Song of the Shepherd Woman review

Song of the Shepherd Woman 

Carlene Havel

Sharon Faucheux

Biblical fiction

ISBN 978-1979693301

256 pp

9.99 paperback

.99 ebook

Buy on Amazon 

Buy on Barnes and Noble 

released November 2017

About the book:

In the first century, Channa’s stepfather gives her to her maternal great-uncle Avram to raise. Avram is known to be a peculiar, perhaps dangerous, man. His wife Yael cannot speak. Nevertheless, they are kind to Channah and teach her how to care for sheep. When her stepfather unexpectedly announces her betrothal to a Jerusalem tanner, the girl is forced to leave the only home she knows. 

Channah looks forward to a loving husband, but soon learns she is to be Enos the tanner’s second wife. The beautiful first wife is barren, and she resents her youthful rival. Channa struggles to adjust to marriage and city life, cherishing the hope of someday having her own child to love.

My review:

Song of the Shepherd Woman is a loving and faithful look at life in first century Biblical times. Havel and Faucheux have teamed up on several novels about biblical characters. All have been diligently researched and are thoughtful recreations of the period and possible events. The other characters have been well-known: Rahab, and Michal. The shepherd woman, however, is a typical country woman affected by profound events. Her uncle, generation earlier, was witness to an astonishing sight, but subsequently lost his faith.

Excellent writing aside, the mindful story made me think deeply about events surrounding the birth, life, and death of Christ, and how everyday people might have heard and reacted to his ministry. Channa lived only two miles from Jerusalem, yet, as a young woman fleeing from a disastrous trouble, had no idea exactly where home was. I found this poignant and very truthful. Often what we are seeking is within reach, and we are unaware. Avram lost his faith for a simple reason—he knew all the boy babies had been killed and assumed the savior was among them. Also very believable.

This story is painfully realistic on many levels. Don’t get too entrenched with anyone, just love the moments. Told from Channa’s viewpoint, this beautifully, haunting story is sure to help you dig deeper into your beliefs and appreciate the ordinary lives in the first century.

About the Author:

Carlene Havel writes Christian-themed romances and historical novels set in Biblical times. She’s lived in Turkey, Republic of the Philippines, and all over the United States. Carlene worked for a banana importer, a software development company, and everything in between. She attended several colleges and universities, including one that—surprisingly—granted her a diploma.

Last Minute Christmas Buy for your reader Song of the Shepherd Woman with Carlene Havel

CarleneHavel writes Christian romance and historical stories set in Biblical times. I’ve been a long-time fan of her biblical fiction, from The Scarlet Cord about the story of Rahab to Daughter of the King, the story of Michal. Carlene shares some background on the creation of her latest release, Song of the Shepard Woman.

About the Book:

In the first century, Channa’s stepfather gives her to her maternal great-uncle Avram to raise. Avram is known to be a peculiar, perhaps dangerous, man. His wife Yael cannot speak. Nevertheless, they are kind to Channah and teach her how to care for sheep. When her stepfather unexpectedly announces her betrothal to a Jerusalem tanner, the girl is forced to leave the only home she knows. 

Channah looks forward to a loving husband, but soon learns she is to be Enos the tanner’s second wife. The beautiful first wife is barren, and she resents her youthful rival. Channa struggles to adjust to marriage and city life, cherishing the hope of someday having her own child to love.

A brief interview with the author:

Carlene, tell us how Song of the Shepherd Woman came about.

Carlene: What if events robbed a young man of his faith? What if he based his subsequent actions on a false belief? Suppose he learned the truth late in life. What if he was given another chance after he thought all hope was gone? Perhaps such a man could unwillingly take responsibility for a helpless child, a little girl who reminded him what simple trust looked like? These questions rattled around in my head, forming characters who became Avram and Channah in Song of the Shepherd Woman. After I fell in love with them, there was no choice but to write their story.

Song of the Shepherd Woman became a labor of love. Sharon Faucheux wove her historical research into my narrative, resulting in a story we hope readers will enjoy. We are offering this full length novel at an introductory price of 99 cents for a while, and it’s available just about everywhere ebooks can be found. 

Buy on Amazon or through Books2Read

Carlene Havel and Love Keeps No Wrongs

St. Paul took a whole chapter in I Corinthians listing various hallmarks of love. Rather than attempt a pat definition, he revealed some of love’s many facets, turning it over and over as one might a brilliant, perfectly-cut diamond.

Since love is such a broad topic, let’s zero in on one aspect—romantic love. When a special person makes the heart beat faster, regardless of the season of life, we begin to question our emotions. Am I in love? How will I know when it happens? How can I be sure when it is the real thing? Living a few years teaches us romantic love is accompanied with tender feelings, but that “gushy” feeling alone is not enough to stand the test of time. Love is more. Real romance involves two people who care enough for each to put the other ahead of themselves. In a “me first” instant gratification world, that kind of commitment is rare. Yet it is the kind of giving, sharing love we hunger for at our very core.

Do I love him? Does he love me? A simple test would be to consider each of the characteristics of love from I Corinthians. Are we kind to each other? Are we patient with each other? And so on.   Many heartbreaks could be avoided by thinking through that Biblical checklist, and turning away from a relationship with too many “no” answers. Another person’s love is not directly measurable.  We can’t take out a yardstick and see how it stacks up. Instead, we observe love by its impact. Oscar Hammerstein II is credited with this little rhyme that captures a singular way of looking at love:   

“A bell is not a bell till you ring it.

