What do you think?
Rate this book
Harvest of Rubies #1
Harvest Of Rubies
The prophet Nehemiah has a cousin who can speak several languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve mysteries. This cousin is catapulted into the center of the Persian court—working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and completing high-level tasks as a scribe for the queen. Not bad, for a woman living in a man's world.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
444 people are currently reading
6694 people want to read
About the author
Tessa Afshar
25 books3,635 followersTessa Afshar’s books have been translated into 11 languages, and been on Publishers Weekly and CBA bestseller lists. Her novel, Pearl in the Sand is the recipient of ECPA’s Bronze Milestone Sales Award. Tessa’s novels have won a number of awards including the Christy and INSPY, and been finalists for the Carol and the ECPA Christian Book Awards. Land of Silence was chosen as one of top five Christian fiction titles of the year by Library Journal. The Way Home, God’s Invitation to New Beginnings, is the winner of the Christian Book Award in the Bible Study category.
Tessa was born in the Middle East and lived there the first fourteen years of her life before attending boarding school for girls in England. She fell in love with Jesus after moving to the United States. Tessa and her husband live in New England where they tend their mediocre garden.
Tessa was born in the Middle East and lived there the first fourteen years of her life before attending boarding school for girls in England. She fell in love with Jesus after moving to the United States. Tessa and her husband live in New England where they tend their mediocre garden.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 643 reviews
June 23, 2022
5 Stars ✨
“Pain is part of this life. No one can escape suffering. Not the vine, nor we humans, as you well know, my lady. But what if we are like the vine and that affliction only makes us better?”
Some books you read, some books you NEED. I needed this one, I felt it in my bones. I needed the reminders of some things this book offered up. With a powerful message focusing on where we find our worth, and who gives us our strength this book was fantastic. It started out a little slow but about 40% in I knew it was going to be amazing.
Tessa Afshar is incredibly gifted in her writing ability and takes you to the hard truths, reminds you of things we all forget sometimes. Jammed packed full of internal battles, heartache and lots of wisdom-It was beautiful and such a great story, I’m looking forward to the next in the series!
“Pain is part of this life. No one can escape suffering. Not the vine, nor we humans, as you well know, my lady. But what if we are like the vine and that affliction only makes us better?”
Some books you read, some books you NEED. I needed this one, I felt it in my bones. I needed the reminders of some things this book offered up. With a powerful message focusing on where we find our worth, and who gives us our strength this book was fantastic. It started out a little slow but about 40% in I knew it was going to be amazing.
Tessa Afshar is incredibly gifted in her writing ability and takes you to the hard truths, reminds you of things we all forget sometimes. Jammed packed full of internal battles, heartache and lots of wisdom-It was beautiful and such a great story, I’m looking forward to the next in the series!
May 7, 2012
Tessa Afshar has written two outstanding novels: Pearl in the Sand, and now Harvest of Rubies. Both novels are historical Christian fiction, and are more biblical than other Christian fiction, which I really like. Pearl in the Sand tells the story of Rahab, a Caanonite harlot who falls in love with one of Israel's leaders. I read Pearl in the Sand back in 2010 and still think back on how good that book is! In fact, I gave it as a gift to my mom. Then, this Mother's Day, I gave Harvest of Rubies to my mom. She was so excited to see that Tessa Afshar had written another book! I didn't think that I would like Harvest of Rubies more than Pearl in the Sand, but I liked it even better (and my mom agrees).
Harvest of Rubies tells the story of Sarah, who is the prophet Nehemiah's cousin. I am foggy on the Old Testament, but the name Nehemiah did ring a bell. I don't remember Sarah as his cousin though, which allowed me to start Harvest of Rubies with no preconceived notions of how the story should go. I love it when I can go into a book with no expectations!
I liked Sarah from the very beginning. She is a reader---which is very unusual for a woman in 457 B.C.---and I love to read about fellow readers. Sarah's father is a scribe and teaches her to read and write in several languages. Sarah's cousin is Nehemiah, who is King Artaxerxes' cupbearer. The cupbearer is the person who tastes all of the king's food and beverages before the king, to make sure they are not poisoned. I had thought this position to be a somewhat lowly one, but the cupbearer was actually a person of great influence and respect, due to how much time he spends in the king's presence. Nehemiah speaks on Sarah's behalf to the queen, and as a result, Sarah becomes the chief scribe to queen Damaspia.
Sarah is a workaholic, and finds her happiness and validation in her work. She believes in God but does not turn to Him with her problems, as she is holding a grudge of sorts for her mother's untimely death and subsequent feelings of abandonment by her father. Her father loved her, but did not know how to raise a young girl, and his treatment of her (which pretty much consisted of leaving her to figure things out for herself) left Sarah feeling unloved and unwanted. She has struggled with these feelings for her entire life, and thus throws herself into her work to suppress the pain of her past. Sarah soon rises to be a highly respected and valued member of the court and it is her work ethic that ends up getting her in trouble. Queen Damaspia rewards Sarah's loyalty and hard work by giving Sarah an aristocratic husband. But the last thing Sarah wants is to be taken away from her job as a scribe and to be married, especially to an aristrocrat.
But her feelings are not taken into account---how could she defy the queen?---and Sarah is married to Darius. By her own thoughtless actions and focus on her work, she bungles the marriage right from the start, earning Darius' disdain and becoming the laughingstock of the court. Sarah is at the lowest point in her life, having lost her work, which was her only source of validation, and has to make a choice: wallow in despair or ask God for help and try to turn the situation around. She chooses the latter, and most of the book is about her journey to becoming a different person: a person who relies on God for validation and self-worth. Her husband may not love her, but God does, and that has to be enough for Sarah.
What I loved so much about Harvest of Rubies was Sarah's journey. Afshar seamlessly weaves Sarah's tale of personal growth into the setting of biblical times. I felt like I was learning something about history and about the Scriptures as I was reading, but without feeling "preached to." I loved watching Sarah grow and change. I especially loved how she quotes the psalms of David for strength and guidance. One of my favorite passages in Harvest of Rubies is:
"David knew how to walk the path of affliction while being settled firmly in the joy of God's presence. I wanted to learn to be like David, to have eyes that saw the loving hand of the Lord even in the midst of unfulfilled dreams" (Afshar 327).
Isn't that so beautifully written? So many times while reading, I thought, "Yes, this is exactly how I feel!" I love that. I felt like Afshar was really speaking to me personally. I felt encouraged and lifted up after reading Harvest of Rubies.
Until I realized there was going to be a sequel, I was not totally thrilled with the ending. There were certain things that were left unfinished, things I wanted to see finished. But, I will have to wait until the next book for Sarah and Darius' story to be completed. I can't wait to read more from Tessa Afshar. I highly recommend Harvest of Rubies.
Harvest of Rubies tells the story of Sarah, who is the prophet Nehemiah's cousin. I am foggy on the Old Testament, but the name Nehemiah did ring a bell. I don't remember Sarah as his cousin though, which allowed me to start Harvest of Rubies with no preconceived notions of how the story should go. I love it when I can go into a book with no expectations!
