1. Sarai: A Novel - eBookThis product is an eBook
    Jill Eileen Smith
    Revell / 2012 / ePub
    Our Price$4.89 Retail Price$6.99 Save 30% ($2.10)
    4.3 out of 5 stars for Sarai: A Novel - eBook. View reviews of this product. 18 Reviews
    Availability: In Stock
    Stock No: WW24135EB
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  1. Becca
    Hanford CA
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Sarai Review
    July 24, 2012
    Becca
    Hanford CA
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for Sarai, Wives of the Patriarchs Series #1 .
    Have you ever felt like God was taking...well....too long fulfilling His promises to you? How about feeling 'old' every time you look at your children and see them growing faster and faster before your very eyes? Join me in a reading journey through the book, "Sarai" written by Jill Eillen Smith, and experience the trials that build character, strength, patience, and joy, as well as endurance, faith, and a relationship with God who indeed keeps His promises. Through "Sarai" we learn that there are consequences for the decisions we make, good or bad, and although God is a God of mercy, He will let us learn lessons the hard way sometimes.

    Sarai was the most beautiful woman in her city. Abram was blessed, until they discovered her barrenness. It would seem her beauty would be the only thing Sarai had going for her, even through the years that aged her and her husband, Abram. Didn't God promise Sarai and her husband a son? Did God not say to her husband, "I will make you a great nation."? Sarai wished for the faith her husband had, but her time had run out. Children would not be born to a barren womb, and most definitely not to one that no longer had life within.

    Sarai's love for Abram pushed her into difficult decisions, ones that she knew she should not make, yet felt compelled to do so. Unable to wait any longer for the promise that God had made to Abram, Sarai gave to her husband her maid, Hagar, in hopes that the promised son would come by way of their union.

    Imagine the struggle Sarai faced every day, looking into the eyes of the servant girl who carried the baby Sarai longed for many, many years. With the pregnancy came the resentment of Hagar toward her mistress. Sarai knew she had made a mistake, but her realization had come too late. Regardless, God did fulfill His promise to Abram and Sarai, giving them a son of their blood together, and Abram did become the father of a great nation, two of them, in fact. But the promise did not come without consequences. Sarai had to live with her choices for the rest of her life, as did her people for many generations to come.

    Is the story of Sarai a sad one? No. Sarai's story is victorious. Her story is also full of many lessons learned. There is a little of Sarai in every woman: Beauty, strength, loyalty, and some old fashion determination. Sarai just teaches us women today that we also need to have some humility, and give it to God's hands, our struggles, trials, anger, jealousy, and idle time. Hopefully none of us will have to be 90 when we see God's promises given to us, or when we finally learn our lessons in life, but take to heart Sarai, her life, her testimony, and her legacy.

    Sarai is among several books in the Wives of the Patriarchs series. I will be adding all other titles to my collection very soon!
  2. Marilyn
    Louisville, KY
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    The pages of the Bible come alive
    July 10, 2012
    Marilyn
    Louisville, KY
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for Sarai, Wives of the Patriarchs Series #1 .
    The pages of the Bible come alive as though you personally know Sarai and Abraham, as well as Hagar. You feel their struggles and pain and experience the hardships of living in that time period. The thread of "faith" is continually woven throughout the chapters, and yet human failings are evident. A great read in understanding our past!
  3. Janna Ryan
    North Platte, NE
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Sarai brought to life
    April 10, 2012
    Janna Ryan
    North Platte, NE
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    This review was written for Sarai, Wives of the Patriarchs Series #1 .
    I have never read Biblical fiction books quite as engrossing as the books that I have read by Jill Eileen Smith. Her series on the wives of King David was just riveting and now she has started off with the Wives of the Patriarchs and who better to start off with than Sarai, wife to Abraham. She has done it again by sweeping me away to the past and thrusting me in the middle of the scenario that Sarai lived in. Jill has a gift for recreating the setting and times of that era in such a way that you would think she had lived at that time herself, which would of course be impossible but I would believe it. I honestly don't know how she does her research but I will just sit back and enjoy her bringing the Old Testament to life for me as I eagerly anticipate her next book in this new series.
  4. onedesertrose
    St. Paul, MN
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Sarai: Her Life Exposed
    March 17, 2012
    onedesertrose
    St. Paul, MN
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for Sarai, Wives of the Patriarchs Series #1 .
    Jill amazes me with the in-depth insights in her Biblical historical novels. Sarai: A Novel is no different! Though this may be a familiar story from the Bible to many of you, Jill brings it to life through the depths of her characters and their interactions throughout the unfolding of their lives.

    From the introduction of idol worship, the call of Abram to Canaan, and the eventual settling in the land, we see the personal struggles, jealousies, regrets, greed, and anxieties of each character, particularly Abram, Sarai, Lot, Meleh, and Hagar. The nomadic lifestyle challenges their constitution, spiritual life, and their trust in God, having come from a more comfortable lifestyle. Jill is able to bring you into the story and let you experience the uncomfortable bedding, the 'archaic' method of cooking, the grit of the dust storms, the whispers of barrenness, the mocking of Hagar, and the fear of Pharaoh in Egypt.

    The inner thoughts and emotions of betrayal, rejection, barrenness, and grumbling are aptly described, making them personal to your own thought life. Repentance and forgiveness become a necessary component of the story, as well in our lives. Abram and Sarai's faith in God's promise to Abram is resonant and tested throughout the whole book.

    The relationship between Abram and Sarai is so intimate, and yet strained with the birth of Abram's first son. The latter situation is one that I would find difficult to deal with. Sarai's feelings came across loud and clear, and I doubt I'd feel much different! Only by the grace of God could one withstand such a predicament!

    Jill brought this ancient story into today's world without compromising the Biblical rendering of the story. For a touching, revealing version of Abram and Sarai, this is the book to read!

    This book was provided by Donna Hausler, Publicity Assistant at Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.
  5. Judy K Burgi
    Kendallville, IN
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Sarai - A Great Biblical Read!
    March 15, 2012
    Judy K Burgi
    Kendallville, IN
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for Sarai, Wives of the Patriarchs Series #1 .
    This book tells the Biblical story of Abram and Sarai. If you are a believer and a follower of Christ you will know that this book follows very closely to the writings of Moses. I found this to be a great fictional read. I was so caught up and absorbed in this book that I didn't want to put it down. I picked it up and read it every chance I got.

    The author did an awesome job with the dialogue between characters. I felt like I was right there traveling with them on their journey and listening in on their conversations. I experienced their joys, sadness, anger, frustrations, and their hope.

    Jill Eileen Smith is a new author to me and Sarai is the very first book I've read of hers. It won't be the last. I have the Wives of King David series on my TBR list. I am eagerly looking forward to reading these books and the next book in the Wives of the Patriarchs series.

    I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.
Displaying items 1-5 of 18
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