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Naomi Stephens
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Shadow among Sheaves Paperback – April 1, 2019

by Naomi Stephens (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 481 ratings
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A Timeless, Beautiful Allegory of the Biblical Love Story of Ruth and Boaz
 
The Great Rebellion of 1857 was a remarkably bloody business. At a time when Britain’s imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer—nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband’s tragic death. 

Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart for his own.
 
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Shiloh Run Press
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1683229339
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1683229339
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A stunning retelling of Ruth that will hold you captive until the last page.”
–Roseanna M. White, bestselling author of the Ladies of the Manor and Shadows Over England Serie

“When all the exoticness of the Far East arrives in the quiet countryside of Victorian England, rumors abound—and so does love. Shadow among Sheaves is a fresh retelling of the story of Ruth that adds a whole new way to look at the Biblical account. Poetic prose. Strong Characters. And a drama that gets under your skin.”
–Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series

“Set in 19th century England, Shadow among Sheaves is the tale of an Indian widow and her beloved mother-in-law. Amidst fear, self-sacrifice, and starvation, the young widow finds desperately needed assistance in the form of Lord Baric—an earl who soon finds himself torn between his reputation and his heart. Lovers of historical fiction will enjoy this elaborate retelling of Ruth and Boaz.” 
–Denise Hunter, bestselling author of On Magnolia Lane

Book Description

A nineteenth century reimagining of the Ruth/Boaz story, in which Rena (Ruth) hails from India, and Lord Barric (Boaz) is a buttoned-up British aristocrat who goes against custom to assist her. Soon Barric is torn between his wavering reputation and the increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart.
 

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shiloh Run Press (April 1, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1683229339
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1683229339
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 481 ratings

About the author

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Naomi Stephens

Naomi Stephens

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Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a B.A. in English from Concordia University in Ann Arbor and an M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Her first novel, Shadow among Sheaves, was an Inspy Award shortlister and winner of the 2020 Carol Award in Debut Fiction. In bookstores, Naomi gravitates towards 19th-century British novels—the broodier the better (i.e., Jane Eyre)—but she can also be found perusing the young adult, mystery, and fantasy sections. Anything that keeps her turning pages past midnight. Though she has called many places home over the years, she currently lives in Ohio with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. When not writing or having adventures with her family, she can be found drinking tea, practicing photography, and pining for London.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
481 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the story lovely, engaging, and uplifting. They describe the book as good, wonderful, and the best adaptation of the Book of Ruth they've ever read. Readers praise the writing quality as great, believable, and beautiful. They also appreciate the well-developed and strong characters.

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Story qualityReadabilityWriting qualityCharacter development
23 customers mention "Story quality"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the story lovely, engaging, and uplifting. They say the author did the story justice and draws them into an interesting, drama-filled read. Readers also mention the book is a great historical novel and Christian love story.

"Captured the story of Ruth very well and believably for the English setting. The best adaptation of the book of Ruth that I've ever read." Read more

"...I truly enjoyed this lovely story, and learned a lot about England/India in this time period...." Read more

"...A worthy and uplifting read, highly recommended for those who read Christian fiction, Victorian Romance, and Historical Romance." Read more

"...As a retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz, the story hits a great equilibrium between maintaining the original and making it new, and..." Read more

13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book wonderful, worthy, and uplifting. They say the author did a wonderful job on her first novel. Readers also mention the adaptation of the Book of Ruth is the best they've ever read.

"...The best adaptation of the book of Ruth that I've ever read." Read more

"...A worthy and uplifting read, highly recommended for those who read Christian fiction, Victorian Romance, and Historical Romance." Read more

"This is by far one of the best books I've read in a very long time...." Read more

"...Okay read, interesting and mostly clean, with a few choice words...." Read more

12 customers mention "Writing quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality great and believable for the English setting. They also describe the book as beautiful.

