Unveiled

Francine Rivers has become one of my favorite Christian fiction authors due to her ability to bring me right into the story. I love the history of the Bible and the when the stories are enhanced just enough to make the story real it is so exciting and almost like going back in time. It's like watching a movie that is based on a true story with the embellishments used by the movie production team. Francine's research is impeccable, and I recommend her books to all! Her books are the ones I loan out and ask that they be returned to me.

This story about Tamar brought the Biblical character alive for me. I had known the basic story. She married an evil man, was given to another evil man, and finally had a child by deceiving her father-in-law. What I hadn't realized that women's main role back then was to have children. If you couldn't have children you were basically a failure. This story also really brought out the justness of God. God has several atributes but it was awesome to see how when things looked so unfair for Tamar, God blessed her. I read this book in one day because it was so gripping that I could almost feel the injustness that Tamar felt. I HIGHLY recommend you buy this book, however it can be somewhat graphic so I wouldn't recommend it to younger readers. One of the best books I have ever read. Rivers does it again.

I absolutely loved this book! What a treasure we have in Francine Rivers' books! I had never really appreciated Tamar's story before. The Bible gives her story only one chapter - Genesis 38. The book has the background about Judah and how he still felt guilty all those years for selling Joseph into slavery. It is very interesting how the well-known story of Joseph and his brothers (taken the Broadway in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat") is so closely related to this much-less known story of Tamar and allegiance to the family of Judah. The book opens with Judah choosing Tamar as a wife for his oldest son Er. After the first two sons (and Tamar's first two husbands!) meet with bad ends, Judah is understandably reluctant to honor his last son by giving him to Tamar, lest the deaths of his other sons had something to do with her. Judah sends Tamar back to her family, in disgrace.Through determination and cleverness, Tamar makes sure that Judah's line continues through her. She conceives and gives birth to twin sons Perez and Zerah.Unveiled is the first in a new Francine Rivers series called "The Lineage of Grace" - each is about a woman who is an ancestor of Jesus Christ. This book was easy to read, yet very thought-provoking - lots to chew on here! And I found the Study Guide at the back of the book to be ENORMOUSLY helpful! The scriptures quoted were outstanding and the questions and comments really make you think. I got much more out of the book since I also took some time with the Study Guide. I highly recommend this book - it's wonderful to find such an enjoyable, yet thought-provoking book in a small package that won't take you too long to finish!May God bless you all! Please check out my other reviews of Christian books and music.

I started reading Francine Rivers' books in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1996. Since then, I have read every book she has written. My sister shared the first book with me, and from then on I was hooked on reading Francine's books. This book, "Unveiled", was written so well that Tamar seemed alive today. It was hard for me to comprehend her loyalty to her husbands' family. However, her faithfulness and willingness to trust and obey in a God she didn't even know was most impressive to me. I took this book on a weekend trip and wanted to spend more time in the hotel reading than socializing. It was easy reading and hard to put down--as all of Francine Rivers' books are. More importantly, all of the books cause me to think about my Christian walk and to try to grow closer to the Lord. This book caused a thirst for the scripture on Tamar. I was disappointed to find out that there is only a small passage on Tamar in the Bible. It's amazing how creative Francine Rivers is! Every woman should read this book. I am waiting anxiously for the next.

I have read every single one of Francine Rivers books, and UNVEILED is right up there in the ranks with her spectacular repertoire. Slightly shorter than most of her novels, this story is a new interpretation of a Biblical epic I have been familiar with for years, but now look at in a new light. After her fascinating accounts of the heroine, Tamar (book of Genesis, she includes a six part bible study that has brought me to tears on several occasions with her profound insight and soul searching questions that make you rethink your philosophies. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did, and I also encourage you to read Rivers' other selections, for they are ALL fantastic works of genious.

Francine Rivers has stated that she believes readers want to be challenged, and she has succeeded in doing that with Unveiled. She has told the story of a woman who is strong, courageous, and loyal, yet submissive to the will of God. Tamar is continually subjected to maltreatment from everyone around her, and is ridiculed for the decisions she makes, yet she stands firm, and is rewarded for her obedience in the end. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series-as usual, Francine has delivered.