New Christian Historical Fiction for Review: The Love of Divena by Kay Marshall Strom

The Love of Divena Kay Marshall Strom will be touring October 1 – 26 with her Christian historical fiction novel, Beside The Love of Divena.

India 1990. In the final book of the Blessings of India series, Shridula, old and stooped at fifty-nine, makes her painful way to pay homage to the elephant god Ganesh, lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. “Why are we Hindus instead of Christians?” her seventeen-year-old granddaughter Divena asked.

“Because we are Indian,” said Shridula.

So begins a spiritual journey for Divena as she struggles against an entire culture to proclaim a faith close to her heart while rocking the world of two families.

Excerpt:

The ruts in the road hid in shadows, tree roots that jutted out to trip her lay camouflaged in shade. It forced Divena to walk much more slowly and carefully. She also had to balance a full water pot on her head and another on her hip.

“So large a load for so scrawny a girl.” Divena started at the sound of a man’s voice close behind her. “I could carry one pot for you.”

Selvi’s father, perhaps? Or someone who recognized her from the market? With one hand, Divena grabbed hold of the water pot on her head and with the other she gripped more tightly the one on her hip. She stepped deftly to the side and looked behind to see who the stranger might be.

Knobby-kneed and a bit hunched, the man had his chaddar wrapped high around his shoulders and neck, instead of around his head like a turban, so that it obscured his face.

With a gasp of dismay at so mysterious a person, Divena attempted to bolt away.

But the man acted quickly. He leapt after her and seized her by the arm. The pot tumbled from her head, though she managed to grab it before it fell to the ground.

“Now look what you have done!” Divena cried. “My grandmother needs this water!”

“Let the medicine woman fetch it for her,” the man said. “Why should you be her servant?”

Divena gasped in amazement. How did he know about Mahima?

That voice. The glare of defiance in those black eyes. Divena stared hard at the man who still gripped her arm.

Appa?” she said. “Is that you?”

352 words

You can visit her website at www.KayStrom.com for more information about her and her book.

If you would like to review The Love of Divena, please fill out the form below or email Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife(at)gmail.com. Please mention which date would work for you. Deadline for inquiries end September 25 or until the tour is filled. Thank you!

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