Leah: Unnoticed. Unwanted. Unloved

by Amanda Bedzrah

Lying in bed next to ‘the man of her dreams’, Leah is crippled with fear and unable to sleep. She knows that her husband Jacob is going to wake up to her, not “the woman of his dreams”.

Jacob worked and served Leah’s father Laban for seven years to marry her younger sister Rachel, but on the night of their wedding, the brides were switched; the right man was married to the wrong bride.

As Leah anticipates, his dissatisfaction is not hidden; his rejection is immediate.

Seven days later, Jacob marries Rachel after promising to work another seven years for her.

Leah is now left in a place of pain and bitterness. A fearsome war erupts. She is in a battle for her husband’s affection – not with an enemy, but with her own sister!

Will she ever be loved and accepted?

Can God use a woman like Leah: unnoticed, unwanted, and unloved, to change history?

This book is a fictional retelling of one of the greatest Bible stories of all time. It is a story of love, deception, betrayal, competition, heartbreak, and forgiveness.

It reminds us that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. No pain is ever wasted with God!

Genres: Christian, Historical

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2020

Reviews

[Rebecca Embry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever had a book reach out and tug at your soul even before reading it?

It’s no secret that I really don’t like the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. I despised the favoritism shown and how Leah was pushed aside and was just a way to produce heirs for Jacob. I simply hated that she was so unloved by her husband.
Over the years I have voiced my opinions to God, told Him how much I don’t like the story and asked him why he allowed Leah to be treated so, but lately God has been stirring my heart to learn more about this story. So, when I saw this book, I felt a tugging at my heart to read it.

Between the pages of this book lies a story that brings the scriptures to life and vividly depicts what life must’ve been like for them as a family unit. It’s a story that will break your heart but then it will be beautifully mended back together again. You feel Leah’s anguish, Rachel’s resentment, and Jacob’s conflict as they navigate life together. You feel Leah’s pain as she cries out to God in her misery and questions Him on why He is allowing her life to be the way that it is. The author then writes this beautiful passage that made me stop reading and close the book in quiet contemplation and awe. It reads:

“As she walked into the middle of the camp, she saw the other women and children playing. She carried on praying and asking God to at least show her the purpose of her pain. Just then Judah ran towards his mother and hugged her. As she felt her heartbeat next to his she heard God gently whisper, “Him.” Leah stopped and looked at Judah. Him? She smiled, of course it would be him. He had been the only son she had given glory to God for, the one whose name meant “Let God be Praised.”

This book was impeccably written and it was packed with accurate Biblical history, raw emotions, forgiveness, and a beautiful deliverance from Leah’s pain of being unloved. The realization that she was loved by the Almighty. The one who created her and who chose her to be a part of Christ’s line.

I can only hope to see more Biblical fiction from this author soon!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book

This book was supposed to be our February book to read but I downloaded on my Kindle, started reading and could not stop. I love the way this author wove this Biblical story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel. A must read for lovers of Biblical fiction.

[Yannick Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like biblical fiction. I had never read one about Leah, Jacob's wife, Laban's daughter and Rachel's sister.

Jacob was in love with Rachel but Laban deceived Jacob and gave him Leah instead of Rachel and he realised it only after the wedding because of the veil she was wearing. Jacob was angry for he had served Laban for seven years in order to marry his youngest daughter.

In the bible Leah is described as a woman with weak eyes but Rachel is very beautiful.

In her book the author portrays Leah as an humble woman, loving God, willing to serve her husband even if he doesn't really care about her. Leah had to learn to surrender all her desire for her husband to God. God saw her pain, he saw that she was unloved, unnoticed and gave her several sons and a daughter. God cared about her.

I really liked this book, it gave me another perspective regarding Leah and Rachel story.

This is a book I highly recommend.

