Return To Me...historical fiction written to make you feel like you were there!

Historical fiction is not my favorite category of book to read. I think I either want to read fiction or true history. This book is an exception. I love reading the Bible. Honestly, there are some passages that I seem to skim over because I can't relate to how it must have been during that time period. The books of Ezra and Haggai are a couple of those. Return to Me has made reading the books of Ezra and Haggai (as well as some other passages in Kings) much easier to relate to. By placing the true historical account into modern day language with characters that are "fleshed out", Lynn Austin has helped me to truly understand the Biblical Old Testament more. This story is wonderful...a story of families divided, of slaves released, of promises of the Lord God kept, and of forsaking of the one true God. The main character I believe is Zechariah who was a prophet of God. But the story starts out with him as a child, playing with other children, growing up in a family, and discovering whether his faith was his own or his family's. I do not want to spoil the reader's enjoyment of this book by revealing too much. Let me just say...if you like love stories, you will love this book. If you like historical fiction, you will love this book. If you like reading the Bible, you will love this book. If you like reading about the Jewish people and land, you will love this book. If you like books with a lot of action, you will love this book. This is a book I will re-read again...and try to slow down a bit to read it because it is so good that I want to savor it the second time around instead of devour it like I did this time. Wonderful! First time having read any of Lynn Austin's works and now I want to read more.