It’s 1861 in England, and Rena is traveling back to England from India with her widowed mother-in-law, Nell. The problem? Rena is Indian, and is the widow of an English husband, Edric Hawley. Because of the Indian uprising against the English colonizers, Rena is not welcome in England, but she will not abandon Nell, who is also known as Lady Hawley. Nell and Rena are destitute because of a problem with Lord Hawley’s will. Amid taunts and threats of sexual abuse Rena finds a way to feed and care for Nell.

In this, her debut novel, Naomi Stephens spins a lovely tale of love, desperation, and resiliency in overcoming prejudice, bullying, fear, and starvation. In a time when Indian widows were scorned and often killed, Rena’s leaving India not only helped Nell, but probably saved Rena’s life. These characters are so life-like, I felt Rena's pain and confusion while trying to adapt to a completely different culture, and Nell's despair over losing her beloved family home.

Shadow Among Sheaves makes statements about the British invasion and colonization of India, 19th century human rights for women, the manner in which the poor were, and often still are treated, and the ability to love and trust again after a devastating loss. Stephens’ story is strong and heartfelt. It is Christian fiction that shares that God’s love is for all people, but is not preachy, as some may think.

What Makes This Reviewer Grumpy?

- Incorrect verb usage (was vs. were, take vs. bring, coming vs. going);
- Incorrect usage of the word “gleaning”: Rena was gleaning. The workers were harvesting.
- Redundancies (report back vs. report);
- Missing commas;
- Split infinitives;
- Mixing singular and plural within a sentence;
- Using “further” in place of “farther”: they are not interchangeable.

Look for me online as The Grumpy Book Reviewer.

This is the heart wrenching Biblical ♥️ story of Ruth, set in Victorian Britain. Indian Rena goes with her mother-in-law, as she returns to England. Abbottsville (a small agricultural community) shows the 2 starving widows very little mercy. Unconventional Lord Barric takes pity on Rena. How does Naomi Stephens bring Rena & Lord Barric to their HEA? I Highly Recommend you Read Wonderful, Engrossing "Shadow Among Sheaves" to find out! ♥️📖⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I liked this as an interesting and original retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth, set in Victorian Britain. The allegory following the story was clear- but I felt it dragged rather towards the Middle. I understand this was necessary to pad out the story and make it into a full length novel: but it just seemed kind of contrived and melodramatic.

The representation of Indian culture in the person of Rena was interesting, as was learning about some of the cultures and customs of the country. However, Rena's antagonism to Imperialism did not ring entirely true, since India had been ruled by various Imperial powers in whole or in part, centuries before the British came along from the Turks to the Mongols. This to me seemed like a modern imposition.

Lord Barric (supposed to be the Boaz character) was interesting, if frustrating, although Rena could be annoyingly so as well. Instead of sharing information that could have helped her out, she would suddenly remember she was high status in India or something. They were both interesting at the same time though, which is kind of a contradiction, but might explain my mixed feelings towards this book.
Some of other characters were genuinely wonderful, such as the patience and gentleness of the vicar who gradually wins over Rena, alongside the example of and lessons of her beloved mother in law.

My only other complaint was that there were a LOT of Americanisms. Now I know its necessary for novels like this to be understandable to American characters, but there were a few too many mistakes at times- references to taking tea with cream and that sort of thing.

Overall, I think this was very good as a debut novel and sort of sets the bar quite high for Biblical retellings, but has a few problems. As with another reviewer, I don't think some of the incidents never the end lent themselves well to the story, and maybe the author could have interpreted the original source material a little more loosely in places.

I requested a copy of this title on Netgalley, but also purchased an ebook when it was on sale. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

I received an ARC of this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley, this review is my personal opinion.


What I found truly amazing is this is Naomi Stephens first novel?. Just wow!. I love Ruth story since very young ages, one of my first memories is my mom reading me this story. I always found fascinating how God shows his love to a woman that on the eyes of many didn’t deserve a second chance. And how what it seems a small decision change her destiny.

