Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar: A Book Review

Pearl in the Sand
Author: Tessa Afshar
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Biblical Fiction
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Release Date: 2020
Pages: 416
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Can a Canaanite harlot who made her living enticing men be a fitting wife for a leader of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes.

This 10th anniversary edition of Pearl in the Sand includes new features that will invite you into the untold story of Rahab’s journey from lowly outcast to redeemed child of God. Rahab’s home is built into a wall, a wall that fortifies and protects the City of Jericho. However, other walls surround her too, walls of fear, rejection, and unworthiness… Years of pain and betrayal have wounded Rahab’s heart—she doubts whether her dreams of experiencing true love will ever come true…

A woman with a wrecked past—a man of success, of faith... of pride. A marriage only God would conceive! Through the heartaches of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another’s worth and find healing in God.

My Review: Pearl in the Sand retells the story of the Battle of Jericho. It tells about Rahab, her early tragic past, and the after events of the Bible. Rahab begins to listen to God’s voice and help the Hebrews. She slowly falls for the Hebrew leader, Salmone, and they plan to marry. As their marriage draws near, can Rahab ever forgive herself and move on from the past?

I have always admired Rahab from the Bible. I have always thought that she was a courageous woman to put her life at risk by helping the Hebrews. However, Mrs. Afshar gives a deeper look at Rehab. She fleshes out her backstory, and makes Rahab a complex character with real emotions and gives her a voice. In this novel, Rahab’s story is not for the faint of heart. She goes through many horrific events. She is a young woman who is traumatized by her past and does not forgive herself. Throughout the course of the novel, she struggles to love herself. It is with the help of God that she gradually learns to heal and find love. I also love her relationship with Salmone. They do not fall immediately in love. Their relationship took time and also had God’s help. With God’s help, they were able to start a new chapter in their life that is filled with much promise.

Overall, this novel is about redemption, forgiveness, and recovery. The message of this book is God’s love is the best form of healing. All the characters seemed to be developed. The story was very beautiful and heart-wrenching. Rahab is truly a heroine who deserves her happy ending. Unlike other biblical fiction writers that paint these biblical women as almost perfect, Rahab is far from perfect. Therefore, this seems like a very realistic take on Rahab. The story also moves at an even pace. Pearl in the Sand is perfect for fans of The Crimson Cord, The Scarlet Cord, and Jewel of Jericho! Pearl in the Sand is a must read for fans of Biblical fiction!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar: A Book Review

Daughter of Rome Author: Tessa Afshar Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction, Romance Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Release Date: 2020 Pages: 416 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis : A woman with a devastating secret. A man bent on proving his worth. A chance encounter that catapults them into the heart of history. When the daughter of a prominent Roman general meets a disinherited Jewish immigrant, neither one can dream of God’s plan to transform them into the most influential couple of the early church. Nor can they anticipate the mountains that will threaten to bury them. Their courtship unwittingly shadowed by murder and betrayal, Priscilla and Aquila slowly work to build a community of believers, while their lives grow increasingly complicated thanks to a shaggy dog, a mysterious runaway, and a ruthless foe desperate for love. But when they’re banished from their home by a capricious emperor, th...

Blog Tour: A Class Apart and A Class Entwined by Susie Murphy

A Class Apart (A Matter of Class #1) by Susie Murphy Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance Publisher: Susie Murphy Release Date: 2018 Pages: 285 Synopsis: It’s 1828, and Ireland is in turmoil as Irish tenants protest against their upper-class English landlords. Nineteen-year-old Bridget Muldowney is thrilled to return to the estate in Carlow she’ll inherit when she comes of age. But since she left for Dublin seven years earlier, the tomboy has become a refined young lady, engaged to be married to a dashing English gentleman. Cormac McGovern, now a stable hand on the estate, has missed his childhood friend. He and Bridget had once been thick as thieves, running wild around the countryside together. When Bridget and Cormac meet again their friendship begins to rekindle, but it’s different now that they are adults. Bridget’s overbearing mother, determined to enforce the employer-servant boundaries, conspires with Bridget’s fiancé t...

Interview with Kate Quinn

Today, I have the pleasure to interview bestselling author, Kate Quinn. She is best known for The Empress of Rome Saga and The Borgia Chronicles . Her latest novel, The Alice Network, focuses on a WWI spy network made up of women. In this interview we discuss these unsung heroines, who risked their lives in WWI. Mrs. Quinn also gives us a hint about what she is working on next. I hope this interview will give you some insight into the history of The Alice Network. I have given a very good review of this book, and I hope you will take the opportunity to read it. Thank you, Mrs. Quinn! What drew you to take a break from Ancient Rome and write about women in WWI? I love ancient Rome, and I'd love to write more books about it someday, but I've never been a one-era writer. I've always had ideas for books in a wide array of historical periods, from ancient Rome clear through to World War I. When I saw the huge recent boom in populari...

History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

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