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The Struggle for Love: The Story of Leah (Faith building biblical historical novels of love, hope, and courage set in ancient Israel)
Two sisters married to the same man. A man who loves only one.
Leah didn’t want a marriage without love. A strong and capable woman, she had determined to live a life of service as a midwife, bringing other women’s children into the world, allowing her father to breach tradition and betroth her beautiful younger sister first. But that was not to be.
Forced by her father to pose as her sister, Leah goes to Jacob’s wedding bed. When Jacob awakens to find Leah instead of the beautiful Rachel, he tells Leah that he will provide for her and do what a husband must, but she will never have his love.
Rejected by her husband and her relationship with her beloved sister broken, will Leah be able to keep her faith in the God of Abraham through the tragedies to come? Will Jacob see Leah for the woman she truly is? Will these two wives of the patriarch mend their relationship before it’s too late?
Enjoy this beautiful story of a woman overlooked by history but not by God. In Genesis 29:31 the scripture says, “When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved—” God was watching over Leah. And He’s watching over you.
Leah didn’t want a marriage without love. A strong and capable woman, she had determined to live a life of service as a midwife, bringing other women’s children into the world, allowing her father to breach tradition and betroth her beautiful younger sister first. But that was not to be.
Forced by her father to pose as her sister, Leah goes to Jacob’s wedding bed. When Jacob awakens to find Leah instead of the beautiful Rachel, he tells Leah that he will provide for her and do what a husband must, but she will never have his love.
Rejected by her husband and her relationship with her beloved sister broken, will Leah be able to keep her faith in the God of Abraham through the tragedies to come? Will Jacob see Leah for the woman she truly is? Will these two wives of the patriarch mend their relationship before it’s too late?
Enjoy this beautiful story of a woman overlooked by history but not by God. In Genesis 29:31 the scripture says, “When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved—” God was watching over Leah. And He’s watching over you.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2021
183 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Marilyn T. Parker
6 books31 followersMarilyn came late to writing novels but is determined to keep at it until characters stop waking her up at night. She loves writing biblical fiction because it shines a light on God’s faithful dealings with His people: both then and now.
She’s blessed with four children, a crew of grandchildren, and one monster dog named Mimi. (Don’t let the cute name fool you!). Four years after being widowed, she met her husband Peter online—yes, that makes her Mrs. Spiderman. When she and her superhero husband are not out RVing, they reside in sunny Arizona.
She’s blessed with four children, a crew of grandchildren, and one monster dog named Mimi. (Don’t let the cute name fool you!). Four years after being widowed, she met her husband Peter online—yes, that makes her Mrs. Spiderman. When she and her superhero husband are not out RVing, they reside in sunny Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
September 18, 2024
“God works beyond the choices that we make. He brings His own purpose to pass in spite of our wanderings.”
I was familiar with Leah and Rachel’s story in Genesis 27 - 35, but new-to-me author, Marilyn T. Parker, brought me back to the scripture and gave me a sense of what it must have been like for Leah to be forced to marry a man who didn’t love her - a man who loved her sister.
Parker’s ability to tune into readers’ emotions and bring alive a biblical account is astounding and I was swept up in this story of forgiveness, regret and reconciliation. Equally amazing, was Parker’s ability to remind me of God’s promises and purposes. Through her biblical characters, she reminds us that the pain/struggle we face now is such a small thing in comparison to the joy that will come if we endure. I loved the highlighting of ‘the hope of wholeness.’
Parker’s examination of divisions (spiritual allegiance) within relationships isn’t something often discussed in biblical fiction. Leah was surrounded by people she loved who chose to ignore the danger of allowing seemingly innocent things to hide in the recesses of their hearts/tents/encampments and it not only influenced the individual, but others in their sphere of influence. Leah’s faith had deep roots and she struggled to continually choose the better thing. I loved that Anasa knew that Leah’s faith was worthwhile. He knew where to go when things got out of control because he knew that Leah’s God was in control.
I think the biggest message for me was the warning from Zilpah when Dinah returned. I needed to read that there are those who are watching my life, who know what I stand for, who know what it right, and don’t want me to lose foothold by making a rash decision. The reminder that others are able to encourage us to protect our place was just what I needed.
With a slightly lesser impact, but powerful, nonetheless, was the image of the tares and wheat growing alongside each other. So often I want to take matters into my own hands and it was good to be reminded that the differentiation will come and take care of itself at harvest.
I appreciated the thought provoking scenes about the end justifying the means and about victim blaming. I headed off to Google the history of the shekel as my curiosity was piqued!
“God’s blessings do not come because of worthiness.”
This book was better than imagined and I’ve put Marilyn T. Parker on my auto-read list
I was familiar with Leah and Rachel’s story in Genesis 27 - 35, but new-to-me author, Marilyn T. Parker, brought me back to the scripture and gave me a sense of what it must have been like for Leah to be forced to marry a man who didn’t love her - a man who loved her sister.
Parker’s ability to tune into readers’ emotions and bring alive a biblical account is astounding and I was swept up in this story of forgiveness, regret and reconciliation. Equally amazing, was Parker’s ability to remind me of God’s promises and purposes. Through her biblical characters, she reminds us that the pain/struggle we face now is such a small thing in comparison to the joy that will come if we endure. I loved the highlighting of ‘the hope of wholeness.’
Parker’s examination of divisions (spiritual allegiance) within relationships isn’t something often discussed in biblical fiction. Leah was surrounded by people she loved who chose to ignore the danger of allowing seemingly innocent things to hide in the recesses of their hearts/tents/encampments and it not only influenced the individual, but others in their sphere of influence. Leah’s faith had deep roots and she struggled to continually choose the better thing. I loved that Anasa knew that Leah’s faith was worthwhile. He knew where to go when things got out of control because he knew that Leah’s God was in control.
I think the biggest message for me was the warning from Zilpah when Dinah returned. I needed to read that there are those who are watching my life, who know what I stand for, who know what it right, and don’t want me to lose foothold by making a rash decision. The reminder that others are able to encourage us to protect our place was just what I needed.
With a slightly lesser impact, but powerful, nonetheless, was the image of the tares and wheat growing alongside each other. So often I want to take matters into my own hands and it was good to be reminded that the differentiation will come and take care of itself at harvest.
I appreciated the thought provoking scenes about the end justifying the means and about victim blaming. I headed off to Google the history of the shekel as my curiosity was piqued!
“God’s blessings do not come because of worthiness.”
