Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens - A Book Review

    

Inspired by the story of Ruth and Naomi, Stephens has crafted a story of love and sacrifice, of loyalty and renewal. Rena, a young Indian woman, is widowed after an all too brief marriage to Edric, an English soldier stationed in India, having moved their with his parents years before. Dedicated to her mother-in-law, Nell, also recently widowed, Rena decided to accompany her back to England and to see that she is cared for. Survival for the two women becomes a struggle as door after door is closed to them due to prejudices over Rena's Indian heritage. Lord Barric, much to the chagrin of many, extends them Christian charity in the form of food and shelter. Where Stephens takes the story from there puts a fresh face on the usual story line of historical romance, one readers will quite enjoy.

A secondary character that cannot go without mention as one reflects on Shadow Among Sheaves is Parson Richardson. He is truly an example of seeking to model one's life after the example of Christ. The parson is the type of Christian one would like to know and to be. His non-judging, accepting, generous lifestyle and his winsome ways draw both the story's main characters and readers to want to know this Lord of whom he speaks.

I look forward to reading more books by this author and am grateful to have received a copy of Shadow Among Sheaves in exchange for my honest opinion from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.