In Shadow Among Sheaves, Naomi Stephens retells the well-known story of Ruth and Naomi. The tale now alternates between monarchy ruled India and Victorian England, with Rena taking the place as the longsuffering but eternally loyal Ruth. Her mother in law, Nell, willingly endures their life of hardship beside her, both of them finding comfort in their love for one another.
Upon the death of her husband and Nell’s son, Edric, the two abscond to England, where Nell hopes they will be taken in by one of her family members. Unfortunately, they are consistently turned away and forced to enter the lives of beggary until Rena has a chance encounter with Lord Barric. While many in his circle of peers and in his family strongly attempt to dissuade him from associating with the two widows, he continues to help them, both with food and lodging.
Stephens explores the racism and stereotyping that were common during the time period represented in the book. She does not gloss over harder subjects and is willing to show the downsides to both cultures, especially as they pertained to women struggling to survive on their own. The historical details have been meticulously researched without making the book feel stodgy or the pace unpleasantly slow due to their additions. A must read for anyone who loves historical fiction with a smidge of romance.
Thank you to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an early release copy. This has not influenced my rating.

I enjoyed reading Shadow Among Sheaves, but a one thing kept it from being a five-star read for me. I found it a little predictable. I enjoy retellings, but too often I find that I know what is going to happen and how it's going to happen. The start was a little slow for me, but once the story picked up, I liked it. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

I wanted to read this Christian romance because it’s a Victorian historical romance (already my jam) based on one of my favourite bible stories- Ruth and Naomi. I was intrigued to see how that love story would be “modernized” into a mid 19th century British setting.

The premise of this is Rena, an Indian young widow from a wealthy family chooses to follow her gentry-class mother-in-law, Nella, back to England, when her mother-in-law is also widowed. The problem is that just like in India, 1860s England is no place to have been in an interracial marriage nor to find acceptance if you’re a different race and her kindness in choosing to cleave herself to her mother-in-law brings hardship and sacrifice from both women.

This novel had me thinking of Ruth and Naomi’s story in a different way. I’ve always sort of romanticized their relationship, and even Ruth and Boaz’s relationship. But in reality, what must it have been like when Naomi rolled back to her hometown after years abroad with nothing to show for it but the added “burden”/blessing of a foreign daughter-in-law especially in a xenophobic time. What must it have been like for Boaz to overlook all the “appropriate” young ladies in his community and choose a widowed stranger that didn’t have the acceptance of his people? I found myself thinking a little harder of the complex realities of my favourite bible story in a way that I hadn’t before.

If you’re reading this, I’d say park your plausibility glasses at the door, especially if you’re a regency/Victorian romance buff. I found lots of points in this story where I was saying “but why doesn’t she just...” The premise of this book was a little bit of a hard sell for me because I think in the Bible story, Ruth and Naomi were both poor and returned home to relatives who lacked. In this book, Rena’s return to England with Nella seems to place a huge burden on Nella even though we’re told several times that it is Rena with the burden- it seems that the suffering is instigated by Rena’s presence with Nella. There’s a major plot twist in the book towards the end that had me bemused because it was so left field and Deus ex machina but if you’re not being the plausibility police, it made for an interesting conclusion to the end of the book.
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Even though this is listed as Christian Fiction and it’s based on a major story from the Bible, I wouldn’t say this was overtly Christian either in content or expression. There’s not much biblical content (apart from the overall premise) or sermonizing or treatment of issues true a faith lens or questions of faith. In fact, faith is not particularly overtly discussed in this, other than the fact that they attended church, which is standard in any genre of historical romance. Also, although this isn’t at all explicit, the main couple are in physical “adult situations” more often than you would typically find in a Christian romance.
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In the end, this made me want to read more Christian romance than I’ve been reading recently. I received an advanced reading copy of this novel from #BarbourPublishing and #ShilohRunPress through #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. What s debut novel! I cannot wait for more of this author’s work. This novel was based loosely on the biblical story of Ruth. It takes place around The Great Rebellion in 1857. The stories of Rena and Nell are heart breaking at times. They deal with prejudice, homelessness, and poverty. Do they overcome? How does Lord Barric fit in? This was a thought provoking novel and was hard for me to put down. Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel is a beautifully written retelling of the Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz story from the Bible.
The characters feel real in terms of their actions, hesitations, and motivations. I could empathize with Rena's despair at being cast off and widowed. I could understand Barric's hesitation and indecision regarding aid to the two widows and how it would look. I really appreciated the Pastor's statement that Barric could NOT do nothing -- the women were already his responsibility as a Christian. Some of the language in the book reminded me of poetry in its depth and beauty. The setting and historical references appear to have been well researched and add considerably to the reader's understanding of societal pressures of the day. I hope this author writes more; she reminds me of Sandra Byrd, whose books I absolutely LOVE. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a moving story to get caught up in for days and remember for a long time.

