Shadow among Sheaves

This is a very well written book and the author paints such vivid pictures with her words. This is a very moving story about a daughter-in-law who gives up everything to stay with her mother-in-law. This book has action, drama, suspense and romance. This is a book you will remember long after you are though reading it. I highly recommend this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion of this wonderful book.

SHADOW AMONG SHEAVES by NAOMI STEPHENS is a touching love story which takes place in Victorian England and follows closely the biblical story of Ruth and Boaz.
It is a cleverly written book and the characters are well portrayed. The author has obviously researched the history of England and India at the time.
Subjects such as racial discrimination, class distinction and pride play a part in the story.
I particularly like the way Rena, the young Hindu widow, is drawn to the one true God, largely due to the parson's kindness and his messages that really speak to her in her time of need.
It is also the story of the love and devotion of a daughter in law towards her mother in law. We see how Rena is prepared to do almost anything to make sure that Nell will never again be starving or sleeping in a gutter.
It is altogether a lovely book and one I can highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing Inc. the opinions in this review are completely my own.

I had never heard of Naomi Stephens before, but I liked the book description and wanted to read it. I was interested in the concept of comparing the Biblical Ruth and Boaz story to an Indian woman leaving her family and everything familiar to live in England. Now don't misunderstand, it is very loosely based on Ruth. But the similarities are present. I was pleasantly surprised that the plot line flowed nicely.

I liked the characters, settings, and attention to detail; descriptions of clothes, hair, weather, etc. Overall, it is a very good book that I would recommend to anyone who likes Regency fiction.

Shadow Among Sheaves is author Naomi Stephens’ debut Christian fiction novel. It is a 19th century retelling of the biblical love story of Ruth and Boaz focusing on the characters of Rena Hawley, who was a young widowed Indian woman, and Lord Barric, a wealthy British aristocrat. After an unsuccessful rebellion to try to gain their independence from British control and the loss of many innocent British lives, the British feelings toward people from India were often those of disgust and contempt. After the death of her British officer husband, Rena and her widowed mother-in-law make their way from India to England, where the Hawley family is from. When they arrived in England, they are treated poorly because of Rena’s background. A second cousin of Rena’s late husband, Lord Barric, eventually provides assistance to them when no one else will. Could there be a chance for love for Rena and Lord Barric despite their different backgrounds and the negative feelings toward people from India during that time?

I really enjoyed this novel and the biblical retelling of Ruth and Boaz. Naomi Stephens created compelling characters and an interesting storyline. She depicted the poor treatment that the Indians faced in Britain in an honest and straightforward manner, including the derogatory way many of the British people spoke to Rena and the living conditions Rena and her mother-in-law were forced to endure. Because of where she was from and the color of her skin, Rena was made to feel like an “untouchable.” This was a wonderful debut novel and a very well written story. I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from
NetGalley and Barbour Publishing and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Shadow among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens is a debut novel that I really enjoyed. I am always happy to find a new author especially in the Historical fiction category. This book is a compelling read based on the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz. That alone was the draw for me. The story is beautifully written, and the plot was like eating assorted chocolates. I never knew what I was biting into, but my palate exploded with enjoyment. It is truly refreshing to read a book when you have no idea which way the story is winding. Although the story resembled the Biblical story of Ruth in faith and message it was unique with a cast of interesting well-developed characters. A favorite quote: “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 received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Shadow among Sheaves
By: Naomi Stephens
The Great Rebellion of 1857 has brought discord between the British and the people of India. Despite the tensions, Rena an Indian woman and Edric a British soldier falls in love. An accident occurs leaving Rena and her mother in law widowed. Rena doesn’t feel welcome going to her parent’s home but instead decides to follow her mother in law back to England. England does not welcome Rena. Edric’s second cousin Lord Barric takes pity on Rena and her mother in law and choices to aid them. Lord Barric and Rena face the backlash of this decision together and find their hearts pulling them towards something more.
This play off of Ruth and Boaz was an endearing read. Perhaps though because I am familiar with Ruth and Boaz’s life, I was a bit bored. There were obvious differences, however, I knew what was coming so there was not much to look forward to. It was a well-written book and the author did a wonderful job pulling you into the story.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I share here. https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

Shadow among Sheaves
by Naomi Stephens
Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Shiloh Run Press

Christian , Romance

Pub Date 01 Apr 2019


I am reviewing a copy of Shadow Among Sheaves through Shiloh Run Press and Netgalley:


The Great Rebellion of 1857 was remarkably bloody. At the time of the rebellion the imperial influence Britain had on India led to brutal clashes on each side. No one could understand why Reena, an Indian Woman would mary a British officer. They could not understand her decision to follow her Mother in Law to England after her husbands tragic death.


Once Reena and her Mother in Law show up in Abbotsville. Lord Baric does what he can to help him against his better judgement.


I give Shadow Among Sheaves five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I never know what to expect when I start reading a book from a new author. Thankfully, this book met every expectation for a deep, challenging, beautiful read. The characters, the story and the history are woven together perfectly with enduring romance and faith. I look forward to more books from Naomi Stephens!

