When my kids and grandkids get older, they still ask questions, but oftentimes with a sly smile and ready to debate. (See boy with arms folded. :lol:)

Or am I the only one with kids and grands who like a good argument?

I scan my inbox regularly. When I see something from a faithful reader, I open it first! Some are very encouraging, while others voice their concern. I’ve had a few express disappointment because, in their opinions, portrays Yahweh as approving of David’s sin. Here’s the Law in question–within its context.

The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.�� He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. Deuteronomy 17:16��18��(emphasis added)

Philip De Vere, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

These Laws of God were first spoken to Moses on Mt. Sinai after Yahweh rescued the Israelites from Egypt (see Exodus and Leviticus). The Book of Numbers is divided between pre-wandering and resumes the narrative when Israel is ready to enter Canaan. Deuteronomy is called “the second law�� because Moses recites the rules God gave him to the new generation of Israelites. This Law comes after forty years of wandering and before Israel enters the Promised Land.

When we read Deuteronomy 17:16-18 in context, the stuff about never returning to Egypt makes sense. The laws about a king, however, seemed useless when Israel heard them at that moment. They were twelve divided tribes and had no king! Yet Yahweh knew the days would come when Saul, David, Solomon, and all the kings of Israel (and also the nation of Judah, which came later) would need laws for their rulers.

My zealous readers hold as much regard for God’s Word as I do. So, when a reader sends me a fiery email about contradicting Scripture, how do I react? I THANK them, then do more research and check my heart! I’m grateful when someone emails me personally since my practice is NEVER to address a bad review on Amazon, ŷ������, Bookbub, or any public review site. I appreciate a reader’s willingness to ask questions, whether looking for approval or a debate. What they’ll receive from me is a heartfelt explanation.

Bottom line: I would never intentionally contradict Scripture.

The following points are a few foundational Bible Truths on which I built my first book in a fictional series about David, his wives, and soon-to-come sons:

Yes…and No. In the first NOVEL (fiction) of my four-book series, David and his two wives–Ahinoam and Abigail��believe Yahweh approves of their marriages. Let’s look at those three highlighted words:

Remember my adorable grandchild who, age eight and younger, brought me things they were pretty sure I’d approve of? Then, as they grew older, they showed me things they were pretty sure I wouldn’t approve of. Have you ever had someone come to you with a question? The answer is clearly laid out in Scripture, but they’ve justified their disobedience. Now, they want you to approve it.

��is fiction, but fiction imitates life. None of us knows why David broke the Law of Moses. Maybe if he’d obeyed Deuteronomy 17:18–written a copy of the whole Law and carried it around while running from Saul in the wilderness–he wouldn’t have married multiple wives. Doubtful. But did he somehow know the Laws of God? Perhaps while living in Saul’s home as a glorified shepherd boy, he did have access to the scrolls. Maybe he did read the sacred scrolls. Perhaps Prince Jonathan taught him. We simply don’t know, and that’s how I wrote . David, Ahinoam, and Abigail know a little about the Law but know more about the God who guides them.

All three main characters receive personal and repeated guidance from Yahweh. They are true believers. Seekers of the one, true God. Why wouldn’t they trust the approval they felt from Him when they prayed about the marriages? (See my website for more information about .)

I’ll answer with another question: Have you ever been absolutely sure of God’s will for you? Then, that possibility falls through. Another opportunity comes along. You take it. Then, you realize–the second option is better than the first.

Hold that thought and keep reading!

In , you’ll see the first seeds of doubt dawning in David, Ahinoam, and Abigail, wondering if God really approved their marriages or if they misunderstood His will for them. The scenario of justifying our own desires with God’s supposed approval is one of the overarching themes in the series.

All four books tell ONE STORY. Of course, each book is written as a stand-alone. However, each book in the series reveals a fuller understanding of David’s faith journey. Perhaps equally important, each installment provides a glimpse into the six women who became the (wobbly) foundation of King David’s household. Later, in 2 Samuel, we see their adult children do some terrible things. I believe it’s important to know about the mothers who bore them to better understand who David’s sons became.

When God created Adam in the perfect Garden, He gave Adam one restriction with one consequence.

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”��Genesis 2:16��17

In Genesis 3, that ol�� serpent came along and tempted Eve to become “like God.�� He also called God a liar. “You won’t surely die,�� he said. So, Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit and gave a nibble to Adam.

Did they die? Not right away.

So it was with David and his six wives. The consequences of breaking the Law in Deuteronomy 17:17 didn’t shake their household until their children were older. The consequences of our sins don’t always hit immediately. Sometimes, they’re years or even decades after we’ve disobeyed Yahweh’s commands.

If you believe Jesus’s death and resurrection paid for your sins, you don’t live under the burden of the Law. When we believe that Jesus lived a perfect life yet shed His blood to redeem us from the debt sin places on us, you and I can enter God’s presence as children of the Creator.

But because we live on this planet, where the “prince of the air�� reigns (our own version of that garden serpent), consequences of sin–yours and mine–still affect our world. Consequences can be a direct result of personal disobedience. Or, because God is a good Father, He sometimes disciplines those He loves (Prov. 3:12). Some consequences–cancer, people dying young, losing a job, betrayals, and divorce–simply fall on us because of the sin-sick world in which we live.

The bottom line: God is bigger than my writing or publishing. If you don’t approve of my explanation above, I hope you can give me grace. Maybe pray for the Lord to show me, as I’ve written about David and his wives realizing their errors throughout this series.��Lord, reveal to me Your Truth, and show me any selfish justifications I’ve allowed to deceive my heart.

I pray the same for anyone reading this post. If the Lord is knocking on your heart about a decision you’ve made or are about to make, stop. Search God’s Word and your heart. Seek the counsel of a godly friend. Pray and fast for God’s clear answer.

May the Truth of God settle into your heart with the peace of His Spirit who dwells in those who trust in Jesus as Savior. Selah.

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Carol and I shared the shock and prayed for each other as the wound of our friend’s passing slowly healed. As life continued, our prayers for each other did, too. The grieving ebbed, giving way to more chatty emails about life events. Though I’m sad our friend left us, I’m grateful for the life of friendship she gave Carol and me. We’ve become go-to prayer partners on writing, family, and life in general. And her meticulous-scientist brain is very helpful to my chaotic creative thoughts!

: a Roman-era adventure with dangerous choices, unlikely friendships, world views in conflict, and a love story you won’t forget.

When the future you dreamed of looks impossible, maybe God has a better one planned.

Driven from home because of her Christian faith, Neferu lands a position tutoring Jason, her childhood friend’s young son. Jason’s father despises him and banishes both the boy and Neferu to his ancestral estate, where Jason becomes the target of a family member who wants Jason’s inheritance for her own boys. How can a mere servant thwart her mistress before her young charge is killed? Knowing what she does, is her life at risk as well?

When Lusario’s new master, Caelus Martinus, decided they would train together to work as architects, Lusario’s once-bleak future seemed bright. But if they don’t get a commission within a month to design a building, both will lose the future they long for.

During their trip up the Nile to compete for a building contract, disaster strikes, forcing Neferu to rescue Lusario and Caelus from certain death. As the threat to Neferu and Jason grows, both men would do anything to protect her and the boy. Might death await them all if they fail?

��is another exciting addition to the stand-alone Light in the Empire series of Early Church Biblical fiction novels. The story is complete in itself, but if you’re curious about how the men’s friendship started three years earlier, you’ll enjoy Carol Ashby’s novella,��.

��🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 4 Smiles

Carol Ashby’s newest addition to the Roman-era series, Light in the Empire, is a beautiful testament to her research skills. Setting in first-century Egypt adds a whole new depth of fascinating detail to Ashby’s storytelling. Characters are well-developed, including the spoiled and entitled Roman boys and their wicked mother. The main characters are real and believable, the wild land of Egypt is also a character to be reckoned with, and the ancient culture in which those characters grapple with real life is expertly woven into their story without feeling like a college class.

As always, Carol Ashby includes the Gospel message in a very clear and believable way. River of Life is full of adventure, history, the reality of danger for Christ-followers in the first-century early church, plus a developing sweet romance. If you enjoyed or the �� you’ll enjoy and every book in the Light in the Empire series.

I mentioned in the intro that Carol was a scientist and brings that scientific brain into her writing. However, her novels never sound like a textbook! Though she, like me, has a passion to teach, her novels are all about telling a story. Carol’s website is where you’ll find the fascinating information (and downloads) for homeschool teachers and students. to find her website’s home page. You’ll find a “tip of the iceberg�� there but at least get an idea of where to begin searching for what will serve you best.

