When famine visits Bethlehem, Boaz holds out hope for rain while his relative Elimelech moves his wife Naomi and their sons to Moab. For a while, it appears the Lord is blessing Elimelech's family, and his sons marry two lovely Moabite women. But calamities strike, one after another, leaving Naomi alone in a foreign land with only her childless daughters-in-law for comfort. When news reaches Naomi that the famine in Bethlehem has lifted, only Ruth will hazard the journey to her mother-in-law's homeland. Destitute and downhearted, Naomi resigns herself to a life of bitter poverty, but Ruth holds out hope for a better future. And Boaz may be the one God has chosen to provide it. Combining meticulous research with her endless imagination, Jill Eileen Smith gorgeously renders one of the most beautiful stories in Scripture. Readers will adore this third installment of the inspiring Daughters of the Promised Land series. One devoted woman is about to discover the power of love When famine visits Bethlehem, some hold out hope for rain, while Naomi and her family make a long journey to Moab in search of greener pastures. The harvest there is plentiful, and for a time it appears the Lord is blessing them. But when calamities strike, one after another, Naomi is left alone in a foreign land with only her widowed daughters-in-law for comfort. Downhearted and destitute, Naomi is determined to return to Bethlehem alone. But her daughter-in-law Ruth refuses to leave her side. Despite the fact that she and Naomi will almost certainly live out their days in widowhood and poverty, Ruth holds out hope for a better future . . . and maybe even a second chance at love. Praise for the Daughters of the Promised Land series "Impeccable research and vivid prose."-- Library Journal "Smith has made Rahab's dramatic tale newly affecting."-- Booklist "Both a well-drawn love story as well as the wistful imaginings of early Israel."-- Publishers Weekly Jill Eileen Smith is the author of the bestselling Wives of King David series, The Crimson Cord , and The Prophetess , as well as the Wives of the Patriarchs and the Loves of King Solomon series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan. Jill loves to hear from her readers. Contact her at www.jilleileensmith.com, or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith or Twitter @JillEileenSmith. Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of many biblical novels, including her first series, The Wives of King David. Her newest book,  A Deeper Well: The Story of the Woman at the Well , will be released in February 2026. After twenty years of closed doors, she has since published twenty-five fiction and nonfiction books. She loves Jesus and His Word and all things related to learning more about the women God has immortalized in Scripture. Jill has been married to the love of her life for forty-eight years and counting and lives in a quiet neighborhood in southeast Michigan. Learn more about Jill at JillEileenSmith.com. Redeeming Grace Ruth's Story By Jill Eileen Smith Baker Publishing Group Copyright © 2017 Jill Eileen Smith All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8007-2036-0 CHAPTER 1 1297 BC Naomi lifted the hem of her robe as her feet fairly flew down Bethlehem's streets toward the outskirts of town. Neta, second wife of her brother-in-law Melek, trailed two steps behind. The sun beat high overhead, its rays licking the sweat along her brow. Some of the townswomen who were not inside their homes resting at this hour hurried to catch up with her. "What is it?" one of them shouted, breathless. "Please, Naomi, slow down." The voices included Neta's, and Naomi realized the woman could not run nearly as fast as she, especially when something urgent beckoned. Memories of childhood races with her brothers surfaced, but she stopped the smile such thoughts always evoked. This was not a time to smile. She slowed her steps and glanced behind her. "Boaz's wife Adi is in trouble." She turned and kept running, shouting as she went. "I'm going to see if I can help." The heat made breathing difficult but she pressed on. Surely Gilah and Liora and the midwife should have delivered Adi of the child by now. Surely Neta was wrong. But the fear in her gut would not abate. She came to the edge of the village where Boaz's house spread along the wall that bordered his vast fields — fields inherited from his highly respected father, Salmon, the spy who had helped capture Jericho. As Naomi stopped before the great doors and rapped on the wood, memory surfaced again of Boaz's parents, Salmon and Rahab. Neta drew up beside her, her breath coming fast. Please, Adonai, blessed be Your name. Let Adi live. How Boaz doted on this wife who had remained barren for so long, had waited even when his sisters Gilah and Liora suggest