BOOK REVIEW- Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens

Description

A Timeless, Beautiful Allegory of the Biblical Love Story of Ruth and Boaz

The Great Rebellion of 1857 was a remarkably bloody business. At a time when Britain’s imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer—nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband’s tragic death.

Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart for his own.  AMAZON 4 STARS
 
What an emotional story this turned out to be.  Just like I suspected that it would be.  I wasn't sure I was going to  like it but over all I did. It often dealt with some tough issues but it was well written and easy to be drawn into the characters.

The desperation of both Rena and her mother-in-law, Nell is shown very clearly in the beginning chapters.  They had run out of places to stay and were slowly starving to death.  Nell could have found a place to stay with relatives and been fairly well cared for.  That is if she dumped Rena.   They do find a place out of the weather but it's still a hard place to be. But Nell is a woman of prayer and some things start to change for the better for the two widows.  But there lives were often like a roller coaster, up and down as they tried to survive.
Both Rena and Lord Barric (Jack) made for good main characters with all of their strengths and flaws.  It just seemed like Rena endured blow after blow as she tried to help her mother-in-law. 
Lord Barric was a stern man with a temper as fiery as his red hair.  But not only does he work hard, he also shows some unexpected kindness at times.  It often makes him wonder at himself when it happens.  He also has his position in society to consider. So many times that makes his struggles more intense when it comes to Rena.  
There are also some other strong people in the story.  William is Barric's steward and long-time friend.  Alice is also a part of the story and she is William's sister.  She also has known Barric since childhood. Charles is another person but he comes in later in the story.  He is Barric's brother.
What story is complete with a villain or two?  Or at least a person of questionable character?  That would be Thomas, Barric's cousin.  A close runner up would be Uncle George.  While not truly evil, he still looked out for his position and his own wishes.

There is also Rena's struggle when it comes to her Hindu upbringing and how powerless it has been in her life after the death of her husband. That part of the story added an unexpected element to the story that I did not see coming.
 There was a couple of times were the story slowed with the heaviness of Rena and Nell's situation.  But the story did come to a satisfying conclusion that I was happy with.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”