��to discover more details about ALL of Carol’s early-church biblical fiction. to learn more about her newest release, .

Because I’m an Amazon advertising affiliate, I earn a small commission when you make purchases using Amazon links from this site. I appreciate your support!

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You need not answer in the comments. Simply imagine how different your life is in 2025 than a princess’s in 1010 B.C. Then think how different that same princess’s life would be from the women in David’s camp.

The Bible doesn’t tell us the details about day-to-day survival, food prep, and hygiene for David, his wives, and his army. Nor does it include how different (or similar) the kings and other royalty/nobility lived from the common farmers or the poor.

So, when I begin research on a particular character who’s mentioned once or perhaps twice in God’s eternal record, I start with what it DOES say. Then I use other Scripture and a little common sense to build a plausible story around them.

Maakah is a rather popular name in the Bible and is used thirty times with various spellings: Maakah, Maacah, Maacath, and Maachach. In God’s Word, Maakah identifies people’s names and various locations in the Old Testament, depending on which Bible translation you choose. The woman in my August 2025 release, is only mentioned twice in Scripture, both times defined as the “mother of Absalom�� (2 Sam. 3:3; 1 Chron. 3:2). Just to make things a little more confusing, Absalom named his daughter, Maakah (2 Chron.11:20-21). Sheesh!

So, here are a few things we know of Maakah, King David’s Bride, from Scripture:

These are the Truths of Scripture that we KNOW.

Research into Jewish history, archaeology, and academic texts is valuable. I use the knowledge gained through those sources as blocks to build on the foundation of Scripture. I then use common sense to imagine how historical information can mold with the Truths in Scripture.

After all that synthesizing, I make educated fictional conclusions about who Maakah MIGHT HAVE been. In my August 2025 release, , y’all will meet the young princess. ( to check Baker Book House’s price.) Here’s the fictional character summary of where Maakah starts in the book:

She’s the sole heir of Geshur, and her only political value comes with a shrewd marriage. Unfortunately, she’s past her prime at twenty years old and has experienced two failed betrothals. Her parents have arranged a third betrothal, this one to the renegade warlord, David ben Jesse. “He’s not even royalty,�� she protests but discovers that he’s more noble than any king.

The part that’s bolded and underlined is the transformation of her (fictional) character’s journey. Isn’t that why we read a book? To see the main character’s journey?

Let’s do a little common sense practice on a part of Maakah’s life that’s not explored in NOBLE. If you have already read beyond the story of David’s reign in 2 Samuel 3, you may know that Maakah’s son, Absalom, tries to steal the throne from his father. (Boooo! 👿 ) How does that part of Scripture inform my fiction about Maakah’s life when she first interacts with David? How do her parents influence her as a young princess before and after she meets David?

Though it isn’t always true, children often grow up like their parents raised them. Was Absalom’s arrogance due to his mother’s princess days in Geshur? Was Absalom raised differently among King David’s sons even though he was the third-born? According to the Bible, after his coup failed Absalom fled.

Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned many days for his son.��After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. 2 Sam. 13:37��38

Why did Absalom choose Geshur? I find no definitive answer in Scripture and none in my historical search. My fictional guess is based on other Scripture (the Bible says Absalom killed his first-born brother to avenge his sister’s rape; 2 Sam. 13). I believe Absalom KNEW he’d be welcomed into his grandpa’s palace. How would he know that? Maybe Princess Maakah kept in touch with her parents all the years she was married to David.

We know David was “ruddy and handsome,�� and I get the impression from other Scriptures that he really liked pretty women (to his detriment). No doubt, Princess Maakah was also lovely. I describe her in the book as having long, dark, ringlets of hair that grew quickly and needed to be cut often because of its weight. Why? Because of this Scripture describing Absalom:

In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard. 2 Samuel 14:25��26

In the coming months, I’ll share lots more about �� Bk #2 in the KDB series. The first book, is available now and tells about the first two of King David’s Brides mentioned in 2 Samuel 3:1-2.

Did you enjoy this post? Never miss out on future posts . When you subscribe as one of my Newsies, you’ll receive a free novella, exclusive monthly giveaways, and book news straight to your inbox!��

My March 3rd newsletter will include Truth, Fact, and Fiction from (ITSOJ). Click on any of the titles above to see each book’s individual page on my website where you’ll find study questions, sneak peeks, and other free stuff.

to read Truth, Fact, & Fiction in Treasures of His Love �� Part 1 ( (LATA).

to read Truth, Fact, & Fiction in Treasures of His Love �� Part 2 ( (LSS).

The Bible tells us exactly the kings�� reigns during which Hosea prophesied.

The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel. Hosea 1:1 (emphasis added)

Unfortunately, the timeframes of all five of those kings are difficult to pinpoint with 100% accuracy. That means we must rely on historical and scholarly opinions that I loosely label as “facts�� (below).

Hosea married a prostitute named, Gomer.

Gomer’s unfaithfulness in their marriage was the way Hosea was to show Yahweh’s emotional devastation when Israel chose other gods instead of His love for them.

When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.�� Hosea 1:2

I was on my face, grieving for Hosea–and sometimes for Gomer–so many times while writing this book.

Gerda Arendt, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Birth control may have been as common in the ancient world as it is today.

I learned waaaaay more than I wanted to know about ancient contraceptives, miscarriages, and abortions while researching this book.

According to an article I discovered on JSTOR, giant fennel��was the best but most expensive herb to prevent or terminate a pregnancy.

Wild Carrot (or more commonly known as “Queen Anne’s Lace,�� (pictured) was the most affordable herb–thus, most used to both prevent and terminate pregnancy. They used the wild seeds in drinking water beforehand or chewing the dry seeds immediately after.

Other plants used as contraceptives/abortives: pennyroyal, artemisia, myrrh, rue, willow, and date palm. ()

Kings, Prophets, and a Divided Israel–Whew!

As I mentioned in the Truth section above, the Hosea testifies to his prophetic ministry during the reign of several kings. Unfortunately, research and scholars vary widely on the timeline of each king’s reign and give only a few mentions of which prophets were active during a particular king’s rule.

With so many differing expert opinions, I needed to stick with one source (NIV Study Bible) and ignore the rest. Otherwise, I’d still be researching this book! I always gain new insights for the story when I do timelines. With this one, I realized Jonah would have still been alive when Hosea and Gomer were children! .

Gotta Love Those Figs!

I also loved researching fig growing ( to see a shortened version of that research). There were so many spiritually applicable concepts with fig-growing truths. Here’s one of the many videos I’ve appreciated. See if any spiritual truths jump out at you!

Once again, I was able to use those truths in my 2024 release: Bk #1 of King David’s Brides, .

Like , doesn’t have a lot of historical or biblical narrative to gather a chronological story. I needed to use clues from the prophetic text and poetry to glean ideas with which to write a fictional account about how Hosea and Gomer’s MIGHT HAVE marriage progressed with each year and with each child named in the beginning of the book.

So [Hosea] married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Hosea 1:3 (emphasis added)

It seems clear that the first child was Hosea’s, but what about the other two?

Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, ��Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved��), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them”…After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Then the Lord said, ��Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people��), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.�� Hosea 1:6, 8 (emphasis added)

Gomer “conceived again,�� but it doesn’t say Hosea had anything to do with it. If she was unfaithful (as Scripture says she was in her illustrated by Israel’s adultery), Hosea and Gomer likely didn’t know whose child she was. The third child–a son–seems to definitely not be Hosea’s child, from the name God gave Hosea:��not my people. It’s unbearably sad that a little boy would be marked by such a label, isn’t it? But read the end of the book–either one, or the Book of Hosea. There’s always redemption when Yahweh guides the pen!

If you’d like to know what’s Truth, Fact, and Fiction in the final novel of the Treasures of His Love series, I hope you’ll subscribe to my monthly updates and become one of my cherished Newsies! for a peek at my January Newsie update (usually shared EXCLUSIVELY with my Newsie friends).

If you , be sure to download the FREE NOVELLA, I Will Praise Him, about Abigail’s childhood and those crucial ten days she remained at Nabal’s bedside while she awaited his death–and David’s marriage proposal. You can subscribe to my blog at that same link, which will notify you with an email of my monthly blog posts.

Please leave a comment below if you have questions–or email me directly at [email protected]. Happy reading!