This book was better than imagined and I’ve put Marilyn T. Parker on my auto-read list
February 21, 2022
3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
What a beautiful story! It enthralled me from beginning to end :)
I loved how this story brought to live this popular (or should we say rather misunderstood) Bible character. Leah’s character arc was so good! I love how we explore her humanity instead of just shoving her in a box of ‘’ bad Biblical examples’’.
I liked how strong and filled with Faith Leah’s character was portrayed. We see more of the interests and her passions beyond just being obsessed with gaining her husband’s love. I really liked how the Author depicted her as a midwife.
This story is so raw and doesn’t shy from the truth,flaws and virtuous of these biblical characters. Leah is portrayed as more than just a jealous or conflictive wife. She is a human that hopes, dreams and is set apart to be part of the lineage of David and of Jesus.
Writing wise, I would have loved to see the story have a quicker pace to it and some of the writing felt a bit chunky in some parts, but overall, I enjoyed it quite a bit. :)
What a beautiful story! It enthralled me from beginning to end :)
I loved how this story brought to live this popular (or should we say rather misunderstood) Bible character. Leah’s character arc was so good! I love how we explore her humanity instead of just shoving her in a box of ‘’ bad Biblical examples’’.
I liked how strong and filled with Faith Leah’s character was portrayed. We see more of the interests and her passions beyond just being obsessed with gaining her husband’s love. I really liked how the Author depicted her as a midwife.
This story is so raw and doesn’t shy from the truth,flaws and virtuous of these biblical characters. Leah is portrayed as more than just a jealous or conflictive wife. She is a human that hopes, dreams and is set apart to be part of the lineage of David and of Jesus.
Writing wise, I would have loved to see the story have a quicker pace to it and some of the writing felt a bit chunky in some parts, but overall, I enjoyed it quite a bit. :)
February 21, 2022
I’ve always been fascinated and touched by the story of Leah in the Bible and this book did both the character and story great justice.
The emotions, the plot, the characters… it was truly an amazing work of fiction. One can’t finish reading this book and not want to go read the account of Leah in the Bible.
This is one truly amazing, life changing and inspiring book to read.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
The emotions, the plot, the characters… it was truly an amazing work of fiction. One can’t finish reading this book and not want to go read the account of Leah in the Bible.
This is one truly amazing, life changing and inspiring book to read.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
February 17, 2022
Before I started this book, I went back to Leah’s story written in the Bible. It helped refresh my memory of her and I was anxious to see how the author would portray her. There are times that the author took a few liberties in the story, but I don’t think it took anything away from the actual story from the Bible.
It is easy to like Leah with her compassion for others. How sad that she felt ugly and unwanted even by her father. The moment that stands out in my mind is when Leah is forced to deceive the man who loves her sister. The author does a good job of letting us feel Leah’s shame when her deceit is revealed. It sets the tone for the journey that Leah takes as she continues to feel rejected by everyone. Oh how she loved Jacob, but he only has eyes for her sister. Rejection is something many of us have felt. It hurts deeply and is hard to overcome. But this story will teach us that God never rejects His people. He loves us and will never leave us.
I liked Rachel but thought she was very prideful. She counted on her looks to get what she wanted. In the story we witness the struggle between sisters as they both want the attention of Jacob. Little by little bitterness enters Rachel’s heart and her relationship with Leah is fractured. The author digs deeper into their thoughts and shares the heartbreak of a family being torn apart.
The story kept my attention and I was mesmerized by the actions these characters displayed. Leah has become a very respected mid wife and many call for her to help when a birth is imminent. I can’t imagine how difficult it was to have a baby during this time period. I admired Leah as she became this woman of strength who was not afraid to stand up for what was right. Her faith was evident and it helped her when grieving about the unthinkable act that happened to her daughter.
As the story draws to a close we see chaos break out when revenge is acted upon. During this period of conflict we get a glimpse of two sisters who come together to reconcile, a husband who asks forgiveness and a woman who impacted many lives.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
It is easy to like Leah with her compassion for others. How sad that she felt ugly and unwanted even by her father. The moment that stands out in my mind is when Leah is forced to deceive the man who loves her sister. The author does a good job of letting us feel Leah’s shame when her deceit is revealed. It sets the tone for the journey that Leah takes as she continues to feel rejected by everyone. Oh how she loved Jacob, but he only has eyes for her sister. Rejection is something many of us have felt. It hurts deeply and is hard to overcome. But this story will teach us that God never rejects His people. He loves us and will never leave us.
I liked Rachel but thought she was very prideful. She counted on her looks to get what she wanted. In the story we witness the struggle between sisters as they both want the attention of Jacob. Little by little bitterness enters Rachel’s heart and her relationship with Leah is fractured. The author digs deeper into their thoughts and shares the heartbreak of a family being torn apart.
The story kept my attention and I was mesmerized by the actions these characters displayed. Leah has become a very respected mid wife and many call for her to help when a birth is imminent. I can’t imagine how difficult it was to have a baby during this time period. I admired Leah as she became this woman of strength who was not afraid to stand up for what was right. Her faith was evident and it helped her when grieving about the unthinkable act that happened to her daughter.
As the story draws to a close we see chaos break out when revenge is acted upon. During this period of conflict we get a glimpse of two sisters who come together to reconcile, a husband who asks forgiveness and a woman who impacted many lives.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
February 17, 2022
Fantastic Biblical fiction story! I love this genre when it's well written and this one, it is amazing. I wish I could give it more than five stars. I have always felt so bad for Leah. What happened to her was hard, and she was the loyal wife while Rachel, well, I was never fond of that particular Rachel from the bible because of her actions. This book is exceedingly well written, and well told. I loved the viewpoints and take on this that the author gave us. It's worth reading more than once.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for my copy of this book. This review is all mine, left freely. A positive review is never required.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for my copy of this book. This review is all mine, left freely. A positive review is never required.
February 28, 2022
I have read books from Rachel’s perspective and I have just recently read a book about Joseph and Judah so it was really interesting to read this book from Leah’s perspective. I really enjoyed it.
This book was well done and the story line seemed plausible, because if we are honest we all wonder how in the world Jacob could have mistaken Leah for Rachel? But the way the author had it unfold I could believe happened.
I have always kind of seen Leah has the enemy but wonder of she wasn’t? Wonder if she was the victim in all of this?
If you enjoy Biblical fiction I am sure you will enjoy this read.
