Another author that is a first read for me, and was phenomenal!

So, as I've mentioned before, any book that gets me to look into things while I am reading...or gets me emotional... or, just makes me think...well, that's a huge plus for me...and this one had me doing all of the above!

This book takes place in the times of Ancient Persia, and our FMC is Roxannah who comes from royal bloodlines, but is now just the impoverished daughter of a drunken lord...one who is NOT in the least bit nice to her, or her mother. But, Roxannah is a kind, sweet soul who always seems to see the best in people...

When her father's life is taken as he is on a crusade to the death, Roxannah falls into a depression, trying to figure out HOW she and her mother are going to survive. Her father was the one who brought home the money...even though most of it went to buying his liquor. Now, they have nothing.

BUT, she realizes that she does have something to fall back on. Her grandmother's cook taught her how to cook, and she has been creating amazing dishes since she was small. So now, she decides that this just might be the way to earn some cash and keep the debtors away.

She approaches a physician who was kind to her and her family, to see if he might need kitchen help. He does not, but he promises to ask if the Queen might just need help in her kitchen...

And so the book and it's origins begin...

This was NOT at all like I thought it was going to be. It was full of hope, and messages of love, and messages of God...as well as mentions and some details of the killing sprees that are interspersed, as so happens in times of war...and afterwards.

But the community that Roxannah, and the physician Adin created, from the kindness and caring that they continually showed others...well, that was worth just ALL THE STARS!

I'm going to stop here, but if you enjoy Historical Fiction, stories of Kings and Queens, and/or some thoughts of romance, then look 👀 no further! You have hit gold!! 🏆🏆

#TheQueensCook (Queen Esther's Court #1) [So...YAY...there will be more!!!]
By #TessaAfshar and narrated beautifully by #RachelBotchan and #JonathanToddRoss.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thanks to #NetGalley, #RecordedBooksMedia and #RBMedia for an ARC of the audiobook which is due to be released TOMORROW, 11/19/24, SO LOOK FOR IT THEN!!!!

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Book Title: The Queen’s Cook
Series: Queen Esther’s Court Book #1
Author: Tessa Afshar
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Rachel Botchan and Jonathan Todd Ross
Publisher: RB Media
Genre: Historical Biblical Fiction
Pub Date: November 19, 2024
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Pages 400

I have read many Christian mysteries and always enjoy them. This story is actually Biblical Fiction which is a first for me.
Story is told from the POV of Roxannah, who is the daughter of a once-privileged but now impoverished Persian lord and Adin a Physician.

Roxannah’s father through his own foolishness loses his wealth and leaves Roxannah destitute. With desperation and determination to survive and support her mother while settling her father’s debt, Roxannah find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens with the help of the
physician Adin.
I we might hope Roxannah and Adin are interested in each other – Now hoping for a HEA!

Although not my typical read I did enjoy it. I loved the narrators - I thought they were great in performing the characters.


About the Author ~ Tessa Afshar’ has written twenty books which have been translated into 11 languages, Tessa was born in the Middle East and lived there the first fourteen years of her life before attending boarding school for girls in England. She fell in love with Jesus after moving to the United States. Tessa and her husband live in New England where they tend their mediocre garden.

Want to thank NetGalley and RM Media for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 19, 2024.