Didn’t Jesus do that with His parables?

I started digging into stacks and stacks of research books at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) in the early 2000’s. To write fiction about God’s Truth, I needed to understand what scholars taught about the Bible. To write believable fiction, I needed solid, historical facts about biblical culture, archaeology, and rabbinic tradition. While my husband pursued his PhD in education, I visited the TEDS library.

My husband’s gift of access to the library became a second gift from the One who had proven His love through Solomon’s best Song. Through the years, the LORD had opened doors to other university and scholar-level libraries (check for “community access�� to university libraries in your area). On this research journey, I’ve learned from trial and error, patient research librarians, and through hours/days/weeks/years of God-driven fascination.

In 2008, I attended my first fiction intensive course at Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference. was my teacher and will forever be revered as my publishing mama. She saw the ugliest of my first efforts at fiction and lovingly covered that first draft with red ink AND encouragement.

At the same conference, a very brave editor from Revell (A Division of Baker Publishing Group) was looking for biblical fiction. No other trad house was publishing “bibfic�� at the time. Guess how many wannabe authors brought a bibfic proposal to that conference. One–me. TRUTH. She looked at her only option and said, “You’ve definitely got some craft issues, but I think you can tell a story.�� JESUS alone provided a publishing open door for me. I still couldn’t write a Facebook post without Him!

Gayle helped me clean up some craft issues, and Revell offered me a two-book contract. Why two books? We’ve established it wasn’t my stellar writing. Remember that brave editor? Vicki–who had a PhD in theology (thank You, Jesus!)–said Revell needed to wait to release my Song of Songs novel until 2012. So, they wanted me to write a second novel to release first–in 2011–and they allowed me to choose Job and Dinah as the topic. The rest, as they say, is history. 😉

Fact: The Treasures of His Love series wasn’t a series until Christianbook.com put all four books on sale in a bundle! They coined the name, “Treasures of His Love,�� and my publisher loved it! You know the first two novels in the series as ��(LATA) and ��(LSS). The third novel, (LBV), came in 2013, and the fourth and final, (ITSOJ), launched in 2014.

Fact: I shared in a social media post about our cover process on LATA (see FB post and IG post ). After mediocre retailer feedback on the first cover, Revell totally changed the cover to the stunning bi-panel for my award-winning debut novel. However, by the third bi-panel cover in the series, I think the design team got tired of the same ol�� thing.

For a new look on book #4 they chose a beautiful young woman with Yahweh’s Temple as background. Though understated and simple, the ITSOJ cover has a special place in my heart. Why? Because the model’s father emailed me personally to thank me for choosing his daughter for my cover! How fun is that? I explained that I had nothing to do with choosing the model, but he was still very excited. I hope they read the book! 😉

Love Amid the Ashes will always be special as my debut novel but also because it helped me work through the emotions of my own . As I researched the names of Job’s friends–Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad–I found Eliphaz mentioned in Genesis as Esau’s firstborn son. Some scholars believe the ancient variations of Zophar (Zepho �� Gen. 36:11, 15) and Job (Jobab �� Gen. 36:33-34) also gave biblical proof that they, too, were Esau’s descendants.

These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath. The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz…The sons of Reuel:��Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath…When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.��Genesis 36:10��11, 13; 33 (emphasis added)

Since the Book of Job was contemporary with the time of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), it was likely written during the same period as the Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). Some thought Moses might also have written the book of Job. We can’t consider it biblical Truth but it’s as close to agreeing on historical “fact�� as scholars get.

I took many historical insights for the story of LATA out of�� (ToJob). The ToJob is a Jewish historical writing thought to have been penned between the 1st-century BC and AD. It’s included in the Pseudepigrapha, which is a compilation of Jewish historical writings. Both texts have been debated for centuries about their authenticity, which is why they’re relegated to history and not included in Scripture.

While doing research on a Book of the Bible dating back to the 19th-20th century BC, it’s very difficult to find definitive facts on record. Most historical data at that time was maintained through the oral tradition, including word-for-word details passed down through song. If you want to know how accurate they might have been, ask your grandmother to sing, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,�� or “Happy Birthday.�� Songs are easily memorized and last for generations!

However, the ToJob was very helpful to find clues to help me understand what Job’s culture, household, and surrounding political environment might have been like. Though I looked only to Job’s Book in the Bible for Truth, I found the one thing I MOST wanted to discover in ToJob. The name of Job’s wife–Sitis! According to history, she was an Ishmaelite and might have been related to Bildad–Job’s third friend.

If you’d like to delve deeper, for yourself!

The hoopoe bird was, of course, a fictional element added during my final critique session with my two writing partners. They wanted to see a symbol in the story and helped me create deeper meaning with that cute little hoopoe bird. I’m so grateful for their insight.

Nogalah, though completely fictional, became my favorite character. She started as only Dinah’s maid but sort of stole the show with her naivety and simple faith. Aban was similar, beginning as the villain’s henchman but wiggling his way into my heart as the story progressed.

The Truth Through Story:

Before Job’s testing began:

He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. Job 1:2��3��(emphasis added)

After Job was tested and healed, God returned to him in double portion all that had been taken from him:

The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters.��Job 42:12��13��(emphasis added)

The Bible doesn’t tell us if his original wife gave him ten more children. Some scholars believe Job married a second wife. Just as all his livestock was doubled after Job passed the test, so were his children. He only needed ten MORE children since the first ten were awaiting him at Abraham’s side. Wouldn’t the same reasoning make sense for a wife. The first wife likely wouldn’t bear children into old age. Why wouldn’t the LORD bless him with a second wife who gave him those ten additional children that Job enjoyed for the next 140 years God gave him?

This post is already quite long, so I’ll finish the Truth, Fact, & Fiction about the other three Treasures of His Love series in my February 10th newsletter update. if you’d like to receive the Truth, Fact, and Fiction, about , , and����directly in your inbox. When you subscribe, you’ll also receive a free novella, and you can unsubscribe any time. Becoming one of my “newsies�� ensures you’ll get all the updates on current writing projects, exclusive giveaways, and more insights into my personal and writing adventures. Blessings on your week!

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Why do a “Most Anticipated�� post at all? It’s my devious plan to help readers deepen their love for the Biblical fiction and their knowledge of the Bible!

You’ll find many of the Biblical fiction titles listed below on ŷ�������� Most Anticipated Christian Fiction 2025 List. PLEASE CLICK HERE to VOTE. Let’s put Biblical fiction at the top of Goodread’s Most Anticipated 2025 Fiction!

We’re doing a SEPARATE poll for the 8 Most Anticipated Biblical Fiction of 2025! What’s the difference between Christian fiction and Biblical fiction?

My assistant and I have asked publishers and established indie authors to shake the social-media bushes to discover who might have a viable publication sometime in 2025. Inevitably, I’m sure we’ve missed some.

If your 2025 new release has been overlooked, please forgive me. Though I can’t add your title to the poll at this stage (after this post is live), please contact me in��November 2025 if you have a 2026 title to release. Thanks, in advance, for your grace and understanding.

You may not recognize some names listed below. Hooray! There’s nothing like finding a NEW favorite author.

It’s important to do a little research before you vote. The books already listed on Amazon have clickable links (my aff links for which I receive a very small percentage of each sale). I’ve also provided a clickable link with each author’s name connecting to their website or Amazon author page.

Get to know the amazing authors who have studied and researched God’s Word to bring you details you might not have known before.

Speaking of research and details, I haven’t read all the books listed, so I can’t vouch for the authenticity or theological leanings within the titles below. Do your research, and let the Holy Spirit help you discern which books are right for you in 2025!

When you’ve decided which of these FABULOUS releases are the top 8 Biblical Fiction novels for your 2025 TBR list, to make your vote count!

We’ll tabulate YOUR CHOICES with the others and publish the results in my regularly scheduled January newsletter (). We’ll also publish results right here in January’s blog post! So, be sure to bookmark this page!

January 21, 2025

by

Joanna’s wealthy family aspires to Herod’s inner circle, but when her father’s esteemed position in the Sepphoris Sanhedrin is threatened, her family harbors a dark secret. Entangled in the complexities of aristocratic life and an impending arranged marriage, Joanna is caught between her own desires and maintaining appearances. When tragedy strikes, Joanna grapples with a new future that challenges her sense of duty and hope for love.