From chapter one, you know that this story it’s a winner, when we first meet Rena and we learn about his heritage, family and most of all the price she was paying on leaving India behind to go to England; a strange land, a place where more than just rejected it. She is now publicly hated for being Indian, I found interesting the layers of the character we found in the book. The sorrow and the pain on Rena it’s well described and how they were almost starving to death for the moment she arrived at Lord Barric land. The struggle for doing what is right and also how pride can get in the way it’s interesting. On the other hand, we have Lord Barric, he loves his lands and wants to honor his father legacy. He is proud, a good master and not looking for a relationship. The way Naomi Stephens introduce Rena to his life is lovely, this book is no doubt a beautiful retelling of this very known bible book.

In my opinion, I won't take or add anything to this story, the story it’s well written. All the elements combined work so well together, Rich descriptions that make you feel like you are there. This book it has the perfect combination that makes a book wonderful, not typical, but with many interesting twists and turns, faith fullied, a second chance, an encounter with God, family and a beautiful end. Can’t wait to read more of her books.

Truly grateful to Barbour Publishing for the ARC of this book.

I want to begin with the writing in this book is beautiful. I typically don't enjoy historical fiction as much as I did while reading Shadow Among Sheaves. This is the story of Ruth and Boaz told in such a way that is familiar yet modern. Naomi has created a story that totally immerses your mind while reading. The character and world development is so fantastic and alluring that I was drawn in and felt like I was part of the story. Rena's character is so strong and I love that she is from India. As she moves with her mother in law after her husband passes away she meets Lord Barric. Their relationship is interesting and intriguing and unforgettable. The unshakable faith of Nell, her mother-in-law, and the proud and sometimes cruel Lord Barric makes the dynamics throughout this story delightful. There is also a love that is so deep between Nell and Rena and you can almost feel it as you read their story. Rena experiences a life changing story and I highly recommend that you read to find out more about this fantastic book.

I received this book for an honest review from NetGalley.

Shadow Among Sheaves
By Naomi Stephens
4 stars

I was excited to read this historical inspiration fiction when I head it was a allegory of the story of Ruth. When Rena an Indian woman and her British mother in law travel to 1800s England after thier husbands die they face extreme hardships. That's when Rena finds herself in Lord Barric's field. And that's where Lord Barric first discovers her. I like learning from fiction. I had no idea that Indian and British people in that time period had such discord between them. Lord Barric's kindness toward Rena was unheard of at that time. And Rena's mother in law is so sweet to her. I thought the dialogue was well done along with the pace of the story.

I was VERY surprised (and a little disappointed) that there was 4 mild expletives and a steamy love scene in this book. I thought this was a Christian/Inspirational novel.

I received this through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

My Thoughts:
This book is by an author I’ve read before and enjoyed her works. I thought this would be a neat retelling of Naomi and Ruth and Boaz. It focuses almost solely on the characters that are Ruth and Boaz though. Rena is Ruth and Lord Barric is Boaz.

Okay, some brutal honesty. While this is a retelling of Ruth and Boaz it contains a few elements that would NOT allow me to let my teenage daughters read it. This has become a major benchmark for me. Will I let my girls read it? If the answer is no I really have to make myself think about whether I would really recommend it. For this book, yes, I will recommend it but with a caveat that it should be read by mature adults and not anyone impressionable still.

The reason for the above paragraph is that there are some scenes with married interaction(not graphic), cussing, a bit of more gore than necessary, etc. I don’t want this to deter you from the book though as it is a well-written keep you reading type of read. It just has a bit more extra than I was expecting.

Okay, back to the story!

Rena and Lady Hawley(Naomi character) are returning to England after the deaths of their husbands. They’ve been in India which is Rena’s homeland. She is a very pretty Indian of high stature but none of that matters once they return to England. People snub their noses and want nothing to do with this foreigner and in turn nothing to do with Lady Hawley as well.

While they wait to see what will become of the estate of Lady Hawley’s husband they find refuge in some unlikely places like a brothel for one. Lord Barric does step in but he is torn. He finds Rena very beautiful and can be seen as almost caring but then in the next breath, he allows himself to have the same attitude towards her like the others. That attitude of disgust with her lineage.