A copy of this book was given to me through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
This book was well done and the story line seemed plausible, because if we are honest we all wonder how in the world Jacob could have mistaken Leah for Rachel? But the way the author had it unfold I could believe happened.
I have always kind of seen Leah has the enemy but wonder of she wasn’t? Wonder if she was the victim in all of this?
If you enjoy Biblical fiction I am sure you will enjoy this read.
A copy of this book was given to me through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
June 1, 2022
Leah loved Jacob but he loved Rachel she suffered from his rejection, but trusted God and God gave her sons and a daughter because He saw her afflictions. It reminds us that God sees our pain and is fair.
In the book Leah is portrayed as a devoted woman towards her children, her sister Rachel and Jacob.
Rachel is the contrary selfish and haughty.
Even though she was not loved Leah stayed authentic loving God and others.
This was an interesting book. What I like the most is how the author highlight Judah's birth, the son for whom Leah's praise the Lord, because Jesus is a descendant from his line.
In the book Leah is portrayed as a devoted woman towards her children, her sister Rachel and Jacob.
Rachel is the contrary selfish and haughty.
Even though she was not loved Leah stayed authentic loving God and others.
This was an interesting book. What I like the most is how the author highlight Judah's birth, the son for whom Leah's praise the Lord, because Jesus is a descendant from his line.
January 7, 2022
I have read the Biblical account of Leah and Rachel so many times that it had become mindless: Leah was the "ugly sister" who Jacob was gypped into marrying. Then a few years ago, a Bible study with Jen Wilkin brought Leah's plight to life in a real way for me. I thought of the whole story from her perspective rather than from Jacob's. It was really moving. So, when I saw this book fictionalizing Leah's struggle for love, I was eager to sign up.
As always, when writing a book about someone real (especially someone real in the Bible), I think it would be so dicey to know when to invent dialogue, extra characters, etc. But Marilyn Parker has done an excellent job. I really could imagine Leah's feelings throughout her life in the many difficult situations she was put into, first by her father, then by her husband, and even by her sister Rachel. After the fateful wedding night, Parker imagines Leah's thoughts: "I sat, staring at his back, knowing that every hope I'd held for my future was destroyed. I would live the rest of my life with a man who couldn't stand the sight of me."
Despite the many griefs she bears in life, Leah is faithful to the God of Abraham and prays often. She is gratified later in the book to learn that her prayers have been at work, even when she was not aware that they were. "A huge lump rose in my throat. I was moved by Anasa's words. Something I had said had stayed with him. Had made a difference. My pain had a purpose. It had not been for no reason."
A lesser-known part of Leah's story is her despair when her daughter is taken by the Prince of Shechem. I felt for her when, time after time, her best efforts were thwarted: "Why, Lord, why? Why can I have no peace? I love you. Why is my life in such disarray?"
Near the book's end, Leah finally meets her father-in-law, Isaac, who tells her: "Rest in Him, Daughter. You have struggled for the love of your husband, but you need not struggle for the love of your God."
Despite Leah being the "unloved" wife, Jesus' line came through one of her sons, Judah.
Well-written book that brings Leah's story to life. It is an excellent example of a woman living faithfully even when life doesn't offer easy answers.
As always, when writing a book about someone real (especially someone real in the Bible), I think it would be so dicey to know when to invent dialogue, extra characters, etc. But Marilyn Parker has done an excellent job. I really could imagine Leah's feelings throughout her life in the many difficult situations she was put into, first by her father, then by her husband, and even by her sister Rachel. After the fateful wedding night, Parker imagines Leah's thoughts: "I sat, staring at his back, knowing that every hope I'd held for my future was destroyed. I would live the rest of my life with a man who couldn't stand the sight of me."
Despite the many griefs she bears in life, Leah is faithful to the God of Abraham and prays often. She is gratified later in the book to learn that her prayers have been at work, even when she was not aware that they were. "A huge lump rose in my throat. I was moved by Anasa's words. Something I had said had stayed with him. Had made a difference. My pain had a purpose. It had not been for no reason."
A lesser-known part of Leah's story is her despair when her daughter is taken by the Prince of Shechem. I felt for her when, time after time, her best efforts were thwarted: "Why, Lord, why? Why can I have no peace? I love you. Why is my life in such disarray?"
Near the book's end, Leah finally meets her father-in-law, Isaac, who tells her: "Rest in Him, Daughter. You have struggled for the love of your husband, but you need not struggle for the love of your God."
Despite Leah being the "unloved" wife, Jesus' line came through one of her sons, Judah.
Well-written book that brings Leah's story to life. It is an excellent example of a woman living faithfully even when life doesn't offer easy answers.
January 19, 2022
I’m a relational person. I love true stories, I retain facts better when told in story form and this wonderful, beautiful biblical story jumped off the pages for me and created an imprint of a story I’ve read multiple times in the Bible, yet brought it to life. I have never read anything from Marilyn before, but will definitely be looking for her name in the future. I hesitate if I don’t recognize the author for biblical fiction because to me, writing biblical fiction is more difficult than any other genre. To get it wrong is to get the Bible wrong. This author did an amazing job and I can’t wait to read more by her. I have a friend who LOVES biblical fiction and you know she’s the first one I’m telling about this amazing book!
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit but was not under any obligation to write a review. All opinions are strictly mine.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit but was not under any obligation to write a review. All opinions are strictly mine.
October 8, 2022
Amazing characterization but way too heavy and depressing.
Well researched, well written. However, the amount of emotional trauma and domestic violence is off the charts. And these incidents are the focus of the book…the happy, good times are only mentioned briefly.
Obviously you can’t change history nor the outcomes. But this book was painful and depressing to read. It was one horror, one tragedy, one awful decision after another. I honestly had a hard time finishing it.
Even when God gives Leah a dream…she doesn’t understand it.
The only brighter moments are when Jacob receives his name if Israel, when Isaac talks to Leah, when Rachel and Leah reconcile, and then when Leah and Jacob reconcile—all occurring in the last 10% of the book.
The focus of the book is all the suffering…and there’s a lot of it. So much coercion and control of women. There aren’t any happy celebrations or even just regular enjoyable life.
I like her how she plotted the story and her character development is amazing—I’ve read a ton of books about Joseph of Egypt and this book is now my favorite depiction of Jacob—but it’s just too heavy and depressing to earn more stars.
Well researched, well written. However, the amount of emotional trauma and domestic violence is off the charts. And these incidents are the focus of the book…the happy, good times are only mentioned briefly.
