Cover Attraction: Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar

It has been faaaarrrr too long since I last did a Cover Attraction post. This feature used to be a regular deal every Friday...maybe I can get with the program again over here (a whole two years later). :o)

Title:  Harvest of Rubies
Author:  Tessa Afshar
Release Date:  May 1, 2012
Publisher:  Moody Publishers

About the book:

The prophet Nehemiah's cousin can speak numerous languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve great mysteries. There is only one problem: she is a woman.

In her early childhood years, Sarah experienced the death of her mother and her father's subsequent emotional distance and she came to two conclusions: that God does not care about her, and that her accomplishments are the measure of her worth - the measure of her self.

Sarah, the talented scribe and cousin to Nehemiah, is catapulted into the center of the Persian court, working too many hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and solving intrigues for the Queen. Ironically, it isn't failure but success that causes Sarah to lose her only source of external validation.

Sarah soon learns that she has something of worth to offer beyond her ability with languages and sums - her very being proves to be a blessing to others.

CFBA Blog Tour: Ruth's Redemption by Marlene Banks

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingRuth's RedemptionMoody Publishers/Lift Every Voice (February 1, 2012)byMarlene Banks


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marlene Banks has worked 30+ years combined in nursing and the business arena. Her goal as a writer is to create inspiring, gripping and realistic stories with an emphasis on African American literature. She believes her gift and desire to write is from God and desires to use it to fulfill His purposes. Marlene lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she is a member of Bethel Deliverance International Church.






ABOUT THE BOOK:

Set in the 1800s, Ruth's Redemption, is an unusual depiction of the lives of slaves and free blacks in pre-Civil War America. Bo, a main character, was educated while a slave. He was given his freedom and now owns a farm buying slaves for the sole purpose of giving them their freedom.
Bo is also a man of God and widower whose life is destined to change when he meets the proud and hard-hearted slave girl, Ruth. Ruth has known nothing but servitude and brutality since being separated from her mother at age thirteen. Purchased and sold primarily for breeding, Ruth struggles to adjust to life outside of bondage. She wants no part of Bo's Godly devotion. Yet Bo is unlike any man she's known and her experiences with him will leave her forever changed.
A gripping slave era novel, Ruth's Redemption is a story of love, forgiveness, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of the Nat Turner Rebellion in Tidewater, Virginia, this novel shines the light of God's unconditional love in the darkness of a culture's cruel socially accepted inhumanity.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Ruth's Redemption, go HERE.

Book Review: Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis/3 Stars

About the book:

Captive Trail is second in a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. Although a series, each book can be read singularly.


Taabe Waipu has run away from her Comanche village and is fleeing south in Texas on a horse she stole from a dowry left outside her family’s teepee. The horse has an accident and she is left on foot, injured and exhausted. She staggers onto a road near Fort Chadbourne and collapses.

On one of the first runs through Texas, Butterfield Overland Mail Company driver Ned Bright carries two Ursuline nuns returning to their mission station. They come across a woman who is nearly dead from exposure and dehydration and take her to the mission.

With some detective work, Ned discovers Taabe Waipu is Billie Morgan. He plans to unite her with her family, but the Comanche have other ideas, and the two end up defending the mission station.

Through Taabe (Billie) and Ned we learn the true meaning of healing and restoration amid seemingly powerless situations.

My thoughts:

Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love.  From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre.  For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.

Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style.  There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading.  However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.

I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy.  My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.

**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

More thoughts on Susan's previous novels:

The Sheriff's Surrender
The Gunsmith's Gallantry
The Blacksmith's Bravery

Coming Soon--New Blog for Moody Publishers!

Moody Publishers is pleased to announce our new corporate blog! We will be launching Inside Pages, at http://www.insidepages.net/, on January 17th and to celebrate we’re hosting daily giveaways from January 17th-29th, giveaways include a Kindle, iPod, new book releases, Ryrie Study Bibles, and more. Inside Pages will serve as Moody Publisher’s online forum on faith, publishing, and literary culture, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at publishing and creating a digital community for dialogue about books. Here you will hear from the editors about the changing face of traditional publishing, catch a sneak peek at upcoming titles and what goes on behind the publisher’s desk, and read devotionals and articles from our authors. Inside Pages will also regularly feature giveaways and free reading/writing resources. See http://www.insidepages.net/ for details. We hope to see you there!

Book Review: Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar

About the book:

Can a Canaanite harlot who has made her livelihood by looking desirable to men make a fitting wife for one of the leaders of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes. At the age of fifteen Rahab is forced into prostitution by her beloved father. In her years as a courtesan, she learns to mistrust men and hate herself. Into the emotional turmoil of her world walks Salmone, a respected leader of Judah. Through the tribulations of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another’s worth in God and find healing from fear and rejection.

My thoughts:

It sounds so cliche to say this was a fabulous book, but when a book leaves me completely speechless when I've turned the last page, then, you know it gets a very high recommendation from me.  I've read several fictional tales about Rahab, but never one whose story centered on her life after Jericho, and the man who was her husband. 