Years later, Joanna is forever changed when a rabbi comes preaching a new kingdom and healing the sick. As she contributes to his ministry, Joanna treads a perilous path between a court that mocks Jesus of Nazareth, disciples who view her with suspicion, and a husband who guards his own secrets. With pressure increasing on all sides, Joanna must decide where her allegiances lie and protect her relationship to the Christ, whose message is as compelling as it is dangerous.

January date TBD

Bronze and Brokenness �� Midianites (Book #2 in Light of the Nations) by (not yet on Amazon)

See description of

February 11, 2025

by

Once she denied everything she believed in. Now she’d give anything to choose differently. But in the shadow of the Roman Empire’s persecution and the shame of her past, she fears that what she wants most will be forever out of reach.

Eastern Roman Empire, AD 310.

In the shadow of Emperor Diocletian’s anti-Christian edicts, Demitria makes a meager living harvesting coral and pearls for a merchant who turns a blind eye to her faith. By night, Demi goes upriver with her brother, Theseus, to obtain provisions for fellow believers in the port city of Myra. While willing to risk her own life to ensure others are safe and fed, Demi lives with a desperate fear for those she loves and carries secret shame over her greatest failure. When Theseus is injured in a diving accident, all seems lost, until a stranger named Nikolas appears on the beach and offers help.

Arriving in a sinking boat, Nikolas is burdened by guilt over his older brother’s tragic death. Though the wealth he inherited from a prosperous shipping business now rests at the bottom of the sea, as the new pastor in Myra, he is determined to recover it and use it for good. As the violence against Christians increases, Demi helps Nikolas retrieve his lost fortune and distribute it to those in dire need.

Despite wondering if she can ever be worthy, Demi is drawn to Nikolas and longs to trust in his belief that freedom can be found in forgiveness. Then one terrifying night, everything changes as the Roman Empire’s fury rains down. Demi has no other choice but to decide if she has the courage to do what she once failed to . . . and if the faith she calls her own is sure enough to carry her.

February 18, 2025

by

From her earliest days, Mary Magdalene has known fear and loss at a level so deep she has no hope of surfacing. Bound to the demons within her and incapable of freeing herself, Mary walks in shadow–until one day she encounters a healer, a rabbi who is radically different from the religious leaders and family members who could do nothing to help her. One touch from Jesus and Mary is never the same.

Now Mary’s one mission in life is to serve the one who freed her. She is determined never to leave his side, fearing that if she loses him, she’ll return to her former bondage. Even when the unthinkable happens and her savior is arrested and sentenced to execution, she cannot abandon him as so many others did. Let her be buried in his tomb, for she cannot live without him.

On the brink of despair, Mary is about to discover that while the life of faith is never perfect, perfect love casts out fear–and Jesus makes all things new.

February date TBD

The Ephesus Pages: Mysteries in Ephesus (Part II) by

to see info on The Ephesus Pages : A Kedoshim Limited Series (Part I: A Journey Begins).

Among the Giants by (Available through series; not on Amazon)

Achsah has heard her father’s stories of entering the promised land only to be forced to turn back. For many years, the Israelites have battled the giants—first under Joshua’s leadership, then that of her father, Caleb. He has his warriors�� respect, yet they refuse to advance and end the fight against the last tribe of giants. Especially when Joshua’s death threatens their confidence. Achsah’s faith, however, remains steadfast that Yahweh will provide a victory. To inspire his warriors, Caleb promises Achsah’s hand to the man who conquers Kiriath-sepher. Achsah doubts that anyone would want a strong-willed woman like herself. But to her great surprise, Othniel—a quiet man favored by her father—rises to the challenge. He carries a secret devotion to the fierce Achsah and hopes to win her heart. Can she return his love and encourage his leadership as the first judge of Israel? And together, can they return the Israelites to the One True God before disaster strikes again.

March 4, 2025

by

In Nero’s Rome, Calandra helps her father, a renowned sculptor, complete the most significant commission of his illustrious career. But then a catastrophic fire nearly destroys the imperial city, leaving Calandra reliant on a group of Christians–unusual individuals unlike any she has encountered before. Intrigued by their worship of the Son of an invisible God, Calandra grapples with her mistrust, only to find herself indebted to these believers as they help her rebuild her shattered world.

When Emperor Nero begins constructing his opulent Golden House, the people of Rome grow resentful, suspecting him of starting the fire in order to clear the land for his immense palace. Needing a scapegoat, Nero points at those who follow the Jewish Messiah, forcing Calandra to make an impossible choice between right and wrong, friends and family, love and death.

March 11, 2025

by ��

From the beloved author of Love Comes Softly comes an inspiring work of historical fiction about a young Jewish woman, plucked from obscurity and thrust on a perilous journey, only to witness the world’s most life-changing story.

Like most young women in ancient Israel, Mary has little control over her own destiny. When Enos, a rising Pharisee, sees her one day in the market―the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on―and determines to make her his wife, Mary’s fate is quickly sealed. His exorbitant bride price is the only hope her parents have of escaping abject poverty, but surely the fact that such a devout and esteemed man has chosen a girl of her station must be a sign of blessing.

When Mary enters training to become the proper Pharisee’s wife, it is as though she has been abandoned in a foreign land, where one misstep could cost her greatly. That feeling only deepens when she discovers Enos is all she feared he might be, treating her merely as a prize he has won―and worse. Then rumors of a miracle-working, traveling Prophet change everything, and Mary and Enos are swept up in events that will challenge all they hold dear and forever alter both their futures.

April 10, 2025

by

Adah lives trapped between the life she longed for and the life she chose. She’s failed to produce an heir for her once devoted husband. As Lamech becomes increasingly unpredictable and domineering, Adah seeks refuge in legends about the mysterious Wanderer.

Then Lamech takes another wife. Adah flees to her family home, where freedom causes hope to rise once more. But her body hides a secret that will propel her back into danger. Can a legend come to her rescue? Or does someone else hold the power to help her dwell in safety?

The Wanderer’s Legacy is the third book in The Wanderer Series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. It explores the tale of Lamech and his two wives from Genesis 4 in Biblical Historical Fiction. If you love fresh spins on ancient Bible stories and books that dive deep into the human condition, then you’ll love The Wanderer’s Legacy.

The Lion of Corinth by

The Struggle for Hope: The Story of Gomer by

May 5, 2025

Mantle��(Book III in ) by

Reflected against the blaze of fiery chariots and the whirlwind of heaven’s call, young Jaedon must confront the injustice of his past and the uncertainty of his future. Mantle, the third book in the Whispers on the Wind series, follows the intertwining journeys of Elisha, Jaedon, and the ambitious Gehazi as they confront prophecy, love, and the divine hand of Yahweh.

May 16, 2025

(Servant Siblings Book 7) by

From quiet obedience to bold defiance, Salome’s stand places her fate in jeopardy.

Salome bat Joseph struggled to make herself heard as the youngest of eight siblings, often choosing silence over conflict. Raised fatherless and cared for by her oldest brother Jesus, His strong, nurturing presence was the only fatherly influence she had known.

After Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah, Salome eagerly followed Him, inspired by His strength and the transformative power He represented. Under His guidance, she learns to use her voice to advocate for change and to speak the truth with boldness.

When the Pharisees send one of their own to hunt down followers of the Way, Salome bravely speaks out against them. Her defiance leads to her imprisonment by the Romans, leaving her fate uncertain. Will Salome’s words secure her freedom, or will they seal her doom?

Explore the passion, conflict, and sacrifice of the early church in Salome, Book 7 of the Servant Siblings series.

May 25, 2025

by

One Story Still Untold. Four Unlikely Authors. Together Their Message will Speak to Many.The city of Rome was a vast and beautiful place�� on the surface. That is until fire reigned down and destroyed it. Deep in a world hidden from those who would strike against them, four unlikely men work together to continue spreading that truth. This truth was spoken by those who were cut down because of this calling and the message is clear, the hope of inheritance is Christ living within each of us.In the echoes of persecution, suffering, and even death, this message still reigns supreme, but will the people listen? Only time will tell, but before anything, these four men must come together and unite a church separated by fear and suffering. Each one has endured their own journey for such a time as this, and have been given a different message they were each called to teach.Silas, Luke, John-Mark, and Timothy all knew Peter and Paul and the message God spoke through them. Will they complete this mysterious letter before they are all killed just like those who came before them? This story is the epic journey these four brothers in Christ experienced as God prepared their hearts to write that Letter and how HE led them through it. Are you ready for the Journey?

June 3, 2025

by

He breached her city, chained her king. Neither her faith nor her heart is as easily conquered.