Obviously you can’t change history nor the outcomes. But this book was painful and depressing to read. It was one horror, one tragedy, one awful decision after another. I honestly had a hard time finishing it.
Even when God gives Leah a dream…she doesn’t understand it.
The only brighter moments are when Jacob receives his name if Israel, when Isaac talks to Leah, when Rachel and Leah reconcile, and then when Leah and Jacob reconcile—all occurring in the last 10% of the book.
The focus of the book is all the suffering…and there’s a lot of it. So much coercion and control of women. There aren’t any happy celebrations or even just regular enjoyable life.
I like her how she plotted the story and her character development is amazing—I’ve read a ton of books about Joseph of Egypt and this book is now my favorite depiction of Jacob—but it’s just too heavy and depressing to earn more stars.
January 11, 2026
"Rest in Him, Daughter. You have struggled for the love of your husband, but you need not struggle for the love of your God."
This story had a good pace and I enjoyed the depth that was given to Leah's character however, it was not an easy read.
The Biblical account of Leah was not detailed and yet a glimpse of her tragic circumstances were seen. The angles that were brought in this story helped to see the entire account in a new light. In this book, the possible (and probable) depths of Leah's sorrow are explored. I enjoyed the honesty of this book and how real the character of Leah was. In The Struggle for Love, she struggled with believing in the goodness of God when her life was filled with situations that were far from good.
This book was indeed an encouraging read but it did not sugarcoat the concept of suffering.
The key message of this story was even though we may not see it, God has a bigger and greater purpose for our lives. A purpose so great and beautiful that no amount of pain can hinder it.
Trigger warnings:
Mention of r*pe
An abusive character
Attempted murder
Descriptive scene of an animal being slaughtered
This story had a good pace and I enjoyed the depth that was given to Leah's character however, it was not an easy read.
The Biblical account of Leah was not detailed and yet a glimpse of her tragic circumstances were seen. The angles that were brought in this story helped to see the entire account in a new light. In this book, the possible (and probable) depths of Leah's sorrow are explored. I enjoyed the honesty of this book and how real the character of Leah was. In The Struggle for Love, she struggled with believing in the goodness of God when her life was filled with situations that were far from good.
This book was indeed an encouraging read but it did not sugarcoat the concept of suffering.
The key message of this story was even though we may not see it, God has a bigger and greater purpose for our lives. A purpose so great and beautiful that no amount of pain can hinder it.
Trigger warnings:
Mention of r*pe
An abusive character
Attempted murder
Descriptive scene of an animal being slaughtered
October 16, 2022
A moving and well written account of the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekkah, their separation, the many things that went wrong or right for both of them. Includes the encounters between Jacob and angels and the Angel of the Lord.
The story focuses on the 2 daughters of Jacob's uncle Laban. While Jacob finds himself increasingly attracted to Leah as time passes, Leah has neither the beauty nor the carefree mannerisms of her younger sister, Rachel, for whom she has cared like a mother when she was very young and suffering the same loss herself. When push comes to shove, doe-eyed Rachel is the woman whose hand Jacob seeks in marriage. This doesn't surprise healer and midwife Leah, who has been cruelly reminded all her life of her ugliness, and as such, would like to remain single and act as the village healer. This would allow more money into her father's coffers and free up Rachel to marry whenever she desires - but Laban is having none of that. When the 7 years is up, and Laban has stolen from Jacob yet Jacob has been blessed anyway, Laban wants more wealth. Too lazy to figure it out for himself, or to learn, he plots to have Leah be bedded on the wedding night, not Rachel, and force 7 more years of servitude and theft onto Jacob. Leah wants no parts of this, but the threat to her and, apparently, her sister, is very real. Jacob is plied with more strong drink than he is used to, and thus he doesn't notice the exchange until the next day - and takes it out on Leah, refusing to hear her side of the story. He continues to work another 7 years for Rachel, being stolen from by Laban and being cheated at every turn by Laban. He finally is given an idea in a dream after the largest transfer of wealth from Jacob to Laban thus far: Jacob takes all the non-white sheep and goats, which are few in number, leaving him with very few animals of his own. God gives him a dream about using rods and branches where dark bark is pulled back and poles out into the ground, and the branches into water troughs, the poles guiding the breeding stock. Then they are removed when it is time to mate Laban's flocks. This drastically increases Jacob's flocks in a very short time, but Laban and his herdsmen have no idea why the poles and branches would make any difference.
Finally, it becomes obvious that Laban is not going to let Jacob go, esp now that his wealth greatly exceeds Laban's. Laban wants everything Jacob has as his forever. There is a clandestine movement of flocks to pastures way ahead on the route to Canaan, and runners to guide the movement of the flocks. In the late dusk and early predawn hours, by the brightness of the skies, all that the families of workers as well as Jacob's family will need is carefully stashed and in many cases, sent ahead to be with the flocks and herds. They're pretty much packed up when Laban finds them and makes his usual accusations of theft on Jacob's part. Jacob invites him to inspect the animals for the pure white ones that are Laban's v. the non-white, speckled, and none of Laban's are found. He has to let them go. He meets Esau on the way to Canaan, but stops instead outside Shechem until his stay in Shechem blows up in his face. Finally, he stops turning a blind eye to idolatry in his camp, including Rachel's, and cleans up the idols by burning them. He allows people to leave if they refuse to stop their idolatry. He provides them with a couple animals and lets them take their things along, which will give them time to find a job. He finally ends up in Canaan, not long before his father passes, but long enough for them to reconcile, and for Isaac to give Leah some deeply needed spiritual comfort.
The encounters Jacob has with supernatural beings are approached, not as something instantly understandable, but as something that is a bit baffling, something he discovers more about as he lives through them and afterwards.
In the book, Leah and Rachel are finally reconciled not long before Rachel dies in childbirth with Benjamin. What is described is a placental abruption - where the placenta tears away from the uterine wall and first the mother's side, then the infant's side, hemorrhage. It is imperative the baby be rescued, the cord clamped, as soon as possible, and that a good wet nurse be discovered to rebuild the baby's strength. Rachel's labor starts in the middle of the trip. A tent must be hastily assembled with everything needed for the delivery at the midwife's fingertips. When Rachel dies, she must be buried along the side of the road. Leah takes over Joseph and Benjamin's care as if she had borne them herself.