While it does follow the Biblical version I don’t find Lord Barric quite as likable as Boaz. Maybe because after all these years of reading the story I have a different picture of him in my mind.

I love the research that went into this novel! It is true to the time period and both countries. Definitely, this is a great accurate read but as I did mention above it should come with a bit of a warning before you read so you know that there is some adult type content.

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

“The sun was the same, but that was all. Blindingly hot, it hung low on the horizon as if dangled there by an invisible string.” - Opening lines of Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens

A brilliant allegory of the book of Ruth, Shadow among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens captures the reader from its opening lines with vivid and emotive writing. Knowing the narrative, I didn’t anticipate the suspense created, it is a page-turner! Set in the 1860s, shortly after the revolt in India to British rule, the historical landscape is perfect for unpacking much of the trauma and healing the four short chapters in the Bible leave out whilst creating an amazing parallel.

My heart broke for Nell and Rena as they return to England in mourning for their husbands and penniless. Mocked and belittled for being different, Rena suppresses her pride as she asks for charity for the first time in her life. Seeing her suffering, Lord Barric reaches out in compassion offering food and begins a sequence of events that soon neither can stop from unfurling.

The writing is exquisite, so carefully constructed as to create a beautiful picture of happenings. The Indian perspective livens up the grey English landscape bringing vibrancy and intrigue. Rena wrestles with settling into England and understanding Christianity and her journey of coming to know God is a favourite element for me.

The ending is wonderful but I was sad it arrived and paged back hoping there was more, I have become so attached to each of these characters! I want to know what happens for all the others in the small town too! It’s highly recommended and five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale!

Placing a well-known story from the Bible is always a complicated task. On the one hand, you want to portray the tale in a different setting. On another hand, you want to stay true to the narrative. Sometimes, an author will need to decide between setting and truth. In Shadow among Sheaves, Naomi Stephens appears to have angled more toward the setting.

Rena is as much of an outsider to her mother-in-law’s community as the original Ruth was to Naomi’s home. But whereas Naomi was bitter over her circumstances, Nell endures much without comment. We also don’t know if Ruth was badly treated by the residents of Bethlehem, but Rena is abused by the townsfolk of Abbottsville (which sounds more like a North American or French location rather than an English one). In context, it’s understandable why the villagers are so prejudiced against someone of Rena’s background: the Indian Mutiny which killed so many British military and civilians takes place just four years prior to the year in which this novel is set. With the massacre so fresh in everyone’s mind, it’s possible they expect Rena to behave in a similar, murderous, fashion as her fellow countrymen.

It’s when I came to the scene comparable to Ruth approaching Boaz on the threshing floor that I began to cringe. That Naomi sent Ruth into a possibly compromising situation doesn’t bother us when we read it, but put it into a Victorian context and I started to rethink the Biblical passage. Lord Barric asked Rena if she would sacrifice herself for her mother-in-law, and I found myself agreeing with him. What Nell asked of Rena was horrifying. My mind went to the stories I’ve heard of parents trafficking their children, and I found myself asking if that’s what Naomi had done. I was now questioning elements of the Bible, and traveling into dangerous territory. I don’t know if I can undo those thoughts.

So, what’s the solution? I don’t know. There’s also an interpretation of The Beatitudes in the book with which I disagreed though, thankfully, I was able to dismiss that and continue to find favor with the majority understanding. Basically, Shadow among Sheaves - if you strip away the Biblical comparisons and inspiration - is a good story. It’s a Victorian novel that mixes Frances Hodgson Burnett and Charles Dickens, and there are some nice descriptions of village festivities. Even the prejudice was believable, and can be considered relevant for our current times. Perhaps I need to read another story of Ruth, in the original context, to scrub the trafficking thoughts out of my head. Anyone got any suggestions for me?

Thank you to the publisher for my complimentary electronic Advance Reader Copy of Shadow among Sheaves.

In Shadows Among Sheaves, widowed Rena follows her widowed mother-in-law Nell to England after her British husband’s death. Rena, an Indian woman, faces severe prejudice as she tries to provide support for her mother-in-law. When Lord Barric, a British aristocrat, meets the widows in Abbotsville, he attempts to help them while trying to balance his attraction to Rena as well as his own reputation and hate his own family has towards her.