I liked Sarah from the very beginning. She is a reader---which is very unusual for a woman in 457 B.C.---and I love to read about fellow readers. Sarah's father is a scribe and teaches her to read and write in several languages. Sarah's cousin is Nehemiah, who is King Artaxerxes' cupbearer. The cupbearer is the person who tastes all of the king's food and beverages before the king, to make sure they are not poisoned. I had thought this position to be a somewhat lowly one, but the cupbearer was actually a person of great influence and respect, due to how much time he spends in the king's presence. Nehemiah speaks on Sarah's behalf to the queen, and as a result, Sarah becomes the chief scribe to queen Damaspia.
Sarah is a workaholic, and finds her happiness and validation in her work. She believes in God but does not turn to Him with her problems, as she is holding a grudge of sorts for her mother's untimely death and subsequent feelings of abandonment by her father. Her father loved her, but did not know how to raise a young girl, and his treatment of her (which pretty much consisted of leaving her to figure things out for herself) left Sarah feeling unloved and unwanted. She has struggled with these feelings for her entire life, and thus throws herself into her work to suppress the pain of her past. Sarah soon rises to be a highly respected and valued member of the court and it is her work ethic that ends up getting her in trouble. Queen Damaspia rewards Sarah's loyalty and hard work by giving Sarah an aristocratic husband. But the last thing Sarah wants is to be taken away from her job as a scribe and to be married, especially to an aristrocrat.
But her feelings are not taken into account---how could she defy the queen?---and Sarah is married to Darius. By her own thoughtless actions and focus on her work, she bungles the marriage right from the start, earning Darius' disdain and becoming the laughingstock of the court. Sarah is at the lowest point in her life, having lost her work, which was her only source of validation, and has to make a choice: wallow in despair or ask God for help and try to turn the situation around. She chooses the latter, and most of the book is about her journey to becoming a different person: a person who relies on God for validation and self-worth. Her husband may not love her, but God does, and that has to be enough for Sarah.
What I loved so much about Harvest of Rubies was Sarah's journey. Afshar seamlessly weaves Sarah's tale of personal growth into the setting of biblical times. I felt like I was learning something about history and about the Scriptures as I was reading, but without feeling "preached to." I loved watching Sarah grow and change. I especially loved how she quotes the psalms of David for strength and guidance. One of my favorite passages in Harvest of Rubies is:
"David knew how to walk the path of affliction while being settled firmly in the joy of God's presence. I wanted to learn to be like David, to have eyes that saw the loving hand of the Lord even in the midst of unfulfilled dreams" (Afshar 327).
Isn't that so beautifully written? So many times while reading, I thought, "Yes, this is exactly how I feel!" I love that. I felt like Afshar was really speaking to me personally. I felt encouraged and lifted up after reading Harvest of Rubies.
Until I realized there was going to be a sequel, I was not totally thrilled with the ending. There were certain things that were left unfinished, things I wanted to see finished. But, I will have to wait until the next book for Sarah and Darius' story to be completed. I can't wait to read more from Tessa Afshar. I highly recommend Harvest of Rubies.
May 25, 2025
This edition was not listed but is Moody Publishers, River North Fiction, narrated by Diana Gardiner. The cover of the book is lovely with the vibrant colors. The narrator, Diana Gardiner, is one of my favorite and is a perfect voice for Biblical Fiction. This is a story of a young Jewish woman, Sarah, in Persia who becomes a scribe for the queen and because of her devoted service is given to a wealthy cousin, Darius, as a wife. Their story begins badly but is a touching twisty path to developing a relationship of husband and wife. I look forward to more of their story in the next book. I listened to the audio book via Chirp.
September 11, 2012
I loved this book! In fact, I think Tessa Afshar is quickly becoming a new favorite author for me. I love her wit and sense of humor. The characters nearly leap off the page! The settings, emotions, scenery is real and palpable. So why did I only give it 4 stars? Because I couldn't bring myself to give it 5 stars since it didn't have a strong biblical storyline. The book refers to Nehemiah (the biblical prophet) and is based on the historical context of Israel's captivity in Persia; however, the details in the plot never enticed me back to the Scriptures. My new litmus test for biblical fiction is that it must send me searching for the details in God's Word. Which is fact, and which is fiction? Did God really say that? Did that person really DO that? I didn't have any of those questions because none of the main characters were biblical characters, and my PERSONAL PREFERENCE is to read about those folks.
Was HARVEST OF RUBIES worth my time to read? ABSOLUTELY!!! I examined my heart and let the Lord work some of the lessons in my spirit that "Sarah" (the heroine) learned herself. In fact, I'll probably read this wonderful again! I'm fascinated by Tessa's mastery of the writing craft and can't wait to get my hands on her next book!
Was HARVEST OF RUBIES worth my time to read? ABSOLUTELY!!! I examined my heart and let the Lord work some of the lessons in my spirit that "Sarah" (the heroine) learned herself. In fact, I'll probably read this wonderful again! I'm fascinated by Tessa's mastery of the writing craft and can't wait to get my hands on her next book!
May 26, 2019
It is a lovely book with adorable characters. Sarah is a wonderful heroine! She is a very well developed character, full of contradictions. She is brave and vulnerable, self-confident and full of self-doubt, she acts wise one moment and silly the next. She cares deeply for others and at the same time is unable to show them affection. And she can be very funny. It was impossible not to like Sarah, while reading this book.
Sarah's story is so compelling, it was difficult for me to put the book down. It is a Christian historical fiction novel that takes place in Ancient Persia. The historical setting is very well done, the book even contains a few recipes you can try at home and prepare food that could be served at the tables of the Persian nobility. All in all, the novel takes readers on a wonderful journey to explore secrets of love, faith and a human heart. Highly recommended if you enjoy Christian historical fiction.
Sarah's story is so compelling, it was difficult for me to put the book down. It is a Christian historical fiction novel that takes place in Ancient Persia. The historical setting is very well done, the book even contains a few recipes you can try at home and prepare food that could be served at the tables of the Persian nobility. All in all, the novel takes readers on a wonderful journey to explore secrets of love, faith and a human heart. Highly recommended if you enjoy Christian historical fiction.
September 3, 2012
Set in 457 BC in the Kingdom of Persia, Harvest of Rubies follows the story of the prophet Nehemiah's cousin, Sarah. Seeking to win the attention and approval of her father, Sarah teaches herself to read and write, a normally unacceptable occupation for a woman in her society. When cousin Nehemiah learns of this, he encourages Sarah in her pursuits, and soon she has learned multiple languages and becomes a gifted scribe. Her gifts lead her to the Persian court, where she becomes the queen's favorite scribe. Just when Sarah has found a measure of worth in her achievements, she foils a plot to cause a rift between the Queen and the King's mother. The Queen seeks to reward her - with an unwanted marriage to a wealthy aristocrat, Darius. Their marriage begins in scandal and scorn, sending Sarah on a path to discover that her real worth lies in unexpected places.
