- Harvest of Rubies

Love all Tessa books.

A book that was so hard go put down, you just wanted to see what was next. A great look at people in bible times and faith in our one true God surpasses all else.

The author has written a very engaging tale with well developed characters. Once I began reading, it was hard to put down. I highly recommend this book!

After reading Tessa Afshar's Pearl in the Sand I was not sure how in the world a better book could be written. But she did! Harvest of Rubies is about a young scribe, a woman named Sarah longs for acceptance, for belonging. Her mother died at the age of seven, her father Simeon doesn't know what to do with her and therefore neglects her most basic need: affection. But Sarah knows how to get her father's attention, she learns to read and to write and captures her Simeon's attention and he begins to teach her. Nehemiah, cupbearer to the king takes notice of her rare talent for writing and for various languages and recommends her to the Queen Damaspia. Soon Sarah becomes the cheif scrie and in so becomming she uncovers a plot to marr the good name of the Queen. In so doing she wins the Queen's favor even more, so much so that the Queen wants to reward her favored scribe. But the Queen's choice of reward is not what Sarah-who finds her worth in her job-wants. The Queen arranges for Sarah's marrige to Lord Darius. But it turns into a dissaster as Sarah does everything possible to avoid the marrige. When the Queen offers her own servants to prepare for the wedding, Sarah turns them away each day, until the last day she realizes that she doesn't have a clue on how to prepare herself though she does attempt to do so. When she comes to her wedding she shocks not only her future husband but all in royal attendance. The story spirals in twists and turns from there, for they all think she has done this on purpose to marr the good name of Lord Darius and the Royals. While the Royal court travels Sarah is left in Lord Darius's palace, alone, cast aside with only her servant girl pari. But soon she finds that there are faithful friends in this home and together they uncover a deceitful Steward, and evil man named Teispes who is stealing from his master. Danger becomes very real and Sarah finds that she needs to find proof to present her husband Lord Darius. Teispes finds out that Sarah has uncovered his secret and tries to do everything to thwart her. When Darius is sent by the Queen to retrieve his wife and bring her to court they find out that Teispes even tried to kill her. The story just gets better and better, it is full of humor in just the right spots that had me bursting out in laughter at Sarah's antics... it is also full of heartache as Sarah soon falls in love with Darius but has no hope of him returning that love. Also weaved cleaverly throughout the story is lasting hope, and when you get to the part where you realize why the book is called Harves of Rubies, well the effect is a wonderful satisfactory sigh of relief. I trully can't wait for Tessa's next book and I HIGHLY recommend this on as well as Pearl in the Sand.

Left a full review after reading second book, this series is worth it. A forced marriage, neither one wants, but one is starting to fall in love.

To sum up: This is a book that builds up the reader's heart with the truth of God's deep love and our worth in Him, rather than feed our hearts the cotton-candy emotions of fictional human love that leave us hungry and depressed as soon as they story is finished.I have grown tired of the "Christian romantic fiction" genre, but the last time I was at a Christian bookstore (I live overseas so it's only once every year or two) I saw this book and thought, "Well, it's not too expensive, the premise is a little different from most that I've read, and all the other books I'm getting are non-fiction, meh, maybe I'll buy it to read on the plane home." I did - I finished it in 5 hours and wished I had more for the rest of the flight!The reason I've given up on the genre in general is that many books increase rather than fight against the curse from Genesis 3:16, of a woman idolizing her husband and looking for him to bring her completion. As a single woman, I end up discontented when I finish that kind of book where the happy marriage at the end is the solution to all problems. In some cases, there is so little substance backing up the "faith" of the characters that it seems simply tacked on to allow marketing to the Christian bookstores.This book is so much more! Yes, there is some romance, and even the way-overused plot device of two people being thrown into marriage against their will (or at least against the woman's will) before getting to know and value each other, but their relationship by the end of the book is not what the formula would predict and it is NOT the main relationship or focus in the book. Rather, the most important relationship is that between Sarah and the God she has decided does not care about her. The author, Tessa Afshar, uses portions of the Psalms and interactions with Nehemiah, as well as the circumstances of Sarah's life and her prayers, to bring her heart back to the One who created her and who alone gives her life ultimate worth - not her skills, not her husband, only God. These parts of the book don't read like sermons or lectures but show a deep understanding of and appreciation for God's love for us. My own insecure heart was truly ministered to by the words of this book, and though I donated it to our school's secondary library as soon as I got back (I couldn't keep a book this good to myself!), I will be checking it out to re-read soon.

If you enjoy Christian Historical fiction, I can recommend Tessa Afshar. I've read three of her books - 'Pearl in the Sand' - which makes one consider who Rahab really was: this woman branded throughout history as 'Rahab the Harlot', and yet wonderfully transformed by the God of Grace to take her place in the genealogy of the Saviour. I've just finished 'Harvest of Rubies' and 'Harvest of Gold'; two novels that bring Nehemiah to life. She researches carefully and writes well - her characters become friends and you won't be able to read about them in Scripture without a sense of connection and recognition. If you start with 'Harvest of Rubies' you will definitely buy 'Harvest of Gold'. In the 'Harvest' books, Tessa has more opportunity to preach through her characters' thoughts and conversations, and although she uses these opportunities to share her passion for God and His ways, she doesn't get bogged down. I agree with other reviewers. These were books you didn't really want to put down.

It is hard to write in a small space all I love about Tess Afshar's writing. She is a fantastic author. I loved this book, Harvest of Rubies. The story just flows around the main characters amid twists and turns. I have just purchased the next book in the series, Harvest of Gold and now I must wait patiently for it to arrive.

Definitely a page-turner but not as sensational as Pearl in the Sand.PROSWell writtenOnce I got into it, I couldn't out it downMinistred to me and caused me to examine life and my relationship with GodTackled some very serious issues and some questions of faith that we all tend to ask GodCONSGod appears in the beginning and the end. He is missing in the middle of the story.1st person caught me off guard. I tend to prefer omniscient narrators but it worked.Took a while for me to get into it. The begining was rather slowThe reader is left hanging. Have to wait for part 2 :-(On the whole it is a very good read and definitely worth purchasing.Afshar is one to watch. I cannot wait for the next book!

An interesting book set during the Jewish exile in Babylon, A Jewish girl (and royal scribe) is forced into an arranged marriage to a Persian nobleman. Some romance and adventure as she draws closer to God, starts to overcome family tragedy and learns about her true value. Some interesting insights into ancient Babylon,

Amazing I loved the time period and the intrigue with the love story for God and man wrapped into it. Could not put it down.