Great idea and concept for a book. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended. .

A family whose men marry women not because of love. A family story - and the history of Israel on the background, portrayed through the eyes of men and women who are longing for happiness.

I get a vibe similar to Isabel Allende's works from this novel - and yet, it has not touched my heart. While I can understand how the chain of unhappiness was formed and reeated in the loves of members of Ermosa family and even sympathize with them - I do not feel connected with them.
But I recognize how hard it is to try to live when one feels that she/he is not loved or does not know how to love. And the children see and repeat the mistake. Yet there is hope.

Is this certain sadness and stubborness a part of their Jewish heritage? Being not from the community, I don't know - yet I have met this particular feelings before, reading other novels from that particular environment. Is it part of how they survive? Maybe.

Having said all that - kudos to Rachelika and her husband, who are the true heroes of thois novel for me - they are both having warm, unselfish and active good hearts.

Sarit Yishai-Levi is a new author for me. I really enjoy finding new authors to try. The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem is a great story about mother's and daughters, and what binds and curses generations of women together. I was completely spellbound by this novel. I will be reading more books by this author.

I'm sorry to say that I didn't connect well with this one. I didn't care for the characters, and found the storyline to be tedious. I didn't completely dislike it, but it wasn't one that was easy and delightful to me. I feel that lots of readers will love it, but it just wasn't really to my personal preference.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this publication.