Jerusalem 587 BC

Liora bat Chesed, once a noblewoman of Jerusalem, now finds herself bound to Babylon’s highest general—the man who captured Jerusalem while calling her the light of his soul. Liora’s future seems sealed, but one vow holds him at bay: a rash promise he made to Yahweh.

General Nebuzaradan is a man feared by all, but even the Butcher of Babylon must bend his iron will to the God of Judah. While his soldiers strip the Temple and systematically burn the city, he chafes under the shackles of his vow. Never one to concede defeat, Nebuzaradan seeks counsel from the prophet Jeremiah, desperate for a way to bypass his sworn oath. Then a Babylonian prince arrives and threatens Nebuzaradan’s authority over the city…and Liora.

Expected to despise the man bringing her city to ruins, Liora feels the lash of judgment from those around her. She can’t bring herself to hate him, but neither will she let him tear down the walls of her heart. While a Babylonian prince wants her as an interpreter and a rebel from the hills wants her as a spy, Nebuzaradan simply wants her. As Jerusalem burns, Liora is thrust into the dangerous political games between prince and general, rebel and the people of her heart.

In a world of destruction and intrigue, Liora is once again a tool in the hands of power-hungry men—only her untamable faith in Yahweh will guide her through.

June date TBD

And They Were Persuaded by and (not yet on Amazon)

In the bustling cities and remote corners of the ancient world, four extraordinary individuals join the Apostle Paul to spread the transformative message of Jesus Christ and bring the gospel to life, facing relentless persecution and trials that test their faith and courage.

Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement, stands unwaveringly by Paul’s side, offering comfort and strength in times of adversity. Timothy, a young and eager disciple, learns to navigate the complexities of leadership as he shoulders the weight of Paul’s teachings.

Damaris, a seeker of truth, finds herself drawn to the message of hope and redemption. Her journey from skepticism to faith mirrors the challenges faced by those grappling with the radical message of Jesus. Epaphroditus, a steadfast companion, exemplifies selfless dedication as he endures hardships for the sake of the gospel.

Against the backdrop of a world hostile to their beliefs, the characters confront persecution, political intrigue, and personal trials. The novel explores the bonds forged in the crucible of adversity and the enduring power of faith in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Their stories paint a vivid portrait of the challenges faced by the early Christian community, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of faith.

July date TBD

by ��(Available through series; not on Amazon)

Dobah’s lonely widowed life changes the night her cousin Yosef arrives with his wife, Miryam, and their newborn son, Yeshua. The baby was born under a brilliant light in the sky that could only have come from Adonai. With the arrival of the Magi from the East looking for the King of the Jews, Dobah knows her cousin’s son is blessed.

But along with the Magi comes warning of danger on the horizon. When Yosef receives a message from Adonai, he knows he and his family must flee. He advises Dobah that it would be best for her and her son, Levi, to leave as well. But they won’t be alone. Menes, the Magi’s guide, pledges to help and protect Dobah and Levi. Together, they will undertake a long journey of faith, love, and the promise of a better future for all mankind.

August 5, 2025

by

Gavriel, a soldier in the elite company of Yonatan–son of King Saul–dreams of forging his destiny through crafting weapons with his own hands. Despite earning his place among Israel’s finest, he is haunted by a dark past that no distraction can dispel. When his reckless behavior forces Yonatan to present him with an ultimatum, Gavriel is sent on a mission to persuade a distant tribe to sever their ties with the Amalekites.

Zahava, a gifted goldsmith hidden behind her father’s legacy, lives in the shadows due to her physical affliction. Her talent, unmatched and unrecognized, is a closely guarded secret within her family. Disheartened by a love that seems unattainable, she resigns herself to a life of obscurity. However, when Gavriel arrives in her village, they’re tangled together in a way no one could have imagined. As they navigate through unforeseen dangers and enemy threats, Gavriel must confront his past and either bend his knee to the One True King or lose his love forever.

Set against the backdrop of ancient Israel, bestselling author Connilyn Cossette breathes life into the Old Testament era with this exhilarating tale of redemption, courage, and sacrifice.

August 19, 2025

�� by

Princess Maakah of Geshur is duty-bound to create a political alliance for her father through marriage. The cancellation by King Saul of her betrothal to his fourth-born son compels Maakah’s father to arrange an unexpected marriage to the rebel David ben Jesse, a shepherd-warrior anointed years earlier as Israel’s future king. Taken aback by stories of David’s fierceness and lowly birth, Maakah considers the match a degrading fate but obeys her father’s wishes out of duty as her nation’s only heir.

While alliances shift and enemies loom, Maakah navigates the delicate balance between her noble heritage and her growing respect for David’s faith and leadership. When David and his army move to Hebron, and he becomes king over Judah, Maakah faces prejudice and suspicion from David’s home tribe. In a land torn by war and divided loyalties, she must choose where her allegiance lies: with her people and heritage, or with an extraordinary destiny alongside David that beckons her from within.

Through Maakah’s lens of nobility, courage, and love, beloved author Mesu Andrews skillfully presents a biblical tale of King David and his royal household.

September Date TBD

Survival Secrets (Book II of The Magi’s Encounters) by

Akilah and the Wise Men’s caravan flight from Herod’s wrath pushes them into the Wilderness of Paran, where the only route to safety is to reach Egypt. At odds with the harsh terrain, hobbled by the capture of one of their own, each Wise Man’s faith is tested severely in different ways. At the same time, Akilah’s cousin, Farzaneh, is on a spiritual journey of her own. Traveling to Arbela to settle her husband’s final affairs, her greater goal is to learn why he became a God-fearer so in life after helping the Jews in Arbela rebuild the area’s water systems. Akilah, his father, and Farzaneh need to learn the power of forgiveness—while power plays in Herod’s now-divided kingdom and Persia’s rise of a new king, a half-breed Roman, will change the course of everyone’s destiny forever—as will another encounter with Yeshua.

October Date TBD

Leading Philip by

In the raging sea of fear, Epaphroditus finds his faith.

In the bustling colony of Philippi, Epaphroditus, the son of a traveling merchant, finds himself ensnared in the threads of destiny. Blessed with wealth and privilege, his life is shadowed by a prophecy whispered by one of Aphrodite’s priestesses: a grim fate aboard a ship awaits him.

Living vicariously through his best friend Luke, a compassionate physician traversing the seas to aid the afflicted, Epaphroditus grapples with the threat of mortality and the uncertainty of his future. When a bold traveler named Paul arrives, bearing tales of a humble craftsman from Nazareth named Jesus, Epaphroditus finds himself drawn into a journey of faith.

Join Epaphroditus on his extraordinary odyssey, where he discovers the transformative power of grace and the strength to battle fear with faith. Dare to embark on a journey that will stir your soul and ignite your faith as the letter of Philippians comes to life.

Truth and the Way–Roman Britain (working title ) �� next in the series by

November Date TBD

series by �� (Title Reveal late Dec. ��24)

In ancient Persia, a Jewish potter must risk everything to help the queen . . . and find her second chance at love.

Sazana’s master, Lord Haman, does not know Sazana is really Shoshana—one of the Jews he loathes so much. When tragedy strikes, Sazana must join forces with Jadon, the man who broke her heart five years earlier, and find the lost artifact that will help Queen Esther protect the lives of the Jewish people.

Keep in mind: those releases planned for later in the year don’t have as much info to share yet. For those, you’ll simply need to consider the author, their website, and the author’s past books to decide if their 2025 release intrigues you enough to become one of your top 8 choices!

After you’ve determined your 8 Most Anticipated Biblical Fiction Titles for 2025, ! You’ll be taken to a Google form. You’ll be able to vote only once and for only 8 titles.

Unbeknownst to me, my friend and VA (Amanda) gave Jenelle my character description notes on Asenath, and Jenelle went to work. Amanda’s gift–through Jenelle’s talent–became the most unforgettable gift I’ve ever received. Their rendition of Asenath was much closer to how I imagined her than the woman portrayed on the cover. Don’t you LOVE Jenelle’s portrait?

Besides Jenelle’s artistic talent, she’s also a gifted author. She’s written biblical fiction for Guideposts, and I’m currently reading her historical novel that releases from Tyndale, July 2025. This woman can WRITE!

