Michal's Window

by Rachelle Ayala

In ancient Israel, where women are property, Princess Michal loves her father's worst enemy, the future King David. She sacrifices everything to save his life, but will her heart survive war and separation?

Michal's story comes to life in this powerful and emotional journey through love and heartache to self-realization. Her intense love for King David coupled with tragic circumstances causes her to do the unthinkable. Too strong for her time, Michal's story resonates with women today.

"So, once I let the modern feminist inside of me relax, I realized how timely her story is, because, sadly, many of the things she has to deal with are things that women still face today."

"As a woman, every emotion I've ever had was weaved in Michal, causing me to cheer for this unsung heroine."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction, Historical, Biblical Fiction, Christian, Historical Romance

458 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2012

About the author

Rachelle Ayala is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope.

Her book, Knowing Vera, won the 2015 Angie Ovation Award, and A Father for Christmas garnered a 2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Award. Christmas Stray was awarded the 2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Award and A Pet for Christmas had an Honorable Mention. In 2017, her book about a single mother with an autistic son, Playing for the Save, won the 2017 Readers' Favorite Gold Award for Realistic Fiction.

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She is also a writing teacher and founder of the Romance In A Month writing community. She lives in California with her husband and has three children and two birds.

For an updated, printable booklist:
https://www.scribd.com/document/34213...

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Broken Build
Hidden Under Her Heart
Knowing Vera

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Taming Romeo
Claiming Carlos
Whole Latte Love
The Remingtons: Leap, Laugh, Love
The Remingtons: Blush of Love
Bad Boys for Hire: Ryker
Bad Boys for Hire: Ken
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick
Laguna Beach: Lucky in Laguna
Sapphire Falls: Going Haywire
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Sapphire Falls: Going Hearts Over Heels

SPORTS ROMANCE
Played by Love
Playing the Rookie
Playing Without Rules
Roaring Hot!
Intercepted by Love
Playing Catch
Playing for the Save

SWEET ROMANCE
Christmas Stray
A Father for Christmas
A Pet for Christmas
A Wedding for Christmas
Christmas Lovebirds
Valentine Hound Dog
Spring Fling Kitty
Blue Chow Christmas
Valentine Wedding Hound

HOLIDAY ROMANCE
Christmas Flirt
Santa's Pet
Deck the Hearts
Her Christmas Chance
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Michal's Window

NON-FICTION
Your Daily Bible Verse
Romance In A Month
366 Ways to Know Your Character
Love Stories: Writing a Romance Novella

Reviews

[Melisa Hamling · Rating 5 out of 5]

✫✫♥ƸӜƷ ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!ƸӜƷ♥✫✫

✫♥ƸӜƷ One of the most riveting tales of a biblical character brought to the forefront.

✫♥ƸӜƷ Michal's Window tells an AMAZING story of the life of King David's first wife, Michal. Never has a story drew me in and took me to the past, but in a present kind of way, as this one has. We get to walk, run, fear, and most importantly, love as Michal does. From the moment she meets David, a poor shepherd boy and harpist (musician), come to calm a raging King Saul, Michal's father, who's been plagued by demon spirits, to the exciting moments when David and Michal fall in love and marry. The times of trouble start as a jealous King Saul seeks to put David to death. The heart-wrenching story of the newlyweds separated when Michal helps David escape her father's wrath, knowing she herself could be put to death by such an act. From this point on, the story only deepens and takes us through the painstaking quest with Michal, to find her beloved David, to a much later reunion, when David becomes king and follows through with an earlier promise to send for Michal to live in his kingdom.

✫♥ƸӜƷ From a long awaited moment, through times of desperation, and the yearning to be with the one you love, Michal's trials are just beginning. A reunion met with additional wives, and a harem, only pepper Michal's heart with bitterness, jealousy and the need to feel wanted. Her love for King David never ceases, but when she feels she is no longer the one and only, set aside, competing with not one woman, but many, her desires and weakness of flesh, bring her to do things unspeakable in that era, B.C.E.

✫♥ƸӜƷ We get to see and feel so many things in this novel. Not only do we eat, breath, and live as Michal did, but we get to see some of young David to the rise of his kingdom, and his own heart. We meet new characters along with some originals, which only add to the brilliance of this story. I can't say enough about this novel! Other than, it will be an all-time favorite. A classic tale told like no other. And yes, there are novel's about Michal, but nothing that speaks to our hearts as this one does. So come along and journey through the most fascinating and incredible story you'll never forget! A novel you'll read over and over again. Michal's Window will always hold a special place in my heart and one that I will never forget. Thank you, to the author, Rachelle Ayala, for writing such an incredible and inspiring story! And for the beautiful way you brought closure in the end.

✫✫♥ƸӜƷ WITHOUT A DOUBT, BEST OF 2012 ƸӜƷ♥✫✫

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got up to 98% of the way and then just had to give up.

Ok, that sounds harsh, but it's not, really. This book is a historical romance, using characters of the Bible as the characters of the story. It is well written and as just a historical romance, it does the job quite nicely. I actually read 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel along with this book, to see the parallels and how the author followed the Biblical stories and how she inserted them into her work. Also, unlike other Kindle ebooks I've read, the formatting in this was very good and there were no horrendous typos that I noticed. The author had an editor and it showed.

That being said, I was looking for a more Biblically historical novel than a romance novel. While reading the Bible along with this book, I was getting upset that it seemed like the author just insert the Bible in rather than weave her story around the Bible. I gave up secular books for Lent and when I did that last year, I picked up Orson Scott Card's "Women of Genesis" novels and they were FANTASTIC. So I had hopes that this would be similar.

Not so much. This was a romance book, pure and simple and it had a LOT of sex in it. I do not like or enjoy romance books, as the characters are so full of drama and themselves. The basic romance "plot" of this book was, I love you, a character does something stupid causing a misunderstanding, I hate you, she runs away to another man, he drags her back, I still hate you, wild crazy monkey-jungle love, I love you, character does something stupid, I hate you, she runs away with another man, he drags her back, I still hate you, wild crazy monkey-jungle love, I love you...lather, rinse repeat. It seemed that the "love" was really just lust on both characters' part, though maybe by not reading the end I didn't get the final "love revelation".

Again, historical romances aren't my thing in the slightest and I was looking for something specific that this book didn't have. I couldn't finish it because I realized that if the characters had gone through all of the drama and heart-ache and pain of 98%, there was unlikely to be a happy ending or one that I would believe at any rate in the last 2%.

