Synopsis:~

The scribe Sarah married Darius, and at times she feels as if she has married the Persian aristocracy, too. There is another point she did not count on in her marriage-Sarah has grown to love her husband. Sarah has wealth, property, honor, and power, but her husband’s love still seems unattainable.

Although his mother was an Israelite, Darius remains skeptical that his Jewish wife is the right choice for him, particularly when she conspires with her cousin Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Ordered to assist in the effort, the couple begins a journey to the homeland of his mother’s people. Will the road filled with danger, conflict, and surprising memories, help Darius to see the hand of God at work in his life-and even in his marriage?

A hidden message, treachery, opposition, and a God-given success, will lead to an unlikely bounty.

My take:~

Tessa Afshar has taken my breath away with the beauty and depth of her latest novel, Harvest of Gold. Continuing the story of Sarah and Darius, whose marriage got off to such a rocky beginning in Harvest of Rubies, Tessa parallels their marriage journey with the rebuilding of Jerusalem under the direction of Sarah’s cousin, Nehemiah.  Tessa peels back the layers of Biblical history to provide a fascinating account of the fate of Jerusalem and her people as they struggle to take back what they lost following the destruction of their city. As fear and strife interfere with Nehemiah’s progress, Darius and Sarah experience the same damaging effects in their own marriage. While Darius has come to value his Jewish wife he cannot return her deep love and devotion, which wears on Sarah and leads to unspeakable heartache for them both. Tessa exposes the frailty of Darius’ heart, an otherwise courageous, honourable, and compassionate man, penning some tender and evocative scenes between husband and wife. This is a gripping story of loss, love, and forgiveness with many an arresting moment that caused me to think deeply about my own marriage as well as my devotion to God. Despite the serious subject matter, Tessa infuses the tale with tender romance and light-hearted humour. Minor characters, Lysander and Roxanna, stole many of their scenes and would suit a story of their own! Harvest of Gold is simply captivating and I recommend it not only for the beautiful storytelling but also for the incisive lessons to be learned. Tessa has cemented her place as one of my most favourite authors.

With thanks to Wynn~Wynn Media for my review copy via NetGalley

Relz Reviewz Extras
Reviews of Pearl in the Sand and Harvest of Rubies
Tessa ~ FamilyFiction Plus interview
Visit Tessa’s website and blog
Buy Harvest of Gold from Amazon or Koorong