Moon Goddess : The Queen of Sheba [Mass Market Paperback]

Janice L. Dennie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

In the tenth century BC, Princess Makeda grieves as Zagwe warriors storm through her beloved Sheba, forcing her to seek a political alliance.... And she suffers humiliation by the handsome King Solomon who would offer her marriage in exchange for protection...Even though she fears being cast into his harem of seven hundred wives, she aches to know the rapture of his tender kiss.

For the first time ever, powerful King Solomon has been conquered, and by the defiant and beautiful Queen of Sheba. He must have the sensuous enchantress who resists his remedy for the alliance she seeks. And he will risk life itself to protect the woman who has pierced his heart with a tender love that he cannot deny.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Princess Makeda of Sheba finds herself thrust into the role of Queen of Sheba when her mother and many of her subjects are killed in an attack by a neighboring tribe. Not wanting a husband, but knowing her country is at risk from other tribes who want Sheba's wealth and its lands, Makeda agrees to her foster uncle's plan to seek a marriage alliance with the King of Judah, Solomon. Yet when she meets the magnificent king, she can't help but fall in love with him-he's everything a man and a king should be: wise, handsome, sensitive to his people and strong. Gladly she pledges her life and love to him.

Solomon is in love for the first time in his life-despite having over 600 wives and concubines. Yet, the woman of his heart is a pagan and his elders will not conscience her as a Queen of Judah. But that's the least of his problems-someone is trying to kill Makeda and he suspects the culprit is a member of his own household. Pledging his love to Makeda, Solomon vows to protect her and her life.

In this lush, exotic tale woven from the Biblical tale of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, Ms. Dennie has brought to life two of history's most famous and romantic couples. -- Romantic Times Magazine

About the Author

Janice L. Dennie has successfully written original works based on ancient African history. A resident of Northern California, she began writing in 1994, and to date, has written two books in her East African Trilogy. Moon Goddess: The Queen of Sheba, and The Lion of Judah. The third book Menelik: The Conquering Lion is scheduled for release in September, 1999. Menelik was the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, and the warrior king who established The Lion of Judah ruling dynasty in Ethiopia in the tenth century BC.

Ms. Dennie credits her mother and sister, for inspiring her to write fiction. A graduate of California State University, Hayward, she is a former Systems Analyst. Four more of her novels will be published within the next three years. She also has plans for a sequel to The Lion of Judah.

For more information about Ms. Dennie or to keep up with her new releases, please visit the Kente website at www.kentepub.com.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Kente Publications; 1 edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964334917
• ISBN-13: 978-0964334915
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,262,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars historical romance; emphasis on the romance, August 9, 1999

By 

Brian J. Fegely "Pennsylvania Freemason" (Philadelphia PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Moon Goddess : The Queen of Sheba (Mass Market Paperback)

I have just finished reading Ms. Dennie's book "Moon Goddess; the Queen of Sheba" and feel compelled to recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romances. It is, I must emphasize, a ROMANCE, telling a tale of the legendary relationship between King Solomon of Israel and Queen Makeda of 'the South'/Sheba/Ethiopia/Yemen. What little we know of this famed relationship comes from readings of 1st Kings and 2nd Chronicles, the Noble Qu'ran, and the Ethiopic 'Glory of Kings'-the "Kebra Nagast". Ms Dennie has woven the story from an unusual starting point: that of Solomon being still a <relatively> young man, and Makeda being not yet twenty summers old, and only gradually maturing into her throne (as Solomon does also during the course of the novel, althought seeming to have a headstart at the beginning). Ms. Dennie draws freely on Ethiopian history and legends with roles taken by the Zagwe people who figure in history during Medieval times, and the ususal exageration of traits provided by Scripture, the term 'Biblical proportions' being especially demonstrated here. It was very enjoyable to imagine Queen Makeda as a seventeen-year-old thrust suddenly into the role of monarch of a sophisticated trading people hearing of the wisdom and skill of a monarch to the North. One could easily envision not only the opulence of King Solomon's domiciles and cities, but also the exotically different -yet no less fanciful- gold and brocade of the Sheban Court. The Queen portrayed herein is not the mature, sober, attractive and self-aware lady, but rather a somewhat abashed teenager only learning the crafts of State. The book is after all a romance, and we have legend and Midrash concerning the celebrated romance between the Israelitish king and the dark 'Queen of the South' which has generated that most celebrated piece of love poetry: the luxuriant 'Song of Songs' -which although authorship has been doubted as Solomon's, is intuitively known to refer to the, uh, 'visit' of the most exotic and beautiful lady that Solomon had ever encountered. I recommend it most highly to anyone looking for a good historical fiction under a blazing equatorial -or seashore- sun. Readers interested further may find either the translation of the Kebra Nagast by Miguel Brooks or Sir E.A. Wallis Budge, to tell a more conventional, male dominated, but still generally unknown side of the tale all too briefly hinted at in the brief passages in Hebrew Scripture. The next installment, being a sequel as well as a stand-alone, will detail the founding of the 'Solomonic' line of kings of Ethiopia with the birth of David II, ibn al Malik, and the covert removal of the Ark of the Convenant from the Temple in Jerusalem. I think Ms Dennie will have my interest for some time....

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Manna from heaven, April 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Moon Goddess : The Queen of Sheba (Mass Market Paperback)

In 950 BC Ethiopia, a numbed Princess Makeda wanders among the sea of dead bodies, including her mother, Queen Zenobia, that flood the floor of the courtyard. Makeda has no time to grieve as she is now the Queen of Sheba and must find a way to protect her people and their wealthy lands from the invading tribes who covet them.

Her foster uncle sees only one avenue of safety for their people. He suggests that she propose a marriage alliance with the legendary King of Judah Solomon. When Solomon and Makeda meet, they fall in love with each other. Solomon, whose harem is estimated at seven hundred women, has never lost his heart before. However, he knows that though he loves this pagan, his tribe would never accept her as the queen of the Jews. Still, when an unknown assailant tries to kill his beloved, he vows to protect her even though he suspects one of his own as the culprit.

MOON GODDESS is a fabulous retelling of the biblical romance between Solomon and Sheba. The story line is fast-paced and filled with a genuine feel for the era. The characters seem genuine without losing or changing what the bible describes of them. Janice L. Dennie demonstrates she is a major talent within the biblical historical fiction sub-genre. Fans who relish a wonderful love tale from out of the Old Testament will want to read this novel and its predecessor (see THE LION OF JUDAH). Both novels contain entertaining, well written, and exciting tales. Anyone who does will be a fan of Ms. Dennie and clamor for an early release of book three, MENELIK THE CONQUERING LION.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating love story., July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Moon Goddess : The Queen of Sheba (Mass Market Paperback)

I truly loved the African royalty story and was truly inspired by the spiritual power of God that took place in this story. This is an excellent book for entertainment, not quite sure if it could be used for anything more than that. I for some reason question if the events really happen. However, I will brush up on the history of Queen of Sheba after reading this book. Interesting topic and makes you wonder. The Bible doesn't speak much of Queen of Sheba and Solomon however I'm very curious. I look forward to reading other stories by Ms. Dennie.