THE PRINCE AND THE PRODIGAL BY JILL EILEEN SMITH.

Genre: Christian/Biblical Fiction/ Historical Romance

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: February 1, 2022

Book can be purchased online.

Book Blurb

Joseph is the pampered favorite son of the patriarch Jacob. His older brothers, deeply resentful of his status in the family, take advantage of the chance to get rid of him, selling him to slave traders and deceiving their father about his fate. It seems like their troubles are over. But for Joseph and older brother Judah, they are just beginning.

While Joseph is accused of rape and imprisoned, Judah attempts to flee the memory of his complicity in the betrayal of his younger brother. After decades apart, the brothers will come face-to-face in a stunning role reversal that sees Joseph in a position of great power while Judah begs for mercy. Will forgiveness or vengeance win the day?

Bestselling and award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith brings her considerable research and imaginative skills to bear in this vivid retelling of one of the most popular stories found in Scripture–a story of jealousy, betrayal, and a reconciliation that only God could bring about.

My Review

The Prince and the Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith is a biblical fiction retelling on the character Joseph.

The author uses fiction to elaborate on the lives of Jacob and his twelve sons. It was fun reading through the author’s eyes as she expertly takes her readers to biblical times.

Joseph and Judah had central places in this book. I love how she did her best to stick to biblical facts despite the fictional segments of each character.

Overall, the title for this book is a perfect fit. The author did a great job.

I am rating the book five stars. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

Author’s Bio

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King, Star of Persia: Esther’s Story, and Miriam’s Song. She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams and She Walked Before Us. 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 http://www.jilleileensmith.com.

BOOK REVIEW: NEVER LEAVE ME BY JODY HEDLUND.

Genre: Christian Fiction/Romance

Publication date: 4th January, 2022

Publisher:Revell

Book Blurb

In the last stages of a genetic disease, Ellen Creighton has decided to live out her remaining days at the estate of her longtime friend Harrison Burlington. Harrison cares deeply for Ellen, but as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, he’s never allowed himself to get serious in a relationship. However, he’s desperately trying to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to heal any disease.

When he locates two flasks, Ellen refuses to drink one of them because she believes the holy water killed her sister and father. In an effort to convince her to take it, Harrison ingests the contents first, and when Ellen witnesses the effects, she can no longer deny the power of the substance in the bottles. Dangerous criminals are also seeking the holy water, and Ellen soon learns they will go to any lengths to get the powerful drug–including sending her back into the past to find it for them.

Bestselling and award-winning author Jody Hedlund plunges you into the swiftly flowing river of history in a race against the clock in this breathtaking, emotional second Waters of Time story.

My Review

Book Review

Never leave me by Jody Hedlund.

I finished the remaining chapters in one sitting after beginning the book a day before.

As usual, Jody took me on an adventure to the middle ages and I enjoyed myself through the pages.

Never Leave Me is book 2 of the Waters of Time series.
This particular book centred on Ellen and Harrison stories. I also got to know more about Marian and Will.

I am so grateful to Revell for letting me read the two books. I still cannot forget the plots.

The themes were insightful. The action plot and twists were perfect.

I am rating this book 5 golden stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

About the Author

JODY HEDLUND is a bestselling and award-winning author who loves fairy tales and happily-ever-afters. She makes her home in Midland, MI, with her husband and five children. When she’s not writing another of her page-turning stories, you can usually find her sipping coffee, eating chocolate, and reading.

BOOK REVIEW: COME BACK TO ME BY JODY HEDLUND.

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Series: Waters of Time Book 1

Publication date: June 1, 2021

Publisher: Revell

Book Blurb

The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.

That’s exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father’s quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He’s left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he’s crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.

William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian’s rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to?

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund is your guide down the twisting waters of time to a volatile era of superstition, revolts, and chivalry in this suspenseful story.

My Review

I read this book in a sitting. Jody Hedlund has won my heart with this great book. I finished this book around 1:06am on a Saturday morning. it was worth my sleepless hours.

There are so many lessons to glean from this book.

I love the time crossing era and permit me to crush on Will. Oh my gosh! Jody Hedlund has great descriptive prowess.

This book deserves 10 stars! It is so perfect!

The characters are awesome. The plot is great and the suspense was just gaining momentum page after page. I couldn’t sleep until I read to the last page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

About the Author

Jody Hedlund is the author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

BOOK REVIEW: MIRIAM’S SONG BY JILL EILEEN SMITH.

Genre: Biblical Fiction/Christian Historical Fiction

Publisher: Revell

Publication date: 02 March, 2021

Book Blurb

In her eventful lifetime, Miriam was many things to many people: protective older sister, song leader, prophetess, leper. But between the highs and the lows, she was a girl who dreamed of freedom, a woman who longed for love, a leader who made mistakes, and a friend who valued connection.