[Stephanie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit, I've never given much thought into this story on how the individuals felt. Leah is described as having "dull eyes" in the Bible, and that's all. To be put in the position she was in, and have to deal with her father's deception, her sister's animosity, and her husband's rejection, what a horrible life she must have had. This story helps bring insight, I liked the way she was portrayed in this, as someone who just kept going and relied on God. It also shows how things may have been with her and Rachel, I cannot imagine having to share my husband with anyone, let alone my own sister! Some stories in the Old Testament are difficult to understanding, this being one of them, and I enjoyed this perspective on it.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Ermelinda Makkimane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treat for fans of Biblical fiction

Two sisters sharing one husband not from choice but through the deceit of their own father. This is the story of Leah and Rachel, twin daughters of Laban and their mutual jealousy over the man they love.

This book is a treat for fans of Biblical fiction. The characters are finely etched. Their pains and hurts are ours. The historical backdrop is well researched. The second half of Genesis (before the story of Joseph) is brought out in this novel.

When I read this story as a child, it was always Laban as the villain and Rachel as the wronged one. My days in Bible scgool taught me about Jacob's crookedness. But what I picked from this book was empathy for Leah. And that is why this book deserves 5 stars and more. Recommended.

[Katherine Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful retelling of the story of Leah. I can only imagine the jealousy and hurt that she felt during her life and this story explained it perfectly.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll put my hands up to not having done much with The Bible since I was a teenager, but there’s a movement among some authors now to give voices to the previously flatter-than-flat figures of this book; the women. And, as a determined feminist, I’m unable to resist. I’ve recently read the first two books of Linda Makkimane’s Her Story (dealing with Mary the mother of Christ and a woman who is healed by Jesus) and I couldn’t resist Amanda Bedzrah’s take on the Old Testament figure of Leah, the first wife of Jacob.

It’s an easy-to-read page turner, the story of a woman forced, as the property of her father, into an arranged marriage with a man who doesn’t want her, doesn’t love her and is tricked into marriage with her when he thinks he’s getting her sister Rachel, with whom he is in love. He’s waited and worked for seven years for Rachel, so he’s none too pleased when he discovers the deception; although he still spends a week using Leah for all the purposes of marriage before marrying Rachel (the deal is that he works for another seven years) and delegating Leah to the position of unloved drudge and baby-machine.

Little thought is usually given to Leah, and the author has done such a good job of imagining her plight that it is no longer possible to ignore the life which this unfortunate woman lived. Yet she finds comfort and consolation in her children and her God, finding dignity and gaining the respect of her husband, as well as a comfortable place with him in their older age. This ‘happy ending’ for Leah rather takes liberties with the Bible story in that Jacob is said to have taken Rachel’s maid Bilhah as his primary partner after the death of Rachel; but the author admits that this is a work of fiction, so I won’t quibble; and why spoil a good story? Excellent.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Leah: Unnoticed. Unwanted. Unloved" by Amanda Bedzrah was a very good book. I keep reading because I wanted to see how this author ended the story. I wanted to see how different her story was from the book that I had just read a few days ago. If a reader likes Biblical Fiction, then this is a book that I would recommend. This book helps to bring more understanding to the story of Leah and Rachel.

The book was written so well that I really felt the emotions that the characters must have felt. I don't know if this author plans on writing more books about people from the Bible but I would read them if she did.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

[Keziah✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read which I read in two days.
I absolutely loved that the chapters were super short and the fact that the author didn’t divert so much from what we know from the Bible. It helped me see Leah in a different light and I appreciate the author for that.

[Marbeth Skwarczynski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah: Unnoticed, Unwanted, Unloved peeks into the life of one of the most underrated biblical characters. Leah, whose looks were marginalized, spent a lifetime wishing for love from her husband and was overlooked by everyone despite her remarkable role in world history. Sometimes the book speeds through events and comes across as a survey, but overall, it tells a solid story and lets the reader focus on the joy and tragedy of Leah's life.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah: Unnoticed. Unwanted. Unloved is my first introduction to books by Amanda Bedzrah. It will not be the last. I have always been fascinated by the Bible’s story of Leah. I loved how the author was able to use the historical and Biblical details to bring her and the others of the tale to life. I admired her faith despite what she had to endure through her life. She struggled so much to be accepted and loved when she was accepted and loved by God all along. Such a beautiful story.