I'm giving this book two stars because while I would only give it one because I don't like historical novels, it was well written. It was however, misleading. I was expecting and hoping for a more Biblical rendition of Michal's story. What I got was what a friend of mine termed "Biblical porn".

I would pick up something else this author wrote, if it's not a romance book, because she can write well. Having never written a book and reading many truly bad ones, I know it can't be an easy thing to do. I give the author a lot of credit for being good at her craft.

[Holly Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sitting on my deck, with a warm spring breeze chasing crinkly winter leaves across the yard, and birds chirping from new nests, I got time-warped into an ancient world where a vivacious princess falls in love watching a shepherd boy strum his harp for her father, a king plagued by demons.

In Michal’s Window, Rachel Ayala delivers an eye-widening, you-can’t-pry-my-Kindle-from-my-hands, novel. From my deck, to stirring a pot over the kitchen stove, to under-the-covers with a book light, I got lost in Michal and David’s world.

And for those who snub Biblical fiction as, “boring, preachy stuff,” I snicker, even snort unabashedly. You readers are missing out on something way cooler than vampires. Vampire novels are your grandma’s reading material. Sissy stuff. Yeah, yeah. Vampires suck blood. Big deal. David slays two-hundred Philistine warriors and collects the foreskin from their penises for Michal’s dowry. What princess wouldn’t go gaga over a man willing to do that, especially when her father, King Saul, only asked for one hundred foreskins?

As fast as fluff from an angora sweater clings onto black wool pants, I became attached to the historic and Biblical, Michal and David, and to the other captivating characters in Michal’s Window.

Michal, the heroine, marries David and becomes trapped in a family feud. If born a boy, Michal could have been heir to the throne, but as a girl she’s a political pawn in a position of determining the future of Israel. Before the young couple can settle into married life, jealous King Saul wants his new son-in-law dead. Michal risks her father’s wrath by helping David escape out a window to ensure his survival and God’s plan for him to become king.

1 Samuel 18:20 says that Michal loved David, the only place in the Bible where a woman’s love for a man is recorded. Ayala delves deeper into this love story in well-written, steamy scenes and nail-biting situations where love is proved, rejected, taken back, but never really lost.

King Saul attempts to block David’s claim to the throne by giving Michal to Phalti, another man. With a price on her head, Michal escapes to search out David, but is later forced to return to her kind caretaker. With politics, ambition, and the throne involved, beautiful Michal, the target of more than one man’s desire, wonders if David still loves her through the long separations, desperate times, and his marriages to other women.

After Saul dies, David reclaims Michal as his wife and queen. Happy ending? Hardly. Ayala sprinkles her own heart-wrenching details in the Biblical scene where a grief-stricken Phalti weeps as Michal is taken away.

“Sister Wives meets The Kardashians,” could not match the drama at the castle when Michal returns as queen. She must deal with jealous wives, her worries about being used as a pawn to reunite Israel, and her desire to be loved wholeheartedly.

So how does Michal cope? How does she deal with watching her husband, the King, dance half-naked, whirling in ecstasy, in front of the Ark of The Covenant as the procession makes its way toward the palace? And what about the Biblical Bathsheba, the sultry bather, whom King David’s roaming eyes rest upon?

Michal is brave, strong, intelligent, persistent and in a most human way, sometimes weak, as she slips into doing the unthinkable, yet we love her and charming David (a man after the heart of God) through it all.

The Bible gives us some information about these characters and their lives, and Rachelle Ayala fills in the details with her imagination in a delightful, engaging, and totally thrilling read from the beginning through to a satisfying ending.

Move over vampires. Using deep point of view, beautiful prose, and vivid ancient settings Ayala brings on the excitement and makes this Biblical tale come to life in a present-day, real life, oh-I-can-so-relate, way. Great Book!

[Michelle Slomp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and moving epic.

[Jenelle Pierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michal’s Window is not a Bible story that a reader should go into with preconceived notions, even if they’re familiar with the story of David. The story opens from the third person perspective, depicting a scene of violence. This technique was effective, because it notified readers that this Bible tale wasn’t just a “romance” for women regarding Michal. It put the spotlight squarely on this manly figure, David and opened up a big plot, before shifting to Michal’s first person perspective.

Readers see that the trials and triumphs of being human were happening since ancient times and got an up close view of the lives of royalty. In many ways, Ayala depicts the emotions of the characters as being stronger, more intense than the emotions displayed in many ‘modern’ day stories. These emotions lead to actions that create conflict throughout the story, making for an interesting read.

We see that others were suspicious of David’s interest in Michal being that she was King Saul’s daughter. We witness the jealously between sisters Michal and Merab. We see the bravery of David who won numerous battles and was loved by his countrymen. It’s easy for readers to side with Michal in scenes such as Merab being promised to David and being glad for her when she gets David instead. But sometimes her undying devotion came across as blind love. Yet, there was much to admire about David, including his intelligence and the baffling (by today’s standard) respect that he showed toward King Saul. Phalti’s gentleness made him winsome, as well as Jonathan’s friendship to David. Michal isn’t a heroine readers might always side with. It was hard for me not to get angry with her after she’d told Phalti that she’d never go back with David and would always stay with him, yet showed that this wasn’t true.

The story is entertaining and presents a number of questions for the reader, some of which the author answered as the story moved forward. The details used allows readers to visualize keenly the author’s version of the story and we see that David’s confidence in himself was one reason Princess Michal loved him, though he began a servant before ruling. I was surprised by Michal’s boldness toward David so early in the story and her lust for him, being that she didn’t know him too well. Of course, her feelings quickly became love. But at least she admitted to readers, David was the center of her life.

[Zoe Saadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful peek into my people’s history

I had a wonderful time reading ‘Michal’s Window’ by Rachelle Ayala.

For weeks I was immersed in that lost biblical world, surrounded by the beauty of it, by the strange (by our standards) customs, by legendary people so alive and lively I felt like I’d met them for real.

The author did the wonderful job recreating this lost, thousands-years-old world. We all know those names and we are generally familiar with some of those people’s deeds, yet they are nothing to us - just words on the paper. Yet, after reading “Michal’s Window” one will never think about any of those biblical characters the same way again. Rachelle Ayala had managed to turn them into real, flesh-and-blood people, which they most probably were. Good and bad and all in between, people with weakness and strengths, with passions and principles (or a lack of those), people with motives and with contradictions, people prone to laugh and cry and fall in love, and make friends and break relationships. The list is endless, but that is exactly what the author had managed to achieve. She brought the indifferent, dry history back to life, painting it in vivid, realistic colors.