Missing from the account is the story of Judah protecting Joseph from his murderous brothers but despite that, Joseph's being sold into slavery, though it is foreshadowed.
The story focuses on the 2 daughters of Jacob's uncle Laban. While Jacob finds himself increasingly attracted to Leah as time passes, Leah has neither the beauty nor the carefree mannerisms of her younger sister, Rachel, for whom she has cared like a mother when she was very young and suffering the same loss herself. When push comes to shove, doe-eyed Rachel is the woman whose hand Jacob seeks in marriage. This doesn't surprise healer and midwife Leah, who has been cruelly reminded all her life of her ugliness, and as such, would like to remain single and act as the village healer. This would allow more money into her father's coffers and free up Rachel to marry whenever she desires - but Laban is having none of that. When the 7 years is up, and Laban has stolen from Jacob yet Jacob has been blessed anyway, Laban wants more wealth. Too lazy to figure it out for himself, or to learn, he plots to have Leah be bedded on the wedding night, not Rachel, and force 7 more years of servitude and theft onto Jacob. Leah wants no parts of this, but the threat to her and, apparently, her sister, is very real. Jacob is plied with more strong drink than he is used to, and thus he doesn't notice the exchange until the next day - and takes it out on Leah, refusing to hear her side of the story. He continues to work another 7 years for Rachel, being stolen from by Laban and being cheated at every turn by Laban. He finally is given an idea in a dream after the largest transfer of wealth from Jacob to Laban thus far: Jacob takes all the non-white sheep and goats, which are few in number, leaving him with very few animals of his own. God gives him a dream about using rods and branches where dark bark is pulled back and poles out into the ground, and the branches into water troughs, the poles guiding the breeding stock. Then they are removed when it is time to mate Laban's flocks. This drastically increases Jacob's flocks in a very short time, but Laban and his herdsmen have no idea why the poles and branches would make any difference.
Finally, it becomes obvious that Laban is not going to let Jacob go, esp now that his wealth greatly exceeds Laban's. Laban wants everything Jacob has as his forever. There is a clandestine movement of flocks to pastures way ahead on the route to Canaan, and runners to guide the movement of the flocks. In the late dusk and early predawn hours, by the brightness of the skies, all that the families of workers as well as Jacob's family will need is carefully stashed and in many cases, sent ahead to be with the flocks and herds. They're pretty much packed up when Laban finds them and makes his usual accusations of theft on Jacob's part. Jacob invites him to inspect the animals for the pure white ones that are Laban's v. the non-white, speckled, and none of Laban's are found. He has to let them go. He meets Esau on the way to Canaan, but stops instead outside Shechem until his stay in Shechem blows up in his face. Finally, he stops turning a blind eye to idolatry in his camp, including Rachel's, and cleans up the idols by burning them. He allows people to leave if they refuse to stop their idolatry. He provides them with a couple animals and lets them take their things along, which will give them time to find a job. He finally ends up in Canaan, not long before his father passes, but long enough for them to reconcile, and for Isaac to give Leah some deeply needed spiritual comfort.
The encounters Jacob has with supernatural beings are approached, not as something instantly understandable, but as something that is a bit baffling, something he discovers more about as he lives through them and afterwards.
In the book, Leah and Rachel are finally reconciled not long before Rachel dies in childbirth with Benjamin. What is described is a placental abruption - where the placenta tears away from the uterine wall and first the mother's side, then the infant's side, hemorrhage. It is imperative the baby be rescued, the cord clamped, as soon as possible, and that a good wet nurse be discovered to rebuild the baby's strength. Rachel's labor starts in the middle of the trip. A tent must be hastily assembled with everything needed for the delivery at the midwife's fingertips. When Rachel dies, she must be buried along the side of the road. Leah takes over Joseph and Benjamin's care as if she had borne them herself.
Missing from the account is the story of Judah protecting Joseph from his murderous brothers but despite that, Joseph's being sold into slavery, though it is foreshadowed.
September 4, 2024
🙂🙂🙂🙂 ½ Smiles
I was hesitant to read this or any story about Leah because I have a special place in my heart for the heartbroken and second-choice wife of Jacob. The Bible tells us Jacob earned his name, which means “deceiver,” and though God eventually changed his name (to Israel), Bible readers for generations have wondered if Leah might have deceived the deceiver. Jacob had instantly fallen in love with his Uncle Laban’s youngest daughter, Rachel, and worked seven long years to earn the bride price to marry her. But the morning after their wedding ceremony, Jacob woke up and found Leah in his bed! Had Leah been a willing participant in the deception, or had she somehow been forced by her father Laban to deceive Jacob?
Since the Bible gives no clear comment on Leah’s motive or Rachel’s reaction, these two sisters’ lives have been left to our imaginations for millennia! I suppose women who consider themselves ugly ducklings or have felt the sting of a man’s rejection might place Leah on a pedestal. Others, who have a high sense of justice, might consider Rachel the most wounded party in this terrible tale. Men will undoubtedly weep for Jacob—perhaps rightly so—but with so many details left unknown from Scripture’s account and our modern culture so far removed from the ancient Middle Eastern traditions, how can we fully understand the rights, wrongs, emotions, and agendas in this well-known biblical story?
Marilyn T. Parker brings this familiar Bible story into the light of modern-day emotion and understanding with fully-orbed characters and believable responses to the hideous behavior of a twisted family. There’s no sugar-coating of Laban’s dysfunction or Jacob’s deception. Nor are there flimsy excuses for the wrongs done to Jacob’s wives and children. Each real person in the historical narrative of Scripture proves they were human. Flawed. Some repented. Some didn’t. Some blatantly sinned, and some were more sneaky about the ways they displeased God and others. This chosen family is as screwed up as my family and YOUR family—yet Yahweh loves them. And He loves mine. He loves yours. A novel that can unravel the Truth and somehow wrap it around my heart to make it feel supported and sure—that’s the kind of book that borders on five smiles. Honestly, it’s the cover I almost couldn’t get past. I hope future titles by this author get a better cover design to attract more readers to the lovely story inside.
I was hesitant to read this or any story about Leah because I have a special place in my heart for the heartbroken and second-choice wife of Jacob. The Bible tells us Jacob earned his name, which means “deceiver,” and though God eventually changed his name (to Israel), Bible readers for generations have wondered if Leah might have deceived the deceiver. Jacob had instantly fallen in love with his Uncle Laban’s youngest daughter, Rachel, and worked seven long years to earn the bride price to marry her. But the morning after their wedding ceremony, Jacob woke up and found Leah in his bed! Had Leah been a willing participant in the deception, or had she somehow been forced by her father Laban to deceive Jacob?