Shadow among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens is a beautifully written story based on the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz. A debut novel done well with believable characters and situations. The story takes place during the revolts that took place in India and there is much prejudice and mistrust against Rena because she is of Indian decent. When both her husband and her father-in-law die, she follows her mother-in-law to England hoping they will be taken in by family. Rena sacrifices much for love, her reputation and her own family. When Rena is caught gleaning in Lord Barric's fields and he discovers who she is he allows her to continue against much concern.

Rena come across many unscrupulous and prideful people who make her life very challenging. Can she find protection and romance. I really enjoyed this book and hope Ms. Stephens decides to continue this as a series, maybe a book about Charlie or William.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

Very well written. The almost poetic way this author writes pulled me in and held me captive the whole time.
The story had a "raw" quality to it that made it feel real, and gave the characters a realistic feel to them.
For me the romance part of the story never really captured me, and I felt that there was a bit left unsaid and underdeveloped.
This book does contain a couple swear words (not blasphemy), and some derogatory words.
I really appreciate how the author showed the perspective of a Indian person during the Victorian area, and how the Hindu perspective may have seen the English lifestyle.
I wish I could have seen more of Rena's faith development.
Though some of the things in the story bothered me, I really enjoyed the way this author wrote.
I was given a copy of this book from the Publisher through Netgalley. My opinion and review is my own.

Shadow Among the Sheaves by Naomi Stephens is a novel based on the story of Ruth and Naomi from the Bible. The story begins in England in July 1861. Rena and her mother-in-law Lady Hawley have arrived from India. Rena was born and raised in India as part of a wealthy family. She married Nell’s son, Edric Hawley who was in the English military. After he and his father passed away, she decides to go with Nell to England as that had been the plan for her and Edric. They arrive with nothing and begin to visit the relatives of lady Hawley and are turned away quickly and sometimes cruelly because of the extreme racism against Rena. The end up living in the back room at a Brothel where Nell cleans and Rena searches for work. She ends up picking up the grain left behind in a field; she is caught but the overseer tells her he will not have her arrested but she can only continue for that one day. When the owner of field learns what happened he allows her to continue gleaning from his fields. Will this solve their problems and will they be able to leave the brothel for better housing? Rena finally begins attending church with Nell but will she become a Christian?
I enjoyed this book very much. Being familiar with the story of Ruth I was expecting a happy ending but there is a bit of a surprise at the end. The story does not mirror the story of Ruth but is an updated version that is very similar. The writers descriptions drew me in and I could feel the cold and imagine the pain of cracked and calloused hands not used to hard labor. I believe it will appeal to a wide audience of Christian readers and give it 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Shadow among Sheaves is the debut novel by Naomi Stephens. It is a retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz. I love that story and love to read various rewritings of it. I was so excited to have the opportunity to read and review this book. I was not a bit disappointed. I found Lord Barric and Rena to be likeable characters. The Great Rebellion of 1857 is not a piece of history I am not familiar with, so I was intrigued with reading a new era.

Shadow among Sheaves is getting a well deserved five plus stars from me. Miss Stephens is definitely a very talented author and I can not wait to get my hands on her next release. I am curious to find out where her imagination will lead her readers to next.
Shadow among Sheaves is a must read. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy Ruth and Boaz’s story, as well as those who enjoy clean historical fiction.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Not since I read Jane Eyre as a teenager have I been so captivated with a book. The characters are genuine and compelling and Stephens’ writing is lyrical, often haunting in its beauty. I knew that the premise was a retelling of the biblical story of Ruth and Naomi, but I did not expect such masterful writing, such poetry, to accompany the retelling. Of the loss of both her father-in-law and her husband, Rena (the “Ruth” character) thinks, “[they] seemed to live and linger in these moments, filling up the quiet and pressing outward, as if both men were pushing at them from behind a glass wall.” Later, in her grief, Rena’s thoughts of the unexpected death of her young husband are that, “Death often sidled up to the strong.” I have read the story of Ruth and Naomi often, but Shadow among Sheaves reminded me that Ruth was not only a foreigner, not only considered a pagan, but also an enemy to her husband’s people, the last being something I had never considered. The book’s setting is England in 1861 as Lady Hawley (Nell) and her Brahmin daughter-in-law (Rena) return from India after the death of both Sir Hawley and his son Edric, who served in the British military in India. This setting is just a few years past The Indian Rebellion of 1857, and emotions still run high against Indian people. In addition, Nell and Rena find themselves desperately poor and unable to open doors which funds might otherwise lubricate. As in the biblical story, Rena finds herself in the fields seeking grain for food. The Boaz figure is retold as Lord Barric, an earl, who is also a distant relative of Rena’s father-in-law. The story runs deep with themes of grief, separation, romance, and betrayal, before concluding—such a satisfactory conclusion!—with love and joy. This is a book I will long remember and highly recommend. Five solid stars from me!

In an elegant writing style, Naomi Stephens moves Ruth & Naomi’s story to a brooding gothic setting to share the tale of determined heroine Rena, who sacrifices her dreams, her dignity, and her future to be true to her mother-in-law Nell. Rena suffers prejudice and ill-treatment by many before she is finally befriended, accepted, and loved. This is a quiet tale of those who rise above the ugliness of life to reach for what is true, noble, right, pure, and lovely. A treat for inspirational historical fiction lovers!

