In the Shadow of Jezebel by Mesu Andrews

Princess Jehosheba wants nothing more than to please the harsh and demanding Queen Athaliah, daughter of the notorious Queen Jezebel. Her work as a priestess in the temple of Baal seems to do the trick. But when a mysterious letter from the dead prophet Elijah predicts doom for the royal household, Jehosheba realizes that the dark arts she practices reach beyond the realm of earthly governments. To further Athaliah and Jezebel's strategies, she is forced to marry Yahweh's high priest and enters the unfamiliar world of Yahweh's temple. Can her new husband show her the truth and love she craves? And can Jehosheba overcome her fear and save the family--and the nation--she loves?

With deft skill, Mesu Andrews brings Old Testament passages to life, revealing a fascinating story of the power of unconditional love.



I am so excited to be writing this review.  I think in my last review I mentioned that the book was not a stay-up-until-3:00-a.m. book.  This one is.  Most Definitely!!

I have talked before about how I love Biblical fiction.  I know there are a lot of naysayers, who don't like it because we don't really know what it was like in those times, but they help me so much.  I grew up in a Christian home and attended a Christian school for Elementary, Jr. High, and High School.   I then proceeded to attend a Baptist University where I took Bible courses as part of my college education.  I have read the stories of the Old Testament all my life, but because the Bible doesn't go into the detail of a fiction author, I don't think we always get an in-depth, behind the scenes, look at these times.  For instance, I have read the Biblical account of Elijah and the battle against the Baal priests at Mt. Carmel.  I read how the priests of Baal cut themselves trying to entice Baal to consume their offering, but until I read about the scars on Princess Jehosheba received during sacrifices did this actually become real to me.

This story drew me right in and put me back in the time of Jezebel.  Mesu Andrews gave you a look behind the conniving, evil ruling of Jezebel and her daughter as well as the strength behind the Yahweh priests who struggled to maintain their country's love for Yahweh in the midst of a society that was being pushed into constant pleasure seeking by the people in power.  (Sound familiar anyone?)

In the Shadow of Jezebel takes you into Solomen's temple and allows you to see the daily life of Yahweh's high priest.  It also gives fascinating insight as to how they did small things like assign the daily chores and then turned around and used the same method to pick a new high priest.  This book made me want to go back and re-read the Old Testament accounts of Jezebel and that time period to see if there were items that I missed in previous readings.  Ms. Andrews makes everything so real it jumps off the page.

My first thought upon finishing this book was when could I read this again.  I thought about the book most of the next day, wondering what little bits of information I might have missed and could pick up on the next go-round.  

All-in-all, a masterful tale of how God is God through it all and how His Word does not return empty.  What He says will come true.  Great story!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Bethany House Publisher's  book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa...; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But he is stunned to learn the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past. Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch's daughter. Though he's initially wary of Julie Midwinter's reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul—and hidden sorrows of her own. Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master—a man her mother would never approve of—but she cannot imagine why Mr. Valcourt would leave London, or why he evades questions about his past. With Alec's help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village . . . and to her mother's tattered heart? I recently discovered Julie Klassen within the last 6 months or so. I've read her books The Tutor's Daughter and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, both of which I liked. This book was enjoyable, but I have to say it was not a read till you're done at 3:00 a.m. book. The Dancing Master took me about 2 weeks to read, which for me is a long time. For the first part of the book, I got distracted very easily and it just didn't hold my attention. The last couple of days as I was in the last half of the book, it got much better and I zoomed through. The characters were well written. The headstrong young heroine, Julie Midwinter, goes through what a lot of young ladies go through as they lose sight of what is good and dear and instead focus on what they think they want just because it's different. Mr. Valcourt has a secret hanging over his life as he finds himself in a new place that seems set against his livelihood. Maybe I had trouble with it because my mental picture of a dancing teacher is a skinny, twig-like dandy who is rather foppish. I think one other thing that tripped me up was because in this book I really loved the secondary characters almost more than the main characters. I loved Mr. Barrow. John Desmond sounds like my kind of guy (maybe it's his name). Then there's Walter, one of Alec's first students, who has an awesome sense of humor. I wouldn't mind seeing books about Walter, James, and Patience, best friends of Lady Julie. All in all, it was a good book. It's probably not something I would read over and over again, but it wasn't a waste of time to read. I did like learning about fencing and dancing and how important it was to society back then. For those who love Regency stories, this will be right up your alley. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Bethany House Publisher's  book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa...; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson

Weddings by Design - Book 3

A seamstress at a swanky bridal boutique, Gabi Delgado dreams of doing more than ripping out seams and fitting dresses to doe-eyed brides. She wants to see her own dress designs gracing the young women of Texas. When Jordan Spencer, the editor of Texas Bride magazine visits the shop to do a feature, Gabi is devastated to lose her job in his very influential presence. Convinced she'll never get her dreams off the ground now, Gabi needs lots of encouragement--especially from her friend Bella Neeley--to take a chance and start her business. And as she gets to know Jordan, she discovers that she may have to take a chance on love as well. Could it be that she'll have to design her own wedding dress soon?

As I was preparing to write this review, a scene from the movie Pretty Woman kept flashing into my mind.  The scene is at the beginning and end of the movie and has a guy asking the people around him about their dreams. "Welcome to Hollywood.  Everybody has a dream.  What's your dream? What's your dream? Hey, Mister, what's your dream?  

One of the reasons I love Christian fiction is that it's never just about the story. Because the authors are led by God, there's always an underlying message that speaks to me.  Sometimes I don't want to hear it, but it's there.  I know for most people, especially writers that are just starting out, they are not working their "dream job".  They are working the job that will pay the bills, but every night they go home and write.  Not because they have to, but because it's a passion that builds up inside of them until nothing else matters but the story that's in their head screaming to come out.  Your dream job is the one where you say I get to instead of I have to.  So...what's your dream?

Our heroine, Gabrielle Delgado, was right there.  She had a job in her dream industry, but she made alterations to other people's designs.  She had pictures that just floated out of her head onto paper, but she had to help pay the bills for her, her mother, and her grandmother, so she worked at her not so dream job in a not so fabulous environment for an entirely not so fabulous boss.  But as happens from time to time when God says you're ready, circumstances conspire to get her out of her comfort zone and into the place where God designed her to thrive.  With the help of some very good friends, family, and a very persistent reporter, Gabi moves into where God wants her to be.

Now that I have waxed philosophical, let me tell you what I liked and didn't like.  I thought the story was good. Anyone who has read any of my reviews know that I'm not a big fan of first person stories mainly because I usually don't think like the heroine in the story; however, Ms. Thompson was able to make me forget that.  I thought some of it was a little cheesy, but all in all, it was a fun story.  I think the only little thing I didn't like was that I didn't know where it was set.  I knew it was in Texas and it was on some sort of Island, but not being familiar with Texas Geography, I didn't connect it with Galveston.  In all fairness to the author, she did mention that the dress shop was Galveston's finest on like page 2, but by the time I got into the book, I just didn't put two and two together.  So, just in case you miss it when you read the book.  This book is set in Galveston and it's an island.  There!  Now you know!  :-)

All in all, a good book, which I would probably read again and would recommend that you read at least once.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Baker Publishing Group's book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa...; : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.