Another jewel from the fabulous Christian author Tessa Afshar.
A young Cushite And Gemina have ran away and married, but as the daughter of a Roman official it was not allowed by Kandake, the queen. 25 years later we see the result of their marriage, Chariline. Chariline overhears her grandparents talking about her presumed dead father who is very much alive and working at the palace. This starts her adventure. She enlists her longtime friend, Natemaher, to help and learns to pray and trust the Lord along her journey. She discovers a clue that leads her to stow away on Theo’s ship heading to Rome. Her steps are followed by a Cushite warrior whose been paid to kill her. Chariline learns to trust Theo’s God and her eyes are opened to God’s many gifts and forgivenesses. Continue the story of Chariline and purchase this book as soon as possible.
I was sent an advanced copy by Netgalley for my honest opinion. I had sent this previously. Thanks.

I read this book in récord time. To say I was obsessed wouldn't be suffice. The romance, the Faith, the JOURNEY- LOVEEEE! I was hooked from the very first page and could NOT put it down. This is one of my favorite Tessa Afshar books. I highly recommend it.

I did enjoy this story, it was very unsual to find something set primarily or partly in Cush, the historical region based around the horn of Africa featuring a biracial heroine. These are great plus points for the story, I also love almost everything Tessa Afshar writes, she was one of the authors who got me into Biblical fiction to begin with.

The hero is also related to one of the heroines from a previous story, but I won't give too much away. I loved Theo and his crew. The theme of two people who were scarred by the mistakes and crimes of the past and living under its shadow was very well written. I would say this book is about learning to forgive yourself before you can move on.

What didn't I like?

Honestly, sometimes I felt Chariline really didn't act like a 24 year old woman, but more like an impetuous teenager. She was at sea for weeks, and yet could not wait a couple of days to see someone? She's really, really impulsive, has no self-control and just makes silly choices a lot of the time. I'd say she comes across as one of the most immature of any heroine I've yet encountered in any work by this author.

I mean that might have been an intentional part of her development? I don't know. It just kind of annoyed me. Also, I was kind of jarred by the references to characters apparently eating with table forks: in like the 1st Century A.D. Table forks weren't invented or became common until many, many many centuries later.
I also felt the story kind of lagged and got a bit repetitive towards the end. Regardless, Tessa Afshar still is, and will probably remain one of my go-to authors for this genre.

I received an ARC of this title from Tyndale House via Netgalley. 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.”

Following the events of Thief of Corinth and Daughter of Rome, we have the story of Chariline and Theo in Jewel of the Nile. (Disclaimer:I have not actually read Daughter of Rome yet! Now I’m thinking about it!) It’s definitely not required to read either of them before this book, but it does give the backstory to a few of the characters, which always adds a fun dimension while reading.

From the Nile river, to Rome and Caesarea, I enjoyed the different settings in this book and could vividly picture each of them. There were quite a few little details that distracted me throughout the book, because I kept wondering if they were accurate to the culture/historical period, but that is a very minor element!

The plot kept me interested and I enjoyed the twists and turns! I correctly guessed a couple of the key plot points immediately after all the characters were introduced, (still not sure if that was intentional?) but I never knew how it was going to work out. I admit though there were a few times I wanted to gently shake Chariline, because “can’t you see it, girl???” ;)

Afshar is truly brilliant when it comes to comes to creating engaging and relatable characters with depth. The character's development through the story was not drastic, but satisfying.

I felt sorry for Theo when I read Thief of Corinth and almost didn't like him because he couldn't seem to understand Ariadne. So I was happy he got his own story and it felt good to see growth in him throughout this story.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this latest book by Tessa Afshar! Personally, it wasn't my favorite of her work, but I would definitely recommend. As always, I really appreciated the theme. We can always trust God will work all things together for good to those who love Him, who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) We are called to surrender to His purpose. And sometimes, when all we see is messy and painful, it’s God’s grace working in a way we could have never conceived ourselves.

Why did I take so long to read this amazing book. The story starts off with Chariline, our main character, parents running away to get married. Caught and separated Chariline was the result of their union. Her Mother died in childbirth and Chariline never truly felt love from her family. She thought her father died as well until she overheard her Grandfather say he is alive so Chariline goes to find him even putting herself in dangerous situations, resulting in a man trying to find her and kill her. To find her Mother friend she stows away on a ship going to Rome and she meets Theo the captain of the ship. With God help he decides to take care of her, but will she ever find her Father and will she and Theo ever admit the feelings they have for one another. This book was amazing. Feeling the need Chariline has to discover her need to find her father you do go on her journey and you will soon become invested in her plight. When she discovers who her Father actually is will she be able to handle the truth? Yes there are times when you want to strangle Chariline because in her search she does make foolish decisions but with Theo help she finally sees the need for other and the need for God in the midst of her journey. Going to God she starts making right choices in her life and this book teaches that no matter what you might be facing God is the best answers to all of your questions. I so highly recommend this wonderful book. Another masterpiece by Tessa Afshar and I will never wait so long to read her next book!!!