Leah: Unnoticed. Unwanted. Unloved is getting four and a half stars from me. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading Biblical fiction. I look forward to more by Amanda Bedzrah in the future.

I received a digital copy of Leah: Unnoticed. Unwanted. Unloved from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Bukola Akinyemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently written story based on a bible character uses a mix of imagination and research to tell a story of love, polygamy, deceit, sibling rivalry and family in a gripping and emotional way.

[Wendy H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honoured to be the editor of this book and to support Amanda while she wrote it. When Amanda approached me and said she wanted to write a book about Leah and she was hoping that I would agree to edit it, I was thrilled. Firstly, I know Amanda is a woman who has a passion for bringing out the story of the women in the Bible; women who can often be forgotten. I also know she is a faithful woman of God herself.

Secondly, I agreed with her that Leah's story was one which needed to be told. Personally, I think she had a jolly raw deal and dealt with it beautifully, maintaining her faith in God through many heartaches and trials. When I first saw the manuscript it was obvious that this was the vision that Amanda also had for the story. Yes, like any book, there were changes to be made, but we worked together to ensure the final product was polished and told Leah's story in the best way possible. Amanda is a confident and outstanding storyteller, yet was willing to make changes to strengthen the narrative.

This process has meant that Amanda has brought Leah's story to life. The characters leap off the page and into your heart and you will find your emotions being pulled in every direction. This is a book which will appeal to Christian women, and yet I feel non Christians will also enjoy it. Many women will find something of themselves in the pages.

[Gwen|| Bookish Blondie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel definitely takes artistic license and liberty to give Leah a semi happy ending. I'm not sure the Bible backs this up, but other than that, I loved the behind the scenes of Leah in this Biblical time.

Leah's story in the Bible is an amazing story of overcoming the need for approval of man and relying on God's approval and acceptance. Most people I talk to when they read this story focus on the betrayal and side with Rachel or Jacob, but I feel like the greatest lesson in that story is Leah's story.

This novel I think really captures Leah's struggle to let go of her need for Jacob to love her, to see her, to want her like he loved Rachel and she eventually understood the futility in that. I feel like the novel really shows how much she relied on God to order her steps.

I also like how the author shows how Jacob saw Leah and his own internal struggle with having two wives to love when he naturally loved Rachel more and his struggles with listening to God.

[Jillian Sevilla-Sales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a quick read (though I didn't finished it quickly because of mommy duties 😅), but once I started reading, it's so hard to put it down.
And yeah, I can side with the author about Leah. I kinda liked her more than Rachel.
What I also liked about this novel was it may be a work of fiction but you can see that the author has put a lot of research and the story is really based on the Bible. What I really don't like was a Biblical fiction that makes a reader more confused about the Bible.
But this novel made me read the Bible more (specifically on Leah's story).

I might have given this a five star rating because I enjoyed it but one thing made me rate it with four stars. Well, some words are very uncomfortable for me to read.
For me there are more appropriate words that could be used.
But hey, it's just my opinion.

All in all, it is a great work. 😊
Would love to read more!

[Olusola Anyanwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a marvellous work of art by the author, Amanda Bedzrah whose highly insightful imagination opens a wide window for readers to step perfectly into the shoes of Biblical Leah! Readers are privileged to capture the family life of Rachel, Jacob, Leah and their children through the themes of love, forgiveness, respect and faith.
An enjoyable read that enables one to appreciate the graciousness of God!!
Certainly worth 5 stars!

[Lauri Gentry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never given much thought to Leah prior to reading this work of fiction. I think the author did a good job keeping close to the accounts according to the Bible. A few gaps that were new to me were filled in helping me see things in a different light. I will trust the author's note at the end that this was true according to her exhaustive research. One thing I did not like were the format of very short chapters. This does not deter me from recommending this book.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leah has always been a favorite Bible story of mine. I know that there are times I have felt like her. She fades into the background overwhelmed by the pain of not being loved or wanted. Her sister as always been the beautiful one who men notice. It is sad to read how she was forced to deceive the man she has always loved. I can’t imagine the shock Jacob had when he discovered his bride was Leah and not Rachel.