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this story!

Quotes I liked . . .

“You think your desert sands are everything, but there is a whole world beyond this heat. Someday I will take you to England. We’ll pluck apples from the trees and lie in the grass all evening while we eat them. And then I’ll whisper in your ear all the ways I love you.”

“But Nell. . .” Rena whispered after a moment, as if hearing his questions. “I could not watch her board that ship alone, with nothing. She begged me at the docks to stay behind in India. But Nell is my family too, as much as my parents, and I must take care of her.”

“No. I have spent more than enough time being taken care of. We all must suffer now and then, and I am strong enough to bear it. There is no other option than to endure.”

In the end, Rena’s own words had persuaded her to follow Nell to church that morning. “Your home is my home,” she’d said all those weeks ago, when she’d begged to remain at the woman’s side. “And everything you are and everything you love—that is all I ever wish to be.”

“She realized she’d stopped breathing. Blessed. The word clanged around inside of her. Blessed to mourn? To feel empty? Blessed to be poor and starving, she added bitterly, to have nowhere else to turn?”

“But I miss the sand that gathers between the tiles in the entryway of our home, and the hibiscus that grows outside my chamber. I miss the way my father’s study smells in the early evening, of spices and ink, and the way the endless heat drags on for forever, hazing the horizon until the monsoon season comes. And if you look just right from the outer terrace, you can see men and women as they walk to the market, or the crimson coats of soldiers as they pass. . . .”

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!

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!!

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!

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.

I loved it! This book read like a classic historical fiction romance novel much in the vain of Francis Rivers. I really have enjoyed these types of novels in the past, a kind of "modern" retelling of a story many people know but with more of the plot filled in and some dialogue created. This book does not follow EXACTLY the biblical story, but i think that's the point. The author takes liberties and for me, this story really works. It starts with a biblical context for a base and then creates a whole new thing.

In this book, two widows travel from India to Britain after their husbands both die during the war. The women are related as mother/daughter-in-law and the DIL chooses to stay with her MIL. Hence the classic "Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God." Ruth 1:16 Once in Britain they are met with racism, sexism, poverty, and a new love interest. The DIL/MIL relationship is very sweet and they do a good job of taking care of one another. I enjoyed their fraternal bond as much as I did the romance in the book.

I loved the authors descriptions of the setting and the clothing. I could imagine myself in the middle of the balls, dancing the night away. She does a wonderful job of describing scenes and creating tension.

This got a little Hallmark Channel for me by the end, with some of the outcomes feeling a little over the top for the time period and the situation, but if you're into romance above all, you will love this book.

Thank you Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book prior to publication. I would recommend to lovers of romance, historical fiction, and biblical classics.

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. ;)

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 was a beautifully written & evocative novel loosely based on the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. Ruth accompanied her mother-in-law Naomi. She later meets & marries Boaz.
In this story Rena is the young woman whose husband Edric suddenly dies. She accompanies her mother-in-law Nell to England, Nell’s country of origin. The novel is set in 1861. Because Rena is from India (where she met her late husband, a soldier in the British army), she is subject to degrading discrimination in England. God lead her to stay with & care for Nell. Even though Rena wasn’t a Christian at that time, God was able to speak to her & guide her actions. She & Nell are penniless & starving. Not for her own sake, but for Nell’s, she picks up rejected bits of wheat from the harvesting of Lord Barric’s fields. Rena is a woman of great dignity & pride. Naomi Stephens is able to describe how difficult Rena’s actions are to carry out. In India Rena was from the upper class Brahmin caste. Because she cares more about Nell than herself, she is able to cast off her pride to keep Nell from starvation. Rena is brought low by her poverty but still manages to keep her dignity. However, I don’t see what Rena saw in Jack Fairfax (Lord Barric). He came accross as a pompous ass. He went along with all his upper class friends & joined in the harassment. He mocks & embarasses Rena in front of his peers, in front of Rena & still she pursues him. I didn’t get that at all.
Nevertheless, I greatly enjoyed this novel. There was a clarity & purity to the writing as well as to the plot.
Because of Nell’s faith & steadfastness to God, Rena converted to Christianity.
I’ve not read any novels by Naomi Stephens but, because I liked this novel so much, I plan on reading additional novels by this author.
Thank you, Netagalley & Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read & review this novel.

Wow. I am stunned by this elegant novel. It caught my attention from page one and never let go. The story is absolutely beautiful and the writing was perfect. I could not put it down even though I read it as an eBook. (Congrats to the author for that. Very few books are this way.)

This book was unique due to the fact the diversity. It was a refreshing change and I am so happy to see other countries and people groups represented in the Christian genre. The meaning of this story is clear and stays true to the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz while taking place in the 1800s.

The writing shows how much time and effort that Stephens put into researching the Bible and time period. The writing reminded me of Joanne Bischof's and that is the highest compliment I can possibly give as far as writing style.

I would recommend this book for older teens and adults due to some references and a few uses of language.


