The Reluctant Queen

Author: Joan Wolf
ISBN: 978-1-59554-876-4
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Purchase Link: A Reluctant Queen
Source: Litfuse Book Tour
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About the book:
An inspiring re-imagining of the tale of Esther, a young Jewish woman thrust from a life of obscurity into a life of power, wealth, intrigue . . . and tender love. See the story of Esther in an entirely new way-with all the political intrigue and tension you remember, but told as a passionate and tender love story between a young man and woman. Misunderstood by many, King Xerxes was a powerful but lonely man. Esther's beauty caught the eye of the young king, but it was her spirit that captured his heart. Imagine anew the story of Esther, one of our faith's great heroines, destined to play a key role in the history of Christianity.

Review:
My all time favorite Bible story is the story of Esther. I have always been drawn to her courage, faith and trust in God, as well as her unselfish devotion to her people. However, part of me has always wished the Bible told us more about Esther. I’ve always wanted to know what she was like as a person, a woman, a niece and friend. What was life like for her? How did she feel about what was happening to her and around her? What was her marriage like? Though we cannot know for sure, we are blessed with wonderful authors, like Joan Wolf, who have the talent and ability to bring Esther to life through story for intrigued and anxious readers to immerse themselves in.

A reluctant Queen was beautifully written. The writing is clear and crisp, enabling the story to flow quickly and immersing the reader into it. I was hooked from the very beginning. I enjoyed the fictional accounts of this story that were interwoven with biblical accounts very well. The story was fluid and realistic. Because of the writing I read this novel very quickly. It has a steady pace that is backed by a story full of romance, history, culture, and mystery that you can’t help but be intrigued. In addition, the characters are well developed. They are very realistic and relatable. This element helped bring the story to life for me. I felt I was there watching the story unfold.

I’ve read other novels about Esther and enjoyed their spin on her story, however, this novel had an aspect others have not focused on, the love story of Esther. I enjoyed the story line of Esther and her husband’s relationship. The love story is beautiful. It brings Esther to life as a wife and not just a queen. I really enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it. It was a pleasure to read.

The author includes a note in the back of the novel that explained her process in turning a biblical story into a fictional novel. I really loved this added touch. It helped me understand and appreciate the story more than I already did.

About the Author:

Joan Wolf was born in New York City but has lived most of her adult life with her husband in Connecticut, where she raised two children and countless numbers of assorted animals. Joan is the author of numerous historical novels including The Road to Avalon which Publishers Weekly lauded as “historical fiction at its finest.” For more about Joan and her other books, please visit http://www.joanwolf.com/. 
**I sincerly apologize to the author as well as the Litfuse team and those who may have tried to read my post on 6/16/11.  I had technical dificulties and did not realize my scheduled post did not post as it should have.**