Hadassah

One Night with the King

Plot

Bestselling author Tommy Tenney expands the extraordinary story of Esther like no novelist has done before. Both a thriller and a Jewish woman's memoir, Hadassah takes readers to ancient Persia (now known as Iraq), into the inner sanctum of the palace and back out into the war zones of battle and political intrigue. This gripping drama of a simple peasant girl chosen over many more qualified candidates to become Esther, Queen of Persia, captures the imagination and fires the emotions of men and women alike. From Publishers Weekly Despite a few glitches, there is much to like about this coauthored novel from Tenney, best known for his nonfiction book The God Chasers, and Olsen, a writer whose work includes screenplays. Esther, queen of Persia, who inspired the eponymous book of the Bible, is a fascinating character whose story lends itself well to a fictional retelling. The novel opens as a contemporary woman named Hadassah receives a letter penned by Esther (also called "Hadassah" and "Star" in the novel) and passed down through her family for generations. The reading of the letter transports the reader back to the Persian Empire (a similar device is used in Bodie and Brock Thoene's Zion Legacy series). Several time periods and points of view make for a slow start, but the pacing picks up when Esther becomes the focus. The dialogue is stiff in places, and some readers will find the use of "G-d" rather than "God" out of reverence rather tiresome. However, from their imaginative fleshing out of Esther's unusual girlhood and preparation for her tryst with the king to the uttering of her famous words, "If I perish, I perish," the authors reinvigorate an age-old story. The sexual tension and violence necessary to the tale are rendered inoffensive for the evangelical Christian market, and a few surprise twists will catch readers familiar with the story off-balance. CBA readers should enjoy this account of one of the Bible's most courageous heroines. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Reviews "An exhilarating ancient romance with ribbons of suspense, mystery, and intrigue cleverly woven through. I highly recommend Hadassah." -- Road to Romance "Breathtakingly suspenseful...this story is rich in historical detail and spirituality. Be forewarned. This is a real page turner." -- Large Print Reviews "Esther springs to life...a wealth of history and spiritual admonition in the pleasing guise of a well-told tale." -- Romantic Times, Feb. 2004 "Full of romance, intrigue, sudden plot twists and a finale that is heart-stopping even for those familiar with the story." -- Messianic Times, Feb/Mar 2004 "I cannot say enough good things…such a fresh perspective to a familiar story. Be swept away by this fantastic story." -- BookLoons.com "Much research and study have obviously gone into Hadassah to preserve the authenticity...an enjoyable read." -- Messianic Times Feb/Mar 2004 "Tenney has given readers a gift similar to that Esther gave Xerxes: a source of wonder and conversation." -- Faithful Reader From the Back Cover POWERFUL FICTION FEATURING ONE OF THE BIBLE'S MOST BELOVED CHARACTERS! Against a vividly painted historical backdrop, bestselling author Tommy Tenney breathes new life into the age-old story of Hadassah, the simple peasant girl who must vie with more than a hundred other young women to become the next queen of Persia. Will her beauty alone be enough? And if she succeeds, will she have the courage to stand up to the cunning enemy of her people? About the Author Tommy Tenney is a highly acclaimed speaker and a bestselling author with three million books sold. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have been nominated for many awards, including the Gold Medallion Award and Retailers’ Book of the Year. A former pastor, he has preached in upwards of forty countries around the world. He and his wife, Jeannie, have three daughters and reside in Louisiana. Mark Andrew Olsen has worked as a speech and promotional writer since his college days at Baylor University. He is also the author of The Assignment. He and his family make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.