Since the Bible gives no clear comment on Leah’s motive or Rachel’s reaction, these two sisters’ lives have been left to our imaginations for millennia! I suppose women who consider themselves ugly ducklings or have felt the sting of a man’s rejection might place Leah on a pedestal. Others, who have a high sense of justice, might consider Rachel the most wounded party in this terrible tale. Men will undoubtedly weep for Jacob—perhaps rightly so—but with so many details left unknown from Scripture’s account and our modern culture so far removed from the ancient Middle Eastern traditions, how can we fully understand the rights, wrongs, emotions, and agendas in this well-known biblical story?
Marilyn T. Parker brings this familiar Bible story into the light of modern-day emotion and understanding with fully-orbed characters and believable responses to the hideous behavior of a twisted family. There’s no sugar-coating of Laban’s dysfunction or Jacob’s deception. Nor are there flimsy excuses for the wrongs done to Jacob’s wives and children. Each real person in the historical narrative of Scripture proves they were human. Flawed. Some repented. Some didn’t. Some blatantly sinned, and some were more sneaky about the ways they displeased God and others. This chosen family is as screwed up as my family and YOUR family—yet Yahweh loves them. And He loves mine. He loves yours. A novel that can unravel the Truth and somehow wrap it around my heart to make it feel supported and sure—that’s the kind of book that borders on five smiles. Honestly, it’s the cover I almost couldn’t get past. I hope future titles by this author get a better cover design to attract more readers to the lovely story inside.
February 21, 2022
Author Marilyn T. Parker has written an unforgettable fiction on the biblical account of Leah, Rachel, and Jacob. I will be the first to admit that I am very critical on novels written about people from the Bible. The facts should match up with the Bible. I am thrilled to say this one does and fills in the extra details beautifully.
This is the story of Jacob, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. He has been sent to his mother’s brother to search for a wife, and he ends up marrying both Rachel and Leah, sisters. Jacob not only got tricked by his Uncle Laban into marrying both daughters, but he also had to work many years for his uncle.
The story in the Bible always made me sad. I could not fathom the deceit and consequences. Leah and Rachel had a loving, close relationship before Jacob. After the two marriages the three had so many issues to resolve. Parker put emotions to the story and shared her ideas on how everything might have happened. A few events were out of order, but that did not bother me nor the integrity of the scriptural account.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s style of writing. It was a seamless prose giving an in-depth relatable account. She obviously researched this story as well as the time impeccably. The details and dialog brought the story to life on the pages. I was so captivated in this rendition that I could not put it down. This book opened my eyes to other views on a tale I have studied multiple times.
I highly recommend this exquisite retelling. It has stayed with me days after finishing it. If you are in a Book Club, please recommend this title. The author has included notes and discussion questions at the end. I hope to see more Christian fiction from this gifted wordsmith. This book receives a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
This is the story of Jacob, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. He has been sent to his mother’s brother to search for a wife, and he ends up marrying both Rachel and Leah, sisters. Jacob not only got tricked by his Uncle Laban into marrying both daughters, but he also had to work many years for his uncle.
The story in the Bible always made me sad. I could not fathom the deceit and consequences. Leah and Rachel had a loving, close relationship before Jacob. After the two marriages the three had so many issues to resolve. Parker put emotions to the story and shared her ideas on how everything might have happened. A few events were out of order, but that did not bother me nor the integrity of the scriptural account.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s style of writing. It was a seamless prose giving an in-depth relatable account. She obviously researched this story as well as the time impeccably. The details and dialog brought the story to life on the pages. I was so captivated in this rendition that I could not put it down. This book opened my eyes to other views on a tale I have studied multiple times.
I highly recommend this exquisite retelling. It has stayed with me days after finishing it. If you are in a Book Club, please recommend this title. The author has included notes and discussion questions at the end. I hope to see more Christian fiction from this gifted wordsmith. This book receives a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
February 23, 2022
The story of Leah from the Old Testament was one in which my heart always went out to. The woman who was not loved by her husband and overlooked because of the beauty of her sister. But God saw her, and He gave her the blessings of children.
I really felt the author did justice to her story. We know Leah was unloved, forced by her father do deceive Jacob, to constantly be in odds with her sister, and to have to share her husband with Rachel. All of this plus knowing Jacob did not love her. The author does take some fictional liberties but dives deeper into more of the emotional ramifications of what may or may not have happened. It was a very good 'what if' story and I think we can all agree Leah was certainly not one to be envied.
We are given various characters point of views, especially Leah's and Jacob's. All the major happenings are in the story and the story grows from there. What was Leah feeling, what was Jacob feeling, and what in the world was going on in their minds? Could God have brought all of His promises about without all the deceit? Yes, yes, I believe He could, but unfortunately people are going to be people.
I enjoyed this very detailed fictional account of Leah, her walk-in life, her love for her husband, her sister, the other concubines, her sons, and her daughter Dinah. Hers was not an easy or necessarily happy road, but she walked it in faithfulness and let God use her for His greater glory.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...
I really felt the author did justice to her story. We know Leah was unloved, forced by her father do deceive Jacob, to constantly be in odds with her sister, and to have to share her husband with Rachel. All of this plus knowing Jacob did not love her. The author does take some fictional liberties but dives deeper into more of the emotional ramifications of what may or may not have happened. It was a very good 'what if' story and I think we can all agree Leah was certainly not one to be envied.
We are given various characters point of views, especially Leah's and Jacob's. All the major happenings are in the story and the story grows from there. What was Leah feeling, what was Jacob feeling, and what in the world was going on in their minds? Could God have brought all of His promises about without all the deceit? Yes, yes, I believe He could, but unfortunately people are going to be people.
I enjoyed this very detailed fictional account of Leah, her walk-in life, her love for her husband, her sister, the other concubines, her sons, and her daughter Dinah. Hers was not an easy or necessarily happy road, but she walked it in faithfulness and let God use her for His greater glory.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...
November 2, 2021
An old story, vividly retold
Most of us who attended Sunday School—even if it was MANY years ago—remember Jacob. He and his brother Esau were early poster children for sibling rivalry. Jacob also fathered twelve sons who would go on to father the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Kind of a big deal, right? Furthermore, this part of The Bible inspired both the musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" and the novel, "The Red Tent."
