‘Rescued Heart: The Story of Sarah’ Book Review

In this first book of her new The Matriarchs Series, Angela Hunt was dedicated to providing a more detailed and complete look at the life of Sarah, Abraham’s wife and mother of nations. Crafting her story using the Bible and Book of Jasher as her guides, Angela focused on the grief and heartbreak Sarah must have felt as she grew old without the child she yearned for the most.

Main Themes

A major theme in Rescued Heart was how trusting in God can be difficult when his timing seems too late and his promises impossible. Sarah yearns for a child more than anything, and while God continually promises her children, she is met with disappointment after disappointment. Following God is not always easy, but another theme was how much more difficult life becomes when we give up hope. 

I found it very interesting to read Angela’s interpretation of Hagar’s story, including her background and life after leaving her mistress. The main theme around Hagar was that God cares for even the most mistreated servants, and his blessings are kind and generous. Sarah wronged her and brought much heartbreak to her family, showing how a lack of faith and integrity will never bring about the promises of God.

Another interesting part of the story was a closer look at Abraham’s flaws. It can be easy to gloss over them in the Bible, but seeing the extent of his own cowardice and doubt was humbling. Even one of the most righteous men recorded in the Bible was not without his short-comings and a desperate need for the grace and redemption of God. 

Faith Elements

At first, I was highly skeptical of the historical accuracy but grew to appreciate the level of research the more I read. There was a strong emphasis on God keeping his promises and working miracles. Themes of doubting and fear were present as the character grew in their spiritual wisdom and commitment to following God. Rescued Heart did an excellent job of showing the flaws and grave mistakes of some of the most revered biblical characters, showing no one is able to achieve perfect righteousness on their own. Salvation is truly only by the grace of God.

Family Friendly Considerations

This book is perfect for anyone who is looking for their next biblical fiction read. The intricacies of marriage are handled with sensitivity, and the despair Sarah goes through was not overwhelmingly grim. 

Interested in Similar Reads?

If you liked Rescued Heart, then you’ll want to check out these:

• Splendor of the Land by Connilyn Cossette
• Noble by Mesu Andrews