Where to start! Wow this book was a fantasic story, my favorite version of the the story of Ruth, Boaz & Naomi.

The author did a marvolus job weaving in the oppression and belief systems that are part of the hindu faith and showing how God can work through any circumstance. I loved the interaction between characters and I was pulled in from the very beginning of the book. I would definitely recommend picking this book to read and I already can not wait to read more books by Naomi Stephens.

One thing that I did not particularly like however was the use of a couple cuss words, as they really do not add to the story. Personaly I do not see a reason for them to be used in a christian fiction book.

I was given a copy of this book for honest feedback by Barbour Publishing the opinions expressed with in are my own.

One of my favorite stories and books in the Bible is the story of Ruth and Naomi. Shadow Among Sheaves is a well written Allegory about this wonderful story. The time period is 1857. It takes place in England during the Great Rebellion. Rena a beautiful Indian widow returns home to England with her widowed mother-in-law Lady Nell Hawley. No one expected Rena to leave her homeland of Indian and her family behind when her husband a British Officer suddenly passed away. Moving to England with Nell, least of all Nell herself. Nell begged her to stay with her parents, where she would be taken care of. But just as in the Bible story Rena vowed to go and to take care of Nell. Our Boaz in this story is the land owner Lord Barric. He is captivated by Rena's beauty the first time he sees her in his fields, stealing grain.

This book had me at the heartstrings right from the first page. Ms. Stephens is an incredible story teller. I loved the way she wrapped her book around the story of Ruth, yet you never knew what to expect, Ms. Stephens made it her own. The characters are so endearing, you will fall in love with them. I couldn't have asked for more. Fans of Christian historical romance will not be disappointed with Naomi Stephens new book.

I received a copy of this book from Shiloh Run Press and Barbour Publishing through Net Galley. The opinions in this review are my own.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I am...Wow! I don't even know where to begin. This is a new author and this is her debut book. However, I would have thought her a seasoned writer. This book sucked me in from the get go. This is a re-telling of the story of Ruth and Boaz. Sigh! I loved the story of Ruth so much that my husband and I recited passages from this book of the Bible in our wedding vows over thirty-five years ago. So, when I saw the description, I was all in. Now, add in flavors of Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, (another fave of mine) then you know it is a winner in my opinion. I loved Rena, the Indian girl who was a young widow and her sweet mother in law Nell. They were so likeable and it broke my heart all of the trials and tribulations they experienced. I also loved how sacrificial Rena was in her love for Nell. Now, add in Lord Barric and I was smitten! It was a bit gritty, but a real look at life during that time for widows. It was a book that showed unconditional love and hope. This had a wonderful HEA! So, this may be my favorite or at least one of my favorite books I have read from this publisher. If you love romance, then this book is for you.
Now, for you sensitive readers, there are a few mild curse words throughout the book, which took me by surprise, but don't let that keep you from this amazing book.
I hope this author will write books for Alice, William and Charlie. ;)

I really enjoyed this unique version of the Ruth/Boaz story. I loved the idea of a Indian Ruth traveling to Britain post-Sepoy Rebellion. Very interesting. I found the "Boaz" to be a bit frustrating, and frankly at times stupid. Really. Just think about what you are saying and doing here. That was my biggest complaint. I saw very little reason why she would ever like him. But it was entertaining and a great twist on a familiar story. I will recommend it to others.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

A historical romance based on the story of Ruth, set in 1861, Victorian England. A young widow leaves her homeland of India to travel to England with her widowed mother-in-law, hoping for help from remaining relatives. Destitute, they are on their own, clinging to each other until one man finally reaches out.