As a fan of historical fiction, I can say I was satisfied on every level. This story flowed well, wonderfully smooth. The research the author had done seems to be outstanding, her dealing with general facts and small details, like the weather and the terrain, is maximal. Her dealing with human nature is superb.

Living in Israel, I’m familiar with this part of the history, still after reading “Michal’s Window” I feel I’d learned my people’s history a great deal better!

I would recommend this book to every reader who loves historicals, romance and to every person who want to enjoy a good story.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I mean, the synopsis sounds fantastic- a biblical story retold for the modern woman, filling in the blanks where the fable falls short? I'm always a fan of fairy tale retellings! But I should have known, I really should have. This is genre fiction, and it let me down.

Despite the thickness of this book, very little time is spent developing the characters beyond the basics. I found myself asking WHY all the time: why does Michal think she's in love? why does her father hate David? I'm a fan of character-driven stories, and authors who show instead of telling (which is why I like myth re-tellings, as they tend to add a layer of development to the lesson contained therein).

Taken as a whole, this filled in a few gaps from Michal's side of the story, regarding what happened to her and to David, but it didn't give me a sense of Michal as a person. And also, the fact that "the lord" was spelled "the LORD" drove me nuts. It's a title, not an acronym, so at best it should be "the Lord". I like the concept and premise, but really wish she had given Michal more of a voice, or maybe even set the series of events in modern-day.

I recommend this for people who love all kinds of Christian fiction, even the stuff based on pretty thin and unbelievable stories/assumptions.

[Cate Beauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this story! I'll be honest and admit that I wasn't sure I would. I'm more of a suspense reader, but I thought I would broaden my horizons and give this one a try. I'm really glad I did.

Ms. Ayala did a remarkable job from the first page. I loved her deep descriptions. I was sucked in from the beginning as I was transported back in time.

I found myself loving Michal throughout the story; although, I did develop a healthy dose of frustration at points when I felt she was better off without David. She loved David far more than he deserved, but I had such a crush on Ittai. I somehow wanted Michal to end up with Ittai.

David left my emotions all over the map. I loved David at the beginning of the story, disliked him for much of the rest. I think he loved Michal very much, but I was never able to get over him taking on other wives. I found him to be a rather selfish man. But that's when I had to remember the times this story took place.

Ms. Ayala's portrayal of King Saul was simply fantastic. He was truly crazy! She did a remarkable job of capturing the depths of his insecurity and insanity well.

Michal's Window did everything a good book should. It evoked strong emotions throughout and kept me entertained until the very end. I look forward to reading her work again!

[Chantel Rhondeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachelle Ayala's Michal's Window is a wonderful mix of biblical fact and imagination. It is easy to cheer for the tenacious Michal as she fights for the man she loves. Michal's longing for David and her undying love, even in the face of adversity, pulls at your heart as you live her life through her eyes.

Not being a person who is 100% up to date on bible stories, Michal's Window slipped me into the fantasy of 1000 B.C. Israel. Ayala does a wonderful job at mixing fact with fiction, and the story gripped me from beginning to end. The familiar story of David and Goliath is fascinating to watch play out per Ayala's interpretation. The seduction of Bathsheba is reenacted in an intriguing and intimate manner.

Although the LORD does play a large part in the book for David, I never felt preached at. Instead, I was wrapped up in the characters and their problems as if I were there, walking in their sandals.

Ayala has wonderfully portrayed both the time and the people. I would definitely recommend this book to any lovers of romance or historical fiction. A very entertaining ride!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit it, I am a book junkie. I will read anything. So when I was asked to read Michal's Window by Rachelle Ayala, I was intrigued and excited. Michal’s Window is a book I probably would not have wanted to read if I had seen it at the bookstore, but so glad I was given the chance. It is a biblical fiction novel that sucked me in from the first page; I could not put this story down.

The book tells the story of King David, but from a fresh viewpoint; that of his first wife, Michal. The novel is a great love story. Just like modern day relationships, all of the trial and tribulations that couples endure, in the end, all that matters is the love between one another. Rachelle Ayala intertwines fact and fiction with nice detail. This book was fast moving and her words formed vivid pictures. The author has a way with words that will instantly turn you into a fan of hers.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm amazed at how I could pick up a book about a biblical topic and not be able to put it down. Normally I'm reading and re-reading the same paragraph multiple times. This couldn't be farther from the truth with this amazing work of art. I couldn't stop reading it.

Michal's Window is full of passion that takes you back to biblical times. The way that the author Rachelle Ayala's descriptions are woven within this book creates a movie in your mind. Who doesn't like the idea of forbidden love, betrayal, and redemption?
As you travel on this amazing journey with Princess Michal you can't help but get swept away by the romance.

You will find yourself applauding her intellect, bravery and sheer persistence.

I can't wait to read more books from Rachelle!

[Audrey Grant · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book really upset me. I felt like it took a story from God's Word and made it into as trashy of a novel as could be conceived! I was sick to my stomach and could not finish the book. I felt, for myself that it wasn't fit to read. I am sorry if that offends or upsets anyone. But it is the way I feel. I downloaded it for free off of the internet onto my Kindle and am very sorry that I did. If you are a Christian who believes in God's Word and what is right and good and pure, don't bother reading this book!

[Richard Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very happy to have read 'Michal's Window' and to unreservedly give it five stars. It's set a little bit later than the time my own writer's heart is given to, but all the more enjoyable for that as I could imagine how the descendants of my characters could fit into Rachelle's world! The task she sets herself is an intricate one - how to weave the various snippets of information regarding David, Michal and the others, scattered among several biblical books, into a coherent and compelling narrative. The underlying biblical clues and hints are mined for possibilities and recombined into new patterns in a creative manner.

Some of the people she fleshes out in this book are decidedly minor players in the original David Story, and so in these cases the source material she works with is very flat - but they emerge as rounded individuals in the process. Likewise, although the books of Samuel (the primary source for the account) are very often nuanced and equivocal in their moral evaluations, some other biblical sources (like Chronicles) are not. She has chosen to follow the original design by extending and making ever more tangled the moral and ethical uncertainties faced by the central figures. I suspect that the author of 1 and 2 Samuel would have approved of this. If you like your heroes and villains simple and uncomplicated, this is not a book for you - here the people struggle both outside and inside their souls with issues of abuse, violence and conflict alongside desire, faithfulness and love. The world in which the kingdom of Israel emerged was small and highly inter-connected, and Rachelle captures this nicely in the way that people keep re-encountering one another, often despite their best efforts to keep apart.