Harvest of Rubies is truly a stunning accomplishment, a carefully crafted historical novel featuring a fast moving plot and one of the best heroines I've come across this year. Sarah is completely compelling, a character who doesn't fit into proper society, finding herself in situations that made me laugh out loud and tugged on my heart-strings at the same time. Only pages into the story, I was completely absorbed both by Sarah as a character and by the plot unfolding at a swfit pace. The time period that the story is set in is simply fascinating, from the royal courts to the Persian culture that is so different than my own. I loved the little details the author throws into the story, such as the cook with the marble eye, or the fact that Persian noble woman (at least in that time period) were expected to be proficient in horseback riding and hunting. The story is filled with colourful descriptions, excitement and intrigue, and I guarantee that readers who love historical fiction are absolutely going to love this book. Not only will they be entertained, but their faith will be stirred by the wisdom contained in this book, as Sarah encounters a living God who measures her worth simply by the fact he made her good, and not based on what she may or may not accomplish.
I leave you with a quote from early on in the story, where Sarah is told "You may fail; I cannot deny it. But if you go through life making every decision based on what is safest, you will look back one day and discover that you have missed out on the best". These are indeed powerful words to live by.
I highly recommend this story and award it 5 out of 5 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Harvest of Rubies is truly a stunning accomplishment, a carefully crafted historical novel featuring a fast moving plot and one of the best heroines I've come across this year. Sarah is completely compelling, a character who doesn't fit into proper society, finding herself in situations that made me laugh out loud and tugged on my heart-strings at the same time. Only pages into the story, I was completely absorbed both by Sarah as a character and by the plot unfolding at a swfit pace. The time period that the story is set in is simply fascinating, from the royal courts to the Persian culture that is so different than my own. I loved the little details the author throws into the story, such as the cook with the marble eye, or the fact that Persian noble woman (at least in that time period) were expected to be proficient in horseback riding and hunting. The story is filled with colourful descriptions, excitement and intrigue, and I guarantee that readers who love historical fiction are absolutely going to love this book. Not only will they be entertained, but their faith will be stirred by the wisdom contained in this book, as Sarah encounters a living God who measures her worth simply by the fact he made her good, and not based on what she may or may not accomplish.
I leave you with a quote from early on in the story, where Sarah is told "You may fail; I cannot deny it. But if you go through life making every decision based on what is safest, you will look back one day and discover that you have missed out on the best". These are indeed powerful words to live by.
I highly recommend this story and award it 5 out of 5 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
September 25, 2017
This was AMAZING. My first Tessa Afshar book and I absolutely loved it. I know I'm really going to like a book when the main character is relatable, down to earth, funny, and just plain likable, and Sarah was all of those things. Let me just say that I laughed quite a bit when reading this book. Everything was great. The plot, the characters, the setting, just everything. My only small complaint is that I wish the ending of book 2 could have been the ending of this book (I didn't think it needed to be split into another book) but either way amazing. This review is for both books in the series (since I stayed up till 4 am reading both novels) but this book is a definite 4 stars, maybe 4.5 stars since I'm feeling nice (not 5 stars because of the other book). I look forward to reading more of Ms. Afshar's novels. This was exactly what I was looking for to get me out of my reading slump. Great writing, great message, everything was solid. Thoroughly enjoyable.
July 20, 2023
"The Lord's care for you has never depended on what you achieve. You were created for his love..."
I was blown away reading this book. This was my first time reading Tessa Afshar book and I enjoyed every minute of it. The main character Sarah who was driven to success and ambition by being scribe to the Queen of Persia found herself in a complex and difficult situation. During this time she learns of the Lord who is a present help to her. Oh and there ISSSA MANNN too🤣🤣💜The romance was beautiful and tastefully executed. I am excited to finish the duo logy.
I was blown away reading this book. This was my first time reading Tessa Afshar book and I enjoyed every minute of it. The main character Sarah who was driven to success and ambition by being scribe to the Queen of Persia found herself in a complex and difficult situation. During this time she learns of the Lord who is a present help to her. Oh and there ISSSA MANNN too🤣🤣💜The romance was beautiful and tastefully executed. I am excited to finish the duo logy.
June 29, 2018
Review SUMMARY: The prophet Nehemiah has a cousin who can speak several languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve mysteries. This cousin is catapulted into the center of the Persian court—working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and completing high-level tasks as a scribe for the queen. Not bad, for a woman living in a man's world.
REVIEW: I read this series in reverse order but still loved this book so much. Once again Tessa Afshar has included rich historical research and well developed characters. This novel has a fantastic plot with lots of intrigue, adventure, humor and suspense. Sarah is such a delightful character - intelligent, awkward, and starving for love. Looking in all the wrong places, Sarah is able to finally find true love in her God. Lacking the background with only a father for support who wasn't really there for her, Sarah has no idea of the how-tos of being a woman. This leads to many humorous incidents and her use of her intelligence and wit to figure life out. Darius, in turn, knows what he wants from his wife and Sarah does not appear to be it when the marriage is arranged by the Queen. The main characters are both fully believable and draw the reader in to the story. Afshar weaves Jewish and Persian history into this novel and makes it a spellbinding read.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Child, trust God. He would not have placed you in t his position without a reason."
"My lady, you've cared for us, which is the most important thing anyone can do for another. You showed interested in what we needed. You made us feel worthwhile by taking notice. Even if nothing comes of your efforts, we've still been cheered by your concern."
"Even bad men can have trustworthy connections. Even evil men are capable of doing good upon occasion."
"King David had asked God why, but he had never intended to take Him to task with that question. He was not asking the Lord to explain Himself. He was merely pouring his heart out to God. He was telling his Lord that he felt abandoned.
REVIEW: I read this series in reverse order but still loved this book so much. Once again Tessa Afshar has included rich historical research and well developed characters. This novel has a fantastic plot with lots of intrigue, adventure, humor and suspense. Sarah is such a delightful character - intelligent, awkward, and starving for love. Looking in all the wrong places, Sarah is able to finally find true love in her God. Lacking the background with only a father for support who wasn't really there for her, Sarah has no idea of the how-tos of being a woman. This leads to many humorous incidents and her use of her intelligence and wit to figure life out. Darius, in turn, knows what he wants from his wife and Sarah does not appear to be it when the marriage is arranged by the Queen. The main characters are both fully believable and draw the reader in to the story. Afshar weaves Jewish and Persian history into this novel and makes it a spellbinding read.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Child, trust God. He would not have placed you in t his position without a reason."
"My lady, you've cared for us, which is the most important thing anyone can do for another. You showed interested in what we needed. You made us feel worthwhile by taking notice. Even if nothing comes of your efforts, we've still been cheered by your concern."
"Even bad men can have trustworthy connections. Even evil men are capable of doing good upon occasion."
"King David had asked God why, but he had never intended to take Him to task with that question. He was not asking the Lord to explain Himself. He was merely pouring his heart out to God. He was telling his Lord that he felt abandoned.
September 9, 2024
4/5 Stars 🌟
All the best of Chicklit, Historical Fiction, and Christian fiction wrapped into one.