The Struggle for Love explores the life of the faithful Leah, Jacob’s first wife. Her greedy father had tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of her more beautiful younger sister Rachel. The father’s deceit caused a lifelong rift between the sisters, giving us yet another example of sibling rivalry.
Understandably, Leah and Jacob were not the happiest of couples. They were imperfect people who while they shared a faith in the God of Abraham, also struggled with profound doubt, guilt, jealousy, and anger.
Author Parker breathes life into her characters. Readers will experience daily life in this time and place, where women’s roles were strictly prescribed. Moreover, deviations from the norm were the subject of gossip, ostracism, and worse. Then as now, some men were brutes; some women were victimized. I especially appreciated Parker’s insights into historic customs including midwifery practices, medicine, domestic life, and food preparation.
Readers of both Christian Fiction and Historical Fiction will find much to appreciate in this great story, well-told.
Most of us who attended Sunday School—even if it was MANY years ago—remember Jacob. He and his brother Esau were early poster children for sibling rivalry. Jacob also fathered twelve sons who would go on to father the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Kind of a big deal, right? Furthermore, this part of The Bible inspired both the musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" and the novel, "The Red Tent."
The Struggle for Love explores the life of the faithful Leah, Jacob’s first wife. Her greedy father had tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of her more beautiful younger sister Rachel. The father’s deceit caused a lifelong rift between the sisters, giving us yet another example of sibling rivalry.
Understandably, Leah and Jacob were not the happiest of couples. They were imperfect people who while they shared a faith in the God of Abraham, also struggled with profound doubt, guilt, jealousy, and anger.
Author Parker breathes life into her characters. Readers will experience daily life in this time and place, where women’s roles were strictly prescribed. Moreover, deviations from the norm were the subject of gossip, ostracism, and worse. Then as now, some men were brutes; some women were victimized. I especially appreciated Parker’s insights into historic customs including midwifery practices, medicine, domestic life, and food preparation.
Readers of both Christian Fiction and Historical Fiction will find much to appreciate in this great story, well-told.
February 14, 2022
Biblical Fiction is a Genre that I don't normally read, but this book looked very interesting. The Struggle for Love: The Story of Leah by Marilyn T. Parker is a book based on the Story of Leah in the bible, with a fictional aspect.
I will admit that it took some time for me to get a grasp of the Story, even though I am familiar with the Biblical Account of Leah. I continued reading and I began to understand the Author's writing and began to enjoy the book. The author does a wonderful job at retelling the Story of Leah and the rejections and life difficulties that she went through. The Author writes that Leah stayed faithful to God and Abraham throughout all the Difficulties of life.
I now have a better appreciation for the Biblical Fiction genre through reading this book. The Author really told the Story of Leah in a way that the everyday reader understands the Biblical story and is engaging. I was hooked after the Second Chapter. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys Biblical Fiction. GREAT BOOK!
I will admit that it took some time for me to get a grasp of the Story, even though I am familiar with the Biblical Account of Leah. I continued reading and I began to understand the Author's writing and began to enjoy the book. The author does a wonderful job at retelling the Story of Leah and the rejections and life difficulties that she went through. The Author writes that Leah stayed faithful to God and Abraham throughout all the Difficulties of life.
I now have a better appreciation for the Biblical Fiction genre through reading this book. The Author really told the Story of Leah in a way that the everyday reader understands the Biblical story and is engaging. I was hooked after the Second Chapter. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys Biblical Fiction. GREAT BOOK!
February 25, 2022
This story, inspired by Jacob’s wife Leah from the book of Genesis, is highly fictionalized. The author took creative liberties in fleshing out this biblical tale and crafting full-fledged characters from her own imagination based on the characters found in Scripture, some in ways I didn’t care much for. But she does make you care deeply for the rejected, unloved Leah and her unfortunate plight, evoking emotion and touching the heart, even though the plot is familiar so you basically know what to expect. The setting and time period seem quite realistic and the characters alive on the page. I like the idea of making Leah a midwife, although I doubt that would have actually happened to the real woman. I also appreciate her stand for the one true God and rejection of idols. She says, “You must worship God for who He is, not for what He does, for if calamity strikes again, you will blame Him and turn from worshipping Him. . . . in all things we must believe God has a purpose.” These are words we can embrace today. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
March 8, 2022
This is a Biblical fiction book telling the account of Jacob and Rachel but from a different perspective. Here we have the story as told through the eyes of Leah.
I think we all kind of forget about Leah or simply think of her in terms of the “other” sister. But what was she really thinking and feeling. This author gives us what she thinks might have been going on and what she thinks Leah may have been feeling.
This is a unique perspective and it really got me thinking because all too often we just think poor Jacob or poor Rachel but really maybe we should be thinking poor Leah.
I enjoyed reading this book and hope that you give it a go. Even if Biblical fiction isn’t your normal book of choice I think you’ll enjoy this one.
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.
I think we all kind of forget about Leah or simply think of her in terms of the “other” sister. But what was she really thinking and feeling. This author gives us what she thinks might have been going on and what she thinks Leah may have been feeling.
This is a unique perspective and it really got me thinking because all too often we just think poor Jacob or poor Rachel but really maybe we should be thinking poor Leah.
I enjoyed reading this book and hope that you give it a go. Even if Biblical fiction isn’t your normal book of choice I think you’ll enjoy this one.
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.
February 24, 2022
The Struggle for Love is written by Marilyn T. Parker. This is the story of Leah. Leah is one of my favorite characters from the Bible. Leah is described in the Bible is not as pretty as her sister, Rachel. She was not as well liked by her father. Her story is written in this book as kind and compassionate. However, I love the way that the author portrayed where she deceived Jacob. Her father wanted her too. In all of this she remained faithful to God.
Rachel is written as very prideful. Which is how I imagined her from her story in the Bible. She knew she was prettier then her sister. She knew that Jacob loved her more. We see the sisters relationship go from close to fractured.
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.
Rachel is written as very prideful. Which is how I imagined her from her story in the Bible. She knew she was prettier then her sister. She knew that Jacob loved her more. We see the sisters relationship go from close to fractured.
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.
February 28, 2022
In the Bible, we read about Leah, Rachel, and Jacob. This work of Biblical fiction explores their lives in a way that drew me into the story. Told from various points of view, I found it relatively easy to keep up with the storyline.