Started out a little deep and slow, but worth keeping going with this one. Rich history and well written, you experience the time period in a unique and lovely way.

Jewel of the Nile is the top reason why I love Tessa Afshar's Biblical Fiction. It is getting five stars from me.

Never a disappointment. Tessa Afshar brings the streets of Cush, Caesarea, and Rome to life, with a few boat rides in between. I especially appreciated Priscilla's character. I'm thankful for the way these books bring the Bible to life.

Based loosely on the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 of the Bible, this story is a follow-up of two other books by the author. Theo from Thief of Corinth is a major character who devotes himself to helping Chariline find the father she has never known. In a story filled with intrigue, adventure, romance, and history, readers are reminded of God's abiding love and challenged to face their emotional scars. I loved the way all the puzzle pieces came together at the end of the book to answer all the lingering questions. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley so that I might give an honest review.

I love Tessa Afshar’s books. Her historical research brought the setting of the book to life. While reading this book, I felt as if I’d stepped back into that time period. This helped me better grasp the daily difficulties and committed fellowship of those early believers during the days of the book of Acts.

The stories of Chariline, Theo, and Natemahar come together in a compelling way. My heart was touched by Chariline’s search for family and acceptance. There’s some palace intrigue that plays into this storyline and adds a touch of danger and mystery. But the thing I loved most about the book is the strong message of faith in Christ and how He changes a life when we accept Him.
This book is part of a series, but it would be easy to understand everything that’s happening in this book without having read the book that came before it.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A book that combines historical fiction with romance and suspense
Tessa Afshar, an award-winning and best-selling author of historical and biblical fiction, presents her newest book entitled "Jewel of the Nile", published by Tyndale House Publishers. Inc. Afshar starts the book with a brief flash about Chariline's parents in AD 31 and then the story picks up 25 years later with what will very likely be Chariline's last visit to Meroë, the capital city of Cush. She is accompanied by her aunt Blandina who raised her and the goal is to visit her grandparents. All her life she knew that her mother also loved Cush and that her father had been a Cushite. Questions swirl in Charline's head, a dizzying whirlpool of mysteries and she does not know it yet but this trip will add more mysteries and also danger. Afshar writes about her: "Philip would bid her to pray. Philip, who had taught her about God and baptized her with his own hands in Caesarea’s harbor one misty morning. He always began and ended everything with the Lord" (ch. 2). Theo, whom she meets back in Caesarea, has his own share of open questions and challenges. Will their experiences, scars from the past, and open questions be an obstacle on their paths or will it help them?
Two maps show the places that Theo and Chariline traveled to in the Roman Empire and in the Kingdom of Cush. These are a help for readers who need to refresh their knowledge of the various locations during the Roman empire. Furthermore, the "A Note from the Author" at the end of the book also helps with the understanding of some of the background (biblical and otherwise) of the book.
This is the second book of Afshar (after "Pearl in the Sand") which I read. I highly appreciate it that she introduces every chapter with a Bible verse. I highly recommend this book to readers who love Christian Historical Novels, especially those who also include some romance and mysteries.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#JewelOfTheNile #NetGalley

Love historical fiction, especially ancient Egypt settings.
but this book just moved too slowly for my taste, and felt more young adult and i was looking for something more adult.
perhaps i was hoping too hard for another "Cleopatra" book. I cant get enough of her story! particularly her daughter, Cleopatra Selene!

“Jewel of the Nile” is another of Tessa Afshar’s Biblical fiction novels.

One of the main characters is Natemahar who is based on the Eunuch in Acts 8:26-27. Tessa has created a character of whom we know very little but I don’t want to share too much about him here as it will give away too much of the plot. The ‘Jewel of the Nile’ refers to Chariline. She is a completely fictional character. Tessa also includes other Bible characters, such as Priscilla and Aquilla, and Philip and his daughters.

Chariline is brought up by her Aunt, having been told her mother died at childbirth. She had also been brought up to believe her father was dead and that she should never speak of him. What she did know was that her mother had loved him greatly and that he was a Cushite.

Early on in the book, Chariline discovers she has been lied to and that actually her father is alive and she decides to find out who he is and build a relationship with him. Natemahar, who befriended her from the age of seven, agrees to help her find her father. On her journey to finding her father, she meets Theo and a romance develops between them.