“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1: 16

The history and setting of this novel worked well for a retelling of Ruth. The Indian uprising set up Rena for a lot of prejudice and outright hate once they tried to settle in England. Her love for Nell, her mother-in-law, drove her to sacrifice nearly everything to ensure their survival. The author does a good job of working in the theme of grief and loss on many levels--loss of spouses, dreams, status, family connections and homeland -- and showed how people deal with it differently. The story challenged me to think about what I put my hope in, people or God? Ultimately, some of the main characters turn to faith and their future takes an upturn finally.

The romance is a bumpy one, as they seemed to push each other away often, fighting attraction and even friendship. Social norms seemed more important to Lord Barric than doing what was right many times, influenced by his family and steward. It was hard to make out where he was coming from sometimes. I hoped he would be more like a Boaz, and be a noble man of strong faith. He was a bit more of a brooding hero, and given the setting, reminded me more of a Mr. Rochester.

Readers who enjoy a Victorian romance with a bit of grit and faith may like this book. A few instances of language and mature situations make this a better read for adults. 3.5 stars

Naomi Stephens has undertaken the task of writing the story of Ruth and Boaz in novel form in another time era. This book fell below my expectations and wasn't the read I thought it was going to be. Shadow Among Sheaves is a thinly veiled attempt to tell this story with only setting changes. Set during the time of England's occupation of India, the story begins with Nell and Rena Hawley returning to England after the death of their husbands. Nell is Rena's mother-in-law, and Rena is an Indian native.

Rena is not welcomed in Abbottsville because of her darker skin and her being an outsider. This is one redeeming feature of the book, because the discrimination and lack of acceptance gave a good idea of what Ruth went through when she went from Moab to Israel with Naomi.

This was not a book to hold my attention or intrigue my imagination. It is at best a two star book. I would rather try to suss out what Bible story I am reading and be beguiled by the plot.

My thanks to Barbour/Shiloh Run Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Indian widow Rena follows her widowed mother-in-law Nell to England. Unwanted in England because of the Great Rebellion of 1957, Rena must resort to stealing to avoid her and Nell's starvation. In time, they find mercy, compassion and more from Lord Barric.

I didn't want this book to end. From page one, "Shadow Among Sheaves" captured my imagination as it retells the biblical story of Ruth. I appreciated the author's perspective since this book made the strange customs of Ruth's time come to life in ways today's readers can understand. Note: the book does include some sexual marital content and two curse words.

One thing I would recommend is not to compare the novel to the biblical version of Ruth. I felt distracted through most of the book deciding if the scenario was indeed included in the biblical version - and it was, so it's all good!

Set in the late 1800s, an Indian woman is a widow that leaves India after losing her husband to illness. She vows to always stay and take care of her mothe-in-law as they set out to live in England where her mother-in-law is from. As they struggle to survive, Rena must decide if she will do whatever is necessary to provide for her mother-in-law. She must also decide if she can find love and peace in her new world. A definite page turner!

While not perfect, this was a good story about a young Indian widow who leaves her homeland to travel with her English mother-in-law back to England. It’s a story of the journey through grief, of selfless love, determination, and prejudice (both racial and social).

I admired the heroine’s strength and watching her own self-discovery of that strength as she faced her grief, her struggles with prejudice and ultimately her reconciliation of her Indian heritage and her new English circumstances.

I did feel the story was a bit too long and drawn out and a bit draggy in spots, however overall it was a satisfyingly good read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Barbour for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

What a fabulous retelling of the biblical story of Naomi and Ruth. The characters are well written and everything is well thought out. Hope to read more by this author soon.

