Happy April!
I’m excited to see spring weather peeking out from beneath the winter clouds. Have you been experiencing spring or are you still stuck in winter? Let me know in the comments!
Today I’m sharing a review of Shadow Among Sheaves, the debut novel of Naomi Stephens. I read this last weekend after a friend recommended I check it out. Continue reading to find out my thoughts on this book!
About the Book
A Timeless, Beautiful Allegory of the Biblical Love Story of Ruth and Boaz
The Great Rebellion of 1857 was a remarkably bloody business. At a time when Britain’s imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer—nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband’s tragic death.
Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart for his own.
My Thoughts
Okay, y’all, let me share my thoughts. I’ve been trying to gather them all together so I’ll start with initial impressions.
Wow. Just wow. The prologue sucked me in and I knew this would be a tale I’d read until the very end. Which I did. No worrying of not finishing here. I loved Rena as a heroine, a woman, and just an interesting character to follow. She’s amazing and I was pulling for her through the entire story.
And that leads me to Lord Barric, because what’s a Ruth retelling without a Boaz? Barric is very stern but he has his moments of kindness that peek out every now and then. And although I wasn’t in love with him, I didn’t dislike him either. But about 80% in there’s a scene that turned my opinion. In the end, I can say that I don’t think he deserved Rena. I feel like she deserved someone wholly gallant and worthy of her and all that she sacrificed. Because Barric wasn’t that for me, I would lower the rating, but that’s the only reason why.
Because this story is rich in history. Filled with beautiful wealth of emotion. I was invested in the story and that’s saying a lot because not every historical story moves me. I will be reading more of Ms. Stephens in the future.
*I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley. My review was not influenced nor required.
About the Author
Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a B.A. in English from Concordia University in Ann Arbor and an M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
In bookstores, Naomi gravitates towards 19th-century British novels—the broodier the better (i.e., Jane Eyre)—but she can also be found perusing the young adult, mystery, and fantasy sections. Anything that keeps her turning pages past midnight.
Though she has called many places home over the years, she currently lives in Ohio with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. When not writing or having adventures with her family, she can be found drinking tea, practicing photography, and pining for London.
Toni Shiloh 
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