Rating: 
Summary: Not Up To Francine's Usual High Standards
Review: After borrowing many Francine Rivers books from the library, and enjoying them all SO MUCH (which is quite amazing, since I am what some would call a "picky" reader), I decided to buy this book, figuring I couldn't go wrong. Well, guess what? I could. This short novel is the story of little-known Old Testament woman Tamar. She is forced against her will, at 14, to marry Er, the cruel son of Judah (who is Jacob's son and Joseph's brother). After months of cruelty at his hands, he dies, leaving Tamar a childless widow with no alternative but to follow tradition and marry his brother, Onan. She soon finds out that he is just as cruel as Er...and what can she do after Onan mysteriously dies? Bathshua, her bitter mother-in-law, calls her a witch and orders her husband to send Tamar away. When Tamar returns in disgrace to her father's house, with no hope of having a child (the main goal of a woman's life during Bible times), she at last plots a desparate scheme to give Judah descendants and her own life purpose...One thing I DID enjoy about this book was Tamar's patience, courage, dignity, and intelligence. She definitely had depth to her character that makes her more inspiring to read about than many of the "heroines" in contemporary stories. However, Tamar's character alone isn't enough to make this novel a winner. First of all, the novel is very short, quick and to-the-point. There needs to be "something more" to really turn it into a STORY and just an extended Bible passage. Also, Francine's other books really show her gift of crafting intriguing characters and settings which all culminate to a suspenseful climax...this book had the sound BIBLICAL aspects of her other books, but not the superb LITERARY techniques. "Unveiled" is one of those books that isn't bad by itself, but when you compare it to the author's other fabulous works, its weaknesses really show. If you want to learn about this inspiring Biblical woman, I'd suggest getting this so-so book from the library instead of buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Not Up To Francine's Usual High Standards
Review: After borrowing many Francine Rivers books from the library, and enjoying them all SO MUCH (which is quite amazing, since I am what some would call a "picky" reader), I decided to buy this book, figuring I couldn't go wrong. Well, guess what? I could. This short novel is the story of little-known Old Testament woman Tamar. She is forced against her will, at 14, to marry Er, the cruel son of Judah (who is Jacob's son and Joseph's brother). After months of cruelty at his hands, he dies, leaving Tamar a childless widow with no alternative but to follow tradition and marry his brother, Onan. She soon finds out that he is just as cruel as Er...and what can she do after Onan mysteriously dies? Bathshua, her bitter mother-in-law, calls her a witch and orders her husband to send Tamar away. When Tamar returns in disgrace to her father's house, with no hope of having a child (the main goal of a woman's life during Bible times), she at last plots a desparate scheme to give Judah descendants and her own life purpose...One thing I DID enjoy about this book was Tamar's patience, courage, dignity, and intelligence. She definitely had depth to her character that makes her more inspiring to read about than many of the "heroines" in contemporary stories. However, Tamar's character alone isn't enough to make this novel a winner. First of all, the novel is very short, quick and to-the-point. There needs to be "something more" to really turn it into a STORY and just an extended Bible passage. Also, Francine's other books really show her gift of crafting intriguing characters and settings which all culminate to a suspenseful climax...this book had the sound BIBLICAL aspects of her other books, but not the superb LITERARY techniques. "Unveiled" is one of those books that isn't bad by itself, but when you compare it to the author's other fabulous works, its weaknesses really show. If you want to learn about this inspiring Biblical woman, I'd suggest getting this so-so book from the library instead of buying it.
Rating: 
Summary: Unveiled
Review: An excellent representation of a Biblical woman. Unveiled gives hope and courage to the modern women. This was my first book of this series and I intend to purchase them all!
Rating:
Summary: The best teacher tells a story! Francine is the best!
