Review: "Shadow among Sheaves" by Naomi Stephens

I am all about retellings of famous stories—Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Bible. So when I heard that Shadow among Sheaves was based on Boaz & Ruth in the Bible, I knew I wanted to read it.

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A Timeless, Beautiful Allegory of the Biblical Love Story of Ruth and Boaz

The Great Rebellion of 1857 was a remarkably bloody business. At a time when Britain’s imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer—nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband’s tragic death.

Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart for his own.

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Release Date: April 2019

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It's been a long time since I read a book that so wholly captured my attention! I started reading one evening, and I didn't stop until I'd finished the book ... at 2 a.m.!

I loved so many things about Shadow among Sheaves. Rena is a wonderful character, and her devotion to her mother-in-law Nell above all else feels very true to Ruth and Naomi in the Bible. I hated the discrimination that Rena faced as an Indian woman in England, but it definitely rang true to the time and the circumstances. The plot is incredibly engaging, and the experience of reading the book is enjoyable.

I loved watching Rena and Barric's relationship develop in the first half of the book. But after that, I wasn't sure that Barric deserved Rena. I even went back and read the book of Ruth to see what Boaz was like—while not a ton of his character is shown, he definitely is kind. Kind is not a word I would use to describe Barric. At all. Barric is understandably concerned about his reputation when he is associated with Rena, and I can't really hold that against him. However, he is also incredibly unpredictable, letting Rena in and then suddenly pushing her away. He never considers her feelings over his own. He seems driven by lust, not love. He does not treat Rena well. What's to say that would change after marriage? I ended up liking Barric's playboy brother Charlie more than I liked him.

So, ultimately, I'm torn when I think of this book. I loved much of it. I hated bits of it. Still, I would recommend this captivating retelling of the story of Ruth. 4 stars.

Note: This novel contains a few minor curse words, and it becomes more sensual than I was anticipating. (There's no on-page sex scene, but it comes much closer than I expected.) I would not recommend this book for younger teens.

Buy the book.

Follow the tour:
Godly Book Reviews, April 30
Mary Hake, April 30
Worthy2Read, April 30
Back Porch Reads, May 1
Inspirationally Ever After, May 1
Fiction Aficionado, May 2
Splashes of Joy, May 2
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, May 2
Bigreadersite, May 3
Inklings and notions , May 3
Blossoms and Blessings, May 3
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 4
janicesbookreviews, May 4
Just the Write Escape, May 5
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, May 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 6
For Him and My Family, May 6
Kat’s Corner Books, May 7
Pause for Tales, May 7
Aryn The Libraryan, May 8
Faery Tales Are Real, May 8
Hallie Reads, May 8
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 9
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 9
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 9
Through the Fire Blogs, May 10
The Becca Files, May 10
The Christian Fiction Girl, May 11
Older & Smarter?, May 11
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 11
Texas Book-aholic, May 12
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 12
A Reader’s Brain, May 13
For the Love of Literature, May 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Naomi is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a finished paperback copy of Shadow Among Sheaves!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/deb9/shadow-among-sheaves-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and now lives in Ohio with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."