The narrative style of sticking in any given scene to one of a few specific personal points of view is one that I enjoy - it allows for versatility of how events and interpersonal relations are depicted, and at the same time enforces the comparative isolation of people throughout so much of history. There was no way that a person could see "over the horizon" to know what was happening or who was coming towards them, and the frustation and anxiety that this creates is brought very much home. The central characters of this book struggle to see over their personal horizons, and consistently fail, and the choices they make because of this failure drive much of the plot. It also adheres faithfully to the style adopted by the authors of the Hebrew Bible - they may have been describing a God who could see all things, but the narratives they wrote, and the people they wrote about, were confined to a deliberately limited viewpoint.

On a purely historical basis I had a few minor reservations. I don't share Rachelle's confidence that both David and Michal would have been able to read and write as youths, nor that Michal would have been able to casually wander around the garden clutching the scroll of the Book of Ruth. Michal's literacy is explained later on the basis of personal tuition by the priest Elihu, but the main plot purpose is to show the possibility of both connection and disappointment inherent in writing, and this is achieved admirably. The choice of Ruth is, I suspect, a piece of splendid irony - as well as it being the Hebrew Bible's best known love story, the final half dozen verses (which could not have been written at the time Michal was young) are one of the more overt legitimising assertions of the Davidic dynasty, and were probably penned by the kind of individual Michal might have later despised.

Some of the religious events owed, I felt, more to later Judaism or to Christianity than to the probable worship of the age. But again, I think that this is a deliberate choice on Rachelle's part. Her writing borrows not just from sources in the Hebrew Bible, but also later Jewish midrash and Christian typology. To get what she is doing with this, you have to read her own words in the appendix. It is interesting to see how different people tackle the thorny problem of the divine name - Rachelle has chosen to follow later traditions by setting it as LORD, except for a couple of deliberately stylised moments. I strongly suspect that this was not part of religious observance around 1000BC. But this is tied to her use of an older traditional Bible translation for quotations, and it would have seemed disjointed to use the old vocabulary in one place and something more fluid and contemporary in another. Finally, I have serious doubts that the Davidic kingdom reached anything like as far as suggested by the gamut of goods that the queens have at their disposal! At any rate, my historical reservations are all calmed by the wider sweep and purpose of these apparent intrusions, and I am very happy to overlook them since the narrative flow as a whole is gripping and emotionally credible.

It definitely passed my major test of a good book - it made me want to get back to writing something myself - and it joins the collection of books that I intend to re-read over the years to come. Warmly recommended, and I hope Rachelle returns to this era in writing at some stage in the future.

[Rebecca Berto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fictional portrayal of Princess Michal (from The Bible) in Michal’s Window is a gripping story of betrayal and love.

Author Rachelle Ayala used parts from various books in The Bible and chose to tell Michal’s story of her love with King David, her husband, in ancient Israel. However, this book comes with a warning: it’s much more than a love story or a bible re-telling. It’s history re-told in all it’s passion and death.

Michal’s Window stays true to biblical events yet takes off on its own feet, drawing the reader into Michal’s passionate love for young, loving David. Michal’s father, King Saul, quickly forms a hatred towards David. A hatred that turns into a plot for murder. Michal can’t bear for her father to kill David so she lets him escape through her bedroom window. As they separate — David leaving her for an indefinite period — Michal worries when they’ll be together again.

But as time unfolds, David becomes King of Israel, a man with multiple wives. Michal remarries to Phalti. It’s only for show, and it’s not proper as she’s still legally wed to David. David, on the other hand, has risen to power and all traces of his timid, harp-playing ways have disintegrated.

Michal and Phalti live together in hiding. She’s content with the caring Phalti, but he’s not David. Does David love her anymore? Does he remember her?

Michal learns to live with the pain of her husband and his with other wives, and forms a friendship with Phalti.

But these are trying times. Michal’s life becomes riddled with tragedy. Wars are raging. People are falling by the thousands. After everything she’s been through she loses people in her lives from those closest to others she barely knows. One day, she suddenly has children to look after.

I don’t want to spoil too much since so much happens in this novel but you should check it out. Before we get too far into this review I want to share I’m a Catholic. I don’t practice often or regularly, which is why I read this book with apprehension. I need not have been. Michal’s Window is an extraordinary creation. It’s quite vivid at times in passionate scenes of love-making and does not shy away from death (however, not gory).

This novel is everything romance in history was.

This book made me angry at people’s attitude towards the LORD, and the nature of women. When I finished the book, though, I stopped and thought.

That’s when I found out this book leaves you with so much to think about — similar to how complex you realise Jane Eyre is once you study it at school.

Michal is such a strong-willed character for her time. King David, although secondary as a character of importance to Michal, is just as memorable.

Given all these praises, I must share the pitfalls too. The cast of characters. It’s the type of novel, especially at ~460 pages, to have plenty more characters than a regular 300-page novel; however, this meant that many were underdeveloped. Almost all the characters Rachelle Ayala used were taken from the bible so she didn’t have power over their names. Because of this, many names start with ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘J’ and ‘M’. Some characters were underdeveloped — though I’m unsure if I got confused with all the similar names.

This story is inspired by The Bible so don’t expect a cliché love story, David running after Michal the moment her plane is meant to take off, etc.

Michal’s Window is a story unlike anything you’ll read this year. It is also a bestseller in Historical Romance and Family Saga on Amazon. I recommend you read it!

[TAMMY CUEVAS · Rating 5 out of 5]

King Saul, leader of ancient Israel, has gone mad. He fears losing his throne to the young man God has anointed as the next king. David, a young shepherd boy, quickly gains favor in the eyes of the Israelites when he defeats Goliath, the Philistine giant. David also has gained the favor of Saul's younger daughter, Michal, and with the death of Goliath, he wins her hand in marriage.



Soon after the marriage, however, David must flee in the middle of the night for his new father-in-law has put a price on his head. This begins a decades-long saga of departures and reunions for the couple. While they are apart, Michal is tempted to love another, but remains faithful to David. However, the future king of Israel is not as strong, and follows the custom of the day, taking multiple wives. The couple survives separation, violence, and the loss of children, but when King David takes Bathsheba as his queen, it is almost more than Michal can take.



