"esther: royal beauty" by angela hunt

God's rescue of the Jews through the courage of Queen Esther comes to vivid life in Angela Hunt's Esther: Royal Beauty.

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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.

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In recent years, Queen Esther has been a popular subject for books and films. Some have been great (Jim Baumgardner's Esther Queen of Persia), others not so much (the film One Night with the King). Angela Hunt's Esther stands out from the other things I've read an seen about Esther because it focuses not only on Esther's journey to becoming queen and her time in the palace but also on the events preceding the king's search for a new queen.

Esther is told from two points of view: Hadassah's and Harbonah's. Harbonah is the king's most trusted eunuch, and the insight into the king and the Persian government that his chapters give richly enhances the story.

Angela Hunt clearly did her research (there's a list of sources at the back of the novel, as well as a note from Hunt that explains her process), and the result is an incredibly compelling account of this biblical heroine.

The beginning of the book didn't grab my attention in the way I'd hoped, and I found myself not liking young Hadassah at all. However, the Harbonah chapters kept me engaged, and by the time Hadassah found herself being prepared for a night with the king, I was completely hooked. I also appreciated how Hadassah grew throughout the novel—from a young, selfish teen to a queen who realized she was a part of something greater than herself.

I expected Esther to be mainly about Haman's plot to kill the Jews and God's rescue of His people. While that part is there (of course), this novel covers so much more than that, and I think it's so much richer and more realistic because of all the details. 4 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Hunt's The Offering (4-1/2 stars), The Fine Art of Insincerity (5 stars), Five Miles South of Peculiar (4-1/2 stars), and The Golden Cross (5 stars).

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With nearly five million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the New York Times bestselling author ofThe Tale of Three Trees, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Angela's novels have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, including the RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the HOLT Medallion Award. Romantic Times Book Club presented Angela 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. She can be found online at www.angelahuntbooks.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate 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."

"the offering" by angela hunt

About the book: Seeking to supplement her soldier husband's income, Amanda Lisandra decides to become a gestational carrier. Though her mother and her in-laws don't understand her decision, her husband Gideon gives her his support. The money Mandy earns as a carrier will allow their musically gifted daughter to stay in her special private school, and it will also set them up financially so they can have more children once Gideon gets out of the military.

Mandy is matched up with a wealthy French couple and becomes pregnant with their baby. But just as Mandy is ready to give birth, her world is rocked to its core ... and she eventually begins to wonder if giving the child she carried to the French couple was the right decision.

My take: If you read the summary above, you'll notice it's pretty vague. That's because the back cover copy of the book gives away virtually everything except the final outcome of the novel, so I wrote my own summary. The back cover copy discloses major plot points that I wish I hadn't known prior to reading the book, as the element of surprise is completely eliminated. Now that my complaining is out of the way, let's get to the actual review!

Angela Hunt is an incredible writer whose books never fail to captivate me. That doesn't mean I always enjoy what I'm reading, but I'm totally engrossed in it. The Offering is quite different from the other books of Hunt's that I've read, the last two of which focused on middle-aged sisters. But I found this book to be just as believable and just as heart wrenching as those books were.

The Offering deals with a topic I was basically unfamiliar with prior to reading the novel—gestational surrogacy. Hunt does an excellent job of exploring this topic fully—the pros, the cons, and the moral dilemmas. And she does it by telling a compelling story of one family's journey with surrogacy, which takes a completely unexpected twist. (I'm dying to tell you about the twist, but it will be so much better if you just read the book for yourself!)

If I could change one thing about the book, it would be to speed things up a bit. The baby Mandy is carrying isn't born until nearly 2/3 of the way through the book. I would rather have spent more time with Mandy after the baby's birth, as that's when most of the important action happens.

I must also comment on my feelings for Mandy, who is not an incredibly likable main character. Throughout most of the book, I just wanted to tell Mandy to grow up. She kept patting herself on the back for doing this wonderful thing for the French couple, but she just seemed so selfish to me. I identified much more closely with the other women (her cousin Amelia, who struggled with infertility, and Simone, the woman Mandy carried the child for). This is probably because I have several friends and relatives who have struggled with infertility and/or the agony of adoption. As the story progressed, Mandy did grow up ... and she ended up making some very mature decisions. The change in Mandy from the book's beginning to end is remarkable—yet it's completely believable. I enjoyed discovering—along with Mandy—the events that made her the woman she was, and when she finally put everything together and understood what she needed to do, I wanted to stand up and cheer for her!

The Offering is a compelling novel that will force you to think. It will also make you cry. It's one of those books that will stick with you long after you've read the epilogue! 4-1/2 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying. 
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Hunt's The Fine Art of Insincerity, Five Miles South of Peculiar, and The Golden Cross.

About the author: With over four million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than one hundred books, including The Nativity Story. Hunt is one of the most sought-after collaborators in the publishing industry. Her nonfiction book Don't Bet Against Me, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Angela's novel The Note (with sales of over 141,000) was filmed as the Hallmark Channel's Christmas movie for 2007 and proved to be the highest rated television movie in the channel's history. Angela's novels have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, including the RITA, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the Holt Medallion. She often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers' conferences, and she served as the keynote speaker at the 2008 American Christian Fiction Writers' national conference. She and her husband make their home in Florida with mastiffs. In 2001, one of her dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest dog in America. Learn more about Angela at http://www.angelahuntbooks.com.

About the giveaway: Angela Hunt is celebrating the release of The Offering with a Nook HD Giveaway and an Author Chat Party on Facebook {6/5}.

  One winner will receive:

• A Nook HD
• The Offering by Angela Hunt 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 4th. Winner will be announced at the "The Offering" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 5th. Connect with Angela for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Angela will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Offering and join Angela on the evening of June 5th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate 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."

"five miles south of peculiar" by angela hunt

About the book (provided by Glass Road): Darlene Caldwell has spent a lifetime tending Sycamores, an estate located five miles south of a small town called Peculiar. She raised a family in the spacious home that was her grandfather's legacy and she enjoys being a pillar of the community . . . until her limelight-stealing twin sister unexpectedly returns.

Carlene Caldwell, veteran of the Broadway stage, is devastated when she realizes that a botched throat surgery has spelled the end of her musical career. Searching for a new purpose in life, she retreats to Sycamores, her childhood home.

Haunted by a tragic romance, Magnolia Caldwell is the youngest of the Caldwell girls. Nolie spends her days caring for her dogs and the magnificent gardens she's created, but when she meets a man haunted by tragedy, she must find the courage to either deny her heart or cut the apron strings that tie her to a dear and familiar place.

My take: I don't know Angela Hunt's background, but she certainly knows sisters! As in last year's The Fine Art of Insincerity (which I reviewed here), she has created sisters who seem real—so real that some of the hurts and misunderstandings are ones that I could see myself having with my own two sisters.

As the book unfolds, it becomes obvious that each sister is harboring a secret of some sort. As I began piecing things together, I couldn't wait for Darlene's big reveal—and it was certainly worth the wait! I also enjoyed Nolie's transformation and Carlene's cluelessness when it came to her sisters. When you throw in the small town charm, a couple of romantic interests, and a two very large dogs, you have an excellent summer read! 4-1/2 stars.

About the author: With nearly 4 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than one hundred books, including The Tale of Three Trees, Don't Bet Against Me, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Her nonfiction book Don't Bet Against Me, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. She and her husband make their home in Florida with their dogs. Learn more about Angela at AngelaElwellHunt.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Glass Road Media & Management. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."