"Captured the story of Ruth very well and believably for the English setting. The best adaptation of the book of Ruth that I've ever read." Read more

"This was a beautiful book. I started it as I was finishing a novel by Julie Klassen, and felt it was on par with her books!..." Read more

"...to the biblical tale of Ruth and Boaz in this beautifully written Victorian romance, but Rena and Lord Barric are strong characters who whisk this..." Read more

"...The main characters of Rena and Lord Barric are both well written and have great emotions and complexities that make them seem very real...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and strong.

"...The characters were believable and the writing beautiful...." Read more

"...The characters have interesting backstories and complicated personalities that leave you feeling invested and wanting to know more...." Read more

"...Without giving away any spoilers, it is the strength of their personalities, including both their internal, psychological turmoil, as well as their..." Read more

"...The main characters were complex, somewhat flawed, and seemed very real as they struggled with attraction contrary to the social norms of their..." Read more

Excellent Writing and an Intriguing Tale
4 out of 5 stars
Excellent Writing and an Intriguing Tale
I read this novel in a matter of hours. It was engaging and perfectly paced. I was anticipating every page. I have never seen a period novel based on the Ruth and Naomi before. It makes me wonder if there are others out there. What a unique and wonderfully realized concept.The setting and characters were not things I ever would have thought of, but it was the perfect equivalent. The daughter of a wealthy Indian scholar marries the son of an nobleman in British-occupied India, he and his father die unexpectedly, and, a pariah to her people for marrying a British soldier, Rena follows her beloved mother-in-law to England in hopes of a new life. What they didn't expect was the disgusting lack of compassion they would receive upon arrival, due to Rena's race and origin.I must say, this is where the story struggled for me. It was terribly realistic, chapter after chapter of some of the worst sides of humanity. The savage unkindness and bigotry was painful to read. Rena bore it as gracefully as she could, but I was filled with violent anger on her behalf. The male lead, Jack, a nobleman and cousin of Rena's dead husband, was not quite the kind of love interest that I expected. While it does follow the eventual course of the Bible story, it's not exactly a Hallmark movie. Jack spent 90% of the novel battling his attraction to a woman that would be rejected by the society he was born into, and exhibiting a hot and cold routine that was exhausting to read.I wasn't really a big fan of the love story. There were more parts where I felt angered by his coldness or thoughtless cruelty. It was like reading Mr. Darcy before he was softened by Elizabeth's rebuke. He wasn't bad at heart, but he wasn't a Prince Charming either. I understand it was the time period, and in that context his behavior and thoughts were understandable. That didn't mean my 2019 mind was as forgiving. The ending was a bit sudden and quick. It wasn't unhappy, by any means, but perhaps not quite as softly romantic as my mind had conjured up.Despite this, it was quite an interesting story. An original. I was deeply entranced by the characters. I had to know how it was going to end. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves Bible stories about strong women, and period romances as well.
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Top reviews from the United States

L. Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! Great adaptation of this timeless love story!
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2024
Verified Purchase
Captured the story of Ruth very well and believably for the English setting. The best adaptation of the book of Ruth that I've ever read.
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Sarah B.
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Debut Novel
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2019
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This was a beautiful book. I started it as I was finishing a novel by Julie Klassen, and felt it was on par with her books!

I truly enjoyed this lovely story, and learned a lot about England/India in this time period. The characters were believable and the writing beautiful.

I expected the storyline to follow the original Ruth story more closely, but I did find there to be significant differences. While this kept me thinking (sometimes meaning I was not lost in the novel), it was well done, but not something I was prepared for.

I’ve also been studying Ruth in Bible Study, and felt this book was missing some of the Christology that could have been drawn out in the novel. *However* it was a well written book, and those points only matter if you were looking for them.

