What must it have been like, for intrepid Caleb and the Israelites, to settle among the giants of Caanan? Jenelle Hovde spins an almost fairytale landscape, albeit of the dark variety, for this biblical story. As a lover of books, I’m drawn to this moody description. “Worse, the settlement of giants lived within the mysterious …
I’ve answered versions of this question before, usually in connection to what made me want to pen a specific work of fiction. Recently this specific question was posted in a chat, and I felt stumped. How could I answer such a broad question, tapping awkwardly with my forefinger at the tiny keyboard on my phone? …
Buried between layers of genealogy, an obscure biblical passage comes to life in Naomi Craig’s lively tale, She’erah’s Legacy. I really enjoyed the characters. She’erah is a strong-minded dreamer, an architect in ancient times. She’s also the granddaughter of Joseph (yes, that Joseph) and the daughter of his half-Egyptian son Ephraim. Her personality and goals …
As a reader who enjoyed all of Mesu Andrews’ novels, I’ve found my new favorite. IN FEAST OR FAMINE is masterfully told historical fiction set in Bible times. The story world is magnificently rendered. You will see ancient Egypt, the intrigues, the glitter, and the danger. And I loved the characters! They have deep desires, …
Is truth worth the price if it costs you everything? Tribune Glabrio places high value on truth and honor. So much so that he pursues investigations with dogged determination, even when his superior hints that his job might proceed more profitably if he would leave off questioning certain high officials. When Glabrio responds “Getting to …
Meet Princess Zuleika – Potiphar’s Wife as you have never seen her before Mesu Andrews reveals one of the Bible’s bad girls as a Minoan princess tossed by circumstance into the Egyptian court in her novel Potiphar’s Wife. Desperate to save her island kingdom after an earth-shattering event wreaks havoc, she agrees to her father’s …
She has broken a law that carries the death penalty ~ In second century Rome, Licinia doesn’t want to leave all she knows and loves, but she has broken a law that carries the death penalty – she is a Christian. Worse, she shared her faith with her friend, a Roman matron. Her brother Sextus, …
For many years, after reading the beloved book CHRISTY and learning about the award bearing its name, I pored over the titles in the Christy lists picking my next great read. Today, my book RAIN is listed among these books by stellar authors and it seems impossible. Not that I didn’t work hard. Not that it wasn’t a …
“Take me with you.” This audacious request changed everything for Rahab the Harlot. You’ve heard of her. A girl no better than she ought to be, Rahab made her living selling herself to the men of ancient Jericho. She was betrayed by her father, reviled by the city women, and disdained by her own family, …
I almost didn’t read this book. Even though I’d previously read Prophetess, another in The Daughters of the Promised Land series, I’ve always been uncomfortable with the story of Hannah–how could she give up her son? But I reminded myself how much I loved Prophetess and decided to read Hannah’s story. I’m so glad I …