Personal Rating: 5 Stars

Content Rating: 1 Star

*I received this book from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

This book was promoted as an updated version of Ruth and Boaz from the Bible; however, though there was a similarity in a few areas, the story somewhat drifted away from it.

That is not to say that I did not enjoy the story for I did.

The author kept me interested in the ups and downs that Rena suffered, the prejudice she received from the town's people and the turmoil Lord Barric endured (due to his love for Rena) throughout the story. The faith that Nell (Rena's mother-in-law) and the local clergy had for Rena and Lord Barric was uplifting to read.

Overall I give this a 5 star rating. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I loved it. It was a historical book that brought the story of Ruth in the Bible to life. Ruth is my favorite book of the Bible but I never really stopped to think of just what Ruth sacrificed when she stayed with her mother in law. This brought it all front and center but did so beautifully.

Shadow among Sheaves tells the story of Reva. She is a native Indian and she married a British soldier. The conflict between India and England was still very fresh in the minds of many when they married. It was also against both of their parents wishes, yet they loved one another. When Reva loses her husband and her mother in law loses her husband and her son, Reva pledges her faithfulness to Nell, her mother in law. They both return to Nell's hometown but are rejected due to Reva being of Indian heritage. They suffer great poverty until Reva discovers the fields of Lord Barric. Barric has no idea why he takes pity on Reva but he does. He also finds himself drawn to her but knows he cannot act upon it. When a will comes into play and Barric's family becomes interested in Reva's husband's estate, things begin to get more complex. Barric and Reva fight their attraction to one another but it does not stop them from thinking about the other.

Reva has her own struggles to overcome. She has to comes to terms with her grief and decide to live instead of stay in morning. She also has to come to terms with her relationship with Nell's God. When Reva is asked to do one thing for Nell that is the hardest for Reva to do, Reva puts all her faith and trust in God and in Barric. I will not spoil it for anyone but the ending was so well written. I absolutely loved the book and look forward to reading more of Stephen's books.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest feedback.

Wow, this book totally blew me away.

I hadn't heard of it until I got an invitation from Netgalley, and I'm so glad they read me right! I love Jesus and I love reading, but I typically stick with classics and YA, because adult books tend to be inappropriate and the few Christian novels I've attempted have sometimes been painfully cheesy or poorly written.

I am happy to report that Shadow among Sheaves is neither. I think the redemption arc of showing how someone comes to faith in Jesus and the romance arc of showing how people fall in love are some of the hardest things to write--because the ending is supposed to be predictable, and the journey is universal and so intensely personal all at once. But I was really, really impressed with how Stephens managed both elements here.

I've also always been fascinated and a little puzzled by the story of Ruth and Boaz, and I'm sure many women who grew up in the church can relate. Like what in the world, she went to lie down at his feet at night at her mother-in-law's behest? This story takes all those elements and plops them into Victorian England, in a way that really makes the Bible come alive. And on top of everything else, this story happens to come at a time in my life where so many elements felt even prophetic--the struggle with knowing what society expects versus what God wants when it comes to romance, the struggle of leading a friend to love Jesus without being burdensome--but also without being silent, etc. AKA just those everyday moments of trying to love Jesus and grow in faith.

I admit I was a little uneasy with the idea of Rena being Indian, because I assume the author is white. I am a woman of color, and while I'm not Indian, I did feel like the author was very respectful while being true to the time period. I'm curious what others will think.

I will absolutely be rereading this. I'm so thankful I got to read this--I really treasured every chapter, and there were scenes that even brought tears to my eyes. The characters just felt so real, and Rena's grief so human. And if you can find me other Christian romance novels like this, full of Jesus but also well-written, send them all my way, and I will read them all with pleasure. I'll be looking for Stephens's next book.

I absolutely loved this book that is very loosely based on the book of Ruth from the Bible, but based in the 1800’s.

Rena is an Indian widow of an English officer. She follows her mother-in-law, Lady Nell Hawley, to England. There she experiences all sorts of prejudices because of her nationality, since England is fighting the Indian rebels. Unfortunately, her mother-in-law also feels the brunt of these atrocities because of guilt by association. I loved the descriptions and learned about some of the horrors of the prejudice that she faces.

This is book that I couldn’t put down and read consistently until the last page. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who wants to read a fast paced, historical work of fiction.

Thank you so much for the privilege of reading this book!

The story of Ruth and Boaz has been moved forward to Victorian England. Rena, a widowed Brahmin Indian woman, has traveled to England with her mother-in-law Nell and left her family and country behind. Due to the prejudice against Naomi and her birth country, no one will allow Naomi and Nell to have a home other than the storage closet in a brothel in exchange for Nell's be their dishwasher. Except for prostituting herself, Rena would do anything for Nell. When Rena is accosted by two high class men, Lord Barric comes to her rescue. In addition, Lord Barric allows Rena to pick up grain that has fallen to the ground during harvesting. Despite society's conventions, Lord Barric feels pulled towards Rena due to her beauty and her love for her mother-in-law. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest an voluntarily given review. The Book of Ruth has always been one of my favorite books in the Bible. With the prejudice today about many refugees, the setting in Victorian England brings the story more to life. Rena's action and behavior in the story are always above reproach. Lord Barric also always tries to do the right thing. This book is a very good read and I recommend it. I loved this book.

