Welcome!

I'm so excited to be a part of this scavenger hunt blog hop in celebration of the launch of Mesu Andrews' second book in her Treasures of the Nile series, Miriam!

I realize most of you are probably already "on the hunt", but if you just happened on this page first, you'll want to hop on over to the start of the hunt at Mesu’s blog and then you'll finish your journey at Mommynificent.com. At the bottom of this post, you can find the full list of stops for the entire hunt. Between March 15th and 20th, click on the next link, head over to the page, meet a new book-lover, and read their thoughts about Miriam. Somewhere in each post there will be a single word that is in BOLD AND ALL CAPITALS. Write it down. (The words “Home” and “Good Luck” are not secret words for anyone.)

Then, go to the next stop. That post will also have a word that’s bolded and capitalized. You will need to visit all 14 blogs as each one will have a word that you need. Once you reach the end and have found all the words, you will have found an inspirational quote from the book Miriam. There are 14 words in this quote. Enter the quote into the Rafflecopter on the last stop and you will be entered to win a Kindle Fire from Mesu Andrews! (Open to U.S. residents only) If you have any questions, get lost, or experience any technical difficulties, you may email Tina at tina{at}mommynificent{dot}com for help. Now, let's talk about this fantastic book!

About the Book

Title: Miriam

Author: Mesu Andrews

Series: Treasures of the Nile, Book 2

Publication Date: March 15, 2016

Publisher: WaterBrook Press

Print Length: 384 pages

Summary from the publisher: At eighty-six, Miriam had devoted her entire life to loving El Shaddai and serving His people as both midwife and messenger. Yet when her brother Moses returns to Egypt from exile, he brings a disruptive message. God has a new name – Yahweh – and has declared a radical deliverance for the Israelites.

Miriam and her beloved family face an impossible choice: cling to familiar bondage or embrace uncharted freedom at an unimaginable cost. Even if the Hebrews survive the plagues set to turn the Nile to blood and unleash a maelstrom of frogs and locusts, can they weather the resulting fury of the Pharaoh? Enter an exotic land where a cruel Pharaoh reigns, pagan priests wield black arts, and the Israelites cry out to a God they only think they know.

My Thoughts about Miriam by Mesu Andrews

For me, Miriam was not a book to rush through but was one to savor slowly.  I went back and forth between Mesu's book and my Bible as I made my way through the novel.  Mesu's writing makes me want TO immerse myself in God's Word all the more. Mesu's writing is robust and supported by a keen attention to the biblical narrative as found in Scripture and impeccable research that brings the Bible to life.  You feel as if you are there crossing the Red Sea with the Israelites and singing with Miriam and Moses.

I also appreciated the human aspect of the characters Mesu highlighted in Miriam.  These were not just make-believe people in old fairy tales, but real people with emotions and families and struggles in their faith and understanding of The One True God.  I think you will particularly enjoy, as I certainly did, the feisty side of Miriam.  I won't give away anymore about that here...you will just have to read and enjoy for yourself!

Finally, I want to leave you with some of my favorite quotes from the book.  I don't typically highlight or mark up my "fiction" novels, but since Mesu's books are practically pre-cursors to in-depth study of the Scriptures and perfect for small group studies, I could not help myself.  Her books are ones to return to over and over again and definitely keeper shelf material.

"I am Miriam, old but of use.  I am a slave, a midwife, a healer with herbs.  This is what I do, but El-Shaddai makes me who I am."

 "Never be grateful for tragedy, but always trust that God can use it in His good plan for you."

"Who else could rescue a babe from certain death, educate him in Egypt, refine him in the wilderness, and return him to his family?  No one but You, Shaddai."

"Moses held her gaze.  'This isn't about you or me, Miriam.  This isn't even about Israel or its deliverance.  What we're going to experience is about Yahweh showing the world He is the One True God.'"

"When God is silent, He expects our patience and will reward our faith. Rest in the silence, and trust He's near."

 I could share many, many others, but I encourage you to order your copy of the book today.  You will have much joy, as I did, in coming across these nuggets of truth that point to Yahweh, the One True God.

*I received this book from the author for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own..  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

*If you are a real book nerd like myself, you will enjoy this interview Mesu did with cover artist Christopher Orr about how he created the beautiful cover for Miriam.

About The Author

Mesu Andrews is the award-winning author of Love Amid the Ashes, Love's Sacred Song, Love in a Broken Vessel, In the Shadow of Jezebel, as well as two books in her Treasures of the Nile series: The Pharoah's Daughter and Miriam. Winner of the 2012 ECPA Christian Book Award for New Author, she has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture, bringing the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington.

Mesu's Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

Stops on the Scavenger Hunt

1. Mesu Andrews
2. A Holland Reads
3. Mother of Three
4. Just A Second
5. Grace and Glory
6. Angela Arndt - Joy on the Back Roads
7. God's Peculiar Treasure Rae
8. What If
9. Carole Towriss
10. Kate Hodges, Storyteller
11. Backing Books
12. Creative Madness Mama
13. Climbing to the High Calling

WaterBrook Press has given me permission to give away one copy of each of Mesu's Treasures of the Nile novels to one lucky winner so to enter to win your own copies of both The Pharoah's Daughter and Miriam, all you have to do is follow "Mother of Three" and leave a comment below telling me what biblical person you would most like to see featured in a biblical fiction novel.  In your comment be sure and leave me your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner!  (Open to U.S. residents only.)

Happy Reading Ya'll,

Jennifer