A song is not a song till you sing it.

Love in your heart isn’t put there to stay.

Love isn’t love till you give it away.”

Prism Book Group’s “Love Is…” series takes its inspiration from I Corinthians chapter 13.  Eventually there will be a short novel that takes its theme from one of the aspects of true love. My contribution to this series is Evidence Not Seen inspired by “Love keeps no record of wrongs.” Or, if you prefer the lyrical language of the old King James translation, “thinketh no evil.” I hope those who read my story find it to be true to that sentiment.  

In the final analysis, we are left with faith, hope, and love. What a marvelous trilogy! And the greatest, of course, is love. May we all practice it faithfully, daily, unrelentingly. Love never fails.

  

Check out Carlene’s contribution to Prism Book Group’s new Love Is series…

Evidence Not Seen

“Love keeps no record of wrongs…” 1 Corinthians: 13:5

Although attorney Jeff Galloway’s career is in high gear, his personal life is a mess. Just before his father returns home from a 27-year stretch in prison, his girlfriend dumps him. When a chance encounter begins to blossom into new romance, soft-hearted Melanie Clark encourages Jeff to find a way to forgive his father’s long absence.

My review:

A not-so-secret family secret leads to the lifetime estrangement of a young man from his father. Devotion to his mother justifies Jeff’s choice to keep utter disillusionment and resentment for his imprisoned dad shining bright all his adult life. Given his professional career as an attorney, Jeff has faith in the system, and there was never any hint to believe any other way than his father is a criminal, guilty of a hefty bank theft. The money was never found. When his father’s sentence is up, Jeff reluctantly collects him from jail and brings him back home where he witnesses a strangely joyful reunion between his parents. No condemnation, no shame, just joy.

Jeff’s position allows for financial comfort, and when he meets a young social worker set out to right the wrongs of society, he’s intrigued. The first chance encounter through a private office party turns into more encounters and a rescue operation for an errand of mercy and a strange connection with one of Melanie’s young clients. Jeff enjoys Melanie’s tactics to do the best she can and even attempts to overcome his lifelong unreasonable hatred of hospitals. As the two begin to spend more time together, Jeff realizes everything in his life has been an illusion. Not only is Jeff encouraged to forgive the past, he’s encouraged to look at his father from a different angle and in so doing, he is able to find and live with newfound purpose.

I loved this couple, their growing respect for each other, Jeff’s developing character and his ability to hurdle the barriers he’s set up for himself. Sometimes we have to explore why we believe what we do, not just our faith in God, but our faith in each other, even when misguided. Not everything is what it seems, and Jeff is able to journey toward a more healthy place with Melanie’s unconditional love. Told mostly through Jeff’s viewpoint with an occasional dip into his mother’s perspective, this addition to the Love Is novellas explores the theme of “keeping no record of wrongs” in a fresh and compelling way. Great short read that felt well-paced and complete.

Enjoy this short excerpt:

.     “Melanie!” The urge to sweep her into his arms was so strong he didn’t trust himself to move. “I brought you flowers,” he said at last. He half expected a smart alack response.

Instead, her brilliant smile made his knees feel weak. This can’t be happening, he thought. Is this what it feels like to fall in love?

Book Review: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow by Carlene Havel

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Carlene Havel

Prism Book Group

September, 2013 

ISBN: 978-1-940099-13-2

$3.99 ebook; $10.99 pbook

Contemporary Inspiration

 

Havel’s newest novel takes the reader into the life of Casey Slaughter, a cliché divorcee working hard to put the pieces of her life together after her cheating husband leaves her for the other woman. Casey never had the opportunity to figure who she was, or who she wanted to be because she was so busy putting her husband through law school, and just shy enough not to talk about her suspicions over her cruddy marriage to anyone else. Everyone has problems sometimes, so it never occurred to her that the problems were not normal.

 

Added to the above a lower than average self-esteem and what could be a health issue, Casey spends two years stepping outside her comfort zone, not wildly, but enough to find a happy medium life. She establishes herself in a hobby she enjoys, and even buys a house. During this time, Casey also takes the time to step down from her pity party and listen to that still small voice, inviting her back to fellowship with God. When she realizes there are always two sides to the story and she wasn’t a perfect marriage partner, either, she is able to move on.

 

Casey’s new neighbors are both loving and exasperating, as are her co-workers, who enjoy gossip both for fun and for vicarious escapes from their own problems. When a new neighbor moves in, he is ripe for the picking. Casey even listens to some of the gossip and makes up her own mind about Carlos Tucker, who she first meets while he’s decked out for…something…in a pirate costume and full make up. But nothing, of course, is what it seems.

 

Join Casey and her fun family as they all work out their relationships and identities, as they learn who they can trust when the going gets tough, and that the only thing that won’t be gone tomorrow is the Lord who is in control of it all.

 

Havel has created a pleasant read, a sweet story that’s a step away from the typical romances. It’s a piece of life that’s all too real, but a nice diversion from your own. Time passes a little quickly in some spots and there are a few leaps in logic which I had no trouble following. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the setting, and even the hurricane, experienced safely from my chair. Readers who are looking for something different from the same-old same-old will enjoy this tale.