But her passion and heart for readers goes much deeper than writing for adults. In a recent email, Jenelle shared a bit of her background and what drives her current passion:

I used to work in the school systems as a doctor of audiology. My speciality was with children. Reading played a tremendous role. I worked alongside psychologists��to provide testing to rule out ADHD or autism. My side was central auditory��processing disorders and auditory neuropathy. I also worked with the deaf community. Reading skills became imperative for my clients. Ironic, considering audiology focuses on hearing! I provided remedial reading for many children. I’ve also homeschooled three girls from preK to grade ten. We love your novels!

I often shy away from sharing my books with teens and tell parents they should read the book themselves and then decide if their child is ready for the themes in my stories. The Bible is full of violence, infidelity, and other hard situations to illustrate how real people dealt with real life and then found hope in God’s steadfast love and forgiveness. Jenelle added these thoughts to our email volley:

Your books are quite a bit softer than the YA authors [popular in the secular market]. But you do take on the perspectives of young women who often buck their systems–albeit in a Godly way. I think you fit amazingly well with the YA genres.

I asked Jenelle to write a post specifically for my readers (and me) to help us reach the children in our lives with the gift of words. Most kids these days would rather play a video game or read a graphic novel (similar to a 200 page comic book) than sit down with a book full of words.

Jenelle responded with what she titled, ��5 Reasons to Incorporate Christian Fiction into Your Homeschool and Help Your Kids Fall in Love with Reading Again,�� (which was too long for my website title to handle). 😆

I hope you’ll take the time to read, process, and follow an expert’s advice–and perhaps give a child in your life the gift of words this Christmas��

When I decided to homeschool, I knew I wanted fiction to be a part of my curriculum. Some of my favorite memories as a preteen included multiple trips to the Regina Christian bookstore, where I paid for Gilbert Morris novels with an assortment of quarters and Canadian dollar bills. I was only twelve years old, but I lived for those trips. Books proved to be a lifeline during my turbulent teen years. The more I read, the more I fell in love with literature and writing. When I graduated from high school, I donated my vast collection of novels to the Indian Head High School library. I like to think a book or two survived.

Fast forward past a doctorate degree in Audiology, and now, as a pastor’s wife with a heart for book clubs, women’s and children’s ministry, and writing, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on just how important Christian fiction was during those formative years.

As homeschool moms, we often find ourselves searching for books that not only keep our kids entertained but also help them grow in character, empathy, and understanding of the world around them. In today’s age, where reading scores are declining across the nation, it’s become increasingly important to find stories that engage kids on a deeper level—stories that challenge them to think, grow, and feel.

When we think of Christian fiction, it’s not just about reading Bible stories. It’s about engaging with books that shape character, teach life lessons, and spark important discussions.

Whether you send your children to public or private school, or homeschool, here are five reasons why incorporating Christian fiction into your children’s reading list can help develop moral character, build reading skills, and get your kids excited about reading again!

Christian fiction is about more than just entertaining stories; it’s about teaching solid values like compassion, honesty, and perseverance. Whether it’s a story of redemption or a character learning the power of forgiveness, Christian fiction introduces dilemmas that help children understand the importance of good choices. For example, when a character faces a decision between doing what’s easy or doing what’s right, kids can follow along and reflect on how they might handle the situation themselves.

The best books help kids understand others’��perspectives. Christian fiction does this beautifully by telling stories from a variety of viewpoints, whether it’s a character who is struggling with loss, a person who is facing judgment, or someone learning how to forgive. These books challenge kids to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, growing their ability to empathize and connect with people who are different from themselves.

Empathy is a skill that’s crucial both in school and in life. Christian fiction makes it fun and relatable as kids experience the highs and lows of the characters�� journeys. How many times have we cried over a character like Anne of Green Gables when she loses her beloved Matthew—the first father figure to show her love?

In today’s world, where reading scores in the U.S. have seen a significant drop in recent years, fostering a love of reading has never been more important. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 37% of U.S. students are reading at or above the proficient level. But when you provide your kids with well-researched books and stories that connect with their hearts and minds, reading becomes something they want to do, not something they have to do.

Christian fiction can re-ignite a love of reading because it’s engaging—it draws readers in with exciting plots, dynamic characters, and emotional stakes. From adventurous historical fiction to contemporary coming-of-age tales, these stories don’t just teach—they captivate. Whether you’re introducing your younger child to their first chapter book or helping your teen tackle more complex plots, Christian fiction offers something for every age group.

When I started teaching history, I quickly learned that my daughters retained historical facts regarding ancient biblical worlds through Mesu Andrews�� and Tessa Afshar’s fiction. Dry textbooks simply are not as fun!

Some of the best Christian fiction doesn’t just offer a story—it offers moral and philosophical questions that encourage kids to think critically. When characters are faced with difficult decisions—such as choosing between truth and lies or standing up for what’s right even when it’s hard—kids are forced to analyze these situations and consider the choices they would make.

For older students, books with deeper moral complexities offer a great opportunity for discussions on ethics, religion, and human nature. This can be an excellent way to integrate critical thinking into your homeschool curriculum while simultaneously teaching your kids important lessons about how to live in a wild world.

As parents, it’s important to stay informed about the books our kids are reading. Keeping a running tab on their reading choices can help you ensure the content aligns with your family’s values and your child’s maturity level. Christian novels, while far softer than most secular children’s literature, can still address tougher subjects like loss, hardship, or sin, but always through a lens of hope and redemption. Children learn they are not alone in their suffering when they discover a character has endured and later thrived through a similar circumstance.

Decide what levels of romance or challenging subject matter you’re comfortable with. Is your child sensitive? If so, adjust the book choices accordingly. For more mature students, inspirational novels can provide a safe space to explore difficult topics, as the Christian perspective offers real hope, guiding readers toward faith-based solutions. Whether it’s handling themes of forgiveness, redemption, or perseverance, these books can help older readers navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

The great writer, C.S. Lewis, beautifully sums up the role of literature for children.

“Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.��

If you’re looking for great titles to add to your homeschool bookshelf, here are a few personal favorites I recommend for various age ranges:

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the many genres tucked inside Christian fiction. I have two daughters who adore Christian fantasy, and one who prefers mysteries. I steer to biblical historical fiction and historical romance.

Jenelle Hovde is an illustrator, a pastor’s wife, and a homeschooling mother with eight novels in print. She adores faith-inspired stories and Regency romances that make readers swoon. A transplant to Florida, Jenelle currently pens romantic tales while at the beach. Visit her online and subscribe to her newsletter at jenellehovdeauthor.com. Her latest novel, No Stone Unturned, a Regency romance releases with Tyndale in July 2025. To stay updated with her latest works or subscribe to her newsletter, visit her online at .

On October 1, 2024, Hubby Roy and I had so much fun celebrating the release of��Brave: The Story of Ahinoam��with the FB LIVE BRAVE BASH! For those who joined us that night or watched the live video later, thank you so much for your fun comments and fabulous questions!

Below are some of the questions y’all submitted for me to answer, and I’ve held off answering them on the post so more people can see them here on my blog. We can never really guess at FB’s algorithms or how many people will see those answers. I know around five thousand folks get to see my blogs and newsletters, so here we go with the answers to each of your questions:

“With the intertwining of a lot of Biblical history, has that part of the process become less intense with the writing of each new book?��

Yes, a lot of the basic research for various biblical time periods is transferrable to other stories. I’ve written stories set in every time period of the Old Testament except the Flood and before: the Patriarchs (The Reluctant Rival, Beauty’s Surrender, Love Amid the Ashes, Potiphar’s Wife, & In Feast or Famine), Moses & the conquest��(The Pharaoh’s Daughter & Miriam), the monarchy (Love’s Sacred Song, Love in a Broken Vessel, In the Shadow of Jezebel, Isaiah’s Daughter, Isaiah’s Legacy,��The Brides of King David series), and the Exile (Of Fire and Lions, By the Waters of Babylon).

Though each time period has many similarities, there’s still plenty to research for each individual story. Locations are always a bit different. ��󲹰������ٱ������ family, dwellings, food, clothing, daily tasks, etc. can all add some fun new research and may also shed deeper meaning on Scripture’s Truth. That’s what I love about God’s Word. Though its Truth absolutely never changes, because it’s the Living Word, I find something new in it each time I read a passage that I’ve read dozens—or even hundreds—of times.

