"THE PRINCE AND THE PRODIGAL" BY JILL EILEEN SMITH

"The Prince and the Prodigal" by Jill Eileen Smith

Book Blurb:

Joseph is the pampered favorite son of the patriarch Jacob. His older brothers, deeply resentful of his status in the family, take advantage of the chance to get rid of him, selling him to slave traders and deceiving their father about his fate. It seems like their troubles are over. But for Joseph and older brother Judah, they are just beginning.

While Joseph is accused of rape and imprisoned, Judah attempts to flee the memory of his complicity in the betrayal of his younger brother. After decades apart, the brothers will come face-to-face in a stunning role reversal that sees Joseph in a position of great power while Judah begs for mercy. Will forgiveness or vengeance win the day?

Bestselling and award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith brings her considerable research and imaginative skills to bear in this vivid retelling of one of the most popular stories found in Scripture--a story of jealousy, betrayal, and a reconciliation that only God could bring about.

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My Thoughts:

This author is new to me and so is the biblical fiction genre. This book brings the biblical stories of the prodigal son and of Joseph and Judah (sons of Jacob) to life! I highly recommend reading those stories in the bible just before reading this book to gain better understanding of them. 

After reading its beginning pages, this book seems written in a way that is easy to understand and captures the imagery of biblical times. I look forward to reading this book in full with friends in my book club and discussing how it compares to scripture, after which I will update this review.

Note: I received a free advance review copy of this book from its publisher, for which I am extremely grateful, and these are my honest thoughts.

My ⭐ Rating: TBD

Credits: The book blurb and cover photo seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

"THE LADY OF GALWAY MANOR" BY JENNIFER DEIBEL

 

"The Lady of Galway Manor" by Jennifer Deibel

Book Blurb:

In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family--descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family's jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the "lies" the Claddagh Ring promises.

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the "other side" isn't quite as barbaric and uncultured as they'd been led to believe--and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner's fire.

Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel.

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My Thoughts:

Although this isn't a genre I typically gravitate toward (historical romance fiction), I really enjoyed this book! Without spoiling anything, this is a beautifully told story of conflict, heartache, love, and redemption. I loved the Ireland setting, Anna's views of the world around her, and the growing relationships between Anna, Seamus, and Stephen. The characters are well developed and easy to become invested in. Seamus is definitely my favorite character—I’d love to have him as a father-in-law! I'm now interested in reading more books by this author.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from its publisher, for which I am extremely grateful, and these are my honest thoughts.

My ⭐ Rating: 4 stars

Credits: The book blurb and cover photo seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.