Free (nook/Kindle/iTunes/DRM-free) Chosen: Queen Esther [Xtian Jewish Biblical Novel]

[ATDrake]

Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther by Ginger Garrett is the 1st in her Lost Loves of the Bible series of Old Testament-based biblical historical literary/women's fiction drama novels with romantic elements, this one focusing on the life and adventures of eponymous Jewish heroine of The Book of Esther (Wikipedia) who eventually becomes Queen of Persia, free courtesy of Christian publisher David C. Cook.

According to the Library Journal write-up in the editorial section, this was named one of 5 best novels of 2006 by the Evangelical Christian Publisher's Association. The customer reviews note that this is rich in historical detail for ancient Persia and intersperses bits of epigraphic reportage on modern Iraqi/Iranian antiquities finds as a counterpoint to the historical narrative, if that's a storytelling style which happens to interest you.

Currently free, probably just for the next couple of days @ B&N (also UK), Amazon (available to Canadians & in the UK), iTunes & Google Play (both available to Canadians), and also ChristianBook (DRM-Free ePub available to selected countries), and may also be free at other venues listed on the publisher's catalogue page (where you can also watch the book's video trailer), and might also drop later @ BookShout (online reading & in-app download) as DCC freebies sometimes do.

And this has been the (late!) selected 3rd (non-repeat) free ebook thread of the day.

Pretty much by default, but even though I'm highly unlikely to actually read this one, I approve on principle of stuff with strong-willed, clever heroines saving their people through wit and persuasion and good leadership skills, which appears to be decently historically researched beyond the biblical background level and which happened to get "best novel" accolades from the people who actually do read these things, so

Also, it's thanks to her that we have hamantaschen cookies, so that's a useful historical contribution. No recipes for those appear to be included in the book, though.

Enjoy!

Description
Wrenched from a simple life for her beauty, Esther finds herself at the mercy of King Xerxes. Leaving behind her only relative, her cousin Mordecai, and her first true love, Cyrus, she is thrown headlong into the unrestrained extravagance of palace living.

Quick of mind and strong in spirit, Esther refuses to suffer the fate of her harem sisters and boldly challenges Xerxes to give of his heart before taking his pleasure, thus sealing her place beside him as queen. While conspiracy spins its diabolical web, Esther's mind and spirit waver, and she is forced to confront the past in order to save her future–and thus an entire nation.