Stephens gives the reader a story filled with drama, strong characters, and descriptive narrative. With themes of self-sacrifice, fear, and starvation, Rena finds herself struggling to know which faith is the right one for her – the one she was raised in, or her mother-in-law’s faith. Nell’s faith remains strong even in the midst of being homeless and starving. It is a well-written historical fiction book, and the reader will learn more about the time period (1857) and the relations between England and India. Although this is a debut novel, it reads like one written by a more experienced author. One looks forward to Ms. Stephens’ next work!

Shadow Among Sheaves

by Naomi Stephens

The Biblical story of Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth is known and quoted as an example of devotion. Upon the death of her husband and sons, Naomi encourages her daughter-in-laws to return to their home countries, but Ruth says: “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” (Ruth 1:16).

In Shadow Among the Sheaves author Naomi Stephens uses this story in a new setting. Nell (Lady Hawley) and her daughter-in-law Rene move from India back to England in the glory days of the British Empire. Rene, from the highest caste in India, has promised to take care of Nell, but because of discrimination against Indians, they are treated as outcasts and beggars. Stephens’ story follows the same general lines as the Biblical story but is fleshed out with a deeper plot and extensive character development. Using the complexities of the ethnic divide and the social and class norms in Britain at that time, Stephens weaves a riveting tale of love and conflict.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Barbour Publishing (Shiloh Run Press) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Romance

Notes: You do not have to be familiar with the Bible story of Ruth and Naomi to enjoy this book, but if you would like to read it, the book of Ruth is found in the Old Testament and is only four chapters long.

Publication: April 1, 2019— Barbour Publishing (Shiloh Run Press)

Memorable Lines:

An aching belly, an empty room, skin pulled tight over hungry bones—all of these sacrifices were worth it, she knew, if it meant staying with Nell, if it meant her family would be her family forever.
Thomas had never been a monster, exactly, though he had always been monstrously arrogant.

Music began tumbling across the now barren fields. The notes were thick and plucky, sticking to the window like hands pressed up against the glass.

Shadow Among Sheaves is the debut novel of author Naomi Stephens and what an incredible book it is. This is the retelling of the biblical Ruth and Boaz.
Rena was born in India but marries a British man. Traveling to England after his death she and her mother in law Nell are outcasts there. No one wants to hire them and they are starving. The story draws me right in . I could feel the compassion Rena has for her husband's mother Nell who she feels responsible for after his death.
Very well written.
Published April 1st 2019 by Shiloh Run Press

I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens is an excellent novel that is well worth reading. The plot is very unique and it made me question exactly what my life would have been like if I had been born in a different place and time. The story revolves around the main character being a young woman from India who married an English man who was in the service and is in India. England is occupying India during the times in which the novel is set. This marriage is not approved by the woman’s parents. The woman quickly becomes an unexpected widow. Her father-in-law also dies and these events cause both the woman and her mother-in-law to flee to England. From there the events that occur in England are heart wrenching. The younger woman seeks to protect and care for her mother-in-law and the degree of love and loyalty she shows towards her is a true testament to her character . Without giving out any further details I can tell you that you will not be disappointed by reading this novel . I learned quite a bit about India and England while reading and I also was pleasantly surprised by how well the plot and characters were developed . Kudos to Naomi Stephens !!!

I didn't finish this one. A retelling of Ruth and Naomi, the author spins a tale that sheds light on what it's really like to be a foreigner and a widow in history. What could have been a unique and fun story s drawn out and boring. Everything takes forever to happen and by 30 percent through they were still poor and hungry. This relatively short story of the Bible is drawn out so much I lost interest.

I felt conflicted writing the review for Shadow Among Sheaves. I love the premise; the story of Ruth from the bible reimagined in Victorian England. However, the execution wasn’t quite as smooth as I had hoped for.