Review: Francine has another winner here! Unveiled is a great story and a wonderful teaching tool. I can remember being a kid (not raised in a Christian enviornment)and the one exposure I had to Bible stories were those old epic movies. Charleton Heston in the Ten Commandments, The Story of Ruth, David and Bathsheba with Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward...remember? What about Ben Hur? (Okay so it wasn't strictly a Bible story. But for years I thought there was a book of Judah Ben Hur in the New Testament somewhere...) Great movies and stories really impacted my spiritual awareness! (These are flicks I still enjoy when they come on AMC!) Jesus understood that the best teacher taught people by telling stories. Francine Rivers has the gift, the mastery of her craft, the dedication and the love to make her stories reach into the hearts of her readers. Unveiled and the books that follow will forever be stories which someone will read and say..."I learned...I grew...my life changed because I read this book." Great blessings to you Francine! Your work will have an impact that goes beyond our lifetime.
Rating:
Summary: A challenging story
Review: Francine Rivers has stated that she believes readers want to be challenged, and she has succeeded in doing that with Unveiled. She has told the story of a woman who is strong, courageous, and loyal, yet submissive to the will of God. Tamar is continually subjected to maltreatment from everyone around her, and is ridiculed for the decisions she makes, yet she stands firm, and is rewarded for her obedience in the end. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series-as usual, Francine has delivered.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Francine Rivers paints the character of Tamar in Unveiled with such clarity and gentleness. I have read all of her books, and was not dissappointed with this one. Unveiled gives a new perspective on this woman of the Bible.
Rating:
Summary: The story of Tamar
Review: Francine Rivers takes a brief story from Genesis 38 and gives it more meaning and substance in her book,Unveiled, the first in her series entitled Lineage of Grace. She shows the faith and perserverance of Tamar, who is chosen by Judah to be the wife of his son Er. Er treats her cruelly but she remains faithful to him. God puts Er to death and Tamar then becomes the wife of Judah's second son Onan. Onan refuses to father a son with Tamar because he knows the son would be considered to be his brother Er's. After God puts Onan to death, Judah fears that the deaths are connected to Tamar and he banishes her from his household with the promise that she will one day be the wife of his third son, Shelah. When Tamar realizes that this is an empty promise she uses deceit to persuade Judah himself to father a child. When Judah discovers the truth, he is ashamed of his own deceit and realizes the consequences of his sin, beginning with the banishment of his brother Joseph whom he refused to protect against his angry brothers. This is a story revolving around the theme of sin and redemption and gives deeper meaning to the life of Tamar.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book based on Genesis 38!
Review: I absolutely loved this book! What a treasure we have in Francine Rivers' books! I had never really appreciated Tamar's story before. The Bible gives her story only one chapter - Genesis 38. The book has the background about Judah and how he still felt guilty all those years for selling Joseph into slavery. It is very interesting how the well-known story of Joseph and his brothers (taken the Broadway in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat") is so closely related to this much-less known story of Tamar and allegiance to the family of Judah. The book opens with Judah choosing Tamar as a wife for his oldest son Er. After the first two sons (and Tamar's first two husbands!) meet with bad ends, Judah is understandably reluctant to honor his last son by giving him to Tamar, lest the deaths of his other sons had something to do with her. Judah sends Tamar back to her family, in disgrace. Through determination and cleverness, Tamar makes sure that Judah's line continues through her. She conceives and gives birth to twin sons Perez and Zerah. Unveiled is the first in a new Francine Rivers series called "The Lineage of Grace" - each is about a woman who is an ancestor of Jesus Christ. This book was easy to read, yet very thought-provoking - lots to chew on here! And I found the Study Guide at the back of the book to be ENORMOUSLY helpful! The scriptures quoted were outstanding and the questions and comments really make you think. I got much more out of the book since I also took some time with the Study Guide. I highly recommend this book - it's wonderful to find such an enjoyable, yet thought-provoking book in a small package that won't take you too long to finish! May God bless you all! Please check out my other reviews of Christian books and music.
Rating:
Summary: Bringing it to real life...
Review: I don't know how Francine Rivers does it. She really brought the story of Tamar to real life for me, delving into her character and what she probably had to endure. Francine Rivers manages to spin a tale that captivates yet stays true to the Bible, making it clearer for people like me who sometimes have a hard time understanding the Bible.
Rating:
Summary: Delectible!
Review: I enjoyed every moment of this one and the 5th one. Can't wait for out library to get the middle 3. Made me want to name my next child Tamar.
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