Revell Blog Tour: Sarai

Author: Jill Eileen Smith

Genre: Life

Series: Wives of the Patriarchs

Number in series: 1st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Historical fiction (Biblical, actually)

Number of pages: 317

Time period: Bible times (around 2165 B.C.)

Press release: Sarai, the last child of her aged father, is beautiful, spoiled, and used to getting her own way. Even as a young girl, she is aware of the way men look at her, including her half-brother Abram. When Abram finally requests Sarai's hand, she asks one thing--that he promises never to take another wife as long as she lives. Even her father thinks the demand is restrictive
and agrees to the union only if Sarai makes a promise in return--to give Abram a son and heir. Certain she can easily do that, Sarai agrees.

But as the years stretch on and Sarai's womb remains empty, she becomes desperate to fulfill her end of the bargain--lest Abram decide that he will not fulfill his. To what lengths will Sarai go in her quest to bear a son? And how long will Abram's patience last?

My overall opinion: I loved it. This is the first book I’ve read by Jill Eileen Smith, and the first book in her new “Wives of the Patriarchs” series. You may have heard of her “Wives of King David” series? I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series. Anyway, about this book. It’s about (as you ought to know) Sarai, wife of Abram – who later became Sarah and Abraham, parents of Isaac. This Biblical fiction was well-written, riveting, factual, exciting, and a really good read. I love that I feel now like I actually know Abram and Sarai! There was not excessive description of the union of Hagar and Abram, or Sarai and Abram, though both were mentioned and explained as needed. This book is definitely one that I’ll be keeping and reading time after time. I highly recommend it for historical or Biblical fiction lovers!

ISBN: 978-0-8007-3429-9
Price: $14.99
Paperback
320 pages

Available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

***The author and Donna Hausler from Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was not compensated for this review in any other way. I was not required to give a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I really did love it. ***