Mothers of a Nation: Jacob's Wives

by Carlene Havel, Sharon Faucheux

Four ordinary women. One extraordinary destiny.

Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah reveal their hearts as each tells her own story of joy and sorrow. Among them, the four women presented Jacob with the twelve sons who founded the tribes of Israel. Never realizing the historical significance of their roles, these four obscure women entered the Biblical lineage to become the mothers of a nation.

Genres: Biblical Fiction

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2025

About the author

Carlene Havel writes Christian-themed romances and historical novels set in Biblical times. She’s lived in Turkey, Republic of the Philippines, and all over the United States. Carlene worked for a banana importer, a software development company, and everything in between. She attended several colleges and universities, including one that—surprisingly--granted her a diploma.

Reviews

[Gail Pallotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mothers of a Nation tells the story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah. Even though I already knew the story, I couldn’t put this book down. The characters came to life and the authors put me in the setting. I felt as though I was living in their tents in the midst of the conversations they had with and about each other and the secrets they kept. Their traditions, the food and drink as well as the clothes they wore fascinated me. I took the steps they took in pain, hardship and good times. I watched the family grow in what today would be the strangest of ways, but was accepted and expected during that era. The authors brought out the characters’ emotions, which were much like mine would’ve been in certain circumstances. I highly recommend this book as a good story and a close-up, well-researched, well-written look into an important part of the Bible. Carlene Havel and Sharon Faucheaux have outdone themselves with this excellent novel.

[Kim McMahill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written story

This was an ambitious retelling of a biblical story. It followed Jacob from when he took his first wife through his death and was told by the women who bore his children and played a pivotal role in the building of a nation. The story was beautifully written and it held my attention to the end. Well done.

[Julie Cosgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different from the others in the series, this is in first person from the perspective of each of Jacob's wives. These authors have a way of fleshing out biblical characters and making them and their times real. You can tell they have researched biblical times and know their craft. If you like things like The Chosen or The House of David, you will really enjoy these books.

[Gail Tavis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

I enjoyed reading the book Mothers of a Nation, because I didn’t have much knowledge about the wives of Jacob. I liked how the book was dived into chapters with each chapters about one of the wives. I also liked how each wife told her own story. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about the women of the Old Testament.

[Kathryn Spurgeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different

This book reveals a different perspective on Jacob, his wives and their handmaids. I’m not sure about the interpretation of the women’s motivations and personalities. Seems a bit one-sided instead of rounded. But definitely interesting.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspectives

I enjoyed reading this book. Imagining the thoughts and feelings of the four ladies who were the wives of Jacob was interesting and insightful. Good Biblical fiction.

[marie rupert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful writing

This book is a great way of explaining the women who lived so long before Christ. I have known the stories all of my life, never heard them told so tenderly.

[Vannessa Conger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! Follows the Bible well.

Great Story! The characters were great! I love that the story was from different women to know 4 sides of the story!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mothers of a Nation: Jacob' s Wives

Even though this book is fiction, it is based on scripture. Very well written with the facts and explains their relationship with Jacob.

[Diana Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just look at the book cover!

I was hooked the moment I saw it. The faces promised me an inside story—a window into the hearts of the women who shaped a nation. Mothers of a Nation did not disappoint.

Though this story draws from familiar passages in the book of Genesis, authors Carlene Havel and Sharon Faucheux give us a rich, multi-generational retelling of their heritage, heartbreak, and the hopes and dreams carried by four women whose sons would become the twelve tribes of Israel.

The book begins as Jacob arrives at the well watched over by sisters Rachel and Leah. From there, the narrative unfolds: Jacob’s wrestling with the angel, the birth of his many sons, the move to Canaan, the encounter with Esau, and eventually the journey to Egypt—where Joseph is rediscovered during the famine.

The novel is divided into four parts, with each mother—Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah—offering her voice and point of view. Through their eyes, we witness what it meant to be a wife, a sister, a servant, and most of all, a mother. We feel their youthful fears and later, their seasoned reflections.

Rachel’s story, for example, is deeply marked by endurance in the face of betrayal and loss. Her mother once told her, “Marriage is a matter decided by fathers,” and Rachel’s life was shaped by that truth. Leah, the unloved wife, speaks tenderly of rejection, resilience, and faith. Even the handmaids Bilhah and Zilpah, given to Jacob as lesser wives, are given space to share their silent struggles and surprising strength.

I don’t read much biblical fiction, mostly because I often find myself weighed down by backstories while clinging to the often scant verses from the Bible. Here, I feel the historical and cultural details were seamlessly woven into the dialogue and setting, enhancing rather than overshadowing the story. The women’s lives revealed stories of love, rivalry, courage, heartache, forgiveness, unwavering hope and loyalty.

I notice there are other works of biblical fiction by this author and I have added those to my TBR list. If you enjoy biblical stories with emotional depth and historical insight, Mothers of a Nation is a compelling and thoughtful read I wholeheartedly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book courtesy of the authors via Interviews and Reviews in exchange for my honest review.