Shannon here: Mesu Andrews shares insight into the best-selling romance book of all time and how it infuses her Biblical Historical Fiction. Comment or answer the question on any post dated Aug 4 – 23 to enter the drawing for my August Book Bundle #1, including Mesu’s title, Noble: The Story of Maakah, print U.S only. Bundle details are available below. Deadline: Aug 23rd, 11:59 pm central.
The Best-Selling “Romance” Book of All Time
I suspect anyone reading this post is passionate about reading and, more specifically, reading romance books. Well, before I reveal the best-selling romance of all time, let me tell you what makes me passionate about reading…
My Passions
I’m passionate about Jesus, husband, family, and biblical fiction. All those passions come together when I write my biblical novels. Studying God’s character through the Bible’s ancient stories helps me to love Him, my husband, and my family better. While I write any biblical novel, my prayer is that the romance of a real Bible character will create a bridge for readers to realize the Old Testament world is relevant to today’s struggles.
My heroes are famous men from the Bible—like Job, Moses, David, or Solomon—who love unnamed, overlooked, or unmentioned women in Scripture. Their romance teaches us all something about my God that is easily applied to my life and yours.
Did someone say, “Passion”?
God created humankind “in His image,” sharing part of His character traits, emotions, and a yearning for an eternal relationship with those He created. The Bible describes His gift of a perfect Creation for the humans He loved. Consider the Garden of Eden as God’s engagement ring, meant for His beloved humans. God is perfectly good, not even a shadow of evil in Him. He can’t sin, and neither could He walk with Adam and Eve after they sinned.
The sin described in Genesis 3 was more than human disobedience. It broke God’s heart. He’d planted two trees in the garden and told Adam to eat freely from the Tree of Life, but He warned Adam to never eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The serpent deceived Eve with the same temptation Satan uses today:
“Your perfect Groom is holding out on you. If you don’t gain knowledge of other things, how can you know God is good?”
Doesn’t he sound a lot like the villain who tries to destroy love and romance in novels? The enemy whispers, “You deserve better than him. How will you know love unless you have other partners to compare?”
The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Guinness Book of World Records estimates sales of the Christian Bible at 5-7 billion, during the last 1,500 years, making it the “best-selling non-fiction book” of all time!
Non-fiction? Yep.
Guinness recognizes that the Bible isn’t fiction. “Non-fiction” means it’s true. Real experiences by real people, each story revealing more about the Creator who still wants relationship—an eternal one, never to be marred by sin. But the Bible is more than historical truth. It’s more than interesting stories, harsh rules, and dystopian imagery.
The Christian Bible is the very heart of God, written in 66 books, by 40 authors, over 1,600 years, on 3 continents, and in 3 different languages. All of it meant to woo His beloved into an eternal choice.
The Bible is one story, cover to cover, about the ways the eternal Bridegroom pursues “all nations” (Genesis 26:24; John 3:16). Impassioned subplots, from Old Testament and New, prove the Creator’s steadfast love. Even amid His perfect discipline, our Heavenly Father draws us to Himself.
The Story ends with the promise of an eternal wedding feast and a second perfect gift—even better than the first Garden (Revelation 19:9 and Revelation 22:1-5).
Fiction and Non-Fiction About King David’s Brides
My new series, King David’s Brides, uses the Bible’s non-fiction Truth as its foundation, historical research as building blocks, and creative fiction as mortar to build a “house” in which readers feel like they’re living in the biblical setting with the real people in God’s romance.
2 Samuel 3:2-5 lists the six women who became David’s brides and bore his first six sons in the seven years he reigned in Hebron (before the conquest of Jerusalem). In my creative fiction, all six women need David’s rescue, and David will need their wisdom and unique skills to prepare for the next steps in his life and reign.
Book #1, BRAVE: The Story of Ahinoam, explores Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow. BRAVE is available now.
Book #2, NOBLE: The Story of Maakah, RELEASES TUESDAY, AUGUST 19th!
Reader Question: If you were transported back in time, what questions would you ask the 30-year-old King David?
August Book Bundle #1
Hill Country Redemption by Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Contemporary Romance, Print U.S. only
Counting on the Cowboy by Shannon Taylor Vannatter & Her Texas Cowboy by Jill Lynn, 2 in 1 Contemporary Romance, Print U.S only
Noble: The Story of Maakah by Mesu Andrews, Print U.S. only, Biblical Fiction
Trinity Shore by Jen Dodrill, Sharon H. Carpenter, & Deborah Sprinkle, Print signed by all three authors. U.S. only, Romantic Suspense
FreeFalling by J.L. Burrows, e-book U.S. only, Futuristic Christian Fiction
About Mesu: MESU ANDREWS is a Christy Award-winning, best-selling author of biblical novels and devotional studies whose deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the Bible alive for readers. Mesu enjoys connecting with her readers through newsie emails, blog posts, and social media. Learn more, connect, and visit her website to get FREE downloads, book news, and more!
Mesu’s Website Mesu’s Newsletter Mesu’s Facebook
Mesu’s Instagram Mesu’s Goodreads Mesu’s Bookbub
About the book – Noble: The Story of Maakah:To her relief, David rejects the offer of marriage, but circumstances make it impossible for Maakah to return home, and she must stay with David’s people until it is safe for her to travel again. Facing prejudice and suspicion from the Israelites, Maakah navigates the delicate balance between her noble heritage and her growing respect for David’s faith and leadership. In a land torn by war and divided loyalties, she must choose where her allegiance lies: with her Geshurite people, or with an extraordinary destiny alongside David that beckons her from within.