I love how uncomplicated Harvest of Rubies was. It was light, somewhat basic, and full of domestic stuff. I LOVE domestic stuff.
The story revolves around a funny, smart, and witty girl named Sarah. Sarah has found her worth in being a scribe, and Harvest of Rubies is the story of how she finds it in God.
I've read Afshar before and can admit that I was not impressed with her humour at that time. This time, however, I was constantly laughing at our main character's sense of humour and ridiculous mishaps. Sarah was just great. Not whiny, not annoying, and never falling out of character from strong to weak. She was consistent, and I thoroughly enjoyed that.
I didn't have to endure any awkward dialogue either! In my experience with similar books, characters tend to take on such different speech patterns because of the time period. Tessa Afshar managed to make these characters feel like they were people with a mix of modern English that didn't break the immersion or drain the life out of the story. I'm so grateful for that.
The romance was fun 😊 I love Darius. Although, I must confess... I didn't exactly love how he began to treat Sarah after they got together... It's not like it was bad. It just felt like he desired her, not loved her. It was thrilling and adventurous to read and probably the point because he's not Jewish and doesn't know the Lord. It just felt sad to see this. I felt quite deceived when the time came. I love Sarah. Darius should love her the way she deserves 😣 I still love Darius, too! I just had to say it, or it would eat me up.
I really enjoyed this beyond my expectations. I wasn't sure I'd ever enjoy a Tessa Afshar book after my introduction to her. Now, I'm excited to read the next book and the other book in my possession. I'm glad I didn't write her off lol
Content Warning: Some fade to black scenes.
January 13, 2013
When I saw this offered for just 99 cents for the ebook, I had to grab it, and I'm so glad that I did! I enjoyed Afshar's first novel Pearl in the Sand, but, in my opinion, Harvest of Rubies is even more well-written.
Afshar did a superb job with the first person narration, which is my favorite narration style. I really felt like I got to know Sarah. She was a great character, and her developments over the course of the story came across as very realistic. There were a couple of times that she came across as a little too naive, but that really disappeared by the novel's end. I was excited because I loved how she is a female scribe to the queen, a task normally reserved for men.
Afshar also did a great job on the setting--I loved the ancient Persian palace life and interaction with royalty. When Sarah has to get married as a "gift" from the queen, I felt her apprehension, and later, when she must take control of the household and protect her newly-found friends, I really came to like her. I love when I can picture myself being friends with the main character. Speaking of her marriage, I had so many conflicting feelings over her husband, Darius. One minutes, I hated him, another I was falling in love.
My one issue was probably the amount of soul-searching in the form of exposition that took place. I felt like Sarah's thoughts rambled on and on, while a shorter, more meaningful paragraph would have done the trick. I found myself really skimming the second & third time that this happened. It was just overboard.
Other than that, I thought there was plenty of action and it all stayed within the realm of real possibility. The ending was somewhat abrupt, but did offer some resolution. I was happy to see that there will be a sequel to Sarah's story. I would love to see how her marriage to Darius progresses, and I hope Afshar sticks with the first-person narration Wouldn't it be neat to see some narration from his point of view? Afshar has definitely solidified another fan with Harvest of Rubies. Looking forward to seeing what she bring us next!
**I just saw on Afshar's website the cover design for the sequel! Check it out: http://www.tessaafshar.com/?p=497
Afshar did a superb job with the first person narration, which is my favorite narration style. I really felt like I got to know Sarah. She was a great character, and her developments over the course of the story came across as very realistic. There were a couple of times that she came across as a little too naive, but that really disappeared by the novel's end. I was excited because I loved how she is a female scribe to the queen, a task normally reserved for men.
Afshar also did a great job on the setting--I loved the ancient Persian palace life and interaction with royalty. When Sarah has to get married as a "gift" from the queen, I felt her apprehension, and later, when she must take control of the household and protect her newly-found friends, I really came to like her. I love when I can picture myself being friends with the main character. Speaking of her marriage, I had so many conflicting feelings over her husband, Darius. One minutes, I hated him, another I was falling in love.
My one issue was probably the amount of soul-searching in the form of exposition that took place. I felt like Sarah's thoughts rambled on and on, while a shorter, more meaningful paragraph would have done the trick. I found myself really skimming the second & third time that this happened. It was just overboard.
Other than that, I thought there was plenty of action and it all stayed within the realm of real possibility. The ending was somewhat abrupt, but did offer some resolution. I was happy to see that there will be a sequel to Sarah's story. I would love to see how her marriage to Darius progresses, and I hope Afshar sticks with the first-person narration Wouldn't it be neat to see some narration from his point of view? Afshar has definitely solidified another fan with Harvest of Rubies. Looking forward to seeing what she bring us next!
**I just saw on Afshar's website the cover design for the sequel! Check it out: http://www.tessaafshar.com/?p=497
June 6, 2012
First posted on my blog, Legacy of a Writer.
Ever since reading Tessa Afshar’s beautiful debut, Pearl in the Sand, I have been looking forward to her next book. Harvest of Rubies will easily capture the reader’s attention as they follow the fictitious life of Sarah—a Jewish girl who becomes chief scribe to the Queen of Persia. While I personally enjoyed her debut novel more, Afshar has brought a fresh, unique, and new book into the biblical fiction category!
It was hard for me to personally relate to the main character, Sarah, as her obvious distaste for anything feminine was bewildering(not that I’m a girly-girl!). But since Sarah grows up without the blessings of a mother, I could understand her innocence in that department. Her wedding day, while portrayed humorously, I found horrifying—how embarrassing! Darius was intriguing. I always love the characters who are so hard to figure out and get to know.
My favorite part of the book was when Sarah had to travel with Darius and his men over rough mountain paths to make it to the Persian court—and Sarah had never ridden before! Harvest of Rubies had plenty of things happening and unfolding throughout the book to keep me reading. A few times, as Sarah searches her heart about difficult matters, I got a bit distracted as it rambled on. But this only happened two or three times, that I remember.
The biggest problem I had with the book was that I felt things weren’t fully resolved. I don’t want to give away anything, so won’t go into specifics. But, since I see that the story is to be continued in Afshar’s next book, I’ll hold my peace and wait to read more about Darius and Sarah when it releases. For now, go grab Harvest of Rubies if you are at all a lover of biblical fiction!
Ever since reading Tessa Afshar’s beautiful debut, Pearl in the Sand, I have been looking forward to her next book. Harvest of Rubies will easily capture the reader’s attention as they follow the fictitious life of Sarah—a Jewish girl who becomes chief scribe to the Queen of Persia. While I personally enjoyed her debut novel more, Afshar has brought a fresh, unique, and new book into the biblical fiction category!
It was hard for me to personally relate to the main character, Sarah, as her obvious distaste for anything feminine was bewildering(not that I’m a girly-girl!). But since Sarah grows up without the blessings of a mother, I could understand her innocence in that department. Her wedding day, while portrayed humorously, I found horrifying—how embarrassing! Darius was intriguing. I always love the characters who are so hard to figure out and get to know.