Retelling a Bible story in another time period is a powerful tool.

You aren't tampering with the original, so anyone who's nervous about Biblical fiction can safely be enjoy it.

Readers familiar with and enjoying period fiction (*raises hand ️) can get lost in the new story and forget about a key point of the original story, and be startled (not exactly surprised) by it when it happens!

You can explore the emotions and prejudices under a different light, often discovering that you are more familiar with them than you thought you were.

Shadow Among Sheaves did not disappoint! The compassion (and lack of it), the fear and love and uncertainty pulled me in hard.

Rena (Ruth) captured my heart. She did not allow herself the luxury of selfishness or self-pity (for more than a few minutes). Uncertainty, yes. Fear, absolutely. Courage and determination? Yes.

I also enjoyed the character development of Charlie. I became very fond of him before the end of the book. And the Parson, man, he's good! Keep an eye on him from the beginning!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clean romance, Biblical Fiction or novels set in Victorian England.

Naomi Stephens set the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz into England in 1861. Rena and her mother-in-law, Nell, left India where both of their husbands had died to return to Nell's relatives, who made up various stories of why they couldn't take Nell into their homes when they saw that Rena accompanied her. Soon destitute and starving, Rena picked up some fallen grain from Lord Barric's fields. The characters are likable, even though Lord Barric had to overcome society's expectations which took him awhile. Rena puts Nell's well-being above her own, and Nell treats Rena as her beloved daughter. One supporting character that I really liked was Parson Richardson, who behaved as a true Christian--giving, loving, and kind. The story is well written, the plot has twists and turns, and the dialogue seems natural for the time period. There were some slight mistakes with spacing which did not effect my enjoyment of reading Shadow Among Sheaves. I would highly recommend it to clean/wholesome romance readers and to Christian romance readers. I received a copy from NetGalley. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this moving book.

I almost didn't request a copy of Shadow Among Sheaves. I have a lot going on with books I've committed to read, with work, and with other life things. And then I read the description again. A retelling of Ruth? I love that book of the Bible. So I looked at my calendar again, pushed back the review date for a book that I purchased a month ago, and grabbed this one.

Sitting here now after reading it, I can't help but think what a shame it would have been if I didn't pick this one up. This compelling story has me looking at Ruth and the circumstances of her life much differently now. I've always focused on Boaz and his kindness toward her yet never really thought about the love that Ruth must have had for her first husband - to make her willing to face shame and discrimination from her people and from his for marrying him. Rena's deep love for the deceased Edrich and her grief is heart-wrenching.

Debut author Naomi Stephens has taken this familiar and well-loved story and breathed new life into it. With a richness of language and a depth of emotion, she portrays a very prejudiced England at the time of Queen Victoria in the wake of the Indian Mutiny. She tells of poverty and desperation. Of a man torn between his desire to do what is good and right and fear of the hurt it might do to his reputation and standing in the community if he does.

A friend and fellow reader commented that she didn't much care for Lord Barric - he was a little too much like Mr. Rochester. I disagree. I found him to feel very deeply about matters and to struggle with trying to live up to his father's reputation. I felt that he was very true to what an earl in this era would have been like.

I am so touched by the intense love of God that is communicated through these pages. The ""Your God will be my god"" part of Ruth's pledge was not made until later in this story and so we were able to see Rena's spiritual journey as she exchanged the beliefs of her ancestors for those of her dead husband's mother.

Be warned, though. This book requires having tissues close at hand! It will wring your heart and may even challenge your attitudes towards those who are in need and those who are "different" from you.

I highly recommend Shadow Among Sheaves to lovers of Christian fiction of all flavors. It is already on my list of candidates for "Best of" for this year!


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

Rena was overlooked in many ways due to her being an Indian. She persevered, through it all, after she was widowed she stood by (Nell) her mother-in-laws side no matter what. They slept in some of the worst areas. Nell's faith never faltered, while Rena is not sure which faith is the right one for her.
Barric does what he can for them, even though he can be arrogant . He is struggling with his feeling towards Rena, and the hate his family has toward her.

This book was encouraging and it shows you not to be so judgmental as you never know the path someone is following.

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

I was very impressed with this book! I thought the setting in England and the treatment of people from India was a nice parallel to the biblical book of Ruth. The developing relationship between Rena and Lord Barric was beautifully written and realistic too. That historical period held on to many British social society beliefs it was almost as unchangeable as the caste system in India. A wonderful story that was spiritual as well as romantic.

Oh, my, how I loved this book! And not just because I've spent so much time in India and London, but I'm also a fan of Ruth and Naomi (my mother was named after the Biblical Ruth). This story drew me in and captivated me until the early hours of the morning. It broke my heart over and over to see how Rena was treated, because I love the Indian people, and she was certainly a much better person than any of the Englishmen who trod on her! I read somewhere that this is a first novel for Naomi Stephens. I will be looking forward to much more from her (more along this line, in fact, I hope). Highly recommend to EVERY one!

