Happy Friday!
This week the book I’m sharing is:
Amazon | Goodreads
Babylon
October 539 BCI’d never seen a sesame seed grow until I came to Babylon almost seventy years ago.
To say that I’ve been highly anticipating this book would be an understatment! The moment I first heard about it with the cover reveal I’ve had it on my TBR list so I’m super excited that I was approved to be a part of the launch team. I am currently reading it now and I’m totally sucked in! It releases very soon on March 5th 🙂
About the Book:
The Old Testament book of Daniel comes to life in this novel for readers of Lynn Austin’s Chronicles of the Kings series or Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series.
Survival. A Hebrew girl first tasted it when she escaped death nearly seventy years ago as the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. She thought she’d perfected in the many years amongst the Magoi and the idol worshippers, pretending with all the others in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court. Now, as Daniel’s wife and a septuagenarian matriarch, Belili thinks she’s safe and she can live out her days in Babylon without fear–until the night Daniel is escorted to Belshazzar’s palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The Persian Army invades, and Bellili’s tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of the conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who prays to Yahweh alone?
Ultimately, Yahweh’s sovereign hand guides Jerusalem’s captives, and the frightened Hebrew girl is transformed into a confident woman, who realizes her need of the God who conquers both fire and lions.
About the Author:
Mesu grew up with a variegated Christian heritage. With grandparents from the Pilgrim Holiness, Nazarene, and Wesleyan Churches, her dad was a Quaker and mom charismatic. As you might imagine, God was a central figure in most family discussions, but theology was a battlefield and Scripture the weapon. As a rebellious teenager, Mesu rejected God and His Word, but discovered Jesus as a life-transforming Savior through the changed life of an old friend.
The desire for God’s Word exploded with her new commitment, but devotional time was scarce due to the demands of a young wife and mother. So Mesu scoured the only two theology books available–children’s Bible stories and her Bible. The stories she read to her daughters at night pointed her to the Bible passages she studied all day. She became an avid student of God’s Word, searching historical and cultural settings as well as ancient texts and original languages.
Mesu and her husband Roy have raised those two daughters and now enjoy a tribe of grandkids, who get to hear those same Bible stories. Mesu’s love for God’s Word has never waned. She now writes biblical novels, rich with spiritual insight learned through fascinating discoveries in deep historical research.
Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell)–the story of Job and the women who loved him–won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year in the Debut Author Category. Her subsequent novels have released with high praise, shedding light on some of the shadowy women of Scripture. Love’s Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) tells the story of the beloved shepherdess in King Solomon’s Song of Solomon. Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013) tells the story of Hosea and Gomer and is the final stand-alone novel in the Treasures of His Love Series. Her fourth novel, In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) tells the fascinating story of Queen Athaliah and the courageous Princess Jehosheba.
The Treasures of the Nile series (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015-16) included The Pharaoh’s Daughter and Miriam and spanned Moses’ life from birth to the Exodus. Her 2017 release, Isaiah’s Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah), explores the life and ministry of the prophet Isaiah and the tumultuous days of Judah under the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah but focuses on the woman Hephzibah–a fascinating character in Jewish legends.
Mesu writes in their log cabin tucked away in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Her best friend is an American Staffordshire Terrier named Zeke, who keeps her company on long writing days. Zeke also enjoys watching movies, long walks in the woods, and sitting by the fireplace on rainy days.
Now it’s your turn!
Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. To see what First Lines others are sharing this week head over to Hoarding Books.
Happy Friday! My first line is from Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano:
“Once upon a time, Melody Johansson had believed in happily ever afters.”
I have a feeling the next lines explain why that’s changed lol. Hope you enjoy it!
Happy Friday! On my blog, I’m featuring a nonfiction by Jeff Lucas called Standing on My Knees. Here, I will share Calico Spy by Margaret Brownley. Since it’s my current read, I will share from Chapter 8. “There ought to be a law against starting work at 5:00 a.m.” Have a wonderful weekend and happy reading!
Haha I would second that opinion!!
“Today I met the bu I’m going to marry…..” Patsy Swartz’s singsongy voice was too chipper.
AWAKENED LOVE by Laura V. Hilton
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thanks for sharing 🙂
I am looking forward to reading Of Fire and Lions! My first line is from The White City by Grace Hitchcock:
“Winnifred Wylde concentrated on his forehead, nodding, trying to respond appropriately, but it was so difficult with his nose hair escaping and retreating into his left nostril with every breath.”
https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/first-line-fridays-white-city-by-grace.html
Have a great weekend!
I read that one recently as well. Hope you enjoy it!
I have one book to read and then I can devour this one!
Happy Friday, Becca!
I’m currently reading Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron. It is such a great story. I highly recommend it. Right now I am in the middle of chapter 23, so I will share a line from there.
“Most of the south side was still cloaked in darkness from the gasworks disaster.”
Hope you have a relaxing weekend. Happy reading! 🙂💚📚
Oh man.. girl it’s amazing!! I have no doubt you will love it! I read Castle on the Rise recently as well. I definitely liked The Lost Castle better but I still think it was good.
I haven’t read The Lost Castle yet. I have a beautiful print copy just waiting for me. My TBR mountain has toppled with me under it!
Right now I TOTALLY understand that feeling… But it’s definitely one you’ll want to give a read if you can! The second book is readable without the first but there’s backstory that adds to it all
I’m definitely seeing that the backstory matters.
My Bible study is reading Miriam by Andrews as a compliment to our study of Miriam’s life. My first line comes from chapter 28 of my current read, Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard — This had been a very bad idea.
Uh oh I wonder what that bad idea was!
Happy reading Becca!
Thanks you too!
This book sounds so so good! Thanks for sharing!
It really is!!!
Happy Friday, Becca!
My first line is from Wicked Saints, by Emily A. Duncan: “The calming echo of a holy chant filtered down from the sanctuary and into the cellars.”
Wow that’s a great line!
Happy reading!
I’m sharing from the latest Elizabeth Camden novel on my blog, but I’ve just picked up After the Rain by Brandy Bruce. Here’s the first line:
“Deb, I miss you. I think about you. Just wanted to say it again.”
Thanks for sharing!
I just started Of Fire and Lions and may not get anything else done this weekend. I’m sharing from The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall on my blog today. Here is the first line from Chapter 7:
“The minute Lieutenant Dimsmore offered Emeline his arm as they emerged from the companionway after dinner, she regretted accepting his invitation.”
Happy Friday!
I’ve got a bit of a busy weekend but I’m about halfway through now and I’m sucked in so hoping I can get through it today since my work schedule during the week doesn’t allow me any reading time. I’ve read The Liberty Bride as well and consider it one of my favorites in the series. Hope you enjoy it!
Fabulous story!!!
This sounds like an amazing read!
On my blog this week I shared the first line of On Love’s Gentle Shore by Liz Johnson:
“She’d thought it was safe to come back to the island.”
I haven’t read that one yet. Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
What a gorgeous cover! Happy reading!