power of their gods was stripped away until all that was left was Yahweh.

     I really loved this book.  It helped give possible answers to questions I had about this time in the Old Testament.  While we don't know exactly what happened to the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Sonya Contreras' novel does give her readers something to think about.  It also bring this time in history some new life.  Check it out.  I think you will be impressed.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and Bull Head Press

for review without compensation.

Growing up with five sisters, Sonya Contreras asked God many questions, even when she did not like His answers.  Graduating from Cedarville University and Institute for Creation Research with a Master's Degree in Science Education did not stop her questions.  Marrying her best friend and homeschooling their eight sons, she found that dreams do come true, in spite of unanswered questions.  Trusting God, Who knows all answers, she shares questions that matter weekly at www.sonyacontreras.com.

The Pharaoh's Daughter Book Review

A Treasures of the Nile Novel

Book One

SUMMARY:  Anippe has grown up in the shadows of Egypt's good god Pharaoh, aware that Anubis, god of the afterlife, may take her or her siblings at any moment.  She watched him snatch her mother and infant brother during childbirth, a moment that awakened in her a terrible dread of ever bearing a child.  Now she is to become the bride of Sebak, the kind but quick-tempered captain of Pharaoh Tut's army.  In order to provide Sebak the heir he deserves and yet protect herself from the underworld gods, Anippe must launch a series of deceptions, even involving the Hebrew midwives - women ordered by Tut to drown the sons of their own people in the Nile.

     When she finds a baby floating in a basket on the great river, Anippe believes Egypt's gods have answered her pleas, entrenching her more deeply in deception and placing her and her son, Mehy, whom handmaiden Miriam calls Moses, in mortal danger.

     As bloodshed and savage politics shift the balance of power in Egypt, the gods reveal their fickle natures and Anippe wonders if her son, a boy of Hebrew blood, could one day become king.  Or does the god of her Hebrew servants, the one they call El Shaddai, have a different plan for them all?

REVIEW:  Having read most of the books written by Mesu Andrews, I was intrigued when I saw the posts for this one.  When I first started reading it, it was difficult keeping all the characters straight due to name changes (essential to the story) and understanding some of the cultural terms without a glossary.  But, as I kept on, the story grabbed me. The twists and turns of human manipulation, along with backstabbing and murder, were important to show the depravity of man when he follows other gods.  Often I wondered how Anippe, since she was the main character, would turn away from the Egyptian gods she's always known and come to know El Shaddai as the one true God.  Mesu did not disappoint me here.  She came up with a way I was not expecting but fully admired and was thrilled to read.  The main idea that I took from this book was no matter where you are, no matter how many times you create a new identity, and no matter how far you go, the God of the Bible sees you where you are, knows your name and loves you just the same.
     While this story may be a little harder than some to read, it is well worth the time if you just stick with it.  This is a great novel.  I look forward to the next book in this series and any others from this fabulous author.

This book was provided by Blogging for Books and Waterbrook Multnomah for review without compensation.

Mesu Andrews' deep understanding of and love for God's Word brings the biblical world alive for her readers.  Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes, won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author.  Her three subsequent novels, Love's Sacred Song, Love in a Broken Vessel, and In the Shadow of Jezebel, all released to great reader enthusiasm.  Mesu lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Roy.

The Crimson Cord Book Review

Daughters of the Promised Land

Book One

Rahab's Story

SUMMARY:  Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution, she despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect.  But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime.

     In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities.  When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls - or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

     Under Jill Eileen Smith's talented hand, the familiar story of Rahab bursts forth in high definition.  Immerse yourself in a world of dark and dusty streets, clandestine meetings, and daring escapes as a mysterious biblical figure claims her full humanity - and a permanent place in your heart.

REVIEW:  Rahab's story has always been one that fascinated me.  The bible doesn't go into great detail about how she became a prostitute, how she came to believe in the one true God or her life after joining the Israelites.  Jill Eileen Smith does an excellent job filling in those gaps with her version of Rahab's life journey.  At times, it's not an easy read when you see what she goes through and how it affects those around her.  It was interesting how the laws given to the nation of Israel by God were explained to Rahab, how they affected her personally and how she came to a better understanding of who she is and of God through them.  I really enjoyed this book, like I have all of the other books by this author.  While it may not be one you want your daughter to read but it is definitely one you want to check out if you are fascinated with this foreigner who is in the lineage of Christ.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling author of the Wives of King David series, The Wives of the Patriarchs series, and the ebook novella The Desert Princess, first in the Loves of King Solomon series.  Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.  Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.  Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com.