Biblical-based fiction has become popular over the last few years, and I have particularly enjoyed the trend of authors exploring the lives of the women of the Bible. So often, we hear of the men, but the women in their lives are little more than a footnote. So it is with Michal, first wife of King David. Although she married him in her youth and remained with him until her death, most of us only know of her from II Samuel 6:16-23, when she looked upon David from her window as he danced before the Ark of the Covenant. The Bible tells us that Michal despised David in her heart, but it doesn't actually say why. Most seem to infer that it was because of his undignified worship, which it probably was, but the argument could be made that any man who had that many wives and concubines could be considered to be a ladies' man, and perhaps Michal thought he was trying to draw attention to himself. Not trying to start a theological discussion, here; just offering an alternative, and that's really the point of this novel.


Ms. Ayala has a beautiful command of the written word, causing scenes to come alive in the reader's imagination. I could see Ancient Israel almost as clearly as if I were there. I could feel Michal's anguish, first as a young bride separated from the man she loved, and then later as she grieved over the loss of their child, and then over David's continual betrayal. The story alternates between the point of view of Michal, and a more neutral third-person narrative. The scenes told from her point of view are most compelling.

All of the cast and characters of the Biblical story are here, with the addition of a few fictional characters to round out the story. I understand the need to flesh out the sparse details given in the Old Testament tale, but some may be uncomfortable with some of the artistic license the author has taken, but I don't feel that it's too far from the story to be a real problem. Also, some readers could be shocked by the sometimes graphic romantic scenes, but again, David was obviously a very sensual man or he would not have gotten into so much trouble. We just don't usually think of Biblical characters being that way, but remember that the Bible also says that there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9) And as for the violence that some reviewers have mentioned, it was a violent, cruel time, and I'm sure this story only scratches the surface.

5 stars

The author provided a copy of the novel in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Krista Bainbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit it: I am a reading addict. I will give almost any genre a chance and will read pretty much anything put in front of me - I have been that way since I was a kid. When I was given a chance to get a free copy of a Biblical fiction book to review, I jumped at the chance, despite it not being from my usual arena. Michal's Window by Rachelle Ayala is a beautiful story of love, loss and fate - it just so happens to be about King David from the Bible.

The stunning imagery of this book lands you face first in the desert of Jerusalem where you are immediately brought into Ms. Ayala’s interpretation of this male dominated, God-fearing world. This Biblical fiction book is a retelling of King David’s relationship with his first wife, Michal, daughter of Saul. The story begins when the two meet as young teenagers (yes, they are young – but stick with it and remember the time from which this story is told – 14 was not too young to marry at the time…).

The story unfolds with King Saul’s deteriorating mind and the lunacy that follows, including his exile of, and attempted execution of David after David marries Saul’s favorite daughter. You cannot help but feel like you are part of this world and feel each of Michal’s emotions as she pines for David following his exile, despite her being remarried to a kind, generous soul, Phalti. Throughout the story, we meet family, friends, lovers and even a sorceress – that aid Michal in her attempt to reunite with David.
I wept with Michal when she lost her first child, and again when David came to claim her as his queen. The passion between these two was palpable and really did swing as a pendulum between infatuation and hate. This pent up emotion plays out in their bedchamber, too, with well-written and somewhat saucy love scenes.
It was fascinating to imagine along with Ms. Ayala how these people would have acted and what they would say in certain circumstances, given the time. I loved getting a “behind the scenes” glance at King David and his many wives. It was interesting to see how these women were not simply the “follow because I am told to by a man” types, but more often presented that way, while at the same time, used their sexuality to try to gain the upper hand. Michal was a strong, stubborn woman who struggled with knowing what she should be doing and what she wanted to do. I loved watching her grow and learn to trust herself, no matter the consequence. So many books have a “Team” for whom you pledge your allegiance to for the heroine to become involved. With this book, it was very Mr. Right Now, versus Mr. Right. Phalti, Ittai and David each had a place in her heart and a time in her life. At different times, I loved and hated each.

I loved this book. It highlights a young woman, who in many ways, was ahead of her time. She was outspoken, fought for her love and was fearless. She was not afraid to make decisions that were right for not only herself, but for her family, even if it meant her heart was broken in the process. I would recommend this book to anyone – not just those interested in Biblical fiction – but those interested in a story of epic love, political discord and self worth.
It did not bother me, but it is worth stating so you know what you are in for: there is sex, there is violence, and there is death. If you are against any or all of those things, this may not be the book for you.

[Ara of My Book and My Coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michal’s Window Book Review

“A very long, interesting, colorful, and worthy read. This book is far from the ordinary – it’s an imaginative journey with Michal and David. This book made me smile, blush, cry, and many more. This will be a great TV series.” – Ara of My Book and My Coffee

I received this book, Michal’s Window, for free from the author herself, Rachelle Ayala.

Michal’s Window is not an ordinary historical romance novel. The book’s characters (most of them) were taken from or based on the Bible. This work, although fiction, has resembled a lot of events from the Bible. At one point, I had to stop reading the book to consult with a priest, who also happens to be a friend of mine. I’m ashamed to admit that even though I worked as a Parish Secretary for five years (that was a long time ago though), I’m still not familiar with all of the stories from the Bible. Anyway, after learning – and separating - the truth (Bible’s story) from Rachelle’s work, I smiled. The author definitely created a story that is full of colors, controversies, secrets, and most importantly, a story that will pique a reader’s curiosity. Oh, and as a woman, it will certainly make you thankful that you were born in this time and not around 1000 B.C in Israel.

The cast of characters: As I’ve mentioned above, most of the characters were based or taken from the Bible. I should tell you now that you’ll love and hate the characters here; sometimes, at the same time. Confusing? You’ll know what I mean when you read the book. Also, I should let you know now that there are a lot of characters in this book, and they fit just right.

The main character is Michal, daughter of Saul. For me, she was born in the wrong era. She’s almost fearless and liberated in her own way. She thinks she knows what she wants but gets confused along the way. But you can’t blame her. In the end, you’ll love her more as she stayed and pursued what is right. Although she has sinned a lot of times, she asked for forgiveness, and did what is lawfully right in the end. And it is what she really wanted in the first place.

David, the son of Jesse, is Michal’s love interest. From the Bible, this is the same David who fought Goliath and won. It is the same David who became the most glorious King. Anyway, in this book, when they first met, David was just a servant, a harpist that sang and played the most heavenly songs. I hated the character of David the longest, especially when he became the King. But you can’t blame him either. He just acted based on what he knows. Although, you know, for me, I think he should know better. But then again, being a king and a human, I believe his judgments were sometimes clouded by his power.