This book read like it should've been divided into two parts:  the first part dealing with her life as a harlot and the fall of Jericho, and the second part dealing with her life after Jericho.  The first part seemed a little rushed at times, but that really didn't bother me since I already knew that story.  What was great to read were the emotions that Rahab felt regarding her father's insistence that she become a harlot.  As a young girl, she loved and trusted her father, and with his decision, he tore those feelings away from her.

The second part of the book was what really made this book simply incredible.  I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I've never given much thought to Salmone's brief mention in the genealogy of Jesus.  Ms. Afshar did a marvelous job of bringing his character to life in this book, and giving me a glimpse at his and Rahab's story.  I found myself on the verge of tears at least three times, mostly during scenes between Rahab and Salmone.  He had a tendency to come off as a gruff individual at times, but once he realized his feelings for Rahab, he became such a tender person toward her.  Their relationship was not without it's problems, mostly because of her past, but when they both understood their own emotions, their love story became one of the most beautiful ones I've read in a very long time.  And one more tidbit...the scene between the two of them that explains the title for the book will take your breath away.

I truly hope Ms. Afshar has another book coming out in the near future because she is definitely an author that I will be reading more of.  It's been awhile since I've read a book that really got to me the way this one did.  I'm a firm believer that sometimes, a certain book crosses my path at just the right time, and it's one that had I read it at any other time, it may not have made an impact.  Pearl in the Sand was the perfect book for this current season in my life, and for that, it will always hold a special meaning for me.

5 Stars

**Thanks to Moody Publishers for providing a copy for review.

CFBA Blog Tour: Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar

This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


Pearl In The Sand  Moody Publishers (September 1, 2010)


by Tessa Afshar


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tessa Afshar was born in a nominally Muslim family in Iran and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She survived English boarding school for girls before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her mid-twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDIV from Yale University where she served as co-Chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the

Divinity School. She has spent the last twelve years in full and part-time Christian work and currently serves as the leader of Women’s and Prayer ministries at a church in Connecticut.



ABOUT THE BOOK:

Can a Canaanite harlot who has made her livelihood by looking desirable to men make a fitting wife for one of the leaders of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes. At the age of fifteen Rahab is forced into prostitution by her beloved father. In her years as a courtesan, she learns to mistrust men and hate herself. Into the emotional turmoil of her world walks Salmone, a respected leader of Judah. Through the tribulations of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true
source of one another’s worth in God and find healing from fear and rejection.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Pearl In The Sand, go HERE


Watch the book video:

CFBA Tour and Book Review: The Familiar Stranger by Christina Barry

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Familiar Stranger
Moody Publishers (September 1, 2009)
by
Christina Berry

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Single mother and foster parent, Christina Berry carves time to write from her busy schedule because she must tell the stories that haunt her every waking moment. (Such is the overly dramatic description of an author's life!) She holds a BA in Literature, yet loves a good Calculus problem, as well. All that confusion must have influenced her decision to be team captain of a winning team on Family Feud.

Her debut novel, The Familiar Stranger, released from Moody in September and deals with lies, secrets, and themes of forgiveness in a troubled marriage. A moving speaker and dynamic teacher, Christina strives to Live Transparently--Forgive Extravagantly!

Her work has also appeared in The Secret Place, The Oregonian, and Daily Devotions for Writers.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Craig Littleton's decision to end his marriage would shock his wife, Denise . . . if she knew what he was up to. When an accident lands Craig in the ICU, with fuzzy memories of his own life and plans, Denise rushes to his side, ready to care for him.

They embark on a quest to help Craig remember who he is and, in the process, they discover dark secrets. An affair? An emptied bank account? A hidden identity? An illegitimate child?

But what will she do when she realizes he's not the man she thought he was? Is this trauma a blessing in disguise, a chance for a fresh start? Or will his secrets destroy the life they built together?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Familiar Stranger, go HERE

My very brief thoughts:

I'm in the middle of this book right now, and I have to say that I am totally impressed!!! I love the way the story's point of view goes back and forth between the husband and wife....just gives it a little something extra that is not the norm. Unfortunately, since one of my family members recently told me she was getting married on Christmas Eve, my reading time has been almost nil because of planning everything with her for her wedding (3 weeks is not a lot of time to work with). I'll be doing good to get this finished by New Years, but hopefully, it won't take that long. :o)

UPDATE (12/16/09)

Well, I can still say without a doubt that this was an incredible book. However, I must confess that I completely did not like the ending. I felt it was completely far-fetched, not believable, and almost downright bizarre. There's not a whole lot of detail I can provide on it without completely giving away the whole story, except to say when the husband got his memory back was when things started to go downhill, in my opinion.

On the flipside, I am very eager to read another book by this new author. I loved how she told this story from both points of view, and occasionally, repeated a few scenes so I could see how each person was affected by the others actions.....very insighful. I think I would recommend this first novel of Ms. Barry's to anyone that loves a good women's fiction novel with a little bit of suspense thrown in.

4 Stars