Rena, a young Brahmin woman, had married British officer Edric Hawley impulsively. She loved him deeply and passionately, and mourned with equal fervor when he was gone. Two years later, she mourns him still. At least a small part of that is due to the devastating financial consequences his death meant for her mother-in-law Nell and herself. Sir Alistair, Edric’s father, had “set aside a comfortable allowance for his wife and daughter-in-law. With the death of his son, however, he had weakened considerably in both spirit and frame, until, worried for his wife, he had scrambled to secure further savings by making risky investments in his final year.” The end result is that the two women can barely afford passage from India to England and once there, are forced to do dishes and scrub floors in exchange for lodgings in a bar that essentially serves as a whorehouse. The room doesn’t come with meals and the two women are slowly starving to death.

After walking the entire length of town looking for more work, Rena comes upon a field where wheat is being harvested. Desperate, she gleans among the fallen sheaves, hoping to gather enough to take to the mill and earn money for some food. The steward catches her at it and warns her that this behavior is considered theft. She will be allowed to do it that day, as an act of charity, but that will be all.

Then Jack Fairfax, Earl of Barric and owner of the field, spots Rena following his workers. He learns her story from the steward but thinks little of it until later that evening. Riding into town, he again spots Rena, this time as she is being harassed by his loathsome cousin Thomas and his friends. Jack intervenes, and moved to pity by her emaciated yet somehow still beautiful visage, he invites Rena to continue gleaning in his fields. As he learns more of her story, he continues to try to help both her and Nell, but because of her stay in a house of ill repute, his every act of kindness leads to whispers and innuendo. Jack’s younger brother and cousin have done a great deal to tarnish the family reputation and he does not want to do anything to result in additional scandal but he finds himself drawn to the lovely foreigner in a way he has never been drawn to a woman before. Torn between his culture and heart, he finds himself struggling to do the right thing.

The author does a wonderful job of capturing some of the prejudice and outright hatred Rena would have faced as an Indian in Victorian England, She arrives just a short time after the Indian Rebellion/Mutiny of 1857, which had sparked deep anger and resentment among the British, so the responses Rena receives from those around her seemed authentic. Ms. Stephens also does a wonderful job of painting vivid, engrossing word pictures with her prose; I felt I could see every scene she described. Another positive to the story is the clear depiction of the life widows faced in India. Sati had only been banned thirty years prior to the rebellion and widows were an unfortunate reminder of the changes enforced by British rule. Young widows like Rena were viewed as especially ‘unlucky’ and were unwelcome in most communities. The author does a nice job of explaining that situation without passing judgment on the culture.

Romance novels are rarely bastions of historical accuracy so I tend to allow for a lot of artistic license when reviewing books in this genre. However, I do feel that some of the liberties taken in this novel merit a mention. For example, an earl would be judged less for taking an Indian woman as a mistress than he would be for taking an Indian woman as a wife. He might be judged a bit for his proclivities but it would be nothing like the castigation he’d receive for taking what would be, in the eyes of the aristocracy, a low-born woman as his countess and elevating her to their highest ranks. Rena was not a princess, and clearly did not come from sufficient wealth to overcome what would, at that time, have been the stigma of being a foreigner. The repercussions socially for marrying both ‘beneath’ him and a foreigner would most likely be quite serious. Additionally, Sir Alistair was a baron with an inherited baronetcy and enviable property; Nell, as the widow of a baron would be accepted into the homes of her relatives. If she had a young Indian daughter-in-law in tow, she would likely have been housed with the servants and been treated as one, but I was deeply skeptical that the family would completely abandon both of them. It would have done far less damage to familial reputation to have them living in a corner of the attic than to have them openly living in a brothel. This made no sense to me. The issues surrounding the wills and entailments were also quite unbelievable.

I also struggled with the way the reimagining of the story was handled. I love retellings because placing the narrative in a new time and place can help us find new meaning in an old tale and give us a fresh perspective on the nuances of beloved stories. In this case, the author seemed to get hung up on details which made little sense in their new time and place, such as Ruth gleaning in the fields becoming Rena doing the same. A stipulation in the will made sense for Boaz in his position as kinsman redeemer, but made little sense for Jack in Victorian England. There was a scene towards the end of the novel meant to recreate Ruth and Boaz on the threshing floor which added a sexual element to the encounter that did not exist in the original tale.