My favorite part of the book was when Sarah had to travel with Darius and his men over rough mountain paths to make it to the Persian court—and Sarah had never ridden before! Harvest of Rubies had plenty of things happening and unfolding throughout the book to keep me reading. A few times, as Sarah searches her heart about difficult matters, I got a bit distracted as it rambled on. But this only happened two or three times, that I remember.
The biggest problem I had with the book was that I felt things weren’t fully resolved. I don’t want to give away anything, so won’t go into specifics. But, since I see that the story is to be continued in Afshar’s next book, I’ll hold my peace and wait to read more about Darius and Sarah when it releases. For now, go grab Harvest of Rubies if you are at all a lover of biblical fiction!
November 3, 2021
I really loved the book. The author holds you in the book in such a way that you can't and won't stop reading.
I started reading the book because a friend indicated it to me. She told me a little bit about what the book was about. At first I was only interested in the romance, but after reading the book I was not only interested in the romance, but in every part of it. What I really liked, I think, was when Sarah (the character) starts her journey with God. She is able (even with all the difficulties she has had in her life) to see God and throw herself into His arms and trust Him. She is able to find in God the strength to move on, even when things are not the way she wanted them to be. For me the title "Harvest of Rubies" has everything to do with the message of the book. The author manages through her story to make you understand biblical texts that many times we read and do not understand.
But besides Sarah's journey with God, I loved the romance; I loved Dario; I loved the adventures with Teispes in Dario's palace; Sarah's friendship with Pari, Darbia and Shusan; I loved Queen Damaspia and King Artaxerxes; I also loved Nehemiah's wise counsels. In short, I loved every little part of the book.
I will start reading the next book of the novel (Harvest of Gold). I'm very anxious, because my sister has already read it and loved it 😍. I really loved the book. God really inspired Tessa when she wrote the book. I saw myself in many things that happened to Sarah. I am sure that every person who has read the book loved it and also those who will read it will enjoy it. Thank you Tessa for letting God use you in this wonderful way.❤
I started reading the book because a friend indicated it to me. She told me a little bit about what the book was about. At first I was only interested in the romance, but after reading the book I was not only interested in the romance, but in every part of it. What I really liked, I think, was when Sarah (the character) starts her journey with God. She is able (even with all the difficulties she has had in her life) to see God and throw herself into His arms and trust Him. She is able to find in God the strength to move on, even when things are not the way she wanted them to be. For me the title "Harvest of Rubies" has everything to do with the message of the book. The author manages through her story to make you understand biblical texts that many times we read and do not understand.
But besides Sarah's journey with God, I loved the romance; I loved Dario; I loved the adventures with Teispes in Dario's palace; Sarah's friendship with Pari, Darbia and Shusan; I loved Queen Damaspia and King Artaxerxes; I also loved Nehemiah's wise counsels. In short, I loved every little part of the book.
I will start reading the next book of the novel (Harvest of Gold). I'm very anxious, because my sister has already read it and loved it 😍. I really loved the book. God really inspired Tessa when she wrote the book. I saw myself in many things that happened to Sarah. I am sure that every person who has read the book loved it and also those who will read it will enjoy it. Thank you Tessa for letting God use you in this wonderful way.❤
February 23, 2025
This was my third or so time reading this book, and each time I read it, I fall even more in love with it. Tessa Afshar's writing is simply beautiful, and definitely God-inspired. I have learned so much from her books by God writing through her. The depth in each of her books is astounding, and I cherish them all the more for it.
This will forever remain a favourite of mine. I love Sarah and can relate to her in many ways. Following along with her journey is delightful!
Loooove this book. All I have to say. :) <3
This will forever remain a favourite of mine. I love Sarah and can relate to her in many ways. Following along with her journey is delightful!
Loooove this book. All I have to say. :) <3
March 14, 2019
This is my favorite book ever. I read it once a year and love it more every time.
Beneath the surface of this love story is a love story with God and one's own self.
The characters are so wonderfully written that it saddens me to think how Sarah & Darius are only fictional and never walked this earth or fell in love. It's an actual travesty.
Until next year
Beneath the surface of this love story is a love story with God and one's own self.
The characters are so wonderfully written that it saddens me to think how Sarah & Darius are only fictional and never walked this earth or fell in love. It's an actual travesty.
Until next year
September 22, 2016
Such a good book, I think that I especially appreciated the spiritual lessons learned by the main character, Sarah. So many Biblical truths used in the storyline, this author is becoming one of my favorites.
April 30, 2015
This was really good. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pretty captivated with Sarah from the beginning. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
December 23, 2018
Harvest of Rubies
She learned to read, so much so that she was given the opportunity to read and learn For the queen.
“You have established yourself in court and became the queens favored servant. Did you feel secure and happy? No, that’s because you were out of step with Gods design.”
Beautifully written and a great message.
She learned to read, so much so that she was given the opportunity to read and learn For the queen.
“You have established yourself in court and became the queens favored servant. Did you feel secure and happy? No, that’s because you were out of step with Gods design.”
Beautifully written and a great message.
October 8, 2025
Tessa Afshar writes books that give her readers things to ponder long after they finish the last word. Harvest Of Rubies does just that. It is the first book of a duology and we meet Sarah, who thinks her value comes only from her accomplishments as a scribe. Her life takes an unexpected turn which challenges everything she thought to be true of herself.
I judge books by how much I enjoy them. Other than too much authority on a person's part (no spoilers here), I really enjoyed this book. Many people will relate to Sarah. She's busy, works hard, and excels at her talent. She doesn't want life to change, but inevitably it does. How she handles those changes and what she learns from them are the things that drew me into the story.
I haven't read the second book, but because the conclusion to this one didn't feel complete, I'm excited to read Harvest of Gold. I hope it continues with Sarah's story and how she lives out what she has learned.
I judge books by how much I enjoy them. Other than too much authority on a person's part (no spoilers here), I really enjoyed this book. Many people will relate to Sarah. She's busy, works hard, and excels at her talent. She doesn't want life to change, but inevitably it does. How she handles those changes and what she learns from them are the things that drew me into the story.
I haven't read the second book, but because the conclusion to this one didn't feel complete, I'm excited to read Harvest of Gold. I hope it continues with Sarah's story and how she lives out what she has learned.
June 23, 2014
Harvest of Rubies starts off very strong. Sarah first meets Darius by coincidence, when he saves her life. They don't see each other until later, when they have married and the two are at odds. They don't fall in love instantly... except they kind of do. They don't fall in love at first sight, but as soon as they start to see that the other wasn't the vile creature they thought they were, they start having feelings for each other. So that's it for romance.
I loved Queen Damaspia, although I did find it a tad ridiculous the way the queen goes so out of her way to matchmake Darius and Sarah. I would have believed it if she'd had a whimsical characterization from the very beginning, but after having Sarah three years in her employ, the Damaspia still calls Sarah "Scribe." And then after she uncovers the plot, she's suddenly turned into this matchmaker. Not that Damaspia changes completely; she is still portrayed as commanding and powerful, very much a queen. I think the bond between the two women should have been stronger since the beginning of the novel. The King was too nice.