While discovering Michal and David’s love story, I can’t help but think of Ross and Rachel from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Of course, Michal and David’s story are far more different than theirs but the fact that their relationship runs hot and cold, I can’t help but think of the two (Ross and Rachel).

Read more: Michal's Window Book Review

[Ruth Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying that in my time, I have read many books that would be classified as Biblical fiction. Oftentimes, I really like them, and it is often a treat to see how someone else envisions a familiar story from the Bible. This book is probably the most fascinating book in this genre that I have ever read. I found myself considering many portions of the story of David that I have never thought of before. When most people think of King David, they think of Goliath and Bathsheba. And we are often reminded that David was a man after God's own heart. We might also think of his being in the line of Christ. And he did right the majority of our Psalms in the Bible. What I appreciate about this story is that we see David in all his humanity and folly. He was a sinner, and he was a human just like us. He made a myriad of mistakes, and yet God still chose to use him. What a comfort that should be to us.

I don't want to give away the story, but I had not even given much though to Michal. After all, she was Saul's daughter, David's first wife, and she despised him in her heart when the Ark came back to Jerusalem. And she also loved David. I always had her characterized as a pretty vindictive woman, and I figured her life ended after Scripture recorded that she would remain barren. But somehow seeing the well-known (and not so well-known) stories of David through Michal's eyes, gave me a very different perspective on things. I have just finished a study on the life of David, and this was a great follow-up. Do I think that the story is 100 percent accurate? Probably not. But I have never had Biblical fiction make me think so much. And although I knew David was flawed, perhaps he had more flaws than I realized.

I only have a couple minor criticisms. Since this book is an Old Testament story, there should have been an Old Testament understanding of the afterlife. That is a hard thing to accomplish, but I would have preferred not seeing Michal talk about mansions and angels. It was a small part of the book, and I can't complain too much. But she would have had no knowledge of such things. I also found that the dialogue was very modern as opposed to B.C. Again, this is a minor issue, but I did want to bring it up. I loved the interactions between the characters, but sometimes it was definitely not "period."

This book is thankfully free of profanity and descriptive violence. I am so pleased to say that, but let me warn you that there are sexual encounters that occur that are sometime hot and heavy. Most of the time, these occur between married individuals--usually David and Michal. I was never offended. In fact, I can only hope that David was truly that great of a lover! But this book would not be intended for young adults--definitely adult readers only. And rest assured that all bedroom scenes are incredibly tasteful.

This book is one that I can whole-heartedly recommend to anyone who loves the Bible, history, and even romances. There is no preaching in the book, and the story is extremely readable.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars::

As a shepherd to as a king – David is well known worldwide as part of religion and as a part of history. King Saul’s daughter Michal was David’s first wife. However, Michal helped David to escape her father’s wrath through her window. After years of separation and yearning they are reunited. But Michal now had to compete with David’s other wives for his time and affection. It is safe to say that as a significant figure in both History and Religion, David’s life is well known – as is David & Michal’s story. So, I will not spend much time in telling you the storyline.

Based in the backdrop of a time when women were treated as property, this is a love story like no other. Michal, a strong woman, who loves, lives and takes risks for her beloved and David, a brave man who turns his own fate to become a king. This is the story of Michal’s life - the moment she falls for David, when she helps him escape, the days & nights she spent waiting for him, her reunion and her disappointment – the author has described everything very vividly. When together – there was a distance between them, a distance driven in by David when he took one wife after the other. She had known and loved King David from the time when he was a mere shepherd. She had seen how time and power had changed him and he knew that she understood him better than anyone else.

This is an amazing story of love, yearning and jealousy. Michal is such a strong character – a perfect protagonist in my mind. In those times, it wasn’t easy for Michal to do the things or make the decisions that she did for King David. As for King David, I have to say that he was a typical man – not just a man of those times but simply a man. Even these days we get to see people like him all the time – with the mentality that since they were born ‘men’ they can get away with anything and double standards are absolutely normal as long as they suit them.

The author has done an amazing job with this one. Her description of situations is quite vivid which helped me as a reader to follow the storyline in the right time frame. Plus her character development is simply AWESOME. From Michal to David to Saul – she has developed her characters really well.

I am in no way an expert on history or religion, but after reading this book I have researched it extensively on the internet. I have read articles, discussions and numerous debates on both David and Michal. Hence, I would like to mention this that no reader should pick this book up with conservative mindset or preconceived notions. This is – end of the day a work of fiction that tells the story from Michal’s – a woman’s point of view. Also a note of warning – the book has sexual content and some violence.

http://b00kr3vi3ws.blogspot.com/2012/...

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will she get her man?

The story of David & Goliath is well known. But in reading about David, most people overlook the prize he won for bringing back the Philistine’s head—King Saul’s daughter, Michal. The women behind the men are often overlooked—in the bible and elsewhere—but that’s what makes these women such good fiction fodder. As author Rachelle Ayala has discovered in writing MICHAL’S WINDOW.

The story is told mostly from the viewpoint of Michal, a young princess who falls madly in love with David, a young man who plays the harp for her father. David loves her just as much but their love is thwarted time and again because David is slated to be the next king. Michal’s father, King Saul, feels threatened and sets out to have David killed. Yes, even though David is married to his daughter. Soap operas have nothing on the bible!

Michal’s goal is simple—to be with the man she loves—and she is relentless in trying to get to him even as she wonders if he feels the same for her. She’s a feisty girl who doesn’t follow the rules of the day for women and that gets her into and out of many scrapes—and into and out of the arms of many men. Will she ever be reunited with the love of her life? How does she deal with the reality that her husband takes many wives? What does she do about the other men who love her—and that she loves back? This is an epic story of love gained and lost, of betrayal and redemption.

Books like this always send me back to the bible to separate biblical fact from fiction. Ayala is faithful to the biblical story of King David, a story that includes graphic violence as well as explicit sensuality and sex—scenes Ayala writes exceptionally well. In rich detail and vivid scenes, the author takes us into a world where women are given, or taken, as prizes by men. She weaves in Michal’s story in a way that makes the characters real and the story totally believable.

Intertwining Michal into all of the actions of David while building Michal’s parallel story created the one challenge I found in this novel—the length, which is roughly twice that of an average novel.