“My question is, how do you keep each story and characters straight if you are doing edits on one, while plotting another, plus keeping Brave well enough in your head to promote it and talk about it?��

My only explanation for that is God’s faithfulness! Seriously, I can’t remember what I had last night for dinner. It’s a lot like having children. My sister has ten, and my daughter has six. But they started out with just one, then another, then another, and another. So it is with books and releases. When I started out with Love Amid the Ashes, it got my full attention. I had already written the second novel, Love’s Sacred Song,��so I could focus on edits, and I didn’t have a contract for the next book—yet.

As my contracts continued to come, my ability to juggle more books grew as did my familiarity with the publishing business. A new author might not be able to do all three tasks—release, edits, plotting—at the same time. Granted, it’s tough even for us old birds! But it’s a privilege that I feel grateful for each and every day!

“Are there audio versions that I can listen to in my car while taxi driving my kids?��

Yes! I’m so grateful that ALL my full-length novels are available on audio and one of my short-story collections. I have two other short-story collections that have not yet been read into audio format because they’re such a quick read.

“What was the most interesting bit of research you came across when researching for this book?��

I’m such a research nerd, so I LOVE this question. Because I’d never done a lot of research on David’s family, I was fascinated by King David’s backstory. Scripture tells us his father’s name was Jesse, who was a descendant of Boaz and Ruth, the Moabitess whose story is written in the biblical book labeled with her name (Ruth 4:17). The Bible also mentions that David had seven brothers in 1 Sam. 16:10 but only lists six brothers in 1 Chron. 2:13-15. In vs. 16-17 of that same chapter, we learn that David had two sisters: Zeruiah and Abigal–some biblical translations insert a “i,�� making her name, Abigail (not Nabal’s widow, Abigail).

Abigal married an Ishmaelite named Jether and gave birth to a son, Amasa, who later served as one of David’s Mighty Men. In 2 Sam. 17:25, we learn that Abigal was the daughter of Nahash, and she was the sister of Zeruiah. Who was Nahash? I thought she was the daughter of Jesse! This question sent me to Bible commentaries and rabbinic literature for answers. As usual, scholars disagree on the answer, which means I can choose to make the historical records line up with the biblical Truth in a fictional story that supports the WHOLE COUNSEL of Scripture.

I chose to adopt the Jewish records on this one, established through millennia of oral tradition, while also using Scripture to interpret Scripture. In 1 Samuel 11, a man named Nahash, King of the Ammonites attacked Israel, Saul called every tribe of Israel to join in battle against them. It could have been during this battle that Jesse’s wife—named in Jewish legend as “Nitzevet”—was taken captive by King Nahash and made his concubine. OH MY GOODNESS! Is that not the most interesting piece of research you’ve heard on David ben Jesse! There’s more, but you’ll find it within the story of Brave: The Story of Ahinoam!

“Mesu Andrews, what’s your favorite part of the writing process? Roy, what is your favorite part of helping Mesu with the research process as a retired Bible professor?��

My favorite part is research and editing. I’ve often shared about my love of research, but here’s why I love editing. Since I didn’t grow up dreaming of being an author, imagining stories doesn’t come naturally for me. Actually, I never did much dreaming and imagining as a kid—or as an adult—so writing that first draft of a story that happened 3000-4000 years ago doesn’t come easily. My love for fiction is connected to my love for God’s Word.

If you’ve read any of my Bible studies, you know that they all focus on putting myself in the shoes of whoever wrote the biblical passage we’re studying together. So, that’s how I write a novel’s first draft. I do enough research to live in the characters�� shoes and walk with them through every scene, every word. After writing a few paragraphs (or a full chapter), I go back and use the “read aloud�� feature on Microsoft Word to hear how my words sound without imposing my inflection on them. Listening to a mechanical voice helps present the raw words, and if they sound decent with no-frills-Fanny reading, it passes inspection.

(This is Mesu answering because I couldn’t catch Roy to get his answer��) His only part of helping these days is a very crucial aspect: proofreading! He’s a huge reason that my newsletters and blog posts (and books) are so clean (thank you, Honey).

He not only finds my typos, but he also catches extra spaces before paragraphs or between words. He also finds typos after my book manuscripts have been through all the publisher’s proofreaders! I’m very happy I married that guy–even before I knew he’d be the best proofreader in the world. LOL! 😆

“Was there one thing you wanted to add into the book Brave, but it didn’t make the final edits?��

My characters tend to have emotional swings without much building up or calming down. One of my editors used to say, “I need an onramp (or an offramp) to help me feel that character’s BIG emotion!�� So, some of the things that were cut from my story were mostly those BIG EMOTIONS that would have seemed out of place. I think I had Ahinoam throwing a dagger at Abigail the first day they met. Ummm, probably not good. How does their relationship recover from that?

“Since Ahinoam’s name precedes that of Abigail more often than not in Scripture, it has been suggested that David married Ahinoam before he married Abigail. Do you portray Ahinoam as David’s first or second wife and why?��

I do make Ahinoam the first wife, and I actually believe there’s biblical foundation for it. In 1 Sam. 25:42-43, David has asked Abigail to marry him, she gets on a donkey (attended by her five female servants—which David didn’t invite, BTW), and then v. 43 says, “David HAD ALSO MARRIED Ahinoam of Jezreel…�� (EMPHASIS added). Using past tense there, “had also,�� says to me David and Ahinoam were already married. I LOVE all those little-bitty words in the Bible that can just slap us with a revelation!

“How do you cross-reference for information?��

Sometimes I do it on purpose by using the footnotes and cross-referenced Scriptures in the study notes of my Bibles. I use a Jewish Study Bible (the Tanakh), which gives me study notes from the Jewish perspective as well. Sometimes I stumble onto a Scripture that relates to another passage I’m using. For instance, I’m reading the Psalms of David for my quiet time with Jesus while I’m writing the stories in the series, King David’s Brides. While reading Psalm 59 one morning—entitled, “When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him,�� which correlates with the story in 1 Sam. 19:11-12, I discovered the Psalm expanded on the story in 1 Samuel!

Psa. 59:6, 14 says, “They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city.�� What?! The 1 Samuel passage makes it seem like Saul sent his men one night, and BOOM! Michal lowered David out of the window to escape. Psalm 59 gives us a fuller picture—that maybe they both knew the assassins were prowling for more than that one night. I didn’t put anything in the book about it, but it was a little wink from my quiet time with Jesus that He could give me information from anywhere in His Word if I simply remained faithful to come with an open heart every single day.

“During your research, who have you found to be your favorite of David’s wives to research?��

Since I’ve written all of these women before (in short stories published back in 2021 on Patreon.com—no longer available), I know a little about their stories before digging in fully to their research. I’ve really enjoyed them all, but to be honest, Ahinoam is my very favorite. I LOVE that she throws daggers and is so SASSY! Probably my second favorite is the last book: Worthy. It will feature David’s last TWO wives in Hebron: Abital and Eglah.

Abital and Eglah are minor characters throughout the series, and pointing them out now is sort of a spoiler, but if you read the Bible…you’ll know why it’s a spoiler anyway. I LOVE their friendship and the way their story ties up the story of these six women who form the foundation of David’s household while he reigns in Hebron. He’s very humble and completely devoted to his family and to Yahweh—before he and his men conquer Jerusalem. *Yikes!*

“Are any of your books appropriate for a 10-year-old girl?��

Unfortunately, I must say no to this question. Although my friend and fellow author, Jenelle Hovde, is a homeschool mom who has incorporated several of my books into her Bible history courses with her middle school and high school kids. Much of it depends on the parents standards and if you plan to read along with the younger readers. My books provide LOTS of conversation opportunities–as does the Bible–on real-life topics.

I just atteded a one-day intensive seminar on writing for children and would love to explore the possibly of writing middle-grade or YA (young-adult) graphic novels. We’ll see what God has in store. Stay tuned through my newsletter, since that’s where I share those personal adventures. You can subscribe here (to receive one email per month—usually): ��

“Mesu�� I’d love to begin reading your books…give me a map…not sure where to start? I’ve googled�� and feel overwhelmed �� so haven’t jumped in yet…��

Thanks for asking! Of course, while everyone is talking about BRAVE, it’s a great place to start so you can get in on all the fun conversations! You can also check out my website which lists My Books In Order (both in order of publication and in biblical chronological order—on the small chart):��. You can also download a printable listing of ALL BOOKS BY SERIES at this link:��.

Where you start really depends on what you’re in the mood for or where you are in your personal Bible study. I like to correspond my personal quiet time with the novel I’m writing (and others I’m reading for endorsement). If you like to read LOTS of books, you can honestly just take your pick. Most of the books in a series can be read as stand alone, but the ones I’d suggest you read in order are: , then ; , ,��then ; , then . As I said, however, each book can be read and understood on its own. Happy reading!