I was a little skeptical of how Sarah's only friends were the gardener, the cook and Pari. I understand that she was lonely. I understand that most of the women at court wanted a piece of her and weren't quality friend material... but seriously? "Friends" just seems like a weird word to use. They were subservient to her but she worried about them. Sarah is a good woman. She is a good, kind lady. But I wouldn't have called them friends. Pari, yes. The other two? No. Something else. Close to her heart, certainly. I think stand-ins for a mother and a father would have been more fitting. And speaking of parents, I didn't buy the way the father was so emotional at the end. He messed up, but I didn't expect him to react the way he did. A little too emotional for a man who next to abandoned his daughter after the death of his wife.
I loved Neremiah up until he gave Sarah his speech on the Lord. I didn't know this was Christian fiction when I started. It was only after reading some of the reviews more closely that I figured this out. I kept reading because I liked Sarah as character so much. I am not a very religious person, and I deal with the way Sarah felt on a much reduced scale. I don't feel like I'm inadequate in every way. I'm confident in myself most of the time. If anything, I feel lacking academically half the time because I go to such a competitive school. But I digress. I often feel like my best isn't good enough and I shut myself away from other people who could help me get over it.
Sometime after the death of my grandmother, when I was nine, I started questioning God, and by the time I turned fifteen, I was vehemently against anything remotely religious in a scholarly sense. I could tolerate religion, but not if someone was trying to rationalize the existence of God. At the same time, I recognized that without religion in my life, it was a little empty. Without God leading my way, everything I did fell on my shoulders, both my achievements and my failures. This meant that not everything happened for a good reason. There was no guarantee that I would someday achieve happiness. So I tried to be more religious and I started reading the BIble, but I didn't like how cruel God seemed to be in Genesis. Still, I tried. I didn't remember any prayers, so for two weeks I prayed every night with my aunt, through Skype because it was easier to do it with her than alone. Then we stopped. And now here I am, a teenager in the middle of an existential crisis.
Like Sarah, I don't cry out to God like a child. I accuse. I blame. I rationalize his existence away. As much as I try, I can't seem to be able to believe in God. Rather, I believe there is some mystical being out there who isn't terribly concerned with humans. But back to the book. It annoyed me how Sarah turned to God so easily. I couldn't have done that, but then again she believed and I don't necessarily adhere to the notion of Christianity.
I loved Queen Damaspia, although I did find it a tad ridiculous the way the queen goes so out of her way to matchmake Darius and Sarah. I would have believed it if she'd had a whimsical characterization from the very beginning, but after having Sarah three years in her employ, the Damaspia still calls Sarah "Scribe." And then after she uncovers the plot, she's suddenly turned into this matchmaker. Not that Damaspia changes completely; she is still portrayed as commanding and powerful, very much a queen. I think the bond between the two women should have been stronger since the beginning of the novel. The King was too nice.
I was a little skeptical of how Sarah's only friends were the gardener, the cook and Pari. I understand that she was lonely. I understand that most of the women at court wanted a piece of her and weren't quality friend material... but seriously? "Friends" just seems like a weird word to use. They were subservient to her but she worried about them. Sarah is a good woman. She is a good, kind lady. But I wouldn't have called them friends. Pari, yes. The other two? No. Something else. Close to her heart, certainly. I think stand-ins for a mother and a father would have been more fitting. And speaking of parents, I didn't buy the way the father was so emotional at the end. He messed up, but I didn't expect him to react the way he did. A little too emotional for a man who next to abandoned his daughter after the death of his wife.
I loved Neremiah up until he gave Sarah his speech on the Lord. I didn't know this was Christian fiction when I started. It was only after reading some of the reviews more closely that I figured this out. I kept reading because I liked Sarah as character so much. I am not a very religious person, and I deal with the way Sarah felt on a much reduced scale. I don't feel like I'm inadequate in every way. I'm confident in myself most of the time. If anything, I feel lacking academically half the time because I go to such a competitive school. But I digress. I often feel like my best isn't good enough and I shut myself away from other people who could help me get over it.
Sometime after the death of my grandmother, when I was nine, I started questioning God, and by the time I turned fifteen, I was vehemently against anything remotely religious in a scholarly sense. I could tolerate religion, but not if someone was trying to rationalize the existence of God. At the same time, I recognized that without religion in my life, it was a little empty. Without God leading my way, everything I did fell on my shoulders, both my achievements and my failures. This meant that not everything happened for a good reason. There was no guarantee that I would someday achieve happiness. So I tried to be more religious and I started reading the BIble, but I didn't like how cruel God seemed to be in Genesis. Still, I tried. I didn't remember any prayers, so for two weeks I prayed every night with my aunt, through Skype because it was easier to do it with her than alone. Then we stopped. And now here I am, a teenager in the middle of an existential crisis.
Like Sarah, I don't cry out to God like a child. I accuse. I blame. I rationalize his existence away. As much as I try, I can't seem to be able to believe in God. Rather, I believe there is some mystical being out there who isn't terribly concerned with humans. But back to the book. It annoyed me how Sarah turned to God so easily. I couldn't have done that, but then again she believed and I don't necessarily adhere to the notion of Christianity.
February 26, 2022
Wow! Where to even begin? Tessa Afshar is quickly proving to be one of my favourite authors. Her writing style is amazing, and the way she mixes deep topics with love and romance continues to astound me.
This novel was simply phenomenal. It was super interesting to see inside the palace from the viewpoint of a scribe. I loved seeing Sarah put her mind to good use, and was cheering for her as she solved mysteries. Not only was she diligent and intelligent, but her humorous and witty comments had me laughing out loud! I loved seeing the intricacies of palace and royal interactions, but don't let these factual bits fool you!
The main reason I fell in love with this book was the emotions behind it and being able to go on the journey with Sarah. I was privileged to see her discover God and see the change in her because of it. I loved seeing her walls break down and it was beautiful to see her find joy in herself and in God. So many parts of her journey personally resonated with me, and the facets of God that she discovered both challenged and encouraged my own faith.
Not only was the character development very well written, the plot was also great! Although some parts of the novel were slow, there were also intricate webs of lies and mysteries that Sarah had to puzzle through and enough adventure to keep me furiously turning the pages! I literally sat down and read the entire novel in one sitting!
The romance was super swoon-worthy too. Although their relationship started out on rocky ground, I loved seeing Darius discover the real Sarah and vice-versa. It was so lovely to see their relationship develop from mistrust to tolerance to respect and finally love. Their interactions were so much fun to read, and their witty banter had me laughing in many places!
The secondary characters were all well-developed and I particularly liked Pari, Bardia, Queen Damaspia and of course Caspian!
Overall, an amazing novel with wonderful characters you can't help but love. I would very highly recommend it!
This novel was simply phenomenal. It was super interesting to see inside the palace from the viewpoint of a scribe. I loved seeing Sarah put her mind to good use, and was cheering for her as she solved mysteries. Not only was she diligent and intelligent, but her humorous and witty comments had me laughing out loud! I loved seeing the intricacies of palace and royal interactions, but don't let these factual bits fool you!
