Startling.  Fascinating.  Gripping.  History come to life.

When Tosca Lee posted on her Facebook page that she was looking for reviewers for her latest novel, I wrote her instantly.  (After hyperventilating and almost falling out of my chair in excitement, of course.)

Crazy dances, screaming, and running around my house ensued when I received an email that, yes, I would be sent an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.  My boys joined me, leaping around the house like we were in a musical, but I’m quite certain they had no idea what we were celebrating.

I devoured the book in three days, never wanting it to end.  Wishing for time to stand still so I might read it from cover to cover without interruptions.

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions.  2 Chronicles 9:1

Has there been a more mystifying or enigmatic queen briefly mentioned in the Bible than the queen of Sheba?

She traveled hundred of miles, over vast deserts, to question the wisest and wealthiest king of all of Israel, and Scripture only dedicates a few verses to her.

For someone who has been fascinated by every account of mighty women in Scripture, this drives me crazy!

Shouldn’t there be more verses dedicated to her?  Shouldn’t there be annuls of history full of her–full of accounts of Solomon?

I have come to appreciate genealogies thanks to my recent research of Noah’s lineage; however, I have always wished more of the Bible was dedicated to riveting stories and less to genealogies, laws, Tabernacle details.  I have especially wanted more of this story.

Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.  However I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me.  You exceed the fame of which I heard.”  2 Chronicles 9:5-6

Tosca Lee’s latest novel, The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen, satisfies my insatiable curiosity about the Ethiopian queen.  Following her ascension to Saba’s–or Sheba’s–throne, Queen Bilquis receives tantalizing reports of King Solomon, whose wealth and thirst for knowledge rivals her own.

They begin an unlikely correspondence, leading to her infamous visit to the Israelite king’s palace, to see if he is who he says he is–to see if the reports of him are true.  And to save her kingdom from ruin.

Tosca weaves a magical story, full of intrigue, brimming with heartbreak and romance.

Her historical research blows me away!  It is exhaustive, succinct, book-spine gripping.  (Believe me, it’s a good thing Kindles don’t break easily!)  And it does not bog down the story in the slightest.

Every time I had to put the book down was sheer agony.  Processing the story throughout the day was delicious, and I hurried the kids off to bed each night just so I could read more.

Come now, you might say, there must have been something you didn’t like about the book.  Well, there was.  That it ended.

Please–just–please make this breathtaking piece of mastery into a movie.  I’ll buy it.  On pre-order.  Just like this book should be on pre-order in every lover of history’s home.  On every avid reader’s list.  In the hands of every book lover.  And read by anyone even slightly curious about the queen of Sheba.

Tosca Lee’s Legend of Sheba, releases September 9th, 2014.

It. Is. Lovely.

In Him,

Michele

Scripture taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.