To preface, I chose this book because I love being “painted a picture” so-to-speak, of Bible stories. It helps them to come alive for me.
Having never read any of Lynn Austin’s previous novels, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was excited to try something new.
This book is written in a way that is very easily read and understood…one that can easily pull you in — a characteristic I long for in fiction novels I enjoy.
However, I had a very hard time reading the book, as many of the details, though good for the story line, made me second guess if I had missed it I’m my studies of Nehemiah in the Bible. One of the examples of this was found within the first few chapters, where it connects Nehemiah as an orphaned boy, to Mordecai, who essentially adopted him. This alone, stopped my reading as I searched Scripture to see if I had missed this tie all along.
For me, the heavy mixture of fiction with Bible was too difficult an undertaking to enjoy. Perhaps, if my Biblical knowledge was greater, it wouldn’t bother me so much, but because of this, despite the author’s talent for writing, it made this novel far from an enjoyable fiction read for me.
I received this book for free from Baker Publishing Group for this review. 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.”
