I enjoyed this book so much. It brings the Bible character to life. Of course the author has to take artistic liberties, as we don't have that much information on Rahab...but I thought the liberties taken by the author were creative, very interesting, and as much in line with Scripture and the customs of that day as possible. I am not looking for a 100% accurate historical document. This was a very entertaining read, and brought me closer to the Bible in a wholesome and pure way. What more can you want from a novel?!

NOTE: This book was given to me free by the author in exchange for my honest review.

The crimson cord is the story of Rahab. Now, I know that there are many books written on this remarkable woman, but if I can offer my humble opinion, this is really one of the better ones.

I love writers who answer the five basic questions, who, what, where, how and especially why. The author takes her backstory in a very logically way that is seems to be historically correct. We are not told much about this woman, but the one thing that I have always loved was the fact that Rahab is included in the lineage of Jesus. I really liked the way that the author wrote Rahab as a caring, passionate character who has been handed a hard life. But our God is a God of mercy and compassion and Rahab was smart enough to take God up on his offer.

If you read through the book Joshua you will find some familiar names that this book has brought to life. Overall it is a delightful book and I will definitely be recommending.

What a powerful rendition of the story of one of the Bible's most famous women.

This book is a hard one to review. Not because it isn't good, but because there is just so much in this special story that it's hard to highlight only a little bit. As I read The Crimson Cord I was reminded of God's mercy and forgiveness and it touched me in a way that I haven't been in years.

The Crimson Cord is all about forgiveness and mercy. After everything that has happened to her and the choices she has made haunt Rahab. She will do whatever it takes to save her family and to find God's acceptance and love. Salmon has a little bit different issue, one that we, as Christians, often struggle with, and that is self-righteousness. That one pricked me a little while I was reading.

I would imagine that Biblical fiction is probably one of the hardest genres to write. Giving life and a different perspective to familiar passages, while trying to stay true to what the Bible actually says. I, honestly, felt that Jill Eileen Smith was successful. She tells an entertaining story without sacrificing the Biblical record, she also weaves in some fascinating historical facts.

I quickly became invested in Rahab and her story. Jill Eileen Smith is a master at getting her readers emotionally involved in the story she is telling.

The Crimson Cord is a beautiful story of woman trapped by circumstance and destined to be remembered by history as a woman of great faith.

The last lines sum it all up, Forgiven prostitute. Who had married a prince in Judah. When forgiven by God, He can and will make something amazing out of us.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.)

Jill Eileen Smith has taken a story about Rahab, and women that we seem to have a love-hate relationship with, and turned it into an amazing story of strength, courage and faith. I really loved this book. The story pulls you in from the beginning and holds your interest to the very end. Im not going to spoil the story by going into details, but there were several passages that really grabbed me. The unfolding of Rahabs faith and the passage with the Passover lamb had me in tears. Get it, read it and tell all your friends!

If you've read any of Jill's Wives of King David or Wives of the Patriarchs series you already know that you are in for a real treat with this first book in the Daughters of the Promised Land series. My book club has read several of her books so I was thrilled to get my hands on The Crimson Cord.

The book is divided into three parts. In the first part Jill pens a what if scenario of Rahab's life before the Biblical account. She fills in the blanks of all those questions that we have about this infamous woman. How did she become a prostitute in the first place? What type of relationship does she have with her family that they would be willing to come to her house of ill repute to be saved? I enjoyed Jill's suppositions and thought that the situations that she came up with were very plausible. She fleshed out Rahab and allowed the reader to see what Rahab's life must have been like.

The second and third parts of the novel are made up of the Biblical account sprinkled with some more maybe this could have happened scenes to fill in the gaps of the complete story. This portion of the book was particularly moving for me. To watch a woman go from being a self-loathing wretch of a person to a beloved wife in the lineage of Christ was just beautiful. It was also a wonderful reminder that no one is ever too far away from God to be redeemed.

I highly recommend this book for personal reading. I also think that it would make a wonderful novel for your book club. The discussion would be interesting. I personally can't wait to read it with my club.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.