The story is based on a brief segment in the book of Samuel about Abigail, the woman who held back David's army on her own, but it's much more than that. It brings Biblical times to life in a way that is fascinating whether you're a believer or not.

Abigail is a young woman who takes over the family's pottery trade when her father becomes too ill to do it, and her brother too irresponsible. But even her best efforts can't save her family when her brother loses a fortune gambling, so she barters herself as a bride to the man holding the debt. Sent into the countryside to protect her husband's sheep business, she's slowly accepted by the sheepherders, and falls in love with the mysterious David.

Abigail's Story is fascinating, and well worth the effort to find it. ( )

Plot Summary: What happens, When & Where, Central Characters, Major Conflicts
Burton retells the story of the Biblical figure of Abigail, making her the daughter of a Potter in Carmel. Abigail's father is infirm, as is her mother, and her brother is not good at working the clay, so Abigail has all but taken over the family pottery business. Her brother causes major trouble for the family when he runs up a gambling debt with a rich but greedy swindler named Nabal. To save her family Abigail works out a deal where she becomes Nabal's wife (pretty much in name only) and the debt is forgiven. Nabal sends her up North to see to his flocks of sheep. These she and her servant woman befriend the tribe of shepherds--and also run into a band of warriors whose leader is the outlaw/future anointed king David.

Style Characterisics: Pacing, clarity, structure, narrative devices, etc.
Told entirely from Abigails P.O.V. Very much a romance novel, even with almost explict sexual scenes. The flavor of the time period is present in the variety of Hebrew words used and Hebrew customs illustrated, but the heroine has a independent streak that is appealing to modern day readers. Some scenes seemed far fetched to me as the characters acting too modern for the time period. Abigail is fairly well-rounded, but the other characters aren't. David's character is one minute singing psalms, the next lusting after Abigail (which may not be all that far off, but it is a strech from the Biblical story).
Too much of a romance with explicit content to appeal to conservative Biblical fiction fans, but this could make it appealing to typical romance readers. ( )