The author does a good job of letting us glimpse Leah’s life as she lives everyday knowing her husband doesn’t want to be around her. Her sister is consumed with anger and it damages the sisters relationship. How can a father treat his daughters with so little respect? The emotions are deep as the two sisters try to remain civil to each other. I wondered at times if the two would ever come to a place of forgiveness.

Laban is not an easy man to like. His greed is so great that he puts sister against sister where sorrow will be felt. This is a great lesson on how wanting riches and power can destroy families. If only Laban had honored his daughter Leah’s wish not to be part of his scheme perhaps peace could have been achieved. The anger rises in me as I think how a father thinks of himself more than his daughters.

As we follow Leah’s story we see how faithful she is to God. She has her moments when she cries out to God asking why he allowed all this to happen. I love how the author digs deeper into the story and looks at what these people may have thought and felt as their lives took a different turn. Throughout the story I kept thinking on this statement; “Don’t lose sight of what you’ve got because you are blinded by what you want.” Oh how this grabbed my attention. How many times have we become bitter because we didn’t get what we wanted? I want to remember that I am blessed and trust God to provide the things I need.

The story is beautifully written and teaches us about how greed, anger, and bitterness can destroy us if we don’t forgive. Leah is an example of obeying God and allowing herself to forgive and find peace . In the end it won’t matter what someone did to us. It will only matter how we reacted to it.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Miriam Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Leah: Unnoticed, Unwanted, Unloved" by Amanda Bedzrah is a very fascinating and truly absorbing story, evoking strong emotions in readers. Although Leah was unnoticed, unwanted and unloved by her own family, God used her to change history in such a dramatic way. There are life-changing lessons to be learnt from Leah's life. Through this remarkable book, God uses His Word and Amanda Bedzrah's creatively-inspired thoughts to teach His beloved children precious truths about how to cope with the vicissitudes of life. "Rachel was Jacob's desire. Leah was God's design." Amanda's words ring true, inspired by the Master Storyteller. This awesome book is dedicated to every rejected person, who is completely loved by God, whose plan and purpose for their lives does not depend on people's acceptance. I highly recommend this enlightening book to all readers who wish to learn how Leah coped bravely and courageously with rejection from her own family. This is the kind of rejection that stings most of all. To be rejected by strangers is bad enough, but to face rejection from one's own family hurts most deeply of all. For when one's family rejects a child of its own, there is no defence at all. All the values that keep the foundation of the family standing up, come crashing down upon one's head, leaving one entirely defenseless. And then, what is left but only the deepest void, created by the most terrible rejection life can ever dole out on its defenseless children. How did Leah cope with it? Amanda Bedzrah steps into Leah's footsteps and traces her life's journey to liberating freedom, fully and completely.

Miriam Jacob

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah is such a sad character in the Bible. We often think of her as “the other woman” or some other harsh term, when really she deserves our compassion because she did not get a choice in her life.

This book will give you a look at Leah that you have never seen before. In this book, Leah gets the happy ending she deserves and that we all secretly want for her. I love that it takes the Bible in and makes it the core of the story. The author fills in details as much as possible from history but also from her mind.

I have to say her mind must be an amazing place because I was captivated by this story. As have most of you, I have read the story of Leah in the Bible many times but it has never hit me so poignantly as it did in this telling.