With her impeccable research and keen eye for detail, bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith offers this epic story to fill in the gaps and imagine how Miriam navigated the challenges of holding on to hope, building a family in the midst of incredible hardship, and serving as a leader of a difficult people, all while living in her brother’s shadow. Follow Miriam’s journey from childhood to motherhood, obscurity to notoriety, and yearning to fulfillment as she learns that what God promises he provides–in his own perfect timing.

My Review

I have heard of Jill Eileen Smith so getting an ARC of this book was a great joy to me.

Miriam’s Song is a well detailed fictional book with Bible scenes meshed together to give you a glimpse of the life Miriam led in the Bible times.

Coincidentally, I was reading the book of Exodus when I got this ARC so I can say that this book helped me to understand the Bible because I could see some familiar characters Jill used from the book of Exodus.

Overall, this is a good book written by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

About the author

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King and Star of Persia: Esther’s Story. She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams and She Walked Before Us. 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 http://www.jilleileensmith.com.

BOOK REVIEW: FACING THE DAWN BY CYNTHIA RUCHTI.

Genre: Christian/General Fiction (Adult) / Women’s Fiction.

Publisher: Revell

Publication date: 02 March 2021

Book Blurb

While her humanitarian husband Liam has been digging wells in Africa, Mara Jacobs has been struggling. She knows she’s supposed to feel a warm glow that her husband is nine time zones away, caring for widows and orphans. But the reality is that she is exhausted, working a demanding yet unrewarding job, trying to manage their three detention-prone kids, failing at her to-repair list, and fading like a garment left too long in the sun.

Then Liam’s three-year absence turns into something more, changing everything and plunging her into a sunless grief. As Mara struggles to find her footing, she discovers that even when hope is tenuous, faith is fragile, and the future is unknown, we can be sure we are not forgotten . . . or unloved.

With emotionally evocative prose that tackles tough topics with tenderness and hope, award-winning author Cynthia Ruchti invites you on a journey of the heart you won’t soon forget.

My Review

I must admit. This is not my usual “genre”. The title piqued my curiosity and I had to read it. I wanted to know why the book was titled “Facing The Dawn”.

The themes in this book are deep and realistic.

Grief has a way of shutting light but no matter what, there is always a Dawn.

Mara, the main character in the plot faced a lot. I am not going to give out spoilers but this book is deep with a capital letter “D”.

Thanks to awesome friends like Ashlee and Sol. They are characters in this book. They made me to appreciate the friends in my life.

The fact that this book has an essential part of its plot in an African country kept me glued. I live in Nigeria so I was interested in what happened at Uganda, the country mentioned in this book.

Cynthia Ruchti writes well. You need to have a strong mind because she writes tough themes that makes you to know that real things happen outside fiction.

This is a Christian fiction book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

Photo from author’s page.

About the author

Cynthia Ruchti is the award-winning author of more than 30 books, including the novels Miles from Where We Started, A Fragile Hope, Song of Silence, When the Morning Glory Blooms, and They Almost Always Come Home. Her books have been honored with more than 40 awards, including Romantic Times‘ Inspirational Novel of the Year, two Selah Awards, and three Christian Retailing‘s BEST Awards, and she has been a finalist for many others, including the Carol and the Christy. Former president of and current professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Cynthia lives in Wisconsin and can be found online at http://www.cynthiaruchti.com.

BOOK REVIEW: TIDEWATER BRIDE BY LAURA FRANTZ.

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction/ Romance

Publication date: 05 January, 2021

Publisher: Revell

Book can be purchased on online stores and local bookshops around you.

Book Blurb

Selah Hopewell seems to be the only woman in the Virginia colony who has no wish to wed. True, there are too many men and far too few women in James Towne. But Selah already has her hands full assisting her father in the family’s shop. And now she is in charge of an incoming ship of tobacco brides who must be looked after as they sort through their many suitors. 

Xander Renick is perhaps the most eligible tobacco lord in the settlement. His lands are vast, his crops are prized, and his position as a mediator between the colonists and the powerful Powhatan nation surrounding them makes him indispensable. But Xander is already wedded to his business and still grieves the loss of his wife, daughter of the Powhatan chief. 

Can two fiercely independent people find happiness and fulfillment on their own? Or will they discover that what they’ve been missing in life has been right in front of them all along? 

Bestselling and award-winning author Laura Frantz takes you to the salty shores of seventeenth-century Virginia in this exploration of pride, honor, and the restorative power of true love.

My Review

Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz is a good book. I referred to it as a good book because the style of writing and the plot is cool.

Although it started slowly, you will need a great deal of patience to continue reading.

I admire Selah and Xander. I was looking forward to their scenes in the plot.

The book cover is beautiful and the title got me so curious to know who was the “Tidewater Bride”.

Overall, it is a Christian Fiction historical book. I am sure somebody would love it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Reads Bloggers Program. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

About the author

Laura Frantz is a Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of eleven novels, including An Uncommon Woman, The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting Morrow Little,The Colonel’s Lady, The Lacemaker, and A Bound Heart. She is a proud mom to an American soldier and a career firefighter. When not at home in Kentucky, she and her husband live in Washington State. Learn more at http://www.laurafrantz.net.