“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.

Enjoyed this book. Kept me interested all the way through. Would recommend to a fellow reader.  Love the cover.

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.

"Most days she found her own past too painful in its vastness."

England 1861. Intricate tale of a young Indian woman who married a British soldier, heir to a fortune. Similar to the biblical Ruth, when he and his father both died, she left India to follow her mother-in-law back to England. Neither realizing just how tough it would be. Severely rejected because of her race and nationality, both women were rejected and shunned by everyone and forced to live in a way neither had experienced before. 

Lord Barric grudgingly felt compelled to help these women,  relatives by marriage. At first, he just allowed Rena to glean from his field. The story is excruciatingly painful to read at times, vividly brought to life by this talented author. Unfairness of discrimination, both of race and because they were women in the society of this day and age. And the customs of both countries. Through Rena, the beauty of the Indian people is unfolded. Although in India, the people didn't respect widows at that time; treated them harshly. In many parts of India, widows were beaten and shunned, cursed and spat upon, their clothes stripped away and ornaments ripped from their piercings so even their skin and flesh were broken. In the Indian state of Punjab, the term for widow was synonymous with the word for prostitute. But love has no racial boundaries. 

“We are so much more than our reputation,” she finally managed to reply, her face warming. “Stories cheat; truth is found only in friendship.”

I was blessed to meet and work with people from India for a while, even more blessed to call these beautiful people friends. A time and friendship that I will always treasure. I didn't learn nearly enough about them and the land that they came from. The beauty and dignity of the main character in this story made me think of them.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#ShadowAmongSheaves #NetGalley #NaomiStephens  #BooksYouFeelGoodAbout

Shadow Among Sheaves is a retelling of Ruth and Boaz from the Bible. I thought the author did a great job finding a more modern setting to tell this story.  Rena (Ruth) comes to England with her mother-in-law after both of their husbands die.  They go from being well off to total poverty- I  loved Rena's strength of character through the struggle.  She and Lord Barric (Boaz) meet and he begins to help her, and her mother-in-law, and eventually he falls in love with her.  As much as I loved their story, my one issue is that Lord Barric was a jerk until almost the end of the book.  Boaz in the Bible was a good man of good character.  Other than that I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to others as well.

I loved this retelling of Ruth, which is set in Victorian England. . Shadows Among Sheaves is well written and pulls you in right from the beginning. The characters and setting are all very detailed and so vivid that you almost feel your a part of the story itself. This is a must read.

Shadow Among Sheaves is one of the best books I've read this year. It is a more modern retelling of the book of Ruth from the Bible. When I say more modern I am really refering the late 1850s. It is set in England with a glimpse of India as well. 

If you know world history you know that this timeframe regarding England and India is referred to as The Great Rebellion. The story begins with Rena and her mother-in-law Lady Hawley making the arduous journey from India to Abbottsville, England. The two are basically destitute when they arrive in Abbottsville. The life they are forced into through their circumstances resembles nothing compared to their former life when their husbands were alive.

Eventually Barric enters the picture and provides a bit of respit for their plight. But not much. He's torn because he feels compassion for Rena but she's still basically an outcast and in his world that's a no-no.

If you are familiar with the book of Ruth you know how the story ends, but the author's imaginings of the journey is definitely worth the read. I thought it stuck to the structure of the original yet added the necessary details needed to switch the timeframe and setting. The story was well written and one I would highly recommend.

A well written adaption of the Book of Ruth.  While I love Biblical retellings I prefer to read them in the same time or place they were written. That being said the story of Ruth is one that can adapted to any time period.  And the stetting of first India then Britain gave a new twist on  a beloved story. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. I look forward to other books by this author.

4.5 stars- I have always loved the story of Ruth and Boaz in the Bible. So when I heard about this book retelling the story in 1862 England, I was eager to read it. It was such a fascinating read. I know very little about the history between India and Great Britain and the Indian Mutiny. I learned so much about this time in history and it fit so well with the story of Ruth. 
This book was hard to read at times because my heart felt so hurt for Rena and how she was treated by almost everyone. It brought such great perspective of how similar it must have been for Ruth in the Bible. I don’t think I ever quite grasped just how poorly she was probably treated. Rena was a woman of great courage and fortitude. She struggled to find a place to belong. Because of her marriage to an English soldier and subsequent widowhood she was cast out of Indian society, yet because she was Indian she was scorned by the British. 
Enter Barric, the only Englishman to show any sort of kindness to her, and that most begrudgingly. I’m still so torn on my thoughts of Barric. At times he seemed so angry and hardened, yet at other times there was this amazing sensitivity about him. There were some moments I felt like his words to Rena even bordered on cruel, yet I sensed a softness about him as well. I was also struck by how much alcohol the men drank in this book, Barric included.Maybe that was the norm?
Overall, this was a story that tugged at my heart and kept me reading, wanting to see what would happen next. Even though I knew the outcome of the story in the Bible, I was curious to see how things would play out in this version. I look forward to reading more books by Naomi Stephens.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.