MICHAL’S WINDOW is well written, historically accurate, a fascinating view of the women who receive only passing mention behind the men in stories we think we know so well. If you liked Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, this book could interest you. A good read but settle in.

The author provided a copy of the novel in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Starlight Wymore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My faith is very important to me. It has gotten me through some very difficult times. I love my quiet time with my Bible, I love reading Bible stories to the kiddos, and I love listening to Christian music.

But...I have a confession to make.

I don't particularly enjoy reading Christian fiction. Yes, I feel bad about this. That's why occasionally, I try. But it usually doesn't get past the first chapter.

Why?

Well, the biggest reason is that, with the exception of Janette Oke, I find them to be poorly written and overly judgmental political.

So, I was a little skeptical about reviewing Rachelle Ayala's new book, Michal's Window. I promise my readers that all my reviews are my honest opinions, but I also know that it hurts to have someone tell you that your writing is the pits. I know I was probably overthinking it, but yes, I was a little concerned.


Fortunately, my concerns were totally unfounded. Ms. Ayala's book was thoughtfully written, biblically accurate, and very entertaining. She brings the story of David and Michal to life, bringing it to everyone who didn't quite understand its magic when they heard it in church. Ms. Ayala doesn't pull any punches when Bathsheba steps into the picture, as I have seen in other books attempting to tell this story. She deals with the betrayal in a way that somehow manages to be both appropriate and exciting at the same time. Very few writers are able to pull that off, so I was definitely impressed.

Ms. Ayala also manages to make this a work of fiction, creating her own characters and ideas, without betraying the underlying biblical truth. The appendix she kindly includes at the end of the book allows the readers who are less familiar with the Bible to discern between fact and fiction.

I hesitate to write too much as I don't want to ruin the story for anyone who has never heard it before. However, I encourage you to check out this book. It's a great read and definitely worth your time. You can also learn more about Ms. Ayala's writing here

[Siobhan Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has to be one of the greatest love stories ever told, and Ayala has done a wonderful job with its inventive reconstruction.
Michal, daughter of Saul, was the first wife of King David. They met as youngsters, mere teens, and David won her hand battling the Philistines and killing Goliath. Circumstances, fear, exile and political unrest led to their separation, in which time David took other wives, and Michal had to fight to keep her faith alive that David had not forgotten her.
The course of their marriage and relationship appears to be complicated and tumultuous at best. Michal is sometimes his Queen, first wife, and love of his life, and other times has offended her husband and/or God, and is banished from his harem. I did not always understand quite what it was she’d done to upset everyone, given the way David often appeared to cut her out.
Ayala describes an extremely sexual, sensual, steamy alliance between the two, with more graphic intimacy scenes than I’ve read in years, and perhaps more than is necessary, especially within a Biblical story.
But she also vividly portrays the lifestyles, dress, meals, entertainment, living abodes, funeral rites and countryside of the Israelites, the Philistines, and other warring tribes.
The author suggests you re-read 1 and 2 Samuel for the original Biblical story, but from her cast of characters it looks as though she has kept with true events as far as is necessary, and filled the rest in with her imaginative storytelling skills.
This is a very big story that reaches right into the heart of King David, both warrior and musician, a man after God’s own heart, where lay his second greatest love - his first wife, Michal.

[Chelle Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful account and portrayal of a Biblical romance between David (who later becomes King David) and Michal, the daughter of King Saul. This story instantly transports you back to Biblical times and allows you to experience some well known events from a whole new and much more detailed perspective. While there is no way of knowing if many of the events in this story are historically accurate, this gives the reader a glimpse of one author’s imagination and awesome ability to fill in the blanks that are left by the Bible. Michal is depicted as a very strong woman with the courage to stand up against the suppression with which the women of Israel were faced. She was willing to fight for what she loved and what she believed in. Michal is also determined to be with the man she loves at any and all costs. She encounters many obstacles in her quest to be with David and she is heartbroken when she comes to realize how the power of becoming King has changed the gentle harpist she had fallen in love with.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys reading, but especially those that enjoy reading romance, historical romance, and Christian fiction books. This book is an awesome mix of a historical time and events, but written in the clear language of today that prevents the reader from being distracted by the complicated language of Biblical times. I would not recommend this book for minors, however, simply because of the sexual content. While this sexual content is not overly graphic and I do not feel it should be offensive to any adult, I do not think it is appropriate for minors.
I think Rachelle Ayala has done an awesome job with Michal’s Window and I fully plan to read more of her books in the very near future!

[Melanie Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Approximately 1000 BC in Israel. David is the son of a shepherd and a harpist. The King is in need of soothing and so David comes to play his harp for him. It works. The King delights in David's playing and keeps him at the palace. Princess Michal is also taken with David. This the first time she's ever wanted a boy to notice her. David is smitten with Princess Michal right away and makes time to see her without the King knowing. Their romance blossoms. When the King does find out he's upset at first but then allows Princess Michal and David to marry. Not long after, the King rages out of control and promises to kill David. Princess Michal knows David is the anointed King. When she watches David fleeing her father through her bedroom window, she knows things will get better in time. David has promised to come for her when it's safe. The problem is years pass with no word from David. Everyone believes he will never come back. David must keep his promise to Michal.


This book is the extended version of David and Goliath. It's very detailed, long and an excellent book. I love the idea we get to see David before and after the Goliath incident and learn of his life in between. The love story continues through years of fighting, lies and multiple disasters. The book is well researched, well written and one you'll enjoy. I liked the book, however for me it was like being in Sunday school all over again. I found it too long for my tastes in this kind of story.


The issues I found were that it really began to drag in parts. It was difficult to stay interested in.


I gave this one 4 books out of 5 because it just seemed to go on and on and get no where.

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

$0.0

Much is written about David in the Bible, but very little is known about his wives, including Michal, his first wife who was also the daughter of King Saul. Michal loved David, and according to one website I was reading from, that is the only time that the Bible mentions a woman loving a man. David had other wives (and probably a number of concubines) and multiple children, and while he was supposedly a great king -- a man after God's own heart --, he had A LOT of blood on his hands. What Michal went through, nobody really knows, but this author has written one of those "what if?" books and tells her story of love for David in this one.

These are the types of stories I like (among others) because women get such a lousy rap in the Bible while the men are glorified to no end. I realize neither are perfect, but the women have their stories too. So even though we don't know what her life was like, I hope she found love and happiness with David even though she lost so much in the process. We drove me nuts about this story, though, was how David blamed her for all of her fingers that she had done wrong and yet when she brought up his shortcomings, he said it was different because he was a man, not to mention the king.