The cover of this book is gorgeous and deserves a mention! I’m looking forward to reading more from this author and am excited to see what her second work of fiction will bring.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this fiction based off of the Scriptural account of Leah and Rachel to be very authentic, emotional, and full of spiritual struggle and triumph. Not much is said about Leah in the Bible, and I must admit I always wondered about how she felt with the hand she was dealt in life by no fault of her own. This book conveys the reality of feeling unloved while seeing a sister as an enemy always stealing what is felt to be rightfully hers. This book reminds us that no struggle in life is wasted and that God truly works all things together for our ultimate good and His glory. This book conveys the raw emotions of grief and anger in life in unwanted circumstances. We get to see a unique viewpoint from Leah, Rachel, Jacob, Laban and even the handmaidens from their perspective of what’s going on and how the Lord works in each life individually. This book could be enjoyed by most fiction readers with its’ relatable themes and raw emotion and redemption thread.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.

[Connie Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah: Unnoticed. Unwanted. Unloved is a Biblical Fiction book that is written by Amanda Bedzrah. Leah is one of my favorite figures from the Bible. She does not feel as loved by her father, she feels less beautiful then her sister, Rachel. I felt that the author did a good job displaying the rift that came between the two sisters. They once were close, and drifted apart due to jealously. I love how Leah remains faithful to God. She cries out to God asking why all this has been happening. Despite it all, Leah remains faithful to God.

The story is well written. The author did a good job bringing Leah's story to life. I hope to read more from the author in the future. Thank You to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. I imagine life was very difficult for Leah. This story picks up at the marriage of Leah and Jacob. The strife and heartache experienced by Leah through the actions of her father. The treatment she received at the hands of Rachel proves to be heartbreaking.

Some fictional accounts of Biblically based stories prove to be worth reading. This book proves to be one of them. The author captures the emotions and possible events along with the Biblical account into the perfect blend. I found the story worth reading.

I loved reading about Leah finding and relying on faith in God. So if you enjoy Biblically-based fiction, check out this book for yourself

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Ashley Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in a short time that I've read about Leah. This one has a different story (but doesn't deviate from the original Biblical story) just adds on to it as to what could have happened. I like this idea of her.

The author's writing style was engaging and I liked how Leah was portrayed. She wasn't unnoticed, unwanted, or unloved by God. He saw and loved her. I love thinking about that. Even when we think we are being ignored by those we love, God still sees us and we are precious to Him.

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

[Carol Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long felt for Leah so I was interesting to see this author's take on her story. What I found was a short, but nicely written biblical fiction tale worth reading. This author pulls the reader into the viewpoints of Leah's life. I do feel as though the author did a good bit of extra research, and did a good job of using a correct time frame and put a lot of emotional issues we still have today into this story. All of us have felt rejection, and loss of love, but God doesn't abandon us.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my digital copy of this book. This review contains I though about this book. A positive review is never required.

[Marlene Gaither · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It is about Leah and her relationship with her husband Jacob as well as her sister, Rachel. It tells of the troubles that could arise when one man marries two sisters and all of the emotions that occur. There was also a subplot telling Dinah's story. Throughout the book God speaks to Leah and she tries to be obedient. Although I knew the story from reading it many times in the scriptures, the author continued to hold my interest. The characters were well fleshed out and felt an emotional attachment to Leah, in particular. I will definitely be looking for other books written by Amanda Bedzrah!

[Lisa Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this story. Seeing the struggle of Leah’s life as she “battled” her life and emotional struggles throughout all the hurt made me feel even more for her. I loved how the author showed Leah leaning into Gods love while in the midst of her pain and rejection from earthy love. As much as I loved how she showed Gods intent for marriage as 1 man and 1 woman with Jacob being “warned” not to work for Rachel, I didn’t like how later it was shown that God told Leah to give zilphah to Jacob. That seemed very counterintuitive to the story line. But, with the way Zilphahs story of becoming a wife aside, it was an absolutely beautiful book and I will definitely read it again.

[Grace Bowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I just wish it was a little longer. But the author followed the book of Genesis exactly which is a bonus. And the Lord was the focus of the book and how Leah came to walk closely with Him.
Definitely worth a read!!

[MRS A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

Loved this book. Based on fact, it was beautiful to imagine the reality at the time more than the few verses in the Bible. I particularly loved that there was no deviation from the bible facts.
Brilliant writing. Definitely gifted creative author. Thank you.

[Ancillar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!