Fans of Francine Rivers’ classic novel Redeeming Love will be captivated by a re-imagining of the biblical love story of Ruth and Boaz, set in Victorian Britain. Now in stores from debut author Naomi Stephens, Shadow Among Sheaves (Shiloh Run Press) challenges readers to see God’s power work through self-sacrificial love.
Naomi tells FamilyFiction what inspired her to revisit the story of Ruth and Boaz in this new context:
I’ve always loved the book of Ruth for its rich and complex themes. My retelling really began with a single image—the vial of sand my Ruth character wears around her neck. Though I was intrigued by this initial idea of an Indian Ruth, the setting was still hazy when I brainstormed the project with a friend who was on a Regency period novel kick at the time. Half-jokingly, she asked me to write a Regency novel for her. It was thanks to this discussion that the British setting took root, though I spent a few more weeks researching before settling on the Victorian period instead of the Regency, so I could center the story around the 1857 Mutiny.
About the novel: 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.
Preview the book below. Watch for our interview with Naomi in a future issue of FamilyFiction digital magazine!