A very good story. It hints at the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz, but is truly it’s own fictional tale. The characters are rich and the author gives good insight into what drives them. I read this in an afternoon and evening, finding it hard to put down.

Barbour Publishing, via Netgalley.com, granted my request to read and review this book. The review is my own opinion and not required.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. The good, is that the story was very interesting and kept my attention throughout. The characters were quite well developed. The story flowed well.
The reasons I did not give 5 stars on a book I did enjoy are these: minus one star for editing. It needs more editing. The biggest gaffe, in my opinion, was when the color of the dress changed within a few sentences. The second, and biggest reason is that this is listed as a Christian book, loosely based on the book of Ruth in the Bible. That claim is a big stretch of the imagination. Another thing that bothered me was the use of a British swear word.
Again, the story was interesting. I did enjoy reading it on it's own merit, but as far as being a Christian book, it missed the mark by quite a bit. The only hints of being Christian were that they attended church and the Mother-in-law prayed. So much more could have been included and that was disappointing. Would I read it again, maybe but I have so many new books I just don't know.

I loved this book! Rena, an Indian widow, gives up everything to take care of her mother-in-law. This book makes you think of Ruth and Naomi in the Bible and how they suffered. Like Ruth, Rena followed Nell to a strange place where she wasn't accepted by the people. This is the story of courage, determination, love, and faith. It is such a beautiful love story that you just can't put it down.

Wow! Just finished Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens last night. I love the way that Christian fiction has changed over the past however many years. Loosely based on the story of Ruth in The Bible, Shadow Among Sheaves is the story of Rena (from India) and her mother in law, Lady Nell Hawley (England). Wow, this story just captivated me from the beginning. Author Stephens really captures the cultural and religious differences between Rena's belief systems and her sweet mother in law, Nell who is a Christian. I love the tone of this book. There are so many Christian novels that use a story to shower the reader with condemnation or conviction and this is not one of those stories. I found myself relating to both Rena and Nell (actually Nell's faith resembles my mom's unshakable faith). The story is beautifully written and does not follow the Biblical story exactly, so the reader does not know what to expect throughout the modernized story of Ruth. None of the characters are perfect (except maybe Nell, she is adorable!)

The writing really shows the reader what it is like to come from everything and end up with nothing. Rena came from a wealthy family of influence and power in India and Lady Nell Hawley lived a life of wealth and influence. After Rena's husband passed away, within a short time Nell's husband also passes away. The horrible place that they wind up leaving in a storage room at a brothel is actually a step up from gutters and alleys for the two women. Rena's love for her husband keeps her going so that she can provide a way to take care of her mother in law. As the plot develops, the tension builds... Really good character development, writing, and flow. It inspired me to re-read Ruth in the Bible!! To spot the similarities and differences. Well done, I can not wait until the next book from Naomi Stephens!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Naomi Stephens, and Barbour Publishing for this ARC for me to read. As always my opinions are my own!!

This is an interesting retelling of the story of Ruth, using a Hindu girl named Rena, her English mother-in-law, Nell, and an English Lord named Barric. Rena fell in love with Edric, an English Officer, and she married him after only knowing him for three months. Rena came from a proud Brahmin family, and she was unused to English ways. Edric died after only being married for a short time, and his father Alistair died a few months later, so Nell left India for England, taking Rena with her, as Rena wanted to take care of her mother-in-law.
Alistair’s estate was left to a distant male heir in Australia, as it was the custom in the 1850’s with titled property, so Rena and Nell had to find work, which was made harder due to British men,women and children having been slaughtered by certain Indian people in their quest for independence (Rana’s father had helped the English and the ruler there protected the English people.) so Rana and Nell were ostracized by everyone they met.
Rana and Nell slept in ditches and barns until Rana begged for a place to stay in exchange for Nell working in the kitchen of the Gilded Crown, a place with a reputation for prostitution and thievery.
Rana and Nell are starving for food until Rana begs to pick up the leavings from a field owned by Lord Barric.
You will have to read the story for yourself to see what happens to them!