I look forward to more books by Naomi Stephens.
9 people found this helpful
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Dana McNeely
5.0 out of 5 stars Victorian Kindness, or Something More?
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
After her whirlwind marriage to an English Officer in 1850s India, Rena, a young high-caste Indian girl faces disdain from friends, family, and society alike. When her young husband dies suddenly, she and her widowed mother-in-law learn their inheritance is exactly zero. Clinging together, they apply for help to distant relatives, sell what personal items they have, and sail to England. There, they are plunged into even greater poverty, forced to sleep in gutters, stables, and finally take refuge in a brothel while Rena searches for any honest means to save her beloved mother-in-law from starvation.

The honorable Lord Barric strives to do right always. After all, there is enough scandalous gossip to overcome in his family's history, if not in the conduct of his prodigal brother. When he first finds the impoverished Rena in his fields, his philanthropical instincts are aroused ... and perhaps something more.

One can see parallels to the biblical tale of Ruth and Boaz in this beautifully written Victorian romance, but Rena and Lord Barric are strong characters who whisk this story to new and exciting heights. I was carried along to read this book in one day, intrigued to learn what happens next. A worthy and uplifting read, highly recommended for those who read Christian fiction, Victorian Romance, and Historical Romance.
One person found this helpful
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Life's A Book
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for historical fiction lovers
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2019
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Shadow Among Sheaves is author Naomi Stephens' debut Christian Fiction Novel, but reads like the work of someone seasoned in the genre. The characters have interesting backstories and complicated personalities that leave you feeling invested and wanting to know more. The plot is well paced, and has the right balance of detail and movement.

As a retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz, the story hits a great equilibrium between maintaining the original and making it new, and breathing life into such an old tale. For someone versed in the Bible, the story is recognizable, but also has enough of a 'modern' historical twist to keep it exciting.

The best part of this story in my opinion was how well developed the characters were. The main characters of Rena and Lord Barric are both well written and have great emotions and complexities that make them seem very real. Even the secondary characters have interesting arcs that round out the story beautifully.

I enjoyed this book so much that I am going to an author signing to meet the author in my city. I encourage all readers who enjoy historical fiction to try this book, even if they haven't read any Christian fiction before.
10 people found this helpful
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Lindy Ann Chamberlain
3.0 out of 5 stars Can’t buy the whole book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2022
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I really like the free preview, but I’ve been unable to buy a digital copy of the book! It is somewhat frustrating. I am only frustrated because I was really enjoying the story and have not been able to finish it.
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tinyfriend615
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Christian Romance - retelling of Ruth
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2019
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This is an interesting retelling of the story of Ruth. I thought the descriptive writing was beautiful. The author researched the period meticulously. I loved the scene in the snow. That was when I first really felt something for the characters. Before that, I was getting kinda tired of the characters being SO stuck in their ways. Throughout the whole book, I wanted to scream at the two main characters. They were ridiculously stubborn. When I'd get annoyed at Rena's refusal to leave her mother-in-law because of how unrealistic I thought that would be, I had to remind myself both of the time period AND that it is a retelling of Ruth. There are subtle hints of Pride and Prejudice also even though Barric is no Mr. Darcy (whoever could be!?). I don't usually like Christian fiction because I find it cheesy, but this was not cheesy at all. I was between 4 and 5 stars but because of the gorgeous writing and because I feel it's a great addition to this genre, I rounded up.
6 people found this helpful
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Terry H
4.0 out of 5 stars encouraging
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2019
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Rena was overlooked in many ways due to her being an Indian. She persevered, through it all, after she was widowed she stood by (Nell) her mother-in-laws side no matter what. They slept in some of the worst areas. Nell's faith never faltered, while Rena is not sure which faith is the right one for her.
Barric does what he can for them, even though he can be arrogant . He is struggling with his feeling towards Rena, and the hate his family has toward her.

This book was encouraging and it shows you not to be so judgmental as you never know the path someone is following.

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Josh Varghese Joy
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book!
Reviewed in India on August 2, 2020
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The book of Ruth outlined in modern terms and times!
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