Indeed, this story, for an inspirational, deals a lot with what would have in that time been called the ‘unseemly’ side of sex. From its opening chapters in a brothel to the endless innuendos regarding Jack and Rena’s relationship, to the closing scenes of the story, sex is very prevalent in the text. I know some read inspirationals looking for a book completely free of such issues so I feel it’s only fair to provide a warning.

Those are significant issues but the author manages to tell a compelling tale in spite of them.

Excellent prose, an intriguing story and interesting characters raise this uncommon retake on a beloved tale to above average status. Shadow Among Sheaves may not be a perfect book but for those looking for a unique inspirational, it’s definitely worth a read.

An excellent book loosely based on the biblical characters of Naomi and Ruth. The story was similar enough that you knew which characters were based on which biblical characters but you're still kept guessing what will happen next.

don't think I could describe it any better than the blurb! "A Timeless, Beautiful Allegory of the Biblical Love Story of Ruth and Boaz" Love, family and faith were the main thought of this young ladies life. Good story! I received a copy through the publisher and NetGalley, no review was required, my review is voluntary.

I was so sad to finish Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this retelling of Ruth. The story of Rena, an Indian woman, leaving India to go to England with her mother-in-law after both of their husband's passed away tugged at my heart. This was during the mid-1800's when Indian people were not looked upon kindly at all in England. Life for Rena and Nell (her mother-in-law) was incredibly difficult and so frustrating for me to read, I had trouble wrapping my head around how people could be so cruel. But, this story is beautifully told and so worth reading.

“Shadow Among Sheaves” written by author Naomi Stephens is a beautiful retelling of the biblical story of Ruth. This one is set in 1850’s England and is an exquisite novel. It is one of my favorite “modern” day takes on Ruth’s story that I have ever read.

Author Stephens has written a realistic retelling in this book. It makes sense. Her beautifully written work grabbed me and guided me inside its pages. I was no longer in my comfy chair reading but in England with Rena, her mother-in-law Nell, and Lord Barric. From the very beginning I was invested in this superbly written tale. It is a page turning, reader’s treasure.

Not only did I read the book, I lived it. I felt the snubs, was hurt by the insults, and understood the pain. The women had a hard time and I wanted to offer help. The author took me on an emotional roller coaster ride with this book. I made new friends and found people I did not like. Even ones I liked had moments where they were human and failed.

A review for this stunning book could be summed up in one word. . . WOW! It is amazing. This is a very well researched, well planned, and extremely well written book. It needs to be a movie. Yes, it is that great.

The characters are all believable. They are well rounded with character flaws as well as redeeming attributes. The scenery and daily life are vividly described. I easily imagined I was gleaning in the fields, trying new foods, and seeing new things just as Rena.

The story is a bit predictable if you know your Bible but it also has some twists and surprises. It has a good faith message and deals with tough modern day issues such as prejudice, bullying, pride, family, forgiveness, respect, and social standing.

I highly recommend this to anyone. There is so much packed into its pages. I learned historical facts about India and England. There was mystery, intrigue, romance, and discussions on placing priorities, family relationships, charity, gossip, and friendship.

I will be watching for more books from author Naomi Stephens. You should, too. This one was phenomenal. I highly recommend it. I rated it 5 out of 5.

This is quite an interesting take on the story of Ruth. Set in England shortly after conflicts between England and India, the story follows Rena as she struggles to find her place in her husband’s country. Marked as an undesirable due to her Indian heritage, she and her mother-in-law try their best—and fail—to make ends meet. Until Rena stumbles into the barley fields of Jack Fairfax, Lord Barric. What follows is a love story that is sweet and satisfying. My only wish is that Jack was a little less stern (my imagination of Boaz was always a man of unfailing kindness, so Jack’s stern/cross demeanor took me a bit off guard). Still, this was a good book and I wouldn’t mind reading Ms. Stephens again!

Rated PG-13 for some perilous situations and slight innuendos.
—clean read
—no overt sexual scenes
—mild language
—no violence

This ebook was provided to me free of charge by NetGalley in return for an honest opinion.