Esther - Royal Beauty Book Review

A Dangerous Beauty Novel

Book One

SUMMARY:  When an ambitious tyrant threatens genocide against the Jews, an inexperienced young queen must take a stand for her people.

     When Xerxes, king of Persia, issues a call for beautiful young women, Hadassah, a Jewish orphan living in Susa, is forcibly taken to the palace of the pagan ruler.  After months of preparation, the girl known to the Persians as Esther wins the king's heart and a queen's crown.  But because her situation is uncertain, she keeps her ethnic identity a secret until she learns that an evil and ambitious man has won the king's permission to exterminate all Jews - young and old, powerful and helpless.  Purposely violating an ancient Persian law, she risks her life in order to save her people . . . and bind her husband's heart.

REVIEW:  When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it.  Hadassah was very superficial, seemingly only concerned with herself and how she could get Mordecai and his wife Miriam to be more lenient.  It's seem that a lot of her focus was on her looks (or the lack thereof, in her opinion) and wanting to be queen because then she would be known as the most beautiful woman in the world.  It was also written from two viewpoints - Hadassah/Esther's and Harbonah, the chief eunuch in King Xerxes' palace. The switch up took some getting used to, especially if I set the book down for a few hours.  But, once I remembered the author was writing from the viewpoint of a teenaged girl, I understand the preoccupation and the story started making more sense.  

     Some of the incidences and timelines in this book do not follow what most people consider common knowledge about Esther's story.  I like the author's explanation given at the end of the book.  She looked at historical records and biblical records, and tried to keep the story as historically accurate as possible.  While the timeline was different from other stories I've read, I found the information to flow easily.  This book is interesting and one I recommend to check out.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Angela Hunt has published more than one hundred books.  She's the New York Times-bestselling author of The Tale of Three Trees, The Note, and The Nativity Story.  Angela's novels have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the HOLT Medallion Award.  Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.  In 2008, she completed her doctorate in Biblical Studies and is currently completing her Th.D.  Angela and her husband live in Florida, along with their mastiffs.  For a complete list of the author's books, visit angelahuntbooks.com.

Keepers of the Covenant Book Review

The Restoration Chronicles

Book Two

SUMMARY:  In Their Darkest Hour, Where Would Hope Be Found?

     In one life-changing moment, the lives of the exiles in Babylon are thrown into despair when a decree from the king's palace calls for the annihilation of every Jewish man, woman and child throughout the empire in less than one year.

     Ezra, a quiet but brilliant scholar, soon finds himself called upon to become the leader of his people.  Forced to rally an army when all his training has been in the Torah, he struggles to bring hope in a time of utter despair, when dreams of the future - of family and love - seem impossible.

     In Keepers of the Covenant, acclaimed novelist Lynn Austin weaves together the struggles and stories of both Jews and Gentiles, creating a tapestry of faith and doubt, love and loss.  Here, the Old Testament comes to life, demonstrating the everlasting hope displayed in God's unwavering love for His people.

REVIEW:  I really enjoyed this book!!  It weaves together the Old Testament books of Esther and Ezra seamlessly.  This is the first time I've read a book that shows what the Jewish people went through and how they felt after Haman's decree went out across the Persian Empire.  While I know the events of this book are fiction, Ms. Austin made me feel like I was right there experiencing the devastation and loss, along with the joy and jubilation of being given the right to defend themselves and after the war was over.  She also shows how this event affected those living in Judah, both Jews and Gentile, and the return of Jews from Babylon under King Artaxerxes.  The parts of the returning Jews I found though-provoking were when Ezra informs the people of Judah they must now completely follow the law of Moses, given to them by God, and the consequences some had to face because they had married Gentiles who did not follow the Almighty One exclusively.  I also loved how Esther's story is woven in at the end and the discussion (by characters in the book) on why God's name is never mentioned.  Even if you find the book of Ezra boring and difficult to follow, this book will help you understand it and why Ezra made the decrees he did as governor.  Fascinating read!!

 

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and Bethany House for review without compensation.

Lynn Austin is a bestselling author and has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide.  She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions.  Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live in Michigan.  Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org.