This gripping second installment of Mesu Andrews’ Old Testament biblical series of ancient Israel and King David’s brides will appeal to fans of The Chosen, Francine Rivers, Connilyn Cossette, Jill Eileen Smith, and Tessa Afshar.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you might not win? Interested in the entire series or the rest of Mesu’s books? Get your copy/copies here!
Brave Preorder – Noble Mesu’s Books
(PREORDER Noble BEFORE AUGUST 19th to get 40% off and free shipping!)
Come back August 9th for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!
Hi Shannon and blog readers! I want to publicly thank Shannon for inviting me to her blog. It’s not the first time one of my books has shown up on Inkslinger, and it’s always a pleasure to guest post for Shannon.
I hope y’all will read the devotional above and learn about God’s love story–the Bible. You’ll see His love more clearly as you read my series, King David’s Brides. You can read Book #2, NOBLE: The Story of Maakah–a stand-alone novel–before Book #1, BRAVE: The Story of Ahinoam. But you’ll likely learn more about David and his 6 wives listed in 2 Sam. 3:2-5 if you read them in order. HAPPY READING! 🥰🎉
REMEMBER TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY for NOBLE and other great books!
If I was transported back in time, I would ask David how he maintained his love and passion for God in the midst of all his troubles.
I would ask him how he got his mind to be quiet even when everything seemed to be working against him.
How he blessed the Lord even when Saul wanted to kill him.
How he went back to God after sinning and killing Uriah
Wow, yes, to all those ponderings. Bk #1, Brave, imagines how David might have balanced his inner and outer worlds. Bk #2 shows his rise to kingship in Hebron and how his heart is still pliable to hear and obey God–before they conquer Jerusalem. That’s why I’ve written about THIS David–the one from wilderness days to God’s king in Hebron. After he and his army conquer Jerusalem, his psalms have a very different tone. (Google says: “Psalms like 24, 122, and possibly others in Books 2-5 of the Psalter, reflect themes related to Jerusalem, its temple, and David’s role in establishing it as a center of worship.”) See this blog post for a discussion on David’s psalms: https://mesuandrews.com/who-is-king-david/.
Why did you have to sin with Bathsheba and then kill her husband?
I love that you’ve asked about David’s MOTIVES. Too often, we read a Bible story and never ask: “Why did [insert any Bible person] do what they did?” God’s Word seldom TELLS us the motivations of people in His non-fiction book, but He uses stories to help us ponder those parts of the story not recorded in ink. Proverbs 25:2 has become one of my fav verses and is what continues to motivate ME to keep researching: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” We, as believers, are the New Testament version of Old Testament kings. OT kings were anointed by His Spirit for a time and purpose. NT sons and daughters of King Jesus are anointed by His Spirit for eternity.
Keep searching for the answers–because you’ll know more of Him with every answer He reveals.
David’s proposal to Abigail is such a plot twist in that account!
YES! It comes out of nowhere! In book #1 of King David’s Brides, BRAVE: The Story of Ahinoam, David marries Ahinoam first and then Abigail (while they’re still in the wilderness and running from Saul:
“Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David’s messengers and became his wife. David HAD ALSO married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives” (1 Sa 25:42-43). DEFINITELY, A PLOT TWIST! 😉
Now, imagine how both Ahinoam and Abigail felt when they got the first inkling that David would now marry Maakah, a Geshurite princess. THAT’S what Book #2 is about: How do David and his wives react when it becomes clear Maakah will be added to their household as David’s 3rd bride?
I would ask how to overcome troubles and stay true to the Lord.
Hi Natalya!
Yes! Your question would be a good one to ask the young king who wrote all those Psalms that both questioned God and praised Him. When I’m eyeball deep in struggles and discouragement, I listen to Psalms and speak them to the Lord–as both my own prayer and praise. Give it a try, and let me know if it helps. 🥰
I’ve read Mesu’s books before so I’m excited about this one! I think I’d just like to quietly follow David for a day. He was “a man after God’s own heart,” and I think I’d just like to shadow him, to see what his habits and daily routine were like.
I would have loved shadowing David while writing this novel! There are so many questions I would have asked him—and his wives!
I would ask what the hardest part about his being king was.
Great question, Kelly. David certainly went through some gut-wrenching stuff both before he became Israel’s king and after. Of all he endured, I believe the hardest part for him would have been the damage to his family. Our choices always have ramifications, but as God’s anointed king, the results of his sinful actions or inactions as a husband, father, and ruler hurt many of those closest to him. 🙁 Only God’s perfect grace could love David so steadfastly and bless the generations leading to the perfect Son of David.
I have a winner! Blossom Eniola Dopamu won the drawing for my August Book Bundle #1. I appreciate Mesu for being my guest and everyone who stopped by.
Congrats to Blossom! And thank you, Shannon, for allowing me to chat with your readers. 🥰
Thank you so much Sharon!
Since Blossom is international, I’m sending her my books. For the rest of the giveaway, Sherall Cornwell is the winner.
👍