Keepers of the Covenant: (A Biblical Ancient World Novel about Ezra) (The Restoration Chronicles)

I love how the story coincides with the Bible so gracefully it is pure and entertaining to read such beautiful stories from the Bible of our God thank you God and thank you Lynn Austin for your wonderful works through Him.

Lynn Austin has outdone herself! She has woven an amazing story containing many realistic subplots and twists and turns surrounding the history of the Jewish Purim. I couldn’t put this book down!!!

I love the way the author writes. The stories from the Bible come alive. The characters are so real and you care about them. Must read all three books in this series.

I rarely review books that I read but after having read both Return to Me and Keepers of the Covenant, I feel compelled. Both books are very well written and I enjoyed reading them a great deal. I just finished Keepers of the Covenant last night and the story has stayed with me all day today. Lynn Austin has written a novel about the time of Esther from a perspective I had never considered - from the view point of the Jewish people who would have received the King's decree that they would all be killed. It hadn't occurred to me what how those people who were later given the right to defend themselves would have felt or of the families who lost loved ones during the fighting. She brings back characters from the first novel in Hodaya as a kindly old woman who takes in two Edomite children who are left homeless when the Jews kill those that sought to kill them. In the fighting Devorah loses her husband and decides after her year of mourning to marry her husband's brother Ezra. The story moves between events in Babylon and those in Jerusalem until later in the book when the two meld together. While some of the dialogue feels too modern, it is easy to get caught up in the story and it isn't something that takes away from the story. I like how Austin gives a possible reason for God not being mentioned in the book is Esther. I also liked the way she portrayed that bad things happen to people but our response is what makes us grow as Christains and if we choose to follow God's laws then there are blessings we could never have imagined. Overall, I found this novel to be WONDERFUL and have added it to the small set of books I plan to read again.

It is very obvious that Lynn Austin spent a LOT of time studying scripture. She also had to have studied historical records and customs of the time in preparation for writing this wonderful book.This is the second book in what I consider to be a “true” series. By that I mean that you should read the first book before picking this one up. There is really only one character from the first book that I remember. But reading book one will help to set the stage historically for this novel.I was quickly captivated by the main characters in each location at the start of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how each of their individual lives intersected with the others.I have read the story of Esther a number of times and heard some sermons from it. I have never “seen” such a vivid account of what life was like for the Jews in the months after the decree was written calling for their annihilation. That is truly what it seemed like to me. I could see their despair and feel their fear and heartache.Then after the Thirteenth of Adar each of the survivors had to figure out how to deal with the outcome. Were they going to accept what God had allowed to happen? Or were they going to spend the rest of their lives blaming Him and hating their enemies from that day?The stories of redemption and forgiveness are beautifully interwoven and presented. At the same time Ezra is searching the Torah doing all that he can to interpret the law of God so that the Jewish nation can be built up and follow God faithfully. The biggest question that he had to deal with was, “How can man find God’s balance between judgment and mercy?”

For those of you who love biblical fiction, you should definitely check out Lynn Austin's novels in that genre. Her series, The Chronicles of the Kings (5 Books) is absolutely amazing! So when Austin began her new series, The Restoration Chronicles, needlessly to say I was thrilled.Keepers of the Covenant, Book 2 in this series, is without a doubt a wonderful, well written and moving novel. It brings to life the OT times and sheds more light on a time period, where normally the focus would have been on Queen Esther. However, in this novel, Austin writes the story from the perspective of several different Jewish exiles and a Gentile, scattered in the Babylonian Empire.I loved looking at this story with fresh eyes. Seeing the way Austin not only wove in God's love, mercy, grace and the miraculous as well as showing us His Holiness and the calling to live set apart unto Him; while in the midst of this creating not only relate able characters but ones that endear themselves to you. At one part in the novel, I was so captivated and held in suspense, I could literally feel my heart pounding in my chest.There were however, parts of the story that seemed a little repetitive or unnecessary, and because of that I did not give this novel an even higher rating. Nevertheless, this novel is well worth your time to read! It is captivating and will make this area of the OT come alive, with a breath of fresh perspective and tugs of reflective thoughtfulness in your own life.Definitely on my recommendations list!

Once again Lynn Austin brings the Holy Scripture alive retelling God's story through everyday people. She has created amazing believable characters.

Another brilliant book by Lynn Austin. Her ability to take us deep into the lives and faith of these familiar biblical characters without compromising the truth of the Word is outstanding. Rare is the author of Christian fiction to turn out meaty, page-turning stories that don't leave you feeling you have had a mouthful of candy floss or a Sunday school sermon. She captures the spiritual truths in the bible and pours them out into the lives of people we can relate to. Another truly inspirational work based on the events of Esther and the second return of the Jews with Ezra. Worth reading the first of this series first to get a perspective on the whole saga but good enough to stand alone too. Highly recommended page turner of a story. Had me in tears at times too and the tension and drama of these real life incidents were brilliantly dramatized without any irritating recourse to 'artistic interpretations'.

What an amazing author It was a wonderful story and follows Scripture closely whilst telling an exciting story very challenging to your own Christian walk Have read almost all her books and shared them with others Wish there were more titles available Highly. highly recommend

Keepers of the Covenant (The Restoration Chronicles #2) by Lynn Austin - Oct 2014. "God's plan is often hidden from us so that we can't see what He is doing ------- but He is always right beside us, only a prayer away, working out events for our salvation. He wants us to trust Him in faith, even when we can't see or understand what He is doing." (Brilliant book - loved it. Helen). Looking forward to Book 3 in 2015. H.

I loved this story of Ezra and his journey of faith. As always Lynn Austin brings alive the lives and times of the people involved, weaving a captivating, not to be missed, read. I am always sorry when I come to the end of the story I have before me, and I look forward to the next one eagerly. Thank you Lynn Austin for your knowledge of God and your research of these wonderful Biblical characters. Not only do your books provide exciting reading, they have many times caused my faith to rise.

Ezra shows us that there is a difference between reading the word and living out what you have read. The time the Jews had to fight for their lives meant they had to depend on a God they couldn’t see. The author really brings to live another story of Esther of those living outside the palace.