The main reason I fell in love with this book was the emotions behind it and being able to go on the journey with Sarah. I was privileged to see her discover God and see the change in her because of it. I loved seeing her walls break down and it was beautiful to see her find joy in herself and in God. So many parts of her journey personally resonated with me, and the facets of God that she discovered both challenged and encouraged my own faith.
Not only was the character development very well written, the plot was also great! Although some parts of the novel were slow, there were also intricate webs of lies and mysteries that Sarah had to puzzle through and enough adventure to keep me furiously turning the pages! I literally sat down and read the entire novel in one sitting!
The romance was super swoon-worthy too. Although their relationship started out on rocky ground, I loved seeing Darius discover the real Sarah and vice-versa. It was so lovely to see their relationship develop from mistrust to tolerance to respect and finally love. Their interactions were so much fun to read, and their witty banter had me laughing in many places!
The secondary characters were all well-developed and I particularly liked Pari, Bardia, Queen Damaspia and of course Caspian!
Overall, an amazing novel with wonderful characters you can't help but love. I would very highly recommend it!
September 19, 2019
This was chosen for me to read as part of a hidden-gem challenge, and I'm so glad I decided to read this. I enjoyed the author's writing in
and again found her writing entertaining and thought-provoking. I especially loved how she had woven the facts of Persian lifestyle so fluently within the story.
Sarah was quite an interesting character - an intelligent young Jewish woman who taught herself to read. This skill opened up doors for her which was against Jewish expectations/upbringing. I enjoyed her journey of self-discovery and also to truly find and build a relationship with God. The message of pride and allowing our talents to become idols in our lives was very strongly brought across.
Sarah's eye for detail uncovered a few conspiracies which caused her to be in the middle of a suspenseful plot or two. I didn't expect the suspense/adventure part of the story and really enjoyed that.
I also enjoyed Darius. He is strong and noble and his Jewish mother had quite an influence in his life. I loved that he was a man of integrity and was willing to against Persian customs. I especially liked the hate-love relationship between him and Sarah and the wedding day was quite entertaining!
Caspian just stole my heart!
There was so many hidden messages in this story. Another favourite was when Sarah learned how pruning vineyards work and had a revelation of why God describes himself as our gardener.
Looking forward to more of Darius and Sarah in the next book.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story and different characters to life.
and again found her writing entertaining and thought-provoking. I especially loved how she had woven the facts of Persian lifestyle so fluently within the story.Sarah was quite an interesting character - an intelligent young Jewish woman who taught herself to read. This skill opened up doors for her which was against Jewish expectations/upbringing. I enjoyed her journey of self-discovery and also to truly find and build a relationship with God. The message of pride and allowing our talents to become idols in our lives was very strongly brought across.
Sarah's eye for detail uncovered a few conspiracies which caused her to be in the middle of a suspenseful plot or two. I didn't expect the suspense/adventure part of the story and really enjoyed that.
I also enjoyed Darius. He is strong and noble and his Jewish mother had quite an influence in his life. I loved that he was a man of integrity and was willing to against Persian customs. I especially liked the hate-love relationship between him and Sarah and the wedding day was quite entertaining!
Caspian just stole my heart!
There was so many hidden messages in this story. Another favourite was when Sarah learned how pruning vineyards work and had a revelation of why God describes himself as our gardener.
Looking forward to more of Darius and Sarah in the next book.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story and different characters to life.
September 14, 2016
There is a lot of good biblical historical fiction out there like the Red Tent and the Secret Chord - books that don't alienate audiences who are not ultra religious.
This was a very long, boring treatise on how a born again 21st century Christian woman loves and depends on God. She saya this over and over and over until you hate her. For some inexplicable reason, the author decided to embed this essay into the last half of a relatively weak story about a Jewish Scribe who lived 2,300 years ago. Seriously weak. Weak causation for key events, weak characters, weak love story. The incessant discoveries about her relationship with God and how she should depend on Him and love Him made it go from weak to insufferable.
It ia possible to write about a devoted, religious character without making it a devoted, religious book that only devoted religious people would like. I guess it's just not possible for this specific writer to do so.
This was a very long, boring treatise on how a born again 21st century Christian woman loves and depends on God. She saya this over and over and over until you hate her. For some inexplicable reason, the author decided to embed this essay into the last half of a relatively weak story about a Jewish Scribe who lived 2,300 years ago. Seriously weak. Weak causation for key events, weak characters, weak love story. The incessant discoveries about her relationship with God and how she should depend on Him and love Him made it go from weak to insufferable.
It ia possible to write about a devoted, religious character without making it a devoted, religious book that only devoted religious people would like. I guess it's just not possible for this specific writer to do so.
August 6, 2014
This BC novel had me drawn in with the first page. And then there was a bit of a lull and I nearly stopped reading. I'm so glad I didn't. The pace and action picked up considerably. Overall, this was a beautiful novel about a young Jewish woman living in a Persian dominated world and her journey to peace with the Lord. Highly recommended. I look forward to the continuing story in Harvest of Gold.
August 22, 2013
I can't voice how happy I am to have found this book.
It is Christian fiction which usually isn't my cup of tea. This one proves to be unusually illuminating. It touched my soul deeply.
It is Christian fiction which usually isn't my cup of tea. This one proves to be unusually illuminating. It touched my soul deeply.
November 30, 2020
It was a simple read. Simple plot, simple characters and simple writing.
November 2, 2022
Tessa Afshar never fails to amaze me with her ability to grab me by the heart with her stories. She seamlessly draws me into the minds of her characters and, at the end of the book, I have gone on beautiful journey with them of discovering who they are, who God is, and even, who I am.
June 5, 2012
Some of the most amazing things I've discovered through Christian Historical Fiction, is the author's talent to weave a story about someone from the Bible in a whole new way through their fictional novel. In fact, sometimes it's so well written it sounds as if we were a part of that story and the character is someone we got to know through their words.
That is just what you, as a reader, will find when you open the cover of Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar. Here you are immediately drawn back into 457 BC to the home of Sarah, Nehemiah's cousin, where we find she struggles to find the attention of her father. Now that Sarah has taught herself to read, something forbidden for women, her father is more than pleased at her new found abilities and offers to help her learn more. However, her Aunt Leah, confronts her father and explains how this might get them all in trouble if anyone finds out. When he isn't willing to give up helping Sarah, Leah confronts Nehemiah who works in the palace as a way of convincing them both of their foolish ways.
When Nehemiah shows up, he reminds them all of Queen Esther's gifts of saving God's people through her beauty, and tells Sarah to continue to pursue her love of reading because no one knows just how God will chose to use her gifts in the future. Now she is able to read Persian, read and write Akkadian, another complicated language practiced only by royal scribes for the keeping of important administrative records but also Aramaic as well. Becoming a proficient keeper of records in an empire that relied on its administrative skill to prosper made Sarah a valuable commodity to her father. By the time she was twenty, she was more scribe than woman. Yet the God that Nehemiah spoke so highly of, was one Sarah now couldn't believe in. He was the one she blamed for her mother's death, believing that he was simply too busy to bother with their daily needs. It was Nehemiah that made certain that Sarah learned Hebrew after discovering her discouragement with God. Once Nehemiah is satisfied that Sarah has learned proficiently enough, he informs her and her father, that she shall now serve as the Queen's senior scribe and live at the palace for such a post.
