In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar ~ Review

 
My Review:

Ruth and Boaz's love story has long been one of my favorite love stories of all time, and this book made me fall in love with it all over again.

Ruth is the youngest in a household of daughters, unwanted, and invisible. That is, until she befriends Naomi, who introduces her to her son. Ruth marries Naomi's son, but a few years later tragedy strikes and Ruth's husband dies. With no where else to go, Ruth follows Naomi back to Israel where she finds kindness in the field of Boaz.

A riveting retelling of one of the Bible's greatest love stories, that brings to life the struggles and risks, along with a cultural understanding that adds depth to this beautiful tale. Ms. Afshar helped me to experience this story in a whole new way, along with possibilities for why things might have happened the way they did.

From the beginning I was riveted to that page, though it was a story I have read many times over, I was glued to the page waiting to see what would happen next. I loved how Ms. Afshar portrayed Boaz, Ruth, and Naomi, as well as how she fleshed out the story with the many colorful side characters such as Adin, Abel, Dinah, and Hannah.

Overall, this was a heartfelt, lyrical retelling of Ruth, filled with love, loss, loyalty, hope, and God's great promise.  I would highly recommend this fantastic retelling!

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing In The Field of Grace River North; New Edition edition (July 1, 2014) by Tessa Afshar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Destitute, grief-stricken, and unwanted by the people of God, Ruth arrives in Israel with nothing to recommend her but Naomi's, love. Her loftiest hope is to provide enough food to save Naomi and herself from starvation.

But God has other plans for her life. While everyone considers Ruth an outcast, she is astounded to find one of the most honored men of Judah showing her favor.  Long since a widower and determined to stay that way, Boaz is irresistibly drawn to the foreign woman with the haunted eyes. He tells himself he is only being kind to his Cousin Naomi's chosen daughter when he goes out of his way to protect her from harm, but his heart knows better.

Based on the biblical account of Ruth, In the Field of Grace is the story of a love that ultimately changes the course of Israel's destiny and the future of the whole world.


If you would like to read the first chapter of In The Field of Grace, go HERE.