As I read this book, I realised that one of the big themes in it is that of shame and scars. Each of the three main characters – Chariline, Natemahar and Theo – carry scars that have had a huge impact on their lives. Chariline has lived with the shame of believing her Mother’s death was her fault, and that she is unloveable and a mistake. Theo was abandoned as a baby. He has a silver streak in his hair which is proof to him that there is something really wrong with him. Natemahar lives with the shame of what was done to him years ago and believes he is not a real man because of it and is not worthy of love.

At one point in the book Theo says to Chariline:

“Most of us have them. Scars from unhealed wounds. Some visible, like a poorly healed cut. Some invisible, always aching.

The problem with scars is that they tell their own twisted story. They make you see yourself through their distorted mirror.”

I think that is true for each of us too. Rather than seeing ourselves as God sees us, we see ourselves through our scars as broken and unworthy.

Each one of these characters learns to trust God with their scars and trust God with their future. Through learning they are loved by God they learn to open up to share their shame with one another and receive each others love and compassion in return.

Chariline “had learned to look in the mirror and not see a mistake, but to find instead God’s jewel staring back at her through the scars of her life.”

Another lesson Chariline learns is to accept God’s will over her own. She learns to pray to Jesus and ask him to show her the way she should go and she becomes willing to give up whatever he asks of her, even though it is costly.

What I really enjoy about Tessa’s books is she creates such believable characters, ones which you want to get to know. But not only that, they learn some valuable lessons about faith and God which also helps the reader today in their own faith journey. Her books always teach something about God and faith but it is not done in a preachy way, it is expertly woven into the plot and the lives of the characters themselves.

I enjoy Tessa’s Biblical fiction because it gives me a deeper interest in reading the Bible, it helps me to understand the life, times and culture of the Bible and also feeds my soul.

Each time I read a book by Tessa Afshar, I find myself doubly blessed. Yes, she writes marvelous stories to satisfy my love for fiction, but she also shares words that both challenge and deepen my faith. I find myself amazed with the depth of her fictional characters, and I often go to my Bible to check many of the details in the story. Jewel of the Nile is certainly no exception. I fell in love with Chariline and Theo, and I found myself eagerly turning pages to see what this young impulsive woman was going to do next, and what Theo would have to do in order to protect her from those impetuous actions. I enjoyed that many other familiar people from the Book of Acts are mentioned, and that Priscilla and Aquilla once again get a chance to shine. I also gained a whole new perception of the encounter between Philip and the Eunuch that is recorded in Acts 8!

Jewel of the Nile is filled with adventure, danger, and intrigue, as Chariline searches for the father she's never known. There's also a swoon-worthy romance that offers so much more than just physical attraction. Above all, this is a story that offers a powerful faith message. As Priscilla reminds Chariline "The problem is that when you are flesh-driven, you cannot be Spirit-led." This is a remarkable book and I recommend it to all who enjoy biblical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley. There was no obligation for a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.

Classic Tessa Afshar. Biblical Fiction. Romance. Mystery. Well researched story line. Memorable characters. Enjoy this novel. Five stars.

Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar is a faith based, great story! This book is captivating, emotionally moving with realistic characters and setting. The plot is excellent with it's unexpected but timely twists and turns. Frankly, the story just seemed to jump off the page, grab my heart and wouldn't let it go till I finished it!

Ms. Afshar's Jewel of the Nile is a wonderful story and I highly recommend reading this book!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Tindle House Publishers and Ms. Afshar for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

You have to allow the Lord to tell you the truth. Stop listening to your scars. You are not God's mistake.

My heart is anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. Psalm 55:4-5

I appreciate Tessa Afshar's gift for story telling and bringing the gospel so clearly to the Old and New Testament heroes of faith. This particular telling is of the Treasurer of Ethiopia coming to faith thru Philip. He is given the name of Natemahar and his story of faith is woven thru Chariline story of faith. Chariline is an orphan raised by her aunt. Her mother died giving birth and she carries the shame of causing her mother's death. Her father was killed in attempt to stop her parents from escaping their respected countries to be together. Her grandfather still carries the anger of what his daughter did and his relationship with his granddaughter is strained. She knows nothing of her parents and longs to know who she is.

Her story takes a turn when she discovers some information about her father and sneaks on the ship heading to Rome with Natemahar at the helm. The two had met earlier with sparks and with the prompting of a mutual friend, Charline begins an adventure of a life time.

The character development of these two you become drawn to because of their vulnerabilities and strength. Which reminds me that strength is from vulnerability and so is courage. The ironies of their past is brought to light when they develop a friendship and a need to protect the other's faith. They think more of the other than themselves. They make sacrifices and with gentleness display the gospel in the scars of their past. This is the human aspect of this telling. I also enjoyed the historical part as well. The two kept me turning the pages and wanting more of Jesus!