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If you haven’t yet read Part I and would like to, I’m giving access to the exclusive article in September’s newsletter (just this once) to non-subscribers so you won’t miss anything about this feisty heroine! I want you to be ready to really enjoy the October 1st release of !

If you aren’t yet receiving monthly updates with my Newsies and would like to, to be included in future emails!

As I mentioned in Part I, when I began imagining who Ahinoam might have been, I knew her character in my book must be tough.

What kind of woman would be willing to dash around the desert for almost seven years with a man hunted by King Saul?��She needed to be fierce, yes, but more.

Let’s look at the condition of David’s heart when he might have first encountered Ahinoam of Jezreel.

I believe Ahinoam and her (fictional) father were part of that band of misfits who joined David at Adullam and traveled to Moab with him (1 Sam. 22:1-4).

Part of the reason I love writing biblical novels is the fact that I MUST slow down to read familiar Bible stories. I was familiar with all six of those progressions in David’s story, but I’d never before slowed down to consider the depth of pain and betrayal he’d felt at each step. Nor had I considered how he might have felt about marriage after the trouble he’d experienced with Michal. Being human, I suspect David’s wounded heart would take a while to mend.

How long before David could even look at a woman and feel romantically attracted to her? How long before he could let his heart trust a woman again after hearing how Michal lied about him and how Saul had given her to another? And I suspect a man with David’s rended heart could spot a woman with any falsehood from a hundred miles away.

That’s why the fictional depiction of Ahinoam and David are alike in many ways:

Distant Shores Media/Sweet Publishing, CC BY-SA 3.0

At the end of Part I, I gave a little hint about the reason I’d given Ahinoam a Kenite heritage. To those who read Judges 4 to find out more about Jael, I hope you noticed that she, too, was a Kenite.

As I mentioned in Part I, I’d written a short story in 2021 about Ahinoam, thinking it was “cool�� for her to throw daggers. After deeper research–and after writing almost 1/3 of the first draft–I discovered that “Kenite�� meant “blacksmith!�� It’s always exciting when the LORD confirms something I’ve “accidentally�� done right! I also discovered Kenites had a long history of peace with Israel and lived mostly around the Tribe of Judah.

The final piece of research that affirmed the Lord’s approval of Ahinoam’s fictional characterization was the passage in 1 Sam. 15. Samuel had passed on God’s command to King Saul that he was to completely destroy the Amalekites. Saul’s failure to do so later cost him Israel’s throne, but there was something very interesting that Saul did before that battle started:

��Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. Then he said to the Kenites, “Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt.�� So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.��1 Samuel 15:5��6��(emphasis added)

As Jael–a Kenite woman–had helped Israel centuries before by killing a Canaanite general, so Saul now repaid kindness to the Kenites by warning them of his attack on the Amalekites before it began. It was at this point in Ahinoam’s backstory that she and her father escape to what becomes her hometown of Jezreel. Both she and her father are Yahweh worshipers, who are welcomed by townsfolk as descendants of Jael and because of their blacksmithing skills to provide daggers as protection against enemy raids.

You still have two weeks to take advantage of the . If you’re among the first 150 readers to order you’ll receive some extra goodies as well as 40% off the retail price! But hurry! Offer ends September 30th (the day before 10/1/24 release).

God created a perfect garden and the perfect man and woman to tend it. The husband and wife were told they could eat from any tree except one. One day, Adam left Eve alone and Satan–disguised as a serpent–deceived her into mistrusting God. She disobeyed the Creator’s one rule, ate from the forbidden tree, and coaxed Adam to do the same. God confronted all three: Adam, Eve, and the serpent.

[To the serpent, He said:] “And I will put enmity��between you and the woman,��and between your offspring��and hers;��he will crush your head,��and you will strike his heel.”��Genesis 3:15

Though Adam and Eve sinned, God doled out punishment but also offered the hope of grace. Someday, Eve’s offspring would crush the head of the serpent’s offspring–after the serpent’s offspring struck the heel of Eve’s child.

Confused? Let’s put it in NT terms: FIRST, Satan struck Jesus’s heel with the crucifixion.

Heel strike = Jesus 100 % dead.

Three days later, Jesus’s Resurrection CRUSHED Satan’s head by freeing all those who believe that His death and resurrection were the perfect atonement for their sin (as fulfillment of Genesis 3:15)!

Satan’s head crushed = Jesus 100% alive.

Did Jesus die for those who deserved his sacrifice? Nope. He died because no matter how good we try to be, we could never deserve His love.

100% Jesus’s love = 100% GRACE!

While researching biblical history and culture, I try to find three resources in agreement to help ensure reliability. In my research, most scholars agree ��the angel of the LORD�� refers to an OT human manifestation of Jesus. Whereas ��an angel of the LORD�� can refer to any angel God sends. My Bible software says the phrase ��the angel of the Lord�� occurs 280 times in the OT.

So, who in the OT actually SAW��the angel of the LORD? This is only a quick list, so forgive me if your own research reveals that I’ve missed some!

God told Abraham, Isaac’s father, to sacrifice him on Mount Moriah like a lamb. Abraham was obedient–as was Isaac. Both traveled a distance to Mount Moriah. Abraham bound his son, who was likely between 18-40 years old by then. Isaac would have crawled onto the stone altar. Abraham lifted his dagger�� That’s when THE angel of the Lord stopped the whole thing!

“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.�� Genesis 22:13��14

Again, we see wide agreement between scholars on the location of Mount Moriah and its significance to the story of the Bible as a WHOLE:

Mount Moriah is likely the same place David purchased the threshing floor to stop a plague from spreading.

��is the first of a four-book series, King David’s Wives, that explores David’s rise to power through the eyes of his Hebron wives. David reigned in Hebron for his first seven years as king, then conquered the Jebusite’s impenetrable fortress of Jerusalem. After such a great victory, he fell into the trap that snares many successful people. He began relying on his own intellect and efforts to maintain the kingdom God had given him.

Price, Randall; ROSE GUIDE TO THE TEMPLE (Rose Publishing; Torrance, CA); Picture by Bristol Works, Inc., p. 21.

When he commanded General Joab to count the men in his army (proving his trust in the army to keep his people safe rather than Yahweh’s power to save them), Joab warned they shouldn’t count the soldiers. David insisted, and God disciplined His chosen king. He allowed David to choose between three punishments (2 Sam. 24:12-14): 3 years of famine; 3 months of fleeing enemies; or 3 days of a killing plague. David chose the plague, placing Israel in God’s merciful hands. When the plague reached Jerusalem, God relented and sent His messenger to David:

“On that day Gad went to David and said to him, ‘Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.�� So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad.�� 2 Samuel 24:18��19��(emphasis added)

The threshing floor of Araunah is thought to be the same plot of ground where Solomon built the Temple.

When God promised David to make his “house”–meaning his lineage–an eternal reign, David longed to build God a permanent “house�� in return. But God refused to allow David to build His earthly Temple. God was and IS impressing on everyone who hears David’s story that GRACE began long before Jesus was born of a virgin in Bethlehem (David’s hometown).

Though God refused to allow David to build His “house,�� He promised David something far more precious in return:

“When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you…He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men…But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.�� 2 Samuel 7:11��16

It was Solomon, whose birth name was Jedidiah–meaning,��loved by the LORD (2 Sam. 12:24-25). Solomon was blessed by the LORD with greater wisdom than any ruler before or since, but he also sinned greatly against Yahweh. True to His promise, however, the LORD brought a “Son of David�� to reign eternally–a King of Kings to save the world.

The Temple Mount is thought by some to be the same plot of ground where Jesus–the eternal Lamb of God–hung on a Cross.

When Jesus walked the earth as wholly Man and holy God, people were divided. Was He the “Son of David,�� promised to save the Jews from earthly oppressors? Or was He a messenger of Beelzebul–like the Jewish leaders said–who drove out demons by the power of Beelzebul?

[Jesus answered] “If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? …But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.�� Matthew 12:27��28

Ultimately, Jesus was born to die. Yes, it was the Jewish leaders who killed Him, but OT prophecy says the Jewish nation will receive the same grace Jesus gives us all–when they see Who He is��

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.�� Zechariah 12:10��(emphasis added)

Below is one of my favorite renditions of the hymn, Amazing Grace.��Brother Wintley Phipps is awesome!

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