“Shadow among Sheaves” is a beautiful allegory of the story of Ruth and Boaz from the Bible. Naomi Stephens sets this tale in 1857, when there was much anti-India sentiment in England, due to a bloody rebellion in the empire’s colony. Yet, Rena fell in love with a British officer and married him. When she and her mother-in-law, both found themselves widowed and destitute, they returned to England. Yet, England didn’t welcome Rene with open arms.

The historical context of this book fascinated me. The characters seemed to come to life on the (digital) page. If you don’t know the story of Ruth and Boaz’s great love, “Shadow among Sheaves” is a perfect introduction. If you are familiar with it, you will enjoy seeing how all of the pieces fit together in this beautiful retelling. Stephens puts them together, perfectly.

I was impressed by Stephen’s light spiritual touch, in this allegory of a Bible story. “Shadow among Sheaves” never feels “preachy,” but instead, the author lets the characters’ actions speak for themselves. I enjoyed this story to the very end. There is no blush factor in this book. It’s clean as a whistle!

If you enjoy historical fiction, allegories, biblical fiction, this is the book for you. I’m pleased to give “Shadow Among Sheaves,” 5 stars.

Thank you to Net Galley and Shiloh Run Press for allowing me to read an ARC of “Shadow among Sheaves” in exchange for an honest review.”

This story was so beautiful. There were so many nuances that really put the Biblical story of Ruth into perspective. However, the relationships between Rena and her mother-in-law and Rena and Lord Barric each contributed to a stand-alone story that I could not stop reading.

Shadow Among Sheaves is author Naomi Stephens' debut Christian Fiction Novel, but reads like the work of someone seasoned in the genre. The characters have interesting backstories and complicated personalities that leave you feeling invested and wanting to know more. The plot is well paced, and has the right balance of detail and movement.

As a retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz, the story hits a great equilibrium between maintaining the original and making it new, and breathing life into such an old tale. For someone versed in the Bible, the story is recognizable, but also has enough of a 'modern' historical twist to keep it exciting.

The best part of this story in my opinion was how well developed the characters were. The main characters of Rena and Lord Barric are both well written and have great emotions and complexities that make them seem very real. Even the secondary characters have interesting arcs that round out the story beautifully.

I enjoyed this book so much that I am going to an author signing to meet the author in my city. I encourage all readers who enjoy historical fiction to try this book, even if they haven't read any Christian fiction before.

This book is an allegory of the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, but it is set in 1857 during the time of the rebellion of India against Britain. Rena is an Indian who marries Nell's son, Edric. She meets Edric while he is in India in the army. The two fall in love quickly and elope. Just as in the Biblical story, Edric and Air Alistair (Rena's father-in-law) both die. This leaves Rena and Nell in India with no prospects. Nell decides to move back to England and Rena follows her. Rena knew it would be difficult, but she vowed to do everything she could for Nell.

Life was much harder than she could have imagined. She finds a little charity as she is gleaning in Lord Barric's fields. Just as in the Biblical story, he protects her, so she has a way to take care of herself and Nell.

I liked how the story stayed reasonably true to the Biblical account while adding in characters and events to make it feel like something that could have happened in the 1850s. There were people to love and people to hate. True friendships as well as true rivalries. The people had enough depth that they could be flawed and we could still related to them.

This is an author I will follow from now on - I enjoyed this book!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a beautifully written debut novel by Naomi Stephens. When I saw that this was a retelling of Ruth and Boaz, I was quite excited, because that is one of my favorite Bible books. When I started this story, I wondered how the author will write a novel from such a short book, and with interesting secondary characters, like Charlie, William and Alice, and historical facts which was smoothly intertwined with the Biblical retelling, the Victorian story came to life.

The author did a great job of making me as reader feel the hardships Rena and Nell endured, the prejudice against Rena, her difficulty to fit in, her pure surrendering heart and Lord Barric's tug to help her. There were a few things which if I compared it to the story of Ruth, I felt the characters were represented a bit different to how I experienced them in the Bible - Naomi was for me a stronger person of input in Ruth's life - Nell's influence was there, but more to the background, except at the end. My perception of Boaz was a bit different from the prideful Lord Barric who has this internal struggle to help and not let his title dictate his actions.

All in all I did enjoy this story and see a lot of potential in the author. She did a great job of making me think the difficulties Ruth had to experience. I would love it if she adds a novel about "life after Ruth", since Alice, William and Charlie is characters I would love to see again.

Content issues which will bother some readers:
* Some swearing (limited)
* Word "whore" used a few times
* Prostitution mentioned/referred to.
* The scene where Ruth went to Boaz might make some readers uncomfortable because of kissing.

The Biblical account of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz is one of my favorites. Shadow Among Sheaves will mimic aspects of that story but the author takes us on an unexpected journey with the geographical setting. Her choice in nationalities was difficult to imagine in the beginning of the book although it held my attention from the beginning and I was anxious to grasp where the book was going.

As I continued deeper into the storyline, my mind began to imagine and understand how terribly difficult Rena's choice to follow her mother in law to a world far away from anything she knew. Her gods, her family, her memories...all that made her the strong woman she was, she left behind. Her dedication to an aging Mother in Law and her desire to honor her deceased husband are are endearing. It is difficult to let go of love.
Barric is surprising and disappointing a few times. There are moments he seems completely taken with the young Indian widow and other times he seems aloof and brusque. I need to read it a second time and see how I feel.