When I googled "who was David's first wife?" I read a few interesting articles and much more is written about his wives than is recorded in the Bible. The author has done a lot of research for this book, as well as taking a lot of liberties with the characters. Still I enjoyed this mostly, and if I found any other books of this sort that she wrote, I would get them.

[Diane Rapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michal, a pampered princess who became a noble queen.

Writing a fictional account of characters from the Bible must be the most difficult job an author could undertake, but Rachelle Ayala did it with style. She breathed life into well-known characters that were one dimensional people in ancient history. Most people know the story of David and Bathsheba, but how much did we know about David’s relationship with his first wife, Michal?

Michal was a beautiful princess, the daughter of King Saul. You’d think the life of a princess, and later a queen, would be filled with silk pillows and pampering. You’d be wrong. Michal’s life was packed with heartache and sorrow, joy and pleasure, love and passion, but worst of all—harsh lessons from God. Yes, she was a princess and a queen, but more important, she was a woman. The author creates a plausible fictional account of Michal, used as a pawn by her father, abandoned for years by her lawful husband, David, and loved by two other men. She’s passionate—oh those steamy romance scenes—but she’s flawed. Can she find happiness and love with David?

A reader should take time to savor beautiful descriptions of the country and cry over Michal’s tragic losses. This is a biblical story but it’s also a romance, filled with marital struggles, epic battles, treachery, and politics. Michal becomes a person we care about because Rachelle Ayala’s skillful prose and inventive imagination helps us understand a real woman in history. She began her life as a pampered princess, but Michal became a noble queen at the side of the man she loved.

[D.L. Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fresh take on an obscure Biblical narrative, Michal's Window fleshes out the tumultuous life of early Israel during the reigns of the first two kings, Saul and David. Michal is the young princess caught between them, daughter to the former and wife to the latter. When Saul erupts in jealous anger to David's new found fame and glory, Michal must endure long separations from her beloved husband in order to preserve his life. This is a true love story, imaginatively told, of a strong woman, born in difficult times and devoted to those she loves, but endures and overcomes all to find happiness and peace.

Weaving in everl favorite Bible stories such as David slaying the Philistine giant, Goliath and David's affair with Bathsheba, Ayala remains faithful to the biblical narrative and illuminates the text with plausible and sensual fiction that will bring new insight into the lives of these ancient people. The story is a perfect blend of historical romance and a faithful interpretation of the life of this obscure Biblical woman. Yet it does not resort to sensationalism or maudlin prose or become sterilized into the typical pious Christian fiction. Ayala does not shy away from the seedier, steamy aspects of married life or the realities of the battle field and this may make it objectionable for certain readers who prefer a more pious Biblical story. But for those wanting a real look beyond the verses of Scripture, this story offers an in depth understanding of God's relationship to His people without being preachy. It's a story for anyone interested in historical romance, Biblical fiction or a look at the life of one extraordinary woman.

[B.J. Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunning biblical tale centers on Princess Michal, the daughter of King Saul, as she first meets the shepherd boy/harpist named David, who is arrives at the kingdom to help mend her father who is tormented by evil spirits. The Princess falls in love with David and before long the two are wedded.

Situations occur that causes King Saul to order the death of his son-in-law. Fearing for David's life, Michal helps her husband escape the wrath of her father.

Michal is later reunited with the now King David, but he has changed from the man that she had known. David has several wives and other lovers, but Michal still loves him and is determined to win his heart at all costs.

I'm a fan of biblical historical fiction tales and Michal's Window focuses on King David's wife Michal. If you have read the Bible, you'll know it is not G-rated, and neither is this book which contains some graphic violence and several graphic love scenes. The author uses creative descriptions and dialogue to make the reader truly believe that they are back in biblical times. The heroine starts out at age fourteen and as her life unfolds she matures into a strong woman who knows what she wants. She is not perfect as she does sin, making her character more realistic. I haven't read much about Michal before, so I found the novel entertaining. Even if you're not into Christian themed stories, there is plenty of action and romance to go around! I recommend the book to other romance readers.

Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book in exchanged for an honest review.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place in biblical time and is the fictional love story of David (from David & Goliath) and his first wife Michal. The author, Rachelle Ayala, does a fantastic job at writing; for dating back so far she writes the story in a very modern fashion, so there isn't any getting lost or having to look up a thousand year old word just to understand it's meaning.

The story itself...I have mixed feelings about. While it was written in such a way that I couldn't put it down, Michal's Window was just so full of sorrow, it was just heart ache after heartache. My heart went out to Michal more times then I can count, she honestly just suffers throughout the majority of the book, loving a man who in return doesn't want to love her so much. David slowly loses his mind as the years pass and tortures Michal's heart and soul with all of the decisions he makes.

There are many battles and fights in this novel, so it does contain blood and violence and there are sexual scenes, which on some reviews I've read say are "too much," but I found them to be very mild and almost vague, a few times I found myself re-reading a paragraph to try and confirm that the characters actually had sex.

My only complaint about this story is that the word lord is always capitalized (LORD) and it feels like it's being shoved down my throat, but that's just my mentality. It probably wouldn't bother anybody else, but it just makes me uneasy and puts me off balance.

I give this book a high rating because of the way it's written, but as I said before it's just too sad for my tastes.

[Cherry Lemonade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an opportunity to review a book by Rachelle Ayala titled Michal's Window. Now I will be the first one to admit that I am not the go-to person for biblical characters and their stories. But I couldn't resist reading this book with a creative elaboration on certain characters. I wasn't sure how I would like it since I am not very into biblical stories or movies, but when the first line on Amazon in the book description is "Not your Grandma's bible story..." I was definitely interested.

A creative blend of fact and fiction, this is one strong love story that sends you back to Israel in 1000BC. It seems like a living fantasy, with extremely descriptive wording and such well established characters that you can't help but to love them or hate them. Follow the journey of Michal as she works to establish herself into the life of King David, her rightful husband as she overcomes every obstacle in her way.

Not just a joyous book, it shows trials and tribulations that are hard to overcome. Jealousy, anger, and heart ache are well established in these pages leading to the depth of the story. While the book shows a strong sense of God, that is not the only thing in it. So please don't dismiss it as being uninteresting because of the biblical part. This is an amazingly beautiful story where you will laugh, love and cry with the characters.