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The Gentle Shepherd
Her greatest fear is not being chased, but being seen.
Ella thought that if she rescued her sheep and escaped to the Greener Pastures, she could save herself as well. With the guidance of the mysterious shepherd Jesse Benadam, this seems possible—as long as she can keep her wounds hidden from him. But the farther they travel, the clearer it becomes that secrecy will cost her the refuge she seeks.
As storms rage, wild beasts attack, injuries throb, and sickness steals her strength, Ella’s fears hunt her like wolves. Her burdens only grow heavier. Jesse’s presence never wavers, but Ella cannot bring herself to trust him until she begins to suspect that the key to reaching the Greener Pastures may lie with him.
The problem? She will have to tell him the truth about herself and their mission—risking his rejection. Deep down, Ella knows this is her greatest desire, but it is also her greatest fear.
In her debut allegorical fantasy novel, Ella Rose Becker crafts a story of wandering, wounded hearts, and a shepherd whose presence causes us to examine our own ability to trust His grace.
Paperback and hardback releasing 03.02.26
Ella thought that if she rescued her sheep and escaped to the Greener Pastures, she could save herself as well. With the guidance of the mysterious shepherd Jesse Benadam, this seems possible—as long as she can keep her wounds hidden from him. But the farther they travel, the clearer it becomes that secrecy will cost her the refuge she seeks.
As storms rage, wild beasts attack, injuries throb, and sickness steals her strength, Ella’s fears hunt her like wolves. Her burdens only grow heavier. Jesse’s presence never wavers, but Ella cannot bring herself to trust him until she begins to suspect that the key to reaching the Greener Pastures may lie with him.
The problem? She will have to tell him the truth about herself and their mission—risking his rejection. Deep down, Ella knows this is her greatest desire, but it is also her greatest fear.
In her debut allegorical fantasy novel, Ella Rose Becker crafts a story of wandering, wounded hearts, and a shepherd whose presence causes us to examine our own ability to trust His grace.
Paperback and hardback releasing 03.02.26
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was blown away by how deeply beautiful this book is. It's messy, as the main character deals with real and heavy abuse, scars, fear, and shame. But over the course of her journey, the mess is redeemed into something with purpose. The story brims over with hope, healing, and meaning: a story that stands on its own as an engaging adventure, but is also an intimate love letter of sorts to the greatest Shepherd. In that sense, I found it more encouraging for my spiritual journey than any nonfiction book has been in a while.
And the writing! Becker's precise, lyrical style faintly echoes classic authors like L. M. Montgomery and paints each emotion vividly as well as each character and scene. The prose, combined with the powerful plot, makes this such a promising debut. I will be looking for more high-quality novels flooded with truth and beauty from this author.
I would describe this book as fitting at the intersection of fantasy, allegory, and literary. It should appeal to readers of any genre who appreciate slowly building action, richly relatable characters, and powerful redemption stories spun out of the raw and ugly.
And the writing! Becker's precise, lyrical style faintly echoes classic authors like L. M. Montgomery and paints each emotion vividly as well as each character and scene. The prose, combined with the powerful plot, makes this such a promising debut. I will be looking for more high-quality novels flooded with truth and beauty from this author.
I would describe this book as fitting at the intersection of fantasy, allegory, and literary. It should appeal to readers of any genre who appreciate slowly building action, richly relatable characters, and powerful redemption stories spun out of the raw and ugly.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rich with vivid scenery and transcendent truths, The Gentle Shepherd tells the deeply relatable story of a young shepherdess who encounters an inexplicably kind shepherd while running from her family. Though at first she recoils from his warm company, he claims he can take her to the one place she’s always longed to go: the Greener Pastures.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Not only is Ella Lamb an accessible yet complex protagonist, but her redemption story captivated me from start to finish, leaving me with sustained joy at its close. Jesse Benadam represents the true Gentle Shepherd—Jesus—in a way that touched my heart and encouraged my faith. He shines on every page.
Author Ella Rose Becker guides the reader to the green pastures of Christ’s gentle character, providing a glimpse of the peace and restoration that are possible in communion with him. I cannot recommend her book enough, and I can’t wait to see how she grows as a writer in the future!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Not only is Ella Lamb an accessible yet complex protagonist, but her redemption story captivated me from start to finish, leaving me with sustained joy at its close. Jesse Benadam represents the true Gentle Shepherd—Jesus—in a way that touched my heart and encouraged my faith. He shines on every page.
Author Ella Rose Becker guides the reader to the green pastures of Christ’s gentle character, providing a glimpse of the peace and restoration that are possible in communion with him. I cannot recommend her book enough, and I can’t wait to see how she grows as a writer in the future!
Review of advance copy received from Author
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews