Unveiled: Tamar (The Lineage of Grace Series #1)

What a GREAT Book! I absolutely did not want to put it down. When I did, I was so into it that I remembered where I left off and what had been going on. While it is a "Novella" therefore considered "fiction" I found that it followed scripture, simply turning it into a detailed story. I found the book intriguing and really enjoyed the Bible Study in the end of the book. I also purchased Unashamed: Rahab (The Lineage of Grace Series #2) by Francine Rivers. I am in the process of reading it and fully intend to purchase the other three books in the series! If you are into a GREAT read, any of the books by Francine Rivers are a sure bet. Her writing is riveting. Every book I've read of hers has been spectacular!!

Now that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Ordered 7 copies of this book for a women's bible study and we all love it!

All bible stories are great, therefore his book is no exception. I have already recommended it to my friends. The shipment was timely and the book arrived in excellent condition.

This was an excellent story. I enjoy reading historical/biblically based novels. Unashamed is the story of the biblical character Tamar and the trials she endured which eventually led to her inclusion in the lineage of the Christ. The bible is always relevant, however, Unashamed allows deeper perspective into the life of Tamar. The book allowed me to ponder the character of Tamar and the surrounding circumstances that likely influenced her actions. I was able to consider that Tamar may have had the attributes of great faith and patience after reading this book. Previously I had not truly considered the time in which Tamar lived (culture/custom, environment, gender roles, beliefs, etc.). I had not been able to conceive of how Tamar could have slept with her father-in-law, Judah. At least not in the sense of seeing her as being 'heroic' or a woman to be honored. Anyway, Tamar as well as Judah and other characters were real people and there are lessons in the story that all can benefit from. When I re-read this and other bible stories after having read a historical novel based on the bible story I usually feel as though I have gained a deeper understanding of the underlying message of the original bible story and an even greater appreciation for God's great plan. I highly recommend this novel. I also enjoyed reading Sarah by Marek Halter, a book of similar genre of Unashamed.

Francine Rivers has the wonderful ability to take a character from the bible and bring her to life, by adding context and details. Although the additions are fictional, they are well researched and give great insight into the culture and the times, and make for a fascinating story. Hard to put this little book down!

The world of Genesis seems like so foreign and far away. This novella provides vivid detail about a Bible story that is difficult to understand. It's a simple, yet engrossing style of storytelling that draws you in and makes you think about the patriarchs and matriarchs of two faiths as real people. Somehow, this world seems a lot closer to me now. I have a new appreciation of these people!

The Bible study at the end is well-written, insightful, and would be good to use with a small group. It's important addition to Rivers' story.

In the book of Matthew, chapter 1 there is a record of the ancestors of Jesus. Starting with Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel to Mary the mother of Jesus. In this genealogy, of the 56 people mentioned only five women's names are recorded.
Although they appear to be unlikely candidates for the family of our Savior, a closer look at each of these women reveals that they had what God needed and were willing to follow God's commands. Each is worth studying.

Francine Rivers' The Lineage of Grace series tells their stories.

The first woman in the record is Tamar. Francine River's book Unveiled is her story. It must be remembered this book is a novel. It is Ms River's interpretation of biblical facts, incorporating her knowledge of the customs of that time. We are not told, in the Bible, many things about Tamar and her life, however Unveiled is a probable account of her circumstances and how she must have felt and lived. That said, I thought the story gave great insight into Tamar's struggles and victory. The book is a moving account of the oppression of women at that time in history and, unfortunately, that still lives on in some countries today. I must admit that parts of Tamar's story were disturbing but I think they accurately described the pagan customs and the laws that governed the Jewish people.

Unveiled is also a story of how the young woman, Tamar, raised in the pagan Canaanite beliefs came to trust in the God of her father-in-law Judah, even though Judah had wandered from his faith. through Tamar's, determination, Judah's line was assured and he came back to the teachings of his people. The lessons learned from Tamar and from Judah are biblical values that are as true today as when they were recorded.

Francine Rivers combined these elements into captivating and enjoyable reading. You won't be able to put it down.

At the end of the book there is a Bible study to help you get the facts from the Bible and apply them to your own life. This study gives you Judah's background and an over-view that shows how God orchestrates events in history to lead us to the culmination of His plan of salvation. The study is a valuable tool for either private or group use.

I had never understood this Bible story until I read this novella. Ms. Rivers takes you into Tamar's lifestyle & put into context, her actions make perfect sense & I understand why God chose her to carry on Christ's lineage. What a character Judah was also! It is such an amazing story that I never understood, & now I want everyone to understand it!

Tamar didn't feel ready to be married at 14. And she certainly didn't want to marry Judah's eldest son, Er. But being a woman, her opinion was never even asked. She is disappointed to find that the stories about his cruelty are true. Furthermore, her mother-in-law is horrid as well. Still, Tamar does her best to fit in with her new family and do her one duty, produce a son. But when tragedy strikes the family, she faces more hardship. Will the God of Judah be with her?

This book had an almost insurmountable task ahead of it. I've never particularly liked the story of Tamar in Genesis. Still, I tried to read this with an open mind. I found I enjoyed most of it, especially the connections it made that I had never made with the story of Joseph. It made me view the story in a completely different light by viewing the context. It also goes a long way in explaining the customs of the times which help put the story in perspective as well. Still, I did feel the fictitious part of the ending was a tad unrealistic and rushed.

This well researched novella sheds a different light on one of the woman God honored by including by name in the genealogy of Jesus. The included study guide helps us take lessons from this story into our everyday lives. While not my favorite story to begin with, this book helped me see past that to the importance of it in the greatest story ever told.