A special thank you to Tyndale Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

First Initial Thoughts

Chariline has felt like an outsider most of her life. Growing up in Cush (modern-day Sudan) her skin tone is much lighter and different than her neighbors. Her family is Roman. All her life her Grandfather has told her that her father is dead. She never got to meet her mother, as her mother died shortly after she was born. One day she finds out that her father is actually indeed alive and she is intent on finding him. I found Chariline to be impulsive. She made rather rash decisions to find her father without really thinking about what she was to embark on. Even though she was impulsive, she was smart, witty, and strong-willed.

Her trip was definitely a trip I wouldn’t want to experience. The trip itself took 6 weeks to reach the shores of Italy. I was kind of surprised by how long it took! Then they had a long trek to Rome. During the trip, she endured a sickness that sounded so eerily similar to the “c” pandemic. I couldn’t imagine being on a ship for 6 weeks and being sick for most of it! And I am sure it was not a luxury ship either.

Theo is a captain of a ship and transports goods to other ports in the Mediterranean. Chariline escapes onto his ship and he finds her stowed away with the goods. He is not happy but he reluctantly agrees to take her to Rome so she can find her father. I found Theo to be a gentleman but also strong, independent, and reserved. I think he felt a duty to take care of her since he knew her family. However, as the trip went on, will his feelings change?

Setting

This book will take you from the Land of Cush (modern-day Sudan) to Rome to modern-day Turkey and Isreal places. Tessa definitely does her research and prepares the reader to learn even more about Biblical times than they previously knew. Each culture was vastly different and Tessa mastered creating each place with such vivid descriptions. It must have been an interesting time and place!

Final Thoughts

As the novel progressed Chariline and Theo’s relationship deepened. For most of the novel I was just saying “say something to each other!!”. Though I do appreciate that Tessa made the reader wait for their relationship to be reciprocated. Sometimes when the main characters get together too soon, it can be a little much. I think Chariline grew tremendously in her faith in the story. In the beginning, she was quite impulsive, doing her own thing. While sometimes that is ok, we also need to consult in God before we make huge life decisions. He knows what is best for us and we should lean on that.

Throughout the novel, there were various minor characters. Though they were minor, I felt like I came to love them. For example, the cook on the ship. He was such a sweet old man and he took such good care of Chariline while she was on the ship. The other minor character was Virtruvia. Even though she played an integral part in the novel, her part for the most part was minor. She was so sweet to Chariline, and treated her like her own daughter. She was also very generous and smart. I love it when authors have minor characters in a book stand out among the main characters as well.

I also learned a few things about history during that time. It was such a fascinating time shortly after Christ’s death. Christianity was reaching places all the way down to Cush. The main characters in the book are fictional however, some of the characters in the book are based on real people in the Bible. The queen in Cush, even though renamed, was also a real person during that time. She was quite ruthless and it was interesting to learn that women often ruled more so than men during that time.

I’ve been a fan of Tessa Afshar’s books since first discovering her very first novel at a library and diving in. Since then I’ve eagerly anticipated her next release, only missing last year’s due to all the fun of 2020. That being said, getting to start this new book was like stepping back in time and greeting dear friends, though I hadn’t met them, yet.
Ms. Afshar’s books are the only Biblical Fiction I’ve read and I think it’s because I enjoy them so much, I’m concerned I’ll be disappointed or unfairly compare another author’s work. There is so much depth of character and history in Ms. Afshar’s writing, and I loathe having to put down one of her books, once I’ve started it. I love the beauty of her descriptions, how she brings the ancient past to life in a way that makes it seem maybe not quite so distant. Though I know her works are fiction, I so enjoy how she uses Biblical teachings and accounts, bringing life to scripture that I’ve read most of my life.
I confess, Chariline wasn't my favorite character, at first. She is impetuous and listens little to the advice of others. At first. But as the story progressed, I found myself liking her more and more. She is more than she first seems and I couldn't fault her for some of her actions, especially as she quickly sought to learn from her mistakes. I also couldn't help but love Theo and his motley crew.
Overall, this is a book that I'm hoping to read again very soon and it definitely makes me long to revisit friends from previous novels.

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

Tessa Afshar is an author that has not written a book yet that I haven't enjoyed. This book has not disappointed me.

This wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it was good. It had Biblical persons mentioned in the book but they were not major characters. This book was set in Biblical times but the characters, though well developed, were fictional except possibly one.

This story is part mystery and part romance. The characters were well developed. Some items, while making the story interesting were not quite believable. This story did a good job of showing true Christian faith and beliefs without being preachy.

I would recommend this book and give it a 4 out of 5-star rating.