The love and eventual jealousy that eventually developed between Leah and Rachel come through clearly. I found it fascinating to read about what life may have been like for the sisters and the women of their time.
I feel the author portrayed Leah in a way that showed faith, strength, courage I empathized with her struggles and her determination to serve as a midwife. If you appreciate stories based on Biblical people, you should definitely 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.
The love and eventual jealousy that eventually developed between Leah and Rachel come through clearly. I found it fascinating to read about what life may have been like for the sisters and the women of their time.
I feel the author portrayed Leah in a way that showed faith, strength, courage I empathized with her struggles and her determination to serve as a midwife. If you appreciate stories based on Biblical people, you should definitely 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.
February 25, 2022
I’ve always been intrigued by the story of Leah and wondered how she felt about what happened. I mean I understand it was how it was back then but people still had thoughts and feelings. This was an interesting look at her and how it could have all been.
The author really does a great job with maybe a mislabeled or misunderstood Biblical character that many just shove to the side. I liked how she had more of a personality and really I had never thought of her as much as her sister and husband but I am truly intrigued and it was thought provoking to say the least.
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.
The author really does a great job with maybe a mislabeled or misunderstood Biblical character that many just shove to the side. I liked how she had more of a personality and really I had never thought of her as much as her sister and husband but I am truly intrigued and it was thought provoking to say the least.
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.
November 3, 2021
I could hardly put this book down! I loved how it shined new light on this well-known Bible story. Leah’s character was amazing, with a depth of strength and faith, and the author portrays her with interests that move beyond capturing her husband’s love, depicting her as a midwife and healer.
The story refuses to gloss over the heartbreak and the flaws of these famous figures, at times bringing me to tears. Yet, as we struggle with Leah, there is love and hope and an eye on the future, a whisper of the place she will hold in Jesus’ lineage.
‘The Struggle for Love’ is one of my new favourites, and I can’t wait for you to read it too!
The story refuses to gloss over the heartbreak and the flaws of these famous figures, at times bringing me to tears. Yet, as we struggle with Leah, there is love and hope and an eye on the future, a whisper of the place she will hold in Jesus’ lineage.
‘The Struggle for Love’ is one of my new favourites, and I can’t wait for you to read it too!
December 3, 2021
My heart ached for Leah as I read this book. My focus when reading the Old Testament account of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel has always been on Rachel when it comes to the sisters. Seeing the events of their life with Jacob unfold through Leah’s eyes puts an entirely different slant on a well-known account. There is so much depth here, not only in the three main characters, but in secondary threads involving Leah’s father, brothers, sister-in-law, her children with Jacob and others who interact with them. A wonderful story that clearly shows the power of God and how, even when it may seem differently, we are never forgotten in His eyes.
November 4, 2021
I just finished reading the Struggle for Love by Marilyn T. Parker. Marilyn brings to life the struggle of not being the one chosen. She engages the mind in considering how all of the characters play into the story. The rival between two sisters over the love for one man goes much deeper than surface jealousy. The characters come to life in this well written novel. If you choose to read Leahs story, you will experience feelings of compassion, frustration and deception, reconciliation and love. Definitely one of the best novels based on biblical characters I have read. Looking forward to what Marilyn writes next!
November 5, 2021
Wow. The book grabbed me from the first page! Marilyn Parker is an incredible writer. She gave me a fresh perspective into Jacob and Leah's hearts and struggles which could very possibly have taken place in between what the Bible shares. One chapter near the end almost had me in tears.
The ONLY reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars were the intimate scenes. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think they are necessary. You can get the gist without entering the room, so to speak. There wasn't anything gross or overt, but I did skim parts to avoid it.
I do hope Marilyn continues writing - she definitely has a gift!
The ONLY reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars were the intimate scenes. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think they are necessary. You can get the gist without entering the room, so to speak. There wasn't anything gross or overt, but I did skim parts to avoid it.
I do hope Marilyn continues writing - she definitely has a gift!
February 26, 2022
This was an amazing read. It brought the story of Leah to life, and made me think of the whole story of Jacob and Leah in a new way. These types of books always grab my attention. I personally feel like sometimes when reading our Bibles we fail at remembering that these were real people who lived just like you and me. They had real struggles; they had faith in the same God. Books like this one help me remember and relate to the characters more. I feel like Parker did an amazing job at writing this book, it was very relatable and kept true to the Bible. (Obviously there are fictional details thrown in since we aren’t given every detail of their lives.) I would definitely recommend this book. The only thing I caution, is there are a few parts that are a bit more detailed than I’m used to when it comes to the more intimate details. Nothing terrible, but it was a little more than I’m used to, and I want to be completely transparent, but I still recommend this one!
**I received this book as part of the CelebrateLit blog team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
**I received this book as part of the CelebrateLit blog team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 9, 2022
Awesome Read!! What love got to do with it!!!
Leah & Rachel, Jealousy from the start but beauty of the soul is more important. From her perspective she was ugly but from Gods perspective she was far above them all. A nation came from her womb what a blessing above so many in the end she had her husband love and children and a blood line thru to Christ. Wonderful read made me cry ,laugh, sorrow , a breath of fresh air. Well done!!!
Leah & Rachel, Jealousy from the start but beauty of the soul is more important. From her perspective she was ugly but from Gods perspective she was far above them all. A nation came from her womb what a blessing above so many in the end she had her husband love and children and a blood line thru to Christ. Wonderful read made me cry ,laugh, sorrow , a breath of fresh air. Well done!!!
February 19, 2022
" The Struggle for Love" by Marilyn T. Parker is an excellent book about Leah and Rachel. The book made me feel more in touch with Leah! I too have feel unloved and unwanted but knew that God was watching over me. Reading books like this makes me want to explore the Bible more and undercover more of it's treasures. I definitely have more sympathy for both Rachel and Leah.
I was given a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
I was given a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
February 26, 2022
Interesting perspective
When you read about the Biblical characters sometimes you wonder about their feelings, emotions and the life get led that's not recorded. Marilyn T. Parker did a wonderful job with the get complicated story of Jacob, Leah, Rachel and the sons and daughter, the concubines and the history in the Bible! She really brought the characters to life, and kept to the Biblical account!
When you read about the Biblical characters sometimes you wonder about their feelings, emotions and the life get led that's not recorded. Marilyn T. Parker did a wonderful job with the get complicated story of Jacob, Leah, Rachel and the sons and daughter, the concubines and the history in the Bible! She really brought the characters to life, and kept to the Biblical account!
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