Another well-known story of redemption told beautifully.

Many people know the story of Ruth, or at least they think they do. But is it really Ruth’s story?  Or Naomi’s story?  When Elimelech and Naomi leave Bethlehem with their two sons to find relief from the famine, they come to the land of Moab.  Moab is land that worships gods made of stone and wood, which the people offer human sacrifices to.  But Elimelech isn’t worried as the land he is harvesting is very plenty and bountiful.  But when he is suddenly mauled by a bear on his way home from the town, things begin to change in Naomi’s life.  Suddenly both her sons plan to take Moabite women as their wives rather than from their own people.  These two women are Orpah and Ruth.  As the years go own, Naomi’s sons become more engrossed in the culture and working the land rather than returning home until they suddenly become ill and die on the same day.  Now in grief, Naomi plans to return home, but releases the holds of her two daughters-in-law so that they may return to their families.  Orpah leaves and returns, but Ruth journeys back with Naomi to Bethlehem, but will she be welcome?

I end the synopsis here because if you do not know the story of Ruth, I want you to read this fantastic fictional account. I have always loved the history that Jill Eileen Smith brings to her stories and how the details always seem to fall into place.  The book of Ruth in the Bible is very short and may appear vague when you read it.  It may leave you with questions as to why was Ruth so loyal to Naomi?  But I believe it is really more about the change in culture over time with regard to the Bible.  When the Israelites would have heard the story of Ruth recited, they would have known the importance of land possession and the kinsman redeemer.  Today, the common person probably doesn’t have the same biblical knowledge as they did at the time.  Thankfully, this book really takes on the story and tells it in such a way that makes it extremely understandable.  This is one of my favorite stories and this book just makes it that much better.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Redeeming Grace is the third book in the Daughters of the Promised Land by Jill Eileen Smith and is a wonderfully written historical novel. Redeeming Grace is Ruth's story. A much-beloved story of the Old Testament becomes even more endearing and real with the expert touch of this author's hand. Naomi, heartbroken, leaves her drought-stricken homeland only to find more heartache in the land of Moab. She became more wretched than she ever thought possible--her heart felt nothing but pain. Ruth, a Moabitess, an alien in a foreign land, a young woman who just wants to be loved, finds herself married to an Israelite whose God might just be One who hears her prayers. Boaz is a trusted elder and leader in Bethlehem who knows following God's Law is always the right thing to do, despite the sometimes inexplicable harshness of life. The blending of these three lives as they each go through loss and grief, filled with disillusionment, anger, and bitterness is a testament to a gracious and redemptive God. The author gives great attention to historical detail and with beautiful prose and dynamic dialogue fleshes out these characters so they seem to step out of history right into the reader's heart. To watch Ruth's faith grow from belief in a false god to believing in Naomi's God and on to belief in a personal God is marvelous. To read how God changes seemingly wasted years in Moab into a blessing for Naomi is miraculous. And to recognize that even though one is often left with the broken remains of what once was, there is hope that God makes all things new. Redeeming grace is a wonderful story of renewal, resurrection, and redemption...a story you will not want to miss.

The story of Ruth is a beautiful one—for a number of reasons—but it’s sometimes easy to gloss over what life had been like for Ruth prior to meeting Boaz, and the humility of spirit she had to possess in order to make the choices that brought her to his attention.  Not so in Jill Eileen Smith’s retelling—although it is as much Naomi’s and Boaz’s stories as it is Ruth’s.

The novel opens in the years immediately prior to Naomi’s husband moving their family to Moab, thus encompassing a period of some twelve or more years over the course of the story. The Biblical narrative is largely silent on the years leading up to Ruth and Naomi returning to Bethlehem, but Jill Eileen Smith has filled in those years with some well-chosen events that not only drive the story forward, but create a contrast that deepens the beauty of Boaz’s actions as kinsman redeemer.

It was also fascinating to watch Ruth on her journey towards learning about the God of Israel, in spite of the adversity she witnessed and encountered, while Naomi and Boaz both struggle in different ways to hold on to their belief in God’s goodness in the midst of their trials. Ruth’s character shines even more brightly when she reaches Bethlehem, where she humbly takes on the role of gleaning each day in order to provide for herself and Naomi in their poverty. And while romantic displays of affection between Ruth and Boaz were restrained on the page, there was an obvious depth to their love that was beautiful to behold—the more so because it was a picture of God's love and acceptance.

In short, Redeeming Grace is a satisfying read for any lover of Biblical fiction.

This story is authentic, beloved, dependable, downright dramatic, kindhearted and honor.  The story of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz is such a historic Biblical story.  When you start off reading the story it starts you right of with Boaz's second wife in the middle of something very serious and strenuous that causes some major problems enough that it broke my heart in two - it honestly made me cry - this author really knows how to pull at your emotions and that is what you want when you are reading.  You want to be involved just like the characters are and you are in this novel.  This book keeps to the story of Boaz and Ruth and Naomi true to form and adds things that would be true to that time - or at least what you would picture in your head.  All I can say is get this book - it tugs at your heart yes - stomach yes - head yes.  I am not going to tell you the story of the three because I don't want to ruin the Bible story for you but it is one of my favorites and the author truly made it incredible.

I have always been a fan of Jill Eileen Smith’s books. She is one of my favorite Biblical fiction writers. She can take an entire account of a Biblical woman and paint her in a wondrous fictional book. In fact, I don’t see her writing as fiction, but her making the stories come alive!

We step back in time to 1297 B.C. Not only did these people walk and breathe by devoting their whole lives to Adonai, to God. They obeyed His law. But some still sinned.

Due to the drought, Naomi’s husband moves them from the protection of Bethlehem. To a place that worships false gods, where God isn’t worshiped.

We see the struggles Naomi has to endure. In a tragic event Naomi loses her husband. Then a few years later, she loses both her sons. The conniving governor takes her land, leaving her nothing to take home. As the story goes, she leaves with her two daughters-in-law, but then she tells them to go back home. Only one turns back. Ruth remains steadfast to Naomi. Ruth is completely devoted to her mother-in-law.

When they return to Bethlehem, they find nothing was left of their house. Ruth gleams in the fields. Thus, this is where she encounters Boaz, and Boaz takes a notice of her.

Naomi urges Ruth to go to Boaz, to lay at his feet, this is so he can he be a redeemer husband.
I have always loved this story of Naomi and Ruth. Especially Ruth’s strength and determination to stick by Naomi. It takes a lot of love and commitment to follow someone, to move away from country and family. I, too, understand this, because after marrying my husband, we moved away from my home state. It was a big change for us.

Jill Eileen Smith has written another stellar Biblical fiction book! I highly recommend this book, and if you haven’t read her other books, I encourage you to do so! This book kept me riveted to the pages. It was Biblical history written like none other!

Disclosure statement
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

I am usually hesitant to read biblical fiction because it is hard to realistically and engagingly dramatize the Bible. Jill Eileen Smith has exceeded my low expectations by a mile. Eventhough the story of Ruth has been done so many times, Ms. Smith made her story shine. The fictionalized parts fit seamlessly into the biblical facts. I very much enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend it to others.