Thursday, June 7, 2012

Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar

Harvest of Rubies author, Tessa Afshar, beckens readers to follow her as she travels to the exotic and mysterious world of the ancient Pesian Empire.  I was delighted to accompany Sarah, a young Jewish girl with a gift for languages and writing, on her journey to the court of King Artaxerxes, where she rises to the position of senior scribe to Queen Damaspia.

Sarah's achedemic success is counterbalanced by her ingnorance in the art of womanly graces. In a culture which holds beauty as a prized possession, she neither cares nor can be bothered to learn which beauty creams and treatments yield the effects suitable to a woman of high social standing.  Which is fine--after all, her position as a scribe does not dictate the need to be a swan in her ugly duckling's world...

Until one day...

Harvest of Rubies reads like a true Tale of the Arabian Nights. Once you enter, you will be intrigued and beguiled, and left wanting more.  If you buy one book for yourself this summer, this could be the one you'll want to read again...

(For more information about Harvest of Rubies and Tessa Afshar, read on.)


This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Harvest of Rubies
 
River North; New Edition edition (May 1, 2012)
 
by
 
Tessa Afshar
 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  




TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life.  She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently.  Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School.  She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.


ABOUT THE BOOK  


Remarkable Talent Threatens to Cloud a Life


The prophet Nehemiah’s cousin can speak several languages, keep complex accounts, write on tablets of clay, and solve mysteries. Her accomplishments catapult her into the center of the Persian court – working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and becoming the queen’s favorite scribe.

Not bad for a woman living in a man’s world: so why does Sarah feel like a failure?

A devastating past has left Sarah with two conclusions: that God does not love her, and that her achievements are the measure of her worth – a measure she can never quite live up to.

Darius Pasargadae is accustomed to having his way. A wealthy and admired aristocrat, the last thing he expects is a wife who scorns him.

Can two such different people help one another overcome the idols that bind them?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Harvest of Rubies, go HERE.

7 comments:

Dana said...

You do know you're making my TBR list grow, right? ;)

Jennifer Shirk said...

Wow,you always highlight such diverse books! Sounds great1

Cheryl Klarich said...

Hi Dana! Hmmm, the books really do pile up around here...email me your adress and I'll send some your way. I LOVED Harvest of Rubies so much that I can't part with it, though.

Jennifer, you will love this book!

Rachna Chhabria said...

Cheryl, you are making my TBR pile grow longer and longer with such wonderful books.

Suzie Johnson said...

This looks like a fabulous book, Cheryl. I'm adding it to my wish list right this minute. I'm so glad you mentioned it, as I've not come across it before.

Unknown said...

This was a wonderful book!! I loved it.

Cheryl Klarich said...

Raachna, seriously, you must read this book.

Susie, put this one at the top of the list!!!

Elsa, you are my best in-house critic. ;)

Thanks everyone for checking out Harvest of Rubies!!

Blessings!!