There were many passages that I highlighted along the way. They resonated deep within my heart and now I'm writing this review over a month after I read it. THIS is the measure of a well written book!
I am sure I will read this again and dwell on a few facts I may have missed earlier. It was a quick read as I could hardly put it down.
Thank you, NetGalley & Barbour Publishing Inc.

I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing Inc. the opinions in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely loved this book. This book had caught my attention, when I realized the main character was Indian, and as an Indian Christian, I had never before read a book that featured an Indian protagonist in a Christian book, so I was very pleased to see that.
The story of Ruth and Noami in the Bible is a familiar one, and I have read another retelling of this story before and there may be even more that I’m not aware of, but this specific book had something that made it different in the best possible way. The time period, the addition of other characters, the addition of plots in this story all had me engrossed.
The main character Rena is so strong and amazing to read about. She endures so much scorn from people, yet she remains strong. Back in India, she was viewed as an “Indian witch” by her husband’s fellow officers, and in England, people consider her a harlot. This story really demonstrates how hard it is to leave your home and everything you knew, for a new life. Still, despite the trials and hardships, she refuses to go back to India, where her parents would have welcomed her and taken care of her, all because she loves her mother-in-law, Nell, so much.
Barrie was a sterner, more flawed version of Boaz, but I enjoyed that. He seemed more human for his mistakes. He’s drawn to arena from the beginning and despite how easy it would have been to cast off this women he had no obligation for, he still takes care of her and provides for her. The slow and steady romance between them was beautiful.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and as I got towards the end I wanted there to be more to the book, just so I wouldn’t have to say goodbye to these characters. I know the book of Ruth ends there, but I honestly wouldn’t mind reading more stories in this setting with theses characters. I would love to see more of Charlie, William, and Alice!

Oh, my goodness, I loved this book! I've never read anything by this author before now, but she's definitely on my radar now! This is a retelling of the story of Ruth, which is already a story very dear to me, but it took it even further and set it in a time period and setting that I knew very little about. This made the story extremely interesting to read!

I loved how true to the story of Ruth this book stayed! I felt that using the Revolution in India was a great choice to showcase how Ruth must have felt going to Naomi's homeland. Using Rena and Nell was an excellent way to demonstrate that! I loved how Rena kept trying to keep her distance from Lord Barric, and how they inevitably fell in love with one another despite their best efforts to the contrary.

The book really tugged at my emotions, and drew me in at a time when I desperately needed to relate to God's Word. I recommend this very highly to any Christian focused reader!

What a fantastic idea for a book! The story of Ruth and Boaz has to be one of the most beautiful and well-loved stories in the Bible, and I love the idea of retelling that story in a different time and place. This particular time and setting worked really well because Rena’s situation brought out similar racial, cultural, and religious issues to those Ruth would have struggled with as a Moabitess trying to assimilate into Jewish culture. It was interesting, too, to learn a little bit about Indian culture, particularly the stigma surrounding widows.

That said, there was one scene that I felt didn’t translate well from Ruth and Boaz’s story. Whereas this scene had cultural significance in the original story, it didn’t do credit to either character in this setting, and I think the story would have been better served by retaining the spirit rather than the specifics of the original.

I also found myself getting a little angry with the hero at times. To put it bluntly, he could be a jerk. He was something of a Darcy figure in that his attraction butted against his better judgment, though Barric was even less the gentleman than Darcy on occasion. Yet there were enough glimpses of the decent, steadfast soul behind that exterior that I couldn’t totally dislike him. On the whole, I would have to say I was intrigued by the contradictions in Barric’s character more than I was irritated by them, but if you’re expecting Lord Barric’s character to be modelled after Boaz, you may be disappointed.

Despite these observations, I thought this story was well written, and I found myself thoroughly invested, reluctant to put it down once I’d been drawn in. There is a lovely cadence to Naomi Stephens’ writing, and I hope I’ll be able to read more from her in the future.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I have always loved the Biblical book of Ruth. So I was intrigued when I saw the premise of Shadow Among Sheaves. Naomi Stephens took the story of Ruth and re-wrote it as historical fiction set in the late-1800’s. If you know the story of Ruth, you can figure out the ultimate end of the story; but how Naomi Stephens chooses to get to that end will pull you along through the story. Readers will empathize with Rena – the beautiful Indian woman who is looked down upon because of the Indian uprise against Britain’s imperial reign. She leaves all she has ever known to move to England with her mother-in-law to ensure Nell has someone to care for her. She never realized that she would be treated so poorly and that Nell would be rejected as well because of her. Neither Rena or Nell knew of the changes made to Nell’s husband’s will which will provide for them if only they can find a “kinsman-redeemer.”

Shadow Among Sheaves appears to be well-researched. Naomi Stephens includes details about life in India, some information about the uprising, and details about the life on an English manor and town in the 1800’s that could only come from research. I enjoy learning history from fiction.

