Unveiled - Praise
Praise
In the first of five novels on the women of the Bible, Rivers (Leota's Garden) draws on the Bible's brief mention of Tamar to create a tribute to hope. Tamar is sold as a child to be the bride of Judah's oldest son, Er. When Er dies, Tamar believes that he was struck down by God for pride and arrogance. According to custom, she is given Onan, one of Er's brothers, as husband to beget a son in Er's memory. When Onan refuses her rights, he too falls dead. The third brother, Shelah, is deemed too young to be a husband, but when Judah promises Tamar a child when the boy grows up, she lives on hope for years. When she realizes that Judah has no intention of keeping his promise, she dresses as a temple prostitute and seduces him. After being threatened with death because of her disgraceful pregnancy, Tamar forces Judah to honor his promise. In return, she bears twin sons, Zerah and Perez, a forefather of Jesus. The different mores and customs of Tamar's time take some adjustment for a modern mindset, but a glimpse into what might have happened is worth the effort. Purchase where Rivers is popular.
– Library Journal
Tamar does not want to become part of the Jacob clan, but her mother has other ideas. Zimran wants her daughter to be one of Gods chosen people, not because she has faith in Yahweh, but because the family is blessed with wealth and prestige. Tamar marries Er, the son of Judah and son of Jacob, and her life becomes a living hell. But Tamar has her faith in God. Unveiled portrays one of the Bibles lesser-known saints, Tamar, who is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Although it is not a romance per se, Unveiled is a love story. Francine Rivers utilizes her expertise as master storyteller to unveil Tamars saga, a tale of deception, betrayal and ultimately hope. The book comes with a Bible study.
— Romantic Times
The first in her series of five ancestresses of Jesus, Unveiled is an easy-to-read tale of Tamar. Tamar, a Canaanite, marries cruel Er, son of the Hebrew, Judah. In accordance with Hebrew custom, upon the death of Er, she marries his brother, Onan, and upon his death, should have married Shelah, Judah’s youngest son. Tamar receives nothing but humiliation, cruelty and indifference from her new family, and Judah, suffering from guilt for his part in brother Joseph’s fate, does nothing to alleviate these wrongs. He succumbs to the lies and hatred his wife spews forth about Tamar, and instead of allowing the rightful marriage to Shelah, he essentially exiles her dishonorably to her unloving father’s house. Ms. Rivers’ simple narrative show that through loyalty, strength and faith one if rewarded. No stigma is attached to Tamar’s trickery, and the Bible upholds her as a role model. Indeed, she is commended for attaining her natural rights. Along with 43 pages of Bible discussion/study at the end, Unveiled is recommended as an enjoyably way to touch a little of mankind’s past.
– Historical Novels Review