It is here that Sarah's life will be forever changed and where the book Harvest of Rubies begins the adventure to live in a palace - to be surrounded by beauty and culture and new wonders. To occupy such a high position - one rarely enjoyed by a woman, no less. To have her abilities acknowledged in such a public fashion. Her life will serve a purpose she could never have conceived. This is a door that the Lord has opened for Sarah. God who has called her will also equip her. Everything she lacks will be provided. Now if she can only get over her fear of failure.
I have had the delight to read a previous novel by Tessa Afshar, Pearl in the Sand, and she truly does possess a beautiful gift for words in taking your typical Bible story and weaving a completely different light on it, while still capturing the essence of the Bible. For this reason, I know if you love great Historical Bible Fiction, then you will absolutely LOVE Harvest of Rubies. I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and have to give this one a 5 out of 5 stars.
That is just what you, as a reader, will find when you open the cover of Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar. Here you are immediately drawn back into 457 BC to the home of Sarah, Nehemiah's cousin, where we find she struggles to find the attention of her father. Now that Sarah has taught herself to read, something forbidden for women, her father is more than pleased at her new found abilities and offers to help her learn more. However, her Aunt Leah, confronts her father and explains how this might get them all in trouble if anyone finds out. When he isn't willing to give up helping Sarah, Leah confronts Nehemiah who works in the palace as a way of convincing them both of their foolish ways.
When Nehemiah shows up, he reminds them all of Queen Esther's gifts of saving God's people through her beauty, and tells Sarah to continue to pursue her love of reading because no one knows just how God will chose to use her gifts in the future. Now she is able to read Persian, read and write Akkadian, another complicated language practiced only by royal scribes for the keeping of important administrative records but also Aramaic as well. Becoming a proficient keeper of records in an empire that relied on its administrative skill to prosper made Sarah a valuable commodity to her father. By the time she was twenty, she was more scribe than woman. Yet the God that Nehemiah spoke so highly of, was one Sarah now couldn't believe in. He was the one she blamed for her mother's death, believing that he was simply too busy to bother with their daily needs. It was Nehemiah that made certain that Sarah learned Hebrew after discovering her discouragement with God. Once Nehemiah is satisfied that Sarah has learned proficiently enough, he informs her and her father, that she shall now serve as the Queen's senior scribe and live at the palace for such a post.
It is here that Sarah's life will be forever changed and where the book Harvest of Rubies begins the adventure to live in a palace - to be surrounded by beauty and culture and new wonders. To occupy such a high position - one rarely enjoyed by a woman, no less. To have her abilities acknowledged in such a public fashion. Her life will serve a purpose she could never have conceived. This is a door that the Lord has opened for Sarah. God who has called her will also equip her. Everything she lacks will be provided. Now if she can only get over her fear of failure.
I have had the delight to read a previous novel by Tessa Afshar, Pearl in the Sand, and she truly does possess a beautiful gift for words in taking your typical Bible story and weaving a completely different light on it, while still capturing the essence of the Bible. For this reason, I know if you love great Historical Bible Fiction, then you will absolutely LOVE Harvest of Rubies. I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and have to give this one a 5 out of 5 stars.
February 12, 2015
This is not my genre. At all. I expected to "get through" this book, while virtuously keeping an eye out for any redeeming qualities. Go me, expanding my horizons and all that, be it ever so grudgingly.
I loved it. I devoured this book in the course of one day (well ok, half of it was during a long, sleepless night last night, but still technically one day). The heroine Sarah was charming to the reader, awkward to those around her, and very believable. She makes a lot of the dumb mistakes I do and I loved her for it. I knew little about the setting (457 BC Persia) so that always makes for an interesting read, and Sarah's drive, followed by her navigation of a nobler world than what she was born to and the accompanying gaffes were fascinating to me. But the plot drove me on, and on, and on. When I finally got my son back to sleep, instead of taking some precious rest myself I had to pick it up again to see what happens next. Over and over. It's a rare book that can keep me from sleep. I adore sleep.
Of course religion enters into the story, this was Christian fiction after all. But what I appreciated was that the religious aspects enhanced and supplemented the story, but they weren't the whole story. They also weren't just thrown in there as though someone said "we need more God here. No, here. This page, and that one too." When God or religion entered the story it had purpose and moved things along. Sarah's struggle with her faith was real to me, and she questions the same things I question. I also loved watching her struggle between deriving her self-worth from her accomplishments, and deriving it from herself and her relationships (specifically that with God, in this case). Pertinent to many of us I think, regardless of religious stance or lack thereof.
I have already requested her other title from the library. I have rarely (never?) been so surprised by a book, and I'm so pleased I was.
I loved it. I devoured this book in the course of one day (well ok, half of it was during a long, sleepless night last night, but still technically one day). The heroine Sarah was charming to the reader, awkward to those around her, and very believable. She makes a lot of the dumb mistakes I do and I loved her for it. I knew little about the setting (457 BC Persia) so that always makes for an interesting read, and Sarah's drive, followed by her navigation of a nobler world than what she was born to and the accompanying gaffes were fascinating to me. But the plot drove me on, and on, and on. When I finally got my son back to sleep, instead of taking some precious rest myself I had to pick it up again to see what happens next. Over and over. It's a rare book that can keep me from sleep. I adore sleep.
Of course religion enters into the story, this was Christian fiction after all. But what I appreciated was that the religious aspects enhanced and supplemented the story, but they weren't the whole story. They also weren't just thrown in there as though someone said "we need more God here. No, here. This page, and that one too." When God or religion entered the story it had purpose and moved things along. Sarah's struggle with her faith was real to me, and she questions the same things I question. I also loved watching her struggle between deriving her self-worth from her accomplishments, and deriving it from herself and her relationships (specifically that with God, in this case). Pertinent to many of us I think, regardless of religious stance or lack thereof.
I have already requested her other title from the library. I have rarely (never?) been so surprised by a book, and I'm so pleased I was.
May 11, 2012
I was so excited when this book arrived in my mailbox! I started reading it almost right away...and finished the book before bed the day I received it. Shows how much I enjoyed it! There was some heart-melting romance…heart-pounding adventure…and heart-moving faith. That pretty much sums it up! The adventures were exciting! The descriptions of what Sarah wore and ate were amazing. Getting to meet Nehemiah, from the Bible, was really cool. It was intriguing to see into the lives of Persian royalty, just a few decades after the time of Esther. I loved the main character, Sarah, and the main guy, Darius. This is definitely a book going on my keeper’s shelf – always! I loved it. Incidentally – can’t wait to read the next book by Tessa Afshar! This book had a sneak peek, and now I’m desperate. And I am also looking forward to re-reading "Pearl in the Sand," Afshar’s book about Rahab.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 643 reviews