I enjoyed reading Shadow Among Sheaves and would not hesitate to add it to my K-12 Christian School library. Those who enjoy Biblical fiction or historical fiction will probably enjoy this book.

I want to thank Celebrate Lit for the review copy of Shadow Among Sheaves.

If you enjoy Bible retellings (especially those about Ruth), then I have no doubt that you will simply fall into this one! I absolutely adored this story. I appreciated that it held the perfect balance between maintaining the essence of Ruth while still being its own unique narrative.

What I thoroughly loved about this story was the emphasis on the cultural implications. We know that Ruth and Naomi were from different cultures but do we really grasp how significant that was? Or do we simply assume that Ruth changed who she was overnight and was no longer burdened by her upbringing? In this depiction Rena came from India. I personally don't know a lot about Indian culture, but I do know that it is very different from my own. Historically even more so. I appreciated the research that was added into the narrative to give a fuller picture of the type of life that Rena came from. There were pieces she missed and those she didn't, but seeing just what she'd given up to marry Edric in the beginning and then again to follow Nell into England was a thought-provoking journey. It saddened me to see that everywhere Rena went, people saw her as an enemy and a cast-off because they could tell she was Indian. What made matters worse was that even her own people wrote her off after she'd married an Englishman. Seeing Barric initially throw her kindness out of humanity to then come to truly care for her, was truly heartfelt. Not only did I enjoy reading about the characters in this telling, but I developed a further understanding of the original Biblical account through them.

This story easily gets 5 stars from me. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it to historical and biblical fiction fans! I was amazed that this was Naomi Stephen's debut novel as it was simply masterful. This is an author I will certainly be keeping my eye on for the future!

*I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

There are few books that can be described as being both sensual and having a Christian undertone. This book intrigued me from the get-go. Rena is a grief stricken Indian woman traveling with her mother-in-law to a place she has never been; England. It is a sort of Victorian era Naomi and Ruth story. As a foreigner, Rena is mistrusted and looked down upon by even the patrons of the local whore house, where she has managed to beg place (the pantry) for her and her mother-in-law to lay there heads. I love how the characters develop and change over the course of the book and Rena's encounters with her would-be hero, Lord Barric.

This was beautifully written and kept me coming back (or up way too late) each day.

I would definitely recommend it to teens and adults

I loved this new take on an old classic. Stephens does a masterful job of weaving in enough suspense and romantic twists keep me turning the page on a work outside of my genre. I really wanted to know how this story would end--even though I already knew in the historical sense. Stephens added in so much tension in parts that I wasn't sure if the ending would align with my Biblical understanding. I'll leave the reader to wade through the mystery, but know this: you're going to want to know what happens next!

This book was an interesting retelling of the biblical story of Ruth, set in historic England. Rena, a young Indian widow, travels to England with her mother-in-law, also widowed. She faces discrimination, poverty, and starvation. While she is willing to work, no one will offer an Indian woman a job. As both women struggle with the loss of their husbands, Lord Barric enters the picture and provides relief from their physical suffering. He provides food and a home to stay because of his interest in Rena. However, they are dependent on him and Rena doesn't want that for her or her mother-in-law. After a new copy of a will is found, Rena must confront her feelings about Lord Barric and her ability to move on. This book was engaging and extremely interesting, both as a Biblical retelling and as a story standing on its own merits.

I received a free copy of Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This a Victorian retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz. Naomi Stephens does a great job at bringing her characters to life and giving some modern life to the story. We see the racial divisions and class divisions that are present in India and England at this time of history. We see devotion and unconditional love between a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law that is very touching. This is an encouraging and uplifting story. Wonderful read.

“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.

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 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 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 !!!

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!

“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!

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.

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! ♥️📖⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What an interesting take on Ruth from the Bible. Yes, it's worked into another setting, but I still found it to be a superb read. I found it to be emotional, and strong, faith-filled and just awesome.
I am now following this author.

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.

It's been a long time since I read a book that so wholly captured my attention! I started reading one evening, and I didn't stop until I'd finished the book ... at 2 a.m.!

I loved so many things about Shadow among Sheaves. Rena is a wonderful character, and her devotion to her mother-in-law Nell above all else feels very true to Ruth and Naomi in the Bible. I hated the discrimination that Rena faced as an Indian woman in England, but it definitely rang true to the time and the circumstances. The plot is incredibly engaging, and the experience of reading the book is enjoyable.

I loved watching Rena and Barric's relationship develop in the first half of the book. But after that, I wasn't sure that Barric deserved Rena. I even went back and read the book of Ruth to see what Boaz was like—while not a ton of his character is shown, he definitely is kind. Kind is not a word I would use to describe Barric. At all. Barric is understandably concerned about his reputation when he is associated with Rena, and I can't really hold that against him. However, he is also incredibly unpredictable, letting Rena in and then suddenly pushing her away. He never considers her feelings over his own. He seems driven by lust, not love. He does not treat Rena well. What's to say that would change after marriage? I ended up liking Barric's playboy brother Charlie more than I liked him.

So, ultimately, I'm torn when I think of this book. I loved much of it. I hated bits of it. Still, I would recommend this captivating retelling of the story of Ruth.